Greek House is one of only a few Greek restaurants in Fort Worth. Most people have heard of King Tut on Magnolia, the more famous Greek restaurant (though technically Egyptian.) Greek House is less known, located at Park Hill and Forest Park in the TCU area.
I arrived at 7:30PM, 30 minutes before closing, to an empty restaurant. All around me were a hodge-podge of random decorations that didn't really seem to go together. Mexican flag colored chili pepper christmas lights mixed with Japanese art and paper maps of Fort Worth. I wasn't sure what to make of it. The decor felt kitschy and just added to the confusion of how to order. The menu is on the side wall and not visible from the doorway. The counter doesn't really look like one you would order from, so I can see where diners might sit down at a table and wait for service. Overall, not an impressive interior.
I walked up to the counter after staring at the large menu on the wall and ordered a Gyro sandwich ($5.54) and a side of Hummus ($5.40). Right away, I wondered if I had made a mistake by coming. The manager/owner asked me if it was to-go and when I said no, he looked at the clock behind him, implicitly telling me to get out of the restaurant so he could finish cleaning and go home. I handed him my credit card where I was charged $18.50 without explanation. I assumed I had misread the menu and had actually ordered something bigger, so I sat down and waited to see.
The hummus came out first with four pieces of buttered/oiled and grilled pita break with seasoning. At first, I rather liked the grilled version as a nice variation, but by the second piece I yearned for the traditional soft version. The oil/butter and seasoning overpowered the hummus and turned a normally healthy snack into a greasy one. Some may like it, and it wasn't awful, but I would prefer normal pita bread.
The gyro sandwich came next. Unfortunately, it was wrapped in the same grilled pita break with the same seasoning! Also, the tomatoes in the picture were nowhere to be found. Meat, onions, and tzatziki were present, but not in the normal quantities. The gyro wasn't very well made. While the meat was spread evenly, all the onions and tzatziki were on one half. I rebalanced the sandwich myself and bit in. I felt the same way about the sandwich as I did the hummus. The pita bread's flavor interfered with the filling. I had no issue with the insides; they tasted as would be expected. The meat seemed a little dry, but I had come in late, so the heat may have dried out part of the meat I received.
After placing my food on the counter, the manager/owner and his wife disappeared into the back although I could hear them speaking in another language. (Greek?) They never asked me if my food was good or handed me my credit card receipt which laid behind the counter. It just wasn't worth it to me to try for my $5 back, so I left.
Verdict: Greek House may survive because there are simply too few alternatives to provide competition. That said, if everyone had my experience it would probably close next month. The food was average and the service was lacking. I won't be back.
Food: 2.5/5
Service: 1/5
Atmosphere: 2/5
Greek House is located at 2426 Forest Park Blvd in Fort Worth.
Friday, October 30, 2009
Paco and John Mexican Diner (Lunch)
I opened the refrigerator this morning and saw the Paco and John guacamole from last week that I regretfully was unable to finish before leaving on my latest business trip. I sadly threw it away, but easily decided on a lunch spot for today.
Paco and John Mexican Diner has a very unusual attribute to it. At lunch, it serves very reasonably priced tortas, enchiladas, and tacos. At dinner, it morphs into gourmet French-Mexican fusion cuisine with a matching price tag. Their web site does not even show them being open for dinner, but I assure you they are. If you have ever craved crab tacos or duck enchiladas, make sure to stop by in the evening. I will save that review for another time.
At lunch, P&J is packed full. It is a former gas station and still retains the convenience store refrigerators that will happily store your beverages for you (BYOB). Alone, I managed to fit into a small table at the back while multiple groups stood near the door waiting for their turn. The inside is an interesting mix of cultures with fancy, styled ceiling tiles, old southwestern curtains on the windows, a kitchen in the dining area, and refrigerated beverages cases, and as many tables as can comfortably fit, all in the area of a convenience store. At lunch, silverware is provided rolled in paper napkins, but at dinner nice tablecloths and cloth napkins are used.
I was lucky enough to be alone and could fit into that cramped back table where I was promptly greeted by a smiling waitress. Unfortunately, I could not understand her. I am a life long Texan, so I am very familiar with Hispanic accents and even knew a good amount of Spanish at one point in my life. I guessed she was asking for a drink order and she seemed satisfied when I said Diet Coke. I have been to P&J's before and had no issue communicating so she must have been new. She brought me my Diet Coke and looked at me with pen and paper, so it didn't really matter if I could understand.
The menu is fairly simple and features tortas ($5.75), enchiladas ($6.95-$8.95), and tacos ($1.45-$1.75). Burritos and quesadillas are also available. I had a torta last time (good, but Meli's Taqueria is better) and so this time I went for the 2 taco plate, one carnitas and one beef fajita. It comes with the standard accompaniment of rice and beans.
I snacked on the usual chips and salsa while I waited. The chips were a dark yellow corn and weren't especially remarkable, but they did their job. The salsa was a very thin, medium spice salsa. It had a watery consistancy, with Puréed vegetables suspended in it. It was probably fresh out of a blender and contained a decent amount of cilantro. This salsa had the exact opposite consistency as the thick, pasty salsa you often find in jars. It was very light and fresh.
My tacos came quicker than expected based on how busy it was. Two-medium sized tacos stuffed with meat, onions, and cilantro filled up half the plate while refried black beans, mexican rice, a lime, and a very thick green tomatillo sauce occupied the rest. I began with the carnitas taco. I held off on the sauce for now and bit into the best carnitas I have ever had. If you have had carnitas at Chipotle, a local barbeque place, or a taqueria, you need to come to Paco and John's to see how it's done. I added some of the thick green tomatillo sauce (gravy?) which tasted fine. I hadn't even made it to the beef fajita taco, but was already wishing I had ordered two of the carnitas variety instead. The fajita taco was a good value, but nothing spectacular. That's probably because you can put high grade steak into tacos to make them taste better, but I haven't seen gourmet carnitas at Del Frisco's lately. Some places serve tacos in double corn tortillas because a single one will break. Here, one was used, but had been hardened. I'm not sure if it was flash-fried or had been baked. Either way, it did its job and held the fillings in.
The beans were nicely done. They reminded me of Gloria's, but that's probably because Gloria's serves refried black beans at the start of a meal. The cheese was flavorful without overpowering, making a good partner for the beans. The rice was some of the lightest and fluffiest rice I have eaten. It had a good amount of flavor, but gets credit mainly for not being heavy and soaked in oil. As a nice surprise, a bite of fried sweet plantain was on top of the rice. It made for a nice finishing bite and counted as dessert for me.
Having scarfed down my tacos, it was time to go. Unfortunately, my waitress had other plans. She was having problems speaking to a newly arrived table. It sounded like she was answering questions about the menu by pointing at the explanatory description written on the menu. (Don't ever do that. Most customers can read.) Eventually a different waitress brought me my check, but it was incorrect. I had been charged for both a Diet Coke and a Mexican Water. I'm not actually sure what a Mexican Water is, but I'm fairly confident I did not drink one. Unfortunately, this meant I had to wait for the original waitress to correct the ticket. When she finally did, she dropped off the check and walked away even though I was holding my Discover card out to her. I think another table was waving at her, so she must have been distracted. I was able to have another employee take my card and finish the payment process.
Verdict: Paco and John's Mexican Diner is a great lunch spot if you're in the Fort Worth Medical District. All lunch dishes are high quality, but I give especially high marks to the tacos. I spent only $6.70 plus tax and tip!
Food: 4.5/5
Service: 2/5 (On a previous occasion, I had no issues. I think my waitress was new.)
Atmosphere 2.5/5
Paco and John Mexican Diner is located at 1116 8th Ave in Fort Worth. It is at the corner of 8th and Rosedale in the Medical District.
Paco and John Mexican Diner has a very unusual attribute to it. At lunch, it serves very reasonably priced tortas, enchiladas, and tacos. At dinner, it morphs into gourmet French-Mexican fusion cuisine with a matching price tag. Their web site does not even show them being open for dinner, but I assure you they are. If you have ever craved crab tacos or duck enchiladas, make sure to stop by in the evening. I will save that review for another time.
At lunch, P&J is packed full. It is a former gas station and still retains the convenience store refrigerators that will happily store your beverages for you (BYOB). Alone, I managed to fit into a small table at the back while multiple groups stood near the door waiting for their turn. The inside is an interesting mix of cultures with fancy, styled ceiling tiles, old southwestern curtains on the windows, a kitchen in the dining area, and refrigerated beverages cases, and as many tables as can comfortably fit, all in the area of a convenience store. At lunch, silverware is provided rolled in paper napkins, but at dinner nice tablecloths and cloth napkins are used.
I was lucky enough to be alone and could fit into that cramped back table where I was promptly greeted by a smiling waitress. Unfortunately, I could not understand her. I am a life long Texan, so I am very familiar with Hispanic accents and even knew a good amount of Spanish at one point in my life. I guessed she was asking for a drink order and she seemed satisfied when I said Diet Coke. I have been to P&J's before and had no issue communicating so she must have been new. She brought me my Diet Coke and looked at me with pen and paper, so it didn't really matter if I could understand.
The menu is fairly simple and features tortas ($5.75), enchiladas ($6.95-$8.95), and tacos ($1.45-$1.75). Burritos and quesadillas are also available. I had a torta last time (good, but Meli's Taqueria is better) and so this time I went for the 2 taco plate, one carnitas and one beef fajita. It comes with the standard accompaniment of rice and beans.
I snacked on the usual chips and salsa while I waited. The chips were a dark yellow corn and weren't especially remarkable, but they did their job. The salsa was a very thin, medium spice salsa. It had a watery consistancy, with Puréed vegetables suspended in it. It was probably fresh out of a blender and contained a decent amount of cilantro. This salsa had the exact opposite consistency as the thick, pasty salsa you often find in jars. It was very light and fresh.
My tacos came quicker than expected based on how busy it was. Two-medium sized tacos stuffed with meat, onions, and cilantro filled up half the plate while refried black beans, mexican rice, a lime, and a very thick green tomatillo sauce occupied the rest. I began with the carnitas taco. I held off on the sauce for now and bit into the best carnitas I have ever had. If you have had carnitas at Chipotle, a local barbeque place, or a taqueria, you need to come to Paco and John's to see how it's done. I added some of the thick green tomatillo sauce (gravy?) which tasted fine. I hadn't even made it to the beef fajita taco, but was already wishing I had ordered two of the carnitas variety instead. The fajita taco was a good value, but nothing spectacular. That's probably because you can put high grade steak into tacos to make them taste better, but I haven't seen gourmet carnitas at Del Frisco's lately. Some places serve tacos in double corn tortillas because a single one will break. Here, one was used, but had been hardened. I'm not sure if it was flash-fried or had been baked. Either way, it did its job and held the fillings in.
The beans were nicely done. They reminded me of Gloria's, but that's probably because Gloria's serves refried black beans at the start of a meal. The cheese was flavorful without overpowering, making a good partner for the beans. The rice was some of the lightest and fluffiest rice I have eaten. It had a good amount of flavor, but gets credit mainly for not being heavy and soaked in oil. As a nice surprise, a bite of fried sweet plantain was on top of the rice. It made for a nice finishing bite and counted as dessert for me.
Having scarfed down my tacos, it was time to go. Unfortunately, my waitress had other plans. She was having problems speaking to a newly arrived table. It sounded like she was answering questions about the menu by pointing at the explanatory description written on the menu. (Don't ever do that. Most customers can read.) Eventually a different waitress brought me my check, but it was incorrect. I had been charged for both a Diet Coke and a Mexican Water. I'm not actually sure what a Mexican Water is, but I'm fairly confident I did not drink one. Unfortunately, this meant I had to wait for the original waitress to correct the ticket. When she finally did, she dropped off the check and walked away even though I was holding my Discover card out to her. I think another table was waving at her, so she must have been distracted. I was able to have another employee take my card and finish the payment process.
Verdict: Paco and John's Mexican Diner is a great lunch spot if you're in the Fort Worth Medical District. All lunch dishes are high quality, but I give especially high marks to the tacos. I spent only $6.70 plus tax and tip!
Food: 4.5/5
Service: 2/5 (On a previous occasion, I had no issues. I think my waitress was new.)
Atmosphere 2.5/5
Paco and John Mexican Diner is located at 1116 8th Ave in Fort Worth. It is at the corner of 8th and Rosedale in the Medical District.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
La Hacienda Ranch
La Hacienda Ranch serves fairly standard Tex-Mex with a southwestern bent. In an area saturated with Tex-Mex, it's easy to find somewhere close by, so is it worth it to travel to Colleyville?
The first uniqueness I noticed at LHR was the giant stuffed bear in the entryway. It looked quite real and even smelled like a bear. Combined with real saddles being used as bar stools and antlers galore, La Hacienda Ranch certainly looks a little different than your run of the mill Tex-Mex restaurant. The hostess was dressed as a cowgirl, complete with bandana, oversized belt buckle, and hat. In fact, all the employees wear varying levels of an outfit you would expect to see in an old western movie. Fun.
I was placed in "Papa's Room" with one other table. This was actually nice because the area near the bar was noticably loud. The private room allowed me to hold an easy conversation with my dinnermate for the evening, my mom. We were quickly greeted by an extremely friendly and animated fellow who explained that the first margarita machine was invented by the founder of the restaurant and therefore it was virtually an obligation to order one. Mom and I passed on this obligation, primarily because at $10 a piece, I would expect it to be fairly strong and I still had a long drive back.
As is standard, chips and salsa were brought out so we could stuff ourselves before our entrees even arrived. The chips were warm and crisp, with medium thickness. Chips are fairly simple, but many places manage to serve a basket that has been under a heat lamp all day or offer wimpy, thin chips that break when they are scooped into the salsa. LHR does it right. The salsa is not your standard variety. It has a rich, smoky flavor derived from fire-roasted tomatos. The heat is the slow, building kind but it never really came to an uncomfortable level. Overall, 2/5 on the spice level. I quite liked the salsa, but it is certainly different than your standard red, tomato sauce-like offering. It is similar to Blue Mesa's second salsa, if you are familiar with the other southwestern-style restaurant in the area.
The menu has all the standard Tex-Mex entrees in various combinations, but I looked for specialties that aren't already served at the various other Tex-Mex eateries. I found Spicy Chicken Verde,a chicken breast smothered in green tomatillo salsa, and King Ranch Shrimp, grilled shrimp stuffed with Cotija cheese and jalapeno, wrapped in bacon. While tempted by the Chicken Verde, I settled on Brisket Tacos ($11.95). Described simply as white corn tortillas filled with homemade, slow-cooked brisket, I wanted to see what La Hacienda Ranch could do with it. My mom went with a classic, chicken fajitas ($13.95).
The food came much quicker than expected, though I had still managed to finish off my dark red salsa. My tacos came accompanied with a plate of cilantro, chopped onions, and limes in Mexico City style. I also received avocado slices, lettuce, pico de gallo, and au jus. Finally, the plate was filled with refried beans in a tostado shell and mexican rice. The fajitas came in the usual way, on a sizzling plate accompanied by sour cream, cheese, guacamole, and the other usual additions.
La Hacienda Ranch is alongside southbound highway 121 before Glade road at 5250 Highway 121.
The first uniqueness I noticed at LHR was the giant stuffed bear in the entryway. It looked quite real and even smelled like a bear. Combined with real saddles being used as bar stools and antlers galore, La Hacienda Ranch certainly looks a little different than your run of the mill Tex-Mex restaurant. The hostess was dressed as a cowgirl, complete with bandana, oversized belt buckle, and hat. In fact, all the employees wear varying levels of an outfit you would expect to see in an old western movie. Fun.
I was placed in "Papa's Room" with one other table. This was actually nice because the area near the bar was noticably loud. The private room allowed me to hold an easy conversation with my dinnermate for the evening, my mom. We were quickly greeted by an extremely friendly and animated fellow who explained that the first margarita machine was invented by the founder of the restaurant and therefore it was virtually an obligation to order one. Mom and I passed on this obligation, primarily because at $10 a piece, I would expect it to be fairly strong and I still had a long drive back.
As is standard, chips and salsa were brought out so we could stuff ourselves before our entrees even arrived. The chips were warm and crisp, with medium thickness. Chips are fairly simple, but many places manage to serve a basket that has been under a heat lamp all day or offer wimpy, thin chips that break when they are scooped into the salsa. LHR does it right. The salsa is not your standard variety. It has a rich, smoky flavor derived from fire-roasted tomatos. The heat is the slow, building kind but it never really came to an uncomfortable level. Overall, 2/5 on the spice level. I quite liked the salsa, but it is certainly different than your standard red, tomato sauce-like offering. It is similar to Blue Mesa's second salsa, if you are familiar with the other southwestern-style restaurant in the area.
The menu has all the standard Tex-Mex entrees in various combinations, but I looked for specialties that aren't already served at the various other Tex-Mex eateries. I found Spicy Chicken Verde,a chicken breast smothered in green tomatillo salsa, and King Ranch Shrimp, grilled shrimp stuffed with Cotija cheese and jalapeno, wrapped in bacon. While tempted by the Chicken Verde, I settled on Brisket Tacos ($11.95). Described simply as white corn tortillas filled with homemade, slow-cooked brisket, I wanted to see what La Hacienda Ranch could do with it. My mom went with a classic, chicken fajitas ($13.95).
The food came much quicker than expected, though I had still managed to finish off my dark red salsa. My tacos came accompanied with a plate of cilantro, chopped onions, and limes in Mexico City style. I also received avocado slices, lettuce, pico de gallo, and au jus. Finally, the plate was filled with refried beans in a tostado shell and mexican rice. The fajitas came in the usual way, on a sizzling plate accompanied by sour cream, cheese, guacamole, and the other usual additions.
I decided to first try a taco plain to taste the quality and flavor of the brisket. My first bite certainly gave me a taste of brisket and perhaps even too much. What the picture above does not show is that the tacos are absolutely stuffed with brisket. The flavor was reminiscent of tamales. The white corn and long, stringy brisket tasted somewhat similar to the pork and corn flour typically used in tamales. The brisket was very flavorful, but not quite what I was expecting. My next taco included cilantro, onions, avocado, and the pico de gallo. This one, while better balanced, was still very tamale-like. This isn't necessary bad, but I didn't feel like I was eating tacos. My third and fourth tacos were similar, but also suffered from sogginess due to the grease from the brisket.
The beans were great. Instead of a pool of smooth beans, LHR had mixed whole pinto beans with refried ones to give the beans texture and topped them with a small amount of white cheese. The tostada shell was a great way to prevent the beans from seeping onto the tacos and was tasty in its own right. The rice was good, but nothing special. It was light and fluffy, but had only a slight flavor. It could have done with onions, corn, peas, or at least something to add a little more complexity. I didn't finish it.
The fajitas were tasty all-around. I only had a bite or two because Mom was enjoying them so much, but they tasted like they were supposed to. Were they the best ever? No. However, the chicken tasted like it had just come off the grill (and probably had) and the vegetables were cooked enough without being overdone. The leftovers were taken home and are certain to be enjoyed again.
We passed on dessert because of Tex-Mex chip syndrome, but nothing especially stood out. We spent $30.68 plus tax and tip. Two diet cokes were $4.78.
Verdict: La Hacienda Ranch is a good Tex-Mex spot and if you live close by I would recommend a visit. However, the food is not on par with Mi Cocinita (Bryan Ave) or Joe T's in Fort Worth. In this price range, I prefer Mi Cocina.
Food: 3/5
Service: 3.5/5
Atmosphere 4/5
Sushi-Sake
After a late night at the office, my coworkers and I headed to our usual late-night standby. You might think of a sports bar or taco stand, but in our case, we eat sushi. That's pretty common at my company and I have always been a sushi person, so I was greatly looking forward to it.
Sushi-Sake is located at 2150 N. Collins Blvd in Richardson, TX. It is a standalone building just behind Campbell Rd near N Central Expy (Hwy 75). The building is fairly easy to spot with a Japanese-inspired exterior.
I have been to Sushi-Sake nine or ten times, but I made myself promise to judge it based solely on this visit. We arrived at 10:00pm, 30 minutes before close, but they were happy to seat a party of seven. The traditional Japanese styling is readily apparent across the entire restaurant. Wood is the featured material and the atmosphere has a nice homely feel to it. Tables at Sushi-Sake are actually benches with a thin cushion and a bit shorter than normal tables. On one visit, we ate in the back room where we were instructed to remove our shoes and sit at a ground level table. I highly recommend it.
Now to the important details. Sushi-Sake is not the normal sushi bar. Sushi-Sake has many fine types of Sake to choose from as might be expected by the name. While I am not all that fond of sake, I admit that drinking from a wooden box is interesting. There is also a good selection of Japanese beer, including Asahi Black, one of my favorites.
Sushi-Sake has a very traditional (Japanese-style) menu. Sashimi and Nigiri are the features with a very limited roll selection. If you prefer fun, creative rolls with cream cheese, jalapenos, or other American-style ingredients, stick with your favorite sushi place. Those types of creations will not be found here. You will however find a large selection of fish that you may not have even heard of before. The special menu on the blackboard is always changing, but tonight they had "sliced sea snail" and "hamachi kama" (yellowtail collar). I always make a point to try a new type of fish, especially when the company is handling the bill. :)
We ordered edamame and a large array of varied sushi entrees for our group of seven, including Toro Sashimi (Fatty Tuna), Octopus Sashimi , Salmon Sashimi, Yellowtail Sashimi, Japanese Oysters, Tuna Nigiri, Yellowtail Nigiri, Tuna Rolls, Sea Snails, Yellowtail Collar, Seabass Sashimi, and Japanese Snapper. There were a few other types ordered, but with only two pieces to an order of nigiri, I am sure I missed a few that were scarfed down. I snapped a quick pictures of one of the plates before too much was eaten. You can see the Oysters on each side in the iced bowls.
I cannot recommend a specific fish here since everyone has their own tastes, but I can say that you may find a new favorite here. For example, octopus is normally something I avoid because at most sushi joints it is tough, flavorless, and a chore to eat. Not so at Sushi-Sake. The octopus has a clear flavor and while tougher than most fish, it was certainly chewable (and enjoyable.) Everything ordered was similar. Toro melted in my mouth, while sea snails had a bit of crunch to them.
I can say with certainty that the fish at Sushi-Sake is of the highest quality and is served with excellent preparation. Everything ordered was superb (as usual) and service was subtle and considerate. Still, it may not be for everyone due to the limited roll selection, so be aware before you visit that you won't find Volcano Rolls or Philadelphia Rolls on the menu. For fun, creative rolls, I recommend Piranha Killer Sushi in Arlington.
Verdict: Sushi-Sake is the best restaurant I know of for ultra-traditional sushi. The fish has amazing flavor and has never disappointed.
Food: 4.5/5
Service: 4/5
Atmosphere 4/5
Sushi-Sake is located at 2150 N. Collins Blvd in Richardson, TX. It is a standalone building just behind Campbell Rd near N Central Expy (Hwy 75). The building is fairly easy to spot with a Japanese-inspired exterior.
I have been to Sushi-Sake nine or ten times, but I made myself promise to judge it based solely on this visit. We arrived at 10:00pm, 30 minutes before close, but they were happy to seat a party of seven. The traditional Japanese styling is readily apparent across the entire restaurant. Wood is the featured material and the atmosphere has a nice homely feel to it. Tables at Sushi-Sake are actually benches with a thin cushion and a bit shorter than normal tables. On one visit, we ate in the back room where we were instructed to remove our shoes and sit at a ground level table. I highly recommend it.
Now to the important details. Sushi-Sake is not the normal sushi bar. Sushi-Sake has many fine types of Sake to choose from as might be expected by the name. While I am not all that fond of sake, I admit that drinking from a wooden box is interesting. There is also a good selection of Japanese beer, including Asahi Black, one of my favorites.
Sushi-Sake has a very traditional (Japanese-style) menu. Sashimi and Nigiri are the features with a very limited roll selection. If you prefer fun, creative rolls with cream cheese, jalapenos, or other American-style ingredients, stick with your favorite sushi place. Those types of creations will not be found here. You will however find a large selection of fish that you may not have even heard of before. The special menu on the blackboard is always changing, but tonight they had "sliced sea snail" and "hamachi kama" (yellowtail collar). I always make a point to try a new type of fish, especially when the company is handling the bill. :)
We ordered edamame and a large array of varied sushi entrees for our group of seven, including Toro Sashimi (Fatty Tuna), Octopus Sashimi , Salmon Sashimi, Yellowtail Sashimi, Japanese Oysters, Tuna Nigiri, Yellowtail Nigiri, Tuna Rolls, Sea Snails, Yellowtail Collar, Seabass Sashimi, and Japanese Snapper. There were a few other types ordered, but with only two pieces to an order of nigiri, I am sure I missed a few that were scarfed down. I snapped a quick pictures of one of the plates before too much was eaten. You can see the Oysters on each side in the iced bowls.
I cannot recommend a specific fish here since everyone has their own tastes, but I can say that you may find a new favorite here. For example, octopus is normally something I avoid because at most sushi joints it is tough, flavorless, and a chore to eat. Not so at Sushi-Sake. The octopus has a clear flavor and while tougher than most fish, it was certainly chewable (and enjoyable.) Everything ordered was similar. Toro melted in my mouth, while sea snails had a bit of crunch to them.
I can say with certainty that the fish at Sushi-Sake is of the highest quality and is served with excellent preparation. Everything ordered was superb (as usual) and service was subtle and considerate. Still, it may not be for everyone due to the limited roll selection, so be aware before you visit that you won't find Volcano Rolls or Philadelphia Rolls on the menu. For fun, creative rolls, I recommend Piranha Killer Sushi in Arlington.
Verdict: Sushi-Sake is the best restaurant I know of for ultra-traditional sushi. The fish has amazing flavor and has never disappointed.
Food: 4.5/5
Service: 4/5
Atmosphere 4/5
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Noodle Wave
Noodle Wave, located in a Richardson strip mall, advertises itself as serving "Fresh Thai Cooking and Asian Fusion Cuisine." Thai cuisine ranks right up near the top of my favorites and I had heard good things about Noodle Wave, so I ventured out to try it tonight.
Noodle Wave is located at 1490 W Spring Valley Rd, at the corner of Coit and Spring Valley in a somewhat run-down strip mall that has certainly seen better days. Groups were just sitting around in the parking lot and on the sidewalk drinking beer and I gave it a second thought before deciding to exit my car. I was dressed nicely coming from work and felt a little out of place in the area, but parked where I could see my car out of the lit window and headed inside.
I opened Noodle Wave's large wooden doors to find a very modern, upscale interior featuring bright colors and Eastern-style decorations. It contrasted greatly with the drab exterior of the shopping center and I was instantly relieved. I was greeted promptly by a friendly host who showed no hesitation when I said table for one (unlike some restaurants where you feel like an outcast for dining alone.)
I was greeted quickly by my waiter and ordered a Thai Iced Tea ($2) to drink while I looked over the menu. It consisted of the standard array of thai appetizers like Vegetable Spring Rolls ($4.95) and Chicken Satay ($6.95), but also included specialties such as Tempura Asian Water Spinach ($5.95) and Shrimp Blanket ($5.95). Since I was alone and the appetizers appeared to be substantial, I passed on them and went straight for the entrees. The situation was similar here with classics such as Chicken Pad Thai ($8.95) sharing space with more exotic dishes like Jungle Basil Beef ($8.95). I settled on Spicy Tung Tac ($8.95), a noodle dish with "asian vegetables, bean sprouts, egg, peanuts, and Thai seasonings stir fried with big flat noodles" ordered with chicken, extra spicy.
Then I found my first problem. While served in a very fashionable, slender glass, my Thai Iced Tea was too sweet. Normally the ratio is somewhere between 50/50 and 60/40 in favor of the tea. This tea was closer to 75/25 or 80/20 and was drinkable, but could have been much better. I hope mine was just made too quickly and normally more milk is used.
I waited only eight minutes for my food, but it seemed like thirty because of the couple seated next to me. While it was no fault of Noodle Wave's, my experience was greatly diminished by the rudeness of that table, who apparently felt no shame in speaking three times louder than necessary and freely throwing around F-bombs while comparing their sex lives. Noodle Wave is a relatively upscale restaurant, but I felt like I was in a high school cafeteria! I managed to distract myself with the television at the bar and thankfully my food was ready before all of my brain cells had died off.
A pleasant presentation and exciting aroma had me ready to dig in. The first bite was very good, with well-cooked white meat chicken in a savory, if fairly standard, Thai-style sauce. The dish tasted heavily of peanuts (which I like) and the above-average sauce. The noodles were perfect and well-mixed. Sometimes the noodles in the center or bottom will not be mixed in properly, but instead have the sauce dumped on top, leading to bland bites later on in the meal. Not here.
While the dish was well-made with fresh ingredients, I did have a few qualms. First, I had asked for the dish to be extra spicy. I eat Thai food fairly often and have developed a good tolerance for heat. Unfortunately, the dish arrived with medium spice at best. While I could feel the tingle, I did not even come close to breaking a sweat. It's possible that the waiter was trying to do me a favor by toning down the heat, but I really would have preferred the spice I ordered. My other complaint was the lack of asian vegetables listed in the ingredients. Unless Noodle Waves believes carrots and onions count as asian vegetables, I think the kitchen forgot a few items. Maybe they were counting the cucumbers?
Still, I ate every bite and felt the portion size was just right. Regrettably, it left me in the unenviable position of being satisfied without being stuffed. Why is that unenviable? Because I was now tempted by the much-larger-and-more-exciting-than-usual dessert menu. Banana Pastry Delight with my choice of cinnamon, coconut, or green tea ice cream ($6.50) and Black Sticky Rice with Mango ($3.95) were both tempting me. I usually indulge when interested, but without someone to share with tonight, I decided to return another time and avoid gastrointestinal discomfort.
Verdict: Noodle Wave is a solid Thai restaurant and definitely worth a visit. While it wasn't perfect, Richardson is lucky to have it and I would love to go back and try one of the curry dishes.
Food: 3.5/5
Service: 4/5
Atmosphere: 3.5/5
Cost: $10.95 + tax and tip
Closed Monday. Accepts Visa and Mastercard. Does not accept American Express and Discover.
Note: The drivers in this area are terrible! Both on the way there and back, I found myself avoiding cars that weren't even attempting to follow traffic laws. This sounds silly, but I would recommend having uninsured motorist coverage before coming here. Cars turned in front of me, pulled out into traffic without looking, cut across multiple lanes without signaling, and assumed they had the right of way in the parking lot.
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