More reviews of Fort Worth's medium-priced restaurants, as before, we're following the lead of Sunday's New York Times reviews.
Red Lobster: There just something about Red Lobster that keeps me away. It is moderately priced, and the foods not too bad, then again, it's not that good either.
Score: 5 of 10
Pappadeaux: Another place I don't get, though, I haven't always felt that way. Years ago, when the DFW area had only two Pappadeaux restaurants, Dallas and Arlington, my wife and I frequented the Arlington restaurant often. It was very good and on the upper end of middle range. Table cloths, cloth napkins, sharply dressed wait staff, and the seafood was as good as you could get at the price. Two years ago I went to the Pappadeaux on University and I thought I was in Red Lobster. Haven't been back.
Score: 6 0f 10
Outback Steakhouse: Good not great. They have the informal atmosphere- good food niche. It's a matter of taste, but when I pay good money for a steak I don't want to sit on a picnic bench. Plus, the bloomin' onion, Aussie thing bugs me. Whoopy-frickin-do, you can deep fry and onion and get it to bloom.
Score: 7 0f 10
Logans Roadhouse: I can't eat anywhere that reminds me of the '80's Patrick Swayze movie of the same name. Sorry. Besides, if I can throw peanut shells on the floor I better be watching baseball or drinking massive quantities of beer.
Score: (you tell me)
Saltgrass Steakhouse: I like them. If I am out for lunch or dinner, and near one, I'll often choose Saltgrass. I think their food quality is very good. Priced about the same as Outback but I prefer the atmosphere.
Score: 8 of 10
PF Changs: I like them, too. The food is good, if a little on the expensive side. The atmosphere is pleasant and the wait staff are helpful.
Score 8 of 10
Not chains, but places I like in Fort Worth in the same category: Seafood? I'm probably going to Zekes for a fish and chips or Daddy Jack's downtown for seafood in a dining atmosphere. Steaks, in the mid-price range? Charlestons is very good, even if I do raise the median age of diners by 10 years (and I'm 55). Asian? Pei Wei on 7th is good for the price. Casual atmosphere, good, hot food, fast service. Walk along the river afterwards with a coffee from Starbucks.
Friday, May 9, 2008
Thursday, May 8, 2008
Jejune, and Other Cool Words
Grasp the subject, the words will follow.
Cato the Elder
Do you have words that you like but never get to use? I do.
Jejune, for instance. That's a good word with a very nice roll to it. I have never used that word in a sentence or a conversation. I wish I could. But I'm not exactly sure what it means. I have looked it up and have kind of an idea of what it means, but it never seems to pop up at the right moment.
Notwithstanding is another one. It's one of those connecting words that makes you sound smart. I get to use it once in a while and am pleased as punch when I do. I can't tell you what it means exactly, because it is the opposite of withstanding and I have never heard anyone say that. How, you ask, can I use the word when I don't know what it means? I don't know, but I have.
I heard the word melancholic the other day. That's a good one that I could probably wriggle in somewhere partly because its meaning is close to its sound. You know, colic is some sickness babies get and it's not good. So I figure melancholic must be bad as well.
Gravitas was a word that I liked a few years ago, but it is way overused now, so even though I could use it, I don't.
Effete is a word I have never used but wish I could. It would be great to roll it out in a conversation, but I won't because, again, I'm not exactly sure of its contextual meaning. I am sometimes tempted to use it instead of elite because it rhymes and, also, sometimes elitists are effete. Oh well.
I mean the following quite literally, I have wanted to use the word egregious in conversation for 25 years. Never have. Ever. I always bow to the more general words like hard or difficult, instead of the subtle one I would prefer.
My desire to increase my useful vocabulary notwithstanding, I am happy to see them in print.
There, that feels better . . . I think.
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
The Mid-Range Restaurant Chains
I read a lengthy Sunday NY Times article on mid-range price restaurant chains. The interesting lead to the article was the conclusion that many of them offer good meals at a good value. I am referring to restaurants like, Outback Steakhouse, PF Changs, Chili's, Applebees, Red Lobster, Olive Garden, etc.
A lot of food enthusiasts prefer not to eat at the chain restaurants and frequent the locally owned places. I agree in spirit, but in practice I think food quality is good, more dependable and often better at the chains, the food critics at the New York Times agreed.
For the next couple days I'll give my opinion on the local chains, starting today with the Mexican and Italian.
Mi Cocina's: I write about them often because the food is consistently good, the service is good and the serving sizes are enormous. One "tell" for a good restaurant: if you see the same waiters there year after year, something true at Mi Cocina's. Stay away from the $10 Mojito's.
Food taste score and value: 9 of 10
Gloria's: Not my favorite place. I understand many of you like it, but dollar for dollar I don't think they are close to Mi Cocina's. Technically, Gloria's is El Salvadoran with a touch of Tex-Mex. Their black beans are very good.
Food taste score and value: 6 of 10
Pappasito's: Great chips, good salsa, the best fajita's in town. One problem for me: it has a high energy buzz to it that I think is encouraged by the owners. I never get the feeling that I can relax and enjoy my meal. The decibel level is just too high.
Food taste and overall value: 7 of 10
Cantina Laredo: A little pricey, but it's an upscale kind of place and the food is very good.
Food taste and overall value: 8 of 10 (knocked down a little because of the price)
Uncle Julio's: Pappasito's lite. Good food, a local favorite, just too noisy for me.
Food taste and overall value: 7 of 10
The Olive Garden: Since I was raised in the back seat of an family-owned Italian restaurant I have a hard time eating at the Italian chains. I ate once at the Olive Garden 25 years ago and swore I'd never go back. People I trust say it's not bad these days.
Food taste and overall value: ? (you tell me)
Macaroni Grill: When they first opened they were very good. Now, I can't say much good about them. I have been twice in the last year and was disappointed both times.
Food taste and overall value: 6 of 10
In conclusion, you are not going to get a really bad meal in any of these restaurants. The better ones have established recipes that employees follow closely, which results in consistent quality, though sometimes boring selection. Because of the rigors of the corporate style they often are better than locally owned establishments. Yes, there are exceptions, like La Familia and Benitos. But -- at those two places the owner or manager is there and actively involved.
Next seafood and steaks.
A lot of food enthusiasts prefer not to eat at the chain restaurants and frequent the locally owned places. I agree in spirit, but in practice I think food quality is good, more dependable and often better at the chains, the food critics at the New York Times agreed.
For the next couple days I'll give my opinion on the local chains, starting today with the Mexican and Italian.
Mi Cocina's: I write about them often because the food is consistently good, the service is good and the serving sizes are enormous. One "tell" for a good restaurant: if you see the same waiters there year after year, something true at Mi Cocina's. Stay away from the $10 Mojito's.
Food taste score and value: 9 of 10
Gloria's: Not my favorite place. I understand many of you like it, but dollar for dollar I don't think they are close to Mi Cocina's. Technically, Gloria's is El Salvadoran with a touch of Tex-Mex. Their black beans are very good.
Food taste score and value: 6 of 10
Pappasito's: Great chips, good salsa, the best fajita's in town. One problem for me: it has a high energy buzz to it that I think is encouraged by the owners. I never get the feeling that I can relax and enjoy my meal. The decibel level is just too high.
Food taste and overall value: 7 of 10
Cantina Laredo: A little pricey, but it's an upscale kind of place and the food is very good.
Food taste and overall value: 8 of 10 (knocked down a little because of the price)
Uncle Julio's: Pappasito's lite. Good food, a local favorite, just too noisy for me.
Food taste and overall value: 7 of 10
The Olive Garden: Since I was raised in the back seat of an family-owned Italian restaurant I have a hard time eating at the Italian chains. I ate once at the Olive Garden 25 years ago and swore I'd never go back. People I trust say it's not bad these days.
Food taste and overall value: ? (you tell me)
Macaroni Grill: When they first opened they were very good. Now, I can't say much good about them. I have been twice in the last year and was disappointed both times.
Food taste and overall value: 6 of 10
In conclusion, you are not going to get a really bad meal in any of these restaurants. The better ones have established recipes that employees follow closely, which results in consistent quality, though sometimes boring selection. Because of the rigors of the corporate style they often are better than locally owned establishments. Yes, there are exceptions, like La Familia and Benitos. But -- at those two places the owner or manager is there and actively involved.
Next seafood and steaks.
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