A Look Inside the Mansion Restaurant

January 20, 2016January 18, 2016 ~ shawnaborman ~ 3 Comments

Hello, hello! As many of you know, my birthday was on the 12th (dirty thirty). Dad encouraged me to pick somewhere extravagant, so I took it to heart and chose the Mansion on Turtle Creek. We were celebrating mine and a friend’s birthdays. I wasn’t planning on doing a blog post about it, so I didn’t get pictures of everything, but Lew Andrada insisted on hearing more about the place. So, here it is.

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.

Mansion%20Restaurant — Stolen from Google.

As usual, first and foremost is accessibility. It’s not really accessible, but they try. Parking is valet, so as soon as I was unloaded, someone led the way up the (heated) walkway into the foyer, which was where things got less than wheelchair friendly. There were two steps up going into the dining area, so they brought out this three foot portable ramp and set it up. The incline was so steep that my wheelie bars hung and I lost traction for a second. But with the help of Dad and some of the staff, I made it up (and back down) safely. Other than that, the tables were perfect. Just let them know ahead of time that you need something accessible. Also, request a table in the library if possible. That has nothing to do with accessibility, it’s just a really beautiful room.

Next up is service. The entire wait staff (from the bread person to the one who keeps your water filled to the waiter himself) was wonderful. Everyone was attentive and knowledgeable. They didn’t act like I was invisible. We got to hear all about the Mansion’s history and they gave us a mini tour after we were done eating (since we were pretty much the only people left). I have zero complaints about the people there.

Food… this is where things get iffy. The taste of everything ranged from really good to superb, so don’t worry about that, but the portions were super tiny. They were the perfect size for me, but don’t go in expecting tons of food. For instance, I got the shigoku oysters to start. There were half a dozen small oysters with some kind of foam and other fancy toppings. They fell on the really good end of the yum spectrum. Dad got quail (like a quarter of the bird came out on a huge plate). That was delicious. My friends who went with us are vegan, so they got a kale dish and beet gazpacho (it didn’t even look like soup, but they said everything was great).

Entrees were taking a while, so the chef sent out a taster of head cheese for Dad and I, and quinoa for my friends. It was so tiny and cute that we had to laugh. Dinner itself included tea smoked pheasant for Dad (about half a breast with a side of potato foam… yes, foam). Maple leaf duck for me (three slices with some kind of blackberry sauce and citrus confit). My friends were going to share something called textures of onion, but the waiter said the chef would prefer them to order two portions otherwise they would still be hungry when they left. Again, everything was phenomenal, just really tiny. Luckily, bread was being passed around the whole time.

1422395_10153358315371716_4876229335372664363_n — Cake! It’s not the best picture. Oh well.

After dinner, they brought out a palate cleanser of apple sorbet (I’m allergic to apples, but I ate it anyway). It was so small it was adorable. Then came time for dessert. Dad ordered a special red velvet cake layered with raspberry creme brulee. It was out of this world. Best. Cake. Ever. Unfortunately, it wasn’t vegan, so my friends got bowls of fruit. Dessert was the biggest and best part of the whole meal. Definitely.

Alas, we must mention price. It’s the Mansion. You don’t go there for a cheap meal. You go for the ambiance and the ability to say “I’ve been there!” That being said, we were expecting a five-six hundred dollar bill, but it was only around three hundred (plus the cake and the tip). So, expensive but not as bad as we were expecting.

Final rating:
MMMM

Totally worth the experience. See you next week!

Getting into the Holiday Spirit

December 2, 2015December 1, 2015 ~ shawnaborman ~ Leave a comment

Hello, hello! Thanksgiving is over (though leftovers still remain), so it’s officially time to get into the holiday spirit. In fact, just this past Monday, my minion (he knows who he is) posted on Facebook that people were talking to him and smiling at his job (apparently this is unusual behavior). Our exchange went something like this:

Me: “It’s called the holiday spirit. You’re in for about a month of it.”
Him: “Ack! Does it wash off???”
Me: “No. And it’s highly contagious.“

Later that evening, he and his family were supposed to join Dad and I for SMU’s Celebration of Lights. The minion ended up having to work, so we kidnapped his kids and girlfriend and took them anyway. ^__^

23451882755_21a6b5c078_o — Forgot the camera, so all of these pictures are stolen from the link above.

The Celebration of Lights was one of very few events I actually enjoyed attending as a student (and still enjoy as an alumna). It takes place on the front steps of Dallas Hall. People gather in the quad and sing along to Christmas carols. President Turner reads the Christmas story (which I still think Linus does better). And they light up the tree for the first time. It’s just a really nice way to start off the season. The free cocoa and cookies are a bonus.

22824741863_e0c4740b5f_o 23343397682_1bd8b5c5f1_o

The performances all change a little each year. Students and student groups volunteer to sing different carols, so things rotate as people graduate and new people enroll. Some are better than others, but SMU has a decent music program, so everyone is (usually) pretty good.

However, I suppose my favorite part of the celebration is the fact that something always goes wrong. Little things. One year, the microphones kept cutting off. This year, they were supposed to the flip the lights on after the first verse of Silent Night (like usual), but apparently the switch flipper wasn’t paying attention or they had technical difficulties, because the lights didn’t come on until the song was almost over. Not to mention the fact that they always run just a couple of minutes late (it wouldn’t be SMU if things started on time).

Don’t get me wrong, all of that was entirely serious. I go to this thing knowing that there will be something worth laughing about each year. That’s why I enjoy it. That sounds kind of mean now that I think about it, but it’s true. The hiccups make it exciting, even though I’m sure all of the people who are “back stage,” so to speak, are freaking out about this stuff.

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All in all, it’s a nice way to open the holiday season. Plus, the kids seem to have a good time. It’s open to the community, so if you’re in the Dallas area next year, consider checking it out (or drive by some time between now and January 3rd while you’re out oohing and ahhing at all the lights to get a look).

I hope the holiday cheer finds you soon, if it hasn’t already! See you next week.

Growing Up Cripple

August 19, 2015August 18, 2015 ~ shawnaborman ~ 6 Comments

Hi all! I really had no idea what to blog about, so I procrastinated for a while with the help of social media, and that’s when I noticed something strange. I’ve seen a lot of “growing up” hashtags on Twitter (growing up a girl, growing up black, etc.), but there isn’t a hashtag for growing up cripple. Yeah, you can find growing up disabled and growing up in a wheelchair, but they’re few and far between (plus, they’re mostly depressing). Since I’m not all that Twitter adept (140 characters just isn’t enough), I decided to blog about it.

Young Me (Color Correction) — It’s me! According to the copywrite date, I was four. I used to be so cute. What happened?

People act like growing up anything but a straight, white, able, cis, male puts you at some kind of disadvantage (cue the “privileged” arguments), but I disagree. Growing up, I never really felt like my crippleness put me at a real disadvantage or made me any less of a person. Don’t get me wrong, back then and to this day I’ve encountered people who seem to think I’m invisible, people who actually cross the street when they see me (I’m not contagious, I swear! Though, I do bite.), people who say or ask less than intelligent things, and the like, but I learned quickly that that was their problem, not mine. Just because some people are idiots doesn’t mean their behavior is in any way my fault.

Were things ever more difficult than they should’ve been? Yeah, of course! I mean, when stairs and curbs are your mortal enemies, you’re going to run into problems. Luckily, I was raised in a family where finding ways around obstacles was a challenge readily accepted. Can’t reach your mouth with that fork? Let’s tape a plastic one to a skewer! Can’t reach the keyboard with your right hand? Try this backscratcher! Keep getting stuck in the mud out back? Let’s build a deck! And the list goes on and on.

ShawnaProm2 — Prom. I designed the dress and Mom made it.

ShawnaGrad12 — High school graduation. Most of the immediate family.

Granted, the whole stuck in a chair thing also makes outings much more annoying (no, it’s not just something that affects home life), but it doesn’t stop me. That’s one thing Dallas has going for it, most places are accessible at least to a point (SMU, I’m looking at you when I say “to a point”), so I go to clubs and concerts and out to eat and to cons and renfests and all of that delightful stuff. You want to talk about privilege? Try being a cripple at clubs and cons and such. I was raised never to expect special treatment, but you’d be surprised how often places offer front of the line privileges among other stuff (and who am I to turn such thoughtfulness down?). Let’s see the straight, white, able, cis dude get that kind of treatment on a regular basis… I think not.

Shawna54 — I miss my purple hair. And the red hair. And the teal. You get the idea.

Anyway, I guess my point is that life is what you make of it. Yes, my crippleness makes life a pain in the ass sometimes, but it’s the hand I was dealt. I’m not inspirational (though I kindly thank those who think I am, because they’re being nice when they say that kind of stuff). I’m simply living my life. Life is hard, but do you want to know a secret? Everyone has problems (even that privileged white guy). You can either deal with your own issues and try to live happily for the most part, or you can focus on all the bad and be miserable forever. It’s your battle. No one can fight it for you.

A Look Inside the Free Man Cajun Cafe and Lounge

August 5, 2015August 4, 2015 ~ shawnaborman ~ 7 Comments

Hi there! Since I didn’t get a chance to do a food review last month, here’s one early this month. This week, I’ll introduce you to the Free Man Cajun Cafe and Lounge. It’s another one of Deep Ellum’s many restaurants, also on Commerce Street (up the road from the Dancing Marlin, actually). Check out their website (linked above) for their address and other information. Also, it’s not a seafood place!

Here’s a reminder of the rating system:

Accessibility… It’s actually really accessible unless they’re super packed and you have to squeeze all the way into the back for a table. Even then, it’s mostly just a matter of asking people to move, which is definitely one of my least favorite things to do. Most people are super nice about it, but it’s still not something I enjoy. Anyway, I like the table set up at Free Man’s. Aside from being a good height, the half-booth half-chair arrangement is good for me AND lets whomever I’m with have a choice (namely, Dad).

The service here is kind of hit and miss in a lot of ways. A lot of the time, I’m invisible, but occasionally (like this last time) I’m treated normally. To be fair, we usually go when there’s live music (7pm-2am every day), so it’s really hard to hear me anyway, but I prefer it when waiters at least try to talk to me. We went last Thursday around four in the afternoon, so maybe that’s why the waitress treated me like a person right off the bat. Also, sometimes the staff is really attentive, sometimes not. It just depends on how busy they are. Speaking of busy, if they are super busy, the food comes out fairly slow, but if they’re not, it has a tendency to come out boom boom boom, so take that into account when you order.

034 — Blackened shrimp cocktail and hot crab dip.

Onto the thing everyone cares about: the food! We went with the blackened shrimp cocktail and the hot crab dip for appetizers this time. It was our first time trying the cocktail, and I’m happy to say it was super yummy. There was a little spice to it, but not much, and the shrimp were nicely cooked. As far as the crab dip goes, it’s cheese, crab, and bread! You can’t go wrong.

036 — Half-eaten gumbo (it’s hard to remember pictures when food is around).

The entrees. Back when we first started going to Free Man’s, the menu was extremely limited (not a bad thing at all). They still have a fairly small selection, but it’s slowly growing. My go-to is usually the Cajun crawfish pasta. It’s got a lovely creamy sauce and they top it with chicken. I love it. Dad went for the etouffee this time, which is also delicious. They don’t make it too spicy, but they have a number of hot sauces on the table for you heat lovers to choose from. We also split a cup of gumbo (yum!). They do it right! Plus, the entrees come with a hunk of cornbread. I’m not a big fan of cornbread, but this stuff has won me over. Try it. You might like it.

039 — Bacon cheesecake with a bite missing.

040 — Cut into cranberry wheat bread pudding (aka Heaven on a plate).

The dessert! Again, you have a limited choice, but that’s totally okay here. Dad tried the bacon cheesecake (something new since our last trip). Sounds absolutely amazing, right? Looks tasty, no? Honestly, it’s kind of meh. It’s one of those “at least we can say we tried it” experiences. The bread pudding, on the other hand, has got to be the BEST pudding of its kind that has entered my mouth. You want a foodgasm? Go get some. Don’t like bread pudding? Try it anyway!

And now, the thing no one wants to talk about: the price. It’s not the cheapest meal you can find, but it’s not horribly expensive. Go one evening, listen to some live jazz, and relax. You’ll get your money’s worth.

My overall rating:
MMMM

See you next week!

A Look Inside St. Pete’s Dancing Marlin

June 24, 2015June 23, 2015 ~ shawnaborman ~ 6 Comments

Hey there! It’s been another week, so I suppose it’s time for me to start rambling again. Instead of the usual, I’d say it’s about time to do another food review! This month, I think I’ll give St. Pete’s Dancing Marlin over in Deep Ellum its due. It’s on Commerce for all those familiar with the area. Everyone else should check their website (linked above). Now, I know I promised you something different in the last food blog, and it is different. I swear it’s not JUST seafood. They have all sorts of things. At least it’s not another oyster bar. Anyhoo, here’s your reminder of the rating system:

029 — These stirrers used to say St. Pete’s Dancing Marlin, but I suppose times change. Still pretty neat!

As usual, let’s start with accessibility. It’s a bit of a tight fit navigating the tables for larger wheelchairs (like my own), especially if the Dancing Marlin is packed. We usually go on Sunday evenings or late afternoons during the week to avoid crowds. Aside from that, the tables are a great height. Most of them are rectangular, but they do have some round tables if those work better for you. Occasionally, the floor feels like it’s going to give way (not technically an accessibility issue, but extra scary when you’re in a heavy chair), so it’s kind of an adventure!

The service. The wait staff at the Dancing Marlin gets bonus points because they don’t normally act like I’m invisible. That’s always a good thing. The waiter today was attentive (kept our drinks full, answered questions, etc.), didn’t bring our food out too fast (we had time to finish things), and never once made us feel rushed. The staff also consisted of people who calmly dealt with someone who was sitting outside complaining about a fly in their drink (it’s summer in Texas and you’re drinking wine outside. Put something over your glass if you don’t want flies in it. C’mon, now). No complaints there.

Now, the important stuff: food! For an appetizer, we got calamari. It was good. Not too chewy. Had a nice crust. It wasn’t my favorite thing there, but it was tasty. Now, if you like garlic half as much as I do, I definitely suggest the baked garlic appetizer. Yes, they bake garlic. For the not-so-garlicky people, there are other delicious choices as well.

As far as entrees go, they have a decent selection from pizzas to pastas, burgers to hot dogs. The Dancing Marlin also has a tuna steak (it comes in a number of ways). Dad got the grilled tuna salad (tuna steak on a salad) with grilled mushrooms, onions, and jalapeños. They sure know how to cook a tuna steak! Dad always gets it rare (how else would you eat it), so it’s pink and tender and delicious. And the salad definitely wasn’t skimpy. It was a real meal.

I usually get penne with red clam sauce (highly recommend it), but I decided to get something different this time. I went with the F. B. Combo (catfish fillet and shrimp) with pasta salad instead of fries. The fish and shrimp were crunchy on the outside and tender on the inside. The breading wasn’t salty, but seasoned nicely. And the pasta salad… I normally don’t like pasta salad, but I figured I’d give it a shot. It was actually pretty yummy! I was impressed.

Dessert. The selection here is pretty strange. Baklava, cheesecake, chocolate cake, and ice cream bars. Personally, I suggest the baklava. It’s a tiny serving, but super sweet, and a perfect little end to a wonderful meal.

And, of course, we must talk about price. It’s actually not too bad. It’s not often we look at a check expecting it to be a certain amount and have it turn out to be less. It happens at the Dancing Marlin.

My overall rating:
MMMM

See you next week with more writerly randomness!

A Look Inside Big Shucks Oyster Bar

May 27, 2015May 26, 2015 ~ shawnaborman ~ 2 Comments

Hello again! I haven’t done a food review in a while, so here you go. Yes, it’s another seafood place (I’ll think of something different for next month). Big Shucks is a place we’ve been to a fair amount and we always have a good experience food-wise. Here’s a reminder of the rating system:

1610868_851485004894763_854183972455716638_n — Borrowed from their Facebook.

Normally, we go to Big Shucks in Dallas, but this last time we went to the one in Richardson. Locations can be found at their website, linked above.

Let’s start off with accessibility as usual. The very first time we were going to try this place, we actually wanted to go to Aw Shucks (they’re sister store) in Dallas. At the time, Aw Shucks was inaccessible (they may have upgraded by now, but I have no idea), so they sent us a couple of blocks over to Big Shucks after explaining that it was the same thing, only accessible. Since, we’ve been multiple times, plus twice that I remember to the Richardson location. The tables at the Dallas store are a mish mash, so some are perfect and some are knee bangers. The Richardson tables aren’t as eclectic, and they’re pretty nice height-wise with legs that don’t get in the way. Both locations have outdoor seating as well. I didn’t check out Richardson’s patio, but Dallas’s has picnic style tables. The ends are usually long enough for me to get under them, so it’s pretty nice.

A brief mention of service. It’s basically self serve. You go to the counter and give your order, sometimes they bring it to you and sometimes they just call your name and you go to the pick up area, then you go back and forth if you need things.

Onto the food! We always get oysters as a start. They also have shrimp cocktails and ceviche, which are delicious.

Oysters at Big Shucks — Yup, I ate half of them. Be jealous.

It’s one of those places where the food comes out as it’s ready, but I’ve never felt rushed. Their pacing is pretty nice. So, we were able to savor the yummy oysters before our entrees arrived. Now, I admit Big Shucks has a fairly limited selection, but what they do have, they do well. I almost always get the scallops. They’re grilled with a little seasoning. No fuss, no muss. None of this fancy bacon-wrapped special sauce crap. You get pure scallop goodness. Dad usually rotates through a few selections, but this time he got the salmon. Again, there’s nothing fancy to it. Just lovely, cooked to perfection fish. That’s the great thing about this place. You get to taste the seafood instead of a bunch of sauce and toppings.

028 — Dad’s Salmon and veggies, and my scallops with rice and veggies.

Dessert… It’s less than spectacular. All they have is “homemade” key lime pie that is almost certainly from a box. It’s not bad, it’s just not great. Luckily, Dallas’s Big Shucks is just down the street from TCBY and a few streets over from Pinkberry, so if key lime pie doesn’t blow your skirt up, you can go get yogurt!

That brings us to the price. It’s actually really reasonable considering it’s seafood in North Texas. Also, remember that they use the honor system. It’s your job to keep track of what you ordered. So, I suggest bringing a pen and paper if you order a lot.

Overall Rating:
MMMM

Back to answering questions next week! See you then!

A Look Inside Half Shells Oyster Bar & Grill

March 25, 2015March 24, 2015 ~ shawnaborman ~ 2 Comments

Hi all! I’ve decided to go ahead and review another restaurant. Once a month seems like a good number for the moment. Today, we’re going to look at one of Dallas’s seafood joints, Half Shells Oyster Bar & Grill. There are a number of locations for Half Shells under a couple of different names (see their website for the one nearest you), but I’m lucky enough to be near the original in Snider Plaza (across Hillcrest Ave from SMU, next to Kuby’s).

feb4274796d93ff716e9650163a77fb8_M — Borrowed from the website above.

Half Shells Oyster Bar & Grill – Snider Plaza
6617 Snider Plaza
Dallas, TX 75205

First off, a reminder of my rating system:

Accessibility-wise, this place is a bit of a tight squeeze, but if you can get in when it’s not too busy and can snag a table by the door, it’s perfect. The table height is mid-normal, which is great for me. There’s also outside seating (again, tight but not impossible). My biggest problem with the outdoor tables are that they have a lip underneath, so I can’t pull up to them properly (my knees are too high). Personally, I don’t mind putting the plate in my lap, so I can make it work.

Next up, service. The service at Half Shells is almost always good. In all the times I’ve been, I think a waiter ignored my existence once and only until he realized I was capable of speech. There was one rude hostess who caused us to leave, but that was an unusual experience. Otherwise, they’re usually very good about not bringing things out too fast or rushing. Some are better than others about keeping up with drinks, but the food makes up for it.

Speaking of food, when Dad, a friend, and I went last Thursday, we had blue point oysters and crab bisque to start. Delicious! If you like oysters on the half shell and they have blue points (a special usually), it’s worth it. The bisque was amazing as well. Unfortunately, I forgot to take pictures, but there are pictures of the entrées.

Half Shells has twice daily specials (lunch and dinner). Dad and I usually order off the board, but the things I’ve had from the menu are equally as good. They have one of the best selections of fish we’ve been able to find in Dallas because of the specials. This time, I got the trout special, Dad had red snapper, and Sarah (the friend who didn’t warn us she was now vegan) had french fries.

060 — Dad’s salad, asparagus, and snapper. My green beans, mashed potatoes, and trout.

063 — The lovely Sarah and her waffle fries.

As always, the food was superb. I don’t think we’ve ever run across a bad entrée here.

Dessert is a little less than thrilling. They have it listed on another specials board, so a few things usually change. It’s always been good, especially when they have one of their berry cobblers (divine!), but otherwise it’s pretty ordinary. Dad got a chocolate cherry mousse cake and I got a pecan cobbler (they didn’t have anything vegan for dessert). Both were good, but definitely not the highlight of the meal.

Price: It’s seafood in Dallas. In other words, a little pricy, but for the quality and selection of the fish, totally worth it.

Overall rating:
MMMM

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