Tyler TX Facebook

Follow Donny on Twitter

Username:
Password:
  Remember Me   Forgot password?  Register
0-9  A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z  

Find or Refer a Contractor in Tyler

Ate at Pancho Panda today, they have both Mexican and Chinese cuisine and a buffet

January 5th, 2011

Mexican Chinese buffet in Tyler Texas

Pancho Panda
3841 Hwy 64 West
Tyler, TX 75704
Phone: 903-593-9200
Hours of Business:
Monday – Sunday: 11:00am to 9:00pm

I am one of those people that is  little scared of gong into a buffet and if it weren’t for others in my family that enjoy the occasional buffet I would never go.

I think of things like sick people coughing into the food that are in the buffet line and stupid things like that but isn’t that why they have a plexiglass shield guard so that doesn’t happen?

Well Pancho Panda has the plexi glass guard to protect the buffet food and under that glass are both mexican food entrees and chinese food.

Thinking of the combination of Mexican food and Chinese food never wets my appetite but my brother wanted me to try this place out so me and a few other guys went in to give it a shot.

I was surprised to find out that the restaurant wasn’t half bad. The enchiladas, crunchy tacos and quesadillas all tasted pretty good.

I also tried some Chinese food. I got the bourbon chicken, an egg roll, and some fried rice. I was pleased with the Chinese food as well.

cream cheese won tonsFor desert I had some jello squares and cream cheese fried won tons. The fried won tons were ok bu they are the seafood kind. I was hoping it would just have cream cheese in them without the seafood but that is hardly ever the case.

Well anyway this place wasn’t half bad. I am ok with this place and I think if you are a buffet person you will want to give them a try.

Will I go back here by myself? Probably not, I am just not into buffets and probably never will be. When comparing buffets in Tyler Texas though this takes on of the top spots. Take this review for what it is worth coming from someone who normally does not choose a buffet restaurant as a place to eat at.

A Pizza A Beer And A Ball Game

January 8th, 2010

Double Daves Pizza
Located on South Broadway, Double Dave’s Pizzeria serves some of the best pizza in town. From 11:00 to 1:00 the restaurant offers a buffet. However, Dave’s isn’t like the other cheap pizza buffets in town. The higher quality is evident in every bite. The signature item on the menu is the pepperoni roll. Available by the half dozen, dozen, or on the buffet, this item is worth the trip by itself.

The atmosphere at Dave’s is sort of a guy’s Chucky Cheese. With numerous large screen TVs, all tuned to a different sports channel, and a short list of favorite beers to choose from, D.D.’s is a great place to watch the game. They also deliver.

So next time your going out for pizza in Tyler Texas, whether a lunch buffet, or just picking up a pie, choose a better pizza, and don’t forget the pepperoni rolls.

The Worst Of The Buffets

November 17th, 2009

A couple of months ago I wrote a piece entitled “The best of the buffets.” It was primarily a response to my students who love Tyler’s buffet restaurants and couldn’t conceive of why I generally dislike them. In the interest of full discloser I made a list of the establishments I actually liked and why. Well, forgive the hubris but I thought it might be fun to make a short list of the buffets I personally consider some of the worst in town. The following are in descending order.

China King

When China King first opened it was trumpeted as the best Chinese buffet in the city of Tyler. As buffets go it may have been… But it didn’t last. China King has the largest selection of food, but the quality is poor to say the least. The dishes tend to sit far too long under the lamps and still manage to taste dry and lukewarm.

I must confess however, that my dislike of China King isn’t only about the food. It’s also the lack of atmosphere. (I realize this may reflect an unrealistic expectation for a buffet). The store seems run down and sloppy. The staff is more concerned with moving customers in and out quickly in order to make room for the next herd. Strangely, the straw that broke the camel’s back for me came when I visited the men’s room shortly before eating. While there I was treated to an obscene series of messages carved into the stall door. Now, I understand that this has little to do with the food the restaurant serves, but I don’t enjoy feeling like I’m eating at the local truck stop. When taking in the whole package, that visit to the mis-named “King” had the effect of making me feel vaguely cheap and ashamed. My conscience was inexplicably heavy. I decided then and there, to set my sights on more seemly establishments. The next time someone suggests having lunch at a Chinese buffet, don’t be degraded, try to steer them toward Chine Café. It’s a far better restaurant on every level.

Cici’s Pizza

I would love to give Cici’s the lowest rank, among these restaurants but unfortunately that dishonor is reserved for another establishment. I rarely miss an opportunity to take a shot at Cici’s Pizza. In fact I’ve stated on numerous occasions that I prefer Totino’s frozen pizza to that particular buffet. Why? Because I find the crust doughy, and the toppings cheap, (and by cheap I do not mean inexpensive).

The store’s ads constantly promise that the customer can eat at the buffet for under five dollars. I’ll pass on the “you get what you pay for,” reminder, and say simply that the last time I ate at Cici’s (quite against my will I assure you) I paid over seven for my meal. The selection was not what I was promised either. What I did find failed to satisfy even my two year old son, who prefers pizza to nearly every other food I can provide.

This brings me to the old issue of atmosphere. Let me just say that I’m still getting my hearing back. The doctors assure me that I should eventually be able to enjoy music and the arts again, but it will take time. Ok all sarcasm aside, I find it difficult to enjoy a meal when I need a bull horn to make myself heard across the table… Oops sarcasm again, sorry. As a kids restaurant, Cici’s does offer entertainment in the arcade but then so does Ken’s and the food is better. Even better yet, take them to Double Dave’s for some real pizza, and watch the game with them while you’re there. That’s how memories are made.

Ryan’s

If my reader has been placed on an all starch, all grease diet for any reason; Ryan’s is the establishment for you. Likewise if you prefer your steak tough and well done this could be your buffet of choice. Personally I’ve never had a hankering for restaurant style macaroni and cheese, so I don’t frequent Ryan’s. Honestly, it’s been a couple of years since I visited the store but there’s a reason for that, namely the quality of the food is definitely poor. My last visit was followed immediately by a dose of Tums and a counseling session with my priest. Alright so I’m exaggerating again but seriously, I do know people who people who actually enjoy Ryan’s, just not many. I will say this for the restaurant, the atmosphere is definitely quieter (and this is not due solely to lack of patronage). Next to the above businesses, Ryan’s is tranquil.

So there are my choices for the worst of Tyler’s buffets. There may be others that deserve to make the list but it’s now after midnight and I need some sleep. For those readers who find my criticisms harsh, put them to the test. China King is located in the French Quarter, Cici’s has two locations to choose from, one on the West Loop next to Atwood’s, the other on the South Loop next to Albertson’s, and Ryan’s can be found on South Broadway next to Olive Garden. But whatever you do just don’t say I didn’t warn you.

Bruno’s, the Best Pizza in Town

October 15th, 2009
Tyler Texas Pizza

Best Pizza in Tyler TX

Until recently if someone had asked me about a restaurant in Tyler called Bruno’s, I would have responded rather indifferently, “Yeah; that sounds familiar.” After trying their food recently however I’m now anything but indifferent. With as long as I’ve lived in Tyler Texas, I find that I’m sort of annoyed with myself for never having tried Bruno’s until now.

Even with all the other pizza places in Tyler, I can say with some confidence that Bruno’s is easily the best in town. While Double Dave’s makes a great pie, even they cannot measure up to Bruno’s work. And Cici’s, my least favorite pizza of all time, (this includes Totino’s by the way), hardly seems like the same food. But Bruno’s serves more than just great pizza. They have all sorts of Italian dishes, including salads and sandwiches. But their signature dish may well be their legendary lasagna.

If you go to Bruno’s however, don’t go for the atmosphere. It’s not the sort of place lovers go to meet in the middle of a spaghetti noodle. The space is limited, so a lot of customers opt for take out. Where the food is eaten matters little though; carry their food across state lines and it’s the best Italian in Arkansas. So for authentic Mediterranean cuisine try a visit to Bruno’s. Business hours are from 11:00am to 9:00pm weekdays and Saturdays, and the store is closed on Sudays. Located at 1400 South Vine in Tyler. For pick-up call (903) 595-1676‎.

For more information on Tyler area Italian food see the Tyler Blog section of this website and look for the titles “Local Italian relaxed atmosphere,” or “A pizza, a beer and a ball game.” Also, see “The best of the Buffets” under the Articles section.

The Best Of The Buffets

September 18th, 2009

In past columns I’ve made no secret of the fact that I generally find the quality of buffet food a sacrifice to quantity. I’m certainly no foodie, and I may be a bit of a snob I admit, but my past experiences with these establishments have left me with an urgent desire to visit with my priest, as though I had committed some de-humanizing sin.

Unfortunately, most buffets serve what they consider ethnic food. I apologize to my students who absolutely love them but, it is impossible to have an authentic experience with cultural foods while eating at a buffet.

In spite of my views on buffets as expressed above, I do, on rare occasions visit them, I’m just selective about it; so here are the few that I actually like and why. Bye the way, there may possibly be another all you can eat restaurant that I like, but for the life of me I can’t think of any.

Double Dave’s

Although it’s not a round the clock buffet, (it runs about twelve to one) I’m including this bistro because the quality of pizza is among the highest in town. (I would probably put DD’s second to Bruno’s.) When it comes to pizza buffets, the pizza on the bar never seems to measure up to the pizza the customer receives when he special orders it. This is not true at Dave’s. The food is actually the same, and the all around flavor and freshness is clearly far superior to the other pizza joints in town. Also don’t forget about their fabulous pizza rolls. The environment includes several large screen televisions so patrons can enjoy whatever sporting event is going on at the time. I highly recommend this buffet. I give it a four out of five.

China Café

No Chinese buffet is going to be as good as fresh food. But if your crunched for time or determined to visit an all you can eat restaurant, I would suggest this one. The turn around on the dishes seems pretty good. Depending on the time of your visit, the food doesn’t sit under the lamps as long as some buffets, so it tends to be fresher. I don’t care for C.C.’s sushi, as it tastes sort of manufactured to me, (not that I’m an expert on sushi). I generally get takeout when I visit China Café; their hot and sour soup is worth the trip by itself. Overall I give China Café a three and a half out of five.

Ken’s Pizza

I include Ken’s more for nostalgic reasons than anything else. I like Ken’s because I remember going there as a kid on the first day of summer to eat lots of pizza and play video games. The food is decent, but I wouldn’t call it great. When put up against someplace like Cici’s however, Ken’s looks like four star dinning. The pizza sometimes sits on the bar a little long but overall it is passable. When grading Kens, I give it a three out of five.

If you’re a devotee of Tyler’s all you can eat establishments I won’t try to dissuade you from what you love. But at least consider the above restaurant establishments and try choosing a better buffet. Happy eating!