Hello loyal followers! Miss me? I missed you. It's spring and the weather (minus the tornadoes) couldn't be nicer in the Big D. I just love this time of year. Tulips (my favorite flower), baseball (go Rangers!), and patio weather. Today's review has nothing to do with those things but I still love them.
So LK and I headed to Sissy's before yet another 40th birthday party. (Seems like everyone I know has turned 40 in the last 12 months.) It had been awhile since I had been to the former Hector's on Henderson space and was anxious to see what Lisa Garza had done with the place. I liked the decor. It has an old southern home (with a bar) feel, like Hattie's. While I liked the look of the restaurant, I hated the noise. Maybe I'm getting old (afterall, I was going to my own 40th birthday party just 4 months ago - oh Lord I'm 40 and 1/3), but I'm sick of noisy restaurants. I want to be able to enjoy my meal and conversation with my dining companions at the same time. Is that too much to ask, dagnubbit (shake fist)?
Our server came by to say hello and talk about the drink specials. I have no idea what she said. Not only could I not hear her, I was also distracted by her uniform. All the servers are dressed as if they worked in a southern restaurant in late 50s. I'll admit it, having not grown up in the South, being waited on by a woman of color dressed in a costume that could have been worn by an extra in The Help made me slightly uncomfortable. But then I noticed how teeny tiny our server was. She is one of those lucky women who are naturally slight of build. The fat girl who lives inside (and occasionally embodies me) instantly hated her. How on earth was I going to feel good about shoving fried chicken in my gullet now? (And, yes, I know that's wrong of me, loyal followers. She seemed like a very nice person and I should not judge someone like that. But I did, and I'm sorry.).
LK and I looked at the menu, trying to decide what to eat. At first glance, one thing became clear -- most of my skinny, healthy eating girlfriends wouldn't enjoy eating here. (See, I don't discriminate against the skinny. I just secretly wish I was one of them). It's southern cooking. Lots of things are fried, lots of things that are smothered in gravy and there doesn't appear that there's anything green that isn't covered in Hellmann's, butter or batter.
We started with the oysters which were, of course, fried. They came with cane ginger green sauce and spicy mayo. Oysters were fried perfectly so as not to take away from their briny juiciness. I liked the sauces too. The green sauce had a nice tang and the spicy mayo had a nice heat.
LK and I had already decided to have the fried chicken. I mean, come on, you go to a place named "Sissy's Fried Chicken" for the first time and order, what, the meatloaf? The chicken comes in two sizes - 2pc ($10)or bucket ($20). Since we both wanted to order the chicken, we ordered the bucket which was way too much food for two people. I really wish they offered a half bucket for 2. I hate to waste.
I'll admit it, I'm not a fried chicken aficionado. I'm a Yankee by birth and my mother never fried anything because she considered that unhealthy. (Sauteing everything in margarine was, however, perfectly nutritious.) Growing up, my fried chicken either came from the Colonel or, more regularly, a box of Oven Fry. So when I say this was some of the best fried chicken I've ever had, I don't know if that's saying a whole lot. But the skin was crispy and flavorful on the outside and the meat was nice and juicy on the inside which I understand is the making of great fried chicken. I'll let you be the judge.
The chicken comes with whipped potatoes or "sloppy slaw." I asked our server (who, again, was a perfectly nice young woman), what "sloppy slaw" was. She looked at me and said, "cole slaw." Okay, maybe it was a stupid question but there are different types of cole slaw out there and I wanted to know what type of cole slaw it was. I just decided to be surprised. It turned out to be a mayo based slaw that, quite frankly, tasted a lot like KFC's which was perfectly fine with me because that's the kind I like the best (just like Mom used to order).
We also ordered the fried okra (our attempt at something green). It's sliced lengthwise and then fried which made it disappointing as it had that slightly slimy texture that can ruin a good fried okra.
After all of that fried food, there was no room for dessert. But I will try that cookies and milk punch one day. I firmly believe one should get calcium with their brandy.
Speaking of punch, Sissy's does have a drink menu which has a variety of southern spiked punches. LK ordered a Cucumber Cooler which had Tanqueray and, of course, cucumbers. I ordered a sazerac which made me unable to feel my teeth after about 2 sips. There's also a variety of fancy non-alcoholic iced teas available, if you are willing to shell out $9.50 per glass. Although they sounded delicious and refreshing, they didn't come with a genie who would grant me three wishes (first wish: make me skinny like our server), which is what it would have taken for me to spend almost 10 bucks on a glass of iced tea.
Overall, I enjoyed Sissy's but it feels a little one note. I just don't see myself coming back unless I have a craving for fried chicken which I rarely have. Maybe they are counting on the nostalgia factor to create repeat business but I didn't grow up on this kind of food so I guess the nostalgia factor is kind of lost on me. I'm not saying the food wasn't good, it was, but I personally need more to make me come back again. Maybe it won't be lost on you. Try it and decide for yourself.
Cheers!
Thursday, April 19, 2012
Sunday, February 19, 2012
Oak
Time to get back to writing loyal followers. I have a long list of places I need to eat at and it's not getting any shorter so, here we go.
I made reservations at Oak in the Design District for Friday night. (I was going to do Campo but heard Matt McCallister might be in a bit of a mood about reviewers this weekend - ha!) I knew from my attempts to eat there a couple of weeks ago that reservations are a must right now, unless you want to eat there really early or really late. Try to go without a reservation and the valet will very nicely turn you away. (The valet may also turn you away if you drive a Honda, based upon the high end luxury vehicles parked in front. I guess the Highland Park crowd has found Oak.)
The restaurant does the Design District justice. It has a cool mid-century modern look to it which is so in fashion right now. Don Draper would be right at home here but for that pesky non-smoking ordinance Dallas has in place. There's a projected art image of an oak tree on the far wall that moves with the non-existent wind. The booths are mini leather sofas. The lighting is comfortable and the noise level is just perfect. Dallas restaurateurs take note, we like to hear ourselves think when we eat. Thank you Oak for letting us do that.
LB and I were early for our reservation so we headed to the bar for a glass of wine. The bar area is separated from the dining area by a knee high planter which is just the perfect height to knock anything over that is placed on it. So if you have the desire to place your drink on it, don't. Or else LB's giant handbag will go all bull in a china shop on your cocktail. And to the DB who got very snippy when LB accidentally knocked over his glass of white wine, get over it. It was truly an accident. You should be more worried about why your date chose the wear that hideous furry creature over her too short dress. Anywho. . .
The wine list is comfortable and pretty typically priced. You'll easily find a decent bottle within your price comfort level.
We were sat in our very comfortable booth and after a bit of a wait, our server appeared. We started with salads. LB eyed the beet salad until she discovered the "fromage blanc" was actually the evil goat cheese (LB believes that goat cheese is what the devil would taste like) so she stuck with the caesar. It was good but the lettuce required much cutting to get it into bite sized portions. My baby greens salad with goat cheese (I, on the other hand, think the devil would taste like cottage cheese, so I'm not goat cheese adverse), medjol dates and almonds also suffered from the too giant lettuce leaves syndrome. I also wished the goat cheese was stuffed in the dates rather than having the dates chopped in the salad. When I suggested this to LB she responded, "So you want to take God's delicious natural candy and stuff it with the devil?" Why, yes I do, LB, yes, I do.
After nixing the Kobe Beef because of the quark (funny name for goat cheese we learned - Dear Oak, let's call goat cheese, goat cheese, please) spaetzel, LB had the grilled salmon with white soy, Thai basil, salsify (which is a root vegetable) and a curried coconut broth. LB enjoyed the salmon, found the salsify (which, I admit, we actually thought were potatoes. Thank you wikipedia for making me sound smarter than I actualy am) a bit too hard for her liking and didn't find the broth added much to the dish. That didn't stop her from finishing every last bite.
I've been on a duck kick lately, which is odd since it I've never been a huge duck fan and I had an absolutely awful duck experience on New Years Eve (raw duck = bad). But after having an amazing duck meal at The Grape a couple of weeks ago, I thought I'd give it a go. Oak's roasted duck breast is served with puy lentils, brussels sprouts (mmmm, my favorite), and burgundy foie gras jus. The duck was perfect cooked and tender without the greasy duck feel. And I absolutely loved the lentils with the duck. It's a perfect winter dinner, filling and warm. Happy plate for me as well.
We decided to split dessert. We ordered the lemon bar cheesecake with sour cherry, almond shortbread and grapefruit macaroon. The cheesecake and shortbread bottom were delicious. Creamy and light with the perfect amount of tartness from the lemon. The French macaroon was a nice touch too. There was nothing sour about the cherries, which tasted like fancy maraschinos. I could have done without them entirely because they were simply too sweet to balance the tartness of the lemon. The cherries were the only thing not happy about our dessert plate.
LB and I left Oak deciding to come back. The food was good, the prices are reasonable (our meal plus a glass of chardonnay plus a cup of hot tea for me was less than $90 pre tip) and the atmosphere is comfortable. It's a good place to impress a date (as long as you don't leave your wine on the planter). Oak also has 2 large patios which will be just perfect once the weather warm weather comes to Dallas (and as long as you don't mind the hum of the freeway).
Cheers!
I made reservations at Oak in the Design District for Friday night. (I was going to do Campo but heard Matt McCallister might be in a bit of a mood about reviewers this weekend - ha!) I knew from my attempts to eat there a couple of weeks ago that reservations are a must right now, unless you want to eat there really early or really late. Try to go without a reservation and the valet will very nicely turn you away. (The valet may also turn you away if you drive a Honda, based upon the high end luxury vehicles parked in front. I guess the Highland Park crowd has found Oak.)
The restaurant does the Design District justice. It has a cool mid-century modern look to it which is so in fashion right now. Don Draper would be right at home here but for that pesky non-smoking ordinance Dallas has in place. There's a projected art image of an oak tree on the far wall that moves with the non-existent wind. The booths are mini leather sofas. The lighting is comfortable and the noise level is just perfect. Dallas restaurateurs take note, we like to hear ourselves think when we eat. Thank you Oak for letting us do that.
LB and I were early for our reservation so we headed to the bar for a glass of wine. The bar area is separated from the dining area by a knee high planter which is just the perfect height to knock anything over that is placed on it. So if you have the desire to place your drink on it, don't. Or else LB's giant handbag will go all bull in a china shop on your cocktail. And to the DB who got very snippy when LB accidentally knocked over his glass of white wine, get over it. It was truly an accident. You should be more worried about why your date chose the wear that hideous furry creature over her too short dress. Anywho. . .
The wine list is comfortable and pretty typically priced. You'll easily find a decent bottle within your price comfort level.
We were sat in our very comfortable booth and after a bit of a wait, our server appeared. We started with salads. LB eyed the beet salad until she discovered the "fromage blanc" was actually the evil goat cheese (LB believes that goat cheese is what the devil would taste like) so she stuck with the caesar. It was good but the lettuce required much cutting to get it into bite sized portions. My baby greens salad with goat cheese (I, on the other hand, think the devil would taste like cottage cheese, so I'm not goat cheese adverse), medjol dates and almonds also suffered from the too giant lettuce leaves syndrome. I also wished the goat cheese was stuffed in the dates rather than having the dates chopped in the salad. When I suggested this to LB she responded, "So you want to take God's delicious natural candy and stuff it with the devil?" Why, yes I do, LB, yes, I do.
After nixing the Kobe Beef because of the quark (funny name for goat cheese we learned - Dear Oak, let's call goat cheese, goat cheese, please) spaetzel, LB had the grilled salmon with white soy, Thai basil, salsify (which is a root vegetable) and a curried coconut broth. LB enjoyed the salmon, found the salsify (which, I admit, we actually thought were potatoes. Thank you wikipedia for making me sound smarter than I actualy am) a bit too hard for her liking and didn't find the broth added much to the dish. That didn't stop her from finishing every last bite.
I've been on a duck kick lately, which is odd since it I've never been a huge duck fan and I had an absolutely awful duck experience on New Years Eve (raw duck = bad). But after having an amazing duck meal at The Grape a couple of weeks ago, I thought I'd give it a go. Oak's roasted duck breast is served with puy lentils, brussels sprouts (mmmm, my favorite), and burgundy foie gras jus. The duck was perfect cooked and tender without the greasy duck feel. And I absolutely loved the lentils with the duck. It's a perfect winter dinner, filling and warm. Happy plate for me as well.
We decided to split dessert. We ordered the lemon bar cheesecake with sour cherry, almond shortbread and grapefruit macaroon. The cheesecake and shortbread bottom were delicious. Creamy and light with the perfect amount of tartness from the lemon. The French macaroon was a nice touch too. There was nothing sour about the cherries, which tasted like fancy maraschinos. I could have done without them entirely because they were simply too sweet to balance the tartness of the lemon. The cherries were the only thing not happy about our dessert plate.
LB and I left Oak deciding to come back. The food was good, the prices are reasonable (our meal plus a glass of chardonnay plus a cup of hot tea for me was less than $90 pre tip) and the atmosphere is comfortable. It's a good place to impress a date (as long as you don't leave your wine on the planter). Oak also has 2 large patios which will be just perfect once the weather warm weather comes to Dallas (and as long as you don't mind the hum of the freeway).
Cheers!
Sunday, December 4, 2011
Bob's at the Omni
Had dinner at the new Bob's at the new Omni at the convention center a couple of weeks ago. Here's the gist: it's just like Bob's but in a new shinier packaging. The steaks are still covered in butter and you'll still get your carrot and choice of potatoes with your steak. It's a steakhouse and it does that well. The service was very attentive although his ragged shirtsleeves were not up to dress code (and, FYI, unless you are the Dread Pirate Roberts, using "As you wish" multiple times gets less endearing as dinner progresses). But I don't know if I will go back to this particular location and here's why:
1. The valet left our car outside, running, for 5 minutes before anyone moved it. Not the safest thing to do when you're down the street from the bus station.
2. It's just a little too shiny and new. There is nothing special about it. In fact, it feels just like Perry's. I think they may have used the same designer. I like the original Bob's. It reminds me of the banquet hall my grandparents used to own on Milwaukee Avenue in Chicago where real Chicago "politicians" would make "deals." (I'll let you use your imagination, as I did growing up, what the quotations mean). Bottom line, if I'm going to go to Bob's, I will stick to the original.
3. It was just a bit sleepy. It was the second weekend so I thought the place would have been a bustling scene but, no. It definitely lacks the energy and warmth of Nick & Sam's, which is my preferred steakhouse, particularly during the winter.
4. The bar is small and there's no TV. This became a very important fact since we finished dinner right at the beginning of the 4th Quarter of the Oklahoma/Baylor game and we really wanted to watch the game. Since there was no TV at the bar at Bob's we thought the sports bar right next door would be the perfect place to spend the next half hour or so. There were people mingling in the front of the sports bar who we thought were waiting for tables. Well, mingling isn't quite the right word as they all looked very tired and haggard, like they'd been waitin for quite awhile. But, we didn't have to worry about that, there looked like there was plenty of standing room around the bar. We headed there, until we were stopped by the hostess. Oh, we don't want a table, we just want to stand at the bar for a drink and some game watching, we said. Sorry, we're told, there's a wait for that too. I'm willing to stand at the bar in fabulous, yet quite uncomfortable 4" heals and you are denying me that opportunity? I'm sorry, since when in the history of sports bars has there ever been a wait to stand at the bar? The bar appeared nowhere near capacity. So we left. Bob's wasn't an option since no TV so we headed to the hotel restaurant. It had teeny, tiny TVs in the bar area and the bar was actually closed but at least they let us sit and watch the game. And it was one heck of a game. I would have been perfectly happy watching it at Bob's but, alas, no TV. So am I being fair making this a reason why I won't go back to this Bob's any time soon? Probably not but the whole adventure just left a bad taste in my mouth. Sorry.
Cheers!
1. The valet left our car outside, running, for 5 minutes before anyone moved it. Not the safest thing to do when you're down the street from the bus station.
2. It's just a little too shiny and new. There is nothing special about it. In fact, it feels just like Perry's. I think they may have used the same designer. I like the original Bob's. It reminds me of the banquet hall my grandparents used to own on Milwaukee Avenue in Chicago where real Chicago "politicians" would make "deals." (I'll let you use your imagination, as I did growing up, what the quotations mean). Bottom line, if I'm going to go to Bob's, I will stick to the original.
3. It was just a bit sleepy. It was the second weekend so I thought the place would have been a bustling scene but, no. It definitely lacks the energy and warmth of Nick & Sam's, which is my preferred steakhouse, particularly during the winter.
4. The bar is small and there's no TV. This became a very important fact since we finished dinner right at the beginning of the 4th Quarter of the Oklahoma/Baylor game and we really wanted to watch the game. Since there was no TV at the bar at Bob's we thought the sports bar right next door would be the perfect place to spend the next half hour or so. There were people mingling in the front of the sports bar who we thought were waiting for tables. Well, mingling isn't quite the right word as they all looked very tired and haggard, like they'd been waitin for quite awhile. But, we didn't have to worry about that, there looked like there was plenty of standing room around the bar. We headed there, until we were stopped by the hostess. Oh, we don't want a table, we just want to stand at the bar for a drink and some game watching, we said. Sorry, we're told, there's a wait for that too. I'm willing to stand at the bar in fabulous, yet quite uncomfortable 4" heals and you are denying me that opportunity? I'm sorry, since when in the history of sports bars has there ever been a wait to stand at the bar? The bar appeared nowhere near capacity. So we left. Bob's wasn't an option since no TV so we headed to the hotel restaurant. It had teeny, tiny TVs in the bar area and the bar was actually closed but at least they let us sit and watch the game. And it was one heck of a game. I would have been perfectly happy watching it at Bob's but, alas, no TV. So am I being fair making this a reason why I won't go back to this Bob's any time soon? Probably not but the whole adventure just left a bad taste in my mouth. Sorry.
Cheers!
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Company Cafe
Well hello, loyal followers. And if you are still a follower after all this time then you must be loyal. I'm sorry there have been no posts in so long. Shortly after my last post, well, life threw me a curve ball I did not quite expect. I have always been a fairly healthy individual and then quite suddenly, I wasn't. I was swollen, stiff, occasionally turned purple, extremely fatigued and had some pretty serious abdominal pain happening for awhile there. So I've spent the last few months trying to figure out what the heck was wrong with me. It took a few days in the hospital, many, many, many doctors' appointments and a whole lot of my blood getting tested, but three months later I was finally diagnosed with lupus with Reynaud's phenomenon (and a side of panniculitis just to make it all extra special). It's all very treatable (although not curable) but it's been a royal pain in my, well, you name the body part, I probably hurt there at some point. To top it all off, the medications I'm on have, at various times, taken away my ability to drink alcohol, eradicated my appetite, and at one point gave me such a super human sense of smell I couldn't walk into any restaurant without being overwhelmed. A sad foodie was I but I'm happy to say I think we've finally reached a point where I can say I'm "managing" this disease instead of it controlling me. Not exactly how I wanted to end my 30s but what's a girl to do? The good news is turning 40 next month will be a cake walk.
Over the last few months, breakfast has become very important. I was losing weight very quickly in the beginning (which really wasn't a bad thing since I needed to lose some weight) and I had to force myself to eat if I hoped to have any amount of energy during the day. I had at least a little bit of appetite first thing in the morning before the pills and the pain took it away so if I could get some good protein in me first thing and maybe some vegetables, I could get enough energy to make it through the day. And that's how Company Cafe on Greenville became my favorite new breakfast spot.
Now I'd been there before I got sick. I was just about to write a post before this all started. I enjoyed my breakfasts there. Service was occasionally spotty, and I absolutely hated the coffee (It's Oak Cliff Roasters. Although I'm all about supporting the local guy, I just don't like it. It's a bit too roasted for my palette. But it might be just fine for you. I stick to green tea now, anyway). And dear Lord, if your restaurant faces east and you serve breakfast why, oh why, are there no blinds or curtains on the windows to shield diners from the morning sun? But I had a few great breakfasts there and the cook could really poach an egg. I found myself wanting to go back for more.
If you have an appetite and don't mind spending almost $20 for breakfast, try the Deep Bowl. It's sweet potato hash, topped with eggs your way (my way is poached easy. Seriously, I have never gotten a poorly poached egg at this place which is a serious accomplishment. So many people screw them up.) and avocado. The standard version comes with ground beef but I recommend you upgrade to the ground buffalo. The ground beef can get a tad greasy but the buffalo adds a great flavor without the grease factor. The price tag is quite steep, but the portion is big enough to keep you full until dinner.
The Beat is my favorite. Applewood smoked bacon, 2 eggs your way, avocado, Lemley's tomatoes and challah toast. You can substitute a gluten free bagel for $2 if you would like as well (they have a lot of gluten free options if you are into/need to have that sort of thing). It's a simple but perfect breakfast for me. I'm pretty much off bacon right now because of the salt content (I also ask for no salt on the avocado and tomatoes now) but when I bring the pup for some patio time (and they have a great, pup friendly patio), he gets a tasty treat. Ask for some jam for your toast. They tell me it's made in house, and the peach is great.
The omelets were a tad less impressive. While the cook rocks at poaching eggs, my omelet was a bit over cooked. But you can get a nice serving of vegetables and farm fresh cheese in them which is an nice change of pace from the typical meat and cheese omelets you find at most breakfast places.
The migas consist of chicken breast, tortilla strips, scrambled eggs, onions and bell peppers with salsa. It's served on some black beans and feta cheese. If you love raw red peppers (I don't), you'll love this dish. While I liked the flavor, the textures from all the raw peppers were slightly off putting.
I'm not a big breakfast sweet fan but the Company Cafe's granola is great. Texas Daily Harvest Greek yogurt, Dad's gluten-free granola, berries and honey. My neighbor thinks it's the best granola he's ever tasted. I can't argue because, well, I'm hardly a granola connoisseur, but it's pretty good although I would prefer a higher yogurt to granola ratio.
I thought I had found the perfect opportunity to test out their breakfast sweets when I took my 6 year old niece there this weekend. Afterall, what kid doesn't like sweets for breakfast (or lunch, or dinner)? She, as all 6 year olds do, ordered the waffles with chocolate chips and whipped cream. (The waffles are gluten free but she didn't need to know that.) The great thing about kids is you find out almost immediately whether they like something or not. Since I now know what gluten free waffles with chocolate chips and whipped cream look like after being spat from a 6 year old's mouth, I can tell you she hated them. One bite from me and I understood (although remain completely embarrassed by) her reaction. These waffles were so sickenly sweet, they were inedible. We sent them back, and she happily scarfed down the scrambled eggs, bacon and toast we ordered for her next. (My niece even declared the eggs to be the "best eggs I've seriously ever had in my entire life." She has a flair for the dramatic, this one). Our server then came by and told us the kitchen staff (who was in training for the new location at the Katy Trail) was having trouble with the mix today. I'd have to agree if it was too sweet for a 6 year old. Gluten free baking can be tricky so I'm hoping this was just an anomaly.
So is the Company Cafe breakfast perfection? Not exactly, but I know I'll keep coming back for more. I just like the place. I feel like I'm getting a quality breakfast that's a tad better for me than the typical cheese covered concoctions most breakfast places serve. The service has greatly improved and the patio is a perfect place to enjoy these nice autumn mornings. Yes, they serve lunch and dinner and have a large selection of gluten free baked goods too. Check it out.
Over the last few months, breakfast has become very important. I was losing weight very quickly in the beginning (which really wasn't a bad thing since I needed to lose some weight) and I had to force myself to eat if I hoped to have any amount of energy during the day. I had at least a little bit of appetite first thing in the morning before the pills and the pain took it away so if I could get some good protein in me first thing and maybe some vegetables, I could get enough energy to make it through the day. And that's how Company Cafe on Greenville became my favorite new breakfast spot.
Now I'd been there before I got sick. I was just about to write a post before this all started. I enjoyed my breakfasts there. Service was occasionally spotty, and I absolutely hated the coffee (It's Oak Cliff Roasters. Although I'm all about supporting the local guy, I just don't like it. It's a bit too roasted for my palette. But it might be just fine for you. I stick to green tea now, anyway). And dear Lord, if your restaurant faces east and you serve breakfast why, oh why, are there no blinds or curtains on the windows to shield diners from the morning sun? But I had a few great breakfasts there and the cook could really poach an egg. I found myself wanting to go back for more.
If you have an appetite and don't mind spending almost $20 for breakfast, try the Deep Bowl. It's sweet potato hash, topped with eggs your way (my way is poached easy. Seriously, I have never gotten a poorly poached egg at this place which is a serious accomplishment. So many people screw them up.) and avocado. The standard version comes with ground beef but I recommend you upgrade to the ground buffalo. The ground beef can get a tad greasy but the buffalo adds a great flavor without the grease factor. The price tag is quite steep, but the portion is big enough to keep you full until dinner.
The Beat is my favorite. Applewood smoked bacon, 2 eggs your way, avocado, Lemley's tomatoes and challah toast. You can substitute a gluten free bagel for $2 if you would like as well (they have a lot of gluten free options if you are into/need to have that sort of thing). It's a simple but perfect breakfast for me. I'm pretty much off bacon right now because of the salt content (I also ask for no salt on the avocado and tomatoes now) but when I bring the pup for some patio time (and they have a great, pup friendly patio), he gets a tasty treat. Ask for some jam for your toast. They tell me it's made in house, and the peach is great.
The omelets were a tad less impressive. While the cook rocks at poaching eggs, my omelet was a bit over cooked. But you can get a nice serving of vegetables and farm fresh cheese in them which is an nice change of pace from the typical meat and cheese omelets you find at most breakfast places.
The migas consist of chicken breast, tortilla strips, scrambled eggs, onions and bell peppers with salsa. It's served on some black beans and feta cheese. If you love raw red peppers (I don't), you'll love this dish. While I liked the flavor, the textures from all the raw peppers were slightly off putting.
I'm not a big breakfast sweet fan but the Company Cafe's granola is great. Texas Daily Harvest Greek yogurt, Dad's gluten-free granola, berries and honey. My neighbor thinks it's the best granola he's ever tasted. I can't argue because, well, I'm hardly a granola connoisseur, but it's pretty good although I would prefer a higher yogurt to granola ratio.
I thought I had found the perfect opportunity to test out their breakfast sweets when I took my 6 year old niece there this weekend. Afterall, what kid doesn't like sweets for breakfast (or lunch, or dinner)? She, as all 6 year olds do, ordered the waffles with chocolate chips and whipped cream. (The waffles are gluten free but she didn't need to know that.) The great thing about kids is you find out almost immediately whether they like something or not. Since I now know what gluten free waffles with chocolate chips and whipped cream look like after being spat from a 6 year old's mouth, I can tell you she hated them. One bite from me and I understood (although remain completely embarrassed by) her reaction. These waffles were so sickenly sweet, they were inedible. We sent them back, and she happily scarfed down the scrambled eggs, bacon and toast we ordered for her next. (My niece even declared the eggs to be the "best eggs I've seriously ever had in my entire life." She has a flair for the dramatic, this one). Our server then came by and told us the kitchen staff (who was in training for the new location at the Katy Trail) was having trouble with the mix today. I'd have to agree if it was too sweet for a 6 year old. Gluten free baking can be tricky so I'm hoping this was just an anomaly.
So is the Company Cafe breakfast perfection? Not exactly, but I know I'll keep coming back for more. I just like the place. I feel like I'm getting a quality breakfast that's a tad better for me than the typical cheese covered concoctions most breakfast places serve. The service has greatly improved and the patio is a perfect place to enjoy these nice autumn mornings. Yes, they serve lunch and dinner and have a large selection of gluten free baked goods too. Check it out.
Cheers!
Sunday, July 17, 2011
Dodie's Reef
I had lunch at the new Dodie's Reef today. It's in the old Hurricane space on Greenville that burned a couple of years back. Those of us who live in the Lakewood hood are just so excited to have something in that space. We were seriously getting tired of the burnt out building look. [rhost] (seriously, are the brackets really necessary?) has just opened, and it's only a matter of time before we start playing "Valet Frogger" on Greenville again with the Terilli's valets. Seriously, you really aren't a true Lakewood resident until you've almost killed a Terilli's valet as they dart out in front of you on Greenville.
But back to Dodie's Reef. I had stopped by for happy hour last week and was very impressed. They have this great indoor/outdoor bar up front with televisions above the bar. It's a fantastic place to watch a game. It's also a great place to flirt with boys watching the game, since it seems to be where the 35+ set in Lakewood has been hanging out lately (ok, maybe "boys" is a stretch, but I'm an almost 40 (ugh) single girl, so "boy" is still acceptable to me). And don't let the fact that the windows to the bar are wide open as the temps outside get above the century mark scare you off. It's perfectly cool on the inside, and it's even comfortable sitting at the outside bar. I don't even want to know what their electricity bill is. If they don't go broke paying their electricity bill by then, Dodie's is definitely going to be the perfect place in Lakewood to catch a football game once the weather cools down (and they work out that labor dispute). They have a great bartender in Rachel. It was Women's World Cup Finals, the bar was packed, and she was holding her own, all alone, with a smile on her face. Tip her well when you're there.
We started with the Mexican shrimp cocktail. It's a schooner full of boiled shrimp in a spicy tomato pico like sauce and avocado. It's served with tortilla chips that have a spicy lime seasoning on them. It was good and seemed bottomless. Too much for 2 people.
Now if you're on a diet, Dodie's might not be the best place for you. Most of the seafood offerings are fried. Po boys, fried seafood baskets, fried pickles even. I didn't want anything fried and had had my fill of raw oysters on my trip to Mobile, Alabama last week so I decided on the sea bass. I got a huge piece of fish topped with guacamole with 6 large grilled asparagus and a pile of grits. Calorie-wise, I probably would have been better with a shrimp po boy. The fish was tender and the asparagus were perfectly cooked. The grits had more of a mashed potato taste and feel instead of the buttery, cheesy way I like my grits but they were fine. And although it tasted good, I could have done without the guacamole all together. It was just too much food.
K had the crab cakes which are on the appetizer list. She like them but I don't think she was expecting the sauce covering them.
I often lament that it's so sad that in a place like Dallas where we have so many fantastic sushi restaurants, we have so few good seafood restaurants. Yes, I know we live nowhere near a coast but if we can get in great sushi, we should be able to get in great seafood. Unfortunately, Dodie's really didn't do anything to end the lament. It's a serviceable seafood restaurant, but there's nothing here that really wows. I'll come back for the bar and boy watching and I'll probably catch a bite here from time to time but the search for great seafood in Dallas continues. But who knows, maybe if the boy watching goes well, I'll reel in a catch of another sort and a different kind of search will end. ;)
Cheers!
But back to Dodie's Reef. I had stopped by for happy hour last week and was very impressed. They have this great indoor/outdoor bar up front with televisions above the bar. It's a fantastic place to watch a game. It's also a great place to flirt with boys watching the game, since it seems to be where the 35+ set in Lakewood has been hanging out lately (ok, maybe "boys" is a stretch, but I'm an almost 40 (ugh) single girl, so "boy" is still acceptable to me). And don't let the fact that the windows to the bar are wide open as the temps outside get above the century mark scare you off. It's perfectly cool on the inside, and it's even comfortable sitting at the outside bar. I don't even want to know what their electricity bill is. If they don't go broke paying their electricity bill by then, Dodie's is definitely going to be the perfect place in Lakewood to catch a football game once the weather cools down (and they work out that labor dispute). They have a great bartender in Rachel. It was Women's World Cup Finals, the bar was packed, and she was holding her own, all alone, with a smile on her face. Tip her well when you're there.
We started with the Mexican shrimp cocktail. It's a schooner full of boiled shrimp in a spicy tomato pico like sauce and avocado. It's served with tortilla chips that have a spicy lime seasoning on them. It was good and seemed bottomless. Too much for 2 people.
Now if you're on a diet, Dodie's might not be the best place for you. Most of the seafood offerings are fried. Po boys, fried seafood baskets, fried pickles even. I didn't want anything fried and had had my fill of raw oysters on my trip to Mobile, Alabama last week so I decided on the sea bass. I got a huge piece of fish topped with guacamole with 6 large grilled asparagus and a pile of grits. Calorie-wise, I probably would have been better with a shrimp po boy. The fish was tender and the asparagus were perfectly cooked. The grits had more of a mashed potato taste and feel instead of the buttery, cheesy way I like my grits but they were fine. And although it tasted good, I could have done without the guacamole all together. It was just too much food.
K had the crab cakes which are on the appetizer list. She like them but I don't think she was expecting the sauce covering them.
I often lament that it's so sad that in a place like Dallas where we have so many fantastic sushi restaurants, we have so few good seafood restaurants. Yes, I know we live nowhere near a coast but if we can get in great sushi, we should be able to get in great seafood. Unfortunately, Dodie's really didn't do anything to end the lament. It's a serviceable seafood restaurant, but there's nothing here that really wows. I'll come back for the bar and boy watching and I'll probably catch a bite here from time to time but the search for great seafood in Dallas continues. But who knows, maybe if the boy watching goes well, I'll reel in a catch of another sort and a different kind of search will end. ;)
Cheers!
Saturday, July 2, 2011
Four Sisters Cafe
So PMc convinced me to head north and check out the new Four Sisters Cafe in Richardson. Yes, I headed north of LBJ and almost north of George Bush (it's on the south side at the Jupiter exit). But I didn't mind because, 1) as you all know, PMc is one of my favorite people in the world and it had been awhile since we had caught up and 2) I actually kind of like Richardson. You see, I have a confession to make, loyal followers, I'm not really a Dallas girl. At my core I'm actually a Richardson girl. My first non-baby sitting job was at the Richardson Public Library (nerdy fact about me: there was a time in my life where you could name any non-fiction book and I could give you it's exact Dewey Decimal number. Hmmmm, this probably explains much about my high school dating life). I bought my first house in Richardson. Until recently, I was a member of the Chamber of Commerce. I just like the City and all it has to offer. Plus it has some great restaurants (some of the best Chinese and Indian food in DFW is in Richardson). So I was happy to make the trek to my old hood to see my dear friend.
I was also intrigued by Four Sisters because, well, I'm one of 4 sisters. But I couldn't imagine having a restaurant with my sisters. See, while I love them dearly, we are each completely different people. Our ideas about food and decor would be so incredibly different, our restaurant would always feel just a bit off as we each try to put our own spin on it. And that's kind of the feel I got with Four Sisters, just a little off.
First, the decor. It reminds me of a Houston's (aka Hillstone), if Houston's was housed in a New Orleans bordello. Big bar in front, lots of booths in the dining area and a big, open kitchen area. And the entire restaurant, minus the kitchen area is dark, very dark. But just when you are wondering if you could have a little more light, the light show begin. Yes, I said light show. I glanced over and all of a sudden I see red and green lines of light dancing on the walls. Huh? But then I remember the name of the place, and i instantly understand why those lights are there. See, here's how I bet how the lighting conversation went with the 4 sisters of 4 Sisters. Sis1: man, it's kinda dark in here, we should probably turn the dimmers up just a little bit. Sis2: why don't we buy some really cool lamps that would give the place a nice, warm glow. I saw these the other day, aren't they awesome (insert image of the Christmas Story leg lamp here). Sis3: we can't afford to turn the dimmers up. Do you know how much electricity costs in the summer? Glares and rolls eyes at leg lamp (while secretly thinking, "you're gonna poke your eye out."). Sis4: I saw this really cool light show at this bar I went to about 5 years ago. I want to do that and only that (stomp foot). And I'm going to mention it to you every minute for the rest of your life until you all give in to me because I know you've learned to pick your battles with me and my wacky ideas and this one is not worth fighting about. And, thus a light show.
The menu also has that "sister compromise" feel. Sis1: I want steak, potatoes and chicken; Sis2: I want salads and sandwiches; Sis3: I want sushi (stomp foot); Sis4: Exactly how many times did mom and dad drop you on your head as a child? Why are we doing sushi in the bordello? The menu is frustrating because there are no explanations of any of the dishes. Most of the dishes are named something so you have to ask to find out what you'll be ordering. The Tramp Salad (gotta wonder which sister that's named after) is actually a cobb salad. And, yes, there is sushi on the menu. They have gotten help from the Sushi Axiom people as there's my favorite roll, the Mustang roll, on the menu. Why it's there, I'm not sure but if you get a hankering for Sushi Axiom, I guess you can go to 4 Sisters.
We were given an amuse bouche to start. Didn't expect that. It was a mashed sweet potato pancake with an orange syrup on top. It was delicious but simply too sweet to start the meal. I would have loved it as a little bite of dessert or, even better, at Sunday brunch.
I ordered the fillet medallions and PMc ordered the beef and onions. All entries come with mashed potatoes and mixed grilled vegetables. PMc ordered the spinach instead of the potatoes and I ordered a side of mushrooms at the suggestion of the server. I received 3 filet medallions with my order, all very tender, all very salty and all medium instead of the medium rare I asked for. It was okay but there was no wow. The potatoes had a layer of liquid butter on top which made them tasty but the mixed veggies were grilled onions, red peppers, yellow squash and a couple pieces of asparagus. Bland, boring and 3 of my least favorite veggies on the planet. PMc liked, but was underwhelmed, by her dinner. Her spinach needed more flavor and the mushrooms were just not very interesting. Probably everything needed just a little garlic.
There's a full bar, and a decent but not very interesting wine list. Water is served with no ice. There's valet parking but plenty of free parking in the front and back so I don't think it's really necessary right now. Our server was nice and accommodating.
So my first impression of Four Sisters, meh. It's just not all that interesting. Maybe once it gets its legs underneath it it will be better but right now, it's just a little too disjointed and boring for me. Sorry, Richardson, you deserve more.
Cheers!
I was also intrigued by Four Sisters because, well, I'm one of 4 sisters. But I couldn't imagine having a restaurant with my sisters. See, while I love them dearly, we are each completely different people. Our ideas about food and decor would be so incredibly different, our restaurant would always feel just a bit off as we each try to put our own spin on it. And that's kind of the feel I got with Four Sisters, just a little off.
First, the decor. It reminds me of a Houston's (aka Hillstone), if Houston's was housed in a New Orleans bordello. Big bar in front, lots of booths in the dining area and a big, open kitchen area. And the entire restaurant, minus the kitchen area is dark, very dark. But just when you are wondering if you could have a little more light, the light show begin. Yes, I said light show. I glanced over and all of a sudden I see red and green lines of light dancing on the walls. Huh? But then I remember the name of the place, and i instantly understand why those lights are there. See, here's how I bet how the lighting conversation went with the 4 sisters of 4 Sisters. Sis1: man, it's kinda dark in here, we should probably turn the dimmers up just a little bit. Sis2: why don't we buy some really cool lamps that would give the place a nice, warm glow. I saw these the other day, aren't they awesome (insert image of the Christmas Story leg lamp here). Sis3: we can't afford to turn the dimmers up. Do you know how much electricity costs in the summer? Glares and rolls eyes at leg lamp (while secretly thinking, "you're gonna poke your eye out."). Sis4: I saw this really cool light show at this bar I went to about 5 years ago. I want to do that and only that (stomp foot). And I'm going to mention it to you every minute for the rest of your life until you all give in to me because I know you've learned to pick your battles with me and my wacky ideas and this one is not worth fighting about. And, thus a light show.
The menu also has that "sister compromise" feel. Sis1: I want steak, potatoes and chicken; Sis2: I want salads and sandwiches; Sis3: I want sushi (stomp foot); Sis4: Exactly how many times did mom and dad drop you on your head as a child? Why are we doing sushi in the bordello? The menu is frustrating because there are no explanations of any of the dishes. Most of the dishes are named something so you have to ask to find out what you'll be ordering. The Tramp Salad (gotta wonder which sister that's named after) is actually a cobb salad. And, yes, there is sushi on the menu. They have gotten help from the Sushi Axiom people as there's my favorite roll, the Mustang roll, on the menu. Why it's there, I'm not sure but if you get a hankering for Sushi Axiom, I guess you can go to 4 Sisters.
We were given an amuse bouche to start. Didn't expect that. It was a mashed sweet potato pancake with an orange syrup on top. It was delicious but simply too sweet to start the meal. I would have loved it as a little bite of dessert or, even better, at Sunday brunch.
I ordered the fillet medallions and PMc ordered the beef and onions. All entries come with mashed potatoes and mixed grilled vegetables. PMc ordered the spinach instead of the potatoes and I ordered a side of mushrooms at the suggestion of the server. I received 3 filet medallions with my order, all very tender, all very salty and all medium instead of the medium rare I asked for. It was okay but there was no wow. The potatoes had a layer of liquid butter on top which made them tasty but the mixed veggies were grilled onions, red peppers, yellow squash and a couple pieces of asparagus. Bland, boring and 3 of my least favorite veggies on the planet. PMc liked, but was underwhelmed, by her dinner. Her spinach needed more flavor and the mushrooms were just not very interesting. Probably everything needed just a little garlic.
There's a full bar, and a decent but not very interesting wine list. Water is served with no ice. There's valet parking but plenty of free parking in the front and back so I don't think it's really necessary right now. Our server was nice and accommodating.
So my first impression of Four Sisters, meh. It's just not all that interesting. Maybe once it gets its legs underneath it it will be better but right now, it's just a little too disjointed and boring for me. Sorry, Richardson, you deserve more.
Cheers!
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
The Commissary
The Commissary is John Tesar's place in One Arts Plaza. It's a burger/wine bar which kind of confuses me. When I want wine, I don't necessarily want burgers. And when I want burgers, I don't necessarily want wine. Am I alone in this loyal followers? But, heck, maybe John Tesar knows something I don't know.
First, let's get One Arts Plaza out of the way. I, for one, think it's a great location. It's close to both Downtown and Uptown, and I love sitting outside by the fountains (at least for now). Its biggest drawback is the parking. People in Dallas don't want to pay for parking. I know. I get it. But if you go to any major city in the world, you are going to have to pay for parking. And if Dallas wants to be a major city, we're just going to have to suck it up and accept the fact that paid parking is going to be a thing. But the good thing about One Arts Plaza is you don't have to pay for valet parking. Well, unless you valet park. And you shouldn't valet park ($8, really?) at One Arts. There is a perfectly good covered parking lot directly behind One Arts Plaza. It costs $5 (with no tip), you don't have to stand in the valet line (which can ridiculously long), and they take credit cards. It's a no brainer people, particularly if you are going to a show. Parking at One Arts is $5. Parking at Winspear is $15. Park at One Arts, have a pre-show dinner or drink, then walk or take the Art Cart the 1.5 blocks to Winspear. There is no reason why you shouldn't do this (well, unless there's tornadic activity and a torrential downpour in the forecast like there was last night and then that $15 for underground parking at Winspear is totally worth it. Guess where I was last night?)
Back to The Commissary. My first visit was, meh. The tartar tostada, which the server recommended, was delicious in some bites and inedibly salty in others. It was also just one tostada and kind of difficult to share. Tartar nachos would have probably been a better menu item (if not so salty).
I had apparently spent too much time at the Ballpark and, on my first visit, violated one of my basic restaurant rules. Don't order fish in a steakhouse. Don't order steak in a fish house. And don't order a hot dog at a burger bar. Well, okay, that last one's new, but it should be a rule. My first warning should have come when I ordered sauerkraut with my dog (which is made with Kobe beef) and the server looked at me like I was from Mars. Look, my last name starts with a Z, ends with a ski and has a million letters in between (most of them vowels). I am a "good" Polish girl who was practically weaned on sauerkraut. If you are going to offer it, I'm going to order it, and I'm going to expect it to be great and have a lot of it on my hot dog. I didn't get that at The Commissary. Instead my dog had a smattering of cheap, canned kraut on it. Yawn. And the bun was just too much. I ended up taking the dog (which was actually really good) out of the bun and ate it on it own.
But all of those issues were forgotten when the tots came. Tater tots made with freakin sweet potatoes. Imagine the best thing you ever ate at the State Fair. Now forget about that. John Tesar's sweet potato tots are better than the best fried food you have ever had at the State Fair. Bite-sized perfection. I just wish you could substitute sweet potato tots for the shoe string fries which are served with all of the burgers. Sadly the tots (and the onion rings which are just average) are an addition, not a substitution. But, John Tesar, I don't need shoe string fries and sweet potato tots. Seems kind of wasteful to me. Surely, there has to be a compromise.
On my next visit, I made it about the burger. I ordered the Rib Burger which is a braised short rib with collard greens and horseradish mayo on a brioche bun. Total yum. The bun was the perfect choice and the short rib could be cut with a fork. I don't want to know how much butter was used to make those collard greens but they weren't the least bit bitter. They were delicious, and I've never really met a collard green I particularly cared for (although collard greens played a key funny in the best Office episode ever - Diversity Day. Watch it. Hi-larious). And for $10 with fries? Totally worth the price.
M ordered the Magic Burger with aged cheddar, applewood smoked bacon, lettuce, tomato, red onions and pickles on an English muffin. They made it to her order (with a well done burger and bacon. Sigh, I'll forgive her because she's preggers. Burgers are meant to be eaten medium rare as far as I'm concerned.) and she enjoyed it. And for $7 (for the 6 oz burger/$9 for the 8 oz) with fries, total deal.
Not so impressive were the sides this visit. If you like Houston's/Hillston's shoe string fries, you'll like The Commissary's. The onion rings were really nothing special and M's "disco fries" (with cheese and something that can only be described as jalapeno dust) were forgetable (if you want great cheese fries with jalapenos, order them at The Old Monk. Soooo good.). Stick with the tots.
Not in the mood for burgers? There are not a whole lot of options for you (although there are a whole lot of "burger" options). Tesar does have his hand rolled penne pasta with black truffle essence. I'll admit, I haven't tried this dish at The Commissary, but I've had it twice before and it's amazeballs. Just ignore the butter hardening in your arteries. The bypass will be worth it.
Oh, and a note about the wine list. It's fun. It's off the beaten path. If you are looking for the typical California offerings you can find at World Market for $8 a bottle (or at Coal Vines for 3-5x that), you aren't going to find it here. It's not going to kill you to try an Austrian wine with your burger. You just might like it. Have fun and explore. That's what dining is all about. John Tesar gets that. Maybe he does know something afterall.
Cheers!
First, let's get One Arts Plaza out of the way. I, for one, think it's a great location. It's close to both Downtown and Uptown, and I love sitting outside by the fountains (at least for now). Its biggest drawback is the parking. People in Dallas don't want to pay for parking. I know. I get it. But if you go to any major city in the world, you are going to have to pay for parking. And if Dallas wants to be a major city, we're just going to have to suck it up and accept the fact that paid parking is going to be a thing. But the good thing about One Arts Plaza is you don't have to pay for valet parking. Well, unless you valet park. And you shouldn't valet park ($8, really?) at One Arts. There is a perfectly good covered parking lot directly behind One Arts Plaza. It costs $5 (with no tip), you don't have to stand in the valet line (which can ridiculously long), and they take credit cards. It's a no brainer people, particularly if you are going to a show. Parking at One Arts is $5. Parking at Winspear is $15. Park at One Arts, have a pre-show dinner or drink, then walk or take the Art Cart the 1.5 blocks to Winspear. There is no reason why you shouldn't do this (well, unless there's tornadic activity and a torrential downpour in the forecast like there was last night and then that $15 for underground parking at Winspear is totally worth it. Guess where I was last night?)
Back to The Commissary. My first visit was, meh. The tartar tostada, which the server recommended, was delicious in some bites and inedibly salty in others. It was also just one tostada and kind of difficult to share. Tartar nachos would have probably been a better menu item (if not so salty).
I had apparently spent too much time at the Ballpark and, on my first visit, violated one of my basic restaurant rules. Don't order fish in a steakhouse. Don't order steak in a fish house. And don't order a hot dog at a burger bar. Well, okay, that last one's new, but it should be a rule. My first warning should have come when I ordered sauerkraut with my dog (which is made with Kobe beef) and the server looked at me like I was from Mars. Look, my last name starts with a Z, ends with a ski and has a million letters in between (most of them vowels). I am a "good" Polish girl who was practically weaned on sauerkraut. If you are going to offer it, I'm going to order it, and I'm going to expect it to be great and have a lot of it on my hot dog. I didn't get that at The Commissary. Instead my dog had a smattering of cheap, canned kraut on it. Yawn. And the bun was just too much. I ended up taking the dog (which was actually really good) out of the bun and ate it on it own.
But all of those issues were forgotten when the tots came. Tater tots made with freakin sweet potatoes. Imagine the best thing you ever ate at the State Fair. Now forget about that. John Tesar's sweet potato tots are better than the best fried food you have ever had at the State Fair. Bite-sized perfection. I just wish you could substitute sweet potato tots for the shoe string fries which are served with all of the burgers. Sadly the tots (and the onion rings which are just average) are an addition, not a substitution. But, John Tesar, I don't need shoe string fries and sweet potato tots. Seems kind of wasteful to me. Surely, there has to be a compromise.
On my next visit, I made it about the burger. I ordered the Rib Burger which is a braised short rib with collard greens and horseradish mayo on a brioche bun. Total yum. The bun was the perfect choice and the short rib could be cut with a fork. I don't want to know how much butter was used to make those collard greens but they weren't the least bit bitter. They were delicious, and I've never really met a collard green I particularly cared for (although collard greens played a key funny in the best Office episode ever - Diversity Day. Watch it. Hi-larious). And for $10 with fries? Totally worth the price.
M ordered the Magic Burger with aged cheddar, applewood smoked bacon, lettuce, tomato, red onions and pickles on an English muffin. They made it to her order (with a well done burger and bacon. Sigh, I'll forgive her because she's preggers. Burgers are meant to be eaten medium rare as far as I'm concerned.) and she enjoyed it. And for $7 (for the 6 oz burger/$9 for the 8 oz) with fries, total deal.
Not so impressive were the sides this visit. If you like Houston's/Hillston's shoe string fries, you'll like The Commissary's. The onion rings were really nothing special and M's "disco fries" (with cheese and something that can only be described as jalapeno dust) were forgetable (if you want great cheese fries with jalapenos, order them at The Old Monk. Soooo good.). Stick with the tots.
Not in the mood for burgers? There are not a whole lot of options for you (although there are a whole lot of "burger" options). Tesar does have his hand rolled penne pasta with black truffle essence. I'll admit, I haven't tried this dish at The Commissary, but I've had it twice before and it's amazeballs. Just ignore the butter hardening in your arteries. The bypass will be worth it.
Oh, and a note about the wine list. It's fun. It's off the beaten path. If you are looking for the typical California offerings you can find at World Market for $8 a bottle (or at Coal Vines for 3-5x that), you aren't going to find it here. It's not going to kill you to try an Austrian wine with your burger. You just might like it. Have fun and explore. That's what dining is all about. John Tesar gets that. Maybe he does know something afterall.
Cheers!
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