Chili’s has been in Tyler for a long time. The chain restaurant is well-known for their unique queso and Baby Back Ribs. It was just a couple years ago when Lindale opened its first Chili’s restaurant. If you live about the same distance between the Tyler and Lindale Chili’s restaurants you probably wonder which one is better to eat at. I am a Chili’s lover! The loaded mashed potatoes and the baby back ribs (if cooked right) are to die for, not to mention the Chocolate Molten Lava Cake. The two Chili’s restaurants have their good and bad qualities. Tyler’s restaurant is much larger than the Lindale restaurant, so if you have a big party and all want to sit together I recommend the Tyler restaurant. Even though it is larger it always seems like they are short on waiters. The last time I went to the Tyler restaurant it took forever for our waiter to come over to our table in the first place, and then I do not think my drink was refilled once. When a restaurant is short staffed you will not get good service. I saw managers standing around and I bothered me that they were not picking up the slack of the employees. There is no question that the food is always better at the Tyler Chili’s, but the service falls short. I much more prefer the Lindale Chili’s restaurant. Although I am not a big fan of walking in and smelling the cigarette smoke from the bar, the small restaurant ensures that the restaurant will not be over packed or short handed. I have never once walked out of the Lindale Chili’s and thought “wow that service really stunk.” Not only are the waiters more attentive to their customers’ needs, the managers are too. Many times that I have been there the manager has visited my table and asked if we needed anything, and even has stayed and chatted for a while. I have had my order messed up a couple times but they were always quick to correct it, and if they were not, they have offered a free dessert. It is nice to have a waiter that see that they made a mistake and do what they can to correct it. Even though I really like this restaurant I have walked out thinking, that the food was not that good. I do not know why, but the Lindale Chili’s food seems to fall short compared to the Tyler’s Chili’s restaurant. The food is not horrible by any means, and sometimes I am surprised when is excels my expectations. The atmosphere always seems much more friendly, inviting, and quiet at the Lindale, and that is why I choose to keep going to the Lindale Chili’s, even though it is a longer drive for me.

There are many different restaurants in Tyler. There is no shortage of places to eat. It seems like the only thing to do in Tyler is to go out to eat or watch a movie. As Valentines Day is just around the corner there are a lot of options of where you should take that special person. If you are looking for a romantic and quiet evening, Tyler has many romantic spots. Currents restaurant is a small restaurant that privately owned, if you are looking for great food and a romantic atmosphere, this is a great place to go. Currents is a small restaurant that is tucked behind trees by Tyler Junior College. All the food that I have tried there is very delicious. Currents restaurant has a good selection of rich desserts. I have never been to the restaurant and had a bad experience. The service is always really good and quick to get your food to your table and keep your drinks full. The quiet restaurant ensures that your date will be romantic and intimate. One of the more popular fancy restaurants in Tyler is the Hispanic restaurant, Villa Montez. Villa Montez is a beautiful restaurant and known for its rich Latin flavor. The restaurant serves many different sea foods prepared with rich Latin spices. The layout of the restaurant allows you to have a romantic meal that is very intimate. The unique menu brings a great new taste to East Texas. Most of the times that I have gone to Villa Montez I have had good service at Villa Montez. They open their out door deck to those who want to have a romantic dinner out in the evening air (hoping that the Tyler weather is nice). If you love a Mexican dinner at a place that the walls are not covered with crayon marks, and the whole restaurant is covered in bright neon lights, that Villa Montez is the place to go for a great romantic night. My new personal favorite place to eat in Tyler has to be Jake’s on the square. The candle light setting on the roof top of down town Tyler bring a romantic mood to any date, whether it is your first, or your hundredth date. Jake’s restaurant as a great menu of wines and drinks, the menu also includes a selection of cigars. The food here is as amazing as the atmosphere. There are great specials that differ all the time. To top of the great experience that Jake’s restaurant offers many nights there is live music played on the roof of the restaurant. This is for sure one of the most romantic places to eat in East Texas. These are just a few of the great romantic restaurants in East Texas, so instead of going to a busy and loud chain restaurant and sit in a nasty old movie theater seat, make your Valentines Day a romantic and intimate one.

I am sure that everyone has seen at least one of the thousands of Nutrisystem commercials. The diet plan has become one of the most popular plans out there. Why? Because it is so easy. Basically you go on line and order the meals from their menu and a box of food is mailed to your door. The question is; how much are you willing to spend? The cheapest meals plan is around three hundred dollars for four weeks of food. The meal plans include breakfast, lunch, dinner, desserts, and snacks. You can choose what you want to eat by looking through the menu on the Nutrisystem website. The breakfast menu has many different options of everyone’s favorite breakfast foods, such as oatmeal, cereal, French toast, pancakes, and many more. Out of the many options of breakfast meals I am sure that everyone can find something that they will like. The lunch menu has meals that will keep you energized throughout the day and not make you feel tired and sluggish half way through the work day. The selection of meals includes a variety of soups, salads, pastas, and even pizza. If you just would prefer a snack for lunch, the menu includes many different trail mix bar and chocolate bars. Dinner is one of people’s favorite meals, and tends to be the meals that people over eat. With Nutrisystem’s dinner plans you will be sure that you will not over eat and get the nutrition that your body needs. The selection of dinner items ensures that there will be some food you will never try and some foods that you will keep re-ordering. The menu includes foods like stuffed pastas, beef and mashed potatoes, fajitas, chili with beans, Asian pastas, soups, pizzas, and even burgers. Lastly the dessert and snack menu has many sweet and salty dessert and snack foods that will satisfy cravings. Everyone’s favorite desserts are available on the menu, such as ice cream, chocolate cake, and pies. For snacks between meals there are selections of salty snacks like trail mix, and nuts, and sweet snacks, like chocolate covers granola bars. The menu items I have mentioned are mostly form the “basic” menu but there are other menu options that will be the best selection for you. You can also order foods from the “silver” plan (which is for people looking for ultimate results), or you can order from the vegetarian and diabetic menus.

Now that you somewhat know what each of the meals consists of, the question now is “does it work?” All of the meals have the correct portion size to control people from over eating. All of the food is diet meals, and Nutrisystem does not try to market it any other way. Although the term “diet foods” may turn people off from the program, eating diet food items is the most effective way to loose weight. The price for the Nutrisystem program is not that much, but that is if you stick to just eating the meals provided. But can you loose weight while on the Nutrisystem program? Of course. Changing eating habits and staying active is the quickest way to losing weight. But this is something that you can do on your own. If you do not want to order the food from the website and do not want to do the Nutrisystem plan, it is possible to do portion control from your home. So although Nutrisystem makes this so easy for you it will only work if you stick to the meal program, and there are not options for people that like to eat out, like Weight Watchers has. The whole program is done online, many people, including celebrities, such as Marie Osmond and Dan Marino, have had great success on the diet plans. The only down fall to this is trying it on your own. After you have been served the meals and do not even have to really think about how much you are eating, it will be hard to keep your portions of food to a healthy amount. Exercise with any diet will bring a greater result and a healthier life style.

It has been almost a year since the multiple churches burning all around East Texas. Two young men were charged for the horrible burning. Jason Borque is only 20 years old and has been sentenced for a life sentence for the burnings of Fellowship of Prairie Creek Church, Tyland Baptist Church, First Church of Christ Scientist, Dover Baptist Church, and Clear Spring Missionary. On top of the five life sentences Borque will also be serving two 20 year sentences for attempting to burn down two other churches in East Texas. Daniel McAllister was also at fault in many of the burnings. McAllister will serve two life sentences for the burnings of Clear Spring Missionary Church and Dover Baptist. He will also serve two 20 year sentences for attempting to burn down two other churches. Both of the men will be eligible parole. Jason Borque will be up for parole in 20 years, and McAllister will be up for parole in 15 years. Daniel McAllister was much more willing to talk to the police about the burnings and Borque was not willing to cooperate in any way. A year ago many church members mourned as they saw their church buildings turn into ashes. Thankfully no one was hurt or killed in the burnings. Many people think that the young men serving life sentences were too harsh of a punishment, and they were in shock of the judge’s sentence. The crimes were horrible and deserved a serious punishment. Many of the church members and pastors went to the hearing for the young men. Pastors expressed their forgiveness towards both Borque and McAllister. The trials came to a close as the men were led out of the courtroom in handcuffs but the crimes of these young men will not be forgotten to many people in East Texas.