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Little Caesar’s on 31 and SW Loop 323 in Tyler, TX

February 1st, 2010

Little Caesar’s

510 S Southwest Loop 323
Tyler, TX 75702
(903) 592-7373

This Little Caesar’s pizza restaurant is specifically designated as a Hot & Ready business. This means that they have a few items that are always prepared and still hot as long as they are open. The standard Hot & Ready item is the large pepperoni pizza for less than six dollars. I believe it is five fifty. They also usually have one or two plain cheese pizzas available hot and ready for the same price. The more interesting items they have ready to take are hot wings, which come in different levels of spice, their famous “Crazy Bread” with sauce, and cheesy bread sticks. They are also able to make pizzas with other standard toppings to order and to make tons of pizzas if you call in before or are willing to wait.

This little pizza restaurant probably gets more of my money in the average month than any other food establishment in Tyler. This is because the food is amazing and the price is perfect. I am a bit of a pizza fanatic. I tell people that I could eat pizza every meal for the rest of my life, which wouldn’t be that long on a diet like that, and I am not lying. I love pizza, and when it comes to eating pizza affordably in Tyler I choose this Little Caesar’s. The taste and texture quality are unlike any other pizza place I’ve experienced. I think they do a perfect sauce and crust, but the most impressive thing about this Little Caesar’s pizza is the cheese. They put a huge amount of cheese on each pizza and then cook it perfectly to where there is a slight crisp.

The cool thing is that they offer this for just over five dollars. That is the same price as a single meal at a standard fast food restaurant, and one pizza is enough for my wife and I to eat dinner and usually have leftovers. We also get them for their convenience. Hot & Ready means we don’t have to cook, and we don’t even have to wait. I can count on one hand the number of times I’ve had to wait more than five minutes for my food, and that was most often just because there were a few customers in front of me. It’s great for entertaining last minute house guests and family during an impromptu hangout.

It’s worth noting that they also have combo deals where you can grab a previously cooled two liter Pepsi product soda. They even have Pepsi Zero and diet Mountain Dew for all of those healthier pizza eaters out there. They also have combos that include “Crazy Bread” or hot wings. These combos are around ten dollars each and are definitely worth it when you consider the convenience and incredible taste and quality.

The last thing I’d like to note is that this location has some of the sweetest staff of any business in Tyler. They are pretty much all young people who seem happy to work there. Maybe pizza makes everyone else smile like me, or maybe their manager just knows how to pick employees and train them in customer service. I’ve gone so many times, that I’m almost starting to become friends with the cashiers. They may not remember me, but they make me feel so comfortable and valued that I remember them and recommend them to my friends and family. If you need a quick snack or want a break from cooking, swing by Little Caesar’s Hot & Ready on the South West end of Loop 323 where it meets with Highway 31.

Sonic in Tyler Texas

January 16th, 2010

Do you tip at Sonic? That’s a discussion I’ve had with several people recently after discovering that the workers who bring you your food actually expect tips. Should I feel like a jerk for my ignorance in not knowing this already? In my defense, I usually use the drive through, but when I don’t, I usually don’t tip.

I know, they don’t expect a lot but the thought of tipping at a fast food restaurant just seems weird to me. When you go through a drive through somewhere, and they ask you to pull up because your food isn’t ready yet, do you tip the person that finally does bring it?

If I have about 50 cents or so left, I may let them keep the change but I’m not going to go out of my way to give an extra something. No offense, but unless you’re coming by and refilling my drinks, I just don’t see it as being necessary. Not to mention, if you expect a tip, you need to make that an option for people paying with a debit card. One point that’s been made to me is the fact that the workers usually get paid minimum wage. They’re not actual waiters and waitresses here.

Almost every time I have this conversation with someone, I’m reminded of something that happened to me. A couple days or so after my cousin and I had gone to Sonic on the Loop and 64 in Tyler, I was cleaning out my car which required me to pick take out the Sonic bag from just nights before. In it, I found some ketchup packets. On one of those packets was written a girls name and phone number.

This had us puzzled. Was it intended for me, or him, which one? Or was it not intended for either of us. Perhaps someone had written a name and number on several packets and threw them in there and we happened to be one of the (not so) “lucky” ones. Regardless, the possibilities were endless.

That night at Sonic, there was no flirtatious Sonic employee. There was no drop dead gorgeous woman for whom either of us would consider buying a Rout 44 strawberry limeade. We simply came to the conclusion if the number actually belonged to a girl worth calling, we would have remembered it and therefore, we decided to let it remain a mystery. Who knows, maybe she was just trying to get a tip.

Confession of a fast food hypocrite

November 7th, 2009

                The following article is something of a confession, or a coming out column for me. For years I’ve been vocal about the fact that I hate the fast food restaurant chain “Jack in the Box” due largely to the store’s advertising campaign. I have openly declared my unwillingness to eat at any of the store’s Tyler locations regardless of the quality of the food they serve because I so detest their commercials… that is until recently.

            When my workplace moved to a new building, I found that “Jack in the Box” was the closest available eatery. One day, while on my lunch break, and without the time to visit one of my regular favs. I reluctantly swallowed my dislike for the franchise and made that infamous right turn into the small parking lot. I rationalized the decision by telling myself it would be a one time thing. Besides, I didn’t have to tell anyone, right? Except that the food was great! I had a problem, or rather I still do. As fast food goes I like “The Box” (not as much as Whataburger by the way), but it’s close to my work, the prices are reasonable and they serve breakfast all day, on the other hand, those commercials are just more than I can take, a sentiment shared by my whole family by the way.  

            So why make this confession now? Because I can live the lie no longer! I like Jack in the Box’s food! There I said it. The menu is unique, and the quality good. I still make no excuses for the company’s ads however. In fact, they are the ones who should be ashamed, not me or those like me. We are just the victims, the users if you will. I call on the corporation to do the right thing and fire the current ad agency and find another. Please, make it easier for those of us who enjoy the product, but whose consciences object to the mindless temptation they use to appeal to the masses. A step like this can only bring in those stronger than I who would ordinarily never set foot in a Jack in the Box restaurant.

            So please don’t judge me! Pity me, and remember you may be one sausage egg and cheese biscuit away from becoming a “Box” fan as well. Tyler Locations can be found on Broadway next to Burgfield Park, and on the west loop next to CIci’s.

Fast Food Freak Out

October 21st, 2009

Tyler has so many different locations for each of your fast food cravings. Each place has it’s own feel and more importantly taste. Every restaurant you eat at it is very important to know how clean the restaurant and kitchen is, but also how clean the food is.

Taco Bell is know for its cheap prices and one of the few successful Mexican fast food restaurants. But to most people it is known for its puddles of grease, and want to be ground beef. There has been so many times that I have been there and the floors were dirty, the bathrooms filthy, and walked out discussed. I will not return to Taco Bell after once being grossed out by the mold growing on the side of my cheesy gordita crunch and one time I had someone’s hair in my taco. It was so disgusting that I can hardly drive by a taco bell with out my stomach turning.

Everyone across the world has seen the two golden arches. McDonald’s cheese burger is one of the most famous burgers. Kid’s faces light up every time you drive up and they see the huge play place. For some reason all the McDonald’s except a couple, have taken out their play places. Personally, I don’t see what people like about the food here. I recently went to a McDonald’s that was inside the Wal-Mart off of Broadway. My family ordered and not a single thing was made the way we asked for. I was so frustrated that I wanted to complain along with half the other customers whose order was wrong, but it took so long for the food to come out the first time that I did not have the time to deal with waiting that long again. I get frustrated walking into a McDonald’s restaurant and how dirty the play places are. But the play place is the thing that kids love the most about McDonald’s.

Subway is the healthy way to go when you decide to go to eat at a fast food restaurant. Walk through the great vegetable bar and pick out exactly what you want on your sandwich and how you want it. Toasted or not, pick out the bread, meat and cheese. You can look on the menu to get the healthiest sandwich that is advertised to help you loose weight. You can always find fresh vegetables and fresh sandwich meat. They even sell pizzas that you can put whatever you want on it. They also have great new flat bread that is my new favorite thing to get there. So if you want to get fast food I suggest to go healthy and stop by Subway.

I don’t know how people can still eat at Long John Silver’s. I have not eaten there in a long time but I have all the reason to not go there. I got so sick when I went there when I was little. I don’t know why some one would think that “rubbery” fake sea food would taste good. Even the thought of the food just sounds really gross.

Texas has a great fast food chain. From miles away you can spot the bright orange and white metal roof or Whataburger. It is no regular fast food restaurant each one has it’s own feel. There you can also have a great place to watch a game and hang out with your friends. Have a great juicy burger and some great fries. Enjoy the real ice cream taste and have a great strawberry, chocolate, and vanilla shake. Whataburger’s prices are usually higher than other chain fast food restaurants but the food is so much better. You can be able to make your burger your way. Stop by for the best specials around. Stop and enjoy great food, environment, people and enjoy a cold Dr. Pepper.

The ultimate drink stop in the United States is the well known drive threw, Sonic. Have fun hanging out side and play some sand volleyball, or play with the kids on the play place. Come over to get a drink for half off from 2:00 to 4:00. You can get a lot of different flavors in your soda or get a refreshing slushy in any flavor. The food is terrible. I have mentioned before that I hate greasy food. I get discussed by the puddles of grease floating on the top of chili cheese tots. But there is not many things more wonderful than to cool down with a cold drink or ice cream on a hot Texan summer. So stop by and get a drink for half off.

I hate watching the television and seeing those retarded Jack In The Box commercials. I hate them so much that I wont even eat there. I once ate there and my burger and fries were cold. I heard of great deals on food there, but because of the nasty creepy commercials I refuse to go there.

Another of the best fast food chains in Tyler is the most popular, Chick-fil-a. Everyone knows the cows that are able write, yet misspell the word “more”. Get the best chicken and a wonderful fresh salad. Get a drink of great sweat tea or one of their new milkshakes. Try all their great sauces. They have wonderful waffle fries and the best chicken sandwiches. Enjoy a fun time and let your kids play in the fun play places. Come to “cow appreciation day” and dress up like a cow for a free meal. have some fun and great food. Bring your kids to Chick-fil-a.

For the worst food of all the fast food restaurants, but one of the cheapest places to get ice cream, go to Dairy Queen. Last time I went there it took forever to get my food and the Dairy Queen was dirty. But kids have a fun time eating ice cream and playing, but the food was awful. The chicken was hard and the salad brown. It was one place that I wont go back to.

Want to eat at a place whose bread is old, the wait is long, your food always is brought out wrong, but the food is good? The stop by Wendy’s. Try food off of the one dollar menu. I do admit that they have great new chicken and some times there are things that are pretty good. But I don’t think there was once that I went there and it didn’t take for ever for the food to come out, or my order was wrong. I don’t have the time to eat there, but if your patient enough for it, go ahead and eat cheap at Wendy’s.

So here is my opinion of the fast food restaurants to go eat or stay clear. Tyler has a great variety of fast food restaurants, you just need to know which ones to stay clear of. Take out your kids to have a fun time, and enjoy a quick bite on your lunch break, just know where to go.