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.