A little love for the Old Neighborhood Grill.

photo from www.fortworthsouth.org

I hate to start with a side note, but in the "Why I love this English Language" department, a little etymology of the "neigh" in "neighborhood," would be an interesting search. Not only is there a silent "gh," but an A sound from an "ei." See also sleigh, freight, eight, but not slate, great, or ate. As Mike Rhyner says, weird.

Be that as it may -- the Old Neighborhood Grill.

I had a late lunch there the other day with a few guys. I've been to Neighborhood Grill maybe four or five times. And what I like about them is that they named their restaurant appropriately. It is a neighborhood place and guests are treated that way. I was early for our lunch and was greeted with "grab a drink we'll get a table set-up."

This is a place with an on-site owner who is making sure that his customers are treated like customers. Neighborhood Grill is counter-order and server-service and that's okay by me as well.

I had an Old Neighborhood Grill cheeseburger for the first time and I have to say it was very good.

But the reason I liked the place more than anything was that we sat there for an hour and were treated like neighbors. And that's hard to find anymore.

Old Neighborhood Grill
1633 Park Place Ave
Fort Worth, TX 76110

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Jersey Mike's on Hulen.

Yesterday, I stopped by Jersey Mike's to try their Philly cheesesteak. I have Jersey/Philly street cred, having lived in both places, so keep in mind, I'm picky.

Conclusion: Just decent. 6 of 10.

Jersey Mike's is a 500 location company; it's not some guy who just moved to Texas with a passion for cheesesteaks. And a company of that size has to make some compromises in the price/quality equation.

Here's my opinion on their approach:

• The steak is authentic "chip steak" as used in Philly.
• The steak portion of the sandwich is on the light side. The cheese flavor overwhelmed the overall taste.
• The cheese itself is American (I think). And American cheese is what? Not much. I prefer provolone. I wasn't offered an option.
• Sandwich could have had twice the amount of fried peppers and onions.
• The roll is big, fluffy white bread. I prefer a denser roll with a slight bit of crust.

I'm not trying to be a cheesesteak snob. Jersey Mike's is a decent, if pretty generic, cheesesteak but I'm not putting an "authentic Philly" seal on it. 

Sorry.

--------------------------------

Jersey Mike's is next door to Five Guys Hamburgers on Hulen south of I-20. 

Website: Jersey Mike's.

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Fort Worth's Best Barbecue

I like my beef barbecue smoked, sliced, served on a fresh bun, and topped with just a touch of sauce. For sides, I choose pinto beans with a jalapeno and potato salad. Good barbecue is an art that few master because to do it right you need time, the right temperature, moisture and the right smoke. In Fort Worth we are fortunate to have some masters: Angelo's, Railhead, Cousins, Colters, etc.

Cousins received a little national recognition this week when it was announced that Good Morning America considers it in the top 4 nationwide. The GMA Best Barbecue segment will be aired on May 23.*

Who has the best sliced beef sandwich in Fort Worth? You tell me.

Cousins Barbeque: http://www.cousinsbbq.com

Fort Worth Business Press: http://www.fwbusinesspress.com

The Best Donut in the World.

Fort Worth residents have a healthy choice of donut options. Boastful it may be, but I consider myself a connoisseur of the delicacy even though I can no longer can eat them.

The idea for this post comes from reading a Facebook "wall" (thanks Catherine) which had mentioned a trip to Krispy Kreme.

When the Krispy Kreme opened in Arlington, 10 years ago, my wife, son and I were there on opening day. I like them, I like their freshness, and I like the atmosphere of the place, but after time for reflection, I still prefer the Dunkin' Donut (currently reviving in DFW). In Center City Philadelphia, there is a Dunkin' Donut store every other block, far outnumbering Starbucks or any other food franchise. I have always liked the Dunkin Donuts coffee, too. But as to there donut, I think it has a little more body and is less sugary sweet.

In Fort Worth, if I have my choice. I'll take Paul's off Magnolia. The mid-cities has a new Dunkin Donuts, and in Grapevine, there was a drive thru donut store for years on Grapevine Highway that had the biggest and best donuts in DFW (is it still there?). Meadowbrook has a good donut shop on Meadowbrook Blvd. near Eastern Hills High School, and there are strip shopping center donut shops everywhere in DFW which usually serve good donuts.

What is it about this little wheel of deep fried dough that has moved some many people to stake their living on making and selling them? We don't have pie stores on every block. Maybe it's because one can have so many varieties. Maybe it's their compactness and ease of assembly. There is something about sharing them that is enjoyable for both giver and receiver. The donut has the right combination of ease of transport, eat-at-your-leisure, who-needs-health-food goodness, that makes them a perfect gift.

My favorite is the cinnamon-sugar cake donut, with a pint of chocolate milk.

Have a favorite donut shop?

Editor's Note: to donut-shop searchers in Fort Worth. Please read the comments below for more donut options.  Also in the right column you can "search this blog" for many other donut options. Just type "donuts" in the blank space.

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Late Night Eats

Fellow "Chowtowners"...

Where do you all head to for those late night cravings? You know what I'm talking about... Out having drinks with friends or up late reading your favorite super market checkout lane romance novel...

You get hungry. You want a meal.

Where do you go?

I'm still relatively new (a year fresh into Fort Worth) and found myself stuck ordering Papa John's at 1 am last night...

I hear Old South is open at all hours of the night, but... well... you know... But seriously? It seems like every other major city in the US has some really great food that can be served after midnight. I'm just struggling to figure out where it is.

Help me out...

(yeah, I totally came up with Chowtowners on my own)

Dunkin Donuts and Free Coffee for Fort Worth.

Dunkin' Donuts is offering free cups of coffee.

From a "Media Alert" to Food and Fort Worth:

"From Oct. 6-12, as well as every Monday throughout the month of October, all Dunkin’ Donuts stores in the metroplex will be offering customers a free medium-sized hot or iced coffee as a thank you for making the chain’s launch into Dallas/Fort Worth area so sweet."

I have a long history with the donut. I love them and they love me. When the Krispy Kreme opened in Arlington the wife and I were there, opening day, waiting in line for those first dozen off the line. Even then, I said that I preferred the Dunkin' Donut, but Dunkin Donuts had all but vanished from Fort Worth.

Today, Dunkin Donuts is planning a 150 store expansion into DFW and they are interested in winning over the everyday coffee drinker. I hope they do. They have good coffee, great donuts, respectable bagels, and their sandwiches aren't bad either.

I spent six weeks in Chicago a few years ago and every Saturday morning would buy the weekend working crews morning donuts and bagels. Every time I visited Dunkin' Donuts it was packed with "to go" business. The line moved quickly, sometimes faster than your ability to decide what to order. In Philly, same thing, every morning lines of 4 or 5 people and they are moving them through. I love it just to watch.

Good luck to Dunkin' Donuts and their expansion into Fort Worth.

My Problems with Pappas

I don't bash many restaurants, especially the smaller ones. If I don't like an establishment I don't talk about it, or I accentuate the good points. The exception to that rule is the restaurant that has had a great reputation but no longer serves good food. I don't mind talking about them critically.

I put Pappadeaux in that category. If you had ever visited one when they were a high end seafood house, you know what I mean. They were really good. Crisp, white table cloths and napkins, well dressed and groomed servers, and food that matched the look of both. Their food was always fresh, hot and plentiful, with fresh, hot rolls as soon as you were seated. Pappadeaux had it going on. No mas. They still pack them in at Forest Park and I30, so obviously not everyone agrees, but that is my view.

Pappasito's has a narrower menu and has kept a level of quality in their fajitas and tortillas, but the last time I visited, it wasn't as good as it once was. The servers were lackadaisical and untrained.

Pappas Burgers are okay, but expensive.

The Pappas Steakhouse in Dallas had the best steak I have ever eaten. A few years ago Texas Monthly agreed. I haven't been in 5 years so I don't know if that is still true.

Pappas Barbecue, like Pappas Steakhouse in the Stemmons restaurant row, is good but, again, expensive.

The Pappas Brothers have had a winning formula which combines new restaurants, an upbeat atmosphere, and strict formula cooking, and like all things formulaic, it is hard if not impossible, to maintain the original quality. I'm not on the inside of their business, but I do know that instead of a Pappas restaurant being my first choice in a category, I don't even consider them.

Boomer Jacks

If you want to watch a game and drink a few beers in a comfortable setting Boomer Jack's is a good choice. I counted no less than 10 big flat- screen TV's in not that big of a restaurant. I also like their indoor/outdoor bar set up. That's pretty cool.

The food?

If I go out for a hamburger I'm probably not going there, if I go out for a salad I'm definitely not going there -- but the appetizer was good and the best prepared dish. We ordered the Jack's Mix, which includes: Boomer chips (batter dipped and fried sliced jalepenos), fried mozzarella cheese and boneless chicken wings in a spicy sauce. All of the appetizer samplings were good to very good. I'd rate my wife's hamburger as fair, at best, and my grilled chicken salad as below average. Chili's is much better.

But I'm not their market. They are appealing to a younger crowd.

It is a great looking place and in a good location in Montgomery Plaza. The Friday lunch was respectably busy but not packed.

Lunch for 4 with an appetizer but no adult beverages was $49.00 plus tip.

Westward, Yo.

Before too long, I'll be landing at DFW and heading west to Fort Worth for the first time in a long time. Upon getting in the car I plan to adjust my car radio dial to 1310 the Ticket. I guess Greggo is gone but I’m dying to hear the Musers, Norm and Reiner.

My wife asked where I will be going first, food-wise. Maybe not exactly in this exact order, but here’s my list:

Central Market for lunch. Good salad bar, nice tables to sit outside. It’s too bad the original store managers are gone. They added something to the place and kept a closer eye on the finer details.

Starbucks on University – at some point you’ll find us sitting at the kids table in Barnes and Noble drinking a cup of coffee and playing with the grandkids. Hadn’t seen Elvis the artist at the window table in a while either.

Trinity River – the wife and I will take a long walk along the river on the North side of downtown. She’ll talk, I’ll listen, and somehow that’s the right order of things.

Mi Cocina’s downtown for a good Mexican meal with the family. If we can get an outdoors table , all the better.

Kinkaid’s for a burger. They haven’t moved yet have they?

Rangers game on Saturday night, I might even break down and have a ballpark beer and brat. Mavericks? Nah.

On Sunday, I’ll be fake singing in the choir at St Mary of the Assumption on Magnolia. Hey Ken. Donuts for the kids from Paul's.

Lunch again at Central Market, or Carshon's, maybe.

One night we’ll be at Charlie's for pizza.

I need to fit in a visit to Lili’s. I like those guys.

My daughter's for dinner on Sunday night with a few (dozen) friends.

I hope the taco truck is still there on 8th around Elizabeth. I have to see what’s going on downtown with the Omni, Lancaster Blvd, 7th Street, etc. It’s amazing, but they’re getting along just fine without me.

If I'm missing the "best of" something, please let me know. Remember, I only have 5 days.

29 Degree Tavern for Brunch? Yep.

Review by food enthusiast and accomplished Sunday night hostess, RJS.

I went to the 29 Tavern on Sunday after church for brunch and was pleasantly surprised at what I found. 29 Tavern is not the typical brunch atmosphere, it is a tavern after all, but the food is great and inexpensive. They have $1 Mimosa’s and Champagne Blush’s, and for $2 you can get a Bloody Mary! (editor's note: you did say this was after church?) I ordered an egg-white omelet with spinach, cheese, and mushrooms, with a side of potatoes for $6.99. The omelet was freshly cooked to perfection, not too moist or too dry, and the orange-cinnamon rolls that come free with the meal were outstanding! A friend got the Breakfast Chicken Fried Steak which looked and tasted fabulous. It was a large portion for $7.99.

29 Tavern has an extensive menu with lots of specials. Happy hour is Monday - Friday from 3-7 pm and 9-11 pm, serving $2 beer, $2.75 wells, and $2 appetizers. Their house wine is $3.95 a glass and is pretty good.

I will definitely be going back.

29 Degree Tavern - Fort Worth
4701 West Freeway
Fort Worth, TX 76107

http://www.29degreetavern.com/index.html

Best of 2007 (some surprise entries)

For the Best of 2010 go to: Best of 2010
Best of 2007 -- Fort Worth and Area:

Italian: Ruffino's. Pleasant dining atmosphere. Unhurried. Needs better bread.
Mexican: Mi Cocina - downtown and Cantina Laredo - downtown. Good food, more expensive than La Familia, but in my opinion, the food is better, too.
Pizza: Charlies Pizza on Meadowbrook Drive. Real New York style made by a real New Yorker.
Bread:
Whole Foods - Arlington. The only authentic bakery in town anymore.
I know the pastry chef of the North Dallas store. They're serious about their bakery. The Dallas-Fort Worth area does not have many old stand-alone bakeries. I wish we did.
La Madelaine's at one time had an authentic French baguette and other good baked goods. But don't get me started on that trainwreck passing itself off as a bistro.
Forget Corner Bakery.
Panera's has some decent breads, especially when they are fresh.
Central Market's breads all taste the same.

Intermission:
Bread is a perfect item for combining the five elements of pleasureful food: taste, texture, aroma, appearance and temperature. Does anything taste better than the aroma and appearance of fresh-baked, crusty bread? Some breads are chewy, others airy, some are better warm, others toasted, etc. Most local breads are all appearance and none of the other four. If a bagel-shaped bread product is not made from boiled batter it is not a bagel. It is a roll. Just as a patty made from a vegetable to look like a hamburger is not a hamburger. It is a veggie-burger.

Speaking of Bagels: Yogi's on Hulen. They are good.
Donuts: Pauls, off Magnolia. Good people, good donuts.
Chinese: I have no idea.
Sandwich: Carshons is our readers choice for sandwiches and F&FW agrees. Central Market at I30 and Hulen, also.
Burger: Kinkaid's, Tommy's, Boogie Burger. All good. You can have the nouveau places including Pappa's. Too expensive.
Coffee: Starbucks on University. Busy enough to have to make it fresh all the time. And nice folks as well. We need more locally owned coffee shops. Eurotazza is good. 4-Star is another local trainwreck.
Steakhouse: Del Frisco's, Downtown.
Best Destination Restaurant: Reata
Barbecue: Angelos on White Settlement.
Dining Restaurant Downtown: The Chop House on Main Street.
Beer Downtown: The Flying Saucer.
Beer elsewhere: Ginger Man on Montgomery and Bull & Bush.
Ice Cream: Braum's, $1.50 for a single dip of pretty good ice cream.
Biggest rip-off ice cream: Marble Slab.
Margarita: Mi Cocina.
Fajitas: Papasitto's on I30. Good beef, fresh flour tortillas. Cantina Laredo is a close second.
Sushi: Hui Chuan Sushi, on Camp Bowie.
Thai: Suk a Thai, in Arlington.
Nicest Small Restaurant Atmosphere: Zambrano's downtown.
Best Place to use wifi: Panera Bread on University.
Best View of Fort Worth: From the hilltop at Channel 5
Bet You'd Love It: the bicycle walking path on the North side of downtown
Best Bicycle Shop: Colonel's, TCU area
Best Bookstore in North Texas: The used Bookstore in Denton.
Best Place to buy vegetables: Fiesta Market on 8th Street
Best Radio Sports Talk: The Ticket, 1310 am.
New Night time drive-by: Lancaster south downtown. The street lights are in and look great. Coolest re-developing street: Lancaster Boulevard downtown
Best Pool Tables: Fox and Hound, Downtown.
Only Great Pool Tables in DFW: Dave & Busters / Dallas (also, real snookers table)
Best Date for the 50+ crowd: Dine anywhere downtown, attend a show at Bass Hall, or walk and have coffee and desert as you go.
Best Movie theater: Rave at North East Mall.
Most Improved Park: Botanic Gardens. Been lately? it's worth a visit.
Most Underappreciated Great Amenity: Trinity River Park and Botanical Gardens.
Favorite Architecture: Modern Art Museum
Most Dependable Good Meal: Charleston's on Hulen. Okay, it seems no one under 50 is allowed in, but the food is still good.
Most Looked forward to Development: Omni Hotel and Dallas Cowboys are two but there are many more.
Biggest how much money are they losing development? Montgomery Plaza. How long can the condos stay empty?
5 Year Prediction: The Dallas Cowboys Stadium will change Arlington for good and in a smaller way the entire Dallas - Fort Worth area. This really is big. Dallas will receive the least benefit of the major cities in DFW. What city receives the most benefit? Arlington, of course, then, Fort Worth, DFW Airport, Grapevine (hotel accomodations), Grand Prairie, Irving (the new use of the old stadium property will be better for them) and finally Dallas. The "center of gravity" in DFW has been shifting west and north and that trend will continue. The Cowboys stadium and the Texas Motor Speedway make Tarrant County a place with 2 of the countrys largest performance venues.
5 Year Prediction #2: Remember the old Graduate movie line: "think plastics." Well, if you are starting in business today, "think shale, Barnett Shale." Its effect on Fort Worth will be long lasting.

Another reader writes about sushi . . .

"If you like sushi you should go try Wasabi Sushi on Hulen - close to the Half-Price Books. Locally owned, the food is fresh and fabulous. A little pricey, but what sushi bar isn't? Great atmosphere for the middle of a strip mall."

Which brings up the question: Is all sushi expensive? Is inexpensive sushi worth purchasing? My wife came home with a store-brand, pre-packaged, sushi tray the other day, knowing that I love it, and I threw it out. It was almost unedible.

The question to the readers is: the best value sushi is where?

It must taste good, be fresh and be relatively inexpensive.

Last Chance: Sandwiches. Breakfast. Comments.

When it comes to favorite foods, mine is the old-fashioned sandwich. Good bread, good meat, a little mayo or mustard, a slice of avocado maybe, lettuce, fresh tomato. When all the ingredients are fresh, I love them. A suggestion was made that Carshon's has good sandwiches. I have found that the readers of this poor excuse for a blog know good food, so I will be going soon. Unfortunately, I will not be able to get there until the first week of December. If anyone else goes before then, I would like a report.
The "Best of" list that I re-post once every few weeks is my list after 25 years of dining in the town of the cow. It is just my opinion. I appreciate all the suggestions that I get and all reasonable suggestions will be visited. Please send more.

Breakfast, from most favorite to least favorite:
Yogi's: Great bagels. Good pancakes, good food. Way too crowded when I go.
Paris Cafe: Standard fair and good.
Ol South: Haven't been in a while, once was good.
La Madelaine: Nice atmosphere, fair food, fair bread, fair coffee. A shell of its past.
Denny's and IHOP: IHOP is too expensive and Denny's, I don't know, I just can't go there.
Waffle House: Hmmm. No. Actually the new ones in the suburbs aren't bad. But I don't go the the suburbs. It's scary up there.

My favorite outdoor cafes:
Nonna Tata, on Magnolia. (changed: see October 27, 2007 review. Editor)
Zambrano's, downtown.
Mi Cocina, downtown.
Railhead BBQ, on Montgomery.

Brunch: If you really like brunch, there is one and only one that is 4 star. Easter brunch at the Marriott DFW. Eat a light dinner the night before, make a reservation, and Easter Sunday enjoy the smorgasbord buffet, including the standard omelettes made to order; but also prime rib, cheeses, fresh waffles and pancakes, even things like peel and eat shrimp. Fresh pastries, chocolates and fruits are the desserts. Less extravagant and less expensive: the Blue Mesa on University has had a good brunch on Sunday for many years. I honestly don't know if they still do. But I have been and it is good.

Best of Fort Worth (August 2020 update)

Best of Fort Worth

August 2020 Update

The following are the places the editor frequents:

Italian: Nonna Tata

Mexican: Benitos for family style; Mi Cocina for more upscale

Pizza: Picci Pacci

Almost Fine Dining: Lili's. Very good food, good atmosphere

Bread: St. Honore Bread (artisan sourdough) (st.honore.bread@outlook.com)

Donuts: Pauls, right off Magnolia. Good people, good donuts.

Burger: Five Guys Downtown or Fred's

Fajitas: Pappasitos

Coffee: Coffee Folk in Meadowbrook. Absolutely, the best in Fort Worth.

Ice Cream: Braum's, $1.50 for a single dip of pretty good ice cream; Melt (much more expensive but good)

Coolest re-developing area: near South side and Magnolia Blvd, south of downtown. 

Most Inspiring Church Architecture: St Mary's of the Assumption, Magnolia St.

Best Grocery Shopping: Central Market or Trader Joe's or Tom Thumb on 7th

Best Upscale Shopping: Shops at Clearfork

Best Walk on River: Clearfork

Best Chicken Tenders: CookShack on University

Best fast food fried chicken: Lisa's Chicken

Wine and Food Lovers: Zambranos: Good!

Some people just have good taste. Cef Zambrano is one them. You can see it in the new wine bistro, Zambrano Wine Cellar, he opened on Houston and 9th Streets in downtown Fort Worth. He took a pretty beat-up coffee shop and turned in into a bistro showpiece. This is a very good looking place. It's small with seating for about 30 - 40 including some outside tables and the bar seating. The wine display, table settings, and wall paintings all suit the space and the cuisine. Even the waitresses are good looking which is never a bad thing.
Best of all, the food is good. Pizza, cheeses, salads, bruschetta. All suitable to a wine tasting bistro. The wine selection is over 200 bottles with 30 available by the glass. This a great place for the wine appreciator, but both food and wine lovers should stop by, wish Mr. Zambrano well and have a glass or two. This is the kind of place Fort Worth needs.
The bad news: until the Omni is complete and Lancaster Boulevard populated with residents, shoppers and strollers from Sundance Square, I think he'll have a hard time getting the casual, walk-by diner. There just isn't a lot of foot traffic going by right now. In 6 months or so, when those two developments get started I think he'll be looking for a larger place.
My wife and I had pizza, a fresh garden salad and bottled water all for under $40 including the tip. I would love to have enjoyed a glass or two of the dry red stuff, but alas, I can not.
Great place for a light dinner, or lunch, a glass of wine and a walk around Fort Worth afterwards. Or for a drink after a movie or show at Bass Hall. I really liked this place.

Open for lunch and dinner. Visit their website at: http://www.zambranowines.com/

Lili's -- What's Right and What Is . . .

Wrong? . . . Not really anything because the food at Lili's is good and it is reasonably priced, and anyone who names a restaurant after their daughter has some idea of what's important.
It's just that, well, one night I was with my son, who lives near there, and we were without our respective families so I asked him if he wanted to get dinner. I chose Lili's. The food was good, the service was good, the owner was friendly -- but for two guys who probably would have been more comfortable at a burger joint it was a little too feminine. I was okay, my son was squirming like a you know what in church. Can I blame them for that? Of course not.
I would place Lili's in the boutique restaurant category, it is after all called, Lili's Bistro, but for most of us that is an uncertain description; it has tapas menu as well as a full plate menu.
I chose the Grilled Halloumi (a mild and smoky cheese) for an appetizer, which was excellent, and the crab cakes for dinner. I had just had a fantastic crabcake in Baltimore a few days prior so I thought let's try the Bistro version. It is served in three small patties with a kind of wasabi sauce. It was very good.
My son is 27. I'm not sure what he had but he needed to eat again a couple hours later. Like I said, he's 27, so he needs to eat every couple of hours anyway. Can I blame Lili's for that? Of course not. Will I go back? Maybe for lunch. But for dinner, ladies, enjoy.
Dinner for 2, with tip and without adult beverage, costs around $50.
Website: http://www.lilisbistro.com

Movie Tavern vs. Studio Movie Grill: A Guest Post

A guest post from RJS

I took a break from the kids last night and went to see Eastern Promises with Charles. We have decided that the movie-dinner-drinks combo is a brilliant idea and usually go to the Movie Tavern in Bedford.
Now before we get started, the Movie Tavern experience has greatly improved in the last couple of years since the original Movie Tavern was bought out. What used to be a dank, old movie theater whose single draw was cheap beer you could drink during your movie with waiters bringing you your meal from a small menu of frozen pizza, micro-waved buffalo wings, (gross) or mini corn dogs (also pretty gross), has turned into a pleasant experience. They remodeled theaters and brought in a full menu including some pretty good salads, a full bar drink menu, a good beer selection and some nice wines as well. Apparently, the trend has taken off, a sign of this being the new chain of Movie Diners called, Studio Movie Grill. The newest one is in Arlington, and as it was the only one showing Eastern Promises (I will save that review for another day) so we thought we would try it.
The first problem was the broken automated ticketing machine outside (I don’t know why since I think they just opened) which wasn’t a really big deal. The inside was very nice and new and without the stale popcorn smells which I appreciated, but the theater seating was a disappointment with row upon row of rolling black desk chairs! Movie Tavern has nice traditional reclining seats and I was not super excited about rolling around with my glass of wine. We ordered chicken nachos, I had a glass of cabernet and Charlie had a margarita. The glass of wine was good and they gave a full glass (I needed every drop just to get through the movie), Charlie had a good frozen Margarita but had to ask for a straw after he got tired of licking the margarita from the glass. The nachos were okay, but there wasn’t much chicken, in fact we had a hard time finding anything beneath the huge mound of shredded lettuce. I think there were a few chips and some chicken beneath all that, but I got a little tired of looking for it. I didn’t mind as I lost my appetite in the first 5 minutes of the movie. They gave us a coaster which had a button you pushed when you wanted to signal your waiter. This didn’t work either, and since there were no waiters in sight we were never able to order drink refills or additional food. Movie Tavern always brings your ticket about 35 minutes before the end of the movie, so you can leave promptly – no such luck here. We had to sit through all the end credits and then some because they waited until the movie was over to bring our ticket. I have to say I will stay with the original here – Movie Tavern has it down. Their waiters are well trained, their food is great, and the entire experience is much more comfortable.

Editor Summary: Go to Movie Tavern

How to Order a Cheesesteak in Philadelphia.

I have just returned from 4 weeks in Philadelphia. Since I grew up just 30 miles south of Philly I know how to order a sandwich. But in case you go there for a visit, here are a few pointers:
If it's a woman behind the counter she'll say, "What d'ya want hon?" If it's a guy, he'll say, "Hey Bud, what can I get ya?" If they are real busy, they'll just flick their head up while looking at you. That means GO. And if you don't the next guy will. You say, "Cheesesteak small," that's it. Not cheesesteak sub or sandwich. "Cheestay" is okay as well. Pause briefly as they write, then say, "fried onions" if you want them, and "sweet peppers." If they have a choice of cheeses they'll ask, "American?" You say, "provolone", pronounced "priv' u lone." They'll say, "Anything else"? At this point don't say something like ketchup, or mustard, or mayonnaise. Tomatoes are okay, and in a pinch lettuce, but don't push your luck. They're going to serve you whatever they serve you and you're going to like it. Here is the real beauty of it. A 10 inch crusty sub roll filled with steak, cheese, peppers, and onion, served wrapped in paper, and placed in a bag, piping hot is about $5.50. Where do you order them? Almost anywhere, but honestly I look for a small, busy establishment with an Italian looking guy behind the counter. Not a chain looking place but someplace named, Gus' or Franks. Don't be afraid of the street corner stands, for breakfast you can get the same roll with 2 eggs, scrambled while you watch, with cheese and Italian sausage for about $2.50. Hot, fresh and fantastic.

My Opinion on the Major Fast Food Franchises

1. Burgler King: They have transferred ownership more often than Paris Hilton transferred jail cells. The initial concept was good, and their burgers aren't bad but it's hard to find a store that is well maintained. Can't somebody run that thing?
2. Waffle House: If small is beautiful to you you will love their chicken eggs.
3. Chick-Filet: I don't get it. A white bread bun, a piece of bland as hell chicken breast and a sliced pickle with some really bad waffle shaped fries for $5. No thanks.
4. Taco Bell: I like them at times. Hot, tasty and cheap.
5. Wendy's: Everyone is trying to match their success with salads. $4.50 for a pretty good salad is not bad. Better than McDonald's and fresher. Wendy's makes their salads every day on-site. For the money they are good. 99 cent deals led the way in the industry.
6. Braum's: I like their ice cream but their burgers are dangerous. How long has the cook been out on parole?
7. McDonald's: The precook- and- steam- them- later concept is failed. Everything else you do is genius.
8. Taco Bueno: Has anyone told you guys that dark woods and macrame are no longer in style? Great start, stick a fork in it now.
9. Krystal's: It's kind of hard to criticize something that bad.
10. Chili's: Great franchise and money in the bank for Brinker Int. Good burgers, good salads, a nice bar. How they maintained the onslaught of competitors I don't know but they are the last one standing against the foes of TGIF, Bennigans, Harrigans and all the other 'gans. I know it's hard to change a winning formula but the decor is still '80's and they need to change it.
11. SaltGrass: Good food, good atmosphere. They are making money. Middle ground of a very good meal and decent price.
12. Bennigan's: Are they still around?
13. The Black Eyed Pea: They're back! And as good as they were before they sold out to the man.
14. The Purple Cow: I ain't eating anywhere that has the name purple in it.
15. Pei Wei: I like it.
16. Whataburger: Best cheap breakfast burrito.
17. Kentucky Fried, Church's, Popeyes: I'll eat at Church's occasionally.
18. Olive Garden: You're kidding right?
19. Macaroni Grill: Once great, now terrible and I do mean terrible.
20. Outback Steakhouse: Good, but too cafeteria style for me.
21. Jack in the Box: I'll eat there just to support their "Angus" commercial. Since I don't drink anymore their deep fried tacos don't appeal to me at midnight. (But they used to).
22. Boston Market: Once the wave of the future, now, they're toast. I think McDonald's just sold them off. Good riddance to cold (but supposed to be hot) baked chicken.
23. Chipotle's: McDonald's made a much better purchase here. It's okay to good in my opinion.
24. Sonic: I have no idea. I hate their commercials and strawberry-banana-cherry shakes don't appeal to me.
25. IHOP: No offense but $8 for pancakes in that setting doesn't turn me on.
26. Cracker Barrel: I'm 54. When I lower the mean age of the diners by 10 years, I'm not going. Hello Branson.

08/17/07 Updated --Where to Eat in Fort Worth

1. Central Market -- Still my favorite place in the city. $$
   
2. Mi Cocina -- Mexican Restaurant. 2 locations, downtown, and I30 and Hulen St. Good food, great service, fair price. $$
   
3. Kincaids -- Hamburgers and fries. On Camp Bowie, north of I30. Consistently good, great place to sit and talk and inexpensive. $
   
4. Angelos -- Barbecue. White Settlement Rd. As old as dirt and deserving of its great reputation. $$
   
5. La Piazza -- Italian. University, south of I30. Fine dining Italian style. $$$$
   
6. Charlies Pizza -- Pizza. Meadowbrook, south of I30. If you thin crust, New York style pizza, this is it. $
   
7. Cantina Laredo -- Mexican. Downtown. Really good food. $$$
   
8. Suk a Thai -- Thai. If you don't mind being in Arlington too much, we love this family run Thai restaurant. $$
   
9. Hui Chuan Sushi -- Japanese Sushi. Camp Bowie, south of I30. Authentic Sushi. $$$
10. Lili's -- Sandwiches. Magnolia around 6th St. New and very good. $