Jim & Ramona's Restaurant Journey

Dinner -- 10/14/09

2009-10-17T07:23:00.000-07:00

Elite Circle Grille
2132 S. Valley Hills Dr.
Waco, TX 76706

254.754.4941

http://www.elitecirclegrille.com/

5:00 - 5:50 PM

$

Ramona: French Dip Sandwich, Fries, iced tea

Jim: French Dip Sandwich, Fries, iced tea

A most excellent sandwich, and the best French Dip I have tasted in Waco. The bread was great, and the sandwich was warm and delicious.

Our server, Spring, also did a great job. She had the right balance of attention and service without hovering -- a problem in so many restaurants in Waco.

Do not miss this historic Waco eatery on any trip through Central Texas.

-Jim

Dinner -- 09/12/09

2009-09-14T04:37:00.000-07:00

Selena's Table
2004 Valley Mills Dr.
Waco, TX 76710

254.235.9771

5:00 - 6:15 p.m.

$$$

Ramona: House salad with mystic cranberry citrus dressing; grilled marinated tuna Greco; garlic mashed potatoes; iced tea; Chaka Sanna; coffee

Jim: Pork vegetable soup; Perry's grilled balsamic steak; garlic mashed potatoes; iced tea; sfogliatella with fruit sauce; coffee

A new restaurant opening is always something to celebrate, and when a new dining spot opens that beats all expectations, that is really cause for excitement. While we like to visit new places early, there is always a fear things may be a little rough around the edges. Selena's Table came with some pretty lofty praise from some colleagues, so we decided to try it after it was open only five days.

Obviously a lot of planning went into this new place at Ridgewood east on the corner of Valley Mills and Cobbs. The decor is as eclectic as the menu, which features a wide variety of unusual dishes from South America, Mexico, the Mediterranean, and Asia. The menu had such an interesting selection, we had a hard time settling on our dinner, changing our minds a couple of times.

Jim started with the soup, which had a slightly spicy and wonderful taste. Ramona's salad had a colorful presentation with fresh ingredients and an excellent dressing neither of us had ever tasted.

The entrees were of a generous size, perfectly cooked, and served at the right temperature. Jim especially liked the fried spinach, which served as garnish for the steak. Ramona's tuna steak was embellished with Roma tomato slices, capers, Greek olives, capers and feta cheese. Grilled mixed vegetables accompanied each dish and were fresh and crisp.

Lastly, the dessert menu held every bit as much interest as the rest of the menu. Ramona went with one of her favorites -- a flourless chocolate cake, and Jim tried for something completely different, a delicate pastry with fruits sauce and Nutella. Both were outstanding.

The only glitch was the bread, which had no character at all. The owners assured us that the arrival -- soon -- of a new bread and pastry chef would remedy that situation. At least for the near future, BYOB.

Scott, our server, seemed a bit nervous, but for the early days of the restaurant he did a great job.

If you like 1424, you will love Selena's Table. Don't miss out on this great new spot in Waco's ever-improving dining scene. Shame on Waco if it cannot support two first class restaurants, which rival many, many places in Dallas or Austin. We eagerly await our second visit.

-Jim & Ramona.

Breakfast -- 06/16/09

2009-06-20T15:33:00.000-07:00

Starbuck's
I-40
Little Rock, AR

Jim: Vente latte, Sausage, egg, and cheese on ciabatta bread

Ramona: Vente latte, Sausage, egg, and cheese on ciabatta bread

Starbuck's is a must for early morning travelling. Their orange cranberry scones are usually our number one choice, but they've just added hot sandwiches to the menu. We were pleased with the sausage, egg, and cheese on ciabatta bread. Next food stop: HOME!

--Ramona

Dinner -- 06/15/09

2009-06-20T15:19:00.000-07:00

Parkside Grill
338 N. Peters Road
Knoxville, TN

865.862.5358

$$

Jim: Caesar salad, Parkside fish and chips, French fries, cole slaw, iced tea

Ramona: Kickin' Chicken (chicken breast, lightly breaded and deep fried, topped with creamy cravy), white cheddar mashed potatoes, steamed broccoli, cole slaw, iced tea

It's not the restaurant I was looking for but it turned out fine. Jim says his fish and chips were the best he's ever had. They use grouper and serve it with a homemade remoulade sauce. He wasn't too crazy about the sauce, but everything else was excellent. I had a few bites of the Caesar salad and it was terrific. I also had a taste of his cole slaw and asked the waitress to bring me a side order of that. My chicken was kickin' and I loved the white cheddar mashed potatoes. This was a great dinner to see us on for another seventeen hours of driving!

--Ramona

Dinner -- 06/14/09

2009-06-20T15:11:00.001-07:00

Dining Car
8826 Frankford Ave.
Philadelphia, PA 19136

215.338.5113

$

Jim: Creamed chicken soup, roast turkey, cornbread stuffing, mashed potatoes, carrots, iced tea

Ramona: Vegetable beef soup, roast turkey, cornbread stuffing, mashed potatoes with gravy, candied yams, iced tea

The Dining Car is another of our favorite spots to go in Philadelphia. Jim and I both indulged in their great turkey dinner. Seems like the turkey portion was twice as big as the one we had at Cracker Barrel the week before. Jim's mother was able to repay him for his mushroom taunt that morning. She had lima beans in her vegetable beef soup!

Breakfast -- 06/14/09

2009-06-20T15:03:00.000-07:00

Red Robin Diner
6330 Frankford Ave
Philadelphia, PA 19135

215.338.8643

9:00 --9:50 AM

$

Ramona: Scrapple, scrambled egg, fried potatoes, orange juice, coffee

Jim: Ham, cheese, and mushroom omellette, English muffin, fried potatoes, tomato juice, coffee

Two days in a row having scrapple is not too much for me. It's one of those foods we don't have in Texas, so I take advantage of the opportunity when I can. (We bought two packs to bring home with us in our cooler.) Jim had a tasty omellette, taunting his mother with mushooms, which she can't stand to see.

--Ramona

Breakfast -- 06/13/09

2009-06-20T14:55:00.000-07:00

Red Robin Diner
6330 Frankford Ave
Philadelphia, PA 19135

215.338.8643

9:00 --9:50 AM

$

Ramona: Scrapple, pancakes, orange juice, coffee

Jim: Scrapple, two poached eggs on an English muffin, fried potatoes, tomato juice, coffee

A trip to Philadelphia wouldn't be complete without breakfast with scrapple. The Red Robin Diner is just a block away from Jim's parents' house, so it's our favorite place to go. The service is always great. The cost of the breakfast includes the juice and coffee. Can't beat it!

--Ramona

Dinner -- 06/12/09

2009-06-20T14:42:00.000-07:00

Greenman's Deli
2900 Robbins Ave
Philadelphia, PA 19149

215.288.3336

7:00 p.m.

$

Jim: Ham & cheese hoagie, mayonnaise, lettuce, tomato, oregano; Herr's potato chips

Ramona: Turkey & cheese hoagie, mayonnaise, lettuce, tomato; Herr's potato chips, diet coke

First stop in Philadelphia was for hoagies from Greenman's Deli. This local eatery is on the way to Jim's parents' house, and that's what we were in the mood for, since we didn't make town in time for a nice dinner out. Nobody makes a better hoagie than Greenman's; there are several locations in the Philly area, but the one on Robbins Ave. is the original. Jim ate his whole sandwich, accompanied by iced tea his mother had made just for him. I saved half of my hoagie for a nice snack the next day.

--Ramona

Dinner -- 06/11/09

2009-06-11T18:30:00.000-07:00

Boombozz Taphouse
1448 Bardstown Rd.
Louisville, KY 40204

502.458.8889

http://www.boombozztaphouse.com/Home/tabid/91/Default.aspx

$

Ramona: Diet Pepsi

Jim: Iced tea

Shared: 12 inch pizza; 1/2 Tuscan Chicken (Garlic cream sauce topped with signature grilled chicken, portobello mushrooms, sweet red onions, roma tomatoes and blended cheese ); 1/2 Quattro (Classic red sauce and mozzarella with Italian sausage, prosciutto, artichokes and portobello mushrooms)

For our last night in Louisville, we thought we'd have a pizza so I did some research on the Internet to find an interesting place. I think we hit the jackpot with Boombozz. It was delicious! The menu had several interesting options and it was hard to decide on just one, so we decided to split and get two of their "famous creations." The 12 inch was perfect for us, but we agreed that we liked the Quattro much better than the Tuscan Chicken. Not sure if it was the garlic cream sauce or the blended cheese, but we had no complaints about the Quattro at all.

Our server Mike was very attentive and make the evening a very pleasant one. Boombozz is sure to be a hit with the younger crowd; there are TVs in every conceivable location. And the array of beers is certainly impressive, for those that care about such things. There are several Boombozz locations in the Louisville area; the one on Bardstown Rd. is the newest to open. I hope we'll get to visit it again next year.

Ramona

Dinner -- 06/10/09

2009-06-11T18:20:00.000-07:00

Cottage Inn
570 Eastern Parkway
Louisville, KY 40217

502.637.4325

5:45 - 6:30 p.m.

$

Jim: fried chicken, mashed potatoes , applesauce, lemon pound cake, iced tea

Ramona: fried beef liver with onions and gravy, mashed potatoes, cole slaw, derby pie, iced tea

Shared: basket of fried okra

As predicted, we returned to Cottage Inn for Wednesday night's "all you can eat" fried chicken, taking two fellow AP readers from Michigan with us. I don't think they were as enthusiastic as we were about the southern cooking, but they enjoyed getting away from the convention center for the evening.

Jim agreed with my assessment of the fried chicken; it was great. I particularly enjoyed the fried okra. We tried different desserts tonight. Jim thought the lemon pound cake was good, but the icing was a little sweet for his taste. The derby pie was a warm pecan pie with chocolate chips and whipped cream. It was very rich!

Ramona

Dinner -- 06/09/09

2009-06-09T16:54:00.000-07:00

Cottage Inn
570 Eastern Parkway
Louisville, KY 40217

502.637.4325

6:00 - 6:45 p.m.

$

Jim: Chicken tenders, French fries, corn, lemon meringue pie, iced tea

Ramona: 1/4 fried chicken, mashed potatoes w/gravy, cole slaw, coconut cream pie, iced tea

"Southern comfort food" is this restaurant's motto and they've been dishing it up since 1929 - great food, great service, great value. Everything we had was so good, we're thinking about going back tomorrow night. Wednesday night is all "you can eat" fried chicken (plus two sides) for $9.99. Since I had fried chicken tonight, I think I'll try the beef liver and onions or chicken livers.

Jim and I were both pleased with our dessert choices, but tomorrow night, I want to try a slice of homemade pound cake or carrot cake. And a basket of fried okra, which was under appetizers and I missed that tonight! I overheard someone at a nearby table talking about the okra, but it wasn't listed as a side item.

--Ramona

Dinner -- 06/08/09

2009-06-09T15:27:00.000-07:00

Rivue / Galt House
140 N. 4th St.
Louisville, KY 40202

502.568.4239

http://www.rivue.com/

6:30 - 8:00 p.m.

Jim: 12 ounce ribeye, salad, potato bread, Grande Marnier creme brulee

Ramona: 12 ounce ribeye, salad, rosemary bread, white chocolate mouse

Shared: Rosemont Shiraz 2008, Australia

Normally Rivue is closed on Monday nights, but it was open tonight especially for the AP readers. Guests at the Galt House received phone messages on Saturday informing us of the special menu that would be available. Jim and I dined at Rivue two years ago, just after the restaurant had opened on the 25th floor of the Galt House's Rivue Tower. We were eager to go there again, so we made a reservation.

Our table was in the section of the restaurant that revolves, offering a panoramic view of the river and the city. We were there for an hour and a half, almost three full revolutions. The meal was superb from beginning to end. The salad consisted of field greens, artichoke hearts, asparagus, croutons, spiced pecans, purple onion, and a lemon honey dill dressing. The breads were hot, delicious, and accompanied by whipped butter. The ribeye steaks sat on rosemary whipped potatoes and were topped by asparagus spears, a white cheddar and pimento sauce, and a port wine sauce.

Jim and I shared our desserts with each other so we each had half of both selections. The creme brulee was an orange liquor infused custard and caramelized sugar crusted fresh berries. The white cholocate mouse was served in a crispy lace shell, topped with fresh berries and a kiwi raspberry sauce. We splurged a little on this dinner, but considered it part of Jim's birthday celebration.

--Ramona

Dinner -- 06/07/09

2009-06-08T18:38:00.000-07:00

August Moon Chinese Bistro
2269 Lexington Road
Louisville, KY 40206

502.456.6569

http://www.augustmoonbistro.com/

6:30 - 7:30 p.m.

$$

Jim: Won ton soup; shrimp, fresh snow peas and water chestnuts; steamed rice,

Ramona: Egg drop soup; beef, asian vegetables and shiitake mushrooms; fried rice

Shared: goat cheese, crabmeat won ton and asian salsa, Koogamullen Penfolds Syrah (2005) Australia

Jim's birthday, and that means the birthday boy gets to choose the dining spot. He was in the mood for Chinese, and August Moon is reputed to be the best in Louisville.

The title is well-deserved. The crab won tons were delicious, and the food was all hot, tasty, and included generous portions. Jim especially appreciated the won ton soup with lots of pork and noodles added in.

Both dishes featured tasty and plentiful meats. We will definitely add this to our list of must visit spots on our next trip to Louisville.

--Ramona & Jim

Dinner -- 06/06/09

2009-06-08T18:36:00.000-07:00

Gasthaus German Restaurant
4812 Brownsboro Center
Louisville, KY 40207

502.899.7177

http://www.gasthaus.wordpress.com/

6:00 - 7:10 PM

$$$

Ramona: Sauerbraten, pan fried potatoes with onions, Napolean (pastry with strawberries and cream), iced tea

Jim: Wiener Schnitzel, spaetzle, fallen chocolate souffle, iced tea, coffee

Shared: Rotkraut (red cabbage)

Gasthaus is the wonderful German restaurant on the outskirts of Louisville that we discovered last year, and, along with Saffron's, have given a permanent list of places to go when we're in town. The food and service are superb, offering treats not available where we live. The desserts alone are worth the trip. Our only regret is that we can only come here once a year!

--Ramona

Dinner -- 06/05/09

2009-06-08T18:35:00.000-07:00

The Fish House/Cafe Beignet
1310 Winter Ave.
Louisville, KY 40204

502.568.2993

Jim: Scrod dinner (3 pieces fried scrod, french fries, cole slaw, hush puppies) , iced tea

Ramona: Catfish basket (1 piece fried catfish, french fries, cole slaw, hush puppies) , iced tea

Shared: 1 order (3 pieces) beignets

This delightful find was a result of an Internet search for Louisville restaurants. A short drive from downtown took us to this neighborhood of interesting shops (neat independent bookstore - Carmichael's - nearby!).

One piece of fish was plenty for me. Jim and I were both pleased with the fish, but we thought the cole slaw tasted a little too vinegar-y.

Having beignets was a special treat. We couldn't pass up the opportunity, even though it's a food we traditionally associate with breakfast. Unfortunately Jim's schedule grading exams prevents us from returning to Cafe Beignet for breakfast. The menu did look interesting.

--Ramona

Dinner -- 06/04/09

2009-06-08T18:22:00.000-07:00

Saffron's Persian Cuisine
131 W. Market St.
Louisville, KY 40202

502.584.7800

http://www.saffronsrestaurant.com/

6:30 - 8:05 PM

$$$

Ramona: Steak and chicken kabob on basmati rice, grilled veggies (tomato, onion, mushroom, yellow pepper), chopped tomato and cucumber, vanilla ice cream with attar, pistachio, and saffron, iced tea

Jim: Vegetable soup, rack of lamb on basmati rice, grilled veggies (tomato, onion, mushroom, yellow pepper), chopped tomato and cucumber, vanilla ice cream with attar, pistachio, and saffron, hot jasmine tea

Shared: watercress, mint, and tarragon, and feta cheese on pita bread

Our first dinner in Louisville was at our favorite restaurant, one which we found on our first trip here two years ago. The Persian flavors are exquisite and very satisfying. I only ate half of my kabob dinner so I was able to enjoy it again for lunch another day.

The ice cream might sound strange, but it really was a wonderful combination of flavors.

Saffron's is definitely a "don't miss" spot in any visit to Louisville.

--Ramona

Lunch - 06/04/09

2009-06-08T17:52:00.000-07:00

Cracker Barrel #415
1565 Mt. Eden Rd.
Shelbyville, KY 40065-8896

502.633.9945

12:45 - 1:30 PM

http://www.crackerbarrel.com/

$

Ramona: Roast turkey, cornbread dressing, sweet potato casserole, iced tea

Jim: Roast turkey, cornbread dressing, mashed potatoes, iced tea

The last leg in our trip to Louisville, KY began on Thursday morning, leaving Knoxville after three nights with my son's family. Cracker Barrel is always a great and dependable place to stop for meals on the road, especially on Thursdays, which is "turkey day" at Cracker Barrels everywhere.

Breakfast is also especially good at CB and is served all hours. It is one of the few places in Texas where you can get country ham; great with grits! I've recently discovered that you can purchase the ham there and take it home to cook at a later date.

--Ramona

Dinner -- 06/01/09

2009-06-06T18:05:00.000-07:00

Loretta Lynn's Kitchen & Gift Shop
15366 Hwy 13S
Hurricane Mills, TN 37078-2347

931.296.1122

7:00 - 7:45 p.m.

$

Jim: Buffet samplings of fried chicken, fried catfish, barbecue, mashed potatoes, creamed corn, hush puppies, iced tea

Ramona: Buffet samplings of fried chicken, fried catfish, mashed potatoes, creamed corn, cole slaw, hush puppies, iced tea

There are portions of I-40 between Memphis and Nashville where few restaurants can be found. Holding out for an exit with a Shell station, so we could purchase gas at the same stop, resulted in us missing out on the good restaurant options in Jackson. Stopping at Loretta Lynn's seemed like a good idea. Having lived in Tennessee 16 years, I had passed it many times but never stopped.

Country music fans, especially fans of LL will enjoy this place, which combines a museum and gift shop with restaurant. Neither Jim nor I particularly care for CW music, so we were happy to find that the music was not overly loud. The food was okay, but nothing to make us say we'd love to stop there again. The bright spot of the meal for me was the creamed style corn, almost as good as my mother used to make. A display case full of homemade pies looked interesting, but we were too full to try anything after filling up on fried chicken and catfish.

--Ramona

Dinner -- 5/9/09

2009-05-23T13:58:00.000-07:00

Ruth's Chris Steak House
1700 N. Westshore Blvd.
Tampa, FL 33607

813.282.1118

http://www.ruthschris.com/

Meal served family style: Cheese assortment, mushrooms stuffed with crabmeat, potatoes au gratin, creamed spinach, chef's selection of miniature desserts

Jim and Ramona: house salad with vinaigrette dressing, filet

The occasion was a surprise birthday party for my son's 40th birthday. Jim and I rode with Kevin and Kathleen to the restaurant, and he suspected that she might have invited a few more local friends to join us, but he was not expecting to see his brother, half-brother, father, mother-in-law, and high school friend from Nashville there.

The party was great fun and the food, as expected, was fabulous. The staff at Ruth's Chris paid attention to every detail and everything was perfect.

Ramona

Dinner - 5/8/09

2009-05-23T13:33:00.000-07:00

Frenchy's Rockaway Grill
7 Rockaway St.
Clearwater Beach, FL 33767

727.446.4844

http://www.frenchysonline.com/

$$

Jim: She Crab soup, Caesar salad, baked stuffed grouper, gin & tonic, iced tea

Ramona: She Crab soup, Caesar salad, Four Kings, frozen margarita

Nothing could be better than watching the sun set over the Gulf, with my son, his wife, and their three little girls. Having a great dinner was the icing on the cake! Frenchy's has several locations in the Clearwater area, but the one we chose is right on the beach and we were able to get outdoor seating with just a little wait.

A cup of their famous She Crab Soup was a great way to begin the meal. Jim ordered the bowl and both of us agreed that it was fabulous. We then each had a Caesar salad, which was also quite good. Jim chose the baked stuffed grouper, which is one of their signature dishes and I had a combination platter called Four Kings. Everything was wonderful and the service was top notch. We can't wait for another trip to Tampa so we can return!

Ramona

Dinner -- 5/1/09

2009-05-02T12:31:00.000-07:00

El Siete Mares
1915 Dutton Ave.
Waco, TX 76706

254.714.1297

http://www.elsietemares.net/

5:30 - 6:40 PM

$$

Ramona: Tostada de Jaiba (flat, crispy tortilla with crab, tomatoes, onions, cilantro, & lime juice), shrimp acuyo, with peppers, mushrooms, onions, in a white wine sauce, iced tea with lime slices, tres leches cake with chocolate syrup

Jim: Tostada de Ceviche (flat, crispy tortilla with fish, avocado, tomatoes, onions, cilantro, & lime juice), Pescado Empapelado (A fillet of mahi-mahi marinated with their original spices, lime juice, olive oil and sauvignon blanc, with bell peppers, mushrooms, and onions. sealed in aluminum foil and steamed and served with rice and vegetables), iced tea with lime slices, tres leches cake with chocolate syrup

El Siete Mares gets better with every visit. The sauce on Jim's dish was so good, he asked for flour tortillas to sop it up. The fish was steamy and tender and perfectly prepared.

Ramona's shrimp was also perfectly prepared with a hint of spicy flavor. The steamed rice in both dishes was also fluffy and sweet. The vegetables were fresh and just a bit crunchy.

We know, from past experiences, the dessert is too good to share, so we splurged with a slice each. As we scraped up the last of the chocolate sauce, we knew we made the right decision here.

We do not get her often enough, but we are going to try and make it a monthly habit.

-Jim

Dinner -- 04/11/09

2009-04-12T12:01:00.000-07:00

Heitmiller Steakhouse
203 N. Connally Street
Elm Mott, TX 76640

254.829.2651

$$

Ramona: house salad, 6 oz. filet, mashed potatoes, iced tea

Jim: house salad, 16 oz. rib eye, mushrooms, baked potato, iced tea

Shared: lemon meringue pie

This restaurant was one of the first Jim visited when he came to Waco in 1993, and he was not impressed in the slightest. The queue to get in, the menus to be filled out before being seated, the worn, wooden bowls, and the complete lack of atmosphere, thrived only because it was in the days before Texas Roadhouse, Outback, Diamondback's, and Logan's Steakhouse. Jim never wanted to go back. Ramona also ate there with a friend quite a few years ago, and she shared Jim's opinion. However, we decided to give the place a second chance, since we heard the Heitmiller family no longer operated the establishment.

We were both pleasantly surprised. The meat was tasty and tender. The sauteed mushrooms Jim got really did "smother" the rib eye. The salad now came in nice plastic bowls and although the decor has not changed much, they do have a separate smoking room. The price was more than reasonable, and while the steaks come nowhere near Outback or 135 Prime, they could stand toe-to-toe with Cheddar's and Logan's.

The pie was great. A huge head of meringue topped a thick layer of filling with a flaky crust. Heitmillers will now find a place on our regular rotation.

--Jim

Breakfast -- 4/10/09

2009-04-12T11:55:00.000-07:00

Cafe Cappuccino
4700 Bosque Blvd.
Waco, TX 76710

254.772.3739

http://www.cafecappuccinotexas.com/

$

Ramona: orange juice, banana-nut french toast, sugar-free syrup, sausage, coffee

Jim: breakfast burrito (egg, potato, cheese, sausage), latte

Since we breakfasted here on a rare weekday, we both picked something completely different.
Neither of us was disappointed. The atmosphere seemed a little different, and the other diners seemed a little different, but the food and the service amounted to what we always expect -- the best breakfast in Waco.

-Jim

Dinner -- 4/4/09

2009-04-09T13:47:00.000-07:00

135 Prime
1201 Hewitt Dr
Waco, TX 76712

254.666.3100

http://www.135prime.com/

6:30 - 8:45 PM

$$$$$

Ramona & Jim: Caesar salad, 6 oz. Monroe filet

Shared: (Shrimp) Cocktail Astaire, Audrey's escargot, Lobster risotto, triple chocolate mousse, bailey's cheesecake, Concho y Toro Cabernet (2005).

Well. 5 years. Five wonderful years married, and we could not think of a better place in Waco than 135 Prime, which has now become our official anniversary dining spot. Our server, Emily, did an outstanding job, and made this special evening even more memorable that we thought possible. Best of luck on her upcoming nuptials -- we hope she will be as happy as we are!

The appetizers we shared had the taste for a super intro to the main course. The three sauces with the giant shrimp were all interesting, and we could not decide which we liked the best. The bread was soft, warm, and delicious. The escargot was good, but we have to admit we like the recipe from Le Bec Fin better.

The filets were tender, juicy, and perfectly prepared. The lobster risotto as our side dish was a great compliment, as was the wine. Thanks to 135 for the glass of bubbly in honor of our special day.

The entire meal was exquisite with only one minor flaw -- the Caesar salads were nearly tasteless. Someone forgot the anchovies!

For any special occasion, 135 Prime offers the best experience in and around Waco. Don't let the price deter you! Your partner is worth every penny!

-Jim

Breakfast -- 4/4/09

2009-04-04T09:11:00.000-07:00

Cafe Cappuccino
4700 Bosque Blvd.
Waco, TX 76710

254.772.3739

http://www.cafecappuccinotexas.com/

$

Ramona: orange juice, mixed berry and nut pancake, sugar-free syrup, coffee

Jim: Gingerbread waffle with sugar-free syrup, latte

Where else could we have breakfast on our 5th wedding anniversary than Cafe Cappuccino? We had our wedding breakfast there five years ago today. Ironically we ran into Jim's former dean who performed the wedding ceremony, and another friend who helped Jim see how much he loved Ramona and brought him to the realization we were meant for each other.

Oh, yes, the food. Excellent as always.

-Jim

Dinner -- 04/03/09

2009-04-04T09:03:00.000-07:00

Carino's Italian Grill
1411 N. Valley Mills Dr
Waco, TX 76710

254.399.9111

http://www.carinos.com/

$$

5:45 - 6:45 PM

Ramona: Caesar salad, five-meat Tuscan pasta, iced tea

Jim: Caesar salad, Chicken parmigiana with spaghetti and marinara sauce, iced tea

To kick off our fifth anniversary weekend celebration, we opted for the restaurant where we had one of our very first dates.

The food was excellent -- isn't it always when a man dines with a goddess? Jim commented that the chicken parmigiana was particularly good, with a large piece of chicken and a generous helping of spaghetti.

Ramona tried a delicious new menu item, which was described as bowtie pasta, meat sauce, Italian sausage, bacon, ham, pepperoni, onions and green bell peppers. As usual, she ended up bringing almost half of it home.

We had dessert at home tonight -- Talenti Italian gelato, Argentine dulce tres leche. If you have never tried Talenti gelatos (available at HEB on Wooded acres), they have numerous outstanding varieties. White chocolate raspberry is our favorite, although this first experience with this flavor makes it a close second. Don't let the price deter you! The taste and texture are worth every penny.

-Jim

Dinner -- 3/28/09

2009-04-04T08:53:00.000-07:00

El Chico
2111 S. Valley Mills Drive
Waco, TX 76706

254.662.2750

5:00 - 6:00 PM

$$

Ramona: Chicken enchilada dinner, beans, rice, flan, iced tea

Jim: Chicken fajitas, chocolate chimichanga, iced tea

Shared: chips and queso

We have been meaning to try this place since we started the blog, but somehow never got around to it. Jim spent a lot of time there with fellow graduate students from Baylor. One of the students worked there, and we seemed to get extra chips and dip when Fred was on duty.

The food was good and hot, but not quite as good as La Fiesta. The service was also very slow, although the manager did explain that an unexpected large party had taxed their kitchen.

We had a $5.00 off coupon, but even so, the tab was just a shade over the one $ symbol limit.

-Jim

Lunch -- 2/20/09

2009-02-26T12:02:00.000-08:00

Cathy's Boardwalk Cafe
Old Town Salado #8
P.O. Box 441
Salado, TX 76571

254.947.8162

$

Ramona & Jim: Turkey sandwich on Sourdough bread with tomato and lettuce, iced tea

On the way back from Austin, we stopped in Salado to visit the store where we bought our wedding rings almost six years ago.

This cute little place had a charming and comfortable atmosphere. The fresh bread held an ample serving of roast turkey. Fresh tomatoes and crispy green lettuce completed the sandwiches.

The service could have been a bit faster, but then we really were in no hurry. A nice, leisurely lunch we recommend to all weary travelers heading up or down I-35. The village of shops also provide a pleasant way to spend a warm spring afternoon.

-Jim

Dinner -- 2/14/09

2009-02-15T15:12:00.001-08:00

1424
1424 Washington Ave
Waco, TX 76701

254.752.7512

5:20 - 7:15 PM

$$$$

Valentine's Day. This holiday calls for something extra special, and 1424 fit the bill as always. We tried to eat here last year, but they had a full house. This time, we made our reservations when we visited in November.

Nick had prepared a special prix fixe menu consisting of a fresh greens salad with pesto, leek soup, and an entree consisting of shrimp with etoufee, two broiled lamb shanks, and beef wellington, all over a bed of rice. Vanilla creme brulee finished of a wonderful meal. We shared a bottle of Bomarito Cabernet, 2004, Napa Valley. The wine had an exquisite bouquet, and went perfectly with this absolutely perfect meal.

While the food clearly deserved a rating of outstanding, we do have a couple of suggestions for next year. First of all, Nick, you need to put bread plates for each guest. Second, for special occasions, a prix fixe menu is perfectly appropriate, but a card should be at the table listing the menu and the price. After we settled in and ordered our wine, the waiter informed us of the price. We felt a bit uncomfortable, as if we might want to make sure we could afford the dinner. I know that was not the intention, but it seemed as if a young couple left rather quickly without eating. As regulars at 1424, we know what to expect, so we had no "sticker shock." I think this information could also have been revealed when we heard from them to confirm our reservation about three weeks ago.

None of this will stop us going to 1424 as often as we can. We love the atmosphere, the food, and the wine list -- except it could benefit from some French Bordeaux's. We want 1424 to be as good as it possibly can, especially since we always refer friends there when the occasion calls for a special dining experience.

-Jim

Lunch -- 2/14/09

2009-02-15T15:04:00.000-08:00

Fuddrucker's
1411 N. Valley Mills, Dr.
Waco, TX 76710

254.776.0961

http://www.fuddruckers.com/

$

Ramona & Jim: 1/3 pound burger, mushrooms, onions, iced tea

Shared: Large basket of fries and onion rings

Because of our special (triple!) weekend, we decided to visit a couple of new places. Surprisingly, we had never visited Fuddrucker's together, and Ramona felt in the mood for a big, juicy hamburger.

These hamburgers rate among the best in Waco, but at $20.00 for two, Fuddrucker's might scare some people away. We won't make frequent trips there, but this weekend had no rules.

-Jim

Dinner -- 2/13/09

2009-02-15T14:55:00.000-08:00

Buzzard Billy's
100 N. I-35
Waco, TX 76704

254.753.2778

http://www.buzzardbillys.com/

5:20 to 6:10 PM

$$

Ramona: Top-shelf frozen margarita, corn crab soup, Fried combo (catfish, shrimp, oysters), cole slaw, french fries, hush puppies, iced tea

Jim: corn crab soup, alligator chenier, rice, iced tea

The first meal of our special weekend. My car was in the shop all day, and Ramona had to be at the radio station at 6:30, so I picked her up from work, and we decided to re-visit this Waco landmark. The atmosphere differs from the old place on University Parks Drive and Franklin, but the river view is a special treat.

Ramona got her usual, and it was as good as ever. Jim tasted one of the oysters, and they seemed fresh and unusually large. Since BB's is the only place to get alligator, he always gets one or the other of the dishes. The corn crab soup also lived up to its reputation.

-Jim

Breakfast -- 2/1/09

2009-02-12T17:27:00.000-08:00

Cafe Cappuccino
4700 Bosque Blvd.
Waco, TX 76710

254.772.3739

http://www.cafecappuccinotexas.com/

$

Ramona: orange juice, mixed nut pancake, sugar-free syrup, bacon, coffee

Jim: V-8 juice, eggs Benedict, latte

Even though we have frequently reviewed Cafe Cappuccino, we felt it deserved a special mention, as the celebration of Ramona's birthday continued this weekend.

The only problem Jim experienced at CC involved the drowning of eggs Benedict in the hollandaise sauce. He began asking for it on the side. As he placed the order this time, the manager told us they had begun the regular practice of placing the sauce on the side. We hope our little blog made some small contribution to this improvement.

Too much sauce drowns the egg yolk.

Bravo, Cafe Cappuccino! And thanks for six years of wonderful breakfasts. We will see you soon again!

-Jim

Dinner -- 1/31/09

2009-02-12T17:04:00.000-08:00

Chamberlain's Steak and Chop House
5330 Beltline Road
Dallas, TX 75254

972.934.2467

http://www.chamberlainsrestaurant.com/

5:00 - 6:30 PM

$$$$

Ramona: Stephen's Caesar salad, Kobe (Akaushi) sirloin steak with Bearnaise sauce

Jim: Stephen's Caesar salad, Kobe (Akaushi) sirloin steak with Bearnaise sauce, cappuccino

Shared: Colossal shrimp cocktail, Warm chocolate gateau

Wine: Chateau St. Georges St. Emillon (French) 2004

We had a coupon for a complimentary Kobe steak dinner for Ramona's birthday. We also had tickets for the opera, so we took advantage and had what turned out to be a fabulous dinner reminiscent of our days together when Ramona lived and worked in Dallas.

Our server Taylor did an outstanding job of keeping our water and wine glasses full, our bread plate overflowing with delicious warm, fresh bread right out of the oven.

The shrimp cocktail WAS colossal. Each piece was nearly as long as my hand, and resembled small lobster tails. The sauce -- made at Chamberlain's -- had a tangy touch and complimented the fresh, crisp shrimp.

The Caesar salads came with nine, yes nine, pieces of anchovy on the top. Most places no longer bother with the salty little treat on this staple salad, but Chamberlain's has atoned for the sins of others.

The steak. Neither of us had ever had Kobe steak because of the price. Most restaurants list it at $75 per serving or more. Since we had the coupon for Ramona's birthday, we decided to splurge for this extra special occasion and try this delicacy. In case anyone is unfamiliar with Kobe steak, the animals receive excellent personal care, a diet of rice and milk, and a daily hand massaging but their keepers. A friend who lived in Japan told us the creatures come running for the rubdowns when they see the massagers arrive.

The wine. St. Emillion rates as my very favorite Bordeaux, and this bottle did not disappoint in the least. The bouquet floated delicately from the class, and the aroma also stayed with throughout the meal.

The dessert. Chocolate cake, chocolate sauce, strawberries, and raspberries. Need we say any more?

An an outstanding meal! Jim's birthday fast approaches, and we might try the sister restaurant -- Chamberlain's Fish Market. Not for the faint of heart in the wallet department, but if you crave a first-rate dining experience, Chamberlain's should sit at the top of your list.

-Jim

Dinner -- 1/30/09

2009-02-12T16:53:00.000-08:00

Ninfa's
220 s. 3rd
Waco, TX 76701

254.757.2050

http://www.mamaninfas.com/?id=1

5:15 PM - 6:20 PM

$$

Ramona & Jim: Chicken fajitas for two, sopapillas, iced tea

We promised to review every new restaurant we did not visited last year, or any restaurant with an unusual new dish or a significant problem. We will also continue our "second chance" visits.

Surprisingly, we have not visited Ninfa's in a long time, even though we both like it. The problem lies in the fact that Jim remains less than big fan of Mexican food, so it never comes to mind.

The food tonight was good, no question, but the restaurant was crowded and exceedingly noisy. The service was good, not too fast, but not too slow either considering how crowded it was. We arrived at the right moment, because large numbers of guests came in right after us, and a large crowded waited for tables when we left.

The fajitas included a generous portion of delicious chicken, peppers, and onions. We both left satisfied. The sopapillas made the drive home with us for a snack later that evening.

Poor Raji! She knows when we come home with a white plastic container it carries some treat she might get, but not that time. The traditional Mexican dessert barely fit in the large container, and a few seconds in the microwave warmed them perfectly. Ninfa's provided us with plenty of honey.

All in all a good night out.

-Jim

Dinner -- 1/24/09

2009-01-27T14:50:00.000-08:00

1515 Restaurant
1515 Market Street
Denver, CO 80202

303.571.0011

http://www.1515restaurant.com/

Vendor Treat

6:30 - 9:15 PM

Ramona: Salad Lyonnaise, Buffalo Strip Loin with Farmer’s Cheese Gnocchi, Chantrelles, Brussels Sprouts, Apples, Bordelaise sauce, “Free Form” Chocolate Crème Brûlée

Jim: Salad Lyonnaise, Buffalo Strip Loin with Farmer’s Cheese Gnocchi, Chantrelles, Apples, Bordelaise sauce, Pineapple Upside-Down Corn Cake with Ginger Gastrique, Lime Zest, Brown butter ice cream

Shared: Estancia Cabernet (2205) Paso Robles (California)

This meal was one of the highlights of our trip to Denver this weekend. Our hosts were among our best friends in the library world, and we certainly had a wonderful evening. The food was superb. The buffalo was tender and the sauce was excellent. Jim opted out of the Brussel sprouts, despite urging from one of the guests that it "will be fine." Jim also substiuted the brown butter ice cream for the coconut sorbet on the menu.

Our server, Matt, had a professional and spirited manner, and he took good care of our table, making sure dishes were quickly cleared and courses served a good, slow pace. He certainly helped make this a memorable evening.

The wine was also perfect for the meat and two bottles warmed us for the short ride on the 16th Street pedestrian mall shuttle back to our hotel.

The next time you visit Denver, make sure you visit 1515 Restaurant.

-Jim

Dinner -- 1/23/09

2009-01-27T14:33:00.000-08:00

Magianno's
Denver Pavilions
500 16th Street
16th St. Mall Promenade
Denver, CO, 80202

303-260-7707

http://www.maggianos.com/

6:45 - 9:30 PM

Vendor Treat

Family style for a party of ten:

Appetizers: Stuffed Mushrooms, Barb's Spinach & Artichoke al Forno

Entrees: Chicken Parmesan, Gnocchi in Tomato Vodka Sauce, Lobster Ravioli, Mom's Lasagna

Desserts: Tiramisu, Homemade Profiteroles with vanilla bean ice cream, hot fudge sauce, and whipped cream

Ramona & Jim: Caesar salad & House Cabernet

This excellent meal was only exceeded by the delightful company from all over the US, who gathered in Denver for the 2009 Midwinter Convention. We were the thrilled guests of good friends, and we had a wonderful time. The food was perfect and plentiful. The wine was smooth and excellent for a house cabernet. We left with a warm glow that repelled the bitter cold of a Colorado winter evening.

-Jim and Ramona

Dinner -- 1/17/09

2009-01-18T09:07:00.000-08:00

El Siete Mares
1915 Dutton Ave.
Waco, TX 76706

254.714.1297

http://www.elsietemares.net/

5:00 - 6:20 PM

$$

Ramona & Jim: Pescado Empapelado (A fillet of fish marinated with their original spices, lime juice, olive oil and sauvignon blanc, with bell peppers, mushrooms, and onions. Wrapped and steamed and served with rice and vegetables), iced tea with lime slices

Jim: Tostada de Jaiba (flat, crispy tortilla with crab, tomatoes, onions, cilantro, & lime juice)

Shared: tres leches cake

Despite our pledge to write only about new restaurants we visit, we decided to write this one up because we both tried a dish we hadn't had there before and it was so delicious we couldn't resist adding it to our blog. Last year, on a visit to friends in Corpus Christi, Jim had this dish and thoroughly enjoyed it.

We were able to choose the fish from the list of "fish-of-the-day," and we chose mahi-mahi. The sweet meat of this species was perfect for the light, white wine sauce and and the fresh, hot steamed veggies, including broccoli, squash, red, orange, and green bell peppers, onions, and mushrooms.

Does this sound perfect? It was! We are on a "lowered fat diet" right now -- we try to keep our fat grams below 20 a day, and we had done so well on Saturday, we thought we could splurge on a shared piece of El Siete's wonderful tres leches cake. We were under 20 grams of fat -- with a few to spare. This is the way to diet! Saving up and ending a wonderful meal with a delicious dessert.

It seems that El Siete Mares gets better every time we visit. One of our new year's resolutions is to visit more often.

-Jim and Ramona

Lunch -- 1/7/09

2009-01-09T13:37:00.000-08:00

Teriyaki Park
220 S. 2nd Street
Waco, TX 76701

254.714.1416

$

Ramona & Jim shared: Spring rolls, Miso soup, California rolls, eel rolls, hot green tea

We have seen this place quite a few times, but never seemed to make it here for dinner. An impromptu lunch was the perfect opportunity to try it out.

The kitchen spills over into the dining area, but the food is good. The eel rolls especially were fresh and the rice was soft. The California rolls had just a hint of spice. The Miso soup was also tasty with seaweed and cubes of tofu floating in it.

This will give some competition to Bangkok Royale (a few doors away), but not too much. It is one of the few Waco restaurants serving sushi. Others include Shogun, China Palace, and Best Asian Buffet. If any of our readers know of others, let us know. We love sushi and frequently purchase it at HEB for a nice light lunch.

-Jim and Ramona

Lunch -- 1/6/09

2009-01-09T13:26:00.000-08:00

Amelia's
(at Sironia)
1509 Austin Ave.
Waco, TX 76701

254.714.1229

12:30 - 1:30 PM

$

Ramona: Amelia's Trio (tuna salad, fruit, pasta)

Jim: Turkey sandwich with tomato, lettuce, mustard on white toast, fruit, hot tea (spiced chai).

We have eaten here several times for lunch, but never together. At one time, Amelia's was open for dinner, but that ended a few months ago. Both of us have had a fine lunch with colleagues from work.

The food is really good, and we were tempted with the butter milk pie, but we stuck to our New Year's resolution to try and stick to a low fat diet as long as we can.

Jim suggested Amelia's as a site for an upcoming meeting later this month.

-Jim

Happy New Year!!!

2009-01-03T10:58:00.000-08:00

To all our faithful readers.

Thank you all for the many comments and suggestions we have received over the first year of our journey.

As we begin this new year, we have been thinking of ways to improve our blog, while keeping it interesting to the general public.

Ramona and I have come to the conclusion that we have pretty well covered all the restaurants in Waco, so we will discontinue reviewing every restaurant where we dine.

However, we will continue to review new places as they appear, mourn old favorites as they fade away, and we will continue our "second chance" reviews. Look for Green Room Grill soon.

Of course, when we travel, we will always write up new places.

In addition to dining out, we also enjoy cooking at home, so we will be sharing some interesting meals we have prepared here. We have an interesting collection of cookbooks, so we occasionally make some exotic meals for family and friends.

Thanks for reading, and please let us know how you feel about our new plan.

-Jim & Ramona

PS: We have also established a shortened URL to access the site: www.tinyurl.com/5zp3am

Dinner -- 12/29/08

2009-01-03T08:49:00.000-08:00

Uncle Dan's Bar B Que
1001 Lake Air Dr.
Waco, TX 76710

254.772.3532

http://www.uncledansbbq.com/

6:30 - 8:00 PM

$$ (just a tad over $25.00)

Ramona: Brisket plate with potato salad, barbecue beans, pecan cobbler, iced tea

Jim: Two-meat plate (turkey, turkey) mashed potatoes, barbecue beans, deviled egg, cheesecake, iced tea

We had a committee meeting at 6:30, so we decided to eat our dinner there. The barbecue is excellent, and so are all the sides. This really is the best barbecue restaurant in Waco, hands down.

-Jim

Dinner -- 12/27/08

2009-01-03T08:37:00.000-08:00

George's
1925 Speight Ave.
Waco, TX 76706

254.753.1421

www.georgesrestaurant.com

5:30 6:40 PM

$

Ramona: Frozen strawberry margarita (no salt), Caesar salad, 1/2 order chicken-fried steak, mashed potatoes

Jim: Caesar salad, chicken-fried chicken, fries, iced tea

George's was a frequent hangout during my grad school days at Baylor. It was close to Campus, inexpensive, and had great food. The only drawback was the smoke. When the ordinance was passed in Waco, the smokers were driven into the enclosed bar area, and things got much better.

My favorite dish was calf's liver and onions, and we headed there with that dish in mind. When it came time to order, Ramona reminded me that we had recently had L&O at home. She really likes the way I cook it, so we have the dish at least once a month. So, I abandoned my plan and went with an old favorite.

At first, a server (not the same one that took our order) brought me chicken-fried steak. They did switch it out. The portion was good-sized, but not as juicy as what I had at Cotton Patch. I also did not like the white gravy. It tasted funny to me, although Ramona liked hers.

Ramona's CFS was HUGE -- even though she got a 1/2 portion. I tasted it, and it was pretty good.

-Jim

Dinner -- 12/26/08

2008-12-27T07:08:00.000-08:00

Mama Baris II
1201 Hewitt Dr.
Waco, TX 76712

254.666.6188

$$

Ramona: Chicken Cachovie, cannoli, iced tea

Jim: Chicken Cacciatore, cannoli, iced tea

Shared: Small Baris salad

Going to the movies to see Marley and Me took us toward Hewitt, so we decided to head on over for dinner. We had originally planned to go to Tomatoes, the little Mexican-Italian restaurant that we've written about here several times. However, when we got there we saw that Tomatoes has closed and there's another Italian restaurant opening there in its place. Fortunately, Mama Baris was open and we knew it would be good.

As usual, Jim and I shared a small Baris salad, which consists of lettuce, olives, tomatoes, pepperoncini, and shredded mozarella cheese. We've made the mistake of thinking we could eat a large one...Wrong!!! We are perfectly satisfied with the small one, especially when it is followed by Baris's wonderful homemade bread.

I was adventurous and tried a dish I've never had before. The Chicken Cachovie was delicious: sauteed chicken breast with artichoke hearts in a white wine cream sauce over spaghetti. The serving was so generous, I brought half of it home for another day.

Jim stuck to his tried and true Chicken Parmesan. We both had a canolli for dessert; a very pleasant way to end the meal.

--Ramona

Dinner -- 12/22/08

2008-12-27T07:05:00.000-08:00

McAlister's Deli
4551 W. Waco Dr.
Suite A
Waco, TX 76710

254.776.3354

http://www.mcalistersdeli.com/

5:50 -6:30 PM

$

Ramona: Spud Max, iced tea

Jim: Submarine, iced tea

Finishing up our Christmas shopping, we decided on a quick dinner at McAlister's. I decided to try their spud max, which is a huge baked potato loaded with ham, bacon, cheese, chives, olives and sour cream. It was delicious! Jim was equally pleased with his submarine, although if he had known it had olives on it, he would have asked for them to be left off. We definitely like their iced tea, which came with plenty of lemon.

--Ramona

Lunch -- 12/22/08

2008-12-27T06:55:00.000-08:00

Happy Wok Restaurant
1910 Park Lake Dr.
Waco, TX 76708

254.875.9800

11:30 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.

$

Ramona: Moo Goo Gai Pan, egg drop soup, water

Jim: Sweet and sour chicken, chicken and rice soup, egg roll, iced tea

I had the day off but Jim had to teach his minimester class, so we met for a quick lunch together at our neighborhood Chinese restaurant. We both had tried and true dishes that never fail to satisfy. As usual, I only ate half of mine and brought the rest home for another day.

--Ramona

Dinner --12/21/08

2008-12-27T06:53:00.000-08:00

Chili's Grill & Bar
5804 Bosque Blvd.
Waco, TX 76710

254.776.8330

http://www.chilis.com/

6:35 - 7:30 PM

$$

Ramona: a bowl of Chili and Caesar salad, iced tea, paradise pie

Jim: Mushroom Swiss burger, iced tea, fudge brownie w/ ice cream

Of all the times I've been to Chili's over the last twenty years, I don't remember ever ordering their chili, so I decided to try it. I'm sorry I did; I think it would have been just as good if I had opened a can of chili from the grocery store. But it inspired me to dig out my own recipe and make a pot of Santa Fe Stew a few days later. The paradise pie was very good, but I couldn't eat it all. It had coconut in it, so I couldn't share it with Jim.

Jim was disappointed in his burger also; it had mayonnaise and pickles on it. He sent it back for a new bun, one without the mayo, etc. When it came back, the cheese was gone as well. But he finished it off anyway. He was more restrained than I was in his dessert selection, having one of their little mini dessert shots.

--Ramona

Lunch -- 12/20/08

2008-12-20T15:17:00.000-08:00

Don Carlos Mexican Restaurant
4651 S. Jack Kultgen Frwy
I-35 and Hwy 6 in Central Texas Marketplace
Waco, TX 76701

254.662.3888

http://www.doncarlosmexicanrestaurant.com/

$

Ramona: Chips, salsa, and queso with beef, Enchiladas la crema, rice, beans, and iced tea

Jim: Chips, salsa, and queso with beef, soft chicken taco, three chicken enchiladas rice, beans (modified Mexican platter), and iced tea

Friends from western Texas was passing through Waco, and invited us to meet them for lunch. They were recently married in California, so we were happy to sit down with them, catch up on events, and congratulate them for their nuptials.

The food was good, and there was plenty of it. Dinner will be late tonight. The queso with beef was something new, and we enjoyed that. The jalapeno peppers did not overwhelm us, and did give the cheese a little kick.

This lunch was more about friends and old times, so we had a great lunch.

-Jim

Dinner -- 12/18/08

2008-12-20T15:10:00.000-08:00

Cheddar's Waco
4208 Franklin Ave
Waco, TX 76710

254.741.1411

http://www.cheddars.com/

5:20 -- 6:30 PM

$

Ramona: Chicken fried steak, mashed potatoes, cole slaw, iced tea

Jim: Caesar salad, chicken fried chicken, broccoli rice casserole, baby carrots, iced tea

Ramona needed gas, so, since we were out, we decided to get something to eat. This situation always calls for Cheddar's -- excellent, quick, inexpensive, and fast.

Unable to decide, Jim mentioned he wanted chicken fried chicken, and to our surprise, the server told us it was an off menu item and available. He never thought there might be such things, and this is good information. Always ask! We never know what might show up on our plates.

Ramona's CFS was great as always.

Although the parking lot was full, every person must have driven alone, because we were immediately seated.

-Jim

Dinner -- 12/15/08

2008-12-20T15:02:00.000-08:00

Poppa Rollo's Pizza
703 N. Valley Mills Drive
Waco, TX 76710

254.776.6776

http://www.popparollos.com/

5:45 - 6:45 PM

$

Ramona: 8" Supreme pizza, diet Coke

Jim: 8" Canadian bacon and pineapple pizza, iced tea

We went here for a meeting of the county party for Obama, but bad weather forced a cancellation. We had already ordered when we found out about the weather, so we stayed and watched the news while we ate.

The pizzas were great. Jim always orders the same item, because many pizza joints do not use Canadian bacon or they do not have pineapple. He ordered the small and soon regretted not getting the 10"

Ramona's pizza was excellent. We could hardly see the crust for all the extras piled on -- sausage, olives, onions, pepperoni, hamburger, bell peppers, and cheese.

-Jim

Dinner -- 12/13/08

2008-12-15T09:27:00.000-08:00

Bread Winners Bakery and Bistro
3301 McKinney Avenue
Dallas, TX 75204

214.754.4940

http://www.breadwinnersonline.com/

$$$

Ramona: Caesar salad, Black Angus flat-iron steaks, sea salted fries, fried onion straws, Chocolate genache cheesecake

Jim: Caesar salad, Black Angus flat-iron steaks, sea salted fries, fried onion straws, raspberry cheesecake, coffee

Shared: Dona Paula "Los Cardos" (Argentina) 2007 Cabernet sauvignon

Before what would prove to be another disappointing evening at the Dallas opera, we were lucky enough to have a most enjoyable meal at one of the hundreds of local fine dining spots in the Dallas Metroplex.

The steaks were tender and cooked to perfection. The salad was excellent, and even had a hint of anchovies. The wine was excellent, also. Jim thought the desserts looked great, but in fact were just okay. He could not detect any raspberries associated with that cheesecake.

The place was great, however, and we will definitely go back for another visit. The decor and ambiance were cozy and warm. All in all, a great spot for a quiet dinner.

-Jim

Breakfast -- 12/13/08

2008-12-15T09:00:00.000-08:00

Cafe Cappuccino
4700 Bosque Blvd
Waco, TX 76710

254.772.3739

http://www.cafecappuccinotexas.com/

7:30 - 8:25 AM

$

Ramona: Orange juice, Banana nut French toast, bacon

Jim: Orange juice, oatmeal, bagel with cream cheese, decaf coffee

We had some grocery shopping and errands to run, so we thought an early breakfast was the thing to do. The place was empty at that hour, but nearly filled by the time we left.

Ramona's bacon was perfect this time, and the oatmeal was hot and delicious with some brown sugar on top. Still no poppy seed bagels, despite and article in the paper that the poppy seeds will not give a false positive on a drug test. Seinfeld episodes rule from the grave!

-Jim

Breakfast -- 12/15/08

2008-12-15T07:28:00.000-08:00

McDonald's
4330 Franklin Ave
Waco, TX 76710

254.776.8406

$

Ramona: OJ, sausage biscuit

Jim: Egg McMuffin, decaf coffee

We had to drop Jim's car off early for a check up, so we decided to use a coupon for a free sandwich on the way to dropping off Ramona at work.

Service was a bit slow -- there was only one counter person, and one drive-thru server, and one manager, who seemed to be trying to do all three jobs.

But the food was good and hot.

-Jim

Dinner -- 12/12/08

2008-12-14T11:13:00.000-08:00

Pei Wei Asian Diner
4300a W. Waco Dr
Waco, TX 76710

254.772.0190

http://www.peiwei.com/

6:35 -- 5:30 PM

$$

Ramona: fried rice, lemon pepper beef, diet coke, fortune cookie.

Jim: steamed rice, Mongolian chicken, sweet garlic soy sauce, scallion, white mushrooms, Mandarin orange green tea, fortune cookie.

Shared: Spring Rolls

Ramona's fortune: "You are a lover of words, someday you should write a book"

Jim's fortune: "Relax and enjoy yourself"

We had not been here in a while, and despite the fact this was our third Asian meal in 10 days, we decided to go here because Jim's son was joining us, and he had never eaten here.

The food was great! Jim especially liked the mandarin orange green iced tea. Ramona's beef dish was one neither of us had ordered before. It was delicious with just a hint of pepper and lemon. As usual, she had a to-go container to carry home half her meal.

The only problem with Pei Wei is the menu has a lot of really spicy items, so our choices are limited. If this were not true, we would most likely eat there more often.

-Jim

Dinner -- 12/10/08

2008-12-14T11:03:00.000-08:00

Magic China
221 Jack Kultgen Fwy (I-35)
Waco, TX 76710

254.776.1072

5:45 - 7:05 PM

$

Ramona: Egg drop soup, egg roll, lemon chicken, fried rice, hot tea

Jim: Won ton soup, egg roll, Happy Family (chicken, pork, shrimp, scallops, Chinese vegetables), steamed rice, hot tea

Ramona's fortune: "Others see you as a fine person with great qualities" -- not a prediction nor a proverb, but the truth!

Jim's fortune: "Good luck is coming your way" -- we can only hope!

Jim was downtown for a meeting that ran past 5:00 PM, so he called Ramona at work and suggested we have a quick, delicious dinner at Magic China -- twice for this food in ten days, and at another of our favorite Chinese restaurants to boot!

There is not much to say! Like Cathy House, these two restaurants might have the same chefs. Notice I had the same dish as earlier in the week, and both were perfect. This now becomes a battle of locations for us, because both dining spots are near perfect.

-Jim

Dinner -- 12/9/08

2008-12-14T10:53:00.000-08:00

Rosati's Pizza (Waco)
824 Hewitt Dr.
Waco, TX 76712

254.666.6066

$

Ramona: Meatball sandwich with mozzarella cheese, french fries, diet Coke

Jim: Meatball sandwich with mozzarella cheese, french fries, iced tea

We had an unusual Tuesday night book club at the house of one of our members, and Rosati's was conveniently located nearby.

The food was great, the sauce was excellent and so were the meatballs, although even Ramona commented they were not as good as mine!

The problem, however, was the way they cut the roll. Instead of opening it like a "V," they completely cut the roll in half. Any self-respecting Philly boy would protest that, and I did. When we picked up our sandwiches to eat, everything fell out.

We told them about it, and I guess Hewittians eat their sandwiches with a knife and fork. Oh take me back to Jim's Steaks in South Philly!

We must remember this, and next time warn them about cutting too deeply into the roll. There sure are a lot of sixes in that phone number. Maybe the devil is behind those rolls.

-Jim

Dinner -- 12/6/08

2008-12-14T10:41:00.000-08:00

Olive Garden #1222
5921 W. Waco Dr. at Richland Mall
Waco, TX 76710-6356
254.751.1667

http://www.olivegarden.com/default_f.asp

6:30 - 7:45 PM

$$

Ramona: Shrimp Primavera, glass of house white wine

Jim: Chicken parmigiana, iced tea

Shared: Olive Garden salad, "Choose Your Own" sampler (stuffed mushrooms, calamari, toasted ravioli with ranch and marinara sauces), tiramasu

We had a coupon for $4.00 off any two entrees, and when that happens, we usually end up buying a $7.00 appetizer. Jim's son was a guest, so we needed all the extra food.

Chicken Parmigiana is one of Jim's favorites, and Olive Garden has one of the best around Waco. Ramona ended up bring half of her dish home, and that made a nice lunch the next day. Unfortunately, none of Jim's survived to see the next day.

We were also pleased to be seated immediately -- a rare event at Olive Garden, especially this time of year.

-Jim

Dinner -- 12/2/08

2008-12-14T10:34:00.000-08:00

Cathay House
825 Wooded Acres
Waco, TX 76710

254.776.1072

5:15 - 6:45 p.m.

$

Ramona: Egg drop soup, egg roll, Lemon chicken with broccoli, snow peas, water chestnuts, and bamboo shoots, hot jasmine tea

Jim: Egg roll, chicken rice soup, Happy Family (chicken, roast pork, shrimp, beef scallops, and Chinese vegetables), steamed rice, hot jasmine tea

Ramona's fortune: "Be prepared to receive something special"

Jim's fortune: "Opportunity knocks on your door every day -- answer it"

Cathay House had just opened when we arrived, and there were already three tables taken. By the time we left, the place was full. We think people have begun to discover one of the best Chinese restaurants around anywhere.

We have often mentioned the quiet ambiance, the coziness in addition to the excellent food, but the service is also great. Add to that more than reasonable prices, and anyone can find a near perfect dining experience in Waco.

-Jim

Dinner -- 11/29/08

2008-11-30T15:11:00.000-08:00

Saltgrass Steakhouse
560 W. LBJ Freeway
Irving, TX 75063

972.373.9944

http://www.saltgrass.com/

5:45-7:30 PM

$$ (Ramona and Jim only)

Ramona: Caesar salad, 8 oz. Prime Rib, loaded baked potato, glass of house Cabernet

Jim: Caesar salad, 10 oz. sirloin with fried shrimp, glass of house Cabernet

Shared: Key lime pie

We traveled to meet a woman and her husband Jim had become acquainted with during an on-line class. The company was wonderful, and so was the meal. Our new friends had only recently moved to the Metroplex, and this was their first visit to Saltgrass. We ate their frequently when Ramona worked in Dallas, but this was our first visit for the blog.

The steaks were tender and juicy, the salads very good, and our server took good care of us all the while. We look forward to their visit to Waco over the holidays.

-Jim

Breakfast -- 11/29/08

2008-11-30T15:05:00.000-08:00

Cafe Cappuccino
4700 Bosque Blvd
Waco, TX 76710

254.772.3739

http://www.cafecappuccinotexas.com/

9:15 - 10:10 AM

$

Ramona: Cream chipped beef on toast, coffee

Jim: Eggs Benedict, coffee

I like this dish, even though they use regular ham and not Canadian bacon, but they always drown the plate in hollandaise sauce, so I started asking for it on the side. Much improvement, but they still give me a large bowl. I hate to waste over half of it, but I can only ask for 1/2 of a bowl.

Although it was not crowded (we were seated in about five minutes), the service was really poor today. We waited almost ten minutes before we had out coffee order taken, and then only because we asked for a server. The young lady who had our table was excited to see old friends at the table beside our, and they got all her attention.

Still our favorite place for breakfast!

-Jim

Lunch -- 11/26/08

2008-11-30T14:57:00.000-08:00

Weinerschnitzel
101 S. New Rd
Waco, TX 76710

(254)751-0891

http://www.wienerschnitzel.com/

$

Ramona: Two corn dogs with mustard and ketchup, diet coke

Jim: Two hot dogs with mustard and sauerkraut, vanilla milk shake

Why do hot dogs always taste better away from home? The one big benefit of Weinerschnitzels is they have sauerkraut for their dogs. Tom's Burgers on Sanger near highway six, has great hot dogs, but no sauerkraut.

Corn dogs? At least one was free with a coupon. Mustard and ketchup? She's from North Carolina. The hot dogs were good, and Ramona swears the corn dogs were, too.

-Jim

Dinner -- 11/25/08

2008-11-30T14:47:00.000-08:00

Cotton Patch Cafe
5501 Bosque Blvd
Waco, TX 76710

254.772.4200

http://www.cottonpatch.com/

4:15 - 5:30 PM

$

Ramona: Dixie Belle meatloaf, fried okra, mashed potatoes, iced tea

Jim: Fish and chips basket, iced tea

We had some shopping to do for Thanksgiving, so we decided on a fast, light, dinner before
hitting the grocery story. That spells Cotton patch.

The food is always reliable, and they did have a new menu this visit, alas, still no turkey dinner.

-Jim

Dinner -- 11/23/08

2008-11-30T14:41:00.001-08:00

Texas Roadhouse
2815 LaSalle Ave
Waco, TX 76705

254.682.1177

http://www.texasroadhouse.com/

5:20 - 6:15 PM

$$

Ramona: Caesar salad, Dallas filet (6 oz.), loaded baked potato, iced tea

Jim: Caesar salad, Ft. Worth rib-eye (10 oz.), loaded baked potato, iced tea

We were in the mood for steak, so of the three choices in Waco (Logan's, Outback, and TR),
we chose TR because it was least visited on our list.

It was not too crowded, we were seated immediately, so it was not too noisy, our principle complaint about this spot.

The food was great, but the rolls seemed smaller. Maybe we are getting bigger!

-Jim

Dinner -- 11/22/08

2008-11-23T09:59:00.000-08:00

Crystal Terrace Restaurant
in The Music Hall at Fair Park
909 1st Ave
Dallas, TX 75210

214.565.0591

5:30 - 7:15 PM

$$

Ramona & Jim: Samples from buffet: cheese and crackers, quiche with sliced potatoes, spring greens salad, potato salad, chick peas with peppers and curry, roasted red and yellow peppers, roast beef, sausage, turkey, chicken breast with peach dressing, key lime pie, fruit, almond cake, chocolate layer cake, Estancia Cabernet, 2006 (Paso Robles, CA), coffee.

The food was okay, some things were better than others. Jim thought the turkey was dried out, and the beef was fatty. The desserts were good, although one of our party did not like the cheese cake. It was tasty, but too spongy, not firm enough.

One of these weeks, we are going to try something different. Maybe the Old Mill Inn in Fair Park.

-Jim

Dinner -- 11/22/08

2008-11-23T08:47:00.000-08:00

1424
1424 Washington Ave
Waco, TX 76701

254.752.7512

5:20 - 7:15 PM

$$$

Ramona: Caesar salad, Seafood piccata (scallops, shrimp, tilapia fillets) over rice with carrots, sugar snap peas, triple chocolate mousse cake

Jim: Caesar salad, Mahi-mahi stuffed with crab and shrimp, topped with a mild spicy tomato sauce, sugar snap peas and carrots with garlic, white chocolate bread pudding, coffee

Shared: Louis Jadot Pouilly Fuisse, 2006 (France)

One of the weak links in prior 1424 dinner experiences was the bread. That has been remedied with fresh, hot, crusty french (i.e., perfect) bread.

The result was one of the finest meals we have had at one of our favorite restaurants in Waco. However, we must say we have never had a bad meal there. We both chose dishes we had never had. Jim's mahi-mahi was a Friday seafood special. The fish was sweet and delicate, and the stuffing was an excellent contrast to the slightly spicy tomato sauce as a topping.

Ramona's seafood piccata was a wonderful variety of tastes and textures. The dish also had plenty of shrimp and scallops for sharing with a chunk of my fish, sauce, and stuffing.

Wes did an excellent job of serving. He is the opposite of all the things we find annoying in the chains. He was attentive without hovering, and knew when to refill wine and water glasses. He also offered coffee, which was a shade weak for my taste, but my test is a spoon able to stand by itself in the middle of the cup!

All in all, an outstanding dining experience, and a must visit. Incidentally, we put our name in for Valentine's Day dinner, even though they have not yet started taking names. Last year we were shut out, and that will not happen again, especially since this will be our sixth anniversary together.

-Jim

Lunch -- 11/20/08

2008-11-22T08:34:00.000-08:00

Jack in the Box
5127 Bosque Blvd
Waco, TX 76710

254.776.0097

http://jackinthebox.com

$

Ramona: Chicken club sandwich on ciabatta bread, curly fries, diet Coke

Jim: Grilled chicken club on sourdough, fries, iced tea

What is it with restaurants selling ice tea, but refusing to carry lemons? How much of an investment is a box of lemon packets? They never go bad, and thousands come in a small box.
McDonald's, Burger King, Subway, and now Jack, with his big head, thinks he can get by without providing lemon. Some people, for various reasons, can not drink sugared soda, some of those do not like diet drinks, so what is left? Tea without lemon or water. Lousy choice!

-Jim

Dinner -- 11/19/08

2008-11-22T08:07:00.000-08:00

Applebee's
614 N. Valley Mills Rd.
Waco, TX 76710

254.751.9084

http://www.applebeesny-togo.com/

5:40 - 6:40 PM

$

Ramona: Fiesta lime chicken with black beans and rice, water with lemon

Jim: Three cheese chicken penne pasta, iced tea

Shared: Mozzarella sticks with marinara sauce

We had shopping to do for the book club meeting we hosted on Thursday, 11/20, so we decided on a quick, easy, good, and inexpensive meal before hitting H.E.B. That combination usually means Applebee's or Chili's. Tonight was Applebee's turn. This was under their current promotion -- "Two for $20"

We rarely get mozzarella sticks, but these were good, and the marinara sauce had just a touch of spice. The dish Jim choose was new for him, but Ramona went with an old favorite.

No complaints at all. We were immediately seated, served drinks, had our order taken, but the actual meal was not rushed. All in all, a fine experience from this chain, which seems to change its menu every time we visit.

-Jim

Dinner -- 11/18/08

2008-11-22T07:46:00.000-08:00

Bangkok Royal Restaurant
215 S. University Parks Dr.
Waco, TX 76701

254.757.2741

5:30 -6:35 PM

$$

Ramona: Won ton soup (shrimp and ground pork in clear broth), Pad see eew (chicken, stir-fried rice, noodles, broccoli, and egg, with house sauce, hot jasmine tea

Jim: Tom Yum Goong soup (lemon grass, shrimp, galanga, raffir leaves, mushrooms, tomato, cilantro, lime juice), Pineapple fried rice with chicken, Thai tea

Shared: Green tea ice cream

We have out favorites at this excellent, intimate little restaurant, but we both went to new horizons for this visit.

Ramona's won ton soup was a bit different from the regular recipes at our favorite Chinese restaurants. Instead of the large noodles, pieces of shrimp and pork were floating in a delicious broth. Jim tried a new kind of soup, which the server promised was not too spicy, and it wasn't.
It turned out to be just a bit spicy -- perfect!

The dishes we selected were also new and also wonderful. We can now add Bangkok Royal to the list of restaurants that have never served us a bad meal. Jim's pineapple fried rice was also steamy and delicious. Chunks of chicken were spread throughout.

The green tea ice cream had a really interesting taste -- surprise, just like green tea. It was refreshing in it delicacy after a delicate meal.

-Jim

Dinner -- 11/16/08

2008-11-22T07:37:00.000-08:00

Summer Palace
1520 N. Valley Mills Dr.
Waco, TX 76710

254.766.8081

$

Ramona from the buffet: Egg drop soup, egg roll, shrimp, chicken, rice, fruit, pastry, iced tea

Jim from the buffet: Won ton soup, egg roll, sushi, chicken, shrimp, fruit, iced tea

Since Summer Palace I (down near Baylor on I-35) closed, the name of this venue changed from Summer Palace II to plain old Summer Palace. We presume Summer palace III (in Hewitt) is now Summer Palace II.

At one time, Summer Palace was the best buffet in Waco, it fell off, and we switched to taste of China, but when that closed we went back to second best. We still do not think it is up to its once lofty place as the best buffet in Waco, but it is adequate. We will most likely stick to the three best sit down chinese restaurants in Waco -- Cathay House and Magic China (tied for first), and Happy Wok, which is an excellent venue for lunch.

-Jim

Breakfast -- 11/15/08

2008-11-15T15:10:00.000-08:00

Cafe Cappuccino
4700 Bosque Blvd
Waco, TX 76710

254.772.3739

http://www.cafecappuccinotexas.com/

9:00 - 9:40 AM

$

Ramona: OJ, Sausage and cheese omelet with mushrooms, buttermilk pancake, peach mango tea

Jim: Gingerbread waffle, sausage patties, latte

We arrived just in time. We were immediately seated, and before our order was taken, the place was full with several people waiting.

What can we say? The best breakfast spot in Waco. We had to fill up for a visit to the Waco-McLennan County Library's annual book sale. We filled up a couple of bags there!

The food was perfect, and we were set for the day.

-Jim

Dinner -- 11/14/08

2008-11-15T15:05:00.000-08:00

Olive Garden #1222
5921 W. Waco Dr.
at Richland Mall
Waco, TX 76710-6356

254.751.1667

http://www.olivegarden.com/default_f.asp

5:35 - 6:45 PM

$$

Ramona: Pork filettino with garlic mashed potatoes, iced tea, bow tie chocolate mouse cake

Jim: Stuffed chicken Marsala in a creamy sauce, iced tea, pumpkin cheese cake with caramel sauce and ginger cookie crumbles

Shared: Olive Garden salad,

Olive Garden is really the best Italian food in Waco, now that Vito's has closed, and we were really in the mood for Italian after a hectic week for both of us. We also decided to try dishes we had never had here before.

Ramona's pork filettino was huge. She ended up bringing half of it home, and it was really juicy and full of taste with a hint of red wine.

Jim is not a fan of "Marsala" dishes, but, since this one was advertised as a "creamy Marsala sauce," he decided to try it, and it was terrific. The meal hit the spot all around.

Jim's dessert was a new seasonal treat, and we almost convinced the server that the clean plate between us never had a slice of cheese cake on it!

Dependable, reasonably priced, good food. But Jim still longs for the Italian Restaurants in South Philadelphia.

-Jim

Dinner --11/12/08

2008-11-15T14:53:00.000-08:00

Catfish King of Waco #93
1201 S. Valley Mills Dr
Waco, TX 76711

254.753.7700

http://www.davidbeards.com/page/page/1014807.htm

5:30 - 6:15 PM

$

Ramona: Special Plate (four pieces of fried catfish, fries, slaw, hush puppies, beans, relish), pink lemonade

Jim: Chicken/Catfish Combo (4 pieces of chicken, 3 pieces of catfish, fries, cole slaw, beans, relish, iced tea)

We were out of town last weekend, so we have had no time to shop. Catfish King is reliable for a fast, inexpensive and tasty dinner. We particulalry like the cole slaw and the beans. The pieces of chicken seem to have shrunk. But we are noticing that all over Waco. Still good quality, though.

-Jim

Dinner -- 11/10/08

2008-11-15T14:50:00.000-08:00

Cheddar's Waco
4208 Franklin Ave
Waco, TX 76710

254.741.1411

http://www.cheddars.com/

5:30 -- 6:20 PM

$$

Ramona: 8 oz. sirloin steak, baked potato, cole slaw, raspberry lemonade

Jim: 8 oz. sirloin steak and grilled shrimp, broccoli cheese casserole, baby carrots, iced tea

Shared: spinach cheese dip with tortilla chips

Our usual custom is to go straight to Cheddar's for dinner when we land in Waco after a trip, but we got in pretty late, so we passed, but promised ourselves a return to one of our favorite spots in Waco on Monday night.

Not really much to say! The food is dependable and delicious. Jim's son joined us and had chicken tenders and shrimp. He could not finish it all, and ended up taking almost half home. We were pleased to get a table immediately.

If you visit Waco, don't miss Cheddar's!

-Jim

Lunch -- 11/9/08

2008-11-15T13:32:00.000-08:00

Chili's Too
DFW Airport
Terminal B
Dallas, TX

$

Jim & Ramona: Chicken quesedillas, iced tea

We had a three hour layover in Dallas before our flight to Waco, so we decided to grab a late lunch. Neither of us were particulalry hungry, so this dish was perfect. The iced tea was good. It was nice to have a glass and not have to load it up with lemons as we do in Waco because of the water.

-Jim

Breakfast -- 11/9/08

2008-11-14T13:36:00.000-08:00

Swamp Fox Restaurant
at the Francis Marion Hotel
387 King Street
Chaleston, SC 29403

843.724.8888

http://www.francismarioncharleston.com/dining.htm

8:00 - 8:50 AM

$$

Ramona: OJ, omelet casserole (potatoes, sausage, bacon, peppers, onions, eggs), biscuit, gravy, coffee

Jim: OJ, oatmeal with brown sugar, poppy seed bagel, coffee

We had a plane to catch, so we didn't have time to go far for breakfast. The hotel was the best bet. As we entered the dining room, the door was held open by the maitre'd, who had just come out of a Starbucks across the hall. We thought that was curious, but after we tasted the coffee, it all became clear -- the coffee was pitiful!

Jim's oatmeal was good and warm, and the bagel was toasted perfectly. Poppy seed bagels are hard to come by, so he always asks and receives one if they are on the menu.

Ramona's selections from the buffet were tasty and warm.

We will undoubtedly eat here next year, but first will stop for our coffee at Starbucks.

-Jim

Dinner -- 11/8/08

2008-11-14T13:31:00.000-08:00

La Fourchette Bistro Francaise
432 King Street
Charleston, SC 29403

843.722.6261

6:15 - 9:15 PM

http://lafourchettecharleston.com/

$$$$

Ramona: Tomato and rosemary soup, seared duck breast with honey and orange sauce, garlic mashed potatoes.

Jim: Salad (with roasted beets, leeks, and pepper vinagrette dressing), veal stewed in white wine cream sauce with spinach pasta

Shared: Assorted cheese and bread, duck pate with cornichons, mustard and croutons, Chateau Chapelle Siguer (French) 2003 [Montagne St. Emillion], and crepe with lemon whipped cream.

On previous trips to Charleston, we checked this place out, but never went inside, preferring the fabulous seafood restaurants, such as Hyman's, Hanks, and Anson. Since we had seafood on Friday night, we decided on something completely different for Saturday.

This bistro reminded us of many small, intimate restaurants we had visited (Alas! not together!) in Paris. The owner milled about the room greeting guests as they came and left. The soft music in the background as the waiters and guests swirled around the room gave this place a subdued but festive atmosphere. The food was spectacular.

Ramona's soup was hot and delicious. We are more familiar with tomato and basil soup, but this was a wonderful change. Her duck was juicy and tasty. The cheeses presented a variety of tastes from mild to strong and spicy.

Jim's salad was an interesting combination of beets, which he loves, tempered with the slight taste of the leaks. None of the dressing went to waste, since there was plenty of warm baguette to sop up the remainder. His veal was tender, and the sauce was delicate and added to the overall deliciousness of the dish.

The dessert was a special treat. The crepe was warm and soft, and the lemon cream the perfect ending to a spectacular dinner.

The wine was also a great compliment to these dishes. St. Emillion is Jim's favorite Bordeaux, and neither of us was disappointed.

Obviously, this meal was quite expensive. Remember our symbols do not include the tip or the wine, but we both agreed as we walked the two blocks back to our hotel that it was worth every penny. Another must-visit restaurant on any trip to Charleston!

-Jim

Lunch -- 11/8/08

2008-11-08T13:57:00.000-08:00

Sticky Fingers Rib House
235 Meeting Street
Charleston, SC 29401

843.853.7427

www.stickyfingers.com

$

Ramona: BBQ pork sandwich (Memphis style with cole slaw), fries, pickle, Diet Coke

Jim: BBQ pork sandwich, fries, pickle, iced tea

Shared: wings and sauce, peach cobbler and vanilla ice cream

This Sticky Fingers is the home of the portrait of Steven Colbert, and it is another must visit lunch spot in Charleston. Our hands were truly sticky when we were finished. The barbecue
sauce here is spectacular. In fact, we bought a gift pack of five bottles of the five different
flavors.

The meat is so tender and tasty with the sauce. When you go to Charleston, go to Sticky Fingers for your first lunch or dinner.

-Jim

Breakfast -- 11/08/2008

2008-11-08T13:40:00.000-08:00

Hominy Grill
207 Rutledge Ave.
Charleston, SC 29403

843-937-0930

http://www.hominygrill.com/

10:00 - 10:40 AM

$

Ramona: OJ, 2 poached eggs, baked pork loin, grits and onion gravy, biscuit, coffee

Jim: tomato juice, 2 eggs, sunny side up, house made sausage, hominy grits, toast, coffee

Hominy Grill is one of our must stop dining spots in Charleston. The best hominy grits and the best breakfast anywhere. The restaurant is small and homey. The food is fresh and well-prepared. Jim especially liked the sausage, and Ramona's pork loin was tender and tasty.

The coffee, a blend of Kona and Guatemalan beans was delicious. We also bought a half pound ground for home use.

Andrea was an excellent server, too! There is also an garden out side in the rear. We ate outside last year, so we went with an inside table this year.

-Jim

Dinner -- 11/7/08

2008-11-08T10:49:00.000-08:00

Anson
12 Anson St
Charleston, SC 29401

853-577-0551

http://www.ansonrestaurant.com/

6:15-9:50 PM

$$$

Ramona: She-crab soup, Caesar salad, Sea Bass with clam chowder, black-bottom pecan pie with vanilla ice cream

Jim: She-crab soup, Caesar salad, Sea Bass with clam chowder, cheese and contrast, coffee

Shared: Oysters times three (raw, fried, Rockefeller), calimari, breaded fried okra, Jean Gott Sauvignon Blanc (California) 2007

We were fortunate to share this dinner with six colleagues of Ramona in Charleston for the annual Charleston [Library] Conference. The company was fun and we had several spirited discussions going at all times, books, reading libraries, and of course politics. But, as Shakespeare wrote, "Do as lawyers do -- strive mightily, but eat and drink as friends." We did both.

The atmosphere was elegant but relaxed, and the service was superb. A special thanks to our head server, Blake.

The food was outstanding. The she crab soup began the meal and it was delicious, as was the Caesar salad, which was topped with an anchovy. We will run out of superlatives before this review has come to an end! Ramona and I ordered an off-the-menu special, which was sublime. There was broiled sea bass floating on a bed of arugula over a New England clam chowder reduction.

The desserts were also special. Ramona's was warm and tasty. Jim is not a big fan of pecan pie, however, he admitted this was the best he ever tasted. Jim's dessert was most unusual. It consisted of figs soaked in port wine, spiced pecans, garlic bread straws, and tangy goat cheese. This roller coaster ride of tastes was one of the most unusual desserts he has ever had with its variety of tastes, textures, and aromas.

The wine was also an excellent suggestion by Blake. Our first choice was a Russian River Sauvignon Blanc, but, unfortunately, they were out at that moment.

Even the coffee was a perfect ending to the meal.

Anson will be added to our annual list of restaurants to visit in Charleston. We are going to have to lengthen our trip if this trend continues!

-Jim

Dinner -- 11/02/08

2008-11-03T07:29:00.000-08:00

Elite Circle Grille
2132 S. Valley Hills Dr.
Waco, TX 76706 2

54.754.4941

http://www.elitecirclegrille.com/

5:35 - 6:20 PM

$

Ramona: Lunch portion chicken fried steak, mashed potatoes, cole slaw, iced tea

Jim: Fish and chips, iced tea

Jim's son was having a slow night, so we decided to help him out with a hefty tip.

Both dishes were hot, fresh, and contained good sized portions. Ramona brought home about a third of her entree. We have had quite a few good meals here, after the bad experience when they first reopened a couple of years ago, so we are much less reluctant to visit. Elite is now in the class of good, dependable food, not too expensive, and a nice atmosphere, but we could do without the sports monitors in every direction.

-Jim

Breakfast -- 11/02/08

2008-11-02T14:16:00.000-08:00

Cafe Cappuccino
4700 Bosque Blvd
Waco, TX 76710

254.772.3739

http://www.cafecappuccinotexas.com/

8:00 - 8:30 AM

$

Ramona: Mixed berry and nut pancake (1), 3 strips bacon, coffee, orange juice

Jim: Eggs Benedict, coffee, V8 juice

We were pleasantly surprised by how uncrowded Cafe Cappuccino was this morning. Maybe the extra hour of sleep threw everyone's schedules off, but we had no trouble walking right in and getting a table right away. Even when we left, it was still not crowded.

Readers of our blog know this is our favorite breakfast place in Waco. Jim often orders the Eggs Benedict and has complained (to me, not to them) that they put too much Hollandaise sauce on. So this time, he requested it on the side and the dish was much more to his liking.

Looking back at how many times we've been to CC this year (16!!!), I was surprised to see that this was the first time I've ordered the mixed berry and nut pancake. It really is yummy! Once again, though, I asked for SOFT bacon and one of my slices was almost burned. The other two were very done and crispy. I didn't complain, but I promise I will next time it happens!

Ramona

Dinner -- 11/01/08

2008-11-02T14:03:00.000-08:00

Tomatoes Restaurant
704 N. Hewitt Dr.
Hewitt, TX 76643

254.420.3000

6:30 - 7:30 p.m.

$$

Ramona: Lobster ravioli, salad, iced tea

Jim: Seafood combo, salad, iced tea

Shared: two baskets of rolls with butter

This was our third visit to Tomatoes, that unique little place in Hewitt that serves both Mexican and Italian dishes. We keep thinking we might try the Mexican side of the menu, but so far we've picked from the Italian side every time.

Fresh rolls and salad come with Italian dinners and we've commented before on the excellent bread. However, we were disappointed tonight that the bread was not warm. That didn't stop us from ordering a second basket! The salads are nothing special, just lettuce and a little bit of carrots. Tonight we both tried the house dressing, which had an unusual flavor. It reminded me of salsa.

Jim and I both tried new dishes tonight and were very pleased. My lobster ravioli was smothered in an excellent pink sauce that was very tasty. His seafood combo included mussels, shrimp, scallops, squid, and crab in a slightly spicy, tomato-based sauce and was served over angel hair pasta.

We skipped dessert this time, knowing that we had a pint of Ben & Jerry's ice cream waiting for us at home!

Ramona

Lunch -- 11/01/08

2008-11-02T13:49:00.000-08:00

KFC #196
1030 N. Valley Mills Dr.
Waco, TX 76710

254.772.0131

1:30 - 2:00 p.m.

$

Ramona: 1 breast meal, mashed potatoes with gravy, cole slaw, biscuit, diet Pepsi

Jim: 3 pieces chicken (1 breast, 1 wing, 1 leg), biscuit, Dr. Pepper

To me, KFC will always be Kentucky Fried Chicken, and I LOVE the original recipe. A KFC chicken breast, mashed potatoes with gravy, and cole slaw is the ultimate comfort meal. It's one of those meals that I sometimes get cravings for and today was the day.

When I mentioned to Jim that I was thinking about KFC, he said he had thought about it too! Luckily, Jim likes KFC, although we do go to Bush's much more often. Unfortunately for him, KFC was out of iced tea today. He had to settle for a Dr. Pepper instead.

Maybe it was the lateness of our meal (1:30) and the chicken had been sitting for a while. I don't know what the reason, but somehow it didn't taste as wonderful to me today. We both thought the breasts were smaller than usual as well. I hope it was just a bad day and not the beginning of a trend.

Ramona

Dinner -- 10/31/08

2008-11-01T08:56:00.000-07:00

Chamberlain's Fish Market Grill
4525 Beltline Road
Dallas, TX 75001

972.503.3474

5:30 - 6:45 PM

http://www.chefchamberlain.com/

$$$$

Ramona: Lobster bisque, 1lb Maine Lobster, 8-oz. filet, mashed potatoes

Jim: Lobster bisque, 1lb Maine Lobster, 8-oz filet, mashed potatoes, coffee

Shared: Chateau Rolland-Maillet (French) 2005 (St. Emilion); Warm Chocolate Gateau

Ramona and I still needed to celebrate our 300th Saturday together while we were still in the 300th week. We also wanted to catch the last weekend of the Impressionist Masterpieces from the Art Institute of Chicago at the Kimball in Ft. Worth. Therefore, she decided to take Friday afternoon off so we could make a trip to the metroplex. We picked a good time, since the exhibit was not too crowded. Occasionally we had a minute or two wait for the crowd to clear from in front of some of the more spectacular paintings. We had seen most of these in Chicago a couple of years ago, and we are looking forward to another trip there next summer.

There are so many good restaurants to choose from in the metroplex, and it seems we go to Dallas much less frequently these days. Our primary reason for picking Chamberlain's Fish Market for this visit was that we had received an e-mail announcing a $25 steak and lobster dinner. That price included the steak and lobster, mashed potatoes, and bread and we figured that was a pretty good deal. Chamberlain's, along with its companion steakhouse, were two of our favorite haunts when Ramona lived in Addison. We have had many a fine dinner there.

The meal began with a delicious sourdough bread, fresh and warm, and a glass of wine. We each added a cup of the lobster bisque, which was served with a piece of garlic cheese bread and was excellent. The lobster was also very good, but we weren't too excited about the steak. It was better than some but not top notch. Jim theorized a special like this does not merit top grade prime filet mignon. Ramona enjoyed the mashed potatoes after she added some pepper, but Jim thought they were barely tepid. Jim also thought the gateau was dull and carboardy, although it tasted better if some of the chocolate sauce was scooped up with it.

St. Emilion is Jim's favorite Bordeaux, and since French wines are so rare on menus in Waco, we went with that, but we were mightily tempted by a bottle of Iron Horse Cabernet from California.

The server was competent and attentive, so no problems there, but next time we go to Chamberlain's we'll stick with their fish specialties. Nearby Sullivan's is still our first choice for steak.

-Jim and Ramona

Dinner -- 10/28/08

2008-11-01T08:49:00.001-07:00

Long John Silvers #31293
1801 N. Valley Mills Drive
Waco, TX 76710

254.772.1986

5:30-6:15 PM

http://www.ljsilvers.com/

$

Ramona: grilled tilapia, rice, french fries, cole slaw, hush puppies, breadstick, diet Pepsi

Jim: Combo basket, (2 fish, 3 chicken, french fries, hush puppies), cole slaw, iced tea

Another night of phone calls, running around, and busy work, so we opted for a rare fast-food dinner. We have always liked LJS, but it seems the chicken planks are shrinking, and the fish tasted watery this time, so we were a little disappointted. Ramona's dish was very good.

-Jim

Dinner -- 10/27/08

2008-11-01T08:43:00.000-07:00

Chili's Grill & Bar
5804 Bosque Blvd.
Waco, TX 76710

254.776.8330

http://www.chilis.com/

4.:45 - 5:30 PM

$$

Ramona: Margarita chicken, iced tea

Jim: Shrimp Alfredo, iced tea

We were a little pressed for time, since we had some errends to run before our campaign meeting at 6:30, so Chili's was the perfect choice.

The service was quick, and the food was delicious, the portions were just right, and our waiter kept us in ice tea and lemons very nicely.

-Jim

Dinner - 10/25/08

2008-10-26T08:57:00.000-07:00

Don Carlos Mexican Restaurant
4651 S. Jack Kultgen Frwy
I-35 and Hwy 6 in Central Texas Marketplace
Waco, TX 76701

254.662.3888

http://www.doncarlosmexicanrestaurant.com/

$$

Ramona: Margaritas (2!), Enchiladas Suizas (three chciken enchiladas with sour cream and tomatillo sauce, beans and rice, tres leches cake

Jim: Mexican Dinner (2 chicken enchiladas, 1 bean enchilada, beans, rice, soft beef taco, flan, iced tea

Those of you who read us regulalrly, know Jim is not a big fan of Mexican food. Ramona's platter was good, and Jim's agreed about the beans and rice, but the chicken in the enchiladas was dry and tasteless. I happened to have lunch on Friday at El Conquistador in Bellmead, TX. I got the chicken enchilada lunch platter, and it was outstanding.

Ramona thought the margaritas were ordinary, although I suspect the second was better than the first ;->

Deserts were a complete disappointment. Flan is one of Jim's favorite after dinner treats, but this one tasted burnt. Ramona's tres leche cake was also flat and tasteless. It did not even come close to the delicious version served at El Siete Mares.

We will give the Don a second chance, but not anytime soon. A much better meal with all the same items can be had at La Fiesta, for 2/3s the price of this meal.

-Jim

Dinner -- 10/24/08

2008-10-26T08:44:00.000-07:00

Mama Baris
904 N Valley Mills Dr
Waco, TX 76710

254-772-2900

5:45 -6:30 PM

$

Ramona: Mama Baris' Sampler (lasagna, spaghetti, manicotti), iced tea

Jim: Chicken parmigiana with spaghetti, iced tea

Shared: Small Baris salad

We were planning a big dinner for Saturday night, since it was the 300th consecutive Saturday night we have spent together, so we went out light for Friday. Mama Baris' is the closest we can get to authentic Philly salads, hoagies (she calls them "subs" based on her origins in New York),
pizza, and Italian dishes.

Unfortunately, I bit a little too hard on my fork and broke a crown. So we delayed our special dinner at Cheeve's Brothers Steakhouse in Temple. We will get back there as soon as I can get to a dentist. After all, how often do we get to celebrate 300 consecutive Saturday nights?

The food here is perfect and more than reasonably priced. Tonight was no exception.

-Jim

Dinner -- 10/22/08

2008-10-26T08:32:00.000-07:00

Magic China
221 Jack Kultgen Fwy (I-35)
Waco, TX 76710

254.776.1072

6:45 - 7:35 PM

$$ (low end -- pu-pu platter pushed it up a level)

Ramona: Egg drop soup, egg roll, Happy Family (chicken, pork, shrimp, scallops, Chinese vegetables), fried rice, iced tea

Jim: Won ton soup, egg roll, mu shu pork, hot tea

Shared: Pu-Pu Platter (2 fried shrimp, 2 egg rolls, 2 wings, 2 fried won tons, 2 chicken sticks

Outstanding meal! I spent the afternoon as an on-air "personality" for KWBU, our local NPR station during its Fall fund raiser. While I am on the subject, support your local NPR station with a pledge. It can be done on-line for most stations.

I haven't had mu shu pork in a while, and the thing I like about Magic China's version of this dish is they make the wraps before serving. Much neater, and the ingredients are spread more evenly among the four pancakes. The plum sauce was great, too. Ramona's usual dish is really amazing. Lots of delicious chicken, roast pork, shrimp, and scallops. I tasted a few items, and she still brought some home for lunch the next day. She also ate one of my wraps.

The pu-pu platter was good, except the fried won tons were lacking in taste this time, but the chicken sticks were much better than last time. They seemed to be more tasty and more tender than we remember. A must visit for all Chinese food fans in Waco!

Ramona's fortune: "Be prepared to receive something special"

Jim's fortune: "You have the ability to plan a practical course for yourself and follow through."

-Jim

Lunch -- 10/19/08

2008-10-19T12:52:00.000-07:00

Jason's Deli #41 Waco
4302 West Waco Drive
Waco, TX 76710

254-772-6611
Fax: 254-772-6219

http://www.jasonsdeli.com/

1:10 - 2:00 PM

$

Ramona: Grilled Reuben, chips, pickle, diet Coke

Jim: Reuben, chips, pickle, iced tea

Excellent sandwiches for a quick bite after some shopping. Hard to believe this is the first time we have been at Jason's since the blog began.

The bread was fresh, and they piled on the meat. Good pickles. Jim stole a gingerbread muffin from the buffet. Don't tell anyone!

-Jim

Dinner -- 10/18/08

2008-10-19T12:42:00.000-07:00

Buzzard Billy's
100 N. I-35
Waco, TX 76704

254.753.2778

http://www.buzzardbillys.com/

7:10 to 8:10 PM

$$

Ramona: Fried combo (catfish, shrimp, oysters), cole slaw, french fries, hush puppies, iced tea

Jim: Trout czarina (fried fillets with grilled shrimp and brown sauce), red potatoes, steamed veggies, iced tea

After a couple of hours working at our local NPR on-air fund drive (hint: support your local NPR station. Most are having fund drives this week) we decided for something a little different. BB's was on the way home, and we haven't been there in quite a while.

Ramona's platter was excellent, except for the fried oysters, which seemed a little over-cooked. The hush puppies were great (not Bridge's in Shelby, NC, great, but definitely Waco great). They had a slightly sweet flavor and were not fried to golf ball consistency.

Jim's trout was delicious, and so was the sauce. He could have done without the string beans, but there were plenty of carrots, peppers, and broccoli, so no harm was done.

With Baylor out of town -- losing to Oklahoma State -- the restaurant was not crowded, and we had a pleasant dinner.

-Jim

Dinner -- 10/17/08

2008-10-19T12:28:00.000-07:00

Cheddar's Waco
4208 Franklin Ave
Waco, TX 76710
254.741.1411

http://www.cheddars.com/

5:30 -- 6:20 PM

$

Jim: Oriental Salad with Grilled Chicken and Shrimp, croissant, iced tea

Ramona: Oriental Salad with Grilled Chicken and Shrimp, croissant, iced tea

Neither of us was very hungry tonight, so we settled for the lovely (and filling) Oriental salad with grilled chicken and shrimp. This is a very tasty salad that I have had several times. Jim enjoyed it as much as I. The buttery croissant is a nice touch.

Regular followers of Jim & Ramona's Restaurant Journey may have noticed that we've been focusing more lately on the $-$$ restaurants. We're watching our budget these days as well as trying to watch our weight. So be prepared for more of these kinds of postings and fewer excursions with desserts!

Ramona

Dinner -- 10/14/08

2008-10-19T12:20:00.000-07:00

Happy Wok Restaurant
1910 Park Lake Dr.
Waco, TX 76708

254.875.9800

6:00 - 6:30 p.m.

$

Ramona: Roast pork with Chinese vegetables, egg roll, fried rice, iced tea

Jim: Seafood delight (crab, shrimp, scallops, lobster, vegetables, white sauce), egg roll, white rice, iced tea

A quick dinner after attending One Book, One Waco event at MCC. This is not our favorite Chinese restaurant by any means, but the food is good and it's on the way home.

Jim's fortune: An unexpected event will soon make your life more exciting.

Ramona's fortune: You could prosper in the field of medicine.

Ramona

Breakfast -- 10/11/08

2008-10-11T10:27:00.001-07:00

IHOP #3001
4109 S. Jack Kultgen Freeway (I-35) at New Rd.
Waco, TX 76711

254.757.1133

http://www.acgtexas.com/

http://www.ihop.com/

9:00- 9:50 AM

$

Ramona: OJ, French toast, bacon, coffee

Jim: V8 Juice, Buttermilk pancakes, sausage patties, coffee

We wanted to get a relatively early start today with school work, campaign calling, and lots of reading to catch up on this weekend. The restaurant was crowded, but we only had about a ten minute wait.

The service was good, the food was perfectly prepared, and we were on our way to do Saturday shopping.

-Jim

Dinner -- 10/10/08

2008-10-11T10:17:00.000-07:00

Samurai Japanese Steakhouse
5912 Bosque Blvd. Ste. #347
Waco, TX 76710

254.776.5197

5:30-6:30

$$

Ramona: Miso soup, salad, steak & shrimp, fried rice, mixed veggies, iced tea

Jim: Miso soup, salad, steak & shrimp, fried rice, mixed veggies, , plum wine, iced tea

Japanese hibachi steakhouses are always fun, and we had a great chef. He was animated and build up a rhythm with his tools that was actually musical.

The food was perfectly prepared and tasty. The sauce for the meat was a little spicier than Ramona likes, or we are used to, and she thought her fried rice was flat.

We were at a hibachi by ourselves, and this was one of the first places we went to when we first met years ago.

No sushi, so missed that treat. But otherwise a fine, fine dinner.

-Jim

Breakfast -- 10/5/08

2008-10-11T09:56:00.000-07:00

Cafe Cappuccino
4700 Bosque Blvd
Waco, TX 76710

254.772.3739

http://www.cafecappuccinotexas.com/

8:45 - 9:30 AM

$

Ramona: OJ, banana nut French toast, bacon, coffee

Jim: V8 juice, eggs Benedict, coffee

Sunday morning. A beautiful day. The New York Times. What else but Cafe Cappuccino! Another perfect breakfast, except I forgot to ask for the hollandaise sauce on the side. The sauce here is good, but they put too much on the eggs, and the yolk gets lost in the sauce.

We also got a half pound of their delicious decaf for the office coffee pot. CC has the best breakfast coffee in town. 236th week celebration could not start any other way!

-Jim

Dinner -- 10/04/08

2008-10-04T10:03:00.000-07:00

Outback Steakhouse
4500 Franklin Ave.
Waco, TX 76710

254.772.5449

http://www.outbacksteakhouse.com/

4:45 - 6:00 p.m.

$$

Ramona: Caesar salad, prime rib, loaded baked potato, iced tea

Jim: Caesar salad, prime rib, baked sweet potato, iced tea

Shared: Appetizer -- shrimp on the barbie

Since we had a somewhat bad experience on our Friday night outing, we decided to make things right with another dinner out on Saturday.

One of Jim's favorite meals is steak, shrimp, Caesar salad, and iced tea. Friday night and time for our occasional red meat feast, so we decided on Outback. We arrived at a perfect time and were immediately seated. Not long after we arrived, there were quite a few people waiting.

The meal was perfect, but the service was so-so. We had to ask twice for several things -- bread, creamy horseradish sauce, and, of course, extra lemons. The server seemed a bit nervous. We hope our picture isn't hanging in half the restaurant kitchens in Waco!

-Jim

Dinner -- 10/03/08

2008-10-04T06:39:00.000-07:00

Gratziano's
217 Mary
Waco, TX 76701

254.752.8789

6:15 - 7:15 p.m.

$$

Jim: Chicken Parmesan, spaghetti, Caesar salad

Ramona: Lasagna, Caesar salad

Shared: Calamari, Chianti Bellagio

Jim's son wanted to join us for dinner tonight and we happened to have an offer for a free appetizer from Gratziano's so we decided to meet at this restaurant in downtown Waco. Jim and I had been there before, but not since we started the blog.

We enjoyed the calamari and the wine, but Jim was not pleased with his meal. He said the chicken was good, but he didn't like the sauce they served on the spaghetti. Jim also felt there was too much dressing on the salad. I thought the lasagna was fine, but not any better than what we can get at Baris for much less money. Chris enjoyed his chicken alfredo pizza.

If you're in the downtown area during the lunch hour and hungry for Italian food, Gratziano's is a good place to go for their lunch buffet. However, I doubt if we'll be returning there for dinner very often.

Ramona

Dinner -- 09/30/08

2008-10-04T06:27:00.000-07:00

Chipotle
1115 N. Valley Mills Rd.
Waco, TX 76710
254.741.9400

http://www.chipotle.com/

5:30 - 6:15 p.m.

$

Ramona: Chicken burrito with all the fixings, diet coke

Jim: Chicken tacos with all the fixings, iced tea

Another quick dinner was in order tonight because of another meeting to attend. By chance, I had gotten an e-mail offering a free burrito to Baylor faculty so we decided to go to Chipotle. A lot of my coworkers had the same idea!

I asked for fewer items on my burrito this time and Jim decided to try the tacos instead. We were both stuffed by the time we finished the meal. The only problem with this restaurant is its size. I think they should have bought a bigger building!

Ramona

Dinner -- 09/29/08

2008-10-04T06:19:00.000-07:00

Dickey's Barbecue Pit
621 North Valley Mills
Waco, TX 76711

254.776.2228

http://www.dickeysbarbecuerestaurants.com/

5:50 - 6:25 PM

$

Jim: Brisket sandwich, potato salad, iced tea, soft ice cream

Ramona: Pulled pork sandwich, potato salad, iced tea

In a hurry to make a 6:30 meeting, we stopped by Dickey's to have a quick sandwich. This is becoming a regular spot on our list! See other postings for more details.

Ramona

Lunch -- 09/28/08

2008-10-04T05:59:00.000-07:00

Cathay House
825 Wooded Acres
Waco, TX 76710

254.776.1072

12:15 - 12:50 p.m.

$

Jim and Ramona: Lunch buffet, iced tea

Cathay House, as regular readers of our blog will know, is one of our two favorite Chinese restaurants in Waco (the other being Magic China). But we'd never been to the Sunday lunch buffet until this week. Based on a recommendation from one our readers, we decided to give it a try and were not disappointed.

Cathay's lunch buffet doesn't have as many options as some of the other Chinese buffets in town, e.g. Summer Palace. But everything on the buffet is wonderful. They had three soups, including chicken rice which Jim tried for the first time. In the entree section were several dishes with a variety of meats and levels of spiciness. I ate a little of several of the chicken-based dishes and also wanted a sample of the pepper steak, which is a dish I rarely order but like a lot. Their pepper steak was one of the best I've ever tasted. Jim and I agreed that the beef was so tender and tasty that we want to order that again sometime.

Jim and I also agree that we'll go to the Sunday brunch again soon. However, we must warn you that it's a lot more crowded and noisy then than during weeknights when we enjoy the quiet.

Jim's fortune: You will soon be in the limelight.
Ramona's fortune: Your lucky number for the week is the number two.

Ramona