Red Hot and Blue, Barbecue, North Richland Hills-TX

Last visit: April 2013

Other DFW locations: Dallas, Ft. Worth, Irving/Las Colinas, Flower Mound, Plano

Other locations: Joplin-MO, Sterling Heights-MI, Winston Salem-NC, Virginia (9), Maryland (4), Cherry Hills-NJ

Oh boy, now I'm in trouble. The Texas guys are out in front decrying that Memphis barbecue is flat out inferior. And the Memphis boys follow with the observation that Red Hot and Blue isn't real Tennessee barbecue as they're a chain from Virginia for crying out loud. And then there's perhaps the bigger problem with chaining a barbecue joint in the first place. Just how good can it be anyway?

Well if I didn't have any street cred with barbecue aficionados before, I'm really going to kill it now: I like Red Hot and Blue. And have so ever since I first sat foot in the NRH location some 10 years ago, not long after first arriving in Northeast Tarrant. Now it's not a place we frequent much - witness its debut into the RJG 5+ years later - but it's always been consistently excellent. And I've also been to the North Dallas and Las Colinas stores for business meets, and everyone always comes out happy. But it's the NRH location that we go back to during our leisure hours.

The one platter that I really enjoy is the 5 meat sampler - which used to be a pure Atkins play of meat, meat, and more meat. Now they've added beans and a side, which are really unnecessary. Especially considering their baked beans are of the Boston sweet variety, which I've never acquired a taste for. As for the side, I ended up with fries, which were good, but sort of defeats the purpose of a meat platter. Anyway, that's not the point here.. so let's get to the meats shall we?

And here's where Red Hot and Blue shines every time. I love their sausage, which features a great recipe. Even the barbecue snobs will acquiesce on this point. RH&B's dry rubbed ribs are fantastic. I love the seasoning and the fall-off-the-bone meat. Now I see plenty of folks go on about their brisket being subpar, but I have to disagree. Plenty of smoked rind goodness there - and tender as well. And probably the one thing they do that I think is fantastic, but have seen others disagree, is their pulled pork. Again, the flavor penetrates throughout, and it's always tender - never tough. The one downer is something they introduced recently: Pulled smoked chicken. What the heck? The smoked turkey was awesome! Put it back on the platter! The chicken was tough and dry - and lacking the great flavor of the other meats. The other aspect of Red Hot and Blue we love is the selection of barbecue sauces. Not that good 'cue needs it, but I like it as an option. And most certainly the chicken needed help. And there's no better sauce to dip in than the Hoochie Coochie sauce. It's a very spicy blend, that really adds up on the heat! Oh, and I forgot the mention the honey sweet bread that comes before the meal. Another huge plus. They have plenty of good beers to wash the meal down with - though don't go looking for local craft brews. But a few more than the usual options exist.

Red Hot and Blue is a chain that seems to be on the down slope of its lifecycle. The chain has closed many stores across the US, including the one they had in Southlake (which we also never stepped foot in). I think it's a matter of too much excellent local competition. And the RJG certainly applauds that. But we still drop by Red Hot and Blue on occasion. It's just too good not to.

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Jack and Grill, Tavern, American, Roanoke-TX

Last visit: April 2013

Jack and Grill is the latest venture from the same team that is behind the Bayou Jack's Cajun Grill that we recently covered here on the RJG. Apparently it's the same Jack that once ran a restaurant in Southlake, but we didn't get over there before they closed.

Basically Jack and Grill is taking advantage of the nouveau version of a beer bar. An advanced tavern as it were. The food is definitely front and center, and shouldn't be considered an afterthought to the beer. And they certainly have more than beer for adult beverages. But for the RJG, the key is their beer selection, and then does the food quality inspire repeat visits. The answer is a profound YES.

The beer selection, while vast and clearly thought out, is surprisingly thin on Texas craft brews, and almost no local representation. I think they should add a few regional rotationals into the mix. But they do have some items you don't see everywhere, like seasonal beers from Dogfish Head (Delaware), Goose Island (Chicago), and Rogue (Oregon). As for the food, we (Mr. Music joined me on this visit) sampled some of their appetizers like the barbecue chicken pizza, chips and queso (made with hamburger beef), and chicken wings. The latter is their self-proclaimed specialty, and we decided to test their "jack it up" wings - which indeed packed on the heat as we munched through them. Mr. Music also had a garden salad. I will say that everything we had this day was excellent. Our waitress also did a fine job fielding our multitude of questions - and that alone should be worth combat pay. They have plenty of burgers and sandwiches as well, that I'm looking forward to trying.

Unlike Bayou Jack's, Jack and Grill does sit on the main downtown strip of Roanoke. In fact, if coming in from the south, this will be the first restaurant you see.

I definitely think Mrs. RJG will enjoy Jack and Grill as well, and as such, I see it as a regular place for lunch or dinner!

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Truluck's, Seafood, Steak, Southlake-TX

Last visit: April 2013

Other locations: Dallas (Uptown); Austin (2); Houston (1); Florida (4); California (1)

Typically Mrs. RJG and I travel on our anniversary, but this year we decided to stay home. As such we went for a "splurge" meal to celebrate. This blog is named the Regular Joe's Guide for a reason, and that's because we both really, truly (to repeat: really truly) prefer regular restaurants to the fancy ones. So it is mainly in my business life that I will end up at these restaurants. Again, I would prefer more down-home places myself, but I'm clearly in the minority with my peers on that front. In any case, it is no surprise that my first two visits to Truluck's were for business. The first goes back to my former job in 2005 at the McKinney Avenue location - and about 3 years ago, a vendor came into town and we dined at the Southlake store. Obviously I enjoyed it enough to suggest to Mrs. RJG that this would be an excellent place to celebrate our wedding anniversary.

And Trulucks did not let me down. Though it is, without a doubt, a pocket drainer.

Mrs. RJG and I both know that ordering a bottle of wine is the real culprit at these places. The markups on wine are ridiculous. However, neither of us felt like a beer, and we usually enjoy wine with our meal - so we went "dumb" and ordered a very nice bottle of Chardonnay from Oregon (for $60 - online price $30). Certainly it was an excellent wine, and is worth all $30 (wheez). They provide homemade bread (a darker cranberry bread, and a more traditional Italian white, with sweet made butter), both of which were delicious. As an appetizer, the hot n' crunchy shrimp proved to be a good choice. A tempura styled fried shrimp with hot chile flakes in the mix.  4 huge shrimp came out, and had to be considered a highlight of the meal. For dinner, Mrs. RJG started with a garden salad - which is the classic "backyard" mix of greens and a sweet honey vinaigrette. And I had the Lobster Bisque, which was stunningly good. So rich and creamy. For entrees, we each went with the Chilean sea bass. Hers was the Miso glaze with crab fried rice, and mine was pan seared with rice pilaf. Along with swordfish, Chilean sea bass has to be at the top for flavorful thick white fishes. Both of our dishes were expertly prepared, and delicious. Since the waiter figured out we were on our anniversary, something we weren't going to advertise, he gave us a free chocolate cake with a hot cherry jubilee. It was super rich - very good - but ultimately too sweet for us to finish. But it was extremely nice of the gentleman, and the restaurant, to do that for us. Mrs. RJG finished the evening with an Irish Creme. I usually don't comment on the service, one way or the other, but our server this night was exceptionally professional. Superb.

Overall, a sublime meal. Worth $240 (after tip)? Probably not, because I'm just not sure anything at that price is. Some of the best meals I've ever had came in under $20 after tip (for one). But if someone else is paying, or you are on an elaborate (i.e. Sales) expense account - then Truluck's is a must. I consider it better than most places in this category.

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Bayou Jack's Cajun Grill, Seafood, Cajun, Roanoke-TX

Last visit: April 2013

Other locations: Ft. Worth (Cultural District); McKinney (coming soon)

We spoke about Bayou Jack's in last summer's Roundup, and this is our first opportunity to return back to eat. I hadn't given the restaurant a feature yet, so here's the official debut into the RJG. I don't have a whole lot to add to the below review, other than Mrs. RJG went for the Jambalaya this time. I tried a few forkfuls myself, and it's an excellent rendition of the classic Cajun dish. Definitely has a spicy kick, and the grilled andouille and boiled shrimp are excellently prepared. I had the blackened shrimp po'boy which is delicious, though I think they could have packed a few more shrimp into the fluffy toasted bread. I had the same dish last summer, and they certainly didn't skimp then (hopefully not a trend, but an anomaly). However, it does come with fries, which are more than enough to fill you up - and they're very good as well. We each had an Abita Amber on draught, which seems appropriate given the brewery's southern Louisiana heritage.

Original review

As I'm sure many of you will agree, good Cajun food has been tough to find in this part of DFW. You know it's bad when Popeye's is your best bet. But Bayou Jack's fills that void admirably. Blackened dishes, po boys, Jambalaya, bottom feeders, it's all here in an authentic seafood warehouse type setting (well as close as possible being in North Texas of course). So instead of detouring into the "unique dining capital" downtown of Roanoke, stay on the main highway (377) and have yourself some good Cajun food. Has a full bar too, with flat screens to keep solo travelers entertained.

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Habanero's, Mexican, Taqueria, Ft. Worth-TX

Last visit: March 2013

Long time readers of the RJG may recall we covered Habanero's long ago. There have been so many changes to the restaurant since we last visited 4 years ago that the former review has been rendered useless. I'll be removing its contents in favor of this review (but leaving the post up as there are 6 comments attached to it). Urbanspoon offers a feature for us bloggers that allows us to update former entries, so this will be my first opportunity to try that.

First off, Habanero's is now a full service restaurant rather than an order-up counter service place. In this way, Habanero's is similar to the Don Taco restaurant in Roanoke that we recently covered. Despite all the changes, one thing about Habanero's has remained the same: That the overall experience is mixed. Some great, some not so great. Let's cover the pros and cons:

Pros: 1) Habanero salsa. It's probably the mildest habanero I've ever had, but it still retains the excellent flavor. For those of you who always wanted to try a habanero sauce but were afraid of the heat, then here's your chance. 2) Chicken fajita tacos. Fantastic flavor and very tender. 3) Corn tortillas. Mrs. RJG opted for these rather than the default flour ones, and she said they were very flavorful.

Neutral: 1) The margaritas. I was initially pleased with mine - it certainly had the right kick, and it definitely had a nice flavor. But it ended up being a bit too watery by the end. 2) Beef fajita taco. Again, the flavor was excellent, but the meat was a bit tough. 3) The flour tortillas were nothing special, but certainly good enough.

Cons: 1) The chips are dull similar to the store bought packaged variety. 2) The cilantro lime rice was terrible! It tasted like lime and a bushel of cilantro, with a little bit of rice in there somewhere. Made me pine for Chipotle's version. 3) The charro beans were too salty, and there was no bacon flavor. It was just a plain bean soup - with sodium. 4) The "taco sauce" they provide is a very watered down "verde" with no flavor whatsoever.

So will we be going back? Yes. We're more enthusiastic about Habanero's now than prior (which is why it's been 4 years since our last visit). I think the margarita and beef tenderness is something that could change from visit to visit. I'll need to avoid the rice and charro beans - unless those were truly an abnormal occurrence (which I doubt). So if you haven't been in a long time, like us, then give them another chance!

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Duff's Famous Wings, Wings, Hamburgers, Southlake-TX

Last visit: March 2013

Other locations: Buffalo-NY metro (4); Toronto-Canada metro (3)

The other day we wrote about Rusty Taco, and how they had taken a Texan chain and then chose Minneapolis as their first step outside our borders. Duff's did the reverse: Took a western New York / Ontario chain and brought them here to Texas. So Southlake was chosen as the first step in what would appear to be a large expansion strategy. If omens are to be the barometer, Duff's has an uphill climb. This same location has already claimed 3 victims, all national, or wannabee national, chains: Cheeburger Cheeburger, San Francisco Oven, and Qdoba. Personally I miss the last one, though they are still here in DFW - just a lot further.

Tangent: One of the RJG's life goals was to visit every city that has an NFL franchise. I achieved that milestone by visiting Buffalo in the summer of 2008 (and was covered in these very pages). Not surprisingly, I also wanted to visit each MLB and NBA city, and I accomplished that precisely one day later with a visit to Toronto. So these two cities are not only geographically close, but they share a somewhat similar outlook regarding food heritage. Though no doubt Buffalo appeals more towards the blue collar verse the ostensibly white collar Toronto. As an aside, my final "sports" venture is the NHL, for which I had three cities left after that trip (with Buffalo and Toronto taking me from 5). I wiped out Raleigh, North Carolina in 2011, and I hope to finish the entire quest this summer with a trip to Alberta, with Edmonton and Calgary capping the adventure.

Where were we? Ah yes, Duff's Famous Wings. Duff's is one of the legendary places that popularized the Buffalo Wing craze in the 1980s and beyond. The Anchor Bar is generally credited with its invention, going back to 1964. Saaay - wings are the same age as the RJG! And Duff's claims their heritage back to '69, so they are definitely one of the early adopters.

We haven't covered wings in the RJG to date. Mrs. RJG considers it a snack food, not a meal, so it's hard to generate excitement on the local front. But given the heritage of Duff's, I dragged her along kicking and screaming, as I really wanted to see what the fuss is all about. And it's a full service restaurant, with a nice selection of beer on tap (basic, but wide), and not just a To-Go only place as many wings' restaurants tend to be.

We decided on 5 wings "medium" heat, a cheeseburger, and a Greek salad. Now Duff's makes quite a production that their "medium" is hot, their "medium hot" is very hot, and their "hot" is very, very hot. And it appears they have a "super hot", and even a "death" sauce if you want to keep going with this. Now you know the RJG and his heat tolerance: It's very high. But wings are different... mainly because I've built tolerance on my tongue. With wings, it's your lips that will feel the impact. So with that in mind, and that I was sharing with the lovely Mrs. RJG, we stuck with Medium. It definitely had a kick, so I could see why they provide the disclaimers. Perhaps they overdo the warnings just a tad, but we have to keep in mind the chain is based in Buffalo where tastebuds are generally milder than ours.

For anyone that is crazy about wings, you already know that most places offer all sorts of flavors beyond "Buffalo". Duff's does not. It's all various heat levels on a similar recipe. For what they do, it's very good. I'm not sure there's much else they can offer here, beyond their basic formula. To me, I didn't notice anything radically different than other Buffalo wings I've had in the past. I suppose I could up the ante on the heat, and I just might when I go alone. Mrs. RJG would just roll her eyes at me, knowing I'm just trying to be a he-man, with all that unnecessary verbal jabbing that every married man understands.

Given the above circumstances, I knew it would be best to just sample the wings and then go for some traditional lunch items. Mrs. RJG went for the Greek salad, which was pretty good, with a nice tasting dressing. She felt they should have used a fresher lettuce like romaine rather than iceberg. And they have romaine for their Caesar salads, so it would be easy to substitute. I had the cheeseburger, which comes with two 4 oz patties. I thought it was excellent, well cooked and seasoned, with a nicely toasted bun. It's probably a bit too much meat for the bun size, but for those of you out there where the term "too much meat" cannot possibly exist, then you'll be happy. I also had a Fireman's #4 ale to wash it down with.

I'd like to see Duff's make it, unlike the fate that befell its three predecessors. It's unique to have a place like this here in Texas. Apparently folks from Buffalo, who now live anywhere in Texas, are making a beeline here - since it's a heck of a lot closer than Western New York! They also have a few interesting items on the menu, most notably a fried bologna sandwich, that I most certainly will try someday.

They just opened two weeks ago. Give them a try at least once!

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Texas website

Rusty Taco, Taqueria, The Colony-TX

Last visit: March 2013

Other DFW locations: Dallas (3), Plano, Denton (coming soon)

East Texas locations: Tyler (2), Paris, Longview

Also two locations in Minneapolis/St. Paul-MN (?)

While we await Torchy's and Digg's to come to Southlake, Mrs. RJG and I decided one Saturday to venture onto other cow pastures for a good taco and a frozen margarita. We first saw Rusty Taco while driving on Greenville Ave. in Dallas a couple of years back. I recently came across the name while viewing new restaurant openings on Urbanspoon, headed over to their website, and determined that The Colony's location would be the closest. Once you start heading northeast on 121, and get through the airport DMZ area, it's only an additional 10-15 minutes to The Colony. This would be the first official RJG visit to The Colony, an area I've somehow managed not to roam in prior.

Rusty Taco's setup is familiar to anyone who has ever been to Fuzzy's. It's counter service, with a whirling frozen margarita machine behind. They serve a variety of 13 different tacos, and so on this visit we tried 5 different ones across the spectrum of tastes. Our favorite was the Baja Shrimp taco which is filled with delicious crunchy shrimp and a spicy "Baja" sauce. The fajita chicken was our next fave, and the marinate on the chicken is very good. Following this would be the fried chicken taco, which is basically small chicken fingers in a corn tortilla with jalapeno ranch dressing. 4th was the Texican, which is their variation of the carne molida (ground beef) taco. The meat was seasoned somewhat like a Hamburger Helper, but we found it quite good despite how that might sound. The only miss was the roasted pork taco, which was greasy and left a puddle down below. The meat was somewhat gamey too. But 4 out of 5 is quite a good percentage, especially considering how great the Baja Shrimp and fajita chicken tacos are. And they're a decent bargain at $2 a pop (the shrimp and fish tacos are $2.50). They're not super large like Funky Baja's, nor are they traditional $1 mini-size street tacos. I think they're priced right for what you get. The frozen margarita was a bit too icey (not smooth) and too sweet. But it did pack a punch, so I can't fault them there. I'd probably settle on one of their bottled beers next time, and they have a pretty decent selection.

Rusty Taco also features 3 salsas served up in large plastic ketchup styled bottles. The mild red was actually quite delicious, and the medium "tangy green" had a slight sweet taste and is a good variation of a salsa verde. Best, of course you knew the RJG would say this, is the orange habanero sauce. A delicious sweet flavor and plenty of kick to satisfy our palates. It's not really that hot, so give it a try if you have some tolerance for heat.

It's pretty clear now that the big rage in the QSR (aka fast food) market are these kind of taco stands. And while DFW is beginning to see them on every corner, other parts of the country haven't been exposed yet. The race is on, and Rusty Taco has decided that East Texas and the capital of Minnesota is where they would like to branch out first. Obviously Fuzzy's has began to dominate this market on a national scale, so it will be interesting who else becomes the "Burger King" next to Fuzzy's "McDonald's" standing, if you get my reference.

The Colony's location is on Main Street, about a mile north of 121. It's on the east side of the road.

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Twisted Root Burger Company, Hamburgers, Roanoke-TX

Last visit: March 2013

NE Tarrant location: Bedford

Other DFW locations: Dallas (2), Richardson, Fairview, Plano, Arlington, Carrollton (coming soon)

According to my database, Mrs. RJG and I first went to Twisted Root in January of 2010, not longer after they opened their Roanoke locale. Three years later, I triumphantly return. Mrs. RJG didn't think much of the place on the first visit, and passed on this opportunity.

Twisted Root is a festive place, with a cavernous dining area, and fun little gimmicks like assigning you a name for your order like "Popeye" or "Donald Duck". There are games outside for everyone to enjoy as well. You order at the counter, and at first there appears to be a dizzying array of choices, all handwritten on a chalkboard that isn't particularly easy to read. But they're all variations on the hamburger/fries theme. I stuck with the basics on this visit, going for a cheeseburger and a vanilla milkshake. The milkshake was my personal trade off against the fries.

When I arrived there was no wait, and a few folks sitting down. So I was quite surprised that I waited exactly 20 minutes to get my order. That's seems excessive doesn't it? I mean no one hates it more than me when my order shows up 2 minutes after ordering. But 10 minutes seems about right for a handmade burger. But 20? Obviously there were some screwups in the kitchen on this day. Especially when you consider my shake wasn't ready either. So I stood there, and waited another 5 minutes for that. OK, actually I sat down, ate my hamburger, and then got my shake. Really? The presentation of the hamburger was sad. It just sat there - open faced with lettuce, onion, and tomato sitting by its side in a cardboard box. It reminded me of those cafeteria burgers we'd get in the college dorm. Though they claim their burgers are medium-well, mine came out well-done. Actually I prefer it that way, but if I desired medium well, that would've been a disaster, especially given my long wait. And the shake was curiously flavorless. I don't get that. How do you get a shake without much flavor? Weird.

Alright, enough of the grumps. What about the positives? The burger is very good. Thick with a nice blending of seasonings. The bun is well toasted, just short of crispy. Perhaps best of all is the choice of condiments for the burger. They have a chipotle BBQ, a horseradish Dijon, and a spicy ketchup. I would put a different one on each bite, and enjoyed each one. So that's a major plus in the win column. But it wasn't enough overall to sway my opinion. Twisted Root usually finds itself in those Top 10 of DFW lists for hamburgers. And there's no way I would agree with that. It's barely above average, especially considering all the great options we have here. And it's very expensive for what you get. Yes, of course, I voted "likes it" on Urbanspoon, because I did enjoy it. But will I be back? I can't see why, unless I'm with a big group of out-of-towners that has to go there (and I can't even imagine who that would be actually). Twisted Root seems immensely popular, as not long after I began my 20 minutes of wandering through the desert, a line began to develop and tables were becoming scarce. I don't get it really - but the RJG isn't always one to fall in line with the norm.

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Grimaldi's, Neapolitan Pizza, Grapevine-TX

Last visit: March 2013

Other DFW locations: Dallas (2), Allen

Other states: New York, New Jersey, Arizona, Florida, Nevada, South Carolina

We've been sporadically going to the Grapevine location, despite intense construction challenges, almost since the day they opened last year. And both Mr. and Mrs. RJG consider Grimaldi's the best pizza in DFW. That's no small claim, especially considering worthy challengers such as INZO, Coal Vines, Campania, and Cavalli. Of course, we know that Mr. Music has given a huge thumbs up to Cane Rosso in Deep Ellum, and we definitely will head over at some point to try. I have taken Mr. Music here once, and he loved it as well.

Basically, Grimaldi's has perfected the coal oven baked pizza formula. Apparently they use a special coal imported from Pennsylvania, that burns hotter and cleaner than traditional coal. Grimaldi's, of course, insist that all of the outlets use this coal. We've been maybe 6 times now, and the pizza is perfect every single time. The ingredients are out of this world, and most are homemade. The sauce is delicious and the mozzarella is clearly made from local produce. I'm not even sure you can make a pizza better than this. Apologies to Dan Patrick, but you can't stop them, you can only hope to copy them. And we haven't even started on their delicious salads, which Mrs. RJG devours - and I fortunately get to help. Their Mediterranean Salad is outstanding, with fresh greens, a splendid vinaigrette dressing, feta cheese, and lots of olives, tomatoes, and cucumbers. Worth noting the nomenclature Grimaldi's uses. When you see the term "personal", think "small", When you see "small", think "large". That's the kind of portion size we're talking about here. They have a fine selection of wine and beer as well. And nothing goes better with a Grimaldi's pizza then an ice cold bottle of Brooklyn Lager. Or a pint of Peroni on draught. They have a nice bar area, that we've yet to take advantage of. But it looks appealing if I were to be on my own. Grab a pint and a personal pizza, and I'd be in heaven.

We first came across Grimaldi's with their Brooklyn Bridge location, and there were lines a mile long it seemed. So we never took the time to eat there (if you can't find good pizza while in Brooklyn, you are truly an unlucky person). Some very wise investors from Arizona decided to replicate the concept and bring it nationwide. It seems they are holding to a very strict standard, and if they continue to do so, will be successful for many years. My only advice to them is not to go to the public markets. Once they do that, profit will become more important than high standards. DFW is fortunate to have 4 locations. And NE Tarrant has one - and it's getting easier to go there as every day passes!

Website

Cristina's, Mexican, North Richland Hills-TX

Last visit: March 2013

RJG's primary page for Cristina's

Back on home soil again, let's cover off on the newest Cristina's location. We've already written about Cristina's before, primarily their Southlake and Trophy Club locations. As such, please follow the link above to read more about the chain, and their other locations.

The newest Cristina's has already hit the Top 10 of hottest restaurants in DFW according to Urbanspoon (Talk of the Town). And given that this is the chain's 12th location, that says something about the power of the Cristina's brand.

Cristina's did the smart thing here, and took over a fully loaded former Mexican restaurant, that had been recently redesigned. Therefore that limited the amount of decor overhaul that is normally required to reopen a restaurant. The former tenant, Anejo's House of Tequila, was an elegant place, with a superior bar that suits the moniker "house of tequila". We went once a couple of years ago, and while the drinks were solid, the food was lackluster. Still, the place seemed reasonably popular, so I was a bit surprised to see it closed. But not disappointed. When Cristina's stepped in, it looked to be a stroke of genius. And I think it is, given its early popularity. Though I have to wonder if they aren't starting to eat their young. Southlake isn't that far, and most certainly former patrons of that location will just head over to the NRH store for convenience.

So for this lunch visit, the RJG started appropriately enough with a frozen margarita. I'm on a roll here, as this was yet another excellent concoction, with a great flavor and the right smoothness. I went with the 10 ounce (instead of 20), and I was still pretty knocked out. Hooray. Mrs. RJG abstained from the sinful liquids, and started digging right into the chips. Their chips continue to be boring, and their table salsa (tomatoes, cilantro, and onions) is quite frankly dull as ditchwater. But they still have the heated habanero sauce if you ask for it, and it's absolutely delicious! It's not that spicy, and the flavor is miles better than their normal offering, so definitely ask for it. I went with the puffed tacos, which were just OK. The ground beef needed more seasoning, and while I appreciate the homemade crispy fried shells, the fact remains they aren't strong enough to hold the ingredients - and it collapses on the plate for a taco salad. As I read my former review of the rice and beans, it appears they aren't as special as they once were. The rice was slightly mushy. The beans were good, but nothing extraordinary. Mrs. RJG had a ground beef taco, that they placed in the beans, so that the shell would disintegrate quickly. Her verde chicken enchilada was cold and lifeless.

So there you have it. Final conclusion: Better than Anejo's, about par for Cristina's. Which is to say they are good, not great, middle of the road Mexican. Exactly, I think, what they are striving for. Appeal to the masses - which is good business honestly. Mrs. RJG has pretty much written off Cristina's, which means I'm resigned to going there if I'm craving a frozen margarita and a taco or two (they have upscale tacos that look pretty good actually). That translates into very few, if any, further visits. Oh well.

The current rating as I write this on Urbanspoon is 45%. But that's only based on 11 votes so far. This number will almost assuredly go up. Despite the rather harsh review, I continue to give them a thumbs up. But it's not exactly a ringing endorsement.

Website

Campisi's, Italian, Dallas-TX

Last visit: March 2013

Other locations: Dallas (4), Plano, Frisco, Rockwall, Ft. Worth

Continuing on with our annual meeting, Campisi's was selected as our next lunch. The Garland Troublemaker (TGT) and I consider Campisi's the perfect local institution to take out of towner's, but in a casual QSR type setting. Thus not ideal for clients and vendors, but perfect for internal lunch meetings. Ideally we'd be able to dine at the original Egyptian, but of course the distance isn't practical. But their other 8 outlet shops are ideal for a quick lunch. And, I should highlight, at a great price.

I'd actually covered Campisi's before in this blog, way back in the summer of 2008. It was the downtown location, and I had just met a former co-worker there. But inexplicably I never linked it to Urbanspoon. As such, I'm going to wipe the record clean, and start fresh here. And for my most astute observers, you may recall we took our new employee SoCalGal here at the Richardson/Far North Dallas location for a lunch last year.

For any old timer from Dallas, Campisi's Egyptian is an institution. Prior to the 1970s, the Campisi's on Mockingbird (still there) was one of only a handful of places in town to get EYE-talian food. According to Mr. RJG's Mom, her and Dad made a beeline there immediately upon moving to the Dallas area in 1967, being the recent transplants from the New York City area that they were. Apparently it was a thumbs down affair, and they vowed to never return (I was all of 2, so of course have no recollection of the event). To this day, the RJG has never stepped foot into the original Egyptian (not because the parents wouldn't go, but because I keep wandering a bit further south to Pietro's when I'm already that close to Lower Greenville). And the irony here is that if I was traveling from out of town, it is highly likely this would be my first Italian experience in the DFW area (the old institutions are an RJG magnet).

Fast forward to sometime in the early 1990s and Campisi's was just beginning to expand, with a more casual / quick service format. I had music friends up in Planet Plano, and they decided we should dine at Campisi's one evening. One taste of their salad and pasta entry - and I realized I missed a lot growing up. Delicious. It's completely old school red sauce Italian. Yuppies, or those into authentic Italian, can check their noses at the door. Real deal here folks: New York styled American Italian.

As mentioned in the prelude, we introduced SoCalGal to Campisi's last year. Her mother is Italian, and she said that she's always on the lookout for a great homemade meatball when she dines out. She's the same age as the RJG, so she's a bit of an old schooler herself. After one bite, she said the meatballs were awesome, just like she remembered from her youth and immediately earned her seal of approval.

And with this visit, everyone had a fantastic experience. I stayed traditional and went with the spaghetti and meatball with a side salad. TGT had a meat pizza that he devoured faster than anyone you know (for context, he's the size of an NFL offensive lineman). The Boss (who's basically been my supervisor for the last 6 years) went with the Bolognese. Even though he lives in Phoenix now, he grew up in Washington DC proper - and stated that Bolognese was his favorite dish as a kid. Huge thumbs up from him. We had one gentleman with us who resides in St. Louis, and those in the know will recognize that St. Louis has some of the best Italian restaurants in the country (especially on The Hill, from which the RJG has had many memorable meals). All in all, we couldn't have picked a better choice.

Unfortunately for us denizens of NE Tarrant, Campisi's, despite having some 9 locations, have traditionally eschewed anything this side of DFW airport. However, they have finally broke down and opened a Ft. Worth location. So perhaps Northeast Tarrant is in the cards soon?

And that concludes this annual meeting as far as new entries go. For dinner that night, we went to Casa Milagro, which continues to be the RJG's favorite Mexican restaurant in DFW. And for lunch next day, we went to The Boss' favorite hangout: Love and War in Texas. This was followed by 24 hours of exercising straight through....

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Silver Fox, Steakhouse, Richardson-TX

Last visit: March 2013

Other locations: Grapevine, Ft. Worth, Frisco

About 7 years ago, Mrs. RJG took me to the Silver Fox in Grapevine for my birthday. And it was a total fiasco. They couldn't manage to get the steak cooked right for her (after 4 tries), and subsequently her mood turned sour and the evening was a total disaster. To their credit, they comp'd most of the meal. And I did enjoy my steak. But needless to say, Silver Fox was not on our "top destinations" list. We're not big steak eaters anyway, and when we do get in the mood, Mr. RJG will grill one of his famous habanero seasoned steaks for the two of us.

The tide turned in favor of Silver Fox last year, when The Garland Troublemaker (TGT) and I met with one of our vendors who flew in to see us (and a few other customers no doubt). TGT suggested Silver Fox, and I relayed my story, but we both decided let's give this location a shot, since it's close to our office. And the vendor brought a contingent of three, so it would be  a good cross section of folks. The evening was a big hit. Literally, as we watched Josh Hamilton hit a home run to win the game, and we screamed like we were at a sports bar. Much to the chagrin of the other diners in the restaurant, who cast evil eyes our way immediately. We went into library mode after that. Well maybe. OK, we didn't.

So this past week, it was time for our annual meeting, and the boss and our other peers from around the country (and world actually) came to our Richardson office for 3 days of meetings, food, and drinks. In reverse order naturally. And what was our first choice to kick off the revelry? Silver Fox of course, followed by further drinks across the parking lot at Ye Shire Tavern. There was 5 of us for this night (all dudes, sorry ladies), including one vegetarian who allows for chicken, and everyone enjoyed themselves immensely. The wine and other libations were excellent. I'll be honest and state I didn't pay that close attention to what everyone had to eat, so I'll just discuss my choices. Besides that's all that matters anyway. At least to me... Anyway, almost everyone had a steak. I had the 10 ounce baseball cut filet mignon, cooked medium, with a side of mashed potatoes. And I added a Caesar Salad, to open with. The salad is a good Caesar, with the right mix of ingredients. Sometimes Caesar's can go overboard with items like anchovies, or even avocado, that just don't appeal to my taste. The steak was cooked to order, which is not as common as you'd think. Many steakhouses will bring it to you one degree less, so that if you do send it back, they just have have to cook it a little more. I don't mind a medium rare steak, so I'll just eat it that way, but I prefer it medium. I'd rather not send a steak back, and given out history with Silver Fox, I wouldn't necessarily recommend it anyway. My baseball cut looked like Hamilton took a Louisville Slugger to it, and definitely didn't pass the shape test. But who cares about that? It was delicious. And we all passed around an excellent cheesecake to finish the evening.

On an expense account, or visiting with someone who is? Need to impress a client? Silver Fox checks that box admirably.

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Los Molcajetes, Mexican, Taqueria, Roanoke-TX (was Don Taco)

Last visit: March 2013

May 2013 update: Unbeknownst to me until now, Don Taco was a concept from the same people behind Los Molcajetes and Mi Pueblo, but I think due to brand confusion, they renamed it Los Molcajetes. As stated below, Don Taco is counter service (in Ft. Worth) and Los Molcajetes is a full service restaurant (like this one).So I'm leaving it here, and just changing the name. Everything is the same otherwise (phone number, etc...) . This now explains to me why the margaritas are so good....

Original review
A few years ago I first visited the Ft. Worth location, and was somewhat underwhelmed to be honest. But as I was reviewing Urbanspoon, Don Taco continued to be at the top of the list for most recommended places to eat. So last December I was in the area for a little Christmas shopping, and stopped by for another chance. On this visit, I was much more impressed. As I was about to write the place up for the RJG, I'd recalled seeing a new location up in Roanoke. A perfect opportunity to bring along Mrs. RJG and then report back here. Since the Ft. Worth location is counter service, I thought we'd stop in, grab a couple of tacos, and be on our way.

So imagine my surprise when we walked in and saw the sign "Please wait to be seated". Huh? Well, apparently Don Taco has decided to go from fast food to full service. As such, I'll just report on this location, and eventually discuss the Ft. Worth one on our next visit.

Since my intention was to enjoy tacos, I stuck to the game plan. As did Mrs. RJG. But of course the big bonus here is the complimentary chips and salsa. The chips are excellent, with a real corn taste. The red salsa is a pretty standard cilantro, onion, and tomato recipe. The green is the spicier variety, though I would've preferred a more pureed sauce, rather than chewy chunks of green chiles. It did have a nice kick though. As well, we imbibed a frozen margarita. As with Fogata's, we were quite pleased with the drink mixture. So I'm gaining my taste for them again!

As mentioned, we stuck with tacos, rather than dive into their platters. Don Taco has their roots in the taqueria business, and I think they're quite good at it, so if you're unsure what to get, this would be my recommendation for a start. And having said that, I think their fajita tacos are splendid - both the chicken and beef. They're tender and fully loaded! I also tried their "street taco" al pastor, but it isn't their strength I'm afraid (it was tough, and I didn't care for the seasoning). Mrs. RJG had two chicken fajita tacos with the rice and beans - of which she gave a thumbs up as well. Though she did state that the charro beans were too thick. Oh - and they provide a taco sauce if you ask. Definitely better than their table salsas - it's a thick and smooth red, with a strong spicy flavor.

Don Taco is at the intersection of 114 and 377, not too far from the Speedway. Definitely a welcome addition to the "unique dining capital of Texas" family of restaurants.

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Fogata's Cocina Mexicana, Mexican, Haltom City-TX

Last visit: March 2013

We first visited Fogata's last summer for a weekend lunch, had a wonderful experience and...... never went back. Yea, I don't know how that happens either. Too many good places, and more convenient (for us) locations I suppose. But that's not a good excuse. Fogata's fell through the cracks, and so we made up for it recently with this dinner visit.

The first positive aspect I'd like to call out about Fogata's is their margarita's. Lately the RJG has been having a hard time finding a good frozen adult slurpee. They're either too sweet, too sour, not enough alcohol, not frozen, not... ad infinitum. But on our two visits here, they've been absolutely delicious. First class margaritas that remind me of Mi Pueblo, Anamia's, or Casa Milagro. Mrs. RJG had one on the rocks and she too was enjoying every second of it. Plus I like that their default is the large size. I'm tired of wimpy margarita's honestly. That's not a problem at Fogata's!

The second kudos goes to their food selection. I consider Fogata's more "interior Mexico" rather than Tex-Mex (though the usual combo plates are an option if you so desire, but I suggest you take advantage of the situation since Tex-Mex is everywhere else). So again, Fogata's compares favorably with Anamia's - and perhaps closest to Oscar's in Haltom City (which is no surprise given they share a common owner). We've written about all these places in the past. Now it's time to add Fogata's to our list of great Mexican restaurants in DFW.

The chips are light, and a little bit generic. The salsa provided has a good flavor, but is mild. On our first visit, the manager took pride in his ability to provide us a spicy alternative. On this trip, we were advised they didn't have anything hotter. So that's a bit of a bummer. That can be a deal breaker for us, but not this time, as everything else came up aces.

We each opted for the creamy chipotle dishes (Cozumel). I went with the chicken, and Mrs. RJG settled on the shrimp. The sauce is absolutely delicious, with a strong spicy kick. I probably would prefer it to be just a tad drier, but it's not a major deal. The shrimp is of the jumbo variety and very flavorful. The rice is excellent, and the refried beans were just the right texture and flavor. The shrimp dish comes with a bowl of black beans instead and she enjoyed them as well.

I don't think I've ever had room in my life for dessert after a Mexican meal, and this night was no different. Which is why I never mention it!

Fogata's is a nice, spacious place. You shouldn't have any trouble getting a seat, and they also have a really nice bar area if you're flying solo or meeting up with friends for a drink.

I was surprised to find out that Fogata's is in Haltom City. I didn't realize the suburb came up this far north, but a quick review of Google Maps shows that Fogata's is at the far northern border.

Highly recommended - and we'll be back more often for certain!

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Snooty Pig Cafe, Breakfast, Diner, Keller-TX

Last visit: March 2013

5 DFW locations including Grapevine, Ft. Worth (Alliance), Argyle, and Highland Village

According to my database, the RJG hasn't been to the Snooty Pig since August of 2005, when they were in the location that now houses Tacos y Mas (and you can read more on that post about the history of these locations). The main reason we haven't been in nearly 8 years is, as I've mentioned in a couple of other blog posts, the RJG isn't much of a breakfast eater. Truth be told, from a health perspective, I should be more of one. Not to mention that breakfast is typically easier on the wallet than the other meals of the day.

But even if I were to suddenly be all about breakfast, the Snooty Pig is probably not the place that's going to motivate me thus. In fact, as I was ogling over their menu, I realized that I should try their extensive lunch options instead. But on this morning, I wasn't feeling particularly great, and so Mrs. RJG and I decided on a rare breakfast. And so we went about ordering a somewhat typical breakfast. It should be noted that Snooty Pig themselves claim to be famous for their wide variety of low calorie muffins. We didn't partake, but if nut or fruit flavored muffins is your bag, then I would suggest a visit promptly.

We both settled on your basic pancake, scrambled eggs, and protein breakfast. I went with ham and the Mrs. settled on crispy bacon. I also ordered orange juice. That was a mistake. If you're going to focus on breakfast, then I think the juice should be fresh squeezed. C'mon. Instead, it was watered down juice. I should have got water instead (I kind of did anyway, except it wasn't free). We'd already had our one cup of coffee back home, so we didn't try theirs. As for the meal, the pancakes were standard, and they only provide maple syrup. We asked for the eggs to be well done, and they weren't - sort of medium. Fortunately they weren't runny, or Mrs. RJG would have walked out on the spot! The ham was awesome. Whatever brand they buy, is the kind I like. Plus I love that they sear both sides. But it's hardly "homemade". And the bacon wasn't anything special, but at least it was crispy.

Honestly... I prefer IHOP to Snooty Pig for breakfast. So why even bother to write about it here, since I usually save my average to negative reviews for Urbanspoon? I dunno - I have faith that their lunch will be excellent. Also, this location is always mobbed with diners. And it's been that way for the entire time we've lived in NE Tarrant (2003), which is why they moved to this much larger location. And we still had to wait about 5 minutes. So that tells me that your average breakfast eater thinks this place is really good (though the 71% rating on US with lots of votes isn't a compelling story for them). As such, if you're not familiar with it, then why not give them a chance? Just don't get the juice, and try a muffin maybe?

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Fred's Downtown Philly, Philly Cheesesteak, Grapevine-TX

Last visit: March 2013

5 DFW locations including Plano, Richardson, Irving, and Carrollton

Going to the Burger and Philly Shack the other day, and a recent visit to Billadelphia's, reminded me that I never wrote about Fred's Downtown Philly. One of the RJG's favorite beer stores is Grapevine Beer and Wine (craft beer aficionados should make a beeline here if you haven't already). And Fred's is conveniently in the same strip center, so what a perfect excuse to drive on over and have a Philly!

I must really be in the mood for cheesesteaks lately, as my last trip to Billadelphia's was somewhat of an epic experience. And now here too. I went with the 10 inch Po Fred Cheesesteak which is sliced steak, Italian sausage, sauteed onions and cheese. Now there's something you can only eat about once a week - or month! Whew, my body was still shaking hours later. I could have sworn in the past they used Cheez-Wiz, which believe it or not, is authentic. Wiz-Wit is Philly parlance for the famous fake cheese and onions. But now they use white American cheese, which melts wonderfully into the imported Amoroso roll. It came out piping hot, the beef chopped perfectly, and the sausage in mini-bit size chunks. I was munching right through the basket!

Fred's is all about the Philadelphia food experience. So if you're looking for Tastykake's, Hanks beverages, Peanut Chews, and Utz potato chips (as shown on "Mad Men"!), Fred's is your place to load up. Of course you have to endure annoying photos of Terrell Owens in an Eagles uniform making fun of our beloved Cowboys.

I still need to try the Philly from the Burger Shack, and now I'm being told that Chelsea's in Keller has a great cheesesteak - so we have quite a race going here. The RJG considers himself fortunate to live in a food city as interesting as DFW.

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I Fratelli Pizza, Pizza, Keller-TX

Last visit: February 2013

10 locations including 3 in NE Tarrant (Keller, Southlake, and Grapevine)

We've previously written about the i Fratelli restaurant over in Irving / Las Colinas, and it's a favorite of the RJG household, as well as my business partners. But I haven't discussed the pizza outlets yet, which are exclusively take-out. I'd been to the Southlake location a few times since they opened, but I think the last visit was before I had this blog - or close to it. Now they have one in Keller in the same shopping center with Funky Baja's (next door actually) and Mo'Fish. In fact, I think this was a Little Caeser's prior that didn't make the grade. Anyway, that's good news for the RJG since his official Mom lives in some apartments nearby and she's somewhat of a pizza fanatic. So we did something the other night that I imagine will be habit forming: Show up to Mom's with a i Fratelli large pizza in hand! Works for me.

I would describe i Fratelli's pizza as "Dallas Style". It has its roots in the type of pizza served over in central Dallas since the 1950s. Namely Campisi's and Prego's. i Fratelli has direct ties to the Campisi family so this isn't all that much a surprise. Basically it's a very thin crust pizza, served in an irregular shape, somewhat like an oval - or a football. Mrs. RJG likes the crispy crust, and I like the generous toppings. Personally I wish they'd use more sauce, and a higher grade of cheese, but those are minor grumps. The official Mom is just happy to have pizza, though secretly she still desires a sloppy slice like she remembers growing up with in Long Island.

So far the Keller location has been a hit, as the parking lot was a traffic jam of pizza delivery cars! Good to see folks spending their hard earned money on the local boys rather than the national chains. I think they'll be around for a long time in this location.

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The Burger and Philly Shack, Hamburgers, Philly Cheesesteak, Watauga-TX

Last visit: March 2013

March 2013 update: A quick update to the below. I did take Mrs. RJG there, and she too thinks it may be the best burger in NE Tarrant! I did finally try the Philly. It was indeed very good, though I think I prefer Billadelphia's and Fred's. It was just a tad too "wet" for my personal preference.

Original review

As I write this, The Burger and Philly Shack has a phenomenal 98% approval rating on Urbanspoon, with close to 215 votes. That is incredible. And why is that? Because The Burger and Philly Shack has some of the best burgers in town. In fact, this may be the best in all of NE Tarrant, and that's saying something considering the competition. The flavor of the meat is outstanding, and it seems they use a higher grade of beef than most. A high quality bun holds it all together, and they cut it in half to make consumption an easy task. The fries are thick cut, and delicious. I haven't tried their Philly yet on my two visits, but next time I will. Word on the street says their Philly's are excellent. Mrs. RJG wants to try the burger, so that will be my chance.

The owner of the place is a sharp witted wisecracker, who is a whole lot of fun to rap with. And I've seen him do nice gestures such as offer delivery truck drivers a free drink. There's a lot of character displayed here. Which explains why a line begins to go out the door around Noon. They emphasize that they are NOT fast food, and it can be an easy 10 minute wait from time of order to delivery to your table. Fine with me! In case you get bored, there are a couple of flat screen TV's around to keep you entertained.

I had a hard time finding the restaurant on my first visit last Fall. Basically it's on US 377, about a 1/4 mile south of Watauga Rd. Look for Joe's Pizza, then the white sno-cone stand, and it's right behind that.

Mo' Fish, Seafood, Cajun, Keller-TX

Last visit: February 2013

Mo' Fish is the latest concept restaurant coming from the same folks behind Baja Mex Grill, Peace Burger and Dive Bar, Funky Baja's Cantina, and Baja's Bar and Grill. In fact, this restaurant sits on the opposite side of the same shopping center with Funky Baja's. They've taken over the old Vietnamese restaurants such as the Green Bamboo and later the infamously named Pho King Way (Pho is pronounced "Fu" as in Fudge. Ohhh... I get it now!).

Perhaps the best news coming from this small collective of restaurants is their decision to focus on local craft brews - more so than any other restaurant or pub in Northeast Tarrant. On this visit I tried the Revolver Bock from Granbury. And it's an excellent example of the style.

As for the food, Mo' Fish specializes in Southern Louisiana and Texas seafood. Cajun seasonings abound, with traditional favorites like Po' Boys, oysters and crawfish all on the menu. Shrimp, mahi mahi, tilapia, and chicken are the mainstays for protein. Sides includes some yummy waffle fries, veggies, mac&cheese, fried okra and other southern items. Appetizers include ceviche and Mexican-styled shrimp cocktail. I tried the blackened shrimp Po' Boy. And even though it came on a huge toasted french roll, it was not heavy at all. The popcorn shrimp featured a nice blackened seasoning blend. Mrs. RJG settled on the mahi mahi (blackened) with veggies and fried okra. The fish was steak like, and was also delicious.

With a full bar scene, similar to Funky Baja's, and excellent comfort seafood to eat / local artisan craft brews to drink - Mo' Fish is clearly a winner. A must stop if you're in the Keller / Southlake / Watauga/ NRH area.

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Jet's, Pizza, North Richland Hills-TX

Last visit: April 2013

There are 4 DFW locations including the one in Far North Ft. Worth that we first frequented.

If you want to start a burrito chain, then you might consider beginning in Denver. And if you want to launch a new pizza chain, may I perhaps suggest you do so in Detroit? Both Dominos and Little Caesar's trace their roots to the Motor City. And now we have a third major player: Jet's Pizza.

We first reported on the chain back in 2010, with their store in Ft. Worth. But they've moved even closer to the RJG with their new location on Davis in North Richland Hills. In fact, they're close to ground zero for the cow pasture we roam around in. And that's ideal for a take out only place such as Jet's. We love their Jet Boats, which is basically an inverted pizza. Not a calzone, only in that they use mozzarella rather than ricotta cheese, which is more preferable for our tastes anyway. You get two of those bad boys with every order. Perfect if I want to take care of lunch and dinner in one fell swoop, or to share with Mrs. RJG. I guess the only downer is that the NRH location doesn't feature meatballs, whereas the Ft. Worth location does. These are made in Detroit and flown in, and as such are a bit expensive for the franchisee. And their meatballs are fantastic. But so are all the other ingredients, and I absolutely love the sweet tomato sauce they use. And the outer bread is garlic and parmesan encrusted, and is baked to perfection. Jet's is the latest to utilize the "conveyor belt" style of baking a pizza - similar to how Schlotzsky's and Quizno's toast their sandwiches (except the oven is much larger of course).

We've tried their hand tossed pizza once, and it was OK - nothing spectacular. I'd like to try their thin crust and deep dish at some point, along with their baked sandwiches (might as well use the oven for that as well!). Since they're so close, reasonably priced, and delicious, we'll probably go to the new Jet's location more than we normally would frequent a place such as this.

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