Blu Ginger professes to be authentic Thai cuisine but too much of their menu displayed playful, gimmicky descriptions making it difficult to take them seriously. Newbie-friendly fusion seems to be the aim at Blu Ginger…which perhaps explains the hit-or-miss execution of their dishes. Their Tom Kha Gai, for example, lacked the lemongrass and fish sauce punch expected of the chicken coconut soup, rendering it bland and unmemorable. Their chicken and ginger soup however proved stellar, intensely fragrant and tasty. The Reunion, an appetizer sampler of satay chicken, wrapped shrimp, dumplings–artfully rendered and all very tasty, but terribly routine for Thai food. The Nutty Professor, Blu Ginger’s version of a peanut sauce dish, was marred by too much bean sprout filler–a disappointment. The spicy salmon curry (which our server warned us would take a longer time to prepare) first came out overcooked–the tail end of the fish came out dry and inedible. After a 2nd pass through the kitchen, the dish came out much more presentable, with a spicy sauce and prettily decorated with flash-fried basil (?) leaves. For the dessert course, Blu Ginger pleased us again, serving up 3 samplers in shot glass size: tapioca pudding, coconut custard and rice pudding–all excellent. Sadly, the high price of dinner dampened our overall satisfaction with the experience. The only area that Blu Ginger seems to surpass expectation is in presentation. Here’s to hoping for more consistency from Blu Ginger in the future.
7 Salsas serves up more than 7 tasty, spicy salsas. Their menu is chock full of Tex-Mex dining options. Sitting in a nice neighborhood in North Irving (and another location in Coppell), 7 Salsas is a somewhat-upscale setting presenting tasty and reasonably-priced fare. For our visit, the endless chips and salsas came out; every one of the salsas proved mysteriously and addictively spicy. The restaurant also served up remarkably tasty chicken jalapeno poppers–moist and mildly zingy. 7 Salsas’ version of a Caesar salad turned out to be the only disappointment in the evening–I expected a Caesar constructed from scratch, but the only show came from our disinterested server tossing a few leaves, corn niblets, red peppers, with prepared dressing. The Parillada turned out to be a satisfying combo fajita meal for two; steak, chicken and shrimp on a sizzling plate with a saucer of flaming chorizo queso. The fajitas were pleasingly flavorful, though we felt the queso insufficient for our needs. Despite our server’s indifference, we found dinner a pleasant experience at 7 Salsas that we’ll be coming back to explore the rest of their menu.
4525 Belt Line Rd
Addison, TX 75001
(972) 503-3474
Chamberlain’s Fish Market and Grill rarely disappoints. After a succession of visits over the past several years, I’ve come to rely on the Fish Market for solid upscale fare at the typical upscale price. This is the place to dine at when you want clear flavors and simple presentations of your favorite seafood and steaks. On my most recent visit, the fiance and I tried their gumbo and crab/corn chowder. The gumbo was the most exquisite rendition I’ve had the pleasure of tasting…clear, individual flavors in the soup made for a joyful experience discovering each one. It lacked the muddied flavors and soggy textures of gumbo that I was used to. As for the crab corn chowder, I was somewhat disappointed that the saltiness overrode the sweet corn hints that I grasped for. It had more of the texture of bisque rather than chowder, and I missed whatever crab flavors lurked in the bowl. But the chowder proved to be the lowest point of our visit. Everything else passed expectations.
Let me mention, before diving into the main courses, that the bread was of the spongy, crusty kind, pairing well with the garlic butter spread that we asked for seconds on. If I could have just lived on bread and butter alone, Chamberlain’s offering would have sufficed.
Moving onto main meals: I ordered the Scottish Salmon with Citrus Butter along with a side of garlic broccoli and lobster-shrimp mac and cheese. The fiance ordered the surf and turf special: filet mignon with an 8oz Australian lobster tail, with onion mashed potatoes and asparagus. My salmon arrived perfectly cooked, a moist medium done-ness, with tasty grill marks. While at first I felt that the mac and cheese accompaniment used too small a pasta, I nevertheless devoured it completely. The tender-crisp garlic broccoli made a fine accompaniment to my salmon.
The fiance’s surf-n-turf also turned out to be a fine plate. The filet mignon, served medium-rare, was an excellent cut of beef. The lobster tail was a sweet, melt-in-your-mouth delight, especially when dipped in the melted butter. While the mashed potatoes held little hint of the onions in the title, the asparagus were nicely broiled.
We finished with 2 deserts: a remarkable flourless chocolate raspberry cake and white chocolate bread pudding. Both were perfect endings to an excellent meal. Thanks to our server, we walked out of Chamberlain’s pleased with the entire dining experience.
Hard Eight wins the trophy when it comes to presentation. How else to woo the undecided patron but with a smoker full of barbecued meats right next to the checkout stand? On several visits, the whole chicken dipped in a lemon-herb butter sauce garnered my undying affection. Hard Eight cooks a good brisket, when one remembers to ask for a nice moist, off-the-point cut, but it doesn’t compare to Rudy’s. As with most BBQ establishments, side dishes–though plentiful–are an afterthought at Hard Eight. Their cornbread salad, while interesting, evoked the dryness of some of their meats. Their jalapeno corn lacked flavor and punch. I am definitely not a fan of their bland barbecue sauce, which tasted more like a brown gravy than anything resembling barbecue sauce. Now…if you like beans, you can stock up all you like at Hard Eight, since it comes free with every meal. Just fill up at the serving station at the other end of the dining room. Speaking of which, Hard Eight’s dining area looks comfortable and clean–with redneck appeal–more than I can say than a lot of hole-in-the-wall joints…but perhaps that’s the chain atmosphere of Hard Eight, since they have 3 locations in North Texas.
Is it the best BBQ in Texas? Not by a long shot. But it’s good enough ‘que in a suburban setting…should the need arise for you to fill your belly with smoked meats. It’s also a great venue to bring your out-of-town guests for an introductory taste of Texas BBQ.
My rating: 3.5 stars
VIP Buffet
1927 E Belt Line Rd
Carrollton, TX 75006
(972) 416-0810
Located in a strip mall competing with Chinese, Vietnamese, and Mexican eateries, VIP Buffet tries to lure the ethnic crowd into its establishment with the promise of diversity and budget dining prices. This however is no guarantee of quality…but buffets usually fall short in this category. So it is with VIP buffet, large variety of dishes: some passable, others poorly executed. Just like Best Buffet, it’s best you steer clear of the chafing dishes sitting around for awhile, untouched–an obvious flag. The sushi cabinet looked unappetizing while the bizarre assortment of fried foods boggled the mind: where else would you find fried mini corn-dogs sitting next to chicken teriyaki and enchiladas? (Did I mention they have jars of salsa on the tables, next to the hot sauce and soy sauce?) On a couple of visits, the garlic crab tended to be consistently good, while the korean short ribs ended up being flavorless and disappointing. VIP Buffet also serves up dim sum on the line, typically pork buns, chicken feet, steamed spare ribs, and assorted dumplings. Again, some were good; others, not so much. But gauging a buffet’s success is the ratio between tummy satisfaction and the hit on wallet. In this case VIP Buffet is cheap and affordable, worth the trip if all you need is filler–it’s not the place for celebrations or a date.
My rating: 2.5 stars
BBQ Tonite
2540 Old Denton Rd
Carrollton, TX 75011
(972) 466-0786
If the cuisine at BBQ Tonite is considered Pakistani, then it differs from Indian food mainly due to the lack of veggies and sharp spicing. The fiance and I went on a dining adventure at BBQ Tonite, attempting to discern the difference between Indian and Pakistani cuisine, and determined that the differences were minimal. Our Indopak experience had no curries, tended toward the mild and buttery–no sharp tantalizing flavors or odors–though represented by many familiar names: such as korma, tandoori, biryani. I personally enjoyed the goat dishes and found the beef stew extremely tender and flavorful. The tandoori chicken surprised me with its juiciness. Instead of a spicy pickle medley, they offered sliced chiles and a bizarre looking spicy condiment, which was later identified as picked mangoes. Some amazing standouts at the buffet were a mashed sweet potato (we assumed it was yams and not pumpkin) dish and their dense creamy custard flan (one of the best flans I’ve ever had).
If the flavor profiles at BBQ Tonite were a bit more daring (i.e. less home-cooking) and spicier, I think I could be persuaded to visit again…however, I’d like to try it during the week, when buffet prices should be more attractive.
120 S Denton Tap Rd
Coppell, TX 75019
(972) 393-3894
Local Diner serves up simple, inelegant, unpretentious fare. The fiance and I paid the Local Diner a visit for a Sunday breakfast. This Coppell outpost evoked old-time diners…barstools and tiled countertops, bright lighting, primary colors, and scores of 40s-60s memorabilia hanging from the walls. Our hosts were courteous and upbeat, very attentive when it came to taking orders and refills. While the Sunday church and sports crowd slowly filtered in, the fiance and I dove into our simple repasts. I ordered eggs and bacon with a side of 2 pancakes, while the soon-to-be-DH ordered French Toast with his eggs and ham. I found our meals acceptably executed, nothing too exciting or daring in the presentation…though I thought the bacon was lacking in salt. Nothing else thrilling to report about the meal…except that it was priced just right for what we got. Perhaps their lunch menu will have more tasty offerings…but one presumes too much to expect any more from this budget dining destination.
761 S MacArthur Blvd
Coppell, TX 75019
(972) 745-8822
I’ve been drawn to this place ever since I saw the “kolache” sign beckoning. And I was pleased to discover that this little hole-in-the-wall bakery serves some mighty fine fruit kolaches, in addition to their sausage kolaches and cinnamon rolls. I confess that the first time I arrived at 1pm during a weekday I was worried that I wouldn’t get a chance to try their sausage rolls (they had run out). But my consolation was a half-dozen cinnamon rolls which proved to be tasty. Hoping it wasn’t a fluke, I’ve returned with the soon-to-be-DH who reckons himself a cinnamon roll fanatic. We came early on a Saturday morning and sampled sausage rolls (tasty and spicy), ham & cheese rolls (good), fruit kolaches (blueberry was an excellent rendition) and their cinnamon rolls (went back for seconds). We both agreed that everything exceeded expectations…and we enjoyed the cafe feel of the small dining room (loved the mural) and the counter staff was helpful and courteous. Kasa Kolache is definitely worth stopping by if you’re craving a good baked breakfast.
I remember the original Uncle Tai location in the Dallas Galleria, well known for supplying North Dallasites with fine Chinese cuisine in upscale digs. I’m happy to hear that Uncle Tai relocated to smaller, casual and cozy outpost in Coppell. While I’ve only sampled one lunch dish from their takeout menu, I’m looking forward to trying out more of their menu. The tasty Hot Garlic Beef I ordered came out well prepared and cooked to order (I requested broccoli), though I must remember to stress steamed rice in the future–I wasn’t too keen on the dirty fried rice they paired with my lunch portion. I gobbled down lunch like Chinese food was going out of style–proof that Uncle Tai hasn’t lost his touch. I am looking forward to more takeout and delivery from Uncle Tai’s!
I was thrilled to discover great Thai food in Coppell. The fiance and I visited Siam Thai for dinner and we feasted like royalty here. Nearly everything we ordered was a delightful treasure trove of flavors. The fried calamari were not the typical deep-fried rings usually offered by other restaurants–ours was a plate of lightly battered toothsome squid sticks, paired with sweet chili sauce. The coconut soup was at once sweet, sour and mildly spicy, with a slight fishy-sauce aroma…the signature of a well-balanced, flavorful coconut soup. The corn patties, while filling, was the only appetizer to disappoint, the batter seemed too thick and overpowered the scattered kernels of corn. As for the rest of the dinner, we requested 4- to 5-star heat with our pad thai with pork, Thai spicy peanut sauce with chicken and their signature seafood dish on sizzling plate. The pad thai noodles was a fantastic rendition of the classic dish…and with the added heat, we found we couldn’t stop eating despite the slow burn. The Thai peanut Chicken–while nowhere near the caliber of Banana Leaf’s version–was still a crowd-pleaser, and disappeared faster than the pad thai noodles. As for the sizzling seafood, I was pleased to see many different chunks of seafood swimming in the red coconut curry…this turned out to be the spiciest of all the dishes we sampled that evening–perhaps due to its still being served piping hot. Everything turned out delicious, and we lamented that even when loosening our belts, we couldn’t stuff ourselves any fuller with the excellent meal before us. Thankfully, we’re within delivery range of this Thai restaurant and we look forward to sampling more of their exotic menu!
The Original Fried Pie Place will be the death of me. I like fried pies way too much…and the small variety of meat and fruit pies peddled here will keep me coming back for more. And wow, now they also serve funnel cakes. There’s nothing else like this restaurant in Texas! I’m looking forward to their Spinach/Mushroom/Cheese and Broccoli/Chicken on my next visit.
The fiance and I ventured into J macklin’s after scoping out the local options for some good food in what we hoped were comfortable surroundings. When we walked into J macklin’s, it looked like we had scored. The only issue: we felt dirty and under-dressed for the place.
J macklin felt a touch upscale, though there were no white tablecloths in evidence. This neighborhood eatery might be the place to host a celebratory dinner without having to venture to the big city for some high-end grub. It seemed cozy and casual enough for a date as well.
The menu prices reflected the ambitions of the restaurant: upcharging for upscale renditions of familiar food. Not too many appetizers under $5; for the $10 price point you will find burgers and sandwiches, $12-15 for salads, and higher, you get some steaks and seafood. Was the food worth the price?
I was underwhelmed by the pulled pork sliders, finding them dry and bland. I found the sweet pickle spear that topped the sliders mighty tasty however…and I don’t generally like pickles. Since I felt like having a burger, I also ordered some sweet potato fries; both the fiance and I found them yummy, but not as memorable as the crinkle cuts at Jake’s.
The fiance ordered a barbecue brisket sandwich while I ordered a mushroom swiss, medium rare. Again, as with the sliders, I felt the brisket sandwich lacked moisture and zing…perhaps it was the unremarkable barbecue sauce that dressed it. The potato salad had a touch more bite to it, buttery potato chunks gently draped in a light mayo-mustard concoction. Could this be a signature of J macklin’s–uncomplicated and unpretentious flavors?
My mushroom-swiss burger came on what appeared to be a house-made bun, dripping with melted cheese and beef juices–and perfectly medium-rare as ordered. I was delighted by the basil mayo dressing and ordered more. I was also pleased by their house salad–not an iceberg lettuce salad, but with romaine and field greens. The shallot vinaigrette tasted honey sweet, but left me wanting for a real shallot taste.
The dining space was intimate, not too loud on our Sunday afternoon visit. The waitstaff was attentive and quick to check up on things. Based on our overall experience, I’d like to revisit J macklin’s and give the serious grub a try.
