Rowdy Taco - Name and menu change

UPDATE:  Rusty taco has changed its name to "Rowdy Taco" and has added a few menu items (salads, bowls, nachos and quesadillas I believe). I tried them again to see if there were any improvements.  For me there was no improvement in quality of the meat or other ingredients.  Oh yeah, they have flour tortillas, which did not taste super fresh.  No change in the rating, worth it if you are in the area and just have to have a decent, but not spectacular taco.

Rowdy Taco
https://www.facebook.com/RowdyTacoTyler



Rusty's is a relative new comer to Tyler, just off the corner of Beckham and 5th street south of the medical center area.  They opened at almost the same time as Fuzzy's Taco further south, so I had a little bit of a hard time distinguishing them.  And spent some time wondering who thought we needed two more taco shops.  The decor is spartan industrial with an open kitchen where you can see them throwing together your tacos.

The spread: Well as you can imagine, the focus is on tacos.  They offer brisket, fish, chicken, fajita, and pork as their meat fillings.  They also offer breakfast tacos that I would like to try out as I am always Jonesing for a good breakfast taco. I would say the food is more Cal-mex than Tex-mex.  When I went you could only choose corn tortillas for the tacos, which is ok, but I just prefer flour tortillas.  I tried a few of the tacos, as well as chips and salsa.

The verdict:  Well the food was prepared quickly and it was pretty good.  I had a big problem with not being able to choose flour tortillas.  The meat was flavorful and everything was well prepared.  The main problem I had is that it didn't have the familiar Tex-mex or mexican flavors that I am used to.  The meats were fine, but they just didn't have that deep rich flavor that comes from home-style cooking.  The food was just a little too Americanized for me.

Edible Tyler Roses: 3 out of 5, of the two I prefer Fuzzy's, but not a bad place to grab a quick taco.

Peking House - Meh

Peking House



Peking House is a Chinese food place, just south of the Medical center off of Beckham and 5th.  For some reason it took me a long time to give this place a try.  They have a drive through, so I pulled up and placed my order.  Overall a very convenient way to pick up some Chinese grub on the way home.

The spread:  Their menu is your typical American Chinese restaurant.  Egg rolls, fried rice, lo mein, various combinations of beef and chicken with different veggies and sauces.  I tried some egg rolls, lo mein, fried rice, and kung pao chicken.

The verdict:  Below average.  The food was prepared relatively quickly and the service was friendly enough.  The food was just under-seasoned and relatively bland.  Especially when there are two competing Chinese food places within a mile or two (Cheng's and Liang's), this place falls flat.  If you were absolutely crunched for time, or just didn't want to get out of your car to pick up your food, then this place would suffice in a pinch.  I would say that the quality is better than that of Ming's down in south Tyler.

Edible Tyler Roses:  2 out of 5.

Cracker Barrel - ugh

Cracker Barrel Old Country Store and Restaurant



Cracker Barrel is a restaurant just off I-20 near I-69, south of Lindale.  This is a chain restaurant that has a 'country store' in front of house and a restaurant in back.  The menu is classic southern diner fare.  I have good memories of Cracker Barrel from my childhood and always liked wandering around in the store prior to my meals.

The spread:  The menu has breakfast, lunch and dinner items offered all day.  I am particularly fond of their breakfast menu with various combinations of sausage, bacon, toasts, BISCUITS, pancakes, french toast, pork chops, chicken fried steaks, eggs, omelets, etc.  Their dinner/lunch menu offers standard southern cooking to include sandwiches, many veggie sides (black eye peas, green beans, etc), meatloaf, chicken fried steak, roast beef, fried chicken, etc.  I usually go with a pork chops and egg breakfast or go with the chicken fried steak.

The verdict:  Well, usually Cracker Barrel does a decent job of getting out some tasty food.  Definitely not top of the line cuisine, but servicable Southern favorites.  I am particularly fond of their biscuits, pancakes, rolls and cornbread.  The place is also very family friendly with a lot of young critters running around.  The only caveat to this is that my wife got a classic case of food poisoning at the Tyler/Lindale location, and really, you only get to keep my wife up all night dry heaving once.  We will never return.

Edible Tyler Roses: 0 out of 5.  I just can't go back here again!

Mario's Italian Restaurant - Old school Italian

Mario's Italian Restaurant



Mario's is a local Italian restaurant nestled back in a strip center off of broadway/I-69 just south of Heritage (south of Carmike movie theater).  I can never seem to figure out the hours of operation and we have stopped by on multiple occasions when they were closed.  My wife and I visited once for a date night.  The place looks a lot better on the inside than on the outside, it is your typical Italian restaurant with cozy booths and tables with a nice romantic atmosphere.  They also have live music on Fridays and Saturdays.

The spread:  This place has apparently been in operation since 1977, so it is old school Italian-American.  The appetizers range from bruschetta, fried mozzarella, fried zucchini, fried calamari, etc.  They also serve pizzas with all the regular toppings.  The entrees range from chicken/shrimp primavera, blackened snapper, venetian chicken/veal, chicken/veal marsala/piccata/milanese, etc.  We tried the bruschetta, fried ravioli, pizza, chicken piccata, fettuccine alfredo.

The verdict:  I really liked the atmosphere of this place.  It is old school Italian with Frank Sinatra playing in the background.  The waiter was young, but attentive and provided good service.  The food was also very good, some of the best pizza in town.  My wife and I really liked the fried ravioli.  The pasta were good as well.  Overall, the place had good food, plenty of it and a nice atmosphere.  It isn't cutting edge real Italian cooking, but it is good, reasonable priced stick to your ribs food.  What's not to like?

Edible Tyler Roses:  4 out of 5.  Only drawback for me are the hours of operation.

Lago del Pino - location, location, location

Lago del Pino
http://www.lagodelpino.com/




Lago Del Pino is a beautiful restaurant overlooking Lost Pine "lake" a little west of Tyler.  The outside construction is beautiful brick and looks like a fancy ranch/resort.  The views from the bar are great.  They have live music on Friday and Saturday nights.  My wife and I have been interested in trying out this place for sometime, although, they have pretty terrible reviews online.

The spread:  I'm not sure exactly what cuisine they are trying to model their menu after, but there are various appetizers:  Chips and queso, bacon and blue cheese fries, crab cakes, hummus, etc.  A couple of salad and soup selections.  Their entrees range from Texican burgers, pretzel chicken sandwiches, chilaquiles, fish tacos, enchiladas, shrimp and grits and various steaks and seafood.  I tried the bacon and blue cheese fries and the chips and queso.

The verdict:  Well, did I mention the view?  That is basically all the place has going for it.  The dining portion of the restaurant felt loud and a little sterile.  The service was below average for the prices, not particularly horrible, but certainly not attentive or friendly.  My wife and I only go out occasionally by ourselves, so I promised that we would get a couple of drinks and appetizers and then see if we wanted to order entrees.  Well, the bacon and blue cheese fries came out and they were WAY overpowered by the blue cheese.  I love the idea, but the execution was lacking.  They were memorable in that the the amount of blue cheese made them nearly inedible (a little goes a long way guys!).  Then we got the chips and queso.  The chips were fine, crispy and well, chips.  The queso had a slightly off flavor, like liquid smoke or something like that - not horrible, but not inedible.  We decided to try to give the entrees a try seeing as we were already there, but right as I said that I took a bite of my chips and queso and got a mouthful of plastic bag.  Needless to say, we decided to skip the entrees and will not return.

Edible Tyler Roses: 2 out of 5  - I would recommend going for live music and drinks (the view is great), but just eat somewhere else beforehand.  I also don't see how they will stay in business for very long.  Their overhead has to be killing them.

Veranda Indian Cuisine - last bastion of Tyler Indian food

*EDIT*  Veranda has closed it's doors for 'remodeling' for several months now.  I was told on the phone that they would reopen in May, but sadly no new of it coming back.  I have a feeling that we'll never taste Veranda Indian Cuisine again. If anyone know different, please let me know.

Veranda Indian Cuisine
3310 Troup Highway
Tyler, TX 75701



Veranda is located inside the Ramada, just north of the loop off of Troup Highway. They offer a lunch buffet and I am assuming a dinner service (I have yet to dine here during the evening). The only other Indian restaurant in town was Namaste Bombay Brassiere which has since closed its doors. The restaurant isn't very visually stunning to be nice. There is a hotel bar with 10 tables or so with a buffet line set up. The view is the hotel pool. I think the lunch buffet was around 8-9 bucks (no drink included).

The spread: For lunch they had a decent sized buffet. There are some dessert type items to include a couple of types of pudding and fruit. The entrees available consisted of a spicy cabbage salad, basmati rice, chicken birayni (chicken and rice with spices), butter chicken (chicken with spicy cream sauce), goat curry, tandoori chicken, a lentil preperation and a vegetarian dish that I think was palak paneer (cottage cheese cubes in spinach sauce). They also had a warm sweet carrot dish for dessert (gajar halwa?). They also served hot naan to your table. I didn't see a menu, but I know they also do a mango lassi (mango yogurt drink).

The verdict: Well, I have to say that I didn't have high hopes when I walked in. It was close to peak lunch hours and there was a family of 6-8, and two other couples in the restaurant, usually a bad sign. The food was sensational. Everything I tasted was perfectly cooked and spiced. I think they 'dumbed' down the heat level a little bit in the meat dishes, but the dishes had a strong heat level without being overbearing. The naan was hot, crispy and chewy - perfect for sopping up any leftover curry/sauce. My favorite was the goat curry, bones and all - it just hit the spot for me as I love it when a cheap, tough cut of meat gets turned into savory melt in your mouth goodness. The tandoori chicken was also a pleasant surprise as I usually find it bland, but they cooked it perfectly with the right amount of spices and smoke. I was once again blown away by the quality of indian food, right here in Tyler. An additional surprise was the sweet carrot dish, it reminded me of sweet potatoes served dessert style at Thanksgiving.

Edible Tyler Roses: 5 out of 5, rare gem of great food and reasonable prices. I will have to go back during an evening dining service.

KE Cellars

****UPDATE:  KE cellars has shut down, apparently the new alcohol laws allowing for the more widespread selling of alcohol was too much for this place to stay in business.  That is too bad, I like this little wine shop.

KE Cellars - Tyler
4574 S. Broadway
Tyler, TX 75703
https://www.kiepersol.com/kecellars/index.shtml



KE Cellars is a nice little place just south of the loop and Broadway/69.  It really is a wine shop that happens to have a little grub and lets your taste on site.

The spread:  The always have several different wines for tasting/drinking.  The store has a nice collection of different wines from Texas.  I haven't been in since they changed the alcohol rules for Tyler, so I am not sure if they have expanded their wares.  In the back they have several long benches and a stage for live music.  I think they also have a small menu of nibbles to enjoy with your wine.

The verdict:  This is a place I really dig.  You get to try a bunch of wines that you might not usually try, kick back on some benches and listen to live music.  The crowd is definitely older folks.  I really like the decor, it is simple and reminds me of drinking in a wine cellar in Germany.


Edible Tyler Roses:  4 out of 5; great place to relax and have a glass of wine.

Wasabi's

Wasabi Asian Bistro and Sushi Bar
http://www.wasabityler.com/

5617 S. Donnybrook

Tyler, TX 75703

Wasabi is a place tucked just off Broadway/69 behind Lowes/Circuit City.  When I walked into the place it looked great.  Modern design, cool looking bar, nice layout, looked clean.  I think they are trying really hard to be a sushi bar that attracts the young, hip crowd.

The spread:  They offer a nice selection of different kinds of sushi (rolls, nigiri, sashimi, etc).  They also offer more traditional Chinese style food as well: egg rolls, stir fry, noodles, fried rice etc.  I tried the wonton soup, egg rolls, lo mein, madarin kung pao, and pot stickers.  I picked up and the service was a little slow for the time of day and the crowd (I think there were 2 people at the bar).

The verdict:  Well, the entire meal was nearly inedible.  The egg rolls I ordered were actually spring rolls that were cold and underseasoned.  The lo mein was hot, but underseasoned and bland.  The pot stickers were luke-warm and underseasoned.  The Kung Pao tasted a little off, was luke warm and underseasoned/bland.  The wonton soup was STONE cold from the fridge, they must have forgot to put it in the microwave.  I am not sure if meal was just a bad night or if that is just what they will put out on their Chinese side of the menu.  Perhaps they do sushi better, but there is no way I am eating raw fish at a place that doesn't know how to cook.  I could not have been more displease with wasting my money on the food.

Edible Tyler Roses:  1 out of 5.  Only reason they get one is that their sushi might be edible.

What about Kabob and his Gyros

What About Kabob & His Gyros
http://whataboutkabob.weebly.com/
713 WSW loop 323
River Oaks Plaza
Tyler, TX 75703



What about Kabob and his Gyros is a little place just west of the loop and Broadway/69. This place has a 'hip' vibe, with a lot of young people working the counter/grill. The walls are covered with customer 'graffiti' that contributes to the cool factor. They obviously specialize in Gyros.

The spread: Gyros are at the top of the list with a variety of different combinations of ingredients to make your gyros your own. They also offer some pretty good appetizers felafel and other 'Greek' themed fare.

The verdict: I really like this little place. The hours are a little weird and I seem to show up when they are closed. They make their pita bread fresh to order, take care of their rotisserie meat and have a nice cucumber sauce. The gyros are more than enough for a meal. My wife and kids like them too. It is unfortunately one of those places that I don't really think about all that often, and I am always very satisfied with the food. I like this place so much that it is one of the "Tyler" specific places I recommended to a good friend of mine who was driving through town.   My only drawback is there somewhat limited menu, although they do one thing and they do it well - GYROS!

Edible Tyler Roses: 4 out of 5. Go get a great Gyro.

Salsarita's

Salsarita's
http://www.salsaritas.com/



Salsarita's is a chain Tex-mex/mexican restaurant that is located just north of the loop and Troup. From the outside, the place looks great. Vibrant colors and neat designs with a lot of glass to show off the inside. You mosey up to the counter, place your order and wait at a table to have it delivered. Some people have compared it to Chipotle (higher end Tex-mex/mexican fast food).

The spread: Salsarita's offers a pretty good selection of your Tex-mex fare. They offers tacos (with your choice of tortilla and meat), burritos, nachos, quesadillas, salads, and enchiladas. I like all the choices they offer with each selection, you can really customize your food. If you want guacamole, go for it! Sour cream? Sure! It is similar to Subway and Chipotle as the food is made right there in front of you. I tired a couple of different kids of tacos, a burritos, the nachos and the quesadillas.

The verdict: Well, I was slightly disappointed with the food. The tacos were fresh and decent, but the meat was a little bland. The burrito was also average - not a lot of flavor in the meat/beans. The quesadillas was great and the kids devoured it. I was disappointed in the nachos, the chips were a little stale and the toppings a little bland. It was a little more than I intended to spend on fast food, but the quality was definitely better than the other choices for fast mexican food (taco bell, taco bueno). The food at Chipotle is hands down better as a comparison, but it is slightly more expensive as well (and you don't have as many choices). The food was prepared quickly and the place was clean. The place is kid-friendly, but with the caveat that it isn't toddler friendly. They also offer catering, which is where I think Salsarita's would really shine. The best deals are on the bulk/volume tacos/burritos and I think the price would match the quality in that regards.

Edible Tyler Roses: 2 out of 5, slightly disappointing in quality. Would recommend for catering.

State of Tyler Barbeque - Best in Tyler?

This post is going to be a little bit different. I have reviewed several Tyler area BBQ joints and wanted to write a post that talks about all of them, and of course ranks them. My preference for BBQ is simple. It should have a lot of smoke, be falling off the bone tender and have an accompanying spicy/slightly sweet sauce (on the side of course). Of course, good BBQ doesn't need a sauce, but how often to you run into BBQ so good it doesn't need sauce? In terms of cut of meat, I prefer in descending order: beef brisket, pork ribs, sausage of any kind, chicken, cabrito, turkey, then whatever else you want to smoke. The method of cooking should be slow and low, turning a tough piece of meat into melt in your mouth goodness.

I have tried just about every BBQ place I know of in Tyler and the surrounding community to include: Bodacious BBQ, Stanley's, The Purple Pig, Hickory Fare, Stacy's in Jacksonville, and Spring Creek BBQ. With the exception of The Purple Pig and Stacy's, I have been disappointed. Stanley's has serious problems with consistency, although they have plenty of awards that tell me I'm wrong for not liking their food. Bodacious serves average food. Spring Creek will do in a pinch (with some great service). Hickory Fare is slightyl above the pack, but again doesn't put out great Q. Stacy's offers solid ribs and brisket, but the 45 minute drive down to Jacksonville isn't worth it. I guess the Purple Pig really isn't in Tyler city limits, but to me it offers high quality barbeque done right.

Best BBQ in Tyler: The Purple Pig

Any differences of opinion or any places I have missed?

Bodacious Barbeque - solid Q.

Bodacious Barbeque
http://www.thebodaciousbbq.com/



This is a BBQ place just north of the loop off of Troup. Some good signs from the outside are the large piles of wood they have stacked in the alley. Stepping inside also send off good vibes, with a rustic/cowboy decor and plenty of seating. You walk up to the counter, place your order then grab a seat and wait for your BBQ.

The spread: The options are somewhat limited. They offer brisket, hot links, sausage, turkey, ribs and sloppy joes as the meats. The sides offered are pinto beans, potato salad and coleslaw. For dessert they offer pecan pie, lemon pie and peach cobbler.

The verdict: I am all about a place choosing to produce a few quality items over producing a bunch of average food. Unfortunately, for me the BBQ falls a little flat. The brisket has a good smoke flavor, but lacks tenderness and fat/succulence. Did I just write succulence? Yes, I did - BBQ is something ethereal and sacred to me, so I can use fancy words. The ribs also have a nice smoke flavor and are somewhat tender, but they were just ok, not transcendent. The sides are also nothing to get excited about, they are solid, but not original or really good/great. That being said, I do think that Bodacious has the best BBQ in Tyler city limits, which gives me an idea for a new post.

Edible Tyler Roses: 3 out of 5, the Q is good enough to eat, but not good enough to get excited about.

Smashburger - Solid burgers.

Smashburger
Two locations in Tyler

Troup Hwy & Loop 323
3314 Troup Hwy

Midway Plaza across from Carmike Cinema
7484 S Broadway Blvd.



Smashburger is a nationwide chain that has two locations in Tyler. I have only been to the one across from Carmike Cinema. They have a 'hip' atmosphere with modern design concepts and bold colors. You place your order at the register then find a table and wait for your food to be delivered (or to take it home).

The spread: As you can imagine, their specialty is hamburgers. They have a few to choose from ranging from classic, Texas, Baja, Jalapeno, etc. They offer an assortment of "add ons" so you can personalize your burger to your tastes (for an extra cost of course). They also offer chicken sandwiches, hot dogs, and salads. Their sides include fries (Smash fries), onion rings, fried pickles, fried jalapenos, chili, etc.

The verdict: Smashburger makes good hamburgers, not GREAT hamburgers, but good. I especially like that you can personalize your burger and make it just the way you want it. It can get a little pricey the more you add, but 4.99-5.99 for a good burger is a pretty good deal. I always go with the Smash fries as I find the rosemary, olive oil and garlic really raise their fries to another level. I haven't tried much of anything else, but the burgers are solid. Of note, they will cook to your specifications (medium, medium well, etc), which is nice. They also offer a couple of different beers and wines, so they have that going for them as well.

Edible Tyler Roses: 4 out of 5, solid food for a good value.

The Diner

The Diner
http://thedinertyler.com/



The Diner is an unassuming eatery on Broadway/69 a couple minutes south of Grande. It is located in a little strip mall that you can barely see from the road. The decor is 50's diner themed with heavy references to Elvis. They are open for breakfast, lunch and dinner (closed Sunday for dinner).

The spread: Well for one, they offer everything you would expect from in an old school diner - eggs, bacon, sausage, waffles, pancakes etc. for breakfast; burgers, chicken fried steak, hot dogs, soups, salads and sandwiches for lunch/dinner). But one quick look at the menu and you know that you are in for something a little different, should you be brave enough. They really go out of their way to be inventive and creative with their menu. There is a real sense of whimsy with items ranging from the "Flatliner" burger - a cheeseburger with two grilled cheese sandwiches as the buns; the chicken fried burger - burger with onion rings, fried green tomatoes, and chicken fried bacon. I have yet to opt for the specialty burgers, but my good friend enjoyed them.

The verdict: This is another example of people running a restaurant who care about their food. The food comes out quick and it is very good. I enjoyed the chicken fried bacon, they actually cook the bacon ahead of time, then batter it and deep fry it. Rich and decadent, definitely unique. Their soups and sandwiches are also right on the money. The staff has always been friendly, attentive and helpful. We also showed up with a larger group on a Saturday, and they opened a closed section so we could sit together. Just more evidence that they care about their customers. This is a great place that is unique to Tyler, so give it a try!

Edible Tyler Roses: 4 out of 5, try something new!

Papa Murphy's Pizza Take N Bake - Not bad, when it's on sale.

Papa Murphy's Pizza Take N Bake
1847 Troup Highway
Tyler, TX 75701
(903) 592-3100
http://papamurphys.com/Home



Papa Murphy's is an interesting concept pizza shop. You show up to the shop and order your pizza, they make the pizzas right there in front of you, and then you take them home and bake them in your own oven. We have gone a couple of times when we were out and about and didn't want to have to pay for pizza delivery. They apparently make everything fresh in house daily, just like a real pizza joint, just without any ovens.

The spread: Well they offer a variety of pizzas to include the by the topping pizzas, specialty types (All meats, Papa's favorites, etc) and stuffed pizzas in medium, large and family size. They also offer original and crispy crusts. They also offer desserts, salads and tray lasagna.

The verdict: Well the end product is a decent pizza pie, not great or outstanding, just decent. If you take home more than one, you better have a double or convection oven to bake two (or more) at the same time. The up side is that you get your pizza straight out of the oven without worrying about it sitting in a delivery guy's car for an hour. The downside is that you don't have a pizza oven baking the pies in a pizza pan, so the quality well never reach that of other chain pizza places. The pizzas are also fairly pricy, as they are the same price as Mazzio's or Pappa John's. I would recommend trying out Papa Murphy's if you were tired, just wanted to get home and pop some pizzas in the oven.

Edible Tyler Roses: 2.5 out of 5, decent pizza, high price for the quality.