Tyler TX Facebook

Follow Donny on Twitter

Username:
Password:
  Remember Me   Forgot password?  Register
0-9  A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z  

Find or Refer a Contractor in Tyler

My Last Goodbye

January 11th, 2010

Today I write to you world with a heavy heart and a tear in my eye. For January 11, 2010 is the final goodbye to a dear friend. This friend has been there for us all in times of hunger, in times of cramping, and in times of A-1 cravings. Whataburger fans across Texas are mourning as the “A-1 thick-n-hearty” burger is being lowered into the ground.

I have great memories of you my friend. Many late, late night cravings during the second trimester of my pregnant life, we stayed up late talking and crying over a sappy movie. You were always there to comfort me. The couple months a year that you were around made my world a little brighter. Well, most of the time, exception being when I found you half eaten and smooshed in an orange and white paper bag under the seat of my car, and my whole car smelt like a new born baby’s soiled pants. I could not look at you for a few weeks. But through it all, my friend, you kept returning into my loving hands. But you are leaving me now; many say you will never again return. My hopes are still high that we will meet again, if not in this life, surely in the next. For you, dear friend, are simply “Heavenly”.

You are no mere Tyler burger. You are like a king among all other fast food peasant burgers. You were a revelation, steak sauce in fast food, who would have thought? Inspiration, pure inspiration. Your double meat patties falls apart in our mouths as we hear the melody of rhythmic trumpets, your cheese playfully dances with our taste buds, the strips of bacon satisfies your unknown “heart attack cravings“, and your onions cooked perfectly to a light brown to ensure pure pleasure, now the sauce, the finishing touch that puts the A-1 in the “A-1 thick-n-hearty” makes you who you are. You are the reason my stomach stayed full and my wallet empty.

We will never forget you. We will try to keep your legacy alive. It is hard to imagine what we will do without you. Well, I guess we could just get a Whataburger cheese burger with bacon and onions and just bring A-1 steak sauce. That might actually work; it would probably be about the same price, maybe cheaper. Well so long my friend.

Joes Italian Grill

January 8th, 2010

Tyler has so many options for a great Italian dine in experience. One of my favorite places to eat is a little Italian Restaurant known as Joe’s Italian Grill. Joe’s is a quant little restaurant with walls stained with the smell of garlic and pesto that brings a true Italian culture to East Texas. Joe’s great pasta masterpieces cooked with his rich signature sauce will leave your stomachs and your wallets full. Joe has a great variety that is not found anywhere else.

Joe’s Italian Grill offers a quiet, romantic atmosphere and each of the tables has individual curtains to maintain the privacy of your dinner party. It is a great place to have a great date and a delightful peaceful meal. Not only is the food great but the prices are unbeatable. Lunch menus start at $6. And the rest of the menu is prices between six to fourteen dollars. Have a glass of wine of your choice with your meal.

Not sure what will go with your meal? Just ask your waiter and they will give you their suggestions. They have all different wines, both white and red. If you just want to enjoy a drink feel welcomed at their small bar. At this locally family owned restaurant the waiters and waitresses are very attentive and professional, expect great service. The small italian restaurant on a small shopping center, is a great place to enjoy the Italian culture here in Tyler. So come on in and let your taste buds travel around the world.

Cheddars

October 23rd, 2009

On a Sunday afternoon the waiting room in the popular Cheddars restaurant begins to pour out on to the sidewalk. People crowd together for a good table. You would think that an extremely popular place would have me saying great praises about the well cooked food and the great service. Well, that was not my experience, and I have returned and again and again both the food and the services were below par.

As I walked into the over populated restaurant I stood shoulder to shoulder with complete strangers. Waiting for a table and, because of the hype, expecting the greatest food. They handed me a vibrating beeper with a red blinking light. As it begins to flash and vibrate I get excited as if I have won the lottery. As the hostess dressed in black lead me to my booth. I sat waiting as the young waiter approached dressed nicely with a blue collar shirt and black pants and a tie.

I flipped through the menu and everything sounded so good with great prices. For a second I started to understand all the people standing in the small crowed waiting area. I ordered my usual Dr. Pepper, what is the point of free refills when the waiter never comes to refill your drinks?

After hearing the amazing rumors, I order the spinach dip. I must admit, my taste buds sang as I dipped the thin chip into the layers of melted different cheese and green spinach topped with a spoon full of sour cream. I started to eat the warm outer sides of the dip but as I got into the center I took a large bite of halfway frozen spinach and cold cheese. I started to get frustrated that my drink still has not been filled, and annoyed that my food was not sitting in front of me after 30 minutes.

Finally my well-done steak and loaded bake potato sat in front of me. In my vocabulary “well-done” steak does not mean bloody and bright red. I was waiting for my food to grow legs moo at my and walk off. I ask the waiter to take it back and put it back on the grill. About twenty minutes of being sick of waiting, the waiter brings it back. As I cut into the slab of meat once again, I was so upset as again it was still really pink.

I was too annoyed and frustrated to ask a second time to re-cook my steak that I just asked for my ticket. I love when I ask for my ticket and the waiter has it in their little pouch on their belt and just hand it to you the second you ask for it. But that is just to easy to do for the waiters at Cheddars. I watch the waiter as he stands at the computer flirting with the cute hostess, with his phone in his hand hoping to win over her number, not even paying attention to what he is suppose to be doing.

Finally after waiting until he is finished his conversation, he brings me my ticket. I pay the amount for the food and leave. Well I was certainly disappointed walking through the crowded parking lot to my car. I don’t understand how they have so much business, I guess quantity is more important than quality. No, that still does not explain it.

I did return to Cheddars for my dear friend’s 21st birthday, but this time we sat at the bar. I was surprised at the amazing service and a great atmosphere, besides the strange girl hitting on my married sister, and a bar fly trying to ease-drop into our conversations. Was I really in the same restaurant? They had great drinks and really good prices. Even our food was cooked and everything came out really fast. Even our drinks were constantly refilled. I don’t really know how everything was so much better and different, but I really did enjoy my bar-experience and walked away with great stories and wonderful memories.

So I don’t know what to expect each time I eat there. I could have horrible service and uncooked meat or decent food and great service. But I still don’t see why it is one of the most popular restaurants in Tyler.