Lakewood, arguably the most neighborly neighborhood in East Dallas, presented the city with a local festival this past Saturday on what turned out to be a fantastically sunny afternoon (no thanks to the weather forecasts). Though expectations were low, Lakewoodstock attendance was relatively high, providing nearby residents with an unorthodox day activity for the kids and kinfolk. Read More
“Everything is bigger in Texas”…is the exact reason why MeVs visited Oklahoma this past weekend. Norman got something right. Who knew this small, Sooner dominating town had so much culture. Three hours on the road with minimal stops led to a great, fun-filled Saturday at the second annual Norman Music Festival. Read More
Guidelive categorizes Perry’s as a four-star restaurant, which automatically predisposes diners to reject the idea of even stepping into the restaurant for the fear of losing their wallets in the cavernous space of the malicious economic giant. (That was a mouthful.) I don’t want to mislead anyone into thinking a small price won’t have to be paid. But for intricate service, overwhelmingly hearty servings, and a bill that is pleasantly surprising, I can’t complain.
I wasn’t too impressed with the stuffiness exuding from the classically decorated walls. It was glaringly obvious Perry’s isn’t the t-shirts, jeans and cowboy boots kind of place. Well, maybe if they’re Hugo Boss boots. And having been to a few of these upscale restaurants before, I expected minuscule portions made for Polly Pocket (the old school one whose house fits in the palm of your hand, not the pop-cartoon rendition Mattel’s selling today). It’d take at least a three-course meal to get me even remotely full. I decided to order Jumbo Lump Crab Cakes to start and the Tempura Lobster for my main course. My company had Calamari with Sweet Thai Sauce and the Prime Cowboy Ribeye.
Boy, oh boy! Does Perry surprise. The portions were… the only word to really describe it here… ginormous! I was pretty much done after the crab cakes – two disks of chewy crab meat, each the size of a regulation coaster. The grain mustard rémoulade was the perfect companion to balance the cakes. It was truly an explosion of flavor in every bite. The lobster had to have been at least a two-pounder. The thickness intimidated me a little, but I still dove in. It was a little bland for my taste, but the tarragon béarnaise sauce complimented it nicely. The calamari was perfectly crispy. I wasn’t a big fan of the sauce, but if you like a little sweetness in your meal, it would definitely hit the spot. The steak, at a whopping 23 oz, was a delight. Cooked just right, the meat was pleasurably tender and juicy. You may request any of their specialty sauces if A1 is getting a little boring for you.
The presentation was truly awe-inspiring. The bill came out to be $109; but with portions that big, I’m wondering if the profit margin is even that high. Well done, Perry’s. (Pun intended.)
If you’ve visited New Orleans, you definitely appreciated your visit to the original Cafe Du Monde (where they specialize in coffee and beignets.) I may not be a big coffee drinker, but the fluffy pastries with generous sprinkles of powder sugar could warrant a trip. The last time I was there, I had to find an excuse to return after the breakfast helping. Needless to say, these delectables consumed my heart as I consumed them.
Upon returning to Dallas, I missed them terribly. A specialty shop in Houston offers them, but even I know driving 259 miles to Chez Beignet seemed irrational. But on one beautiful, Sunday morning, something serendipitous happened. I discovered Pala Cafe. In the tradition of New Orleans, intermingled with Vietnamese influence, Pala offers fresh coffee with my much-yearned-for beignets. I ordered two portions and devoured too eagerly.
Oh yeah, the rest of the menu isn’t too bad: pho, Philly cheesesteak sandwich, lemongrass chicken on rice, hoagies. Any of those items will satiate at a decent price. Not to mention the friendliest ownder on the face of Earth. I return regularly and receive the same affection that makes any cold day warm.
UPDATE: Pala Cafe has fallen prey to the vicious and unforgiving economy. It recently closed and I am back on the beignet market. Suggestions?
Another night at the crib wondering what to eat for din din? U eat cheap will find meals in your area under $10. Simply type in your zip code and get results ranging from Vietnamese to Italian in a nice google mapped gui. Now, if only I could find a service to fetch me my food. Meversus interns? >> Ueatcheap via Lifehacker
A cheesesteak sandwich seems like a pretty simple thing, but there’s a lot you can get wrong about it: bland meat, relying on sauces, too much bread – the list of infractions runs long and greasy.
The problem is that cheesesteaks are the type of thing you shouldn’t eat unless it’s superbly created. When you order one there’s the implicit agreement between the mind and body that you’re about to consume something that will, in some fashion, devastate every organ you have. Anything less than near-perfection is a bad trade.
I’ve encountered this “cheesesteak remorse” on many occasions – that feeling that a sub-standard cheesesteak has claimed that little piece of health that should have gone toward a kick-ass cheesteak. It takes the right mix of spices, onions, meat texture, and cheese to make a convincing argument against living a few more years. That’s why I roll my eyes when I see Subway trying to make them.
So, it is with great consideration that I recommend Fred’s Downtown Philly Cheesesteaks in Richardson and Plano as the tops in town. They’ve got it down to an art: chopped-up peppered-steak jiblets toasted crisp and mixed with caramelized onions, layered within a well-proportioned hoagie on a bed of melty-cheese. It makes that golden cru-squersh sound with every bite. No regrets here.
Fred’s looks slightly more appealing than a mess hall, but, like the main dish, it’s not meant to be pretty. You get a sense of the place by seeing their website devote a page to “Our Women Patrons.”
Hats off to all the cheesesteak eatin’ ladies out there.
The name itself should evoke images of a grimy, local joint dishing out hearty slices of New York-styled pizza. Crispy dough, thick sauce that burns your tongue, melty cheese, and sausage so flavorful only Everybody Loves Raymond’s Marie’s recipe could produce. And while the pizza wasn’t a complete letdown, less could be said for the rest of the restaurant.
I was surprised to discover the restaurant relies completely on a self-service system. Our party walked in and foolishly waited for a hostess to seat us. After 15 minutes of self-consciousness, we finally decided to grab one of the waiters racing by. We were instructed to get in line, order, and seat ourselves. We even had to get our own utensils! Call me spoiled, but the least I expect from a restaurant is not having to get up to get your own silverware when the food comes.
Their tag line: “We make it like we made it back in Brooklyn. Where we made it like we made it back in Italy.” I may not be Italian, but I’ve eaten enough Italian food to deem myself certified. Unless by Italy they mean Generic Factory Town, America, the ad is definitely slipping on some infringement issues.
Bottom line: For $3.49 per ginormous slice, the food’s decent for the bargain. If you’re really hungry, order a slice of the Stuffed Meat Pie ($4.99/slice). One slice could probably feed an appetite and a half. With a vast variety of toppings, you’ll certainly find something suitable to your palate. However, if you’re feeling like some pasta, do yourself a favor and drive down the street to Olive Garden.
Locations: Allen, Frisco, Garland, McKinney, and Plano.
Any place can serve you a donut. But few places can give you that special "Your not a piece of scum" feeling. That's why I take my hat off to Creamy Donuts in Richardson.
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