The Lot - Lakewood's New Local Destination

One of our friends told us about The Lot opening up in Lakewood, so we took the first awesome weather Friday to go check it out. We stalked the menu ahead of time (of course) and were already excited. Upon arrival, there were immediate parking issues. I’ll chalk it up to the first good patio weather of 2013, but I seriously circled for 15 minutes before getting a spot (that I had to mildly fight for). The place was PACKED! Our wait was supposed to be 45 minutes, but surprisingly 10 minutes in we were seated outside. Our first observation was that The Lot is kid friendly times a million. There is a giant playground for the kiddos and there were tons of young families all throughout the restaurant. We were seated at a very long picnic table that we had to share with a group of about 6 guys. No biggie – sharing is caring, right? So we sat and waited, and sat and waited, and sat and waited, and waited, and waited for someone to A: bring us a menu and B: offer to get us a glass of water. Cut to 45 minutes later, we flagged down some random waiter and asked him if he could find us a menu and maybe help figure out who our waiter is supposed to be. He was extremely nice and offered to wait on us himself, even though it wasn't his section. He did a great job so that was a plus. We started off with cocktails. Haley and I ordered the fresh pressed juice of the day with Tito’s vodka. It was carrot/ginger/apple or something but when it came out it tasted like PURE carrots – something adult Bugs Bunny might like. Oh well, we went for it and felt mighty healthy drinking it. Our friend, Diana, opted for a glass of sangria. She liked it but I thought it was way too sweet.

After we got our drinks we decided to hurry up and order since we were forewarned by our waiter that the kitchen was really backed up and things were taking a while to come out. We got the yucca fries with malt vinegar dust and garlic mayo dip as an appetizer. They were pretty good. A little too tart for me with the tangy dip, but I loved the texture of the crispy yucca.

For our meals, Haley ordered the grilled pimento cheese with bacon and LOVED it. I think that was probably best thing we ordered. She also got a side of kale chips which were incredible. She won the ordering contest by far –all her choices were really good.

Diana ordered the burger with ham, cheddar, onion, lettuce and red chile smear and fries and said it was a normal burger and fries – nothing much else to say.

I ordered the pulled chicken salad with green apple, almonds, hardboiled egg, carrot and romaine, and it was pretty normal. The pulled chicken was really good though, so I think the rotisserie chicken would be a really good menu option.  I also ordered a side of gluten-free mini buttermilk biscuits with butter because I will take any opportunity to have an old, carby favorite that won’t make me feel sick. Unfortunately, they were so dry they were practically inedible. No amount of butter could save those puppies. I was sad.

Then, for dessert, we ordered the butter pecan skillet cake which came with ice cream on top. Haley and Diana couldn’t get enough of it – it was a success.

  

As we were paying our checks and trying to leave, the guys sharing our table were also wrapping up. We overheard some comments about how they had a bad service experience as well. We are thinking it’s because the place is new and there are always some kinks to be worked out.  We would go back to The Lot if we happened to be in the area, but all agreed we wouldn't go out of our way for it again. There are just too many other Dallas foodie hot spots our on list for that, so onward!

http://thelotdallas.com/

Velvety Goodness: Velvet Taco

I joined Haley and Sara for a Warehouse Sale in Dallas’ Design District last Friday, and at Sara’s suggestion, we decided first to visit Velvet Taco off Knox/Henderson for dinner, since no girl should shop on an empty stomach.  Haley and I had never been, so we were especially excited because we’d both heard great things. Also, who doesn’t love tacos?

The first (and best) thing I noticed about Velvet Taco was the variety.  As I poured over the huge menu on the wall, I saw as many as 20 different types of tacos.  There were a ton of ethnic cuisines represented on the menu, spanning a huge breadth of flavors from classic Indian and Mediterranean fare to Thai curries.  They had every kind of meat you could want, as well as seafood and vegetarian options for the non-meat eaters or fish taco lovers. 

Haley and I both opted for the Rotisserie chicken taco with herbed goat cheese, lettuce, tomato, smoked bacon, avocado, and basil crema in a corn tortilla.  We also ordered a side of Rotisserie corn, "elote-style", which was piled high with queso fresco, asadero, Valentina, crema, and lime.  The taco had the right balance of chicken to goat cheese and bacon, both of which are flavors that can overtake a dish if it’s too heavy handed.  The corn tortilla was just slightly crispy, which made for a nice bit of texture alongside the basil crema and avocado.  The elote-style corn was especially delicious, creamy yet crunchy with a dash of acidity from the lime. 

Sara ordered two tacos, both in lettuce wraps instead of corn tortillas: the Ahi poke with ginger-soy vinaigrette, avocado, golden beets, pickled fresnos, sesame seeds, and pea tendrils, and a Roast Pulled Pork with Thai basil, grilled pineapple-habanero salsa, and a spiked BBQ sauce. I snagged a bite of the Pulled Pork taco and it was delicious, though extremely spicy due to the habanero salsa. 

We all ordered frozen margaritas, which were nice and strong and pretty inexpensive at only $5.00 a pop.  The tacos range in price from $4.00 to $7.00, so you can get a couple of tacos and a margarita for around $14.00.  Well worth it considering the quality of the food and the overall pleasant atmosphere.

Velvet Taco is a casual dining experience with an “order at the counter” system.  If it’s crowded like it was on Friday night, you may have to wait a few minutes to order, but the line moves quickly and the cashier and food runners are pretty on top of their game.  The only drawback is finding seating. On a crowded evening, you may end up standing awkwardly in a pretty small space waiting to pounce on empty seats like a cougar on the prowl, but it’s not such an inconvenience that it should be a deterrent from going.  Velvet Taco is definitely worth a trip if you like creative takes on the classic Mexican dish. 

Velvet Taco

Jamaican, Mon! at The Island Spot

The Island Spot had been at the top of Haley’s Adventure list for a while now. So, we finally made some time to fit a little Jamaican into our schedules. The Island Spot is a tiny restaurant in a strip center in Carrollton that doesn’t lend itself to any excitement when you see it driving by. Honestly, we grew up in Carrollton and it’s been there for several years, but it just recently jumped onto our radar.

We walked in and grabbed a table – it wasn’t very busy. Upon surveying the place, we noted all the cute island decorations, the full bar, the Reggae jams and the chalk boards decorated with $2 Tuesdays drink specials. Too bad it was Wednesday! Oh well – mental note for the future. We started off our meals with some fried plantains. They were crispy, chewy, soft, sweet, starchy– everything you’d expect and want. Kind of like a banana French fry of sorts.

Then we ordered our meals. We already knew we needed to get the oxtail and the jerk chicken; it was just a matter of who gets what. I went with the jerk chicken and Haley went with the oxtail. We can be diplomatic, plus it’s not like we aren’t going to share anyway. I let the person waiting on us decide what sides I should get with my jerk chicken and he recommended fries. Who says no to fries? My plate came out with 3 pieces of perfectly crispy and spiced chicken (2 legs and a thigh) and a HEAP of crinkle fries that were so crispy and seasoned that we both couldn’t stop shoveling them into our mouths. The chicken was very spicy and piping hot. The meat was so juicy and came right off the bone, and the skin was crispy all over. I am typically not a huge dark meat fan, but this chicken was so well cooked that it rivaled Babe’s smoked chicken, our current chicken champ.

Haley’s “Uncle Rupert's Oxtails” came with about 5 pieces of braised oxtails in this super rich and flavorful sauce. She ordered saffron rice and spinach for her sides. The spinach reminded her of grandma’s which I take as a good sign and the rice was fine. The oxtails themselves were obviously the star here. They were meaty and fatty and just so flavorful. The meat came clean off the bone here too. Clearly, The Island Spot knows how to cook some meat. We were very impressed.

We were way too stuffed for any kind of dessert but we did linger a bit and jam to some more Reggae music. Overall, The Island Spot really impressed us. We definitely agree with the Dallas Observer on the “Best Jerk Chicken in Dallas” award. This is a spot we will be returning to in the near future for 3 reasons: $2 Tuesdays, First Fridays Live Reggae Music, and really well done food for a great price.

http://www.theislandspot.net/

Two Years as Taste Buds: The Grape

There seems to be a laundry list of Dallas restaurants we cannot wait to try, so when discussing where to go for our two year blog-iversary the choice was difficult to say the least. We finally came to a decision to go to The Grape, one that has been thrown out a number of times, but we had yet to make the trip. Of course when going to The Grape, it must be planned around their infamous “Best in Texas” burger as ranked by Texas Monthly, which is only offered on Sundays and Mondays.

We arrived at The Grape on a Sunday at 11, after wisely making reservations. We witnessed the party before us being turned away because they had failed to do so. We were seated right away and decided on what cocktail we should enjoy. We noticed the normal mimosa and bloody mary offerings, but then saw “wounded yellow bird.” When Sara asked the waiter how he “felt” about the drink, he said, “I feel pretty good.” We were sold. The drinks were light and refreshing, if you are like us and like grapefruit juice.

I HAD to order the burger; even though my eyeballs kept leading me back to the chicken fried biscuit. Sara ordered the steak frites after debating between that and the ox tail and banana pepper hash. Honestly, at first glance the menu looks creative and appetizing the whole way through. I would be interested in returning to try out several of the other dishes.

 Our food came out fast, and we eagerly dug in. The burger comes with the usual accompaniments, and is topped with bacon and white cheddar cheese on a “pain au lait” bun. The burger was juicy and the fries were exactly how I like them. The bun could arguably be what makes this burger special. The white cheddar also added something different than your usual cheddar or American cheese. However, while eating, I kept thinking “but is this the BEST burger I have ever had?” For me, that is difficult to answer.

 Sara had the steak frites, while she seemed to enjoy her meal, after sneaking a few bites of my meal, the center of conversation still hovered around the question to whether this was the best burger we have ever had. This burger is delicious, and I couldn’t think of a necessarily “better” burger I have had, but I am still hesitant to put the word “best” in front of something that a number of other places make the same seemingly elusive proclamation. So, with that said the jury is still out. I would gladly go back to The Grape for the burger. Overall, our brunch was quick, enjoyable, and effortless. The ambiance at The Grape is quaint but still unique. We are definitely new fans.

Thanks for the 2 years fellow Taste Buds!!! 

Metropolitan Cafe: A Hidden Gem

Finding a hidden treasure close enough for Sara to meet me on her lunch break led us to Metropolitan Café. Nestled quietly on the edge of Main Street downtown, this local café has great character that seems to attract a very steady lunch crowd.

We headed to lunch early, around 11:45, to try to beat the crowd. I made sure we were going on a Wednesday, when their seemingly infamous crab cakes are the special of the day. The place was already crowded, as it is a small café, with only a few workers who seemed stressed and ready to battle the expected lunch crowd.

The café offers a variety of sandwiches, soups, salads, as well as the daily special. On Wednesdays, that special is crab cakes. I ordered the crab cakes with black-eyed peas and coleslaw. Sara ordered the greek salad with grilled chicken. Both of us eyeballed the fresh pies and cakes looming in the glass window, and decided to exert some level of self-control.

Our food came out quickly, and we were lucky to snag a table. As we were seated, we noticed how busy the place had become. We were glad we decided to make it an early lunch. My crab cakes were awesome. They were puffy, light, and filled with an abundance of fresh tasting crab. I could tell why the rush hit on Wednesdays. The cole slaw was very good as well, I liked that it didn't taste too mayonnaise-y. The black-eyed peas were what I expected, but were enjoyable. Overall, I was very satisfied with my meal and cannot think of a better crab cake I have had.

Sara’s greek salad was large, fresh, and light. She seemed to enjoy the salad, although she did not rave that it was something that stood out in a crowd of other solid greek salads. However, we both agreed that going back for some pie should be a part of our future plans. The place is quick, cheap, easy (if you beat the crowd), and satisfying. So, if you work downtown or can’t find a place next time you’re there, we would suggest checking out Metropolitan Café and ordering one of the tasty sandwich options we did not get to try out. Or, if it is a Wednesday, get the crab cakes. 

MAP

Mr. Mesero - McKinney Ave Hot Spot

As soon as we heard that the new restaurant to hit McKinney Ave, Mr. Mesero, was a Mi Cocina spin-off (of sorts), we were intrigued. We already love Mi Cocina, Taco Diner, Manny’s and Mia’s and couldn’t wait to see what Mr. Mesero had to offer.

We decided to check it out on a Thursday evening and the restaurant was basically full by 7 PM. We could tell it had become a McKinney Ave. favorite. We got a table on the covered, heated patio and ordered some drinks. My first sip of the Micorita made me literally giggle. It reminded me so much of college spring break. It was exactly what I would have made for myself when I had not a care in the world and just wanted to party on the beach. Needless to say there was no shortage of tequila!

The presentation of the chips and salsa was a huge departure from what you would see in a typical Tex-Mex restaurant. There was a neat little row of chips with a cup of salsa on the end. The salsa was similar to the Mi Cocina salsa, but I felt like it was more tomato-y. We also ordered the Queso Mesero after hearing how good it is from friends. It has spinach, artichokes and roasted poblano in it, but doesn’t taste so much like spinach/artichoke that you lose the chips and queso feel. It had a great balance of flavors, but unfortunately it came out less than warm. That was disappointing, but not enough to keep us from shoveling it into our mouths.

For entrees, I ordered the “Quatro” which comes with a tomatillo chicken enchilada, a brisket taco and green rice. I was really surprised at how different the meal was from the M Crowd restaurants’ dishes. I was expecting it to just be a twist from the norm, but it was really different. The enchilada had some interesting flavors in the chicken – something like allspice. The brisket taco had a really earthy, interesting sauce on it and the green rice was amazing!

Haley ordered the Carnitas Tacos with roasted pork, chile sauce, slaw and red rice. The carnitas tacos were super good and the pork had amazing flavor. The red rice was exactly the same as Mi Cocina’s rice so of course that was good. Haley was really pleased with her tacos.

Overall, we had great service and yummy food. It’s good to see that there is something different out there in the way of Dallas Mexican Restaurants. We will definitely be back and of course recommend it to everyone that has a special place in their hearts for anything remotely related to Mico!

http://www.mrmesero.com/

Bowery: Kale Chip Dreamin'

During one of our recent foodie outings, we were fortunate to strike up conversation with the table next to us. These foodies were adamant about us trying Bowery in Uptown. We had heard good things about the new gourmet hot dog joint, and were more than ready to check it out.  Luckily, we headed there after a concert so we had a number of critics to weigh in (ahem, steal their food).

We arrived on a Thursday Evening, and were pleased to see the place was steady, but not overly crowded. We were excited to find out that it was “half-price champagne cocktails” night, so we indulged. Among our choices were the “Hummingbird” with prosecco and St. Germaine, the “Jalisco Flower” with agave tequila, the “Champagne Sangria”, and the “Belgium fizz” with peach. The “Jalisco Flower” was terrible. I thought tequila and champagne sounded fun and exciting, however, it was disgusting. The other cocktails were tasty and everyone enjoyed sipping on them.

The dogs on the menu are much different than your standard ballpark dog. However, there are a few classic options for those less adventurous. The dogs that we ordered ranged from the bratwurst accompanied with sauerkraut, the croque madame (with beschamel, ham and a fried egg), and a banh-mi dog with pork sausage. We also settled on side choices of gouda waffle fries, sweet potato tots, and kale chips.

The sides came out first, and in retrospect, I think we would have been just fine if they stopped there. The gouda waffle fries were tasty and different, the sweet potato tots were lackluster, but the kale chips were a different story. I had a bite and was immediately hooked. The hints of lemon and garlic made this one crispy and delicious veggie to keep eating. Everyone else seemed to enjoy the kale chips (nearly) as much as I did. A few days later, I even had a dream about the kale chips. Seriously, these bad boys are that life changing.

The dogs arrived shortly thereafter, but the peak had already been reached. The buns are big and soft, and the dogs were a good size. My brat was tasty. I really enjoyed the crispiness of the sauerkraut. Sara enjoyed her banh mi with the pork sausage, but expressed that she wished it were made with a regular hot dog link instead. Our guest star had the Croque Madame, made no complaints, and said that he enjoyed the decadent dog.

Overall, Bowery is a breath of fresh air in a trendy-burger joint dominated Dallas. The dogs are interesting, and quite unique. If you are craving something easy, different, and decadent, then we suggest the journey. We both agreed that the kale chips and champagne cocktails would justify another trip to the joint. Until then, I will see you delicious morsels in my dreams…

Bowery Dallas