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Rick’s on the Square

January 7th, 2011

Tyler Texas Bars and Music VenuesI have to start by saying that Rick’s on the Square was a second choice, a B plan, for a lunch that went wrong.

As I rolled into the only parking space available in the square I was in no mood to be disappointed and left hungry again.

Upon entering Rick’s on the Square I was overwhelmed by the size of the place and the lunch crowd that had made it to a restaurant I had only heard of in passing.

Being led to a table near the outdoor area I was able to see to some degree the luxury that those who were seated there were given.

With fancy tablecloths and elaborate center pieces coupled with the outdoor beauties that only an outdoor space surrounded by walls can offer, I knew I was on the outside looking in.

The restaurant had a kind of jazz club feel to it, but in an area of town where the lunch crowd is a bunch of snoody lawyers talking about their recent boat purchases and the upcoming company retreats it feels a tad out of place.

The decor was really out of place, it was an attempt to look artsy without knowing what artsy looks like. I only had a few minutes to depict the atmosphere before my waitress arrived.

She handed out menus and took drink orders with fewer words than I thought possible. I was content with drinking my ice water and listening to the lawyers as I waited for her to return which took fewer than ten minutes. She took my order and once again disappeared and returned to fill my drink as I wait.

The order didn’t take nearly as long as I thought and the food was exceptional so I sent my comments to the chef via the waitress and I’m sure she probably just told him ‘good’, so that was the best I would get to him.

The bill came back larger than anticipated from a sandwich but was happy to pay it since the food did its job.

I was at Rick’s on the Square during lunch hours so I can’t speak as to how their later hour dining is, but I’ve been told its a social scene for singles in their twenties, and if that’s the case I’m sure I’ll be back there to socialize with the bright young minds of Tyler’s college crowds.

“Best ribs in town”

January 7th, 2011

bourbon west bar and grill tyler texasI was invited to a restaurant recently that claims to have the best ribs in town, I couldn’t find a website for them only a bunch of restaurant reviews.

After reading several positive reviews on St. Louis rib factory I was getting in the barbecue mood so I printed out a Google map and headed out for lunch, located next to the Brookshires dairy downtown made it easy enough to find, although I had found out that they had recently changed their name to Bourbon West Bar and Grill.

I could smell the barbecue seeping from the kitchen so whether or not it would live up to the name of best barbecue in town was irrelevant for the moment.

The parking lot was empty so I made sure to check the sign before going in to make sure they were open. I was well within the allotted time so I entered. On first look it’s a very decent looking restaurant, I would go as far to say that its a little too up scale for a rib joint.

I saw roughly thirty tables all of which were empty, undeterred by the empty appearance and egged on by the delicious smells emitting from the kitchen it took a little over two minutes of not seeing anyone before I started looking around.

They have a decent enough bar and a large private area to host your own parties, if of course you don’t want to be bothered by the crowds of people I was witness to.

Still smelling what must be the best ribs in town I proceeded into the kitchen, just a peek, not enough to be disobeying the employees only sign posted on the door.

The kitchen was alot bigger than was needed to feed the multitudes previously described but once again I failed to locate anyone, one last pass around by the bar to find a man possibly a manager and a waitress/ hostess.

I asked if they were open and the reply was yes, so I seated down by the door and prepared myself to indulge in these best ribs in town.

The menu was plain enough without alot, and prices were decent enough, all be it a little high for lunch, but my hunger knew no price tag at the moment and as quick as I could, I placed an order for an iced tea and some ribs.

At long last the wait was over and I could indulge myself, but wait the waitress returns with a sweet tea and no ribs.

“Sorry but the ribs won’t be ready until 1:30, would you like to order something else or wait?” It was 12:00 at that time so there was no way I was going to wait, so I grabbed my coat rolled down my sleeves and left in search for something to fill the void that Bourbon West Bar and Grill couldn’t fill.

Tyler Texas BarbequeTo learn of how that hunger was satisfied you will have to read the post entitled Rick’s on the Square.

I understand that its more of a dinner restaurant but if its going to be open at lunch it needs to be ready for customers, and if you have the “best ribs in town” you better be ready to prove it to critics.

The facility is nice, the customer service was late, overall it is fairly clean and the food is something that may forever be a mystery to me.

Texas Roadhouse in Tyler TX

December 5th, 2010

Texas Roadhouse is a steak restaurant in Tyler Texas and is most closely compared to Outback Steakhouse.

At the same time they are very different places. For one you have buckets of peanuts still in the shell to chuck and pop in your mouth.

You can then throw the shells anywhere you like. Be careful not to throw too closely to someones foot as you never know when you may be next to a Texas redneck. The redneck has been known to stomp on yer face if a peanut shell lands on their boot or girlfriend.

The weekends are crazy busy and much busier than Outback Steakhouse. The atmosphere is brighter inside and gives off a Texas ranch style charm.

The waitresses and waiters are all pretty young but almost all seem like seasoned wait staff that have worked in restaurants for years.

When you meet your waitress or waiter they often get right down to business and may not have time for lots of friendly banter which is ok because this means they move quick.

You get loads of rolls with cinammon butter and they always seem quick to notice refills in need.

Most of what’s on the menu is really good. I usually get the Fort Worth T-bone and my wife gets a small filet.

Regarding their vegetables stay away from the green beans. They taste like you’re eating a salty slimy grasshopper but other then that Texas Roadhouse is great!

Texas Roadhouse in Tyler TX

Joe’s Promise

October 20th, 2010

It was a few years ago that we first started to eat at the small Italian restaurant in Tyler TX, Joe’s Italian Grill. We liked the pasta, pizzas, and prices. When I was in high school a big group of us went to Joe’s Italian Grill. One person from our group wanted to order a salad and asked if they had Thousand Island salad dressing, because they did not he asked to the manager, and the waitress said that Joe, himself, was there. He came out and talked to him.

When person told him that he would love to see Joe’s restaurant offer Thousand Island, and if they did he would recommend the restaurant and would give them a lot of his business. Joe promised him that the next time he came to the restaurant he would be able to order his salad the way he wanted it. People through out the restaurant cheered and clapped for the owner. A couple weeks passed and we revisited, when someone once again ordered a salad with Thousand Island, I was surprised that they did not offer the salad dressing.

Even months later, they did not offer the dressing. Having the salad dressing was not the issue in this situation. If an owner promises his costumers to their faces and shake their hands they should keep to their word. Because of the broken promise people did not return to the restaurant.

                Recently Joe’s Italian Grill opened a second restaurant just across the road. I do not really understand how they have two restaurants since every time I have gone to the original one there was hardly anyone there. I do like the food at Joe’s grill. I like how you can make your table private by letting down a curtain to exclude you from the rest of the restaurant. The shrimp tortellini is one of Joe’s best dishes, and one of the best tortellini dishes I have ever had.

               I do understand why people hold this strange grudge towards Joe’s Italian Grill. If you are not going to keep your promises than do not make a guarantee that you can not keep. I will keep eating there because of the great food and I never felt like they did wrong towards me.

Genghis Grill in Tyler Texas

September 16th, 2010

Tyler recently opened a Mongolian stir fry grill. The Genghis quickly became very popular. It has such a different spin on stir fry, that the restaurant is usually packed. The fact of the popularity of the restaurant was my first worry. The tables are so close together that it makes the dinning experience uncomfortable. I got pretty sick and tired of the guy next to accidentally sticking his back side in my face every time he tried to sit down.

Once everyone was seated and people stopped getting up, the experience was great. The waitress showed us how to make our bowls. You start with a metal bowl and walk through the buffet of meats vegetables. You can choose from the many different uncooked meats, such as steak, chicken, shrimp, and much more. You can pile as much as you can fit into your metal bowl. Choose from their many seasonings for your meat. Top off your meat with a selection of uncooked vegetables. At the end of the buffet you can try their great selection of sauces from sweet to spicy. Lastly you fill your small cup with a sauce that you have chosen.

When you are done putting together your bowl, you hand your uncooked meal to the chief who asks you if you want to have rice or noodles with your stir fry. The chiefs put on somewhat of a show while they are cooking your food. They start large fires in the middle of the grill and bang gongs. The restaurant gets really loud with yelling orders and gongs ringing. It is quite the entertaining to watch them cook your food.

The food was wonderful but really spicy. If you are worried about how the food you put together will taste, you can follow recipes that the chiefs provide. And for four more dollars you can get an endless bowl and keep going back for more. It is not really a very quiet atmosphere, and it is very crowded, but the food it great and the experience is fun.