Cork - nice atmosphere and very good food

Cork Food and Drink
http://www.corktyler.com/



Cork is a relatively new place located in the Times Square Cinema shopping center off of Broadway/I-69 just south of Rice road.  The shopping center itself doesn't really lend itself to 'high end' dining, however, they have the entrance decorated nicely with modern design and a little sitting area.  Inside, they continue the modern theme with a bar area, decent dining area, and small area for live performances with some interesting modernish type art on the wall and many references to wine.

The spread:  They have an ambitious food and drink menu.  I'm not sure their theme, but they offer different kinds of sushi, small 'tapas' style plates, cheese and cured meats plate(s), a few different bowls (mac and cheese, soups, stir fry and grits), and a few traditional dishes (seafood, steak, etc).  For me, the menu was a bit unfocused and perhaps they are trying to be a tapas-sushi-wine-asian bar that serves food?  The wine list is extensive and they have a full bar with a few original concoctions.

The verdict:  I really enjoyed my experience at Cork.  The service was friendly, prompt and knowledgeable.  I tried the mac and cheese and it was the best I have had in a long time.  It comes in a bowl with spiral pasta with a bechamel-cheese sauce with bread crumbs on top with little bits of ham.  I also tried their spicy tuna roll and it was solid, but not very spicy.  The quality of tuna was good.  The charcuterie plate came with three types of cheese, a great grilled french bread and three types of cured meats.  There was a very mild soft/brie and two harder styles that offered a nice difference in texture and flavor, but none of the cheese were memorable.  The prosciutto was very good, but the cured sausage and pepperoni like sausage were both average - mildly spiced and a little bland. I also tried the ribeye which was cooked a perfect medium rare and had a nice bourbon glaze, but the cut of meat was lower grade (lots of fat and gristle).  I also tried a couple bites of the burger and it was almost amazing as my wife had ordered it medium and it came out well done.  The wine list was extensive and the bottle I split was very very good (Shatter something or other).  I also had a Cork Old Fashioned that had whipped egg white in it that gave the old fashioned a unique texture that I particularly enjoyed.  Overall, I think Cork is almost a great restaurant/bar.  I think if they trimmed down the menu some and really concentrated on quality, this would be an amazing place.  Also of note, they are very committed to having plates come out in a visually appealing manner, with nice presentation using unique plates.

Edible Tyler Roses: 4 out of 5, a great place to have drinks/wine and apps, a good place to eat.

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.

Outback Steakhouse

Outback Steakhouse
www.outback.com



The Outback Steakhouse is a chain steak restaurant in Tyler just off of Broadway/I-69 south of Rieck road.  They go for the "Australia" theme with kangaroos, boomerangs and koalas decorating the place.  Every Outback has a pretty good bar area and this place in Tyler keeps pretty busy.

The spread:  They have again an Australian theme so the appetizers range from the Bloomin onion, Aussie cheese fries, grilled shrimp on the barbie, ahi tuna.  The entrees range from chicken selections, salads, to steaks of various kinds as well as hamburgers, sandwiches and seafood options.  They always start you out with a pumpernickel bread and butter.  The have a full bar and offer a couple of different kind of beers with the "big bloke" being my favorite.

The verdict:  I like Outback.  The service is usually pretty good.  The steaks are cooked fairly well to specifications and are flavorful.  The Aussie cheese fries are bacony, cheesy goodness.  I really enjoy the house salad, with their delicious croutons.  The place is fairly kid friendly as it is a little noisy, so a couple of unexpected screams go relatively unnoticed.  The only drawback is that the theme is a little contrived and the menu is built to please the most people as possible, so there isn't a lot of originality (to be expected from a large chain).  Tylerites love it, and this place usually has a wait.

Edible Tyler Roses: 3.5 out of 5, my wife loves this place, and it is a decent steak for the price.

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.

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!

Kiepersol Estates Restaurant - average food, outlandish prices.

Kiepersol Estates Restaurant
21508 Merlot Road
Tyler, TX 75703
http://www.kiepersol.com/restaurant/index.shtml




Kiepersol Estates Restaurant is a high end restaurant located on the Kiepersol Winery complex. My wife and I had a babysitter so we decided to have a nice dinner on a Tuesday evening. The place is a short drive south of Tyler and located next to the winery. The restaurant is nestled at the northern part of a loop of nice homes. I think Kiepersol is really unique in that it has a neighborhood, a winery and a restaurant all within the grounds. Very interesting concept.

The spread: The menu is focused with four appetizers: shrimp cocktail, crabcakes, duck cigars and oysters Rockafeller. There is one soup - lobster bisque and three salads to choose from. The entrees are standard steakhouse fare: Ribeye, filet, NY strip, lamb chops. Also available is the seabass, salmon and chicken entrees. For dessert you have a choice of creme brulee, molten chocolate cake, bananas foster and cherries jubilee. The prices are high for Tyler, but very reasonable considering. Sometimes at fancy places I feel like they really try and gouge you for getting appetizers, desserts, etc., but at Kiepersol they are fairly priced. Of course, they have an extensive wine list with a concentration on Texas produced wines.

The verdict: We split the crabcakes and they were well prepared with a nice sear and plenty of crab meat. The accompanying sauce was a little bland and I think they could have added a little more seasoning to the crab cakes to make them stand out. My wife had the house salad, which she enjoyed, it was a unique salad made with baby greens, spiced pecans and cranberries
topped with a roasted tomato, Texas basil goat crème cheese and pecan-balsamic vinaigrette. I tried the lobster bisque and it was a bit of a disappointment as the lobster was overcooked and base was bland (although I did enjoy the presentation with a KE spelled out of creme fresh). My wife had the filet and I had the ribeye. This was where I was really disappointed. My wife ordered her filet medium and I ordered my ribeye medium rare, the filet came out medium well and the ribeye was medium. I know this is a small point, but when you are spending 34 and 40 bucks for a steak, you want it to be cooked perfectly. Also, the steaks tasted like they were not properly aged - I could have cooked a better steak at home. We both decided on the creme brulee for dessert and again we were both let down with the results. First off, the caramelized top was a little more burnt than we liked and the filling was cold. Also, I think they had prepared these the day before as it felt a little too 'set' and lost a lot of the creaminess I expect from a creme brulee. One last disappointment was the service. We had a YOUNG kid serving us and one other table (only two tables on Tuesday) and the service was just not up to snuff for the amount of money we were spending. The service was adequate at best and he was poorly trained in fine dining (for instance he reached across me between me and my plate while I was eating to fill my water, also the service was slooooow for him only have two tables). The one star of the night was the wine. I had a pinot grigio to start and a cabernet with my steak and my wife had a zinfindel (all Kiepersol wines) and they were all outstanding. I will definitely be drinking more wine from Kiepersol.

Edible Tyler Roses: 2 out of 5. I simply cannot justify spending $170 dollars on a dinner where the food was bland, the service was adequate and the wine was great. Save your money on the food and just pick up a couple of bottles of wine.

Coyote Sam's

Coyote Sam's Bar and Grille
5424 Old Jacksonville Highway
Tyler, TX 75703
(903) 509-4222
http://www.coyotesamsbarandgrille.com/


 
This is a place just off Old Jacksonville south of loop 323. My wife and I have always driven by and wanted to give it a try, but never had an occasion. Our close friends wanted to go out, so we finally had an occasion to give it a try.

The spread: First of all, I love the exterior of the restaurant. It has a unique architecture and I love the stone exterior. The heavy wooden front doors open into a nice greeting room that has various animal heads on the walls. In fact the entire restaurant is decorated with taxidermy items and antique guns on the walls, with some very nice old Winchesters. I would have loved to spend more time looking at the various rifles. It definitely isn't for everyone, but the decor really worked for me. The menu consisted of the standard bar appetizers: nachos, jalapeno poppers, onion rings, with a little twist of venison chili covered nachos. The entrees consists of the standard BBQ items: ribs, brisket, sausage, ham, pulled pork. They also have several grill items available: lots of steaks, fish and burgers/sandwiches. The menu was a little odd for me, because usually good barbeque doesn't come from a place that also serves other things. My wife had the chicken avocado sandwich, I had the Kobe beef burger and my son had the kids rib plate. The service was pretty good, although when I asked the server whether the Kobe beef burger was real Kobe beef, she said "YES!", but when I followed with, "So it's flown in from Japan", she looked befuddled and said "I don't know." Small complaint, but if you are going to call something Kobe, it better BE Kobe.

The Verdict: The most surprising moment was when the waitress arrived with my son's kid's rib plate (3.99), there were six HUGE ribs and a big ole bowl of beans - this is one of the best deals in town. Although I know my burger wasn't Kobe beef (maybe Wagyu) and it was cooked medium well to my specifications and is the best burger I have had in Tyler. The bun was fresh and perfectly sized, the vegetable fresh and crisp, wow it was good food. Also a surprise were the baked beans, they had huge chunks of brisket (or pulled pork?) and they were the best baked beans I have ever had. My wife enjoyed her chicken sandwich, although she complained there was too much chicken (good complaint if you asked me). I did try my son's ribs and they were a bit of a disappointment. They were cooked well and finished over the grille for a nice crust and good flavor. There wasn't enough smoke for me, I didn't detect any smoke lines at all. Again, I failed to ask my friends' impression, but I know they are fans of Coyote Sam's.

Edible Tyler Roses: 4 of 5. The Grill items were spot on, the BBQ is average.

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.

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