BJ's beer tasting and dinner

BJ's Brewhouse
210 W Southwest Loop 323
Tyler, TX 75703
(903) 939-2840
http://www.bjsrestaurants.com/locations/tx/tyler

I have previously reviewed BJ's and mentioned my love of their deep dish pizza and their beautiful beers. I continue to frequent BJ's and continue to love their unique brews and large selection of Belgian beers. While dining the other day, I learned that they were doing a beer tasting and dinner using Sierra Nevada beers paired with items from BJ's regular menu (very much like a wine tasting/pairing dinner). I was ectastic and invited a good friend of mine to try out the dinner.



The feast had 5 courses and 7 different beers. The fist course was crispy calamari paired wtih Kellerweis Hefeweizen. The calamari was salty and crunch with a zesty garlic aioli sauce and marinara sauce that paired very well with the crisp, refreshing hefeweizen. The citrus notes of the beer paired well with the zesty garlic aioli. The next course was California club flatbread pizza and the Pale Ale. While I found both the pizza and beer to be of high quality, the pairing was the weakest of the night for me. The next course was the Kung Pao chicken and the Torpedo Extra IPA and it was another fine pairing, the bitterness of the IPA enhanced the spices and heat of the Kung Pao. Next came a 'palate cleanser' of the Ruthless Rye IPA, which I found to be somewhat of a disappointment as the beer seemed to have only one note - the bitterness of the hops. Next came my second most favorite pairing of the night was the Porter and the Barbeque Pulled pork sandwich. The porter was dark and rich with malty, caramel flavors that harmonized with the smoky richness of the pork. This was definitely a time when the beer and the food became more than the sum of its parts. What a combo! The next 'palate cleanser' was also a disappointment for me - the Bigfoot Barleywine Ale. The beer started with a nice strong fruity, malty flavor, but then the bitterness of the hops overwhelmed my palate so I couldn't really get all the fruit and malt notes. Next was the most surprising and best pairing of the night - dessert. The Oliva Quad was paired with BJ's Baked Beignet. The crispy rich beignet was topped with strawberries, ice cream and whipped cream. The Oliva was surprisingly sweet with a strong fruit flavor (cherries, plum, raisins) and nice malty-ness. I wouldn't have been able to drink very much of the Oliva on its own, but with the ice cream and beignet, it was heavenly. You cold really get all the fruity complexity from the beer. WOW.

In all, I had a great time and it was remarkably inexpensive for what we got (30 bucks for the whole she-bang, plus tip). The service was great and there was plenty of food and beer. I have only one criticism, and that was the guys who were speaking during the dinner. When they were just talking with the guests, they were knowledgeable, friendly and just plain fun to have around, but when they were describing the beers, they pretty much read right from a script that detracted a little from the experience, but this is a small criticism, the evening was awesome. Apparently, BJ's is doing more of these beer pairings and I plan to attend every one!

Sonoma Grill - Pretentious or Delicious?

Sonoma Grill

5875 Old Bullard Rd
Ste 500
Tyler, TX 75703

(903) 534-9779

www.sonomagrilltyler.com

Sonoma Grill is an unassuming restaurant located just to the west of the mall in Tyler off of Old Bullard road. From the street it looks pretty fancy and visually looks like a vibrant, hip, happening place - which is why my wife and I (kids in tow) have avoided the place. We stopped by one night for one of our 'date nights'.

The spread: They claim to have a California style, which for me is a little off putting (being a good ole Texas boy), but they have a diverse menu. The appetizers range from calamari, mussels, bruschetta, crab cakes and quesadillas. They offer a myriad of salads from the standards to more interesting fair (shrimp and sea scallop, salmon, hazelnut caprino, hearts of palm). They also have pizzas and various pastas (fettucini, beef stroganoff, shrimp scampi). The entrees are also varied, with burgers, various chicken dishes 9chiken madeira, fontina, carpino, marsala), a few fish dishes (salmon, tilapia, shrimp), and steaks (filet, rib-eye, sirloin, chopped). For dessert you can choose from cheescakes, pecan pie and creme brulee. I sampled the bruschetta, crab cakes, chicken fettucini, rib-eye, macaroni and cheese and the creme brulee.

The verdict: I have to say that I was not excited about going to Sonoma Grill. It looks like a place where hip people go to eat bland, tasteless food and act superior. Boy was I wrong!!! This is an outstanding restaurant that really cares about food. Every aspect of the meal was outstanding. The waitress was the best I have had in Tyler, attentive, unobtrusive, knowledgeable and friendly. Everything I tasted was excellent. The rib-eye was cooked a perfect medium rare and packed full of flavor. My wife's fettucini was outstanding. The mac and cheese was the best I have had, creamy, cheesy, yum! The bruschetta and crab cakes were also solid and fresh. But, they saved the best for last in the creme brulee - it is the best I have had in Tyler. The meal was also very reasonably priced, especially over its main competitors (Jakes, Rick's).

Edible Tyler Roses: 4.5 out of 5. Best value for a steak in Tyler.

Chuy's

Chuy's
5935 S. Broadway
Tyler, TX 75703
(903) 509-2489
http://www.chuys.com/



Chuy's is a relatively new Mexican place just off of Broadway north of Grande. Chuy's is a chain restuarant that has branches throughout the South, to include my hometown in Houston. Chuy's does things right. The exterior is festive and leads into a well, but quirky, decorated interior. Like all new restaurants in Tyler, they were absolutely PACKED the first few months they were open, and they continue to stay very busy. They had some serious issues with wait times at first, that are now manageable - but still expect to wait during peak times.

The spread: Chuy's offers your typical Tex-mex fair, albeit with some tongue in cheek humor. They have very good queso, guacamole and nachos as well as a decent tortilla soup and various Tex-mex style salads. The entrees run from the "Big as Yo Face" burritos, various tacos, flautas, enchiladas, fajitas and various combination dinners. They also offer sopapillas and flan for dessert (I think).

The verdict: Like I said in the intro, Chuy's does things right. The queso is just the right texture with a nice kick. The burritos are as big as your face and the entrees are always on point. They do not shy away from using appropriate levels of heat and seasoning. My wife is obsessed with their creamy jalapeno dip, which is complemented well with their fresh salsa. Chuy's makes their own tortillas fresh and it makes a difference. They really do pay attention to details in their cooking and use quality ingredients. One thing that I like is the servers are very accommodating and encourage you to try different items or even try mixing things up by using a different signature sauce (Boom-boom is my favorite.) Also, it is family friendly as it is usually loud enough that a couple of outbursts from the kids aren't too disruptive.

Edible Tyler Roses: 4 out of 5, solid food, good atmosphere.

Texas Roadhouse - good steaks, great for kids.

Texas Roadhouse
2101 E. Southeast Loop 323
Tyler, TX 75701
Phone: 903-509-0053
www.texasroadhouse.com



Texas Roadhouse is a chain restaurant that is located off of the loop and Troup Highway. The place is decorated in a Rustic cowboy theme and they offer all you can eat peanuts as a snack/starter and encourage you to throw the shells on the floor. They servers also do some 'performance' with dancing/hooting/hollarin whenever a specific song plays.

The spread: Texas roadhouse is a steak joint that offers quality steaks at a decent price. The appetizers range from an onion blossom, bacon-cheese fries, fried pickles and a pretty decent chili. They offer a few salads that my wife tends to enjoy, however, their star is their meat. I usually gravitate towards the bone in rib-eye, however they offer the standard cuts: New York strip, T-bone, filet, prime rib, etc. They also do a pretty decent set of ribs and offer various combinations. They also offer chicken dishes, burgers and a myriad of sides.

The verdict: My family usually chooses this place because they offer quality food and are receptive to kids. It is noisy enough, so the rascals aren't too much of a distraction. The peanuts are always a hit, especially with the little ones. My son loves to crack the shells and throw them on the floor. The atmosphere is also nice as they put a good effort into providing good service and a little entertainment. I really enjoy their chili and their steaks are very good for the price. They tend to over cook their steaks a bit (usually one 'degree' off - so if you order a steak medium rare, it will come closer to medium more often than not). This is one of those places where I feel like I could cook a steak as good or better, but I am really going for the atmosphere/convenience. Their other food is solid, but not spectacular. They also have a full service bar, with your standard beers on tap. I would say that Texas Roadhouse is very similar to The Outback Steakhouse, and if I had to choose one over the other, I would go with Texas Roadhouse. I guess it is the peanuts that nudge the scales in Roadhouse's direction.

Edible Tyler Roses: 4 out of 5, good value for the money, go eat a steak and try the chili!

Fat Catz Kitchen - pricey cajun.

Fat Catz Kitchen
Southeast Crossing Center
3320 Troup Highway, Ste. 170
Tyler, TX 75701
(903) 593-1114
http://www.fatcatzkitchen.com/



Fat Catz is a "Cajun" restaurant located just north of the loop off of Troup Highway. The location is one of my favorites because there are five or six decent restaurants all within a stone's throw of one another. Fat Catz has a relatively unassuming exterior that leads into a nice interior space. They have a cozy bar area and an open dining room.

The spread: The menu is Cajun/seafood based. The appetizers are unique to Tyler ranging from fried alligator, fried frog legs, fried calamari, fried shrimp, fried pickles, fried okra, fried jalapenos, boudain, crawfish (fried, boiled), and seafood fondue. They also offer several kinds of salads and a couple kinds of gumbo. The entrees are also somewhat unique with a wide selection of poboys, myriad of fried seafood/chicken, and items from the grill - steaks, chicken etc. They also offer some more Cajun inspired dishes such as red beans and rice, jambalaya, etoufee, etc. I didn't go for any desserts, but they range from pecan pie, beignets, and bread pudding to name a few.

The verdict: Well, I was disappointed. Perhaps because I have a high standard for Cajun food, I expected a lot from this place (given we are only two hours from Louisiana). The food was average to slightly above average. The fried items were pretty good, cooked right and served hot. The seafood gumbo, etoufee and jambalaya were all disappointingly bland. Perhaps I just got them on a bad night, but their "Cajun" food was lackluster. Perhaps my biggest complaint was the prices for the quality. I am not sure, but the seafood tasted like Sysco pre-frozen stuff. Plus, a Poboy cost 10 bucks!!! The place has a nice 'party' atmosphere and the staff was attentive, but nothing makes up for bland, expensive food.

Edible Tyler Roses: 2 out of 5; If you go, stick to the fried items and beer.

FRESH - it's okay to get FRESH with me

FRESH by Brookeshire's
6991 Old Jacksonville Hwy
Tyler, TX 75703
Phone: (903) 747-3503
http://freshbybrookshires.com/

I can't believe I haven't taken time to write about one of the biggest food happenings in Tyler in recent history. FRESH is a concept grocery store by Brookeshire's. It opened in early 2011 and has had a hug impact in my personal culinary experience. First of all it is located just south of Town off of Old Jacksonville Highway and looks great from the outside. It is perched on top of a hill with beautiful stone walls and ample parking.

FRESH is Brookeshire's effort to bring a high end grocery store to Tyler. They try to focus on Texas made products as well as other high end goods. The produce section is always fantastic with a large selection of unusual and hard to find fruits and vegetables. There is no other place in town where you can get these kinds of goods. The meat counter is fantastic and ranges from a variety of live lobster, fresh fish, outstanding cuts/type of beef (They even had some Wagyu steaks there for a while). The meat counter also offers a wide range of prepared meats (sausages, excellent hamburger patties, marinated selections, etc.). Moving on, the deli meats/cheeses counter is also outstanding with many different types of cured meats from all over the world (think prosciutto, sausages, pancetta, etc.) and the cheese section is crazy good with a healthy amount of Texas made and foreign made cheeses.

They also have a 'lazy' foodie section with a wide selection of prepared dishes where you can select what you want and go eat it on the patio (or at home). The Gelato counter is also a nice addition that you simply must try (as you can't get it anywhere else in town). Another favorite is the large bakery section that makes many different types of breads and desserts daily. In fact, one of our family's favorite meals is getting a couple loaves of bread, some cheeses and meats, a couple of veggies (olives, artichoke hearts, etc) and washing it all down with some Kiepersol estates wine. The main grocery section also does a great job of offering a great selection of hard to find products. Of course, the selection comes with a price, but it is well worth it.

It is also worth mentioning that the staff is well trained, friendly and has a great attitude of helping the customer. I have always been treated well with my unusual requests. So, give it a try and be prepared to drop some cash.

Bruno's pizza - great local pizza.

Bruno's Pizza and Pasta
1400 S. Vine St. (original location)
Tyler, TX 75701

15770 FM 2493 (Old Jacksonville)
Tyler (Gresham), TX 75703

http://www.brunospizzatyler.com/index.htm



Bruno's is a home grown little pizza restaurant that has two locations in town. One inside the loop off of Vine street and one a little further out south on Old Jacksonville. I have a fondness for the Old Location because you can tell it is a mom and pop operation that has been successful.

The spread: Bruno's offers your standard pizzas ranging from choose your own topping to multi topping fare. They also offer some pasta dishes and sandwiches. I have tried their pizza several times, one or two of the pasta offerings and multiple types of sandwiches.

The verdict: Bruno's does pizza very well. Their dough is made in house and never frozen. They have a typical conveyer belt pizza oven. I think they do a great job of choosing quality cheese and building their pizza pies, although their combination pizza is overloaded with ingredients and tends to fall apart rather than hold together when eaten. I also really enjoy their sandwiches as they make all their sandwich bread in house and you can taste the difference. My favorite is the meatball and cheese sandwich. Their pastas are a little lack-luster and I would not recommend them. The only problem for me is that they don't deliver and neither location is really close to my house, so I don't eat there as often as I would if I lived closer.

Edible Tyler Roses 4 out of 5. I would say tied for best pizza in town (with BJ's).

Bernard Mediterranean Restaurant - They sure don't like kids.

Bernard Mediterranean Restaurant
212 Grande Blvd
Tyler, TX 75703
(903) 534-0265



Bernard's is really an Italian restuarant located just behind Traditions just north of Grande off of I-69/Broadway. Not sure why they call it Mediterranean, when it pretty much just serves Italian food. It is definitely a fancy place that does not welcome kids, however, I think that it would be a good place to go for a date night.

The spread: Appetizers range from baked brie, escargot, salmon fume, and fried calamari and mozzarella. They also offer a few soups and salads. The entrees range from pastas (nice unique selection), chicken dishes (marsala, etc), veal dishes, and a variety of nice steaks. They also have a good selection of wines and the traditional desserts (chococlate cake, creme brulee, etc). My wife had the veal and I had a big ole ribeye. We started with the mozarella, french onion soup and split a mediterranean salad.

The verdict: The first thing I was struck by was the ambience. We dined in a room that very much reminded me of a basement in Italy. It was beautiful, with romantic lighting. The ambience was disturbed a bit when a birthday party full of loud, obnoxious people rolled in, but that really isn't the fault of Bernard's. The food was above average to excellent on all accounts. The steak was cooked perfectly and was paired well with the Cabernet the waiter recommended. The french onion soup was hearty and chocked full of delicious onions and cheese. We ended with the creme brulee, which is close to the best in town. The meal was a little on the expensive side, expect to pay near to 100 bucks for two if you get appetizers, salads, entrees, desserts and wine, but well worth the price. The waitstaff was attentive and unobtrusive. Overall a very good experience.

Edible Tyler Roses: 4.5 out of 5, give it a try, but bring some cash!