Tag Archives: bbq

Dining, Reviews

Two Dining Reviews and Five More Pounds

Poor Richard’s Cafe

2442 K Ave
Plano, TX 75074
(972) 423-1524

Poor Richard’s is a rarity among the breakfast chains and diners that overpopulate Plano. They serve generous portions of comfort food in modest surroundings. The fiance and I visited Poor Richard’s in search of a good breakfast–we both tried out different-sized options of their chicken fried steak. While I felt that the steak was too thin and not crispy enough, I found it satisfyingly paired with the peppery cream gravy. Both of us got our eggs sunny and it matched just fine with the home fries–which we both agreed could have also used more crunch. The most interesting surprise was their gingerbread pancakes, which we both also decided earned a repeat visit for solo sampling.

Poor Richard’s is a nice change of pace especially if you’re in the mood to escape predictable chain fare like IHOP or Denny’s. Be warned…word gets around, and it seems Poor Richard’s is always busy. But the staff gets everything moving fast…including the orders, which they record on their fancy PDAs. Pretty cool to watch if you’re a techie!

My rating: 3.5 stars
***1/2

Big Al’s Smokehouse Bar-B-Que Catering

My search for the best BBQ in Dallas led me to the doorstep of Big Al’s. It seems many a reviewer has little to find fault with at Big Al’s. The fiance and I found the “senior” location of Big Al’s just down the road from its soon-to-be new spot…which could only help this joint’s visibility from the main road.

We’re hoping Big Al’s newest digs will be much less “country” than it’s current spot…the interior could definitely use some modernizing. But we’re here for the food…and so we won’t penalize Big Al for a less-than-inviting dining room.

We ordered a pound of brisket “off the point” and half a pound of beef ribs (which equated to 2 actual ribs). Sides included barbecued beans and sweet cream corn. The brisket definitely had a nice smokey taste, a nicely-defined smoke ring, but it was alternatingly dry and fatty, which necessitated some regrettable dips in Big Al’s vinegary sauce. Their sweet, crusty beef ribs however were superb and required no condiments at all. The beans had the misfortune of being drowned in the same awful barbecue sauce and so remained largely untouched. However, Big Al’s sweet creamed corn turned out fantastic–buttery and sweet all at once, and rivaled our creamed corn fave, Rudy’s. We promptly ordered another quart for take out.

It’s an excellent find for barbecue in Dallas–for those who say good barbecue doesn’t exist anywhere else outside of central Texas. But I’m hoping for better brisket in the future…in the mean time, I know where to get my beef ribs fix. If I had to judge Big Al’s on their beef ribs alone, they’d get another star from me!

My rating: 3.5 stars
***1/2

Dining, Reviews

Adventures in Dining, August First Half

Marshall’s Bar-B-Q

12895 Josey Ln
Farmer’s Branch, TX 75006
(972) 243-4901

The fellow running Marshall’s counter was decidedly jolly and chatty with this early-evening-dinner gal looking to sate her BBQ cravings. As much as he seemed attentive however, he couldn’t deliver on the promise of good brisket. The barbecue here was “just okay”. I requested some fatty (NOT LEAN) brisket…I pleaded for “off the point” and some tasty “crusty” brisket, but the cut I received was nowhere near what I asked for. Sure, it tasted of smoke and I had morsels of flavorful crust, but the brisket was fall-apart dry. When I want moist, I want to see it glisten without having to poke the meat for the heavenly juices gluing together a rich, fatty brisket. The nice surprise to the meal however were the sides…I enjoyed the mayo-mustard potato salad and devoured their unique “signature” carrot-pineapple slaw. I’d like to give Marshall’s another try again for their sides…but if only I could convince them to cut me some outstanding brisket.

My rating: 3.0 stars
***

Iravat India’s Bistro

240 Legacy Dr Ste 306
Plano, TX 75086
(972) 517-8200

Does it say something about the restaurant when it merits a return visit for their buffet? Ok, perhaps I may not have as discriminating a palate for Indian lunch buffets as other buffet-goers, but on 2 separate visits, Iravat did not disappoint. I enjoyed seeing a good selection of non-vegetarian dishes on their buffet line, and even partook of their naan. I do find that the tandoori chicken was overly dry (perhaps chicken drumsticks shouldn’t be the choice for this) and I found their veggie selections lacking (the veg pakoras lacked the light, crispiness that I was looking for). I also expected more heat from their curries, which I quickly resolved by ladling some of their spicy pickled carrots over my meal. I can describe the flavor of their dishes as conservative, which does not always characterize good and true Indian cooking, but what I ate of Iravat’s buffet was fairly palatable and reasonably priced. Given my distance from Pasand, Iravat is much nicer drive in prettier digs, and worth repeat visits.

My rating: 3.5 stars
***1/2

Osaka Sushi

5012 W Park Blvd
Plano, TX 75093
(972) 931-8898

When the fiance pointed out “steak and grill” on the sign outside the restaurant, I wasn’t sure he was in the mood for some raw fish. But Osaka, an all-you-can-eat Japanese buffet, has just the right amount of fresh and cooked food to entice even the most reluctant raw food noob. After years of visiting Osaka, I am happy to report that they are my go-to place when I’m in no mood to make the trek to Addison for Tokyo One. I like that Osaka seems more intimate, less intimidating than other Texas-sized buffets. I always manage to find unexpected gems on both the warm and cold sides of the buffet. This is the mark of a successful Asian buffet, keeping the menu interesting by remaining inventive.

My rating: 4.0 stars
****

La Hacienda Ranch

17390 Preston Rd
Dallas, TX 75252
(972) 248-2424

The fiance and I came to LaHa in search of the best fajitas in town…and while it was leagues better than the dessicated fajita meat we had at On The Border, LaHa fajitas did not earn any great honors from us. What did please us was that one fajita dinner plate could be shared by two, and I had no problem sharing the fajitas (a rare occurrence for me) because of the host of meat on our sizzling platter. I did wish that there had been more grilled onions on the plate, and my fondness for dipping my rolled up fajita in salsa was tempered by the mild, smokiness of that dip. I was looking for spicy heat but found none. The best part of our visit to LaHa was the sinfully sweet ending–LaHa served up a fantastic sizzling-hot pecan pie swimming in a chocolate-whiskey sauce with a side of ice cream! Marvelous!

My rating: 3.5 stars
***1/2

Dining

How to get the best brisket on your plate

I love a moist, tender, juicy and flavorful brisket. Something I’ve learned from dining at Rudy’s is to always ask for the “MOIST” brisket–stay away from any brisket at Rudy’s not labeled as such. Fact is: brisket consists of two sections, the flat and the point. When shopping for a brisket to barbecue, one will find that the flat section is a chunk of lean meat, and usually more expensive, whereas the point is more flavorful and fattier. Fat = flavor, get it? If you’re lucky or have a good butcher, you will find the “packer’s cut” which is a full-sized brisket that includes both flat and point ends blanketed in a layer of fat. True Texas barbecuing involves the whole chunk of meat, a smoker, and a good amount of patience to cook. But eating Texas barbecue…well, you have to know the lingo. Every BBQ joint I’ve visited, I’ve always called for brisket that was “moist” (Rudy’s and Big Daddy’s Roadhouse), the “fatty” cut (every BBQ joint I’ve been to), or the crusty flavorful “cap” (Dickey’s)…but after reading an article on barbecue, I will have to add “off the point” and “deckel end” to my bbq-feasting vocabulary. It has been a rarity that I don’t get the well-marbled brisket that I asked for (of course, it perhaps helps my cause that I’m a petite asian girl demanding a piece of fatty brisket on her plate). But when I have to choke down flavorless, dried-out lean brisket, then I can safely assume that the restaurant serving me such an atrocity have no clue about real barbecue.

So there you have it: don’t be embarrassed to ask for the best brisket on your plate…because if you don’t, the next person in line brave enough to ask for the “crusty fatty brisket” will enjoy their meal much more than you did.

Dining, Reviews

Tummy lovin’ brisket

Rudy’s Country Store & BBQ

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!

My rating: 4.0 stars
****

Dining, Reviews

More Carrollton bites

Cobb Switch BBQ

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.

My rating: 2.0 stars
**

Buz’s Spuds

1630 Valwood Pkwy
Carrollton, TX 75006
(972) 247-7754

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.

My rating: 3.0 stars
***