Rudy’s BBQ…how I LOVE your super-moist brisket, your sweet creamed corn and your death-by-butter new potatoes. When I heard the franchise was opening a location in the DFW area, I was ecstatic. I drove to Waco and Austin many a time solely to visit Rudy’s and savor their juicy, tender brisket and bring home bottles of their original Rudy’s BBQ sauce–they have a sissy version for those of you with sensitive palates. I realize that the moist (fatty) brisket isn’t for every one (don’t ever order the lean brisket), just as not everybody enjoys watching their potatoes drowned in butter. If you don’t relish the idea of dying happy from the cholesterol-overload, then best to steer clear of Rudy’s. As for me, serve me up another pound of that fabulous moist brisket!
2625 Old Denton Rd, #700
Carrollton, TX 75006
(972) 483-3600
It didn’t bode well when I discovered that Cobb Switch BBQ occupied the space vacated by another barbecue restaurant. I felt the same concern for the future of that restaurant as much as I felt for Cobb Switch when I walked in on a quiet Tuesday evening after 7pm. I expected a bigger crowd since Cobb Switch is the lone Anglo destination (aside from IHOP) on the corner of Old Denton that is quickly being encroached upon by Asian strip malls and eateries. But what I suspected to be mediocre barbecue turned out to be just that.
I took home the dynamic duo of Texas barbecue meats: brisket and ribs in a two-meat dinner box. The counter staff was courteous and accommodating, even pleased to hear that I wanted crust on my brisket. However, when asked if I wanted barbecue sauce, I made the mistake of answering yes, not realizing they meant to ladle it over my meats. (I realized this too late when I opened my dinner after arriving home.) The counter appeared well stocked with sides that appeared freshly made and inviting; I chose the potato casserole and skillet corn.
There’s something about a barbecue establishment that ought to reek of smoke…sadly I detected none of that, in either the restaurant or the food. I suppose if the sauce hadn’t drowned the meat I might have detected more flavors, but I had already decided that I disagreed with their tomato sauce even more. Yes, I said tomato sauce..and it was more tomatoey than any barbecue sauce I had ever tasted. I considered it a crime to have doused the meat with it. Tender and moist though the brisket or the ribs may have been, I can’t be sure of blaming the cooking method or the sauce. Either way, neither the meats nor the sauce could rise to the occasion and overturn what had become a disappointing and ultimately forgettable experience. (And where was the crusty brisket I ordered?)
Too bad, I rather enjoyed their buttery spicy skillet corn and their potato casserole. Their dinner roll wasn’t half bad either. But if I went just by meat alone–since this is the restaurant’s driving force–then I’m not persuaded to revisit Cobb Switch again. Maybe if they reformulated the sauce, I’d give it a try again.
Buz’s doesn’t have too many items on their menu to flub up. I have ordered their caesar salad twice and found their dressing too runny. Their chicken cutlet was tough and just too flavorless. But I suppose that’s not what people should be ordering at a spud place. The biggest draw here are their potatoes and wraps, and the lunchtime crowds seem to agree. Buz’s offers a decent selection of both and they never fail to satisfy. On occasion they will post specials on the board, and the friendly staff seems always eager to advertise this. This is also the only shop in the food mall to offer smoothie teas…though I have yet to try them. A safe bet for cheap satisfying lunches if you’re in the area.
Excellent customer service. The b.b.bop guys were enthusiastic about their place and the food they served. I got a thorough rundown of the counter options, from the 3 types of rice, 3 meats (or 2 extra veggies), to the various veggie and sauce options. I ordered the spicy pulled pork with fresh spinach, steamed broc, and green onions (minus lettuce or cabbage offered), topped with their Chiang Mai Chili sauce. Their regular sized order was nearly too big of a lunch portion for me…I cleaned up every last bite. One thing to note: I did not get the signature plastic bowl that other reviewers have mentioned—they stuck my meal in a foam box. Clean and quiet place, more appealing to the fast-casual lunch crowd, not really a place I would linger in over dinner. Good food, casual digs, great price!
Nothing truly stellar about this all-you-can-eat sushi buffet. The sushi seemed buffet-grade so their freshness is questionable. This is the only place in the area I’ve visited that offers a conveyor-belt for their specialties, handrolls and house sushi/sashimi. There seems to be more Korean choices on their hotbar…though I wished their kalbi wasn’t overcooked and their other offerings spicier. The most memorable food on their spread are their desserts…I’ve been pleased to see sticky rice covered in peanuts and sesame puffs offered amongst the Western-friendly selections like pecan pie and cheesecake–though I can’t imagine anybody enjoying the basil seed jello! The hostesses here were cheery and inviting, but quick to usher you out once they closed down for lunch. I’ve visited Japan House several times for lunch and it seems their prices are on the rise, while their quality continues to diminish. I’m not sure that I’ll be revisiting them in the future unless their food improves.
Standard fast food Japanese eatery offering meats with rice. The menu caters to the business lunch crowd from the surrounding warehouse area…so the flavors are simple. You can’t really go wrong with chicken, beef or pork teriyaki. For the adventurous asian-food neophyte, the gyoza plate beckons. On my last visit I ordered a house special of beef and chicken and requested it spicy…which arrived as ordered with lettuce and steamed rice. I’m not quite sure that I enjoy the jerky-like texture of the beef…but then again, I’m not paying for prime grade steaks either. I also could have done without the lettuce medley, but I suppose that I really didn’t have many choices for veggies. Teriyaki sauce came tableside, in a squeeze bottle, along with the usual condiments: soy sauce and sriracha. Hard not to like this place for what it offers: the place was clean, service and food okay.
208 North Greenville Ave.
Allen, TX 75002
(214) 383-7555
Nothing exciting at this Allen town barbecue franchise. Ordered the sampler platter which came with bland and dreary brisket. Tough, dry and no smoky flavor at all! At least the mesquite chicken proved flavorful and a lot less dry. The ribs didn’t taste like anything coming out of a smoker (do they even have a smoker at this location? I couldn’t tell!) but at least were moist and nearly fall-off-the-bone tender. Terribly disappointing amount of onion rings ordered as a side–while and fresh and hot, there just wasn’t enough to elevate this meal above obscurity. Bar-B-Cutie’s only redeeming quality is that it’s located in downtown and has a solid selection of bbq sandwiches (with pulled pork featuring prominently) to satisfy the lunch-going crowd. Just too pricy for the quality and the amount of meat that you get.
This isn’t your typical casual burger eatery, replete with condiment aisle and ice cream/shake dispensers. But JC’s Burger House is a satisfying stop if you’re looking for simple, cooked-to-order burgers. They have a simple grill menu, with burgers and chicken featured as the prime meat sources. There are some salad options–but JC’s is not the place to order them, especially when competing with the likes of “To Die For” Cheese Fries, Beer Battered Onion Rings and Jalepeno Bites, Apple or Apricot Pie, and Homemade Blue Bell Shakes and Malts. The quality of their burgers are one notch above fast food, typical of what you might get from a greasy spoon down the corner. JC’s throws down the gauntlet for any brave souls willing to try out their “Todd-Zilla” burger, a 1.5lb burger with triple cheese and triple patties…you get a spot of honor on their wall and a T-shirt if you manage to conquer this heart-attack inducing monster. On my next visit, I plan on trying out their cheese fries…
310 Coneflower Dr
Garland, Texas 75040
Phone 972-530-6688
Mastergrill will probably be the destination for budget-minded Brazilian steakhouse goers. Their menu prices are very reasonable compared to the big name joints found in the DFW area. However, the lower prices also reflect the lower standards of this budding chain. After several visits (more than 5, less than 10) to their Garland and Frisco locations, I found their meats dry and mostly overcooked (especially during lunch), their salad bar just mildly interesting. Many a time, bread baskets were not refilled and dirty plates sat around awhile before being whisked away (though the Frisco location seemed much more on the ball when it came to service). The digs are upscale enough to host special occasions without being too flaunty, yet the casual suburban locations make it unimposing for neighborhood families with children who just want a comfortable place to dine big. Still, if a meat coma is in your future, and Fogo and Rafain are too much of a drive, then you will be served well at Mastergrill. Just remember to request your meat medium-rare…
Glad to find an Indian buffet open on Sunday just down the road a ways from me. They had a small selection, but most of the Indian standards were represented: chicken tikka masala, tandoori chicken, naan, biryani. The clientele was a mix of ethnic and white, so it seemed a safe bet that the menu was tailored for diversity. The furnishings and decor seemed fresh and new, and they surprised me by even having a bar. Really? In an Indian restaurant? Servers were polite and quick about refills and clearing off the tables. The only annoyances were the fruit flies buzzing around.
I finally managed to find myself at this Vietnamese dining destination for a dinner one evening, and I’m pleased to report that it was a gratifying experience. I ended up being the only patron on a cold Monday night, so I had the entire staff at my disposal. Thankfully they were polite and very accommodating when it came to feeding a very hungry, single female diner.
I started out with the Muc Nuong, spicy strips of squid served in a ginger-lime fish sauce. Spicy, tender and good! For the main courses, I selected Suon Non Zander’s, a house special marinated barbecue ribs, and Ca Salmon Nuong, grilled salmon with garlic broccoli. While both plates were served dry (no sauce) they still went down nicely with steamed rice. I ended the meal with an off-menu dessert, a sticky rice custard drizzled with strawberry liqueur. Yum!
Zander’s is a real treat, not your typical Vietnamese pho bowls here, though they do serve that for lunch. They renovated the old August Moon space and made it airy and roomy. Very nice, almost upscale digs–I’ve heard that they’ve hosted wedding parties here. I can’t wait to come back and sample more of their menu!
Solid, reliable food in nicely appointed digs. I found no fault with their fried corn patties or their tulip dumplings. Their tom kha gai was a balanced blend of sweet and sour, filled with chunks of chicken, tomatoes and mushrooms. Their panang curry hit the spot, though I found it mild after I requested it at medium heat. My dining companion’s green curry seem too hot for him…though I imagine he was more sensitive to spice. I even ordered a side helping of chili sauce, but it didn’t seem to boost the spice on my panang one bit.
Royal Thai is situated in a busy strip mall, neighboring other eateries. Luckily, the dining room seemed removed from the busy Greenville strip and the noisy lot. The quiet dining room and beautiful asian decor makes Royal Thai a good place for a date.
