Forkboy on Grimaldi's...

Recently we stumbled upon a pizza place located at the West Village. We love gourmet pizza pie so we decided to give a try. We arrived early, around 11:30am and very glad we did. The place was packed by 12:15!

It has been a long time since I had a coal-fired pizza that was made to order. I have really gotten to the point were I just won’t eat Domino’s or Pizza Slut. We usually like Sal’s, Carmines, and Campisi’s. Of course the best pizza I have ever had was at Charlie’s in New York City. I mean words just cannot describe the heaven Charlie’s is! Anyway, Grimaldi’s has several locations but the closest to downtown is the one in the West Village. The restaurant is pretty much what you would expect from any other in West Village. Brand new construction, tanned people, leased BMW’s, and designer clothes. Grimaldi’s is new but they try to give it a more authentic pizza parlor feel. Every pizza is handmade when ordered and you could watch it being made since the guys making them are in the middle of the restaurant.

Since every pizza is handmade to order then there is a wait but trust me…it is totally worth it. On our first visit we each ordered a small and we both had leftovers. On our second visit we ordered one large and could barely finish it. I had ordered a small with tomatoes and basil and it was fantastic. The thin crust is crunchy all over and toppings are cooked perfectly in the coal oven. Ron had a small white pizza with garlic, pepperoni, and Italian sausage. One bite of his and I was jealous. His was fabulous. I usually do not care for sausage on pizza but this was perfection. On the second visit we ordered this in a large. They have an ok wine list but I noticed that you can order the house wine by the carafe which is much cheaper than ordering the same thing by the glass. It ain’t the best wine but it goes very well with the pizza and for a carafe at 9 bucks…we will take it! We also signed up for their newsletter and received a coupon good for a large for Ron’s birthday! The pizza is not the cheapest. However, the ingredients are good quality and fresh. A large with a carafe of house wine will run you about 25-30 dollars. Of course the more toppings you get the higher the price. I ordered an iced tea there once and could not drink it. It was that instant Nestea bull shit. It was nasty. They better up the ante on the tea…this is Texas after all!

We love Grimaldi’s and will be going back very soon


Food: 4.0
Service: 3.5
Atmosphere: 3.0
Health Score: Currently unavailable…will update soon.

Grimaldi’s
3636 McKinney Ave. Ste 190
Dallas, Tx 75334
214-559-4611
www.patsygrimaldis.com

Ummmm....No...

PETA has recently asked Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream to stop using cow milk. The substitute.....human breast milk. They say that moving to human milk would lessen the suffering of dairy cows. Last time I checked, dairy cows that have given birth must be milked anyway. What about the suffering of milking humans? I can see it now....rows upon rows of women hooked to breast pumps...yuck. I am not a big milk drinker anyway. I prefer soy milk and still I don't drink much of that. I am not sure I could stomach eating ice cream made from human milk.

http://www.wptz.com/news/17539127/detail.html

Forkboy on Porta di Roma...

I love good Italian food and am usually very disappointed in most of it. Having eaten my way through Italy I now know better. Many years ago I found the love of my life...Nero's Italian. I went into mourning when they closed after 30 years. I discovered Porta di Roma after I moved downtown. The restaurant sits in a large corner retail space in the Wilson Building. The place is nice but a little to faux Italian in their decor. Walls have been sponge painted to resemble ancient Roman architecture and that kinda bothers me...a little tacky. But the lights are dimmed low with candles on the tables and the large windows open up to a nice view of Neiman Marcus. So there is a little romance there, even if a somewhat contrived. The service has always been great with the exception of last night. The usual waiter is super nice and a great waiter, however we did not have him last night. This woman served us and she was awful! We placed our orders and our food took 30 minutes. I wanted to leave after 20 minutes but Ron said shut up and wait. We ordered the Stromboli and when it arrived I asked why it took so long. She responded that these are made from scratch. Bull shit. We have ordered them many times before and they came within 10-15 minutes. I wanted to ask if they were made from scratch and shipped in from Italy but I thought best not to be a smart ass.

The Stromboli is really good, despite the wait. They are full of sausage, pepperoni, cheese, and mushrooms. I love mushrooms and I could tell these were from a can, not fresh but oh well. These are served with a side of marinara. Normally Porta di Roma has a really nice and thick marinara but this time it sucked. It has the consistency of a watered down tomato soup. Ron said his was slightly cold.

What I believe is their best dish is the Lasagna. Oh my goodness! Now their Lasagna is made from scratch as well but I have never had to wait a lifetime to get it. Anyway, their Lasagna is really the best I have ever had. It is not that heavy crap you get in other restaurants. The garlic bread is divine!! Although it comes with the meal last night must have been an exception because the waitress failed to bring it. We were afraid to ask about it since we figured that it would be next Tuesday before it was brought to the table.

Over all I was really pissed and disappointed in both the food and the service last night and that was reflected in our tip (which was less than 5%). I will go back but I will demand to be served by someone else. I think that last night was just not in the cards for us.

Food: 3.0
Service 3.5 (although last night would have been -3.5)
Atmosphere: 2.0
Health Score: 89 (Good)

Porti di Roma
1623 Main Street
Dallas, Tx 75201

El Fenixican...part bleh...

Last night we went to El Fenix downtown to have the wednesday special which they were offering at .90 for their 90th birthday. It was awful. El Fenix is certainly not four stars but after last nights dinner I think they should burn the place down. I don't believe that my dinner has yet to fully digest! I am not sure that I really would ever want to go back. I am going to update Forkboy on El Fenix.

El Fenix at 90...

OMG!!!! I am SO there!!! El Fenix will be turning 90 this year and to celebrate they will be offering their traditional Wednesday special (two enchiladas, rice, and beans) for 90 cents!!!!! Holy crap!! That means more margaritas!!!! Ole!

Rachel Ray has sold her soul...

I cannot stand Rachel Ray. She has whored herself out (thank you Oprah) to no end. Forbes just released the top ten celebrity chefs in term of income. Rachel is number 1 with an astounding 18 million dollars earned this year. I am not shocked really. Oprah has been pimping her out like crazy. I just wish they would both go away.

Top ten:

1. Rachel Ray 18 Million
2. Wolfgang Puck 16 Million
3. Gordon Ramsay 7.5 Million
4. Nobuyuki Matsuhisa 5 Million
5. Alain Ducasse 4.5 Million
6. Paula Deen 4.5 Million (also whoring herself out)
7. Mario Batali 3 Million
8. Tom Colicchio 2 Million
9. Bobby Flay 1.5 Million (can’t stand him)
10. Anthony Bourdain 1.5 Million (Love him!!!!)

Forkboy on Hook, Line & Sinker

I love fish. I love catfish. I especially love catfish when it is deep fried. The best catfish I have ever had was in Colorado. We would catch the fish ourselves in a creek behind the house and then fry it up that evening for dinner. Nothing like catching your dinner! What comes somewhat close is a quaint little urban-esq hole-in-the-wall called Hook, Line, & Sinker. The restaurant has a “fishing hut” feel about it. When I am eating there I get disappointed that when I look out the window there is not a large body of water staring back at me. There are misters on the patio but that isn’t really the same thing as a lake. Oh well.

The Food:
I just love when 90% of the menu is fried! I usually get the 2 piece fillet basket ($6.25). This includes two fresh catfish filets, four hush puppies, and fries. Nothing is cooked until you order it. The fish, fries and pups all come out steaming hot! The fish is flakey, moist, and has been deboned. The hush puppies are good but taste a little starchy. They could use more seasoning. That does not keep me from eating all of mine and all of Ron’s. I love hush puppies! You can also get the same basket with fried shrimp. The shrimp are huge, juicy and full of flavor. Anything you get fried will not be greasy. I don’t know how they do it but there is not an ounce of grease anywhere. And when I am feeling really in the mood to eat I order the Snow Crab and Boiled Shrimp (market price but usually around $18-$20). You get a pound each of the crab and shrimp with new potatoes and corn-on-the-cob. This is a lot of food and is perfect for sharing.

The Service:
The service is easy but can get really crowded. You order at the counter (from which you can see the entire kitchen), take a vibrating coaster and find a seat. During peak times HLS is so packed that I refuse to go. I will go at 11AM for lunch and be the only one in there. If you eat outside then you order inside and pick up your food outside. The service is overall friendly and fast.

The Atmosphere:
This place is very simple with a nice open and comfortable feel. HL&S is nothing fancy at all. Just about all walks of life dine here. Go during off-peak times because the place is packed!

Food: 3.5
Service: 3.5
Atmosphere: 2.5
Health Score: 94

Hook Line & Sinker
3103 Lemmon Ave.
Dallas, Tx 75204

Forkboy...

Forkboy has been kinda dormant lately.  Actually he has been eating at home-mostly.  Look for a new review on Hook Line & Sinker soon!  

Forkboy on A Casa Fox...

There are few restaurants that really rock my world. Nero's Italian, Cafe Charbon, Monica's, and a few others really inspire my taste buds. Not everything is about the food. The atmosphere, the people, the location, etc can really make a place special. Over the weekend in New York City, instead of the old standby Cafe Charbon, The Hazard's introduced me to A Casa Fox. Like Nero's Italian this restaurant made me feel at home, like sitting around my own dining table. I felt just as responsible for the food as the chef did. If the food was not perfect then there was something wrong with me, not the food. The restaurant is tiny, not shocking considering some of the eateries of New York. I once had Pad Thai in a restaurant the size of my bathroom. A Casa Fox is new and the brain child of Melissa Fox, a New York girl with some serious Nicaraguan roots. She is just as cute as a button. Don't let the cuteness fool you. Melissa is one tough cookie. She put that restaurant together herself and when the contractor screwed up the fireplace (I believe he eventually stopped showing up) she added stone and brick masonry to her resume. She rebuilt it herself and it looks beautiful. We walk in and she greets us heartily like she was expecting good friends for dinner. The Hazard's have already been there and she new them by name. 

Atmosphere:
The space is small and cozy. There are two large tables that seat large parties and small tables for that more intimate feel. She does not have her liquor license yet so it is BYOB, which is the best way in my opinion. Mr. Hazard selected two fine bottles from his collection. He handed over the bottle of white wine to chill. That was for the white wine sangria. The sangria is homemade with a "special ingredient." Fresh cut fruit (apples, mangos, etc) were plentiful in each carafe we had. The beverage was the perfect ending to a somewhat stressful afternoon and the perfect beginning to a relaxed and beautiful evening. The tables are set with a bottle of salsa and the silverware is wrapped in traditional red/white or blue/white bandanas (which I could not stop smelling because I could smell the fabric softener!).

The Food:
We began with a few Empanadas ($5 each). I started with a Portobello Mushroom and Smoked Gouda Empanada and it basically melted in my mouth. Her Empanadas are not fried, rather they are baked. I had never had a baked one before and I will probably never have another fried one for as long as I live. Instead of tasting the fried dough, you actually tasted the inside-which is were it counts. The combination of the mushroom and gouda is brilliant. It had just the right amount of cheese. I mean, this ain't a Totino's pizza roll I am talking about-full of grease. In fact there was nothing greasy about it at all. I ended up ordering two more; another Mushroom and Gouda and one Chorizo and Manchego. I am not usually a fan of Chorizo but this one was tasty and not to greasy. I was tempted to try the Black Bean and Queso Blanco but didn’t want to fill up. Served on the table is a wonderful spicy salsa. It was tangy and quite spicy and went well with the Empanadas. After stuffing ourselves with Empanadas, and still enjoying our Sangria, we tried the fried plantain chips with three sauces: fresh guacamole, pico de gallo, and black bean molido. The guacamole and pico were fairly standard but the black beans were excellent. People either screw up black beans by adding too much spice or not enough. This was just right. The plantain chips were thinly sliced and not greasy.

Now it was dinner time.

I cannot believe I kept eating. I ordered the Costillas de Cerdo ($24). It was worth every penny. Pork ribs marinated 24+ hours and slowly braised in their own juices until they become lightly crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. The meat literally fell off the bone. This was served with Spanish fried rice (which apparently looks just like white rice) and black beans in a clay pot. Perfect portions all around. Although I really could have done without the dollop of sour cream on the beans. Mrs. Hazard enjoyed the Pollo Machada ($16) which is shredded herbed chicken and seasonal vegetables marinated in spices and slowly simmered. It to was mighty tasty.

Service:
Our waitress seemed a bit off that evening and kind of slow and clueless. Mainly Ms. Fox was the one who took care of us. She even sat down and shared some wine! Then she brought more wine-it seemed someone couldn’t finish their sangria! We all sat there and talked and enjoyed ourselves. Then she insisted we have desert. So she ordered someone in the back to put an apple crisp in the oven. This was served with crème fraiche. So decadent and tasty it lasted all of about 2 minutes. The bill was paid we got up to leave and she came over to hug our necks. When visiting I recommend you bring an appetite! We left stuffed to the gills.

Bottom line:
I simply cannot wait to return.

Atmosphere: 5.0
Food: 5.0
Service: 4.0 (based on our waitress, not Ms. Fox)
Health Score: Who cares (the place was spotless)

A Casa Fox
173 Orchard Street
New York, NY 10002
212.253.1900

www.acasafox.com

Photo credits: Eric Hazard

Forkboy on Hunky’s…

Saturday evening was full of gayness. We all went and played Gay Bingo at S4. Proceeds benefit the Resource Center which is a great foundation. Anyway, after bingo we were starving and decided to head over to Hunky’s across the street. Hunky’s is located at Throckmorton and Cedar Springs in the heart of the Gayborhood.

Food…
Mainly burgers and sandwiches. I usually get a cheese burger (3.95) with swiss and tator tots (1.55). This visit proved a bit frustrating. The place was really not busy which was surprising on a Saturday night. Our food took forever and my order was wrong. I always order a burger dry no pickles with swiss cheese. This burger had everything on it. I took it back in and the nice lady behind one of the counters took care of it for me. They cooked it immediately as I waited. Once the order was good I devoured the cheese burger. The meat at Hunky’s is ground fresh everyday and patties are all hand-formed. The meat is well seasoned and quite tasty. Of course they used shredded lettuce-which I HATE WITH A PASSION! But I digress. The tots are nice and crispy on the outside and mushy on the inside. The fries are cut thick and are good but I like mine thin and crunchy. You can sit at the bar and eat and watch your milk shake come to life! The shakes and malts are good but for some reason I keep comparing any shake I have to Sonic (best shakes in my opinion).

Service…
You walk in and stand in line and order from the counter. During peak times the line can be slow and basically a cluster *&^%. But everyone is nice.

Atmosphere…
The restaurant resembles a 1950’s era diner. Shiny vinyl booth seats and dark tables. There is a low bar with stools. The kitchen is all open as well. The place is quaint and very bright. There is a patio for outdoor dining. I highly recommend sitting outside. The people watching is great. Bears, trannies, drag queens, etc all walk by headed to the clubs. This is not a place that I love. But if I am in the area I will usually eat there if it isn’t busy.

Food: 2.0
Service: 2.0
Atmosphere: 3.5
Health Score: 90

Hunky’s
4000 Cedar Springs Rd.
Dallas, Tx 75219

www.hunkys.com

The Barefoot Contessa...

We all know that I love food and I love to cook. Ron has his sports programs and I have my food network. My favorite television food personality is Ina Garten. She is known as The Barefoot Contessa and I simply adore this woman. Watching her show is like taking a chill pill. It totally relaxes me and puts me in such a good mood. It is apparent that she is well balanced and loves her life and her husband of 40+ years. She started out working in the White House as a budget analyst writing the nuclear budget under Ford and Carter. Not surprisingly she got burned out (no pun intended & she even has a pilots license!). Eventually leaving Washington, she purchased a specialty food store called The Barefoot Contessa in Westhampton Beach, New York. To make along story short she ended up selling the store years later (it eventually closed) and then The Food Network came-a-callin. She declined many times but finally caved in and her show is the highest rated on the network. Her show is filmed in her own kitchen in The Hamptons and often features her good (and most fabulously gay) friends.

If you have never seen her on TV then I highly recommend watching. Her cooking style is incredibly elegant and incredibly simple. I like to think of her as my informal mentor in the kitchen.

I came across an article in The New York Times that just make me love her even more:

“Bright-eyed and apple-cheeked,” Garten is enjoying unexpected success in the second half of her life. After 20 years of running a gourmet shop in the Hamptons (named for the Humphrey Bogart/Ava Gardner film The Barefoot Contessa), she sold the store and invested her own money in a cookbook, never expecting it to take off as it has. Now approaching 60, she has five cookbooks, a top-rated show on the Food Network, and a line of prepared foods.
But here’s the great part—Garten has rejected opportunities to expand even more. “She has turned down offers to start magazines or to be host for more TV shows. She has declined to endorse other food products beyond her own line and has rejected opening a chain of food shops.” Garten wants to preserve her quality of life, despite success. “There is a balance between having a life and having a business,” the article quotes her as saying.

That media whore Rachel Ray can suck it!

http://www.barefootcontessa.com/

Forkboy on Dan's...

On the way back to the airport in Austin we stopped and had lunch at Dan's Hamburgers. I was starving so anything sounded good. Dan's is not in a great part of town and the building itself looks like a Dairy Queen. But, the 35 year old restaurant seems to have withstood the test of time. After stepping into the place my first reaction was that this was a former Dairy Queen. Old white tables crammed into what is a decent sized space. All the blinds were drawn so there was this eerie feeling of the place closing in on you. Just odd. We walked up to the cash register to order. The story goes that Dan and his wife Fran worked together until a divorce where she got half of everything and started her own place called Fran’s. Apparently, according to the locals, the food just ain’t the same since the bitter divorce.

Food…
The menu is basic. Mainly burgers. You could order your burger by the size-which I thought was brilliant. Small, medium, or large burgers. I ordered a medium burger, small fries, and an iced tea. The burger was ok, nothing to write home to mamma about. I think it makes great hangover food. The meat was not overcooked but not very seasoned. I had to add lots of salt and pepper. There were plenty of onions and two big slices of tomato. This pleased me. However, I was incredibly annoyed at the shredded lettuce. I HATE shredded lettuce on a hamburger. Just totally pissed me off. The fries were thick cut and fairly good. The best part of the entire experience was the iced tea.

Service…
It helps if you speak Spanish. They seem all friendly but have a blank look on their faces. You order at the window and pick up at another window when they call your number. Listen carefully cause the speaker system is as old as the restaurant.

Atmosphere…
Dark and old feeling. Not inviting at all. All the ultra white table made me feel like I was in a hospital-very sterile feeling. When we pulled up there was an old Town Car with “Jesus is Coming” written all over it. That was the highlight of the dining experience at Dan’s.

Food: 1.5
Service: 1.5
Atmosphere: 1.0
Health Score: 73 (acceptable)

Dan’s
844 Airport Blvd.
Austin, Tx 78702

Forkboy on Rattlesnake Inn...

I flew down to Austin this weekend for a friends birthday. It was decided that we would go to to a hole-in-the-wall place in a town called Florence, Tx(pop. 1080). The place was not as such a dive as I had imagined. It was very open and airy, concrete floors, large garage doors that opened up. There were pool tables and a shuffle board table as well. There are few places I go to that remind me that I am certainly a Texan. Kinda nice to be reminded sometimes. The Rattlesnake Inn opened the day after prohibition ended in 1933. The original building is still standing and there is a new section that was added for expansion.

The food...
They offer a small but diverse menu. Hamburgers, BBQ ribs, pizza, salads, and such. The price is super cheap too. There were 5 of us and I was STUNNED to find out that our bill was $70. After all the beer and ribs we consumed I was amazed at the cost. The burger I had was good size and perfectly cooked medium rare-just like I like it! The bun was sweet bread which seemed odd at first but I love sweet bread. I was very disappointed to see shredded lettuce on my burger. I HATE that!!! I prefer a whole piece of lettuce. So the meal was very messy since they piled it on. Overall the burger was fantastic-one of the best I have had in a long time. The fries were mushy and slightly undercooked. I had a bite of my friends pork rib and found it quite tasty. Very meaty and tender and very messy-just like a good rib should be. I did over hear from some that the potato salad had way to much mustard.

Service…
Our server was dressed in mostly tattoos and piercings, very little else. Service was attentive, fast, and friendly.

Atmosphere…
If you can get past the feeling of eating in your garage then I think you just might enjoy this place. We sat in a newer section where the pool tables and stage were. A very interesting mix of people were scattered about talking, drinking, playing pool. Lots of bikers and country folk. All very nice people. Lots of smoking as well so if you are sensitive to smoke then perhaps you should stay away. I came home smelling like a night out at the clubs. The band was excellent and covered a lot of Johnny Cash.

Food: 2.5
Service: 4.0
Atmosphere: 3.5
Health Score: I am pretty sure they don’t care

http://www.therattlesnakeinn.com/

6060 Hwy 195
Florence, TX 76527

Forkboy on Easter Brunch...

Our good friend Michael threw a great brunch yesterday for his friends. I, personally, drank my weight in mimosas! We all chipped in and brought food and adult beverages. I made a cherry tomato salad with onion, basil, and feta. I also prepared a fabulous super gay blood orange and fennel salad with lemon vinaigrette. It was super good!!

Michael recently purchased the cutest house ever in Lakewood near White Rock Lake.

The food…
What I brought was, of course, excellent! Unfortch I cannot, in detail, remember what was all there. Due to the never-ending mimosa glass that was only empty once I cannot fully remember what all was there and who brought what dish. Over all the food was great!!

The Service…
The service was buffet style.

The Atmosphere…
Set in a 1950’s home that was very tastefully furnished. Everyone mainly hung out on the sizable deck in the back yard. Great friends and great food make for the perfect atmosphere!

Food: 5.0
Service: NA
Atmosphere: 5.0
Health Score: NA

Forkboy on Grotto Ristorante...

Update: 7/15/2008 Grotto is closed.

Last night I and the Mr. dined at Grotto Ristorante in Uptown on McKinney Ave. I had always wanted to try it but it took a birthday dinner to get me there. I also pass by the place every morning on my way in to the office. So I and the Mr. decided to take advantage of the beautiful evening and take the M Line Streetcar to the restaurant. My first impression was “wow, what a huge bar!” The place just seemed to pull you in and welcome you. Grotto used to be independent but is now apart of the Landry’s chain.

The Food…
The menu reminded me somewhat of the long lost and severely missed Nero’s Italian on Lower Greenville. Dishes like Paglia e Fieno, Fra Diavolo, a great wine list, exceptional deserts really brought back fond memories of my favorite Dallas restaurant. The gigantic menu held a bevy of Italian staples. The Mr. had a Pizza Margherita (9.95). This pizza was about the size of a medium Pizza Hut pizza. Very thin crust with basil, roma tomatoes, and fresh mozzarella. It was delicious. We often forget that pizza should be simple, easy, and not loaded down with a bunch of crap that is going to give you heart burn later. I was really in the mood for soup and decided on the Zuppa Mariata (5.95), aka “traditional wedding soup.” This was a blend of chicken broth, chicken meatballs, Italian greens, carrots, tomatoes, celery, and pasta served with a garnish of rustic bread. If there was chicken meatballs in this soup then I certainly wasn’t able to taste them or even find them. I didn’t send it back since I was at a table of twelve and did not want to be difficult. The soup was ok even without the chicken. The carrots and celery had a nice crunch to them, although I would have preferred them to be a bit more cooked. I think a hint of cilantro would have really brought out the flavors of the broth and greens. The soup was just "ok." The wine we had was very good. I had a Cartlidge & Brown Pinot Noir. I found it to be worth the $9 per glass fee. This wine was incredibly smooth and mild and just a delight to drink. The Mr. had the Red Diamond Merlot and it was equally as pleasing. I am not a huge fan of merlot but I liked this one. Not to heavy and overbearing. Next time I will skip the soup for a pasta dish-probably the Paglia e Fieno. We all passed around deserts. I highly recommend the cheese cake-it was like butta!!

The Service…
The wait staff was all pleasant and knowledgeable. For twelve people our waiter was good and no mistakes were made. I loved the fact that black cloth napkins were used. I hate white napkins. The waiter also refolded the napkin if you got up.


The Atmosphere…
The space is open and large but very inviting. The bar is at the front of the house and is a huge piece of black granite with mahogany everywhere. There is also a small area with a few tables and a roaring fireplace. And with the lights as dim as they were I just wanted to snuggle up near the fire. We sat by the open kitchen. Usually this would annoy me but not this time. The kitchen is separated by glass. I could see the chefs flipping their creations over an open flame. It was all fun to watch. Over all I was impressed with everything but the soup. I will definitely be going back.


Food: 3.5
Service: 4.5
Atmosphere: 4.0
Health Score: 90 (very good) as of 1/23/08

Grotto Ristorante
2222 McKinney Ave.
Dallas, Tx 75201

http://www.grottorestaurants.com/

Forkboy on El Fenix...

UPDATED 9/18/2008

El Fenix has been a Dallas institution since 1918. Founded by Mike Martinez Sr., El Fenix is the oldest family-owned Mexican food restaurant in the country. The original location is on McKinney Av. just north of downtown near Victory Plaza. I am convinced that the same people have been working there since 1918. I have been going there since I was a child. I always got the soft cheese tacos. Corn tortillas covered in melted cheese with onions. I thought I was in heaven when that steaming plate was placed in front of me! Ahhh, such fond memories. The formula has not changed much at all. The chips are the same thin and crispy goodness and I am sure that I have consumed about a ton of their salsa. It is so comforting that with all the uncertainty in this world that I can walk into El Fenix and enjoy a meal that hasn’t changed in almost 100 years. Senor Martinez also started the Mexican food revolution when he decided to inject a hint of Texas into his soft cheese tacos by adding Texas chili and hence forth the cheese enchilada came to life. The enchiladas are served with rice and beans. I have never been a fan of Mexican rice as it tends to be too coarse and dry for my taste. I usually have a bite or two and that is it. The beans are good but not my favorite. I prefer my beans a little more blended and smooth. A black bean substitution would be nice.

The Food:
The tortilla soup is seriously the best! But what brings me back every week is the Wednesday special. Two cheese enchiladas, rice, and beans all for $4.99!!! Add a few margarita’s and some good friends and you have yourself a great night in store! The enchiladas are just basic corn tortillas with cheese and onions and covered in chili. Just good old-fashioned down home Mexican cooking. Healthy? Of course not. The food sitting on that plate is simply a lovely mirage for the pound of lard that awaits ingestion. I don’t care. It is good and everyone else thinks so as well. There are many other dishes on the menu that I could try but why would you? The special and the soup are the best ever!

The Atmosphere:
The establishment is old and there are pictures of dead relatives hanging all over the place. There are ancient newspaper clippings about El Fenix hanging around as well. There really isn’t that much to the place except it just feels kind of homey and relaxed. Everyone eats there from the poorest to the wealthiest of Dallasites.

The Service:
Many of the wait staff have been working there since the dawn of time. Prompt and friendly service is standard. On Wednesday the special is served just as soon as you order it. Nothing fancy at all.

Food: 1.0
Service: 4.5
Atmosphere: 3.5
Health Score: 97 (very good)

Forkboy on Urban Cafe...

Urban Café began about two and a half years ago. It shares the first floor with a bar and Urban Market at the Interurban Building in Downtown Dallas. Coincidentally I live in the same building six floors up. The convenience factor is off the chart! If I am hungry or want a drink and just want to hang out then I head downstairs to Urban Café (usually the bar area). The Café has seen its share of managers and chefs. There has always been a hint of instability in the restaurant but that seems to have changed with the new management. The food is comfortable with a hint of southwest and tex-mex. This is evident in the fire roasted tomato salsa, fresh guacamole, and queso offerings. The nachos are wonderful. A huge pile of hot, thin tortilla chips with all the fixins including creamy refried beans.

The menu really has not changed all that much from the time the café opened. There is a Sunday brunch that is decent. I am particularly fond of the biscuits and gravy. Big ol’ biscuits with sausage cream gravy. Order the gravy on the side because you will get more. My opinion is that the gravy should completely cover the biscuits. Overall….very tasty. There used to be a kids menu that I miss greatly! The fried chicken fingers were the best ever!!

Breakfast:
The breakfast tacos are a favorite among the downtown crowd. I particularly like the basic bacon, egg, and cheese taco. American cheese, eggs (scrambled soft), and thick cut bacon. The thick slices of bacon make the taco! I also like the potato egg and cheese taco. There is a chorizo taco that is good but does not set well with my tummy. All tacos are $1.99 and are served with salsa.

Lunch/Dinner:
There is a great selection of salads and sandwiches available. My favorite is the 3-Layer Club (7.95). Fresh bread and great meat (they only use Boar’s Head). It is just a good sandwich, period. I was less than impressed with the Texas Cheese Steak Sandwich (7.95). It was ok but had more peppers than it needed (actually there should not be any peppers on it) and the roast beef seems far to dry. The only redeeming quality was the pepperjack cheese. The salads are huge and in my opinion count as a meal just by themselves. Stay away from the Taco Salad (6.95). It is super greasy. I am not a fan of the Black Bean Corn Relish that is mixed into it. The corn just seems completely out of place and tasted odd to me. More substantial offerings include the quesadilla’s (6.95-7.95) and the chicken fried steak (8.95). The best quesadilla on the menu is the Spicy Chicken Chipotle with grilled chipotle chicken, poblano peppers, onions, cheese, and jalapeños. This dish has some major kick and if you have heart burn issues then you might want to take your meds before ordering this. I order it without the poblano peppers because they tend to talk back to me within an hour or so (if you know what I mean…). Without the peppers, the dish is very enjoyable and still spicy and juicy. The crown jewel of southern cooking, specifically Texas, is the coveted Chicken Fried Steak. The CFS is so important that magazines run CFS specials (D Magazine just ran their CFS edition a few months ago). The best CFS is at the original Black Eyed Pea on Cedar Springs Rd. Urban Café’s CFS is fairly close in my opinion. Their CFS is a large and thick piece of meat surrounded by a golden brown crust. The steak is so tender that you don’t need a knife. Nothing gets on my nerves more than when a CFS is served with a tiny bit of gravy. I do not want to see my CFS. All I want to see is the gravy covering the CFS. So order the gravy on the side as you tend to get more gravy that way. The CFS also comes with toast and mashed potatoes that look like they belong on an elementary school plate (think ice cream scoop shape). They are a bit dry so cover them with gravy and all will be good. I would like to see Texas Toast instead of the whimpy slices of toasted white bread. Again, cover those in gravy as well! Over all the food is decent and the atmosphere is great. A large open space with lots of natural light greets you when you walk in. You can sit and watch the passers-by in comfort. There is also free wi-fi available.

Service:
There is none. You place your order at the counter and take a vibrating thingie and find a table (think Café Express). The vibrating thingie starts vibrating and you go up and get your food. Very easy and quick.

Food: 3.0
Service: NR
Atmosphere: 4.0
Health Score: 91 (very good)

Urban Cafe
1500 Jackson St.
Dallas, Tx 75201
http://urbancafedallas.com/

Forkboy on Taco Diner...

Ok, I said my first review was going to be Urban Cafe. I changed my mind. Last night Ron and I took the train to Target to buy a hack saw. But on our way back down to the depths of the underground station I thought it would be a swell idea to go and get some gelato at Paciugo in The West Village. The weather was fabulous and everyone was out. We had our ice cream and decided to take the M-Line Trolley back downtown. While waiting for the trolley we could smell the aromas from Taco Diner. So we decided to have dinner there. I had never eaten there and was looking forward to it since all I ever hear are great things. The place was packed both inside and outside. One thing about Dallas....good weather=a packed patio. We ended up eating inside. Ron went in and ordered us margarita's on the rocks while we waited.

Our table was now ready. The inside of the restaurant was very simple and bright. White leather booths and white tables. The music was a bit loud but the tunes were great so I didn't really mind that much. Of course, chips and salsa were brought to the table. The chips were ok, I have had better. They were a bit thick with an uneasy crunch. My first reaction was that they had been sitting out way to long. Two different styles of salsa were available. A red salsa made from charred tomatoes, jalepeno's, and garlic. It was good. The second salsa was FABULOUS! Salsa Avocate is a pale green, room temperature salsa made from avocado's, lime juice, and chili's. I wish I had asked to take some home. It is not very spicy and has the consistency of a slightly thickened soup. Absolutely the best, non-texas style, salsa I had ever had the pleasure of consuming.

The Margarita's:

There are all kinds of different Margarita's available. In my opinion any Mexican or Tex-Mex establishment should focus on their house margarita instead of the froo-froo crap some places like to call their speciality. Taco Diner's house Rita on the rocks (with salt) was excellent. Served in a tall glass this Rita was so smooth and did not have that shock of acid with each sip. I think that a house Rita at $8 is a little steep but it was so good I didn't care. We both had two each!

The food:

Of course I wanted to try the tacos. For $9.45 you get four tacos and rice. The tacos come wrapped in corn tortillas. The meat is inside the tortilla and you put it together yourself. Let me tell ya.....this ain't Taco Bell! I ordered two Carne Bistec (grilled steak with olive oil and garlic) and two Puerco al Pastor (pork loin marinated in achiote citrus marinade). The Bistec was tender and cooked perfectly. Although I would liked to have tasted a skosh more garlic. The Puerco seemed a little overdone but still was tasty. The use of garlic and citrus though is perfect for pork.

The service:

The restaurant was PACKED! But our wait was only about 10 minutes. I would like to have sat outside but thought that it would have been a much longer wait. The service was good. Even thought the place was full the waiter answered my questions and was attentive. Most importantly...he left us alone.

Overall, Taco Diner was a great dinner. I will certainly be going back.

Food: 3.0 on a scale of 1-5

Service: 3.5

Atmosphere: 3.0

Health Score:* 90 (very good)

*Health scores are provided by the City of Dallas

I need to find some tiny fork symbols and yes I used the word skosh.

Taco Diner

3699 McKinney Avenue Suite 307

Dallas, Tx

http://www.mcrowd.com/tacodiner.shtm

Forkboy...

While I was in college and living on campus I ate most of my meals in the crapateria.  During my stint there management erected a cork board and solicited for comments.  From this Forkboy was born.  I became the Midwestern State food critic.  Oh how I wish I had saved my commentary--journalism gold I tell you!!  GOLD!  

Anyway, I love to eat out and try new restaurants.  I have been somewhat bad about trying new places lately but hope to try something new every week.  For now I will comment on places that I have already tried.  So I am, henceforth, bringing Forkboy back from the dead.  The posting will be Urban Cafe so look for this in a day or so.

Sopapeople...

On Wednesday nights we go to El Fenix for the Wednesday special. $4.99 for 2 enchiladas, rice, and beans. A few margaritas and good company. El Fenix is, I believe, the oldest Mexican food restaurant in Dallas. It opened in 1906 and I think the same people are still working there. Anyway, on the menu are Sopapeople (think Sopapillas). The menu describes them as “shaped like kids (with honey)” and for $4.75 you get an order of 5 kids or a single kid for $1.75.

Pervs.