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Applebees Restaurant in Tyler Texas

February 10th, 2010

APPLEBEES

5502 S Broadway Ave
Tyler 75703
903 509 4848

Applebees is a chain of restaurants serving a variety of American cuisine. The one in Tyler is centrally located on South Broadway just a little way down from the Mall.

Applebees calls itself ‘casual dining’ which means that it is family friendly with no frills. The atmosphere is typical of many American eateries – with private booths, low lighting and a TV at a bar area. It is always clean, the food is pretty standard and, in my experience, the service is generally good.

The menu offers a variety of appetizers, burgers, pasta, chicken, beef and pork entrees and some great salads. One big bonus is that it also offers a selection of meals which are guaranteed to be under 550 calories and there are also Weight Watcher points listed on a selection of items. You can also order half portions, which is great for smaller appetites– but the reduction on price is not reflected in the reduced quantity of food, so you are better off splitting a full portion with a friend or taking some home in a carry out box.

My favorite meal is a Pecan crusted chicken salad. Complete with fruit and blue cheese, it really is mouthwatering. My husband prefers to order ribs or one of their selection of juicy burgers and fries.


Lunches are good value at Applebees – I like the lunch combo where you can pick a soup and salad or sandwich and pay around $6.
There is a kids menu at Applebees but sadly it offers nothing new – just chicken strips, mac and cheese, cheeseburgers and no vegetables. When are they going to wake up to the fact that we need to offer our children healthy alternatives as well as adults?

Applebees is fairly good value and they often have special deals so that you can dine without breaking the bank. Currently they offer a 2 for $20 deal which is an incentive to people who want to dine at low cost in pairs. It includes one appetizer (to share) and 2 entrees. There are also small desserts called ‘shooters’ which can be added to your order for an extra $2 each. These are a perfect size to treat kids too.

Applebees also has ‘Carside to go’ – a service for the strictly lazy which basically means you can order a carry out by phone and they will bring it to your car on your arrival.

All in all, Applebees is a safe bet for taking your family out to eat. The portions are a decent size, the menu is varied and the service good. It is a good venue for a quick and filling lunch too. However, for a date night, it is uninspiring and would disappoint most romantics – there are no surprises here. My advice -if you don’t have kids around – forget the chain restaurant experience and try something different – there are a few good unique places to eat in Tyler so why not take a risk and enjoy something different!

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Crackel Barrel in Lindale TX

January 27th, 2010

Highway 69
Lindale TX
Hours: 6am – 10pm (11pm on Fri and Sat)

I love the Cracker Barrel. It is always a good choice for a nice meal – if you are looking for traditional home cooked style ‘comfort food’ that is! If it is salads or gourmet you want then … maybe not!

The special thing about the Cracker barrel is the ‘Southern’ feel. The atmosphere also takes you a little back in time. With entrees like meatloaf, roast beef and good old Texan fried chicken or friend steak and side dishes of corn and hashbrown casserole you’ll know what I mean.

When you arrive at the Cracker Barrel you might need to put your name on the seating list if it is a busy time of day. Avoid Sunday lunchtimes and any time on a weekend during First Monday Trade days in Canton if you hate waiting for a meal.

Once you have your party on the seating list, you have a while to shop in the ‘Country store’ There is something for everyone – old fashioned candy and fun toys for the kids, clothing, candles and seasonal home decor items. I love the card selection and the Christmas ornaments whilst the novelty items like the talking parrot and laughing dog appeal to my kids. If my husband is around, he usually sits outside on their wonderful rocking chairs – he hates shopping!


The restaurant is spacious and decorated with lots of southern ‘antiques’ which makes a fun backdrop for your meal. There is sometimes a fire burning in one corner but don’t be deceived, it is always cold in the Cracker Barrel.

When you are seated your server – who is usually a lady with big hair or an over-polite waiter – brings you drinks. They continuously circulate with refills so beware if you are there with friends. I once had 5 cups of coffee without realising it! The menu is straightforward but you can make substitutions or even make up your own meal from the side order part. The possibilities are endless!

I am always impressed that they cater well for children. They have kids menus with crayons and activities and also have solitaire on each table which is a distraction from hunger. I like the high chairs, boosters and the special cradle the have for car seats.
The service is good at the Cracker Barrel. They are always happy to bring more buttermilk biscuits – which by the way, are heavenly, and apple butter too. It is customary to leave a tip for the server at the table and then pay for the meal in the shop area along with any purchases you wish to make.

I particularly like breakfast at the Cracker Barrel. It is a real treat. Don’t be tempted to try any unfamiliar Southern food though – I thought I’d be adventurous and try grits and another time I ordered dumplins. Don’t eat them unless you’ve been raised on them I recommend! The bacon and eggs are great though, cooked fresh and to your order.


One final thing to note is that the CB is famous for pies and you can even order a whole one to take home. Actually they will also cater your Thanksgiving or Christmas feast too.

The Cracker Barrel is a family favorite and can always be depended on for quality food and good service. Lots of calories too but who cares about that once in a while?!

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Maggies Hamburgers

January 19th, 2010

Maggie’s Hamburger Restaurant is located west of Tyler on Rt 64. It is a log cabin with a nice sized inside dining room and during the summer they have a covered patio porch connected to the cabin that has as much room outside as the inside dining.

Maggie’s restaurant has some of the best and big hamburgers I have ever eaten….but that is not all the menu they serve. There was chicken and seafood offered.. They have specials listed on a chalk board type listing next to the window you order from. In the middle of the dining room there was a buffet of fixin’s for your meal. The tables and chairs inside were wooden with wooden benches and the interior of the cabin was open to show the rafters in the ceiling. The staff that waited on you were very congenial and made your eating experience enjoyable.

So the next time you have a hunger for a good hamburger…..why don’t you try Maggie’s and you will be pleased with the food, service and decent price.

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Pot Pourri House

January 15th, 2010

POT POURRI HOUSE

3320 Troup Highway
Tyler
TX 75701
903 592 4171

Opening hours: Mon-Sat 11am-9pm

How exciting to find a restaurant in Tyler that is completely unique. The Pot Pourri is family owned and run and you can actually feel the pride that they take in their establishment.

We visited the Pot Pourri house for lunch on the recommendation of a friend.

As we walked in my thirty-something husband commented
‘I feel young… and I’m the wrong gender’


He was right, the place was full of older ladies avidly talking to companions over beautifully presented plates of food. The atmosphere was nice though, the room was lit with fairy lights and there was a water feature in the corner. Even though the ceiling was high there was a feeling of intimacy that you don’t find in a place like, say – Jason’s Deli.

The service at the Pot Pourri House is impeccable. As soon as we sat down, a polite waiter poured us iced water and took our drink order. The soup, salad and potato bar was an irresistible draw for me and my choice was rewarded with an incredibly tasty variety of hot and cold food. Repeat visits filled me up to the brim!

Chris chose a chicken dish and was slightly disappointed with the size of the portion (he’s a man!) but it looked fabulous. He consequently had room for one of the Pot Pourri’s delicious desserts and a bottomless cup of coffee.

The next occasion I had to visit the Pot Pourri House was for a Christmas Party. They have 3 rooms available for small, medium and large gatherings, and can seat up to 100 people. Our party was just for girls and it was intimate and fun with excellent food and service as before. I would imagine that they would cater just as well for a banquet.

One other thing to prepare you for your visit to the Pot Pourri House – it also has a shop on each side of the restaurant. On the right is a women’s boutique and on the left is a gift shop with home décor items, toys, candles, handmade chocolates, nice cards etc.
Reasons to visit the Pot Pourri House: For a gourmet meal, girls lunch, party, to find a nice gift for the person who has everything, Mother’s birthday, or to impress an older female into including you in her will!

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The Texas Roadhouse

January 14th, 2010

The Texas Roadhouse

2101 Southeast Loop 323
Tyler
TX 75701
903 509 0053

Opening hours M-T 4pm-10pm
Friday 4-11pm
Sat and Sun 11am-11pm

If you’ve lived in Texas for long you will have tried the steaks at the Texas Roadhouse, in fact, you’re probably a regular customer. The Texas Roadhouse is known for it’s hand-cut steaks, cooked to your specifications and it’s delicious ribs – all priced very reasonably. The Tyler Roadhouse keeps up this reputation; in fact, it probably adds further credit to this chain of restaurants.


If you have visitors to Texas, an evening at the Texas Roadhouse is a must, part of the cultural experience. Our family from England LOVED it.

First, there is the whole shelling the peanuts and throwing them on the floor thing. Then there is the atmosphere –loud and fun, our waitresses even did a short line dance while waiting for the food to be ready for them to serve. And last but not least, there is the food. We tried a cactus blossom which sounded very Texan. It was! Deep fried, of course, it was a huge battered onion with a spicy dip. There was plenty to share. The salads were good, as was the baked potatoes ‘loaded’ literally with sour cream, bacon and spring onion shavings. We enjoyed our steaks – cutting into my fillet was like cutting butter – and the ribs were a hit too. One criticism – the fries were way too salty. Perhaps it is to encourage you to drink more ice cold beer or maybe a margarita. We did have to re-order fries for the children without seasoning.

There is more than enough food for every size of appetite – The Texas Roadhouse in Tyler must have to buy a lot of ‘take home’ boxes for it’s customers. I had the pleasure of eating steak two days in a row – the second time reheated in my microwave, but still very tasty! I can’t comment on the desserts – I have never been with anyone who has room to order one, but I know that they do have a selection of traditionally southern sweets.

One great thing about the Roadhouse is that it is family friendly. On Tuesdays children eat free and sometimes they have a visiting ‘Andy Armidillo’ or a balloon modeller. Consequently, the place is PACKED, so if you don’t have kids, Tuesday might be a night to avoid. It is certainly good for a family budget too as the food is great but inexpensive. You can make a further saving by eating between 4 and 6pm with their Early Dine menu.


On the downside – you cannot make reservations at this restaurant. ‘Call ahead seating’ is the best they will do and it often still involves quite a wait in the lobby before you are seated. I guess that’s just a symptom of it’s popularity. However, once inside, the service is speedy and the servers are efficient and friendly.

All in all I recommend an evening at the Texas Roadhouse and give it a thumbs up!

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The Shed At Edom

January 12th, 2010

There is a restaurant in Edom TX about 18 minutes outside of Tyler called The Shed. It is a small town place with a flavor of mama’s kitchen. They have a varied menu that includes things like…roast beef, meatloaf, chicken fried steak and chicken tenders. The servings are large with a modest price on the pocketbook. They have some of the yummiest pies and cobblers if you want dessert. You won’t go away hungry if you decide to eat there. The waiters and waitresses are very attentive to what your needs are while you are eating.

The interesting thing is if you visit them on Tuesday evening they have a dozen or so musicians that play and sing country music and bluegrass. The musicians play guitars, fiddles, mandolin’s, and accordions while you eat your meal and you are welcome to sing with them or just listen. This is a place that you can take young children to and they will enjoy the entertainment and the food.

During the summer they occasionally have a car show in Edom and when we ate there we were lucky to be there while the car show was going on. After eating we walked around and looked at the cars, and walked off some of our eating.


After eating at The Shed you can walk through the hallway to their country store. There at the country store you can buy something for yourself or purchase a nice gift for someone. This is not a fancy place, but a very comfortable place to eat, enjoy music without hurting the pocket book.

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Great Deli and Internet Connection

January 8th, 2010

McAlisters Deli

4325 Old Bullard Road
Tyler, TX 75703-1229
(903) 939-3300

If you need a good place to go to have a free wireless internet connection for your business meeting in Tyler Texas than try McAlisters Deli. They have good food like their delicous chili bowl or turkey sandwich and it is delivered fast. This deli also caters to businesses and events all the time. Next time you need to talk over some business while eating lunch it is hard to beat McAlisters in Tyler Texas.

I am not a big deli sandwich person but if I had to recommend one sandwich from McAlister’s it would be the berry Turkey sandwich. I think it goes by a slightly different name but you will be able to spot it on the menu. The chili bowl is still the best thing they have as they serve it in a home made bread bowl and the bread it is made with is some of the most delicious bread I have had. I think the bread bowl actually tastes better than most rolls I have been served at Tyler restaurants.


The chili that is served at the McAlisters in Tyler tastes homemade and not that disgusting stuff in a can. I have been to Tyler restaurants that when a customer orders chili they will break open a can of chili and heat it up in the microwave. I don’t know if anyone reading this has had chili in a can but it is very bad stuff and the meat tastes more like tofu or soggie bread than real chili. McAlister’s will not serve this type of food product and if you are a chili lover I think you are going to like my suggestion.
If chili is not your think McAlisters in Tyler also has a really good bacon chedder spud. This potato is the best on the menu and you can ask for sour cream and any additional toppings that you would like. Sometimes I will order the chili bowl and the bacon cheddar spud and eat them both.

Finally I would like to point out that they have the booths divided in a way to give each table privacy. McAlisters Deli in Tyler With the privacy and free wifi internet you will find McAlisters Tyler Texas to be a very good location for any type of meeting such as a business meeting or just a place to sit down and finish some homework while eating lunch. McAlisters is right next to Office Depot and the Tyler mall. If you would like to order catering you may speak with Diana Todd who is the manager over their catering side.

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Cajun Food Returns To Tyler Texas

January 8th, 2010

Tyler has had a number of Cajun restaurants over the years. And while they served excellent food they didn’t last. But Tyler Texas should be fertile ground for an establishment of that nature. We certainly love restaurants. Cajun food and culture are not so far removed; in fact the Texas gulf coast often serves similar cuisine. So why is it that a town like ours, with all kinds of restaurants can’t seem to keep a good Louisiana kitchen open? Well, we have another opportunity with “Fat Catz.” Located at Southeast Crossing Center, 3320 Troup Highway in Tyler, Fat Catz serves authentic Cajun seafood.        


            While the seating is of course indoor, the openness of the place gives it a sort of Café Du Monde feel. The menu has all the favorites one would expect to find in a New Orleans restaurant just off the River Walk. There are gumbos, jambalayas, and Poboys, as well as hushpuppies, fried pickles, oysters, etc. There are also more local favorites like catfish.

            So the question remains, will Fat Catz survive in Tyler. I for one, hope so. It’s a unique departure from the usual Tex-Mex restaurants, (some of which I happen to love by the way), and the Chinese buffets. If variety is the spice of life, Fat Catz will stick around. But it remains to be seen how much spice Tylerites can handle.  See also http://www.fatcatzkitchen.com/ .

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The Hidden Gate Tyler TX

January 4th, 2010

Tucked away in the middle of Tyler is the small antique shop and restaurant, Hidden Gate. Hidden Gate is known for its quiet atmosphere and homemade delicious food.

Two rooms packed full of antiques and beautiful tables. This would not be a problem for me, but when you have children it becomes pretty much impossible to enjoy yourself in a place like this. There are so many breakable items placed on the edge of shelves, and shelves so close to the tables, children can easily grab and break things.

Breakfast, lunch and dinner menus are available. Hidden gate also has catering for buffet entrees and “hors D’oeuvers”. Desserts are homemade and available. Try their pies, cobblers, cakes and cheesecakes.


Floral wreaths and floral arrangements are also for sale. Check out the website to see the beautiful arrangements on sale depending on the up coming holidays and events.

Enjoy an afternoon tea with your friends. When you come here the music is relaxing and soft so you can actually hear each other talk. There is a great selection of teas and desserts for those outings for your friends. Try the raspberry, peach, strawberry-lemon, or orange spice teas.

If you are hosting a party you can come to Hidden Gate’s Tyler Texas Restaurant and pick up a food tray. Party trays include, cheese trays, sandwich trays, fruit trays and relish trays and pies. Also if you are going on a picnic and don’t have time to pack a lunch, you can pick up a box lunch. You can choose between about five different sandwich and two different wraps. Also you can pick up a Breakfast box, with different homemade croissants sandwiches.

You can go gift shopping here. Hidden Gate sells all different home décor such as candles, platters, lamps, mirrors and so much more. Hidden Gate carries brand name items such as, Acscent Candles, Secret Garden, Time & Again, Crackling Wick, Lady Primrose, and Olio. You can also find jewelry, purses, scarves and much more. You can also use their helpful Lay-a-away plan to help you be able to pay for the perfect gift.

Enjoy a quiet stress free meal but be very careful not to break anything!

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Buffalo Wild Wings

December 30th, 2009

When it comes to sports bars in the tyler area, my list starts and ends with Buffalo Wild Wings. In a dry county it is becoming increasingly harder to watch a ball game drinking a beer on my couch in my home. Beer runs on a sunday often have me coming in after the first half is already over. So I’ve adopted a new tradition of enjoying football games in the comfort of my local buffalo wild wings.


There is a variety of sauces that make a simple selection of a plate of wings an exciting new choice every trip I make, so I’ve come to enjoy the taste of their reasonably priced wings and throwing back a couple of drinks to the sound of cheers and taunts as everyone watches the cowboys game. Although there will be other games and sports showing on seperate tvs, be prepared for the Cowboys game to take precidence over say the Detroit Lions.

Do not expect to go to Buffalo Wild Wings dressed as your favorite figure skater expecting to watch the figure skating championship I’ve found that not to be a good idea. This is after all a man’s sports club. For those too cheap to pay for cable and wish to still see their favorite game this is the perfect place for it. Buffalo Wild Wings will often charge cover charges for pay per view fights and other events hosted. The food quality is good and I can’t say I’ve ever had a problem with the service, the true problem comes in the fact that it is treated like a restaurant by the employees, so delaying a 45 minute meal into two and a half hours to watch the whole game, becomes a bit of a hassle.


With the amount of beer guzzling that is often associated with football, Buffalo Wild Wings has surprisingly few drunks. If you are just in the mood for wings swing by, you may be charged just to get a table, so take caution to only go when you are certain there’s not a big fight or a bowl game going on. The quality of the wings rival that of their competitors Wing Stop and prices are even as well. Since the prices are low making the transition from your monotaneous life to a crowd that makes you feel like you are at the game can easily become a tradition. So the next time you are in the mood for a plate full of juicy wings and want to take in a relaxing boxing match or ball game, stop by Buffalo Wild Wings

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