Jake's - On the Square III

Jake's

111 East Erwin Street

Tyler, Texas 75702

(903) 526-0225
http://www.jakestyler.com/index.html



Jake's is one of the few "nice" restaurants in Tyler and is located on the square in downtown Tyler. Jake's has a great reputation for good food and nightlife. I went there as part of a business meeting.

The spread: Jake's has a very good menu with an emphasis on local and seasonal products, although there are all the steakhouse favorites. The range of selection on the menu makes coming back and trying something new a definite possibility. I started with the peppercorn seared Ahi tuna, followed by Jake's house salad, and finally the Delmonica Ribeye, medium rare. I also sampled the seafood sampler appetizer. They have a fairly nice selection of beers in bottles, and apparently have a good wine selection.

The verdict: The food was excellent. I very much enjoyed the ahi tuna, fresh and perfectly seasoned and cooked. The calamari from the seafood sampler was some of the best I have ever had, light breading and tender calamari. Yum. The salad was also refreshing, lite and well balanced with the saltiness of the bacon and blue cheese playing off the sweetness of the candied pecans and pear slices. The steak was cooked perfectly, however, I felt it was either not aged quite as long as it should have been or slightly underseasoned. It is difficult to judge the service as I was with a group, but it was somewhere between above average and very good, not quite excellent. I will definitely go back with my wife for a special occasion, this one is worth the expense.

Edible Tyler Roses: 4.5 of 5, very good.

Dakota's Steak House?

Dakota's Steak and Chop House
5377 South Broadway Avenue
Tyler, TX 75703-3724
(903) 581-6700
www.dakotastyler.com



 
I went to Dakota's for the monthly business meeting from work. We were placed in a nice meeting room just off of the bar. The restaurant is definitely better looking inside and from the outside. It is located in an unassuming strip mall just next door to the OfficeMax off of Broadway/I-69 a little south of the loop.

The spread: They have your typical steakhouse fare, steaks, chicken, pork chops. Their appetizers are fairly standard as well, crab cakes, tuna, calamari, etc. I started with a seared tuna, had some of the crab cake, and finished with a bone in rib eye (the biggest they had - hey it's not my money). They had a fairly limited beer by the bottle selection and a standard steak house wine list. I had a glass of cabernet recommended by my server.

The verdict: Well, the service was one of my main issues with the night (the other being the steak). I arrived and they seated me, however, I sat there by myself with no interaction with my server for a good fifteen minutes (by the way I was on time, everyone else was late for the reservation). I would have loved to order an appetizer and a glass of wine while I waited, but alas, for whatever reason, no service was offered. Once the whole party arrived, the service was much improved, but they had already set the tone. The tuna was probably my favorite of the night, seasoned and cooked perfectly. The crab cake was okay, the crab didn't taste fresh and light, it was probably frozen. The breading was also a little gummy. Then came my huge bone in rib-eye. I was pretty pumped. I ordered it medium-rare. The steak came out looking great, it was at least two inches thick, a beautiful bone coming out of the side and it had a nice char. I cut into the steak and it is raw. Not rare, raw. I called the waitress over who agreed it was raw and threw it back on the broiler. By the time it came back to me it was cooked medium rare, but I was no longer hungry. I would have refused to pay for the steak if it was my dime. So the night started with a bad experience and ended with a steakhouse not being able to cook a steak.

Edible Tyler Roses: 2 of 5, sorry they have to be able to cook steaks appropriately and provide better service for the prices they are charging.

Lonesome Dove Cafe

The Lonesome Western Bistro
2406 North Main Street
Fort Worth, TX 76164
http://www.lonesomedovebistro.com/

The Lonesome Dove is a restaurant in the Stockyards of Forth Worth. I took my wife there for her birthday, followed by a Lyle Lovett concert. The place has a pretty good reputation, the chef, Tim Love, went on Iron Chef America and beat out Morimoto in a "Chile" battle. He has various accolades and TV appearances. I can't remember how I heard of the place. According the the website, the place specializes in Texas cuisine, so I just had to try it. Don't tell my wife, but I think going to the restaurant was more of a present for me than a birthday present for her.

The spread: The menu is definitely unique. There were varied choices in the appetizers, salads, entrees and desserts with unique ingredients and preparations (rattlesnake sausage, lobster hushpuppies, kangaroo tenderloin nachos, etc.). The menu changes with the seasons and there were a couple of off menu items. We started with the barbeque wild boar ribs and elk sausage sliders. We followed with a butter lettuce with applewood smoked bacon lardoons, chili pepitas, chili buttermilk dressing salad. My wife had the Roasted garlic stuffed beef tenderloin western plaid hash and syrah demi-glace and I had the Wagyu skirt steak, pomme frites and bernaisse. For dessert with had the warm ancho chili chocolate cake with pepita ice cream.

The verdict: Wow. This was a great culinary experience from start to finish. Not only was each dish unique with ingredients I hadn't tried before, it was delicious. The wild boar ribs were tender and perfectly prepared with a hint of "game". The elk sausage sliders were phenomenal. The jucy burgers were heightened by the foie gras and jam. Most surprising was that the 'strange' ingredients were absolutely delicious to my wife. The salad was also well prepared with the richness of the buttermilk being balanced by the salty lardons. The Wagyu skirt steak was out of this world delicious - so juicy, so full of beef flavor, just outstanding. My wife's tenderloin was perfectly prepared, juicy, tender and delicous (with the garlic complimenting the flavor rather than overpowering the dish). The ancho chili cake was a big hit with the wife, but it was a little too rich and dense for my taste. Definitely one of the top five best meals I have had in my life.

Edible Tyler Roses: 5 of 5, worth the 2.5 hour drive from Tyler to Ft. Worth.

Basic Bread Recipe

One thing I haven't found yet in Tyler is a good crusty bread. There may be a bakery squirreled away somewhere, but I have been unsuccessful in finding one. So, I thought I would just bake some bread for myself. It turns out to be a fair bit of work to make fresh bread. I was satisfied with the results of my bread making, the only thing I would change is to get some sort of bread mixer. I know that I won't continue to make bread if I have to knead it for 10 minutes.

Bread in 4 steps:

1) Mix 1/2 cup flour, 1/2 warm water, 1 package (TBSP or so) of yeast and let rest for 15 minutes.

2) Mix in 4 cups flour (use whatever kind you like, I used bread flour), 1 cup warm water, 1/2 TBSP salt, 1 TBSP milk, 1 TBSP honey, 1 TBSP olive oil. Mix together until not sticky (you may have to add more flour or more water depending). Let rise for 1.5 hours.

3) Punch bread in face. Knead for 10 minutes. Cut into two loaves and shape as you see fit (cut designs into top if you are feeling really creative). Place on floured baking sheet. Let rise for 1 hour.

4) Preheat oven to 450 F. Bake for 30 minutes. Let cool and enjoy!

Namaste Bombay

UPDATE: Namaste Bombay has unfortunately closed its doors. It will be missed. There is apparently a new Indian food place that has opened in town that I will be sure to try.

Namaste Bombay
713 W. SW Loop 323 Ste. F
Tyler, TX 75703

This is a Indian food restaurant just west of Broadway/69 on the loop. I was a little worried about the place as I rolled in for the lunch buffet. The outside isn't much to look at. Walking inside, the place had nice decor and warmth. There were 4 other customers in the restaurant, barely enough for me to not walk right out. Never eat at a restaurant when you are the only customer during lunch or dinner. I was greeted by the owner (I think) who was very pleasant and directed me to the buffet.

The spread: Two different kinds of rice, one with herbs/spices, one plain (basmati I presume), two 'soupy' curries, spiced potatoes, peas and green beans, a spicy egg curry, a goat dish with a spicy sauce, and warm Naan.

The verdict: WOW, I was blown away with the aggressive spicing by the chef. This is not watered down Indian food! Every dish had a unique flavor profile and was really well done. These people care about their food! The naan was delicious. This was my first time to try an egg curry (hard boiled eggs, halved then cooked with a spicy brown sauce). The goat dish was the star of the show, meaty, delicious, just enough spice. Overall, there is a chef back there in the kitchen who cares about his craft. All for less than ten bucks. The value is going to be tough to beat. The service was also very nice, the owner was quite friendly. Overall, this is the best meal for the value I have eaten in Tyler.

Edible Tyler Roses: 4 out of 5, absolutely best value for the food in Tyler.

Liang's Chinese Restaurant

Liang's Chinese Restaurant
1828 E Southeast Loop 323
Tyler, TX 75701




My wife and I have been searching for some decent Chinese food in Tyler, and I decided to Liang's a try. The restaurant is on the loop, just west of Troup in the Alberston's parking lot. The location is a little odd, however, the restaurant is beautifully decorated on the interior. We have eaten there a few times now and every time the owner is there being a perfect host.

The spread: We have had the sweet and sour pork, pepper steak, chicken with peanuts (kung pao), pork fried rice, Peking shrimp and the egg drop and wonton soups.

The verdict: After the first bite of soup, my wife declared, this is the second best egg drop soup I have ever had! (She is infatuated with an egg drop soup with corn from a Chinese place in Conroe, TX). After digging into the chicken with peanuts and pork fried rice, we looked up at one another with a smile on our faces. We both knew we had found our local Chinese restaurant. The pepper steak and sweet and sour pork were also very solid. The only disappointment for me was the Peking shrimp. The owner promised me it was the best thing on the menu. The shrimp are battered in a light batter then tossed in a Peking sauce that is a little sweet and a little spicy. It was just okay for me, as it was a little rich. It was a lot of shrimp though! The portions are good and the prices are fair (10 bucks or so for a main, 7 bucks for fried rice).

Edible Tyler Roses: 4 out of 5.

East Texas State Fair

East Texas State Fair
http://www.etstatefair.com/

Took the wife, kids and friends out to the East Texas State Fair. I was very impressed with the size and quality of the fair. It was six bucks an adult to get in. When we first walked in, we walked through about a quarter mile of food stands. It was an interesting mix of professionals from local restaurants, local societies with food booths, church food booths and I'm guessing semi-professional "state fair" booths. There was everything from fried pies, regular pies, sausage on a stick, chicken on a steak, pizza on a stick, hamburger on a stick, Irish nachos, gator tators, regular burgers, fries, pies, funnel cakes, regular cakes, etc. The food scene was definitely the best thing about the state fair. The kiddos enjoyed the pig races complete with the swimming pig exhibition, as well as the petting zoo. There were varied assortments of carnival rides, a place inside with exhibit booths and some sort of livestock thing going on constantly (I'm a city boy, don't know anything about animicules).

I got to sample a fried meat pie which turned out to be a spicy creation very much like an empanada. I also went went to old stand by sausage on a stick which is always delicious. My wife had some fried pickles (way too salty for my tastes) and my large Irish friend went for the Irish nachos, which was basically slices of deep fried potatoes with sour cream, chili, cheese and chives served at a liquid-hot magma roof of mouth destroying temperature.

The Purple Pig Cafe - When Pigs Fly!

The Purple Pig Cafe
19785 State Highway 155 S
Flint, TX 75762
http://www.purplepigcafe.com/



 
The Purple Pig Cafe is a BBQ joint on Frankston (155) just north of Lake Palestine. I had driven by the place many times on my beer run to the Fat Dog's beer barn just out of Smith County (which is dry). I love the sign with the pig purple pig with little wings. The place is a little scary from the outside for a big city boy dragging his family and close friends along.

The spread: They serve good ole Texas BBQ (brisket, ribs, turkey sausage) as well as pulled pork, sow ribs, St. Louis ribs, baby back ribs, and Pittsburg hot links. They also serve the "purple pig" which is pulled pork with a cole slaw on top made from purple cabbage. They also serve cobbler for dessert.

The verdict: I didn't have great expectations for the place from the outside. Man, oh man was I blown away. We order a mess of ribs, Pittsburg hot links, brisket, beans, potato salad, and I got a purple pig sandwich. Everything was outstanding. The brisket was cooked just right with plenty of smoke, the ribs were fall off the bone tender and delicious, the hot links were incredible with the sauce they offered. The purple pig was the star of the show, the pulled pork was smokey and tender with the crunch of the purple cabbage on top. The sides were also excellent with plenty of flavor in the beans and the potato salad. Just when we thought we were about to burst, the somewhat surly waitress demanded that we order the peach cobbler. Normally I would have passed, but the wife insisted, so we relented. I was glad we did. The cobbler was warm, fruity and buttery with a great crust. It was the perfect ending to a fantastic meal. Overall, the best meal I have eaten since we moved to Tyler.

Edible Tyler Roses: 5 of 5.

Ming's Cafe

Ming's Cafe

5707 S Broadway Ave

Tyler, TX 75703-4350


 

This is a little Chinese food place just north of Grande on Broadway/69. The outside looks pretty beat up with a dark green color scheme and dark windows. I have never stepped inside to take a look, but I have stopped through the 'drive through' to pick up some grub.

The spread: I usually get the kung pao chicken, beef fried rice, wonton soup and eggdrop soup. The service is usually quick (sometimes a little too quick for the food to be freshly prepared).

The verdict: Oh man, I want to like this place more than I actually like it. It is super convenient, however, the food really falls flat. Sometimes the kung pao chicken is so hot it is inedible by my wife, and the beef they use in the beef fried rice is old and chewy. These people just don't care about their food. The pricing is a little high for the quality. The best thing about this place is the convenience.

Edible Tyler Roses: 2 out of 5

Mercado's

Mercado's
2214 Loop 323 W
Tyler, TX 75703
http://www.posados.com/




What can I say? If you live in Tyler, you definitely know about Mercado's. It is located on the loop, just west of Old Jacksonville Highway. I have been a couple of times, once with my wife and once with my family who came up from Houston. The service has been adequate and the food is solid. This is one of the Posado's restaurants and probably their best.

The spread: I have tried the fajitas, deep fried tacos, queso, cheese enchiladas, beef enchiladas, tamales, regular tacos, tostadas. They offer the usual Tex-mex fare as well as a few unique choices.

The verdict: This is good modern Tex-mex. The portions are huge and the price is right. I especially like the queso (and it was a huge hit with the kids). The deep fried taco was everything it promised - a heaping, delicious mess. Everything I have tried has been high quality Tex-mex. The only item that wasn't great were the tamales. I have high standards for tamales and the masa they use wasn't to my liking. They tasted almost pre-made. The place is beautifully decorated with a lot of interesting Mexican 'pieces'. Overall, Mercado's serves good food with decent service, and has the most 'family friendly' atmosphere I have seen in Tyler.

UPDATE: My wife and I have been to Mercado's mutliple times since this original post, and I have to downgrade them a little. Their menu is a little limited and there isn't a whole lot of unique choices as well as a few times where the food was either cold or poorly prepared.

Edible Tyler Roses: 3 out of 5, very family-friendly.

Rick's on the Square - On the Square II

Rick's on the Square
104 W. Erwin
Tyler, TX
http://www.rix.com/index.php



Rick's is one of the 'fancy' restuarants in Tyler and is located on the Square in downtown Tyler, just west of Broadway. My wife and I stopped in for my birthday. The outside is a beautiful older downtown building and you are greeted by a friendly hostess. There is valet parking available. I was expecting it to be a nice steakhouse, but the decor and vibe was more like that of a sports bar. There was a table there with a couple of kids and a huge big screen TV. Perhaps Rick's sin is trying to be too many things at once.

The spread: The menu is impressive. There seems to be a focus on local ingredients and cuisine throughout the menu. There are some interesting one of a kind dishes, as well as your standard steaks and seafood. The only problem I have with the menu is that it is a little over ambitious and a bit schizophrenic. There doesn't seem to be a central theme to the menu, but they are definitely trying.

The verdict: We started off with the stuffed poblanos. The stuffing was very tasty, however, the whole dish was overpowered by the heat level from the poblanos. Every once in a while you get a hold of a poblano that is as hot as a jalepeno, and this was this case. I barely finished it, and my wife could only take one bite before giving up. We also had the crabcake and it was a disappointment. The crab tasted a little fishy as though it was previously frozen or a little off and the 'cake' was a little gummy. For our entrees, my wife had the petite filet and I had the bone in ribeye, both were overcooked (I asked for medium rare and got medium, wife asked for medium and got medium well). The ribeye was well seasoned and flavorful, but the cut was a little more fatty than I would have liked. My wife enjoyed her petite filet. For desert we had the chocolate molten cake and it was the highlight of the night. Rich, creamy, oozing chocolate. YUM! We had a nice server and the service was adequate, it just wasn't top notch. Overall, I was disappointed with Rick's. I will definitely give them another try, but for the price, I expect a much higher level of service, higher quality food and a 'nicer' atmosphere.

Edible Tyler Roses: 3 of 5

Don Juan's on the Square - On the Square I

Don Juan's on the Square
1313 E Erwin St
Tyler, TX 75702
www.donjuantyler.com




This is a cute little place located downtown on the square in the heart of Tyler. The place is pretty lively with the upper room being an apparently popular place for the younger crowd. The downstairs is festively decorated and very family friendly.

The spread: This is place is distinctly different from other Tex-mex, Mexican restaurants in Tyler. The menu definitely reflects tendency to be more Mexican in cuisine (tortas, caldos, pozole, mole, guisado) rather than Tex-mex (quesidillas, enchiladas, nachos, etc.). There are all sorts dishes that you won't see anywhere else in town. Visit the website for the complete menu.

The verdict: Love this place for the atmosphere and the food. The Tex-mex items can be a little hit or miss, but the Mexican staples are really solid. The portions are big and the prices are very reasonable. My brother enjoyed the pozole (hominy soup) and we both enjoyed the margaritas. I have had the guisada, which is basically a pork stew - it was tender, spicy and savory. The torta is big, which great bread and filling (avocado, sour cream, lettuce, tomato, and a meat of your choice - mine was beef fajita). The nachos were humdrum, nothing special. Overall, if you are looking for a more authentic Mexican food experience without visiting the shady part of town, this is your place.

Edible Tyler Roses: 4 out of 5.