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Posados Cafe in Lindale Texas

February 10th, 2010

Lindale Texas Tex Mex PosadosPOSADOS CAFÉ LINDALE

3201 S Main Street
Lindale
TX 75771
903 881 0493

Posados is one of Lindale’s most popular eateries. It is an American-style Mexican restaurant serving fajitas, tacos, burritos, enchiladas and some seafood, ribs and steak too. They also have hamburgers, chicken and even grilled cheese sandwiches, for those fussy children that might be dining with you!

The things I love about Posados – the food is good and not expensive. My favorite is the chicken fajitas and I love the tortilla soup that comes with it (if you want, you can choose beans as a side dish instead) plus the sizzling platter of chicken and vegetables with a side of guacamole, sour cream and salad. I rarely have room to eat it all – but that could be because I find it hard to resist scoffing lots of the complimentary fresh tortilla chips and salsa that keeps being refilled! Another bonus – the margaritas. Posados is licensed so you can have a drink with your meal and the fruit flavored margaritas are very good – especially on a hot day. Actually, there is even a bar at Posados where you can sit and drink and munch on some chips ‘n salsa chatting to friends or watching a game without having to order a meal. It is not in the slightest bit seedy.

For children – the never ending supply of chips is great, plus the coloring provided on the kids menu, and the sopapilla dessert and ice cream for treats after the meal. I dread to think what is in that ice-cream though, it’s probably full of additives and sugar and … well I mustn’t think about it as I know my kids expect an ice-cream if we eat there!

I like the atmosphere and lighting in the restaurant but I also enjoy eating outdoors and Posados does have a small covered patio area. Posados is often a bit cold for my liking so we nearly always eat outside in the warmer months. I wish the outdoor seating was round the back of the building and more open though, perhaps overlooking a little Mexican garden?!

Things I don’t like about Posados – it s always busy! Of course that is a result of it’s popularity but it does mean that you will have to wait to be seated at busy periods and we have been there when the ice-cream machine ran out and the staff were too busy to refill it (disaster for the children!) Personally I don’t think much of their tortillas – at Posados they take pride in the fact that they are made on site and the kids like to watch them being pressed by the big machine– but I find them flabby and rather greasy. Otherwise, the food is good quality.

Posados has a lighter lunch menu and will also cater your event. Gift cards are available – they are twinned with Mercados and there is a rewards card points scheme which gives you reductions from your check. It is easy to see why many Lindalites chose to dine at Posados.

The Texas Roadhouse

January 14th, 2010

Texas Roadhouse in Tyler TX

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!

Cheddars

October 23rd, 2009

On a Sunday afternoon the waiting room in the popular Cheddars restaurant begins to pour out on to the sidewalk. People crowd together for a good table. You would think that an extremely popular place would have me saying great praises about the well cooked food and the great service. Well, that was not my experience, and I have returned and again and again both the food and the services were below par.

As I walked into the over populated restaurant I stood shoulder to shoulder with complete strangers. Waiting for a table and, because of the hype, expecting the greatest food. They handed me a vibrating beeper with a red blinking light. As it begins to flash and vibrate I get excited as if I have won the lottery. As the hostess dressed in black lead me to my booth. I sat waiting as the young waiter approached dressed nicely with a blue collar shirt and black pants and a tie.

I flipped through the menu and everything sounded so good with great prices. For a second I started to understand all the people standing in the small crowed waiting area. I ordered my usual Dr. Pepper, what is the point of free refills when the waiter never comes to refill your drinks?

After hearing the amazing rumors, I order the spinach dip. I must admit, my taste buds sang as I dipped the thin chip into the layers of melted different cheese and green spinach topped with a spoon full of sour cream. I started to eat the warm outer sides of the dip but as I got into the center I took a large bite of halfway frozen spinach and cold cheese. I started to get frustrated that my drink still has not been filled, and annoyed that my food was not sitting in front of me after 30 minutes.

Finally my well-done steak and loaded bake potato sat in front of me. In my vocabulary “well-done” steak does not mean bloody and bright red. I was waiting for my food to grow legs moo at my and walk off. I ask the waiter to take it back and put it back on the grill. About twenty minutes of being sick of waiting, the waiter brings it back. As I cut into the slab of meat once again, I was so upset as again it was still really pink.

I was too annoyed and frustrated to ask a second time to re-cook my steak that I just asked for my ticket. I love when I ask for my ticket and the waiter has it in their little pouch on their belt and just hand it to you the second you ask for it. But that is just to easy to do for the waiters at Cheddars. I watch the waiter as he stands at the computer flirting with the cute hostess, with his phone in his hand hoping to win over her number, not even paying attention to what he is suppose to be doing.

Finally after waiting until he is finished his conversation, he brings me my ticket. I pay the amount for the food and leave. Well I was certainly disappointed walking through the crowded parking lot to my car. I don’t understand how they have so much business, I guess quantity is more important than quality. No, that still does not explain it.

I did return to Cheddars for my dear friend’s 21st birthday, but this time we sat at the bar. I was surprised at the amazing service and a great atmosphere, besides the strange girl hitting on my married sister, and a bar fly trying to ease-drop into our conversations. Was I really in the same restaurant? They had great drinks and really good prices. Even our food was cooked and everything came out really fast. Even our drinks were constantly refilled. I don’t really know how everything was so much better and different, but I really did enjoy my bar-experience and walked away with great stories and wonderful memories.

So I don’t know what to expect each time I eat there. I could have horrible service and uncooked meat or decent food and great service. But I still don’t see why it is one of the most popular restaurants in Tyler.