Tacusa ~ Fort Worth, Texas

Our original location in far north Fort Worth is still open along with one in Arlington. The Keller locale is closed.

Latest visit: Dec 2017 (Keller - closed)

First visit: Sep 2015 (Fort Worth)

We're always on the lookout for high quality street tacos at the RJG, and the Mrs. is a fan of the Salvadoran favorite papusas, so Tacusa came across our radar for a try. This was in 2015, and we were surprised they've recently opened another location closer by. With our local Tacos y Mas now closed up, we thought we'd give Tacusa one more try.

While the front of the menu clearly portrays a Mexican taqueria, it becomes obvious quickly this is truly an El Salvadoran eatery. All the same, I stuck with street tacos and tried their carne asada, pollo, and al pastor. Priced attractively at $1.25 and listening to a sizzling kitchen, I felt I could do no wrong. Tacusa features a salsa bar with 4 different sauces, an onion/cilantro mix, lettuce, and other items. Right away I was disturbed with the lack of a covering at the salsa bar. That seems like a health code violation to me. Since we came early, not long after opening, it was still fresh looking, but I wouldn't want come in the late afternoon. We gathered up a sample of each, sat down, and a few minutes later out came my tacos. Well these are kind of dinky, aren't they? Explains the cost. Double corn tortillas, but extremely small, and filled with the meat of my choice. From there you add the onions, etc... The carne asada was the highlight on this visit, and the only one packed with a good portion meat. It was also very hot and delicious. The al pastor had a very nice marinate, but was the smallest, with literally 5 tiny chunks and tough at that. And the chicken had some delicious spices, but again I think they could have offered a bit more meat. On this visit I went for taco plate special, which comes with rice and beans and a canned soda. The rice is somewhat non distinctive, but hearty and good enough to pass muster. The beans just blow. They're runny, and kind of nasty really. One bite is all I could manage. The salsas were somewhat disappointing. Both the molcajete and the verde were thin - and lacked spice. The spicy chile de arbol was by far the best, but even at that, it was a bit mild for the style, and lacked flavor. Mrs. RJG had two papusas, one with pork and the other shredded chicken. She didn't enjoy the pork much, but said the chicken was very good. She did like the cheese quite a bit, and the corn tortilla was cooked right.

On the visit to the Fort Worth location (and I presume Keller will be similar), Mrs. RJG had the horchata, which was creamy, rich, with a nice cinnamon flavor. I sampled a couple of sips. Not something I would drink a lot of, but certainly can appreciate the beverage. They also have homemade lemonade, otherwise it's bottled drinks.

You'll find Tacusa north of Keller Parkway near Bourland Rd, in the same shopping center as Funky Baja's, I Fratelli Pizza, and Baja Cantina - they are on the east end in the newer section. The digs are pleasant, minus the open salsa bar. They also wear their beliefs on their sleeve, and you get Christian pop music blaring over your meal, with lots of testimonials. To me it all sounds like the exact same song with different lyrics...

I fear to say that Tacusa is not our kind of place. We've now tried both their Fort Worth location and Keller, and I remain unenthused. I don't suspect we will be returning anytime soon.

9/21/15 (new entry); 12/30/17

RJG 2017 recap

Alrighty then... From the time I dropped the Howdy note until now, I've updated all the places we visited in 2017.

I've created a new feature for each year - see the page above for the RJG's 2017 recommendations. This will my way of tracking all restaurants, and ensuring pages don't go unread.

There were a few places we went for the first time in 2017 that we thoroughly enjoyed, but I didn't put a page up yet. I need to revisit the following:

Roscoe's Smokehouse (Keller)
Lucy's Lot (Grapevine)
Slim Chickens (Keller)
El Pollo Loco (Keller) - well we'd been here plenty of times before, but not in DFW!

Planet Sub - I was excited to tell you about this sandwich place. I had been a frequent visitor to their location in Denver many years ago (which has now closed), and was excited to see them here in DFW. So I went to the one in Irving earlier this year and it was great! And now it's closed too. Argh. They are still open in Fort Worth though.

And, of course, we would be remiss if we didn't discuss former RJG entries that closed in 2017 (or 2016). The following are no longer with us:

Del Taco - Left NE Tarrant a couple years back, but has exited DFW altogether now
Jimboy's Tacos (Irving) Like Del Taco, the chain exists, but they are no longer in DFW.
Bellisimo (Colleyville) The RJG's very first restaurant post!
Gold-In Chinese (Keller)
El Paseo (Keller)
Pietro's (Dallas) A dagger to the heart
Burrito Jimmy (Irving) There is a location near Love Field that we can still try.
Agave Azul (Carrollton)
Tacos y Mas (Keller) Still open in Dallas and Richardson (5 locations)
Las Pinatas (Fort Worth) We didn't care for this one actually, but it's closed now.
Bangkok Cuisine (Haltom City) Under new ownership, and it is different. We will start a new post for them if warranted.
TPR Burger (Watauga)

Drunken Donkey ~

The Keller location is closed, leaving only the one in The Colony, which we haven't been to.

Looks like they went back to their original name of Drunken Donkey.

Last visit: Dec 2017 (Keller - closed)

First visit: June 2016 (Keller - closed)

Apparently the name "Drunken" didn't appeal to the good clean folks in Keller or Colleyville (as opposed to the dirty folks in Lewisville?), so Dallas Craft was born... Nothing else changed that I can see, except for my final note below. We still recommend it!

On the last updated post from Funky Baja's, we spoke about how Keller is all grown up. The kid is now in college, and with that... we now have Drunken Donkey. We have longed wished for a Flying Saucer type place in Northeast Tarrant. When Ginger Man arrived in Southlake, it seemed our dreams had come true. Except it didn't. Ginger Man's mentality exists from a time when getting German drafts was still a big deal. We want local, and want the beers to rotate often, not just tokenism ("Have you heard of Rahr's?" Really?). And besides, food at the Ginger Man are appetizers. So the reality is, Ginger Man is not what we were looking for. BTW, for the record, I use Ginger Man as an "extended office" and have met many of my partners/vendors/suppliers there. It definitely serves its purpose, but they can do better in my estimation. Back to Drunken Donkey... it may not be perfect, and maybe not quite as "obscure beer" focused (like Jack Mac's) as we'd like, but we're getting that much closer!

They call themselves Craft Bar and Scratch Kitchen (now they call themselves Craft Kitchen and Community Tap Room - did they pay consultants for this? Hope not very much). And they do that because food is not an afterthought to the drink, and honestly that's what makes it so alluring. So far, I've only been to lunch with a couple of business partners, and had the salad and sandwich combo each time. The sandwiches are huge, and really quite good (I've tried the chicken fried chicken, and what they call the Big A$$ Club). I just noticed they have a sandwich that has a cheese sauce made with Old Chub. Oooh - I have to try that. But you know what I'm starting to crave? Perhaps an all-time first for the RJG, at least for the blog: Their champagne vinaigrette dressing on the salad. Oh my goodness. I've always loved a clean tasting, but heavily spiced, Italian dressing, and this fits that definition perfectly. Cold crisp lettuce as well. We've got a long way to go in exploring this menu, but I have every intention of doing just that. Actually, while I'm here, I really enjoy their chicken fried chicken!

They are a full bar, but craft beer is definitely their specialty. And they have an enormous selection. It's very similar to Flying Saucer and Ginger Man, in that they have more well known imports, and specialty Belgians. Their beer menu, at least in my 2 visits spread across two months, seemed a bit too "permanent", with maybe 2 to 3 deviations. I think if you specialize in it, they should have more "rare taps" and draft-only beer from some of the local brewers, rather than beers one can typically find at a well stocked Goody Goody. Just my opinion of course, and my "collecting nature". But for the other 95% of you, the beer selection is likely to be overwhelming on first visit. Might be worth visiting the website ahead of time, and making a small list before heading over.

Dallas Craft Co. is a nice open, sunny, and spacious standalone building, with outside seating and a bar area. This was the former TGI Fridays (good riddance...). You'll find the restaurant on the east side of US 377 between Kroger Dr and North Tarrant. I'm reading that this place is wildly popular on weekend nights, so plan ahead.

Dallas Craft Co is a local chain that started in Lewisville in 2014 (with the filthy Drunken Donkey moniker...), with other locations already in Colleyville and The Colony.

The ladies who work here are a bit on the "hot" side, in the Hooters tradition. Which is fine for a traditional male like myself, but thought I'd mention it in case it's not ideal for the company you're with (update - and with the name change, they seemed to toned down the heat here with the ladies as well).

6/18/16 (new entry); 12/28/17

Hoffbrau Steak & Grillhouse ~ Haltom City, Texas

May 13, 2022 update: Currently Hoffbrau has 3 locations in the Fort Worth area (Haltom City, Granbury, Benbrook) + 1 in far away Amarillo.

Latest visit: Dec 2017 (Haltom City)

First visit: 1985 (Dallas)

Did I never write about Hoffbrau? Guess not. How funny. Well, not that one needs an underground guide for this legendary institution. It's likely to be found in your hotel hard cover guide to Dallas/Fort Worth (you know, the one on the Formica coffee table...). I did, however, mention the restaurant in our writeup for Bangkok Cuisine, only in that I stated everyone goes to Hoffbrau instead of the Thai concern.

In any case, Hoffbrau is a relic of the past - the mid priced steakhouse. The cheapy Golden Corral places still exist, and of course the high end, high margin/markup steakhouses proliferate on the strength of the modern business expense account. Hoffbrau comes from the era of the everyman traveling salesman, when places like Steak and Ale and Stuart Anderson's ruled the landscape. Today, fewer of these places exist. But the ones who have, seem to do a land office business. And Haltom City's Hoffbrau is packed on a regular basis. We know this because, as mentioned above, we might be the only people in Bangkok Cuisine, but can't find a parking spot as the hordes crash down upon Hoffbrau.

We rarely go ourselves, but the official mom of the RJG enjoys a good steak for her birthday, and her favorite - and ours - is Hoffbrau. A flood of memories come back each time I eat here. Not so much Hoffbrau or this location, but the countless hours I spent with my parents growing up in places just like this. Who was that everyman traveling salesman in the 1970s and 80s? My pop.

We all really enjoy their smoked sirloin. It's their specialty and it's easy to understand why. Just like it says on the tin, this is slow cooked smoked sirloin. The flavors are very strong for a steak, and the meat is so very tender. You could pay triple at one of those highfalutin steakhouses, and not getting anything close to this good or tender. Comes with an old fashioned dinner salad with vinaigrette, just the way we like it. Baked bread of course is de riguer, and excellent as well. Oh, and the baked macaroni and cheese is delicious. Mrs. RJG goes for their baked potato, which is also excellent as to be expected. I'm sure their desserts are yummy too, but who has the room? Not I, because of course I must drain a couple of beers while there (nothing too craft, but they do have Rahr's - always a good choice (says Sam Adams anyway)). The Mrs. and the Mom shared a good bottle of red, and the price wasn't too bad either!

The Haltom City location sits on the west side US 377, just south of 820. My own history with Hoffbrau goes back to the middle 80s and their Knox/Henderson location (almost hard to imagine these days). I went with my old neighborhood pal in Dallas and we were both home from college for the winter break. I do recall standing in a very long line. I always hated that and my neighbor seemed to always like it. Ah well, we were young then. Later on, the chain tried their hand at the brewpub concept in Addison (at least that's the only one I remember), but they gave that up and that location is long gone. And when we first moved back to the area in 2003 or so, we went to their location in Bedford (I think it was Bedford - off of 183) which is also been closed for many a year. Today, they remain a small humble chain with locations also in Fort Worth, Granbury, and Amarillo. Perfect locations for a steakhouse such as this. We'll be back probably next year, same time. Or for Mother's Day.

4/1/07; 12/18/12; 5/7/15; 12/28/17 (new entry)

Malai Kitchen ~ Southlake, Texas

Malai Kitchen maintains 3 locations: Southlake, Dallas, and Fort Worth.

Latest visit: Dec 2017 (Southlake)

First visit: Feb 2017 (Southlake)

If Taverna Rossa represents the perfect mix of craft beer and artisan pizza, then how about a Thai brewpub? I mean seriously, are these restaurants tapping into the RJG psyche or what? Strange as it may seem, Thai brewpubs are not unique in the United States. I know of at least two others, one in Denver, and one in Alpine, Wyoming(?!). I'm sure there are more.

I've only been to Malai Kitchen twice to date, and had Mrs. RJG in tow on the last visit. Though the restaurant claims Thai and Vietnamese cuisine, it is definitely the former that defines this fine establishment. Usually it's the other way around. While you can certainly get a nice bowl of pho here, I wouldn't waste the visit, when there's so much great Thai food to be had. As always, I dug right into their variation of basil chicken. On my first visit they allowed for me the minced chicken (used for their lettuce wraps), but on the last it was only chicken breast on offer. Not a big deal, but a bit less authentic. The basil is very fresh and pungent, and I ordered it Thai hot, and they don't kid around here with that. I also asked for a fried egg on top (another Thai tradition), and they flash fried it just right. Really a fantastic recipe with fantastic flavors, and comes in a nice bowl that you can dump the white rice in (or brown if you prefer). Mrs. RJG had the red curry chicken, with chunks of potato and tomatoes. She simply stated it was delicious, and is eager to return. She's a tough customer, so high praise indeed.

On my first visit, I plopped myself at the bar, and enjoyed a couple of their finely crafted beers (a ginger IPA, and a pilsener). Very comfortable, though not a lot of bar stools, so come early if you want a seat. And that would be good advice for the restaurant itself. While lunch was only half full, dinner had a line starting to form as I was finishing up. On our last visit, I once again had the pilsener, but this time tried their "rotation" beer which was a more traditional IPA. I think they do a fine job with the beers myself, considering that is only one part of their operation.

There's a lot of money behind Malai Kitchen, and you will only find them in the more posh areas of DFW. In addition to Southlake, you can find them in Dallas (Uptown - where they started) and Fort Worth (Clearfork naturally). Malai Kitchen in Southlake is practically next door to Taverna Rossa, so the only challenge for the RJG is which one to go to!

2/18/17; 12/28/17 (new entry)

Tupinamba Café ~ Dallas, Texas

First visit: Dec 2017

Speaking of two-fer-99 cent tacos, how about Tupinamba Cafe? I didn't realize the fried taco had survived the modern restaurant industry. Anyone who has been to Kansas City and eaten at In-A-Tub knows the glories of a greasy fried taco. Sure there's Jack In the Box, but let's be honest here, that's just frozen food dropped in a vat of grease. I want fresh food dropped in a vat of grease!

Tupinamba Cafe has been around since 1947, and I remember them vividly (well not since 1947... but since the 70's I think?). Except I never ate there before! No time like the present, eh? We were with our long time friends The B's making a journey over to Dallas to grab some Italian sausage at Jimmy's (see Mr. Music's review from 5 years ago), still the best in DFW (along with Kuby's). Anyway Mr. B tells Mrs. RJG and I about these amazing fried tacos. And since Mr. B is a former resident of Kansas City, I'm paying attention!

And we all got a fried taco plate! Imaginative aren't we? It's just tacos and 'fixins - no rice or beans. But dang they were good! A bit pricey for what you get, but I'll pay it for the rare time we'll ever eat there. We were pretty buzzed by the time the tacos arrived, as the frozen margaritas packed a nice punch! Yes, they were excellent as well. Going backwards in time, the chips were divine. By themselves they tasted very good, but I loved the hot sauce! Reminded me some of Ojeda's/Esparza's, but even better! A nice kick too that did not compel me to ask for a hotter one. This was spicy enough thank you.

So we went once and who knows if we'll go back (we're very rarely in Dallas). But it was a heck of a lot of fun. And if you're craving fried tacos, by all means, come to Tupinamba Cafe for a Tupy Taco!

Apparently they've had 6 distinct locations since first opening in Oak Cliff. Their 3rd locale (from 1968 until 1985) was on Northwest Highway, and I suspect that's where I first saw them. Later they moved to LBJ and Midway and further on they took over the old Crystal's Pizza on Inwood in 1996 (oh my goodness, Crystal's was our old hangout in high school "after the football game" - we're going back to the early 80s here. Hadn't thought of that place in years). And now they're in a strip mall tucked away along Central Expressway, just southwest of Walnut Hill. It looks newish. Nice digs honestly. Jeez, all these locations is like a journey through my Dallas past.

12/27/17 (new entry)

The Great Outdoors Sub Shop ~ Carrollton, Texas

The Great Outdoors maintains 7 locations - 6 in the Dallas area and one in Fort Worth.

Latest visit: Oct 2017 (Carrollton)

First visit: 1980 (the old Bachman Lake place - long closed)

I've started going back to the location in Carrollton (technically Dallas, but I can't get my mind around that). One place that I like to stock up on craft beers is Lone Star Beverages, also in Carrollton. So it's a good lunch stopover. I never get to Addison anymore, so this is more convenient. Nothing else to say really, the below captures my experience. What I said in 2009 holds for 2017. And probably forever.

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It was our place. The place where father and son would go to enjoy a meal, talk freely, and savor the moment. We'd talk politics, religion, school, his job, etc... He wanted to talk with me about girls, but I was never too comfortable with that. Just enough to let him know, you can relax Dad, I definitely like girls. We first discovered the Great Outdoors near Bachman Lake sometime in the early 1980s while I was still in high school. On sporadic weekend college flights home from Lubbock, he'd meet me at Love Field and we'd beeline over there. My first job out of school was near Addison Airport, so we relocated to the Carrollton locale. The wife and I had relocated to Colorado, but on trips home, with the Bachman Lake restaurant now closed, we'd still venture up to Carrollton for each visit. Or on one particular business trip I was working near LBJ and Central, so we'd go to the Forest Ln one (now also closed). Finally, after we relocated back to DFW, I had an office near Belt Line and the Tollway, so we made the Belt Line and Montfort location our new home base for once a week lunches. Today, this is the only one I go to - about once a year when I see my accountant and sit in silence and reminisce. Northeast Tarrant even had one when we moved back - in North Richland Hills. Obviously I took it for granted, as it closed nearly as quick as we arrived (sometime in mid 2003). The Great Outdoors remains primarily a Dallas area institution, with one lone Fort Worth location.

The ritual was always the same. I'd get a double #1 (Ham, Salami), or a double #3 (Turkey Pastrami) and he'd get a single #6 or #12 (the ones with the most variety of meats). Always on white. Then it was time for the glorious "Works". As one African American worker said to me with a certain ghetto street tone "THAT'S WHAT MAKES THE SANDWICH!!". Incidentally the workers, over the years, have been uniformly great - many had worked there for over a decade (rare for fast food). So back to the Works. I'd get it without tomatoes. On queue, Dad would automatically say "give me his tomatoes" and snicker-laugh unconsciously. I would dress it with mustard (regular), and he would always say a "big blob of mayonnaise". We'd each get a pickle spear (15 cents!). I'd usually go a chocolate chip cookie. He'd get Diet Pepsi and I'd choose a Mountain Dew.

Then the games would begin. Dad would try to wolf down his sandwich as fast as he possibly could stuff into his mouth. I'm no slow eater either, though I would put down the sandwich and chew the food at least. Why did he do this? So he could smoke, that's why. Back in the days when you could still smoke indoors at restaurants (The Great Indoors?). His goal was to get in as many cancer sticks as possible before I would say "it's cold, let's go". See, since the Great Outdoors is a deli with meats, the place is always kept at a frigid temperature. In the winter, we'd be dressed appropriately, but in the summer... are you kidding me? Plus he'd just assume spend all day there smoking ciggy's and talking about whatever, and I'd rather actually have a life and maybe see a friend, or do something else other than talk about the military ex-officers club. Or his sales figures. Or my low grades.... So while sitting there enjoying my sandwich, he'd already reached into his shirt front pocket and grabbed a cigarette. And he'd puff away on it and instinctively reach for another one. And another. And another... so I had to time it perfectly. Just as he put one out, and began reaching for another, I'd say "let's go, it's cold!". "Already?" he'd plea. "Dad!" "OK..." he'd acquiesce.

Very sadly, it's not something we can do anymore. Dad passed away near the end of 2003 at the too young age of 68.

This post is dedicated to my father, who I miss dearly. And Dad, I look forward to sharing a double #1 with you in heaven.

6/1/88; 12/21/94; 8/13/95; 4/15/98; 6/6/09 (new entry); 3/9/12; 3/18/15; 10/29/17

Abuelo's Mexico ~ regional chain : Hurst, Texas

Currently they exist in 9 states with 26 locations strewn about the southern half of the US. Texas remains their stronghold, and our former NE Tarrant location of Hurst is still open.

Latest visit: Oct 2017 (Hurst, Texas)

First visit: Aug 2004 (Hurst, Texas)

We first visited Abuelo's in the summer of 2004, but for whatever reason Mrs. RJG didn't care for it, and we didn't return for a half-dozen years. Then one day last year we were talking with our neighbors about Mexican food, and they said their favorite place was Abuelo's. I figured that may be because they are hardcore West Texas folks and the chain is based in Lubbock. But we gave it one more try shortly thereafter... and we've been going back ever since. 6 years from first publishing this post, that remains true.

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The first thing you notice about Abuelo's is how stunning the restaurant looks - on the inside and out. It's like a Mexican vacation resort (and this remains even after they relocated across the street). Generally that's a red flag for the RJG. When the money is put into the decor, we fear that's at the expense of the food budget. But that's definitely not the case at Abuelo's. And in fact, Abuelo's offers some pretty unique items that one may only find in a dive. For one they may have the best habanero salsa I've ever had. It's a blazer, but extremely tasty, with that fire roasted chile taste (I just got that feeling in my tongue - I feel like going there right now!). They also have a chipotle medium hot and a tomato based mild. Both are very good, but do not compare to the habanero. Funny that they serve it in a tiny little tin with the other two other salsas in larger bowls. But I'm sure most folks would rather only have a taste. But not the RJG - he asks for a BUCKET of it. And the chips are tasty enough without salsa. The Tex-Mex dishes here are a mix of staples and more authentic Mexican (for example, you can get fried eggs on the enchiladas, that sort of thing). I liked their baked overstuffed burritos, loaded with melted cheese, tasty con carne and whatever meat filling I'd like. Mrs. RJG says their crunchy tacos are the best! Rice and beans are delicious and beyond the norm. Let's go further with the beans: Abuelo's has the absolute best refried beans I've ever had! And they are still sizzling hot on the last bite.

Abuelo's has a full bar, and their margaritas (frozen and au natural) pack a punch.

This is a good place to take guests, or business associates. Though for the many times we've been, it's just been the wife and I. Overall a great Mexican restaurant.

8/22/04; 10/22/11 (new entry); 10/24/17

Bangkok Cuisine (original ownership) ~ Haltom City, Texas ***CLOSED***

Last visit: Oct 2017

First visit: 2004

OK, so we have an important announcement here for those that don't know: Manit has retired and sold the business. We were there for his last week, and then we visited again the second week the new owners took over. At that time, they had kept the original menus, and presumably recipes. But the food did not taste the same at all to us. The new owner - pleasant as can be - had hinted that she would be bringing her own recipes forth shortly. So with that, this will be the last update for this post. We will return in a couple of months to see if anything has changed. At that point we will start a new post if we feel the food is worth trying. But for the RJG, it cannot be the same without Manit. He WAS Bangkok Cuisine.

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We've been visiting Bangkok Cuisine since 2004, and it remains one of our favorite Thai restaurants in DFW, along with Sea Siam and Sweet Basil. It's just simply exquisite. The owner, Manit (who is always there), will make it as spicy as you want (actually the chefs are usually his wife or daughter), and all the dishes we've tried here are excellent. They cook with more of a syrupy (but not sweet) texture than most Thai places, so the dishes tend to be sauce heavy. Mrs. RJG and I both don't typically go for that, but Bangkok Cuisine is an exception. It's that good. I have to say that Bangkok Cuisine tastes like no other Thai place I've experienced in the country. It's very unique, and yet another reason why we venture here often. Personally I love their basil chicken, which they custom make for me, and often times cooked with a few Thai chiles added in (super hot). Mrs. RJG likes their chicken with vegetables or their cashew chicken. In addition, their version of chicken satay makes for an excellent appetizer, though we've generally gone straight to the meal in recent years.

Good news for winos as it's BYOB, so a great way to save, and enjoy a bottle of your favorite wine (or beer). Manit (or your server) will open the wine bottle and provide chilled wine glasses for you as well! No one does that for you, except those who charge a corkage fee. They also have, of course, sodas, Thai coffees, teas, etc...

Bangkok Cuisine sits in a strip mall, next to the Hoffbrau steakhouse on US 377, not far south from I-820 and just north of Glenview (west side of 377). The setting is very simple, with about 15 tables, and recently repainted in a light blue color. It's a fairly bright place (though the new paint helps with this), with a TV near the kitchen if you're dining alone. It feels like a casual lunch cafeteria, but we almost exclusively go for dinner, and always enjoy the experience. The parking lot is always crowded, but 95% of the people are at the Hoffbrau. And that's a good place too (we've been a few times), but it's a shame more folks don't venture in to Bangkok Cuisine and give it a try. Note that they are closed on Monday.

The reviews on the wall point to a heritage that goes back to 1986, when they first occupied a place further south on Belknap (US 377), where there there are dozens of restaurants today (primarily Vietnamese). I believe Bangkok Cuisine is the oldest Thai restaurant in Tarrant County, or at least Northeast Tarrant.

7/6/08 (new entry); 10/15/17

Cool River Cafe ~ national chain :

Mar 31, 2022 update: Well this is weird. So it appeared that the Cool River Cafe chain was on its last legs. The remaining Dallas area location (near Love Field) has exceptionally low ratings. The Las Colinas restaurant - which always seemed very popular to me - was the last one to close. They had many other restaurants prior that are now gone, including nearby Denver. Now all of a sudden - out of nowhere - they plan to open up in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania in the summer of 2022. Go figure that one out.

Latest visit: Sep 2017 (Las Colinas, TX)

First visit: Jan 2006 (Las Colinas, TX)

Cool River is clearly geared towards the male business traveler. And on this business visit last week, the four of us dudes fell in lockstep. We started at the bar for cocktails, frozen margaritas, beer (nice selection of craft) and wine. Then we headed over to the billiards room and shot a few games of stick. Then off to dine where we feasted on large mounds of red meat. And finally a trip to the cigar bar to puff on some stogies, while being served drinks by cute girls in slinky cocktail dresses. Now on this later point, the RJG doesn't smoke, but having grown up with it, I have no objection to sitting in the room and polishing off a Chimay (Rouge) while they smoke away.

Personally I think their steaks are some of the finest in the area. And the sides are excellent as well (I tried the basmati rice this time). I've seen low ratings for Cool River in the past. Most of the gripes seem to stem from the high prices, but it's not near as expensive as some of Dallas' finest steakhouses as you will find on the North Tollway. And it's somewhat a given that you come here on an expense account - and it's location on MacArthur in Las Colinas only underscores that point. Definitely not a fun-for-the-whole-family kinda place!

The RJG first visited Cool River in Denver (on business) sometime around 2001 or so. After that, all the visits have been at their Las Colinas location, starting in 2005. We had an office nearby, and this was a popular place to take clients, vendors, partners, etc...

Simply put: A great place to meet or host clients.

1/10/06; 1/23/12 (new entry); 6/19/14; 9/14/17

Thai Riverside ~ Grapevine, Texas

Last visit: Sep 2017

First visit: 2004

We have a love hate relationship with Thai Riverside. I think they're on their 49th owner now. Every time we go, it seems they're back and we're happy. Then we revisit, and it's not the same! No consistency whatsoever. It's not terrible mind you, but it's not what it should be. 

We first started frequenting Thai Riverside when the place was known as Thai Rice, sometime in the 2003-2004 era. New ownership brought improvements including an interior spruce-up, an upgraded menu and new flavors. On this visit, our first in nearly two years, we learned that Thai Riverside again has changed owners. Not so many alterations this time around, exceptions being a new menu and a handful of new recipes, though the owner assured us that most everything was "the same".

That's unfortunate, since as you may have gathered from the "first visit in two years" comment, Thai Riverside isn't one of NE Tarrant's finest. Nor is it near the bottom either but somewhere in the middle. That is to say, Thai Riverside is a "serviceable" Thai restaurant.

On this visit we sampled the Chicken Satay for an appetizer, and for entrees we had the Cashew Chicken and Chicken Basil. All of it was good, not nothing captured the imagination.

Thai Riverside is located on Northwest Highway, just east of 114. It's buried in a strip center (on the Park Blvd street side). The interior is pleasantly decorated with mood lighting, to ensure a nice dining experience. Oh and it's BYOB, so that's a plus too.

5//09 (new entry); 8/30/14; 9/9/17

Alvarado Mexican ~ North Richland Hills, Texas

Last visit: Aug 2017

First visit: Jul 2004

Now here's one we have a long history with, in terms of timeline. According to my personal database, I visited Alvarado's way back in July of 2004, not long after they opened. I didn't have a positive experience, and basically never thought about them much again. Mrs. RJG used to work nearby there in the 2006/07 time frame, and stated they would go about once a week and have a burrito. She said it was good, but didn't think it was worthy of us going together. Year after year, the small old taco building seemed to thrive (despite an awful location), as we drove past it towards the Northeast Mall or to Richland Hills/Haltom City. They had to be doing something right! So we finally broke down and revisited late last year, and were mightily impressed with their street tacos. And we've been somewhat regulars ever since. Either they improved or our tastes have changed. Probably a bit of both, as is often the case. The reason for the delay into the RJG is that we were waiting until they moved to their new location. That has now happened, and here we are.

Alvarado's is a real taqueria, which isn't as common in the northern reaches of NE Tarrant as one might presume. We like their tacos, both large and small (street). They really load them up with the meat, and are an excellent value. We like their salsa bar, which provides a vast array of different sauces, most notably a spicy chile de arbol, a pungent verde, and a smooth habanero, which is of course their hottest offering. Mrs. RJG likes their rice and beans as well, and she stated the carne asada (meal) is excellent as well. As for types of meat, we enjoy most their chicken, adobada, and carne asada. But they have more hardcore offerings like lengua for the faithful.

Alvarado's just moved into the old Niki's space in a strip mall on Davis, just northeast of Harwood. With this move they have basically tripled their former space - and it's much nicer than the former "dive" as reported by many reviewers. It's quick service, so order at the counter, and they will either deliver it to you or scream out your number. Not organized, but they'll figure it out. Or you will... Incidentally the old Taco Bell they once occupied has already been bulldozed, along with the building next to it. Makes sense given its position on the bridge near the 820/183 feed to Davis.

7/5/04; 6/24/15; 6/21/16 (new entry); 8/6/17

Flip's Patio Grill ~ Grapevine, Texas

Latest visit: Jun 2017 (Grapevine)

First visit: Jun 2006 (Grapevine)

They also have a location in Fort Worth.

If you're a weary traveler staying near DFW airport, there's a good chance that you'll find yourself tempted to dine on the TX-114 corridor in Grapevine (may we suggest Tolbert's instead for a more "local" experience?). The Main Street and William B Tate exits are a shrine to corporate eateries, many of them publicly traded on the stock exchanges back in NEW YORK CITY (get a rope). Other than the Dallas based Tex-Mex institution known as El Fenix (and probably its worst location at that), the majority of your choices are places you've seen in Anytown, Anystate.

The only exception to this, at least for restaurants you can actually see from the highway itself, is Flip's Patio Grill, the lone locally owned restaurant in the area. It wasn't always that way, as Flip's was once a thriving Tony Roma's - a place that seemed to fit perfectly with the locale.

Flip's has a pretty good reputation for having one of the best burgers around. But readers of the RJG aren't likely to be impressed if they've ventured to some of our local recommendations including Kincaid's, Johnny B's (both close enough to TX-114 to at least give them a try instead), Molly's (RIP), Freddy's, Five Guys, etc... Still, that doesn't mean Flip's isn't worth trying, and for what they attempt to do, they end up being quite adept. Like many sports bars, their menu has as many choices as the screens have games, so it can be a bit daunting on what to get. Locals swear by the blue cheese burger, and to be fair, the RJG has never acquired a taste for this most moldy of all cheeses.

So if I'm stranded at the local Hampton Inn, and I want a cold one and a big juicy burger to go with my game of choice, then Flip's would most certainly meet that need. We've only been a couple of times, and we haven't even begun to dig into the vast array of choices on the menu, so it's a bit unfair to state that Flip's doesn't have anything special or unique to recommend. We like it, but we don't love it, get it?

Since publishing this post, they've opened a second location off of Western Center and I-35W in Fort Worth.

6/10/06; 4/24/09 (new entry); 6/11/17

Pho Big Bowl ~ Watauga, Texas

Latest visit: Jun 2017

First visit: Oct 2015

Finding a quality Vietnamese restaurant in the northern parts of Northeast Tarrant county has always been a challenge. Recently we've been blessed with two new start-ups, and at the current time, we think Pho Big Bowl is the best of them all! Though the other place is very good too, and we'll be reporting on them soon as well. It's a long drive to Haltom City, so we're hoping these places stay around.

Pho Big Bowl offers soups, sandwiches, and full dinner entrees, as you would expect. On our first two visits, Mrs. RJG and I tried the pho. In fact, on our very first time here, I was beginning to get a cold, and what better way to knock it out than with a big ol' bowl of meatball soup! Their noodles are fantastic, and the broth is somewhat unique (excellent of course), adding to the allure. On a recent visit, I was most curious how their entrees would stack up. I had the lemongrass chicken stir fry, and Mrs. RJG went with the charbroiled chicken. Mine was good, lacking a bit in strong flavor, but a decent variation of the classic dish. On the other hand, the Charbroiled chicken was an absolute slam-dunk instant classic awesome dish. We haven't tasted chicken this well prepared and marinated since our days in Denver and the hall of fame Kim Ba (which we reference a lot). Loved it, and I can see this being a crave worthy dish. Once you achieve that level, you have a loyal customer. We'll see if they're consistent with it. And besides, there's always the fantastic soup. Oh - and the entrees do come with a cup of broth, which is a nice touch (many of the Haltom City restaurants do this as well). Worth noting as well that the rice was expertly cooked (this is becoming something of a lost art it seems).

As for drinks, it's typical Vietnamese drinking fare, including the always great sweet coffee. We actually snuck* in a bottle of wine, which was met with tacit approval. They're not truly a BYOB place in the sense that they don't have anything to support it - but if you bring your own gear (opener, cups/glasses, etc...) you can imbibe. While BYOB/alcohol is common among patrons of Thai food, it still seems foreign in a Vietnamese place. We need to change that! (*- you know - I didn't realize snuck wasn't an actual English word until now. Who knew? Sneaked I guess is proper....)

Pho Big Bowl is on the north side of Watauga Rd. (Mid Cities) just west of Rufe Snow in an old strip center. This used to be a Mexican restaurant (you can still see the touches of it), which we never frequented. Pho Big Bowl opened roughly a year ago. Interestingly, when Mrs. RJG and I first moved to NE Tarrant in 2003, there was a Vietnamese restaurant across the street (near Tony's) called Red Mango. We liked it, and on a second return it was already closed. Nice to see a decade plus later Vietnamese returning to the vicinity.

10/3/15 (new entry); 6/10/17

Rusty Taco ~ national chain : Hurst, Texas

May 13, 2022 update: So it looks like they went back to their original name of Rusty Taco. If I do manage to get to one of the Denver locations, I'll be sure to update the logo. The chain seems to be doing pretty well, and our dispersed through the country. Texas and the Midwest seem to be their strength areas.

Last visit: Jun 2017 (Hurst, TX)

First visit: Mar 2013 (The Colony, TX)

OK, I'm going to move this one forward. The review below was written for their Colony location, that has since closed. It was much more of a dive than our Northeast Tarrant locale, which is actually quite nice in a fast food sort of way. But for whatever reason, it just wasn't as good as I remembered it. Have they changed? I don't know, but I think a revisit is in order for the RJG. Now that I think about it, we didn't have frozen margaritas either. Hmmm maybe it helps with a buzz on? We'll move forward again if our opinion subsequently changes. And in the meantime, they changed their name to the hipster like R Taco. I guess the word rusty and food don't go together well eh? In any case, they've expanded mightily since the below was written. So they must be doing something right. We need to get back over there pronto (and rewrite the below review).

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While we await Torchy's and Digg's to come to Southlake (2017: Diggs never did!), 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 (2017: Old times, huh?), 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.

3/23/13 (new entry); 6/4/17

Esparza's ~ Grapevine, Texas

Latest visit: May 2017

First visit: 2003

Let's slip in another update here. We tend to frequent Esparza's roughly 3 to 4 times a year. This is one of the few Mexican restaurants left in DFW where I strictly stay with Tex-Mex. I've tried their more "interior" dishes, and remain nonplussed. So, as bolded by me below, Puffed Taco dinner it is. And Mrs. RJG continues to love the vegetarian Chile Relleno.

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We mentioned earlier in this blog that Miguelito's in Hurst was one of our go-to places from 2004-2005. But our very first regular Mexican food fix in NE Tarrant was Esparza's. An old Dallas neighborhood buddy first recommended the place to us, and it was an instant hit at the RJG household. From 2003 to 2004, I'd say we went here more than any other Mexican restaurant. But, as with Miguelito's, the Mrs. began to sour on the place for a variety of reasons. That left Mr. RJG going solo, or with neighborhood friends, on a very infrequent basis. But now the Mrs. wanted to go for another try at the behest of moi. And how can one refuse my behesting?

Now it's interesting in reading the various other reviews out there about Esparza's. The consensus is, if I'm allowed to interpret, that Esparza's has a great bar scene, with excellent margaritas - and mediocre food. The RJG disagrees with this assessment, at least the food part that is. What Esparza's excels at is good old fashioned Tex-Mex. You start dabbling in the fancy, and you're in uncharted waters as far as we're concerned. And that's exactly what we did on our last visit - try other dishes. I went with the "spicy" green enchiladas. One has to wonder why on Earth the word spicy even crossed their minds. Mine was a very bland dish, with little taste at all. The rice and beans didn't exactly propel the platter to enormous heights either. Meanwhile the wife tried the chile relleno. Guess what? It was great! She loved their unique take on the classic dish - with loads of unique vegetables (zucchini, mushrooms, onions, raisins and nuts), cheese and ranchero sauce. And the charro beans were delicious with plenty of that yummy bacon flavor. So Mrs. RJG found her dish! Which means we may be going back again on a regular basis. So what will I get? Oh, I know better now - Tex-Mex! I love their puffed tacos, with a wonderfully seasoned ground beef. And doused with their trademark excellent hot sauce, that comes out with the warm crispy chips. The salsa itself is a pureed delight, with a nice kick to it (sadly missing in their green sauce).

For a place that calls itself the "Margarita Capital of Texas", they do a fine job backing that claim up! Though they do seem to charge a premium for that bit of branding, and perhaps not the best value, but very good all the same. And yes, they do tend to pack a punch, so be careful.

Esparza's is definitely one of Northeast Tarrant's Mexican food institutions. Founded in 1985, Esparza's is situated in an awesome former-home setting (from the late 1800's!), tucked away in the back streets of old town Grapevine. The open patio guarantees a lively party scene - and the full sports bar in the back seals the deal. You'll find Esparza's on Worth street, which is one block east of Main (the downtown strip as it were). Easy to get too, and now that they opened up the driveway from Franklin, parking isn't the challenge it once was when having to navigate the one way entrance. We do highly recommend you enter from Franklin.

According to some local friends, Esparza's obtained their start from the legendary Ojeda's in Dallas, and that some of their recipes, including the benchmark table salsa, were lifted from them. Certainly the salsa is similar! Speaking of which, they now jar the concoction, so you can now enjoy it at home. Also, since our first posting, they have opened a second location in Coppell.

11/9/11 (new entry); 6/17/16; 5/27/17

Jack and Grill ~ Roanoke, Texas

Latest visit: Mar 2017

First visit: Apr 2013

It had been some time since I dined at Jack and Grill, and this visit back in March reinforced the quality. The beer selection has increased their local presence and the food is very good. I need to come here more often. I still haven't brought Mrs. RJG.

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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, or what the RJG is now calling a "craft tavern". 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!

4/18/13 (new entry); 3/4/17

Chapps Cafe ~ DFW chain : Keller, Texas

Chapps currently maintains 7 locations, all in the Fort Worth area.

Latest visit: Feb 2017 (Keller)

First visit: 2003 (Keller)

We feel that Chapps has the perfect recipe for burgers. Excellent seasoning, on the salty side, with plenty of fresh ingredients as toppings (which you can choose from). I tend to break from the norm, and ask for raw onions over grilled, but otherwise I stick to the usual cheese, lettuce, pickles, and mustard. The fresh baked buns are also quite good. A single cheeseburger is more than enough, and I don't even think they offer a double (believe me, that would be way too much). They have a smaller burger called a Baby Chapps, and naturally Mrs. RJG goes for that, plus the Baby Chapps comes with fries as part of the price (otherwise it's extra). I usually eschew fries in general, and eat a handful from the spouse's plate - and they are hand cut, fried to perfection, and very tasty. They also have very good hot dogs and chicken sandwiches that we've tried in the past. They keep the menu simple, always a plus as far as we're concerned.

The restaurant itself is a throwback to the 1960s diners, with vinyl booths and checkered floors, and is quite pleasant. It's quick service, so order up, grab a drink, take a seat, and they'll bring it out usually in about 5 minutes. You can hear them grilling your burgers!

Chapps first opened in downtown Arlington in 1984 (back when the RJG was still a college lad!). They currently operate 7 locations, mostly in Tarrant County. 

5/27/08 (new entry); 2/22/17

Lupe's Tex Mex Grill ~ Keller, Texas

3 locations (Keller; Bedford; Arlington)

Latest visit: Feb 2017 (Keller)

First visit: Jun 2012 (Bedford)

Back to our own grazing range, it was time to try the latest Mexican restaurant entry in our area. We'd been to the Bedford location once last summer, and it was definitely good, but we weren't really wowed by it. And since Bedford is a bit of a haul for us, and the 183/121 construction is a bit daunting, we just let the restaurant fall through the cracks of the RJG dining agenda. But now they've moved up our way, right near our own ranch land, in nearby Keller. The competition is stiff around here, with Anamia's (Southlake), Mi Pueblo (NRH), El Paseo (Keller), Fresco's (Watauga), and the Baja Grill mini chain (based in Grapevine) all nearby and all excellent.

So how did the new Lupe's, opened only a month ago, stack up? Quite well actually. Very well indeed... as in we need to go back shortly.

The restaurant setting is very nice, featuring a well decorated interior and a full bar. It sits in a newish strip mall on the west side of Rufe Snow, nearby to the Neighborhood Market.

We started, of course, with the excellent corn chips, which comes with a nicely spiced red salsa. At the same time we were munching on the chips, out came my frozen margarita. What a great flavor - and it packed a wallop too. They're pretty small, so I went for a second one. Weeeeee. I can't even remember the last time I had two frozen margaritas in the same setting. For the main course, Mrs. RJG  had the Mexico City Tacos and I had the Pollo Bravo. These dishes are variations on the same theme: They are both charbroiled white meat chicken slathered in what they call an "Atomic Sauce". While certainly they were spicy, the word "atomic" didn't necessarily come to mind. But most importantly they had a great flavor. I love the charbroiled chicken, just by itself. The Pollo Bravo is a large chicken breast and is buried in the sauce. Whereas the tacos lightly apply the same sauce. The rice and charro beans were excellent as well.

Lupe's makes a fine addition to the Mexican restaurant landscape in these parts of NE Tarrant. Give them a try and let us know what you think!

6/9/12; 8/24/13 (new entry); 2/17/17

Back Forty Smokehouse Barbecue ~ North Richland Hills, Texas

Latest visit: Feb 2017

First visit: Jun 2015

Reader Michael had suggested this place on our Riscky's feature, and coincidentally Mrs. RJG had requested to go not long after. So here we are for the first time in nearly a year. We had stopped eating barbecue for awhile, but we're back, and this remains our favorite in NE Tarrant. But we haven't tried them all either. That's a disclaimer meaning... we need to go out and eat more BBQ!

As alluded to above, the barbecue here is excellent, and not a side show for the entertainment. We've tried many cuts of meat here, and almost without exception, we have come away pleased. The favorite remains the smoked chicken, and it is because of here that it became my test dish for barbecue as opposed to the traditional sliced brisket. In past visits we were quite enamored with the jalapeno cheese and German sausages, Carolina pulled pork, sliced brisket, pork ribs, and the country ham. Only the turkey has disappointed us - but again that was two years ago. As for sides, the mac and cheese continues to wow, and they even make corn on the cob interesting by leaving it vertical in a pile of sweet butter. Mrs. RJG did express some displeasure with the pinto beans stating they were a bit too much on the lard side. And the potato salad wasn't a hit either as she claimed it was too sour. Back to the positive, both the BBQ sauce and the hot pepper sauce are excellent condiments. Though they aren't needed to make the barbecue taste good.

They do have a full bar for wine and beer, but nothing on tap that is worthy (sure, I like Shiner Bock, but c'mon, they can have more than that). They do have a few craft brews in bottles though, but nothing too exotic. Also worth noting is they carry a full line of Dublin Bottling Works cane sugar sodas. But Mrs. RJG wouldn't let me have one. I'll have to sneak one in on a separate visit. (Shhh.....). So we had Coke Zero from the fountain. That's what we drink at lunch when at home (read: boring).

For the location, as the owner said to the Star-Telegram "The building just screams barbecue!" It's an old dry goods warehouse, smack dab in the middle of old town Smithfield. It sits prominently on the NW corner of Davis Blvd and Main. Across the street is the Cotton Belt passenger railroad line (which I presume will eventually be a stop if light rail ever surfaces in this area). Smithfield was eventually incorporated by NRH in 1960, but the old town has remained intact and includes historical markers dating back to 1872. In addition to the large indoor space, there's also a nice patio where live country music and other entertainment is performed on weekend evenings. Oh, and plenty of flat screens around to watch sports if so desired.

Back Forty is the 3rd barbecue restaurant to occupy this space. The prior two - Cotton Belt and Big Barn, each had a few years run before petering out. We tried them both over the years, and neither made much of a mark. Also worth noting that Back Forty is directly related to Fort Worth BBQ royalty: Cousins.

6/19/15 (new entry); 2/12/17

Babe's Chicken Dinner House ~ Roanoke, Texas

One of the legendary places to visit while in the DFW area, we've only been to the flagship restaurant in Roanoke. Today there are 10 locations including their newest in our former haunt of NE Tarrant (North Richland Hills)

Latest visit: Jan 2017 (Roanoke)

First visit: Apr 2005 (Roanoke)

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This is only my second visit to Babe's (2011), the first being over 6 years ago with a former co-worker from my days at Lockheed-Martin in Denver in the late 1990s. Mrs. RJG had been curious about what the fuss was, so we took this day to head over for lunch and get us some fried southern food.

Babe's is a now legendary place in the DFW area and it's not an uncommon sight to see large lines on weekend nights. Babe's first opened its doors in 1993 in old town Roanoke, long before anyone else was there. Due to its increasing popularity, Roanoke is now the town that never was, and is a re-creation of a classic old Texas settlement as one might find at the turn of the last century. Lots of independent restaurants and local chain legends line the streets. It's quite an awesome sight to be honest. I think few would argue against the notion that Babe's popularity was the impetus behind the entire development.

Like many truly legendary places, Babe's offers an extremely limited menu. That is to say, "Wat' you want? Chicken Fried Steak or Fried Chicken?" That's it, though some of the other locations have a slightly extended menu. As we talked about with the "& more" moniker in a prior post, and our general dislike for the term, the RJG loves it when a place focuses solely on what they do best. If you don't want fried chicken, then don't come to Babe's - that's basically the message. Fair enough.

So what do two people typically do when they go to Babe's. One orders chicken fried steak, the other fried chicken - and proceed to split it. It's $12 a person, and along with your main meal it comes with a variety of sides. For openers there is the tossed salad, which is nothing more than crisp iceberg lettuce and a sweet vinagrette dressing (oh and a cucumber and tomato...). Just the way the RJG likes it. Simple but good. Then comes some buttermilk biscuits, which are awesome really, but fortunately they start you off with one each so you don't stuff yourself on bread. Then out comes the half chicken (leg, thigh, breast and wing) and the slab, and I do mean slab, of chicken fried steak. This is not the best fried chicken the RJG has ever had my any stretch, but it is indeed very good - juicy with a nice flavorful crust. I'll be perfectly honest and state that chicken fried steak isn't our favorite meal - but this is a very good rendition of the classic dish. The cream gravy is served on the side, and we sampled a few pieces in it. Good peppery flavor, though not something I'd want to dump on the steak itself. As for sides, you get "Grandma's corn" which is cream corn and whipped mashed potatoes. The potatoes are top tier, so smooth and tasty. I prefer whole corn to cream, but it was good all the same. You can wash all that with a Royal Crown Cola (not something you see everyday).

Babe's is in an old historical brick warehouse with table and chairs that are a mishmash of styles.

A great place to take out of town guests if they're looking for some southern food with a Texas twist.

4/14/05; 12/8/11 (new entry); 1/14/17

Flying Saucer ~ regional chain : Fort Worth, Texas

Latest visit: Dec 2016 (Fort Worth)

First visit: Aug 2004 (Addison)

Mar 31, 2022 update: There are currently 12 Flying Saucer's in 4 states, 7 of which exist in Texas. The original Addison location I went to is no more. We celebrated New Year's Eve on our last visit (Fort Worth).

There was a time when the RJG had very little use for beer. Unlike many college students, I pretty much eschewed guzzling cheap beer for a cheap buzz. In the 1980s, the US beer industry was all about price. Pale lagers and light beers was all there was to quaff. And at Texas Tech, Coors was the clear winner followed by Budweiser. I didn't dislike the stuff, but I just didn't understand what the big fuss was. Once I started going to Europe later in the 80s, I began to realize what a good beer can taste like. Then my move to Colorado in 1993 opened my eyes up to the craft beer industry. Unfortunately I didn't take advantage of it as much as I should have back then, with only an occasional foray into a brewpub. And I didn't take notes, and I'm rather certain I tried some beers from breweries that are extinct. I finally got serious about beer about 6 years ago, and I've been making up for lost time (especially while in Colorado during the summers). According to my beer database, I've now tried 770 different beers and rapidly consuming more. And, as it turns out, beer is in my blood. My great grandfather on my Dad's side (Irish) was once an executive at the Hanley Brewing Company of Providence, Rhode Island (this was in the late 1800s!) The brewery remarkably survived Prohibition, only to be gobbled up in the 1950s brewery consolidation years. And on my Mom's side, which is entirely German, my Uncle was a huge beer drinker. I can remember him drinking both Olympia and Rainier on our family trips to Seattle in the early 70s, prior to them cheapening their product.

So with that background out of the way, it should come as no surprise that Flying Saucer is a favorite destination of mine. Flying Saucer specializes in having on tap, or in bottles/cans, numerous beers from around the world. And perhaps more importantly, they carry local microbrews, which can be different depending on what location you go to. I love when a chain localizes their selection and product. It gives each one a uniqueness about them. And Flying Saucer has the added benefit of providing a food menu - similar to a brewpub - and for that we can feature them here on our blog! For this visit, I was joined by my friend who lives in Garland. A perfect meeting place. We were here for 4 hours.

I'll start with the food, because even if you don't care for beer, I think it's worth going at least once for that. Sandwiches, sausages, soups and appetizers are what Flying Saucer's menu is about. We each had our favorite appetizer: The Saucer Bratzel, which is one large soft pretzel with chopped up bratwurst buried in melted swiss cheese and a side of spicy mustard. It's really just too good for words. And we also each tried their beer cheese soup made with a brown ale, and is surprisingly very spicy (seriously!). It's served in a bread bowl in case you didn't get enough of that from the pretzel.

As for the beers, I like to try local beers first and then branch out. And I always want something I haven't had before. For this visit, I started with the Lagunitas Fusion VII, which is a seasonal IPA. Lagunitas is from northern California, and is fast becoming one of my favorite breweries. In fact, I'd place them in the Top 5. Next up was the Franconia Winter Wheat, which is a weizen bock (a strong dark wheat). We've talked about Franconia (McKinney, TX) before, as they are one of only a handful of truly local breweries (though more breweries are coming folks - the beer revolution is finally here in DFW! For more info, check the excellent Texas Beer blog). I've liked all of their beers to date that I've tried (only about 4 though). This was followed by the Live Oak Primus, another weizen bock. Live Oak is from Austin, and I don't think they bottle or can their beer (same with Franconia). So you have to get it on draught from places like this. I'm sure they're more common in central Texas, but it's rarely seen otherwise. And finally I wrapped up with a black IPA from Southern Star called Pro-Am 2011, a seasonal competition beer. Southern Star is based in Conroe, outside of Houston. They're one of the newer microbreweries that can their beer rather than bottle. You can find their product at a good World Market store (some are better than others - the one in Grapevine is excellent). This particular Southern Star is only available via draught. I quite like their brewery as well.

Included with all this good beer and food, you also get a cute waitress (well... usually). The girls dress up in Catholic prep school skirts (though with shorter hems of course). So it can be a bit of a male fantasy overload considering the whole. There's also a Twin Peaks right next door, so definitely a magnet area for traditional males. Mrs. RJG likes these places too, though she was still entertaining one of our official nieces that day. Oh, one other comment on the girls. They go through rigorous training on beer - so they should be able to answer most questions. Our gal had no problems keeping up with my questions.

I really wish we had a Flying Saucer in NE Tarrant (or a similar place).

8/11/04; 11/20/06; 12/30/11 (new entry); 6/11/16; 1/1/17