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The Worst Of The Buffets

November 17th, 2009

A couple of months ago I wrote a piece entitled “The best of the buffets.” It was primarily a response to my students who love Tyler’s buffet restaurants and couldn’t conceive of why I generally dislike them. In the interest of full discloser I made a list of the establishments I actually liked and why. Well, forgive the hubris but I thought it might be fun to make a short list of the buffets I personally consider some of the worst in town. The following are in descending order.

China King

When China King first opened it was trumpeted as the best Chinese buffet in the city of Tyler. As buffets go it may have been… But it didn’t last. China King has the largest selection of food, but the quality is poor to say the least. The dishes tend to sit far too long under the lamps and still manage to taste dry and lukewarm.

I must confess however, that my dislike of China King isn’t only about the food. It’s also the lack of atmosphere. (I realize this may reflect an unrealistic expectation for a buffet). The store seems run down and sloppy. The staff is more concerned with moving customers in and out quickly in order to make room for the next herd. Strangely, the straw that broke the camel’s back for me came when I visited the men’s room shortly before eating. While there I was treated to an obscene series of messages carved into the stall door. Now, I understand that this has little to do with the food the restaurant serves, but I don’t enjoy feeling like I’m eating at the local truck stop. When taking in the whole package, that visit to the mis-named “King” had the effect of making me feel vaguely cheap and ashamed. My conscience was inexplicably heavy. I decided then and there, to set my sights on more seemly establishments. The next time someone suggests having lunch at a Chinese buffet, don’t be degraded, try to steer them toward Chine Café. It’s a far better restaurant on every level.

Cici’s Pizza

I would love to give Cici’s the lowest rank, among these restaurants but unfortunately that dishonor is reserved for another establishment. I rarely miss an opportunity to take a shot at Cici’s Pizza. In fact I’ve stated on numerous occasions that I prefer Totino’s frozen pizza to that particular buffet. Why? Because I find the crust doughy, and the toppings cheap, (and by cheap I do not mean inexpensive).

The store’s ads constantly promise that the customer can eat at the buffet for under five dollars. I’ll pass on the “you get what you pay for,” reminder, and say simply that the last time I ate at Cici’s (quite against my will I assure you) I paid over seven for my meal. The selection was not what I was promised either. What I did find failed to satisfy even my two year old son, who prefers pizza to nearly every other food I can provide.

This brings me to the old issue of atmosphere. Let me just say that I’m still getting my hearing back. The doctors assure me that I should eventually be able to enjoy music and the arts again, but it will take time. Ok all sarcasm aside, I find it difficult to enjoy a meal when I need a bull horn to make myself heard across the table… Oops sarcasm again, sorry. As a kids restaurant, Cici’s does offer entertainment in the arcade but then so does Ken’s and the food is better. Even better yet, take them to Double Dave’s for some real pizza, and watch the game with them while you’re there. That’s how memories are made.

Ryan’s

If my reader has been placed on an all starch, all grease diet for any reason; Ryan’s is the establishment for you. Likewise if you prefer your steak tough and well done this could be your buffet of choice. Personally I’ve never had a hankering for restaurant style macaroni and cheese, so I don’t frequent Ryan’s. Honestly, it’s been a couple of years since I visited the store but there’s a reason for that, namely the quality of the food is definitely poor. My last visit was followed immediately by a dose of Tums and a counseling session with my priest. Alright so I’m exaggerating again but seriously, I do know people who people who actually enjoy Ryan’s, just not many. I will say this for the restaurant, the atmosphere is definitely quieter (and this is not due solely to lack of patronage). Next to the above businesses, Ryan’s is tranquil.

So there are my choices for the worst of Tyler’s buffets. There may be others that deserve to make the list but it’s now after midnight and I need some sleep. For those readers who find my criticisms harsh, put them to the test. China King is located in the French Quarter, Cici’s has two locations to choose from, one on the West Loop next to Atwood’s, the other on the South Loop next to Albertson’s, and Ryan’s can be found on South Broadway next to Olive Garden. But whatever you do just don’t say I didn’t warn you.

Chicken Express in Tyler

October 10th, 2009

It’s been said that if you want to start new business, or expand to a new town, find what’s already working there and do the same thing, only better. One of Tylerite’s favorite comfort foods (myself included), is fried chicken. There is definitely a crowded market for this southern favorite in Tyler Texas. In fact if you include Brookshire’s grocery, there are just about as many chicken joints as there are churches in this town. And like our churches, we all have our favorites. Of late I have become a devotee of one or Tyler’s newest chicken establishments.

Chicken Express was founded as late as 1988 in Benbrook Texas, and now operates more than a hundred franchises in four states. Each Tyler restaurant is independently owned and operated, thus insuring the local owners a greater stake in their own success. While the restaurant is technically considered fast food, the quality and taste far exceeds its competitors.

When comparing the food to places like KFC, the prices are slightly higher, but the chicken is juicier and more flavorful. The batter is lighter and crispier. When compared to Church’s Chicken, (who’s food I really like), C.E. is every bit as good but the stores are larger and cleaner, with more places to sit and relax.

My only criticism of Chicken Express is that the menu is relatively small. Don’t misunderstand, they do a few things and do them very well, but as someone who often finds it necessary to eat in my car or otherwise on the go, some kind of sandwich would be much more conducive to a busy on the go lifestyle. Fried chicken is not an easy meal to grab and go. But maybe that’s the point.

In spite of the small menu, I love this restaurant. Who needs national chains when you have a good Texas, company, local Tyler ownership, and classic southern fare? Next time you stop off for fried chicken, say, on your way home from church, give this new local business a try. I think you’ll find you have a new favorite chicken place. For the location nearest you, go to www.chickenexpress.com.

The Best Of The Buffets

September 18th, 2009

In past columns I’ve made no secret of the fact that I generally find the quality of buffet food a sacrifice to quantity. I’m certainly no foodie, and I may be a bit of a snob I admit, but my past experiences with these establishments have left me with an urgent desire to visit with my priest, as though I had committed some de-humanizing sin.

Unfortunately, most buffets serve what they consider ethnic food. I apologize to my students who absolutely love them but, it is impossible to have an authentic experience with cultural foods while eating at a buffet.

In spite of my views on buffets as expressed above, I do, on rare occasions visit them, I’m just selective about it; so here are the few that I actually like and why. Bye the way, there may possibly be another all you can eat restaurant that I like, but for the life of me I can’t think of any.

Double Dave’s

Although it’s not a round the clock buffet, (it runs about twelve to one) I’m including this bistro because the quality of pizza is among the highest in town. (I would probably put DD’s second to Bruno’s.) When it comes to pizza buffets, the pizza on the bar never seems to measure up to the pizza the customer receives when he special orders it. This is not true at Dave’s. The food is actually the same, and the all around flavor and freshness is clearly far superior to the other pizza joints in town. Also don’t forget about their fabulous pizza rolls. The environment includes several large screen televisions so patrons can enjoy whatever sporting event is going on at the time. I highly recommend this buffet. I give it a four out of five.

China Café

No Chinese buffet is going to be as good as fresh food. But if your crunched for time or determined to visit an all you can eat restaurant, I would suggest this one. The turn around on the dishes seems pretty good. Depending on the time of your visit, the food doesn’t sit under the lamps as long as some buffets, so it tends to be fresher. I don’t care for C.C.’s sushi, as it tastes sort of manufactured to me, (not that I’m an expert on sushi). I generally get takeout when I visit China Café; their hot and sour soup is worth the trip by itself. Overall I give China Café a three and a half out of five.

Ken’s Pizza

I include Ken’s more for nostalgic reasons than anything else. I like Ken’s because I remember going there as a kid on the first day of summer to eat lots of pizza and play video games. The food is decent, but I wouldn’t call it great. When put up against someplace like Cici’s however, Ken’s looks like four star dinning. The pizza sometimes sits on the bar a little long but overall it is passable. When grading Kens, I give it a three out of five.

If you’re a devotee of Tyler’s all you can eat establishments I won’t try to dissuade you from what you love. But at least consider the above restaurant establishments and try choosing a better buffet. Happy eating!

Tyler’s Book Barn

September 15th, 2009

Well, I mistakenly believed that I had written about all the bookstores in Tyler; that is until I was told about the Book Barn. So out of a desire to do justice to all the small local booksellers I paid the passed over store a visit.

The Book Barn advertises as a used bookstore with new bookstore atmosphere. While I would love to say that the establishment lives up to its mantra, it just doesn’t. I walked through the store and found that nearly the entire inventory was composed of paperbacks which could be found in an airport newsstand. They carried the usual thrillers and tech novels, and of course the ever present romance novels, but the history section was pathetically thin. If cookbooks and self help books are what you’re after, than sure, this may be the place, for you, but you may need to look elsewhere for classic literature, especially if you want a hardcover.

If you’ve read my review of Pea Picker Books, (which can be found under the Tyler blog section of this site), you’d know I’m not a huge fan of that particular store, but at least their huge volume makes it worth checking out. You may even discover some hard to find selections there. Unfortunately, Book Barn’s selection is very small. There are an awful lot of gaps on the shelves, and what they carry is mostly mainstream and easily found elsewhere. The store has yet to find its own niche in Tyler’s already crowded market.

The fact is, there is more to owning a used bookstore than just loving books and having a big library. Book Barn needs to offer something readers can’t find at other area establishments besides promising a lower price. There are plenty of other options offering the same advantage with a better selection. And the atmosphere is not a big enough draw to pick up the slack.

On a scale of one to five I’m forced to give the Book Barn a two. I’d love rate the store higher out of a desire to help a local bookseller, but I just wasn’t that impressed with the selection. For those who are still interested they are located on South Broadway in the French Quarter around the corner from China King. Perhaps other readers will have better luck finding what they are looking for than I did.