Athena Family Restaurant - so close to a good restaurant

Athena Family Restaurant
1601 West Southwest Loop 323
Tyler, TX 75701



Athena is a relative new comer to Tyler just off the loops east of Old Jacksonville Highway.  Kettle used to be housed in this building, but it is almost no longer recognizable as an old Kettle.  The outside is completely white with some beautiful Greek designs along the roof line.  I really liked the look of the place from the outside as they put in a lot of effort to make it look nice. 

The spread:  The menu looked promising.  There were a variety of salads and Greek inspired soups as well as a lot of appetizers to choose from.   They also offer the traditional Greek entrees to choose from: Gyro plates, lamb kebabs, moussaka, etc.  They also have an "American" menu that has hamburgers and whatnot, and I'm not sure why - it really seems out of place.  They also offer traditional Greek desserts.

The verdict:  I really want to like this place.  I think it is being run by a Greek family, with a really sweet Greek girl running the register.  The service was below average, but I am willing to give them a break because they are new and still working out the kinks.  The problem I have is with the food.  The gyro meat is prepackaged (although it was the best thing I ate here).  The pita bread was out of a package.  The bed of rice that my lamb kebab came on was inedible (overcooked/mushy and sat out too long).  The salads were bland, and the salad dressing came out of a prepackaged bottle.  The spanakopita was also either made the day before or it was prepackaged.  The stuffed grape leaves were bland and tasted overcooked/prepackaged.  For someone who has never tried Greek food before, this may be a non-threatening way to try it, but it just isn't good food.  My gut feeling is that a Greek businessman decided he wanted to start a Greek restaurant and has no experience/love of cooking great food.  The prices were reasonable, but the food was just not worth the price.  I give this place a year if nothing changes.  If you a great example of a gyro, go to What about Kabob and his Gyro, as they care about food (fresh cut gyro meat, fresh made to order pita bread, homemade tsatziki sauce, yum).

Edible Tyler Roses: 2 out of 5, I wish this place the best, but I can't recommend one thing from the menu.

Currents - a break from the ordinary

Currents
http://www.currentstyler.com/



Currents is a restaurant previously located near the hospitals down townish, but is now located just off Broadway/I-69 north of Grande.  They are a locally owned and operated place and have been serving Tyler for 17 years. The new place is far superior to the old.  The old was a little dank and dingy, the new place is bright and cozy.  They have a bunch of art (that you can buy) decorating the walls that really added to the ambience.

The spread:  They serve a self described French and American style cuisine.  The menu is definitely unique to Tyler, you won't find many of the dishes here anywhere else in Tyler.  The entrees range from Salmon Provencal style (salmon with vegetables), beef burgandy, steak, Mediterranean chicken, ribeye, grilled tilapia, seabass, duck, veal, etc.  They also offer several unique salads and the appetizers include crabcakes, shrimp remoulade, goat cheese puff pastry.

The verdict:  This is a great place unique to Tyler.  The owner is almost always on hand and cares deeply about his food, his menu and his guests.  There is a real chef in the kitchen.  On my most recent visit, our waiter was knowledgeable, friendly and provided top notch service.  The goat cheese puff pastry is delicious and one of a kind.  The lobster bisque was lovely.  My wife's french onion soup was the best I have tasted.  I had the steak au Poivre (steak with pepper crust) and it was the best steak I have had in a restaurant in Tyler.  We ended with a chocolate creme brulee and a regular creme brulee which were simple and wonderful.  I am looking forward to going back and really exploring their menu.

Edible Tyler Roses: 5 out of 5, go try out one of the best places in Tyler.

Daniel Boone's - everything I hate about theme restaurants

Daniel Boone's Grill and Tavern
http://www.danielboones.com/



Daniel Boone's is a chain restaurant located off of Troup and the loop in the Old Albertson's parking lot.  It isn't much to look at from the outside with very little decor or signage to indicate a restaurant.  On the inside, they really went all out decorating this place.  I was impressed with the decor, it is cheesy mountain man/Daniel Boone theme, but it is great for kids.  I was reluctant to try this place, mostly because the commercials seemed to be advertising for an older crowd, but my wife wanted to give it a try because she thought it would be family friendly.

The spread:  They offer your standard American cuisine with southern classics (fried pickles, frito pie, etc.), salads, nachos, chicken dishes, fish dishes, chicken fried steaks, burgers, etc.  They have a fairly large menu that is similar to Cracker Barrel (minus the breakfast items).  They also offer free beans and free ice cream.

The verdict:  Well I was pleasantly surprised by the decor, and it was definitely family friendly at first (loud enough so kids being a little loud just blended in).  I got two kinds of beans, their regular pinto beans were underseasoned (not salted properly) and their chili style beans tasted like the same beans plus a can of chili mixed in (again underseasoned).  But I figured, hey they are free who am I to complain.  The servers, the hosts and probably the kitchen as well all consisted of sweet, inexperienced, young kids.  We waited one full hour for our food to arrive.  Our waitress came to our table three times in one hour.  Once to take our order, once to refill drinks and once to tell us that the kitchen was a little backed up and our food would be right out (that was about 50 minutes in).  I don't know about you, but 50 minutes to get out food is more than a little 'backed up'.  We left, our kids were done, we were done.  It was one of the worst food experiences I have had in Tyler.  The food could be just fine, but I seriously doubt that a kitchen that takes more than an hour to get out an order of grilled cheese, a hamburger and chicken fried steak is going to put out anything but sub-par food.  We left, paying for our drinks and when I spoke to the hostess, she was obviously out of her league dealing with the situation.  Every aspect of this place that I experienced was amateurish - there is a clear lack of leadership in this establishment.

Edible Tyler Roses: 0 out of 5, they don't care about service or their customers.

St. Arnold's brewing company

St. Arnold's Brewery Company
http://www.saintarnold.com/



St. Arnold's is a large micro-brewery located in Houston, TX.  They started pretty small time at a place just off of 290 and Ella, but moved to a much larger facility just off of I-10 north of downtown.  One of my favorite activities was to get a picnic together and head out to St. Arnold's for a tour of the facilities, free beer and live music.  The old place had a certain ambiance - if you call melting in a warehouse with no A/C ambiance, but the beer was cold and that made up for a lot.

The new location is really, really nice.  They have a big operation now.  The also have a beer drinking/dining hall that can accommodate a lot of people comfortably (and A/C).  The tour used to be 5 bucks and you got three free beers.  Not sure how it works now with changes to the alcohol laws (now breweries can sell small amounts to the public directly).  Also, they have afternoon fixed price lunches now with a fancy chef, which sadly I have been unable to try.

St. Arnold's offers a nice variety of different beers:  Lawnmower (a light, almost fruity Kolsch, that goes down great on a hot day), Amber Ale (well balanced, full flavored ale), Brown Ale (malty, chocolatey with a little sweetness), Elissa IPA (a very good IPA that has a well balanced hoppiness to it), and then some seasonal ales (Summer Pilsner, Spring Bock, Oktoberfest, Winter Stout, Pumpkinator and Christmas Ale).

I just can't pass up a six pack of St. Arnold's when I see one at the store.  My favorites are the Brown ALe, the Summer Pilsner, the Sprin Bock and the Oktoberfest.  I really like to pour a Winter Stout in my homemade chili in the winter time.  The owner is also a super cool guy who works tirelessly for his company and the beer community.  Go drink some great St. Arnold's beer and if you are ever in Houston, try to take a tour of their facilities.

El Pollo Regio

El Pollo Regio



This is a chain restaurant that specilizes in mexican style BBQ chicken.  They have several locations throughout Texas, primarily in the Dallas area.  The building is colorful from the outside and they primarily run a pick up business.

The spread:  They offer half and whole mexican style roasted/BBQ chickens.  They have meals and packages for the family to include rice, beans, and tortillas.  I think they have other offerings, but I can't find a menu online.  I have only gone to pick up roast chicken.

The verdict:  The service is quick, the food is good and the prices are right.  They put out some good roast chicken, and it is a good change of pace from trying fried chicken (healthier too).  The only caveat is that the white meat can get a little dry and I think they could more aggresively season their chicken.  My preference for mexican style BBQ chicken is BBQ Hernandez.  I will say that El Pollo Regio is probably a bit more accessible to those who might be frightened off from the appearance of BBQ Hernandez.

Edible Tyler Roses: 4 out of 5, go try some roast chicken for a change of pace.

Basil Thai Cafe - best thai food in town?

Basil Thai Cafe
http://basilthaicafe.com/

Pad Thai

Thai egg rolls

Basil Thai is a little mom and pop place just off of the loop and 5th street.  It is located in a non-descript strip mall that is mostly hidden from the street.  The restaurant decor is a little lacking, oh there are various thai/asian themed decorations along the wall, but the floor is laminate, the tables and chairs are cheap and you place your order at the counter to be brought out to you. 

The spread: The menu is definitely Thai cuisine.  You can choose from various appetizers to include egg rolls, thai egg rolls, pot stickers, Tom Yum Goong (traditional spicy soup), etc.  The entrees range from fried rice (to include spicy Thai variety), Pad Thai, a variety of noodle dishes, curry dishes, spicy basil meat dishes and a few other Thai stir fry dishes.  You can choose chicken, shrimp and beef in many of the different dishes.  They also have some sweet dessert dishes.  I have tried the regular egg rolls, Thai egg rolls, Kra Paw (spicy stir fry), fried rice and yellow curry.

The verdict: The highlight of the night was the pan fried dumpling (pot stickers), they were crispy on the outside, chewy on the inside and were accompanied by a delicious dipping sauce.  Both the Thai egg rolls and regular egg rolls were good and cooked well, they just lacked any bold flavors to stick out on their own.  The fried rice was also very good.  Unfortunately, the dishes I was the most excited about were the most disappointing.  First of all, the chicken used in the Kra paw, the curry, the Pad Thai and the fried rice was all the same - precooked white chicken meat.  The Pad Thai was just ok, they had a little too much sweetness in their sauce for me and there was no spice to it (as indicated on the menu).  There were two stars indicating a "stimulating kick" on the curry and Kra paw, but both barely registered on the ole heat meter for me.  I would put the heat level somewhere between mild Pace picante sauce and medium.  I was expecting some real heat.  The curry was just okay, and just tasted a little watered down.  The Kra paw was also just ok, it was almost as though they were dumbing down the spices for the Tyler palate. 

Edible Tyler Roses: 3.5 out of 5, Because this is the only Thai place in town, I recommend checking it out, but it is mediocre Thai food (still the best in Tyler) and one of the few places you can get almost 'authentic' ethnic food.

Genghis Grill - ew...dat's gross

Genghis Grill
http://www.genghisgrill.com/



Genghis Grill is a chain restaurant that offers "mongolian stir fry".  The basic concept is that you choose your stir fry ingredients, then hand your bowl off to the cook, who cooks your food on a large grill.  There was a place in Webster, south of Houston called Hans Mongolian BBQ, that was a favorite of my wife and I, so we thought we'd give Genghis Grill a try.

The spread: They offer a variety of raw meats to choose from:  chicken, beef, pork and seafood.  They also have a large selection of different kinds of veggies to add in:  celery, onion, bamboo shoots, carrots, mushrooms, baby corn, tomatoes, cabbage, squash, garlic.  You can even throw in an egg.  They also offer many different kinds of sauces and seasonings to make your bowl your own creation.

The verdict:  I love the concept.  But Genghis didn't work for us for two reasons.  The first of which is that it is nearly impossible to do with younger children.  The second was that when I walked over to peruse the ingredients while we were getting settled in, there was a STRONG rotting fishy odor coming from the raw meat section.  There is no way that I am going to eat ANYTHING that smells like that.  We walked out, not willing to risk sickness.

Edible Tyler Roses: 0 out of 5.  Maybe they had a bad day, but if your ingredients smell rotten, you are failing.

Red Barn Snow cones

Red Barn Snow cones

This is a little snowcone place that is open seasonally.  The are located in the parking lot of the Big Red barn building just south of Grande off of I-69/Broadway (just north of Cheddars).

The spread:  They offer snow cones of varying different flavors.  They are cash only, so keep that in mind.

The verdict:  They have awesome snow cones.  The difference is that they have a giant block of ice that they shave to order, so the snow cone has the texture of snow powder.  They are also generous with the syrup.  This is a favorite for the family to go get snow cones and eat them in the back yard.  YUM.

Edible Tyler Roses: 4 out of 5.  Go get a snow cone to cool off!

True Vine Brewing Company

True Vine Brewing Company
http://truevinebrewingco.com/

I am a bit of a beer snob.  I am not sure where it all started, but in my youth, I was never a big beer drinker.  I just didn't enjoy any of the beers I tried.  Coors?  Ugh.  Bud lite?  Blarg.  Miller lite?  Ok, maybe if it's cold.  I occasionally enjoyed a Guiness, however, they were just a little pricey for my meager budget at the time.  Later in life, I was introduced to really good beers, starting with Shiner Bock, Sam Adams, then real German lagers, English beers, and eventually microbrews.

My new found love of beers probably started at BJ's brewhouse with Jeremiah Red.  It just has the right balance of malt and hops, and just makes my mouth happy.  I eventually found, St. Arnold's, a great microbrewery in Houston (I will devote a full post to them later).

Where my love of beers blossomed was going to beer-cheese pairings and beer pairing dinners.  I don't particularly care for wine, so to have a beverage be enhanced by and simultaneously enhance the food you are eating was a transcendent experience.

So imagine my excitement when I heard that Tyler was developing its own microbrewery.  I haven't tasted any of their brews and have just recently 'liked' them on Facebook.  I know they had a beer pairing dinner recently, but I got the information too late.  From their website, it looks like they have a Pale Ale and an IPA, neither of which are my favorite styles of beer (I am not a 'hop' head - too bitter for me).  I encourage everyone to check their website out and like them on facebook, so we can do our part to help develop the Tyler food scene.  I sincerely hope nothing but the best for them and hope that they do tours of their operation soon.

Best of luck guys to these guys, I look forward to trying Tyler brew!

The Stand Hot Dogs & Sausages

The Stand Hot Dogs and Sausages
http://www.thestandhotdogs.com/



The Stand is a little place just off of Old Jacksonville Highway past the toll road 49 south of Tyler.  It looks like a tiny shack from the outside with a lot of character.  You can eat inside their small dining room or drive through and get your hot dogs.  Although I have never met the owner, Stephen Du Toit, he did some work on our house at a reasonable price and I was excited to give The Stand a try.

The spread:  They do a good job of concentrating on one thing and doing it right.  They serve hot dogs and sausages.  You can choose from Red Hot links, Bratwurst, Andouille, Boudin, Classic hot dog, etc.  Then you can choose from a variety of toppings:  Frito pie style (chili, cheese and fritos), slaw dog style, Chicago style, mac and cheese style, grilled onions, kraut, etc.

The verdict:  I really like this place.  They aren't trying to be fancy, they are just trying to put out really good hot dogs and they are very successful.  I have tried their regular hot dogs, bratwurst and polish sausage with various toppings.  They are all cooked well on a great bun.  My favorite was actually the regular hot dog.  These guys have a strong web presence and they also offer an eating challenge - The Big Dog Food Challenge - it is a 28 inch hot dog on a baguette with chili, cheese, Fritos, pickles, relish with a side of Doritos chips.  It is over 5.5 pounds of food.  One day I will take the challenge and probably fail.

Edible Tyler Roses:  5 out of 5.  Best hot dogs in town.  They keep things simple and make great food.

Chili's, Applebees or TGI Friday's - are they all the same?

Chili's versus Applebees versus TGI Fridays - American Chain throwdown







We have a family tradition we are working on right now.  Every Sunday after church one of us gets to pick a place to eat.  I have to confess, I mainly made up this tradition so I could force the family to go to eat Indian food without as much complaining.  We rotate through me, my wife, my son and my oldest daughter (baby doesn't get a vote yet) - everyone gets a chance to go where they want to eat.  It actually works out well as there is much less arguing and it feels like a fair way to get some grub.  (We did have to outlaw Chuck E Cheese as a choice).  At any rate, our kids tended to chose Chili's or Applebees for reasons unbeknownst to me.  These three restaurants are basically the same place to me - bland, below average food from the freezer.  After going to all three multiple times, I thought I would offer my opinion on which one is best in Tyler as they are all pretty close to one another and the food is almost identical.

The spread:  I won't go into too much details, but they offer your standard American food:  burgers, sandwiches, fries etc.  Each one tries to have its own personality, but for me the menus and prices are interchangable.

The verdict:

Applebees - For some reason, my daughter loves Applebees.  I can't tell if it is because she like saying the name or there is some commercial that has imprinted the name on her mind.  She loves her some Applebees.  I can't stand the place.  My wife and I are trying to eat relatively healthy and both of our entrees were nearly inedible.  Neither of us finished our food.  The kids seemed to enjoy their food though.  Perhaps because we went with the healthier options we got the worse Applebees has to offer, so stick with hamburgers or something the kitchen can't screw up.  Applebees Edible Tyler Roses:  1 out of 5, tread carefully and don't venture out.

Chilis - This used to be a favorite of mine, particularly growing up.  The food was nothing to write home about, but it was palatable and decently priced.  I usually go with Chicken Fajitas, club sandwich or Oldtimer burger.  On our last two visits to Chili's the service was horrible (45+ minutes to receive food) and the food was nearly inedible when it arrived.  I'm not sure how you screw up microwaving or reheating frozen food, but they managed to do so.  The service was so bad on one trip I actually didn't leave a tip - I normally start at 20%, and have only not left a tip on maybe 1 or 2 other occasions in my life.  The food is so bad and service so poor, we have put Chili's on the banned list for choices on Sunday.  Chili's Edible Tyler Roses: 0 out of 5, we won't return until there is some change in management.

TGI Fridays -  We had always skipped TGI Fridays for a long time, but we gave them a try lately and we were impressed.  The service was friendly, the food came out fast and the food was uninspired, but decent enough. Of the three, this is the one I am happy to go to.  So the winner is TGI Fridays!! TGI Fridays Edible Tyler Roses: 3 out of 5, the winner of mediocre chain restaurants!!

Andy's Frozen Custard - Yes please

Andy's Frozen Custard
http://eatandys.com/



Well Andy's is a Custard place (part of a chain) just of I-69 north of Grande.  The place has some great architecture from the road and it really just catches the eye.  You can either roll in through the drive through or sit down and enjoy your treat at their outdoor seating area.  During the summer, this place is usually hopping busy. 

The spread: The offer many different combinations of custard, which is slightly different than ice cream as it has "more butterfat and is churned very slowly. The slower turning beaters keep air from being mixed into the custard as it freezes. The result is a dessert that is very rich and thick."  They offer concrete (custard + mixings), malts, shakes, sundaes, cones, splits, and a rotating seasonal offering.

The verdict:  You are just plain unAmerican if you don't like custard.  Gosh it is yummy.  You want to make it into a shake, it is still yummy.  Put some different topping in it and mix it up - you guessed it, still yummy.  Now, it may be a tad high on the ole calorie count, but definitely a delicious treat.

Edible Tyler Roses: 4 out of 5.  They do custard right.

Wienerland - Walking in a Winter Wienerland

Wienerland



Weinerland is a little hot dog stand just off of 5th street across from Tyler Junior College.  It really stands out from the road with a unique architecture where the drive through is right through the middle of the building.  They also have a small outside seating area to dig into the grub.  They are locally owned and operated and have been in business for 45 years!  There is something to be said about that.

The spread:  Well I was expecting nothing but hotdogs, but in addition to various kinds of hot dogs, they also offer burritos, tacos, and nachos.  In fact, on their facebook page they list themselves as a Tex-mex/fast-food place.

The verdict:  Well this is really a guilty pleasure of mine.  They are likely kept in business due to their proximity to Tyler Junior college and the medical center.  I really enjoyed their hot dogs and nachos, not because they were haute cuisine, but because the food is good, the prices are right and their is definitely a since of nostalgia when eating here.

Edible Tyler Roses:  4 out of 5, give Wienerland a try and take a trip down memory lane.

Super Mercado Monterrey

Super Mercado Monterrey



Super Mercado Monterrey, which is basically a Hispanic super market just off the loop and Highway 31 on the west side of town.  If you are looking for any ingredient for authentic Mexican and/or other hispanic type cooking, this is the place to go.  The vegetables are fresh and cheap.  They have a real butcher shop.  You may have to be able to speak a little Spanish to get through a shopping trip.  They also have a little restaurant in one corner of the store that puts out some good food.

The spread:  They offer tacos, tortas and burritos with different kinds of meats.  They also offer rice and beans, combo plates, enchiladas, tamales, and different kinds of soups.  They have multiple large containers of aguas frescas - which are Mexican style fruit drinks of different kinds: pineapple, mango, etc.

The verdict:  This is another one of my favorite holes in the wall.  The prices are cheap, the food is good and the service is friendly.  You know it is good food when you are the only non-Hispanic in the place.  Avoid the tamales, as they are set out early and tend to be dry.  I will occasionally make huge batches of salsa and can them and I love to come to Super Mercado Monterrey to get the ingredients as they are always fresh and cheap.  Give the restaurant a try if you are in the store.

Edible Tyler Roses:  4 out of 5.  Worth the hassle of having to speak a little Spanish.

Cheng's China Bistro

Cheng's China Bistro



Cheng's is a relatively new comer to Tyler.  They opened up in a large restaurant space just north of the loop and troup.  The decor is your typical Chinese food place with Chinese decorations as well as a large bar up front that grows popular right around 5pm.  The owners seem to always be there and are super friendly and helpful.

The spread:  They have your typical American Chinese food menu.  Appetizers range from lettuce wraps, pot stickers, egg rolls, BBQ spareribs (yummy), and various soups (egg drop, wonton, etc).  Their entrees are also somewhat predictable: fried rice, lo mein, egg foo young, pork dishes, chicken dishes, beef dishes and seafood dishes.  They also offer hot plates which is basically stir fry dumped into a fajita sizzling plate.

The verdict:  There is nothing ground breaking in the culinary world happening at Cheng's.  The menu is definitely Americanized and familiar, however, the food is solid and reasonably priced.  My wife prefers Cheng's to Liang's, so this is usually what we pick up from Cheng's when we get Chinese.  The service has been great and they are very family friendly.  I also like the fact that the staff is willing to work with you.  I wanted to try to recreate a dish from an authentic Chinese place down in Houston, so I asked the waiter to switch out rice for noodles and crack an egg over one of their sizzling plates.  It didn't turn out quite like I wanted, but it was good and they went out of their way to accomodate, so I give them a lot of credit for that.

Edible Tyler Roses: 4 out of 5, I put them on par with Liang's as the best Chinese in Tyler.