Salsarita's

Salsarita's
http://www.salsaritas.com/



Salsarita's is a chain Tex-mex/mexican restaurant that is located just north of the loop and Troup. From the outside, the place looks great. Vibrant colors and neat designs with a lot of glass to show off the inside. You mosey up to the counter, place your order and wait at a table to have it delivered. Some people have compared it to Chipotle (higher end Tex-mex/mexican fast food).

The spread: Salsarita's offers a pretty good selection of your Tex-mex fare. They offers tacos (with your choice of tortilla and meat), burritos, nachos, quesadillas, salads, and enchiladas. I like all the choices they offer with each selection, you can really customize your food. If you want guacamole, go for it! Sour cream? Sure! It is similar to Subway and Chipotle as the food is made right there in front of you. I tired a couple of different kids of tacos, a burritos, the nachos and the quesadillas.

The verdict: Well, I was slightly disappointed with the food. The tacos were fresh and decent, but the meat was a little bland. The burrito was also average - not a lot of flavor in the meat/beans. The quesadillas was great and the kids devoured it. I was disappointed in the nachos, the chips were a little stale and the toppings a little bland. It was a little more than I intended to spend on fast food, but the quality was definitely better than the other choices for fast mexican food (taco bell, taco bueno). The food at Chipotle is hands down better as a comparison, but it is slightly more expensive as well (and you don't have as many choices). The food was prepared quickly and the place was clean. The place is kid-friendly, but with the caveat that it isn't toddler friendly. They also offer catering, which is where I think Salsarita's would really shine. The best deals are on the bulk/volume tacos/burritos and I think the price would match the quality in that regards.

Edible Tyler Roses: 2 out of 5, slightly disappointing in quality. Would recommend for catering.

State of Tyler Barbeque - Best in Tyler?

This post is going to be a little bit different. I have reviewed several Tyler area BBQ joints and wanted to write a post that talks about all of them, and of course ranks them. My preference for BBQ is simple. It should have a lot of smoke, be falling off the bone tender and have an accompanying spicy/slightly sweet sauce (on the side of course). Of course, good BBQ doesn't need a sauce, but how often to you run into BBQ so good it doesn't need sauce? In terms of cut of meat, I prefer in descending order: beef brisket, pork ribs, sausage of any kind, chicken, cabrito, turkey, then whatever else you want to smoke. The method of cooking should be slow and low, turning a tough piece of meat into melt in your mouth goodness.

I have tried just about every BBQ place I know of in Tyler and the surrounding community to include: Bodacious BBQ, Stanley's, The Purple Pig, Hickory Fare, Stacy's in Jacksonville, and Spring Creek BBQ. With the exception of The Purple Pig and Stacy's, I have been disappointed. Stanley's has serious problems with consistency, although they have plenty of awards that tell me I'm wrong for not liking their food. Bodacious serves average food. Spring Creek will do in a pinch (with some great service). Hickory Fare is slightyl above the pack, but again doesn't put out great Q. Stacy's offers solid ribs and brisket, but the 45 minute drive down to Jacksonville isn't worth it. I guess the Purple Pig really isn't in Tyler city limits, but to me it offers high quality barbeque done right.

Best BBQ in Tyler: The Purple Pig

Any differences of opinion or any places I have missed?

Bodacious Barbeque - solid Q.

Bodacious Barbeque
http://www.thebodaciousbbq.com/



This is a BBQ place just north of the loop off of Troup. Some good signs from the outside are the large piles of wood they have stacked in the alley. Stepping inside also send off good vibes, with a rustic/cowboy decor and plenty of seating. You walk up to the counter, place your order then grab a seat and wait for your BBQ.

The spread: The options are somewhat limited. They offer brisket, hot links, sausage, turkey, ribs and sloppy joes as the meats. The sides offered are pinto beans, potato salad and coleslaw. For dessert they offer pecan pie, lemon pie and peach cobbler.

The verdict: I am all about a place choosing to produce a few quality items over producing a bunch of average food. Unfortunately, for me the BBQ falls a little flat. The brisket has a good smoke flavor, but lacks tenderness and fat/succulence. Did I just write succulence? Yes, I did - BBQ is something ethereal and sacred to me, so I can use fancy words. The ribs also have a nice smoke flavor and are somewhat tender, but they were just ok, not transcendent. The sides are also nothing to get excited about, they are solid, but not original or really good/great. That being said, I do think that Bodacious has the best BBQ in Tyler city limits, which gives me an idea for a new post.

Edible Tyler Roses: 3 out of 5, the Q is good enough to eat, but not good enough to get excited about.

Gilbert's El Charro Restaurant - Old fashioned Tex-mex

Gilbert's El Charro Restaurant



Gilbert's is an old school Tex-Mex restaurant that has two locations in Tyler. The decor and atmosphere take me back to my youth when my grandma and great aunt used to take me out to eat. For me, there is a warm feeling of nostalgia when I walk through the doors.

The spread: They have your typical, what I call Old school Tex-mex. That is to say, enchiladas smothered in chili con carne, nachos, fajitas, tamales, rice N beans, chips N salsa, tacos, burritos, etc. I usually go with one of the combination plates or with the fajitas. Interestingly, they have teamed up with Mother Frances and offer a few healthy options. They also offer free soft serve ice cream, which the kids love.

The verdict: I love this place, mostly because they stay committed to being old school Tex-mex. They aren't trying to be a fancy authentic Mexican restuarant, they are just doing food right. I particularly like the nachos, as they put beans/meat/cheese on top of a six inch tostada fried corn tortilla. The service is usually average to good, with food coming out quickly and glasses full of drinks. I think they also offer a "best" chicken fried steak, which my wife fell for the hype and turns out it was average. This is a good place to take the kids.

Edible Tyler Roses: 4 out of 5, good ole fashioned Tex-mex. YUM!

Smashburger - Solid burgers.

Smashburger
Two locations in Tyler

Troup Hwy & Loop 323
3314 Troup Hwy

Midway Plaza across from Carmike Cinema
7484 S Broadway Blvd.



Smashburger is a nationwide chain that has two locations in Tyler. I have only been to the one across from Carmike Cinema. They have a 'hip' atmosphere with modern design concepts and bold colors. You place your order at the register then find a table and wait for your food to be delivered (or to take it home).

The spread: As you can imagine, their specialty is hamburgers. They have a few to choose from ranging from classic, Texas, Baja, Jalapeno, etc. They offer an assortment of "add ons" so you can personalize your burger to your tastes (for an extra cost of course). They also offer chicken sandwiches, hot dogs, and salads. Their sides include fries (Smash fries), onion rings, fried pickles, fried jalapenos, chili, etc.

The verdict: Smashburger makes good hamburgers, not GREAT hamburgers, but good. I especially like that you can personalize your burger and make it just the way you want it. It can get a little pricey the more you add, but 4.99-5.99 for a good burger is a pretty good deal. I always go with the Smash fries as I find the rosemary, olive oil and garlic really raise their fries to another level. I haven't tried much of anything else, but the burgers are solid. Of note, they will cook to your specifications (medium, medium well, etc), which is nice. They also offer a couple of different beers and wines, so they have that going for them as well.

Edible Tyler Roses: 4 out of 5, solid food for a good value.

The Diner

The Diner
http://thedinertyler.com/



The Diner is an unassuming eatery on Broadway/69 a couple minutes south of Grande. It is located in a little strip mall that you can barely see from the road. The decor is 50's diner themed with heavy references to Elvis. They are open for breakfast, lunch and dinner (closed Sunday for dinner).

The spread: Well for one, they offer everything you would expect from in an old school diner - eggs, bacon, sausage, waffles, pancakes etc. for breakfast; burgers, chicken fried steak, hot dogs, soups, salads and sandwiches for lunch/dinner). But one quick look at the menu and you know that you are in for something a little different, should you be brave enough. They really go out of their way to be inventive and creative with their menu. There is a real sense of whimsy with items ranging from the "Flatliner" burger - a cheeseburger with two grilled cheese sandwiches as the buns; the chicken fried burger - burger with onion rings, fried green tomatoes, and chicken fried bacon. I have yet to opt for the specialty burgers, but my good friend enjoyed them.

The verdict: This is another example of people running a restaurant who care about their food. The food comes out quick and it is very good. I enjoyed the chicken fried bacon, they actually cook the bacon ahead of time, then batter it and deep fry it. Rich and decadent, definitely unique. Their soups and sandwiches are also right on the money. The staff has always been friendly, attentive and helpful. We also showed up with a larger group on a Saturday, and they opened a closed section so we could sit together. Just more evidence that they care about their customers. This is a great place that is unique to Tyler, so give it a try!

Edible Tyler Roses: 4 out of 5, try something new!

Veranda Indian Cuisine - last bastion of Tyler Indian food

Veranda Indian Cuisine
3310 Troup Highway
Tyler, TX 75701



Veranda is located inside the Ramada, just north of the loop off of Troup Highway. They offer a lunch buffet and I am assuming a dinner service (I have yet to dine here during the evening). The only other Indian restaurant in town was Namaste Bombay Brassiere which has since closed its doors. The restaurant isn't very visually stunning to be nice. There is a hotel bar with 10 tables or so with a buffet line set up. The view is the hotel pool. I think the lunch buffet was around 8-9 bucks (no drink included).

The spread: For lunch they had a decent sized buffet. There are some dessert type items to include a couple of types of pudding and fruit. The entrees available consisted of a spicy cabbage salad, basmati rice, chicken birayni (chicken and rice with spices), butter chicken (chicken with spicy cream sauce), goat curry, tandoori chicken, a lentil preperation and a vegetarian dish that I think was palak paneer (cottage cheese cubes in spinach sauce). They also had a warm sweet carrot dish for dessert (gajar halwa?). They also served hot naan to your table. I didn't see a menu, but I know they also do a mango lassi (mango yogurt drink).

The verdict: Well, I have to say that I didn't have high hopes when I walked in. It was close to peak lunch hours and there was a family of 6-8, and two other couples in the restaurant, usually a bad sign. The food was sensational. Everything I tasted was perfectly cooked and spiced. I think they 'dumbed' down the heat level a little bit in the meat dishes, but the dishes had a strong heat level without being overbearing. The naan was hot, crispy and chewy - perfect for sopping up any leftover curry/sauce. My favorite was the goat curry, bones and all - it just hit the spot for me as I love it when a cheap, tough cut of meat gets turned into savory melt in your mouth goodness. The tandoori chicken was also a pleasant surprise as I usually find it bland, but they cooked it perfectly with the right amount of spices and smoke. I was once again blown away by the quality of indian food, right here in Tyler. An additional surprise was the sweet carrot dish, it reminded me of sweet potatoes served dessert style at Thanksgiving.

Edible Tyler Roses: 5 out of 5, rare gem of great food and reasonable prices. I will have to go back during an evening dining service.