Tag Archives: buffet

Dining, Reviews

Diet busters

La Madeleine French Bakery & Cafe

2417 S Stemmons Fwy
Lewisville, TX 75067
(972) 459-5900

La Madeleine has lost some of its glamour over the years. Prices have skyrocketed and quality has suffered. It’s still a great spot to have lunch with the girlfriends and escape from the hustle-and-bustle or take a break from shopping. But wilted greens and bad-tasting chicken on a $12 salad can ruin one’s mood; despite the pick-up you can get from the dessert counter. I was dismayed to learn they now offer “reduced-calorie” tomato basil soup–smacks too much of corporate marketing. But the regular tomato basil soup still tastes fantastic, and you can never go wrong with their mushroom sauce on chicken friande or quiches. That same mushroom sauce is wicked good over a dinner pasta or chicken crepes. The dessert selection, of course, is as sinfully tempting as ever…it’s rare to walk out from the bakery without a to-go box of tarts, tortes, or sweet pastries.

My rating: 3.5 stars
***1/2

Brazilian Cowboy Steakhouse & Grill

1320 N. Central Expwy
Plano, TX 75074
(972) 881-8600

On our way to Plano on an errand, my man and I were stunned to discover this churrascaria off 75 and 15th. We cut our errand short, did a u-turn and drove back to it.

A word about the digs: the yellow-bricked building–once tenanted by a Tex-Mex restaurant–is something of an eyesore. If you’re used to Fogo or Texas de Brazil’s pretty facades, you won’t find anything appealing about the garish paint job, the old parking lot, or the ill-used patio. It looks onto a service road right next to busy Central Expressway. The tacky “grand opening” banners hanging over the doors will convince you there are no pretensions here.

But walk into the restaurant and you’ll notice that it’s calm, clean and orderly; Portuguese music plays overhead which partly drowns out the traffic noise. Servers are busily keeping plates and glasses refilled and tables cleared; groups of diners appear absorbed in getting their meat comas. A blackboard overlooks the dining room, announcing live music on certain nights and all the weekly deals, ranging from “date night” to “happy hour specials”.

The salad bar is small and contains only the basics: green salads, chicken salads, potato salads, some fresh vegetables. They also have a hot bar, chafing dishes filled with rice, stews, soups–what I assume are Brazilian standards–all very tasty and capably rendered. Tableside, my man and I were treated to some of the best cheese popovers I’ve ever had–better than any I’ve eaten at rival churrascarias.

But as with all Brazilian steakhouses, meat is king here. During our Saturday lunch, all of the expected players were represented: spicy sausages, bacon-wrapped chicken and beef, drumsticks, spicy beef, garlic beef, flank steak, top sirloin, house picanha. Add to that, grilled pineapple and smoky bacon-wrapped stuffed jalapenos (the latter an excellent surprise).

While I feasted on some of the best garlic beef I ever tasted, I closed my eyes and imagined I was in Rafain–partly because the traffic on 75 was distracting and partly to determine the quality of the food. I then concluded that the food was comparable if not better than all of the high-dollar Brazilian steakhouses I’ve been to in DFW: Fogo, Rafain, Texas de Brazil, Mastergrill–I’ve tried them all. As I ran down the mental list of experiences so far, I realized I had no complaints with Brazilian Cowboy’s food…and when the check arrived, the veil lifted from my eyes. I had been overpaying for the hype and glamor all these years at those overpriced restaurants.

Brazilian Cowboy brings the churrascaria to the masses; and it’s about time somebody did! This place exceeded my experience with Delicias Brazil in Irving and is now my number one choice for budget Brazilian steakhouse dining. Not in the mood for a buffet? Try their light menu: single-serving meat plates, burgers, sandwiches, pizza, and a full range of bar food appetizers.

Now, to convince the staff to keep the shades drawn while I dine there….

My rating: 4.0 stars
****

Dining, Reviews

Recap on forgotten dining adventures

Sushi Awaji

7835 N Macarthur Blvd
Irving, TX 75063
(972) 869-0663

Another all-you-can-eat Asian buffet opens in north Irving. Similar to Tokyo One and Osaka in concept, Sushi Awaji is comparable to Japan House in execution. There is a smattering of passable sushi and sashimi options on the cold bar, and on the hot bar, Korean and Japanese selections along with the predictable hot pot dinner. The staff is polite and quick on refills, though at times, some chafing dishes remained empty. When the check arrived, I suffered a little sticker shock–I just didn’t feel I got my money’s worth like I would have at Tokyo One or Osaka. What’s worse: Sushi Awaji resides in an old pharmacy building complete with sliding glass doorfront (extremely breezy during the winter) and easy-listening music blaring from the overhead speakers.

My rating: 2.5 stars
**1/2

Dat’s Good BBQ

1168 W. Main St
Lewisville, TX 75067
(972) 219-2244

I didn’t expect much from this hole-in-the-wall BBQ joint in Lewisville. But the fiance and I made the trek to see how Lewisville’s best ‘Que ranks against our favorite. We weren’t wow’ed but we were satisfied. Dat’s proprietors appreciated that we loved our brisket with a nice rind of fat. Their affection for barbecue extended to the juicy and flavorful ribs, which unfortunately was sold out by the time we got there. We opted for sausage and was pleased that it came from a different source. Chicken turned out dry–but not many can pull off a moist barbecue chicken in these parts. What made our trip to Dat’s memorable was the profusion of southern-style sides: cornbread, collard greens, yams, and okra to name a few. For a fine finish, sweet potato pie and bread pudding, along with the typical cobblers, completed their menu. For these menu options and the excellent customer service (the staff displayed great affection for their food and were very welcoming), I’m willing to endure their average barbecue for some great Southern comforts.

My rating: 3.5 stars
***1/2

Dining, Reviews

First half of December reviews

Hard Eight BBQ

688 Freeport Pkwy
Coppell, TX 75019
(972) 471-5462

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
***1/2

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
**1/2

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.

My rating: 3.0 stars
***

Dining, Reviews

Catching up on dining reviews, October edition

Thai Pan Restaurant

1223 W McDermott Dr Suite 75
Allen, TX 75013
(972) 747-0057

How did I miss reviewing this little neighborhood gem? Thai Pan has been my go-to for Thai food for over a year, and nothing I’ve ordered from them has disappointed. This little eatery in a strip mall off McDermott has been serving reliably good Thai food in modest, comfy surroundings. I can’t help but order their tom kha gai every time I visit; it’s a perfectly balanced sweet, sour and spicy soup with tender morsels of chicken and mushrooms. Some other favorites from their menu include spicy basil fried rice, panang curry, pad gra pow, and their sticky rice with custard. The customer service is attentive and friendly, the dining room is small yet inviting. Allen is one city that should find itself lucky in having a fine Thai restaurant such as Thai Pan.

My rating: 4.0 stars
****

Genghis Grill

921 N. Central Expy
Plano, TX 75075
(972) 422-4745

About a few years ago, Mongolian barbecue appeared on the dining radar. Asian restaurants added it to their menu of offerings, a couple of chains established outposts in the DFW. Genghis Grill happens to be one of the first chains in the area to offer Mongolian. At first, it was a hit.

Once upon a time I was enamored with the concept of prepping your own dish and watching the cooks slap it around the cooking stone while you and your friends enjoyed a drink, watching for your meal to finish. After a couple of years, Genghis Grill must have changed their format, charging a little more for their food in the process, providing a one-meal option on top of their all-you-can-eat. They still offer a variety of meats and seafood, including fake Krab, and a host of veggie and sauce options. They also thought adding tortilla to the starch/carb list was also a pretty good idea.

After a recent visit to the Plano outpost of Genghis Grill, I determined that much of the social aspect and Asian taste and feel was gone or just fakery. This location had football playing loudly on the TV at the bar…hardly any onlookers hung out at the stone cooktop. This location solidified my suspicion that Genghis Grill had succumbed to the fate of most chain restaurants: quantity over quality, safe and routine replacing daring and innovative.

On a particular visit, the dining room floors were so sticky, it made my skin crawl to walk on them every time I marched to the serving line. Apparently they thought it was a good idea to clean the kitchen during restaurant hours; an employee was brushing a 2 inch pool of dirty soap water behind the stone cooktop where my food was being cooked. That could’ve explained why nobody was interested in watching their food getting prepped–the sight of that dirty water in the kitchen was enough to dampen any appetite.

I don’t know if it was the teen- to twenty-something clientele lounging around in the booths like they owned the place, the disinterested waitstaff who couldn’t be bothered to refill our drinks and clean off our tables, or the loud rock music blaring from the bar that competed with the football game on the tube that turned me off, but all I know is that I can cook up a better dish at home and I won’t be back.

My rating: 1.5 stars
*1/2

369 BBQ

4140 Legacy Dr # 310
Plano, TX 75086
(972) 618-8888

Formerly Treasure Chinese BBQ, 369 is the only Chinese bbq place I know of in the area that delivers on top of taking plastic! 369 is an amazingly happy discovery, serving some good Cantonese fare besides the basics. I pity the folks who don’t know anything else but Americanized Chinese, because 369 is a treasure house of good authentic Chinese food. Aside from their standards of roast duck and barbecue pork, they serve an excellent Beef steak in Peking sauce (Chinese style steak in First Chinese BBQ parlance) and good chinese broc with mushrooms. Other recommendations: seafood in spicy salt, walnut shrimp, shrimp in cheese sauce, vegetables and mushrooms in brown sauce. If you’re feeling particularly adventurous, 369 has an untranslated menu of dishes hanging from nearly every wall in the room–just ask for recommendations, it seems the folks at 369 are eager to help out. They are also very accommodating when it comes to modifying dishes.

Plano has few tasty Chinese BBQ options that honor credit cards and deliver too…thankfully, Plano has 369 BBQ.

My rating: 4.0 stars
****

Dining, Reviews

Adding more waist to the waistline

Snuffer’s Restaurant & Bar

14910 Midway Rd
Addison, TX 75244
(972) 991-8811

There are many reasons for eating at Snuffer’s and very few reasons not to. What recommends this place is their menu of reliable bar food: their burgers are meaty and juicy, and prepped the way you order them. Their loaded cheddar fries are gut-bustingly delicious…the best I’ve had in town. The downside of Snuffer’s is that it IS a bar, so if you dislike that atmosphere, best to steer clear. However, Snuffer’s knows that their food is well-received, and at this Addison location, they can seat you as far away from the alcohol as possible, patio seating is possible. This particular location is frequented by bar hoppers, sports watchers, and families alike, so it tends to be crowded and noisy especially on weekends. What not to order here: onion fries. We sent our plate of cakey, flavorless onion straws back to the kitchen with our apologies. Of all our burger adventures, Snuffer’s has proven to be the best.

My rating: 4.0 stars
****

Mooyah Burgers & Fries

190 E. Stacy Rd
Ste 1714
Allen, TX 75002
(972) 678-2940

Mooyah really doesn’t have much going for it, except the cute name and the family-friendly setup. Burgers here were just average fare…overpriced for unimpressive thin patties. Shakes were barely memorable. The only standout was their in-house cut fries…and I admit those were tasty. If you’re looking for a “kid-safe” environment, Mooyah would suffice…but those quarter-pound burgers are probably too much for the little ones. Good thing they have grilled cheese and hot dogs on the menu. Gourmet burgers Mooyah serves not…mooove on!

My rating: 2.0 stars
**

Dimassi’s Mediterranean Buffet

18101 Preston Rd #302
Dallas, TX 75252
(972) 250-2000

Every dining adventure involves the risk of failure, turning hungry appetites into disappointing encounters. Such was my visit to Dimassi’s, a newly opened Mediterranean buffet in Far North Dallas. The buffet line was piled high with food for a 5pm dinner, and the dining room was conspicuously vacant, save for a couple of patrons…a bad sign for a weekend evening. An axiom about buffets: the more food left sitting out, the worse the food tastes. And so it was with Dimassi’s: rock-hard cold pita bread, overly dried chicken kabobs, soggy fried cauliflower and countless of other tasteless offerings (their rice pudding was so heavy with rosewater that it was nigh inedible). There was no turnover on the buffet line the entire time I was there…and why would there be, when the food was so horribly neglected in their chafing trays? I wondered if the evening crowd would be treated to the same repast as my dining companion and me. The only bright notes on their buffet were their garlic sauce and baba ghanoosh, an unidentifiable rice dish with boned chicken and pine nuts, and their passable baklava. Thankfully the price of the buffet was under $12 a person…we made sure that we left no tip for the non-existent customer service. An okay place for filler, bad place for authentic Mediterranean food.

My rating: 1.0 stars
*1/2