Steak & Fries

I went to Company Cafe last night for dinner to knock two items off The List--sweet potato fries and chicken-fried steak.  If you plan on going there for dinner on a weeknight, go around 7pm.  We went on a Wednesday and there was barely anyone there.  It started getting packed once we were leaving, proving that it is a young crowd favorite.

The other great thing about early timing is the speed of the kitchen.  We had just received our drinks by the time our appetizer arrived.  #46 on The List is the loaded sweet potato fries.  Warning: the orders of this dish are HUGE.  We got a half order to split between two people and still barely finished half of it.  I guess they need a quarter option as well :).  I am extremely picky when it comes to my sweet potato fries.  I want a little bit of soft on the inside with a good crunch and not too much seasoning.  These were perfect.  Whatever salt they put on them is GREAT!  Even the pieces of straight fry were awesome.  The loaded fries come with cheese, bacon, green onion and jalapeno with a side each of ranch and ketchup.  The cheese was perfectly melted with a good mix of bacon, onion and jalapeno.  Also, the jalapenos were big enough that if you wanted to eat around them it wasn’t any trouble.  I only ate a few with jalapenos because they left all of the seeds, and to quote my dinner partner, “I want to be able to taste my main course”.

After almost filling up on fries, we ordered our main courses.  List #31 is the chicken-fried steak and luckily I brought someone willing to order it because I knew I wouldn’t be able to finish it off.  Unfortunately, I was rather unimpressed with it.  The chicken fried steak tasted no different than a steak finger you could get at Dairy Queen.  And while I do love DQ they at least have better gravy.  Company Cafe’s gravy was billed as honey-jalapeno, but unfortunately I couldn’t find the kick.  There was a bit of honey taste, but it seemed not to add anything other than wetness to the fried steak.  The mashed sweet potatoes also had an odd texture.  They reminded me of the half-whipped version put into my grandmother’s sweet potato casserole at Thanksgiving but without the brown sugar and pecans.  After the masterpiece of the sweet potato fries I was expecting much from the second sweet potato option.

My main course was phenomenal!  I went with the seared scallops and they were delicious.  Each scallop had perfect buttery goodness with a tenderness that barely left me needing a knife before they melted in my mouth.  The roasted brussel sprouts and diced vegetables had a great vinegary compliment, almost like a good collard green.  The broccolini florets were roasted well so that they cut cleanly but were not overly crunchy to chew on.

Overall, I would definitely come back for the fries and a beer but would stick with the lighter main courses for a meal.  B+

the Burger Journey

As much as work requires me to be a planner, sometimes the best thing on a random night is a spontaneous adventure.  After a long week a friend and I decided that it had been way too long since we had crossed something off The List.  We weren’t willing to get dressed up to go out so we decided to try the to-go places.  After a little Google mapping we headed out for our Burger Adventure (insert dramatic music).  Before you go thinking I ate four burgers in one sitting, you should know we ordered one of each item, split what we could and tossed the rest in order to get through it all.  While some places had us wishing we could eat multiples, we knew this was a marathon and we had to plan accordingly.

The first stop of the night was number #54 on The List, the good old-fashioned cheeseburger at Dairyette.  We ordered ours plain and dry with cheese and were not disappointed.  The place itself is an old-school grease joint, filled with regulars and everything you would think of when coming to an old time drive-in diner.  Reminiscent of an older generation, there were no TVs on the walls, no fancy décor and only 10 booths where families sat and enjoyed spending time chatting together.  Dairyette’s focal point was a large cask filled with their homemade root beer.  Most reviews mentioned how yummy their floats are, so I will be heading back again for another nostalgic treat.  Unfortunately, this was one of five -- we were on a mission and could not be distracted from our quest.  While patrons could tell we were newbies, the cashier was obviously accustomed to people showing up to try them out.  They didn’t bat an eye when we asked to split one burger and went above and beyond as they cut and separately wrapped our two halves of burger.  The cheese was perfectly melted, the bun was buttery and warm without begin distractingly thick and the meat held that homemade fresh grilled taste.  Stop one was certainly setting high expectations for the night. A

Stop two was the second drive-in of the night at Keller’s Burgers.  If you have ever watched Happy Days or Friday Night Lights the movie, this is that drive-in, figuratively speaking.  Filled with cars three-deep by 6:30pm, this is the place to be for the locals.  The old timers had their lawn chairs and koozies out, taking it in as the local high school girls hung out of their boyfriends’ trucks to flirt.  I felt like I had stepped back in time watching small town nostalgia at its finest -- smack dab in the middle of Big D.  We again ordered our burger plain and dry, but we just couldn’t pass up the great tater tots, at least according to the 80-year-old man with the eye patch.  He and the sweet man in the throwback Rangers cap complimented my convertible and asked if I was a newbie.  Not that they really needed to ask as I knew I stuck out like a sore thumb.  But the welcoming attitude was appreciated and I must agree with Mr. Eye Patch that the tater tots were worth the added fullness.  While I appreciate Keller’s atmosphere, the best thing I can say about the burger is that I need a do-over.  We should have gotten a double patty, but the poppyseed bun was perfectly toasted, the cheese was great and while the meat had a great seasoning I needed more of it to counter the toastiness of the bun.  But the atmosphere more than made up for it when the gin & cigs-voiced waitress called me “hon” and helped me back out of my spot to head to my next destination.  A-

If Keller’s defined nostalgia, then Village Burger Bar defines West Village.  The popular burger joint in the heart of West Village is the place to see and be seen.  With a patio that wraps the full corner and a crowded bar, this is no place for a low-key night.  Luckily, we had already placed our order to go, so were good with our laid-back attire.  This #93 cheeseburger was a little fancier with bacon, lettuce, tomato and a spicy aioli.  An order of fries was also included as my partner in taste buds raved about them.  I’m glad I trusted him.  The fries were thin, curly and had a nice crunch.  They did cool quickly due to the styrofoam and moisture (another post on the terrible idea to store fries in styrofoam later).  The burger was good but not my favorite.  I may need to go back and get something fancier when my stomach isn’t so overwhelmed. B+

Our final stop for the night was a shift from the burger to the dog.  The Stand is touted as a perfect late night location, and with the fun trailer-like decor and ideal location on the corner of Allen & McKinney, I can understand why.  The woman taking our order looked pretty shocked to have someone come in around 7:30pm.  We ordered one #96 Mac Daddy Dog and headed to my friend’s house to consume our final meal.  This dog was.... interesting.  With chili, mac & cheese and liquid cheese on top of a rather thick piece of meat, it was a bit overwhelming.  I liked it more than I thought I would, but am not sure I would order it twice.  I will however try mixing some chili into a thicker mac & cheese because that part was an unexpected surprise.  This feast of a hot dog would be a great outside dish or fun tailgate appetizer.  Maybe it would adapt well into hili/mac & cheese baked cups? B-

If you are looking for a fun night on the town, I would highly recommend a comparative test of your favorites.  It was great Dallas perspective and a fun drive in the new ride!

Tex-Mex and Tequila

A new restaurant opened last week in Preston Center that may become one of my regulars.  Labeled as “Tex-Mex with a Santa Fe flair,” Ocho has a great bar, creative food, and a welcoming, relaxed atmosphere that makes you want to come back again and again.

A foodie friend of mine mentioned that something had finally taken the place of the dark, dreary steakhouse next to California Pizza Kitchen in Preston Center. She also mentioned tequila so I knew I had to try it out.  Heading south on Preston off Northwest Hwy, I easily slipped into the valet line and was quickly greeted with a smile and welcome.  Even the hosts were overfriendly, asking if I would like to eat in the family friendly downstairs or if I wanted to head up to 8bar.  My fellow diner had already positioned herself at the bar so I headed upstairs.  The giant Warhol-esque portrait of one of the owner’s dogs let me know that this place doesn’t take itself too seriously.

After passing the snakeskin couches and open seating I sidled up to the bar and ordered something tequila-based but not sweet.  The Hatch Chile Smoke did not disappoint.  With green chile powder, lemon and El Jimador Reposado Tequila, I knew I could drink these all night and be a happy camper.  The bartenders were low-key and extremely helpful in telling us all about the restaurant. Being in a town full of snooty mixologists, it is nice to have an easygoing barman who is willing to turn on the baseball game.  We also tried the Tijuana Mule, nice but not a ton of flavor, and the Berry Woodie Smash, which was good if you like bourbon or a sweet drink.  As someone still paying off my credit card debt due to Restaurant Week, having the drink menu organized by cost made things easy on my wallet.  Combined with the late hours — per the website the bar is open “3:00pm to late” — Ocho will certainly attract a younger crowd.

John, our bartender, talked us into the BBQ Duck Quesadillas and the Nachos “Totopos”.  The nachos are made in a cleaned-out coffee can that is quickly removed to create a “stacked” nacho.  It sounded like a great idea, but by the time the bowl arrived at the table everything had collapsed making it look like a normal plate of nachos.  Well, normal if you are used to gourmet nachos.  These are not your normal bar food.  The nachos include spicy braised pork, serranos, whiskey cheddar and a smooth avocado salsa.  The chips are round and sturdy enough to handle the braised pork without having an overbearing corn taste.  The pork, black beans and cheese were evenly mixed and could have been eaten with a fork they were so flavorful.

Even better than the nachos, the BBQ duck quesadillas stole the show.  Thin, naan-like tortillas were stuffed with jack cheese, poblano chiles and plenty of juicy duck.  They were lightly drizzled with crema & lime greens and were so brightly flavored I didn’t even touch the side of pico de gallo.  One of the biggest issues I have with restaurant quesadillas is the amount of grease used during the grilling process.  The last thing I want is an orange line of grease running down my arms while I try to eat.  The quesadillas were lightly toasted with no sign of greasy overcooking in sight.

I will warn you that the portions here are large.  We ordered two appetizers with the plan to try multiple courses and were so full we didn’t get to a main course.  Luckily, no one was quick to rush us out and we finished watching the Rangers game and sipping on our tequila.  While I won’t choose Ocho as my new sports bar, it is great for a mixed group wanting to eat good food, have great conversation and still know what’s going on in Dallas sports.  I can’t wait to go back and see how they fare the next few weeks. That area can be hard on restaurants due to the plethora of options and the high rent, but for everyone’s sake I want Ocho to stick around.  A

Sandwiches

Taking a break from new restaurants to talk about something a bit simpler -- the sandwich.  A well made sandwich is one of my favorite things.  Pulling out bread, meat, cheese and whatever else you can find in the fridge as you veg out on the couch and catch up on bad reality TV ranks pretty high up there on my list.  However, when the major lazy’s strike, finding someone else to make you a sandwich is that much better. 

Oak Lawn location
photo courtesy of eatzi's.com

Not having a beau to make a sandwich for me, the next step is choosing out of the many sandwich shop options in Big D, which brings us to eatZi’s. Having spent plenty of time at Eatzi’s in the past 3 years, I don’t know how I never made it to the sandwich bar until this week. I usually don’t make it past the half-price sushi after 9pm, the orzo pasta salad and the great cartons of gelato by the checkout line.  And technically I still haven’t made it there yet. 

But I did get a chance to try the Build Your Own Sandwich the other day. Got a call from my Dad while headed home one night with the offer to pick up dinner if I want -- free meal = YES PLEASE!! He asked what kind of sandwich I wanted from eatZi’s and was not exactly pleased at my lack of response.  Side note – my taste buds are about as fickle as a hormone-filled teen romance.  I very rarely have a “favorite” anything and this includes sandwiches, making the idea of ordering from a new place over the phone nearly impossible – I’ll go ahead and claim my high maintenance tiara now. Luckily my father recognizes my sandwich commitment issues and walked me through the breads, spreads, meats, cheeses and fixins’ for my creation with the patience of a saint – they say anxiety is genetic, so I think he recognizes my inability to order a sandwich is at least partially his fault. 

I went roasted vegetables on wheat with provolone and pesto sauce.  OH MY GOODNESS!!  No wonder this has been my sister’s go-to sandwich spot for years.  It was amazing!! The bread was hearty enough to hold the massive amounts of veggies without soaking in too much pesto to become soggy.  The veggies included grilled mushrooms, peppers, squash, carrots and a few more veggies – I got a little busy tearing into the sandwich like I’d just finished a weeklong cleanse and forgot to remember the rest.  It was warm but not toasted or over-cooked.  Even the leftovers cold the next day were incredible!!  I was in heaven and HIGHLY recommend this as a go-to prior to any picnic or brown bag lunch adventure you have planned.  Grab a sandwich, some cheese and crackers and your favorite adult beverage at Eatzi’s, then spend a perfect Thursday night at one of the many fun activities offered around town.  I would highly recommend Dallas Guide Live to find out what’s going on around town.  I really can’t think of a better Dallas night! A+ Eatzi’s.

the List

Thank goodness for good friends willing to share good food!  A few months ago a friend of mine passed along what I have grown to call "the List."  It is Oh Hey Dallas' list of the top 100 things to consume in Dallas.  As a fun summer adventure, I decided to try as many of the places and foods as possible. With a full stomach and an empty wallet, I bring you: the List.

100. Fish & Chips from The Mucky Duck

99.  Grilled Avocado Salad from Snappy Salads

98.  Cotton Candy Martini from Four Lounge

97.  Chicken & Dumplings from Norma’s Cafe

96.  Mac Daddy Dog from The Stand

95.  Sushi Pizza from Dee Lincoln’s Bubble Bar

94.  Salted Caramel Gelato from Paciugo

93.  Cheeseburger from Village Burger Bar

92.  Ropa Vieja Tacos from People’s Last Stand

91.  Build Your Own Sandwich from Eatzi’s

90.  Dip Duo from R+D Kitchen

89.  Slap Your Mama Chocolate Cupcake from Trailercakes

88.  Thai Iced Tea from The Mint

87.  Ahi Poke Taco from Velvet Taco

86.  Kimchee Fries from Ssham BBQ

85.  Blue Crab Fried Rice from The Fish

84.  Black Bean Dip from Gloria’s

83.  The Evan from Taco Joint

82.  Smoked Brisket from Lockhart

81.  Chicken & Waffle from Big Mama’s

80.  “The Chaz” from Gandolfo’s NY Deli

79.  Rollo de Canela from Iron Cactus

78.  Larb Gai from Naga Thai

77.  Beef Bone Marrow from Meddlesome Moth

76.  Ahi Tacos from Del Frisco’s Grille

75.  Corndog from Fletcher’s (State Fair of TX)

74.  Duck Spring Rolls from Marquee Grill

73.  Smoked Salmon from TJ’s Seafood

72.  The Gamechanger from SoCal Tacos

71.  Good Karmel from Oh Brownie

70. Portobello Mushroom Sandwich from The Greenhouse Truck

69.  Martini Trio from Perry’s Steakhouse

68.  Fried Avocado Taco from Torchy’s Tacos

67.  Muffuletta from Jimmy’s Food Store

66.  Flatiron Steak with Chimichuri from Asador

65.  Roasted Beet & Blood Orange Salad from Hibiscus

64.  Chocolate Chip Cookie from Kessler’s

63.  Iltalchos from Terreli’s

62.  Basil Pesto Loaf from Breadwinner’s

61.  Deconstructed California Roll from Parigi

60.  Burger from The Grape

59. Lobster and Garlic Ravioli from Holy Ravioli

58.  Dumplings from Royal China

57.  S’mores Calzone from Cane Rosso

56.  Skittle Sangria from The Common Table

55.  Ligurian Caesar Salad from Oak

54.  Cheeseburger from Dairy-ette

53.  The Athenian from Pie Five

52.  Cleaver & Block Burger from Neighborhood Services

51.  Blackbird Julep from Tate’s

50. Onion Rings from The Cedar’s Social

49.  Dill Pickle popcorn from Uptown Popcorn

48.  Buffalo Mac Cups from Oddfellows

47. Chicken Biscuit from Hypnotic Donuts

46. Loaded Sweet Potato Fries from Company Cafe

45. Butterscotch Pot de Creme from Neighborhood Services

44.  Pimento Cheese Sandwich from Bolsa Mercado

43.  Fried Pickle Chips from Frankie’s

42.  Sticky Bun from Nick & Sam’s Grille

41.   Chicken & Jalapeno Dumplings from The Common Table

40.  Garden of Eatin’ Omlet from Lucky’s Cafe

39.  Coconut Cream Pie from Original Market Diner

38.  Fried Green Tomatoes from Hattie’s

37.  Bob Armstrong Queso from Mattito’s

36.  Chocolate Covered Strawberries from Chocolate Secrets

35.  Captain Crunch French Toast from Nick & Sam’s Grille

34.  Crawfish Pistolette from Cajun Tailgators

33.  Truffle Popcorn from Tillman’s Roadhouse

32.  Create Your Own Ice Cream Sandwich from Pokey O’s

31.  Chicken Fried Steak from Company Cafe

30.  Marshmallow Soup from Rise No 1

29.  Pearl Latte from The Pearl Cup

28.  Seared Ahi Tuna Wrap from Dive Coastal Cuisine

27.  Escargot from Toulouse

26.   “The King” from Trailercakes

25.  Herb Marinated Seared Scallops from Local

24.  Pad Kee Mow from Asian Mint

23.  Pretzel Bread from Prime Bar

22.  Italian Style Crab Claws from Campisi’s

21.  Peppermint Whoopie Pie from Society Bakery

20. Brisket Pie from Baker’s Ribs

19.  Miso Glazed Salmon from Nick & Sam’s Steakhouse

18.  Foie Gras Stuffed Prune from Lucia

17.  Biscuits and Honey from Babe’s

16.  Tableside S’mores from Tillman’s Roadhouse

15.  Wild Mushroom Soup from Palomino

14.  Szechuan Green Beans from FiveSixty

13.  Fried Chicken from Sissy’s Southern Kitchen

12.  Lobster Bisque from Ocean Prime

11.  Olive Oil Cake from Lucia

10.  Spanakopita from Stratos

9.  Cheeseburger from Keller’s Burgers

8.  Peanut Butter Pie from Avanti

7.  Smoked Brisket Cornbread Hash from Smoke

6.  French Fries from Off-Site Kitchen

5.  Lobster Shooters from Abacus

4.  Panko Brussel Sprouts from Oak

3.  Seattle Style Deviled Eggs from Neighborhood Services Grill

2.  ANY pizza from Cane Rosso

1.  Duck Breast with Beets and Blood Oranges from Lucia

Big, Rich and Texas

Saturday night of KRLD Restaurant Week brought us to Tillman's Roadhouse and the biggest, richest meal of the week, and I can't tell you when I have eaten richer food than I did Saturday night.  Ready for some weekend fun, I grabbed some friends and headed out to one of the best steakhouses in Dallas.  The Bishop Arts District is a great place if you are looking to step away from the stereotypical Dallas nightlife -- it has a little less of the see-or-be-seen attitude and more of a laid back vibe, even at a steakhouse.

We knew it was going to be a good night when we called the restaurant to inform them we would be late and they had no issue changing the reservation -- quite the accommodation during a popular week like Restaurant Week.  Once we arrived, we went to the bar to grab a glass of wine.  The bar isn't very big but has some great seating and plays old movies on one of the walls.  It has that homey, relaxed vibe that makes you want to grab a seat and stay awhile.  Comfy couches and a giant table with barstools add to the ambiance.  I even found a friend of mine sitting and planning out her fall football tailgating strategy with a group of friends.  Hankering for some tequila, I ordered the blood orange margarita and was impressed with its freshness.  The orange was a little sweeter than I would have liked, but it cut the tartness of the tequila well and hit the spot for a fun Saturday night cocktail.



Blood Orange Margarita & Truffle Popcorn

While our beginning experience was great, the service once we got to our table was not.  Our waiter seemed frustrated by any questions and even cut me off before I had finished asking him about one of the items on the menu.  I have found that the one thing missing with Restaurant Week is the service.  Stephan Pyles was the only waitstaff that did not seem annoyed at our presence in their restaurant, a problem that hopefully the restaurants will work on for 2013.

Similar to chips and salsa at a Mexican food joint, Tillman's had small bowls of their famous Truffle Popcorn on the table.  Lightly coated in truffle oil and seasoned only with salt and pepper, it was a great start to the meal and was quickly devoured by our crew.  The popcorn was light and the pieces were large enough that I didn't find myself stuffing fistfuls in my mouth like I would at the movie theater.  This allowed us to actually taste the truffle oil and take time between pieces so as not to ruin my appetite — although I wouldn't complain if they sold this by the bag to eat at home later.



Heirloom Tomato Salad
*picture courtesy of Tillman's website

Tillman's had two choices for the appetizers: an heirloom tomato salad or avocado soup.  I went with the tomato salad.  Thick slices of tomato were topped with crumbled white cheese and an amazing pecan pesto.  I could have drunk the pesto on its own and am hoping to be able to recreate it at home at some point.  I stole a bite of a friend's avocado soup and while it had a nice kick, I was happy with my choice.

Since we were at a steakhouse we all had to go with the steak for our main course.  It came with baked red potatoes, wilted spinach, cherry tomatoes and a creamy, rich bacon sauce.  All of the add-ons were amazing but surprisingly for a steakhouse the steak itself was sub-par.  I ordered mine medium rare and it came out with only a slight pink in the middle -- AKA medium.  For those not familiar with the levels of doneness on a steak, rare is the most raw and then medium rare, medium, medium well and well-done (most done).  My friend ordered his medium well and it came practically well done.  It may not sound like a big deal, but here in Texas we expect to get what we order for levels of doneness on our steaks.  There was lots of trading around of steak pieces, each plate came with about 4 small pieces of steak, in order to get the right flavor levels and luckily we had so much food no one went hungry due to lack of steak.  The creamy bacon sauce was way too rich for my taste.  It drowned the spinach and tomatoes.  We also ordered a side of mac & cheese and grits.  While they were good it wasn't anything worth writing too much about -- just more starch and cheese to add to our already rich meal.


Chocolate Mud Cake



Just in case we weren't already stuffed from our previous courses, the group decided to order two desserts for the night.  While there were the regular dessert options as part of the Restaurant Week prix fixed menu (chocolate mud cake and a bread pudding), we went with Tillman's other famous food: the table-side s'mores!  A platter of sugar coated graham crackers, slices of rich and creamy dark chocolate and three types of flavored mallows (pistachio, pumpkin and maple) are brought to your table with a small fire and skewers to toast them.  The presentation is awesome!  Taking a skewer and toasting a marshmallow to the perfect level of doneness brought me back to childhood campfires.  While I much prefer plain jane marshmallows, the flavored ones made things fancy and added an interesting taste to the childhood fun.  The maple flavor was great, but the pumpkin tasted too sweet (even for a mallow).  The pistachio was OK but I ended up putting my chocolate mud cake on top to cut some of the nuttiness -- classy, I know.  Love pistachios and love mallows, but not so much together — but half the fun of this dessert is sitting at a restaurant toasting s'mores so we enjoyed the experience and even burnt a few along the way :).  I would recommend it for a fun date to bring out your inner pyro.



Tableside S'mores

After the richness of cheese, bacon, steak, chocolate, mallows, etc. we were filled to the brim and had to wait it out for a bit before being able to walk to our cars.  I think I am still dieting to try and overcome my caloric intake of the night.  Overall it was a fun night and a great experience.  I would go back to try other parts of the menu or to hang out at the bar and drink margaritas and eat truffle popcorn.  So not great steak or service but the appetizers, sides and desserts were yummy!  B+ for this dinner experience but I would still claim Tillman's as a staple restaurant to try in Dallas.