Food Review

A Look Inside Black Bear Diner

~ shawnaborman ~ Leave a comment

Hello, hello! How’s everyone doing this lovely Wednesday? Things here are okay. Apparently, I’m anemic and have a severe vitamin D deficiency. That’s about it. Otherwise, things are normal. After the doctor’s appointment, we went for a late lunch at Black Bear Diner in Mesquite. Check the website for locations and hours. We’ve been there twice now. For the people who are familiar with the area, it’s where the Chinese buffet was on restaurant row. So, I decided to do a review. Any pictures are borrowed from Google because I didn’t think about taking any.

First, a reminder of my rating system:

MMMMM = Everything is magnificent!
MMMM = Great, but something is off.
MMM = Pretty good, but a couple of things could be better.
MM = The bad’s starting to outweigh the good.
M = Definitely more cons than pros.
… = I couldn’t find anything nice to say.

Accessibility: There’s a nice ramp out front and plenty of room to get in easily. The handicap parking spaces are directly across from the ramp, so it’s easy access. The tables are a little high, which is great for me since my chair is on the tall side. You have to check out at the front. There’s a tall counter, so it would probably be annoying if you’re there on your own, but the staff is nice, so I have no doubt they would figure out a way to help.

Service: It was great. Our waiter was Hunter both times. He didn’t hesitate to talk to me directly, so he gets bonus points. He gave us plenty of time to look over the menu and made sure we were taken care of. He made the experience pleasant overall.

Food: The breakfast items were delicious. I especially liked the Bacon Avocado Benedict. Dad enjoyed his “The Grizz” with a waffle instead of pancakes. Dinner items weren’t as good. The chicken fried steak was the “pre-chewed” kind. That ultra processed patty that is basically just steak crumbles, so not very good unless that’s what you like. The chicken and waffle was good. The chili was not chili, but it was an okay bean stew.

Dessert: They have a nice selection. We only had the berry cobbler, but it was yummy. Everything else looks good too.

Price: Good sized portions at a relatively cheap price. It’s worth it.

My rating:
MMMM

A Look Inside Settler’s Table

~ shawnaborman ~ Leave a comment

Howdy, howdy! How’s everyone doing this lovely Wednesday? Things here are okay. Thanksgiving was nice. We had all the yummy food and a lot of people came over. It was a good day. But a few days before turkey day, Dad and I tried a place called Settler’s Table. It’s on Collins in Sunnyvale. Anyway, I don’t really have anything else to ramble about, so I figured I’d do a food review. We got delivery, so I can’t comment on accessibility or service for this one, but the food is really the important part for any restaurant. Any pictures are borrowed from Google because I wasn’t actually planning on reviewing this place.

First, a reminder of my rating system:

MMMMM = Everything is magnificent!
MMMM = Great, but something is off.
MMM = Pretty good, but a couple of things could be better.
MM = The bad’s starting to outweigh the good.
M = Definitely more cons than pros.
… = I couldn’t find anything nice to say.

Appetizer: Horny Toads. They’re deep fried pimento cheese balls with a jalapeño glaze. The melty cheese and crispy crust were actually really good, but the glaze was cloyingly sweet. I only made it through one and half before I gave up. First bite was good, but it just got worse with every bite after that.

Entrees: I got Dad the Naked Burger (a burger on a salad instead of a bun). I ordered medium rare hoping it would at least still be juicy even if they overcooked it a bit. Calling it a hockey puck is being generous. The salad was nothing special either. I got the rig-a-tuna. It was supposed to be herbed rigatoni with tuna and other things I really like. The flavor was pretty good, but the dish was super dry. I was kind of expecting pesto or at least some kind of oil dressing to combine all the dry ingredients together into a cohesive dish. Nope. It was all dry. Even the stuff that usually has some moisture (canned tuna, sundried tomatoes, etc.) felt like it had been drained and blotted dry. It was all just very sad.

Dessert: I got a slice of peanut butter pie. I was looking forward to it because I haven’t found a good peanut butter pie since Denny’s got rid of theirs. I still haven’t found one. It was kind of gritty and had pockets of sweetness vs. pockets of saltiness, like the filling hadn’t been mixed well. It was disappointing.

Price: about the same as everywhere else. If the food had been good, it would’ve been a decent price really, but as is, it wasn’t worth it.

My rating:
M

Note: I actually really wanted to like this place. It’s close by and has outdoor seating and would’ve been a nice place to go for a late lunch once in a while. I’m not just being a dick. The food just wasn’t good.

A Look Inside Pho Garden

~ shawnaborman ~ Leave a comment

Howdy, howdy! How’s everyone doing this lovely Wednesday? I haven’t seen any news about the end of the US yet, but it’s only 6:30pm on Tuesday as I’m writing this. Fingers crossed things go well. And by well, I mean anything but orange. Anyway, we spent most of the day in Rockwall so I could see the ENT. While we were out that way, we decided to stop for pho! It’s been a long time since we had it and it was our first time at this place. It’s called Pho Garden and is in the plaza at Rockwall (a strip mall) near the 24-Hour Fitness. You can find the address on their website above. I didn’t think about pictures, so everything here is borrowed from Google.

First, a reminder of my rating system:

MMMMM = Everything is magnificent!
MMMM = Great, but something is off.
MMM = Pretty good, but a couple of things could be better.
MM = The bad’s starting to outweigh the good.
M = Definitely more cons than pros.
… = I couldn’t find anything nice to say.

Accessibility: The nearest handicap parking space has one of those tiny loading zones that even able-bodied people have to squeeze through, so we had to block traffic a bit while I unloaded. It happens. Whatever. But going into the restaurant was the worst part. It’s one of those annoying double door things where you have to go in, turn, and go in another door. It’s a tiny space. In all honesty, I wouldn’t have even tried the place if I knew it had that kind of entrance. You literally need two people just to help you get inside. Once you make it inside, it’s great. Plenty of room to maneuver between tables. The tables are on the high side of normal, so I had no problem getting underneath. Nothing to block my footrests or bang my knees on. Perfect.

Service: It was great. Everyone talked to me like I was a normal human being. That’s pretty much all it takes to get on our good side. They kept everything full for the most part and made sure we had everything we needed and were super nice in general.

Appetizer: We got the spring rolls with shrimp. They were pretty good. The peanut sauce had a chocolaty flavor that was weird but not unpleasant.

Pho: Dad got the pho garden which had steak, brisket, meatballs, and tripe. He really enjoyed it. Loaded it up with chili oil. Yum. And I got the seafood pho which was shrimp, fish balls, and krab (imitation crab). It was really good too.

Price: It’s in line with everything else nowadays. About $45 pre-tip for two people, so not that bad.

My rating:
MMMM

A Look Inside King Noodle and Sushi

~ shawnaborman ~ 3 Comments

Hello, hello! How’s everyone doing this lovely (or is it still dreary?) Wednesday? Things here are good. Talked to Dr. Lucifer (Lussier), my pulmonologist, and she said it was okay to venture out more as long as we use common sense (don’t let people hover right over me, use my mouthpiece most of the time since the vent filters are actually pretty good at their job, wear a mask when people are lingering within a couple of feet, and avoid crowded enclosed things like elevators where there’s no escape from people, etc.). Anyway, we had to drop one of the puppers off to get spayed. Sophia. Dropped her off Monday evening and she got spayed Tuesday. She’s home and loopy now. But I’m rambling. After we dropped her off, we decided to try King Noodle and Sushi over on Tripp Rd. Ate there instead of picking up and going home. That means you get a food review post! The pictures were borrowed from Facebook and Google because we forgot to take any.

First, a reminder of my rating system:

MMMMM = Everything is magnificent!
MMMM = Great, but something is off.
MMM = Pretty good, but a couple of things could be better.
MM = The bad’s starting to outweigh the good.
M = Definitely more cons than pros.
… = I couldn’t find anything nice to say.

Accessibility: It’s in a strip mall, but the handicap spaces and ramps are right next door to the restaurant and a couple of other restaurants, so it’s pretty convenient. There are two sets of doors and the inside doors don’t have windows, so all I could think was “Fuck, I hope no one tries to come out and smacks me with a door.” That was the only awkward bit. Plenty of room between the tables inside. They also have those half booth/half chairs tables which is nice. Tables were a little low. I could only get about halfway under.

Service: They get all the stars for service! I go through the door and the person at the counter actually greets me before Dad. The waitress is the same way. She talks to me and answers questions and just treats me like a person in general. It’s weird, but in the good way. Plus she stayed on top of things like refills and getting napkins and stuff. So yes, full stars for the service. It was wonderful.

Appetizers: The takoyaki was interesting. There was only one little lonely piece of tako (octopus) in each ball, but the flavor was good. The chili wontons were pretty good too.

Other food: We tried a lot of different things and the flavors were great, but anything with dough (the noodles, dumpling wrappers, etc.) were mushy. Definitely overcooked. And it was a little off putting. It wasn’t inedible by any means, just disappointing. The spicy beef noodle soup wasn’t spicy, but there’s chili oil on the table, so that was easily remedied. The xiao long buns and shrimp dumplings were nice. I had the chicken pan fried noodles which were the least mushy and overall pretty good. I think the best thing we had was actually the Denton roll. All the other sushi rolls were just California rolls with toppings. The Denton roll was a little different and fried. In other words, the food is okay and if we were closer, we’d probably go again, but if we have to get in the van to go get noodles, we’d rather drive into Dallas for pho. Or just order lo mein from Chan’s and have them bring it to us.

Dessert: The options were cheesecake or mochi ice cream, so I got a mango and a matcha mochi ice cream. It was the standard kind you find in Japanese and sometimes Chinese restaurants around here.

Price: Everything is a little expensive nowadays, so this wasn’t out of line. Plus, we ordered a lot. Decent portions. So, not too bad.

My rating:
MMM

A Look Inside Giovanni

~ shawnaborman ~ Leave a comment

Howdy, howdy! How’s everyone doing this toasty Wednesday? Last Thursday, Dad had a doctor’s appointment over in Rockwall, so we decided to go to the Harbor (a fancy shopping place on the lake with a bunch of restaurants and stuff) and grab a bite to eat. There were only a couple of people inside and it was 109 degrees, so we sat inside. It’s the third time we’ve eaten at a restaurant since Covid started. The other two times (once in May and once in July), we ate outside. Anyway, I haven’t reviewed a restaurant since 2020, so why not do a food review now? The place is called Giovanni and it’s in the Harbor Rockwall. You can find the address and contact info at the websites above.

First, a reminder of my rating system:

MMMMM = Everything is magnificent!
MMMM = Great, but something is off.
MMM = Pretty good, but a couple of things could be better.
MM = The bad’s starting to outweigh the good.
M = Definitely more cons than pros.
… = I couldn’t find anything nice to say.

Borrowed from Google.

Accessibility: Getting from the parking lot to the restaurant is annoying, but in no means the restaurant’s fault. Whoever designed the Harbor really liked steps and put the curb cuts and ramps in stupid, unintuitive places. The steps are completely unnecessary (a nice gradual slope, not even a ramp, would be fine where most of the steps are) and they’re not aesthetically pleasing, but I’m not an architect, so what do I know. Also, the ramps are pushed off to one side of the steps instead of one on each end. A poor design all around, but I’m not taking points away from the restaurant for that. The accessibility of the restaurant itself is pretty standard. Easy to get through the door and the aisles to the tables were navigable, but I could see it being difficult if it were crowded. The tables themselves were good. A little high, which is fine with me. I just had to tilt my seat a little to sit comfortably.

Service: Wonderful. Dad did have to tell the waiter I could talk for myself, but only once. After that, he treated me like a normal person. He was attentive and made sure things didn’t come out too fast. Never rushed us. It was a good experience overall.

Bread and Appetizers: The only thing were actually disappointed with was the bread basket with oil and vinegar. The bread was basically just undercooked dinner rolls. The appetizer was yummy. We had the crab cakes. They were soft and fluffy and came with a small salad of tomatoes, pickled onions, and arugula I believe. Plus a dijon cream. There were two, so we each got one.

Lobster ravioli.
Fra diavolo that has a few bites missing.

Entrees: Really good. The portion sizes were actually normal instead of huge, so there weren’t any leftovers. It was odd, but nice. I would say it’s it’s because we ordered from the lunch menu, but the prices are the same on the dinner menu, so I’m guessing the portions are the same too. Anyway, I had the lobster ravioli and Dad had the fra diavolo. Mine was delicious. I got three ravioli, one topped with a shrimp, another with a scallop, and the last with crab. Some wilted spinach was there to sop up the sauce. Everything was tender and lovely. Dad’s fra diavolo had a nice heat level, but the bell peppers slightly overpowered the seafood. It was good though.

Dessert and Drinks: Yum. I had the creme brulee. It was nice and creamy and came with a couple of raspberries on top. It was wonderful. I also had the espresso martini. It was chilled and yummy. If you like Bailey’s, you’ll probably like it.

Borrowed from their website.

Price: A little expensive, but nothing out of the ordinary. Especially for seafood. And Covid prices.

My rating:
MMMM

While it was enjoyable and the food was good, I took away an M because there wasn’t really anything drawing us back. I’m sure if it was closer and we were in the mood, we’d go again. But when we left, there was no discussion of what to try next or excitement to go again. There wasn’t anything worth driving across the lake for, really. It was good. That’s about it.

A Look Inside Sunday Morning Catfish and More

~ shawnaborman ~ 1 Comment

Hello, hello! How is everyone doing today? I actually left the house earlier this week to run errands with Dad. Granted, I stayed in the van the whole time, but at least I saw the world still existed. Kind of. And I was glad to see some people still wearing masks. I’m still not going to brave interacting with people (mostly because I like the excuse to ignore the world), but it’s nice to see they still exist. Anyway, yesterday Dad ran some errands while I stayed home. He grabbed some catfish for lunch/dinner and I realized I never wrote about this place, so here’s an impromptu food review. The place is called Sunday Morning Catfish and More (or just Sunday Morning Catering). It’s on Pioneer, in front of Planet Fitness. I linked to their Facebook page so you can find the address and hours and stuff.

First, a reminder of my rating system:

MMMMM = Everything is magnificent!
MMMM = Great, but something is off.
MMM = Pretty good, but a couple of things could be better.
MM = The bad’s starting to outweigh the good.
M = Definitely more cons than pros.
… = I couldn’t find anything nice to say.

Newest menu borrowed from their Facebook page.

Accessibility: I haven’t been able to go in a year and a half at least, but it used to be fine. As long as no one parks in front of the door, everything is even with the parking lot, so you don’t have to worry about a step or anything. Inside, there’s a little ramp that’s slightly on the steep side, but nothing unmanageable. Just be careful the first couple of times you use it. The tables were good and didn’t have any knee bangers or anything that got in the way of footrests. But things might have changed since then. It used to be easy enough to get around, though.

Service: I only went once after the restaurant changed hands (used to be Howard’s Catfish) and before the plague set in, but everyone was super nice and treated me like a person (bonus points!). The few times we’ve called in and Dad picked it up, he says they always ask how I am, which is nice. I look forward to going back in person one of these days.

Nuggets. Borrowed from their Facebook page because I never think of taking pictures.

Food: Delicious. It’s one of the few places where we order just about the same thing each time. We both get catfish nuggets and shrimp. I usually get fried pickles and Dad always has to get a fried porkchop. The porkchops are his absolute favorite. And we’ll sometimes get something extra to try. It’s all amazing. Unfortunately, it’s fried so we only go a couple of times a year. They do have Soul Food Sundays with different options, but we haven’t been able to try that.

Dessert: There’s usually a selection of cake slices. We’re usually full by the time we’re done, so we’ve only gotten cake twice. It was nice and moist both times. The pieces are big enough that I can save half for later unless Dad eats it. Yum.

Price: Not bad at all. We usually get two meals (sometimes three) out of our order, so it’s definitely worth the money portion-wise. And the food is always delicious, so quality-wise it’s worth it too.

My rating:
MMMMM

A Look Inside Reggae Wings and Tings

~ shawnaborman ~ Leave a comment

Hello, hello! How is everyone doing this beautiful day? It’s been a long time since I did a food review. I’m going to blame Covid since we haven’t been able to go out to eat since it started and we constantly have issues with GrubHub and DoorDash, so we don’t order in much, but the truth is that I hadn’t done one long before Covid. But, this weekend, Dad and I gave GrubHub another shot (still showed up late, but that’s really been our only continuous problem with them), in order to try a Jamaican place called Reggae Wings and Tings. They’re on the corner of Motley and Town East here in Mesquite. Their address and contact info is on the website linked above.

First, a reminder of my rating system:

MMMMM = Everything is magnificent!
MMMM = Great, but something is off.
MMM = Pretty good, but a couple of things could be better.
MM = The bad’s starting to outweigh the good.
M = Definitely more cons than pros.
… = I couldn’t find anything nice to say.

Front of their menu, borrowed from their website.

Accessibility: no first hand experience, but judging from pictures I found on Google, it looks pretty standard for around here. Tables don’t seem to have anything to bump your knees on. There appears to be a couple of unloading zones for wheelchairs. The area in front of the door looks wide enough so you shouldn’t have to make a tight turn to get in. But this is all from pictures, so I can’t be positive yet.

Service: we ordered from GrubHub, so there was no real service interactions. But Dad did call to let them know we enjoyed the food and the woman on the phone seemed friendly and nice.

Oxtails, rice and peas, and fried plantains. Borrowed from Google because I didn’t think to take pictures.

Entrees: absolutely delicious. I had the same as pictured above. The oxtails were soft and just amazing. I don’t usually get rice because it’s difficult for me to eat without help, but I’m glad I did. It was fluffy, but still clung together enough that I didn’t have too much trouble with it. I don’t know what the peas in it were, but they were tasty. Even the fried plantain (which I’m usually iffy about) was delicious. Dad had jerk pork with mac-n-cheese and fried dumplings. He loved it all. The pork was tender and just spicy enough. I wasn’t sure about the dumplings, but I’m not a big fan of sourdough. Dad enjoyed them, though!

Drinks: interesting. Dad got something called Irish Moss. It was like a super cinnamon-y eggnog, so we liked it. I got some kind of ginger beer, which was good. They have other drinks, but don’t really explain what they are on GrubHub, so we’ll just have to randomly choose again next time.

Back of the menu, borrowed from their website.

Dessert: yummy. We got a slice of both the cream cheese pound cake and the Jamaican rum cake. They were both nice and moist. The pound cake was good, but didn’t stand out as much as the rum cake. The rum cake had a lovely blend of spices and an interesting chewy texture.

Price: not bad at all. Without GrubHub’s fees (about $10 altogether), it would’ve been about $50 plus a tip. We were full and happy when we were done, so totally worth it.

My rating:
MMMMM

A Look Inside the Maple Leaf Diner

~ shawnaborman ~ Leave a comment

Hello, hello! Can you believe it’s already February? Do you have any special plans this month? Any goals you’re hoping to achieve? Don’t worry. This isn’t another goals post or check in or anything like that. But I will say that I’m still on schedule with all my stuff and the date of my friend’s visit is closing in fast! Huzzah! Anyway, last week, Dad and I had to run an errand in Dallas over by the Galleria (corner of Alpha and Inwood), so I decided to look for something different to eat that would be on our way home. I found a Canadian diner on the corner of Preston and 635. Canadian food? Pretty much the only food I know of from Canada is poutine, so I figured why not try it. The place is called the Maple Leaf Diner and it’s tucked in a strip mall. Check the website linked above for the address and menu and all that.

First, a reminder of my rating system:

MMMMM = Everything is magnificent!
MMMM = Great, but something is off.
MMM = Pretty good, but a couple of things could be better.
MM = The bad’s starting to outweigh the good.
M = Definitely more cons than pros.
… = I couldn’t find anything nice to say.

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Pictures are borrowed from the diner’s Facebook page and Google.

Accessibility: standard for Texas. There’s a little rise to the doors, but the ramp comes at it from all angles, so getting in is easy. The tables are a little close together, so I can see maneuvering around the place getting difficult if it’s super busy, but we went when it wasn’t crowded at all. The tables are on the tall side of normal, which I like. There aren’t any knee bangers on the tables and they even have some half booth places so Dad didn’t have to sit in an uncomfortable chair. So yeah, it’s pretty good.

Service: fabulous. Our waitress, May, was super friendly and treated me like a human from the get go, so you know that gets her automatic bonus points. She made sure nothing came out too fast and didn’t rush us. She was attentive but not overbearing. May made the whole experience a wonderful one.

Appetizers: yummy. We had the pierogies. They’re dumplings filled with potatoes and cheese then topped with bacon, onions, and sour cream. I don’t know who decided to stuff a dumpling with mashed potatoes, but they were a genius.

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Pot roast poutine.

Entrees: worth the drive. Let’s be honest, I hate that part of Dallas because the roads are crap and the drivers are worse. But I will go back just for this place. The menu is huge. They have lots of breakfast items (served all day) and a bunch of items that are more for lunch or dinner. Dad had the pot roast poutine (french fries smothered with pot roast, gravy, and cheese curds). I had the lox benedict (eggs benedict with smoked salmon instead of Canadian bacon) with latkes and fresh fruit. To my surprise, it was actually fruit I could eat. And even Dad liked the lox, which he isn’t usually into. I’m actually sad we don’t have a place like this near us.

Drinks: so much to choose from. They have all the standards, plus lattes (iced or hot), milkshakes (adult versions also available), and booze. I had a hazelnut latte (hot) and really enjoyed it. I also had a Hummer (vanilla milkshake with Kahlua and I believe rum, but don’t quote me, and chocolate sauce). Yum. And of course Dad and I had a lovely conversation with all the inappropriate jokes about hummers. Dad just had iced tea and tastes of my drinks.

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A little bakery and dessert area they have.

Dessert: yes, please. I stuck with my milkshake for dessert, but they have cookies and pies and cream puffs and some other stuff. Dad got a nanaimo bar (pastry topped with custard and chocolate). It was tiny which was good because it’s super sweet. There was also shredded coconut in it, but it still tasted good.

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Nanaimo bars.

Price: surprisingly not bad. It’s in an area of Dallas where everything is more expensive, but even with everything we got, it was less than $60 (not including the tip). So, it’s definitely worth the price.

My rating:
MMMMM

Five Ms! The only issue I really have with the Maple Leaf Diner is that it’s so far away and I can’t fairly take away points because of that.

Updates About Restaurants I’ve Reviewed

~ shawnaborman ~ Leave a comment

Howdy, howdy!  Happy November!  Is everyone getting ready for the holidays?  They’ll be here before you know it.  I’m looking forward to Thanksgiving and the month where everything is peppermint flavored.  Are you looking forward to anything?  Anyway, Dad and I recently went to a restaurant I reviewed a long time ago and it was kind of blah.  So, I thought I would take the day to look back on past reviews and see if there is anything I need to update about them.  Let’s just go in chronological order from the beginning.

TBOB

1. The Tuscan Brick Oven Bistro.  I honestly have no idea how this one is holding up since I haven’t been back to Maine recently.  It’s still open according to Google, so if you’re in the area, check it out and let me know how it is.

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2. Half Shells Oyster Bar & Grill.  This place is still one of our favorites.  We don’t get out that way as often as we’d like, but we still recommend it to anyone in the area who loves seafood.

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3. Big Shucks Oyster Bar.  This place is still the best when it comes to scallops.  We haven’t gone recently (we’d rather go to Half Shells most of the time), but we still love it.

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4. St. Pete’s Dancing Marlin.  We haven’t been to any of the Deep Ellum restaurants in a long time because of all of the stuff that’s been going on (violence and the scooters of doom mostly), but we always enjoy St. Pete’s when we do go.

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5. The Free Man Cajun Cafe.  Same as St. Pete’s.

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6. Real Mexican Tacos.  It’s still our go-to taco place.  We usually end up here once or twice a month since it’s so close.  Say hi if you drop in and we’re there!

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7. The Mansion Restaurant.  We haven’t been back and have no plans to go back.  It’s a wonderful experience, but not something that needs to be done every year.  Splurge if you’re celebrating something big.  Otherwise, there are less expensive places where you get more food.

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8. Zenna.  Everything has gone downhill here.  The food is always disappointing and the service, while friendly, is always a little messed up.  It’s not really a place I’d recommend anymore.

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9. On the Lamb.  They shut down a long time ago.  I kind of miss them, but didn’t really expect them to make it.

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10. Texas de Brazil.  Still awesome.  And it’s our new Thanksgiving tradition!  Dad, our neighbor, and I already have our reservation for turkey day.  So much yum.

Mariscos3

11. Seafood Shack Mariscos.  We’ve only been back a couple of times, but we enjoy it.

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12. The Schooner Restaurant.  Haven’t been back and don’t want to.  Even if we were in the area, we wouldn’t go back.

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13. Crispy ‘N’ Puffy Taquito.  They are closed.  It’s no surprise.  But they blamed the city of Mesquite and its strict regulations regarding signs.  It had nothing to do with awful food.

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14. Trinity Hall Irish Pub.  We’ve been back a couple of times and it’s still great.  Go and enjoy!

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15. Yoshi Shabu Shabu.  We haven’t been back, so I don’t know how it holds up.

Fritzls

16. Fritzl’s Euro Grill.  Still recommend it.  Maybe we’ll make it back some time before Christmas.

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17. Burger Style Cafe.  Still go here every couple of weeks or so.  It’s delicious and nearby, so what’s not to love?

There’s my update.  Most of them are still good, a couple are closed, and one is meh.  Life goes on and things change.  What are some of your favorite places to eat?  As always, feel free to share your thoughts and comments here or on my social media pages!

A Look Inside Burger Style Cafe

~ shawnaborman ~ 3 Comments

Hello, hello!  I know I’ve been doing a lot of food reviews lately, but food is good, so enjoy it while you can.  I’ll get back to writerly stuff sooner or later.  This week, I thought I’d share the best burger place in Mesquite with you.  It’s a little mom-and-pop place in a strip mall right down the street from us on the corner of Pioneer and E. Davis.  Burger Style Cafe has been around for a while, but Dad and I never really got into it until recently when we decided to give it another shot after years of searching for a good burger.  Every time we’d find a decent place, the food would either go downhill or the owners would turn out to be unfriendly.  But Burger Style Cafe has consistently good food and wonderful people.

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As usual, pictures are stolen from Facebook or Google.

Accessibility: good.  It’s a little awkward getting in the door because there’s a step, so I can’t go straight in.  There are ramps on each side, so I have to go up the ramp and make a turn to get in.  It’s not difficult, just awkward.  Inside is great.  There is plenty of room to maneuver and lots of easily reached tables and booths.  The booths are even wide enough for me to sit at the end if Dad prefers a softer seat.  The tables are on the high side, which I prefer.  They’re just easier to get under.

Service: excellent.  Oscar (the owner) always talks to us and when he takes my order, he comes out from behind the tall counter to talk directly to me.  And Felix (the cook) always comes out to greet us.  They both treat me like a person, so you know that earns them a lot of points.  Plus, they’re really nice people.

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The menu!

Food: delicious.  If you like juicy burgers that you bite into and all the juices immediately start running down your face, this is the place to go.  Plus, the buns are yummy.  My go-to is the guacamole burger (cheddar, mayo, lettuce, tomatoes, pickles, sauteed onions) with a side of fried mushrooms.  The chili cheeseburger is good too.  Dad’s burger changes a little each time, but he usually gets a side of sweet potato fries.  I’m not a big sweet potato fan, but Dad loves them, especially when they’re crispy.  He’s never had a soggy sweet potato fry from Felix.

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Not my flavor of choice, but milkshakes!

Dessert: Blue Bell Ice Cream.  They have milkshakes and cones with Texas’s own Blue Bell ice cream.  If that’s not your thing, Burger Style Cafe is right next door to a brand new fruteria (a review for another time) which is next door to a new Mexican bakery (haven’t tried it yet).  So, there are plenty of options nearby even if you don’t want ice cream.

Entertainment: no idea, but people seem to enjoy it.  We haven’t been ourselves, but they have Elvis every third Friday of the month.  If that’s your thing, check it out.

Price: fair.  You get fresh food and generous portions, so you’re going to pay more than you would at a fast food joint.  But it’s a good price for the quality you get.

My rating:
MMMMM

Another 5 Ms!  Maybe I’m getting soft in my old age or maybe it’s just that good.  Go check it out and judge for yourself.  Their Facebook with the address and hours is linked above.