The Pantry - McKinney Downtown

This morning we had some ministry work to do in Denison. So on the way home we were going through McKinney at lunch time. The Pantry 10 to 15 years ago was the place to go in McKinney. Then shopping centers and restaurants blew up out on 75 and the downtown area suffered. During it's time you would have to wait in a long line to order and most of the tables were full. Now you walk up order and pick any table in the joint. It is a very cute restaurant with an antique theme. The wifey really likes this place because it is kind of a girly joint and they have PIE.

The wifey was craving their chicken salad and chocolate cream pie. So we did the Acro dance into the downtown McKinney. Yes guessed it the wifey ordered chicken salad and after looking at all of the pie choices, she ordered chocolate cream. As for me, I ordered a cup of chili and I went straight to the chocolate cream PIE. The wifey says the chicken salad was very good. So there you go ladies. As for my chili it was ok, it was not very spicy Pretty short on flavor but it was ok. Chocolate Cream pie is an almost guaranteed good thing. The chocolate on this pie was not as bold as I would want. The crust had a good crunch and good flavor, but it was pretty hard to cut.

Overall, this is a place that is surviving on its reputation. It's food was once awesome, but now it is just above OK.

Givn em a 6.51

Mitcho
©2015

Twisted Root Burgers - Commerce St

This evening the wifey and me had some bidness downtown. So once we were free it was time to get Twisted. Twisted Root is on Commerce St just east of 75 in the Deep Ellum area. At dinner time there is no problem being down here, but an hour after dark, I don't want to be here. Twisted is 1/2 hamburger joint and 1/2 watering hole. There really aren't that many people partaking of party beverages, but it is there. I always look forward to praying before my meal in a watering hole. We certainly effect a higher percentage of people than in Wendy's in Mesquite.

Our favorite burger here is the Ranch Hand. This is a peppercorn burger, with swiss cheese, ranch dressing, BACON, lettuce and onion. In our opinion this is the best hamburger in Dallas (a very very very close 2nd is the Incredible Burger at Zeke's).

Tonight we also ordered fried pickles. The best fried pickles are Razzoo's, but Twisted is the 2nd best. These are some pretty good ickles here. Make sure you ask for the chipotle ranch dip sauce, you don't get it without asking for it.

The one issue here is parking. It is either park in a parking lot for $5 to $8 or park at a meter. We had to make the block to find a meter open tonight.

We always enjoy the burger and extras and the people watching here. Speaking of extras, they have the fried ride (fried onion strings, fried pickles, fried sweet potatoes, and fried green beans). Take your antacid with you, there is so much oil in this that you will be some kind of miserable at the end. But it sure is fun getting there.

Giv'n em a 8.75

Mitcho
©2015

Cafe Del Rio - Mesquite

Today my very good friend and campin buddy Garyio needed help working on his travel trailer. So I spent the better part of the day helping him. We got so involved in the process that we never stopped for lunch. NOW MITCHO DOES NOT SKIP MEALS. It must be the 11th commandment. Meals certainly are very important to our lord as many of his miracles involved food and drink.

By dinner time I was HUNGRY. So I told the wifey that I needed a big meal for dinner. You know Mexican food can certainly step up to the plate and get you just some miserable. My goal exactly!!! So the wifey said I could pick my poison. It is a close decision between Posados and a free sopapilla at the end and jalapeno ranch dip at Café Del Rio. Some choices in life are very confusing.

So chipper and me did the Ballu tundu to Café Del Rio. Get me some chips and that jalapeno ranch dip. The chips are about normal for Mexican restaurants and the mild dip has lots of stuff in it but it is pretty short on taste, the hot sauce is not hot and only has a little more taste, but wait till your tea comes before tacking the Jalapeno Ranch. This is some hot stuff and it is very good!!!!! Pass me some more rat now.

As normal we ordered chicken fajitas for one with charro beans and rice. We were given a good amount of chicken tonight and it was fairly spicy. That's a good thing. They gave us corn and flour tortillas so we were flooded in tortillas which when you are starving the extra tortillas come in handy. The fajitas come with a butter sauce (which I don't get to eat because Chipper goes after it like a rabid dog, also I don't want to be called Stub), pico de gallo, sour cream, cheese and guacamole. As I mentioned it is my understanding that the butter sauce it very good. The charro beans were pretty basic tonight and rice is rice.

Overall this is a pretty good meal givn it a 9.15.

Mitcho
 ©2015
 

Chuys - Plano

Editors Note; Last fall our Canon Rebel camera died a horrible death on top of a mountain in Virginia. So to finish out our trip I went to Walmart and purchased a small camera. Well I need a use for that camera, so I am using it to spice up the ole food blog. Of course tonight I was almost finished with my meal when I realized I hadn't taken a picture yet. I am going to have to remember to take a picture, pray and then dive in likes there is no tomorrow.

So in April we have a number of family birthdays. Of course Precious gets her own party, presents and fun. The adult girls Darlin and Lefty have to share a birthday meal. So Lefty decided to go to Chuys. We decided to go to the one in Plano because of parking. We all like the one at Knox Hendreson better, but just try to park a car there. So we were off to Plano. It is not an easy thing to get a table for 11 on Saturday night, so we had to wait almost an hour for a table.

So we started the meal off with teas, Dr. Pepper, lemonade, Sprite and water and of course chips and hot sauce. The chips are a pretty good chip, but the salsa needs work. The salsa here is basically diced tomatoes. There is a small amount of cilantro and onion but certainly not enough of either. So immediately I order Jalapeno Ranch sauce. Now we are cooking. Our whole group thinks the Jalapeno Ranch rocks. Just try keeping our chip bowls full. Of course Chipper was leading the way tonight. We think two of the boys, Big Guy and Lil' Bud pretty much only ate chips. At one point Big Guy's chip basket was moved out of reach and he wanted that issue fixed immediately. He was sitting next to me his Poppy, so of course I saw to it that he had plenty of chips.

The wifey and me ordered combo fajitas for one and we split them. I intended to take a picture of the meal went it came, however, I was down to my last fajita when I realized that I hadn't taken a picture. I will get better.

The tortillas we very tasty, not as good as Rosa's but pretty close. This is big plus. I  had two chicken fajitas and one beef. Both the chicken and beef were decent, but nothing to really brag about. I think Posado's is spicier. The condiment tray had cheese, sour cream, guacamole, and a tomato and onion mix. This mix had some red onions which is a definite plus, you know Mitcho likes onions. The meal also came with refried beans and rice, but I didn't get to either one, so no report.

As I said Precious had a birthday earlier today and we had birthday cake left over. So the birthday cake came to this meal. However, no one thought to bring plates, forks , etc and we didn't start eating cake until some of our plates and forks had been taken. So we improvised. Once I was through with my cake, CBoss needed a plate and was not interested in putting his cake on top of where my cake was. So his Aunt Lefty took a tortilla that we didn't eat and covered the plate with the tortilla and then put his cake on top. He was happy. See the picture above.

Overall this was a good meal and a great time celebrating family. Givn em a 7.95

Mitcho
©2015

Napoli's - Mesquite

This is a real Eddie's Napoli's. I know he has one at Firewheel Mall and Garland on Centerville almost to Northwest. Eddie's serves some good grub and large portions, both good points for Mitcho.

So at lunch today, I was not all that hungry. No reason for it, just wasn't real hungry. So I had a light lunch. Of course by 3:30 I was starving, so I had a snack to hold me over. So at dinner time I was not very hungry again, I have to get out of this cycle and now. The wifey is a big fan of sharing a meal which normally is not my first choice, 2nd choice or 3rd choice, but I do it anyway. Tonight was a good time to share. As I pointed out above, at Napoli's the meals are large, so sharing is not all that difficult. So I suggested sharing at Napoli's. Now if I had suggested Napoli's she probably would have shot it down, but SHARING is the key word.

So we did the Bolero to Napoli's. The other two Napoli's have a booming business and you might have to wait for a table. The Mesquite one, you walk in and get your choice of tables. So we saddled up to a booth and ordered out teas. When the waiter brought our teas, he also brought a basket of rolls and these are some of the best rolls around. They also come with the marinara sauce.

Then you guessed it, we order a Stromboli for us to split. A Stromboli is like a closed in pocket sandwich made of a great crust, filled with cheese, pepperoni, sausage and I think Canadian bacon (around these parts, pig/ham). The Stromboli is about 15 to 16 inches long  and probably 8 or 9 inches wide. I am talking bigggggggggggggggggggggggg! So after the wifey cut her half off (and she took a full half), there was still a full meal to eat.  It also comes with a marinara sauce which has a nice tangy flavor. I really like the Stomboli here, it is very tasty.

This is some good grub, large portions and at a reasonable price. Some grab up a couple Italian wannabes and head to Eddie's Napoli. Any other Napoli won't do!!!!!

Givn em a 8.11.

Mitcho
©2015

Rosas - Rockwall

As you know we were celebrating Darlin's birthday today. So she decided that her family was going to Rockwall to Urban Air. This is basically a gym full of trampolines. Pretty cool.

So me and the wifey decided to go to Rockwall early and eat dinner on the way. You know Mitcho does not miss meals. Our Son-In-Law is from Odessa and has been eating in Rosa's for many years. So we had eaten in Rosa's in San Angelo, Amarillo, Midland, etc. before one ever came to the Metromess. So we have celebrated a Rosa's opening in Rockwall. The cashier asked me if I had ever been to Rosa's before, DUH!!!!!!!!!

I ordered two #18's and a beef burrito. (#18 is a crunchy taco) We also ordered some tortillas. The tacos are very tasty, pretty good size and a real crunchy shell. This is good fixins. Then I dove into the burrito. The meat at Rosa's has small amount of potatoes mixed in. I suspect to absorb gas, which is a really good thing. The burrito is in a Rosa tortilla which are some of the best there is and filled with meat. Of course I added onion and medium salsa. This is some pretty good grub. I also had two tortillas and as I mentioned they are real yummy!!!!!! Needless to say, I am a big fan of Rosa's.

Of course as we were finishing our meal, darlin and her family drove up to load up before the party at Urban Air. So we hung out and hasselled the grand kids while they ate.

See you at Rosa's next time.

Given em a 7.95

Mitcho
 ©2015

Casa Milagro - Richardson Campbell & Plano Rd

Today is Darlin's birthday. I can't believe how many times she has already celebrated her 29th birthday. It dawned on me today, that I don't guess I am 39 anymore!!!!!!

To celebrate her day, the wifey and me drove to Richardson and met her for lunch at Casa Milagro. I have been here many times before. D Magazine rates this place in the top 10 Mexican Food joints in Dallas. Considering how many Mexican joints there are, that's saying something. This is some pretty good Mexican faire.

The chips are the basic Mexican chip, nothing special but they are pretty good. However, the hot sauce/salsa is very spicey and tasty. Get your tea before you eat much of the salsa. This is a big plus.

I ordered lunch Dos. This is a cheese enchilada, beef taco, race and beans. The beef taco is a large taco and the shell is full of meat. No room at the Inn for lettuce, cheese or tomatoes. The taco meat has a really good flavor, shell is very crispy and a plate full of toppings.

The cheese enchilada is a good cheese with lots of queso over it. Pretty yummy here. The rice and beans are rice and beans. The service is fast, efficient and friendly. I have never had a bad experience here.

You don't have to wait till your daughter is getting old and having birthdays, get yourself on over to Richardson and grab some grub here. You won't regret it.

Given em an 8.05

Mitcho
©2015