Olivella's: A Taste of Napoli in Dallas

Tucked on a little side street across from SMU is a lovely little pizzeria named Olivella's. The first time Robert and I attempted to dine here was on a Saturday night shortly after the college students had returned from Christmas break and the place was packed with a line of people waiting out the door for a table. That night we decided to eat elsewhere, but the quant little spot remained on my mind.

This week I had the privilege of participating in campus interviews at SMU for my employer, Sendero Business Services. During one of our lunch breaks between interviews my coworkers, Susanne and Trey, and I decided to try Olivella's. We were pleased to find the restaurant was quiet and the decor quite lovely for the tiny space.

I decided to try their Ham & Cheese sandwich served with a small side salad and a balsamic pesto dipping sauce on the side. The sandwich was more like a panini with bread that was light and fluffy like pizza crust and filled with prosciutto, tomatoes, and house made mozzarella. It was delicious and flavorful and the dipping sauce was divine. I never would have thought to add balsamic vinegar to pesto, but I'm now convinced it's a great idea. I may even try making my own here pretty soon.

Trey ordered their Mezzaluna, a pizza that's half calzone and half margherita pizza. It looked delicious, and perfectly browned on the calzone side. Susanne ordered their pear and gorgonzola salad with walnuts and she too was pleased with her choice. We all agreed that Olivella's was a place worth remembering for future outings.

When I got home and told Robert of our lunch, he was ready to try their menu himself. Needing some distance between meals, I was able to hold him off until tonight when we ordered a Caesar salad and their Pulcino e Porco (aka The Dream) pizza for take out. The dressing on the salad left much to be desired as it was overly thick and tasted like anchovy spiked mayonnaise. Fortunately we ordered the dressing on the side and I was able to taste it before pouring it on our salads. I replaced it with a simple balsamic vinaigrette for a quick save.

Finally, there was the pizza. Oh my goodness. I dare say this was the best pizza I have tasted in quite some time. The pizza includes chicken, thinly shaved pancetta, house made mozzarella, gorgonzola, and sliced jalapenos with tomato sauce. The peppers were just spicy enough to enhance the flavor and not so spicy as to overwhelm the palate. The balance of flavors between the bacon, cheeses and peppers was delightful, so much so that Robert and I each ate our full half which is considerably more than we normally would have eaten.

One last comment, Olivella's claims to be a Napolitana style pizzeria and they remain true to their name. When I studied abroad in Italy, I spent a day in Naples and had pizza while there. The thing that makes Napolitana pizza distinct from other Italian regions is it's thin crust and drizzle of olive oil on top. The pizzas I had in Naples were a little too heavy handed on the oil for my taste, but Olivella's is able to utilize the concept without drowning the pizza in oil. The finished product is delicious and unlike any other pizza offered in Dallas. Next time you're craving authentic Italian pizza, give this spot a try but you might want to avoid weekend nights as it's small dining room can fill up fast.

The Capital Grille: Not a Capital Experience

I really wish that this review was positive. I had every intention of writing a glowing review of this classic steakhouse, but by the end of the meal...really by 10 minutes into the meal...it was clear that my review would be negative. Bunker and I ate at The Capital Grille about four years ago. We loved the classy ambiance, every bite of food was scrumptious and perfectly prepared, and every interaction with the attentive waitstaff was unforced and pleasant. Therefore, at the end of a very long week for both of us, we wanted to treat ourselves to a delicious and filling meal in a rather cushy setting. Based on our previous experience, Capital Grille seemed like a safe bet. Sadly, although we paid a pretty penny for our meal, it was not worth much.

We arrived about five minutes early for our 8 pm reservation on Friday night, and it was incredibly crowded, which is always great to see. I am always a bit suspicious if I walk into a restaurant and it is basically empty. I do love the feel of this place. It is warm and inviting and has the aura of a private New York City dinner club, and as it is in The Crescent, a Dallas icon, it leads one to expect a classic and memorable dining experience.

The Bar:
So, we walked into the entrance and up to the host stand. After waiting for about five minutes for someone to greet us, the host told us that our table was being put together, but that we should go to the bar for a drink and he would come and retrieve us shortly. I was a hostess once, I understand that hosting is not the most fun job, and I also understand that you lie to diners, but you at least base that lie on a little truth. I wish this host had at least hinted to the fact that they were running behind, and that what he actually meant by "putting our table together" was that the people in our table were just now eating their entrees! Oh well, Bunker and I are never ones to turn down an opportunity for a drink in a bar, and I love this bar. It is dark, masculine, and romantic; like a study in some old English country house; a study used to study Brandy or Port rather than books and papers. Anyways, you should go to the bar, it is a delightfully warm and comforting experience with attentive and engaging bar tenders, but then, go somewhere else for dinner.

Finally, we arrive at the table:
About 40 minutes after our reservation time had come and passed, we were led to a cozy booth towards the back. Oh how I love booths! Things seemed to be starting off on a great note, and I was starving at this point. Edging our way to 9 pm, we finally saw our waiter, who seemed beyond frenzied, but tried to cover this with a sycophantic affect, something that just rubs me the wrong way. He tried to take away my glass of wine which still had quite a bit of wine left from the bar! He eventually knocked it over, luckily after the wine was mostly gone. We ordered a bottle of Cakebread Chardonnay, and he insisted we give him the corresponding number on the menu rather than the actual name, I guess did not know the wine list. About 20 minutes later he finally returned with the correct wine, but not the correct year, but we decided to just hang onto the bottle, lest we wait another 20 minutes for another bottle of wine! About 30 minutes after the wine arrived, he finally got the ice bucket that we asked for. He also seemed very offended when we dared to pour our own wine into our own empty glasses (glasses that had been empty for a while)! I guess he wasn't too offended, because after that he never poured our wine again, mostly because he hardly came by the table.

I will compliment the bread basket. The bread was warm, incredibly fresh and offered a variety of flavors and styles. We were given only a tiny slice of butter. Bunker and I are true believers in the fact that butter does make everything better, so that little slice of butter disappeared quickly.  Our waiter was emphatic that he would bring more butter right away. Well, we didn't see him again until our main courses arrived. So much for the butter.  

As for the food:
Bunker ordered both specials. For an appetizer he got the scallops wrapped in prosciutto with seasonal vegetables, and for his main course he got the lobster tail and sirloin. The scallops were rather dry and the vegetables were rather sad looking. The whole dish seemed like something from a Top Chef quick fire, where the idea is there for a potentially successful dish, but the chef ran out of time and just had to throw everything on the plate. It was crying for seasoning and a sauce to pull the disparate parts together. His entree was not bad at all, but also not great. When the bill came, it was clear that the waiter quoted a much lower price for this special. I do not think he did this intentionally, I think he was overwhelmed and was unable to give us his full attention.

My food was not great. I ordered the Filet Mignon, it is what I always order at steak restaurants, and I always order it Rare Plus. I learned this term years ago at Al Biernets, an iconic Dallas steakhouse. I used to always order my steak medium rare, but it was just a bit too done for my taste, and so I asked one night for medium rare, but closer to rare than medium. The waiter that evening told me how to order my steak from then on, and every time since then, I have ordered my steak rare plus, and every time it has been perfectly red  and warm in the center....key term being warm. So, I ordered my filet at Capital Grille rare plus, the waiter hesitated and I said, yes, I want my filet rare plus. When it finally came out, it looked beautiful on the outside, but then I cut into it, and it really looked completely raw, like how you would sear a tuna, black and blue. But I thought perhaps it was the lighting, and so I took a bite, and my goodness, a large part of the center was icy cold. Icy cold! So I very politely told the waiter that my filet was more raw than rare plus, and that I would like it cooked a bit more. He seemed obliging, and then returned with my steak after Bunker had pretty much finished his, he sat it down and asked "So let me know how you think it is done now?". Ouch! That was just rude. I know what rare plus is...and a cold raw steak is not rare plus. I will say that the steak was very good when it was returned, still red in the the center but warm.

As for the sides, what an after thought! We ordered creamed corn and mashed potatoes. They came out when my steak came back out after being refired, a good 20 minutes after our initial entrees were sat down.

I will say that the waiter knew we had been rather neglected the whole evening, and so he brought us two desserts for free. I wish restaurants would at least ask what desserts you wanted rather than just giving you what they have extras of in the kitchen. Neither Bunker nor I are huge dessert people anyways, so we didn't really even want them. But the waiter brought me their "famous" Coconut Cream Pie. It might have been great, but no amount of accolades will ever make me like anything with coconut in it. Bunker, my husband who doesn't really like sweets and really doesn't care for chocolate, was given the Chocolate Hazelnut Cake. So, we boxed up the chocolate cake and took it to my dad today, someone who does love sweets and chocolate!

In Conclusion:
Bunker and I honestly laughed about what a failure of a night it was at a few points in the meal. I will say that the support staff was on the ball, our water glasses were constantly filled to the brim. I think our waiter was in way over his head, and at some point, he should have asked for help. Instead, he left us feeling superfluous and almost like inconveniences to his evening. In a vibrant restaurant city like Dallas, with as many fabulous locally owned restaurant choices as you can imagine, a large number of those being steakhouses, a large chain like The Capital Grille might be superfluous, and it has certainly lost us as customers.  

Toni Rivard/Creme De La Cookie Cakeballs

A few years ago when we moved into our condo near Snider Plaza, we discovered a cute little bakery and coffee shop, Creme de la Cookie. In a town where there is a Starbucks every few yards, or so it seems, it's nice to find a quaint, local place to grab a good cup of coffee and a tasty treat. Creme de la Cookie has a few claims to fame, their chocolate chip cookies made with European style butter (yes, they are delicious) and, most importantly, their cakeballs.

I know that recipes for cakeballs have been floating around the internet and they have really exploded in bakeries recently. I have tried cakeballs at several places in Dallas and I can attest, the cakeballs produced by Creme de la Cookie are the best I have tasted. They have a wide variety of flavors, and while everyone I have tried have been delicious, their red velvet cakeball is by far their best. It has the perfect balance of red velvet cake, cream cheese frosting, and white chocolate coating and are wonderfully moist.

Given the richness of the cakeball, the fact that their bite size makes them perfect. Just a few bites is all you need to satisfy any sweet tooth or craving that you might have and you don't have to mess with forks or plates. A few months ago the owner, Toni Rivard, opened a kiosk at Northpark Mall at the entrance of Neiman Marcus and Tiffany & Co. named after the owner. They offer the same great cakeballs and cookies served at Creme de la Cookie, and their available for purchasing while you shop til you drop.

The main reason for my stop by Toni Rivard tonight was to pick Robert up some red velvet cakeballs for his birthday, which is today. So I will end this review by wishing my love Happy Birthday, let's hope this upcoming year is more memorable and wonderful than the last 29!

The Porch: New American Food

It's recruiting time at work and as a result I had the pleasure of taking a few of our candidates for dinner at The Porch earlier this week. The Porch is located on Henderson Avenue just east of Central and serves updated comfort food dishes in a neighborhood bar type atmosphere. The bar is always inventing new cocktails based on seasonal items, so if you decide to come here for dinner, get there a little early and grab a drink. Last fall I tried their Hatch Chile Martini and was compelled by the combination of spicy chile, sweet lime and tequila. 

Now back to dinner. We decided to start off the meal with a couple of appetizers since we were all hungry. The Spinach Parmesan dip is served with fresh tortilla chips and is divine. I found that it was the appropriate balance of spinach and cheese and while certainly rich, it's not as heavy as many spinach dips can be. Our other appetizer was the Calamari and Rock Shrimp Fritto Misto which was served with sweet peppers and a lemon aioli sauce for dipping. The peppers had a slight bite and were a nice contrast to the sweetness of the aioli. It was a great start to things.

Every evening the chef decides what specials will be offered that day and they are displayed on a large backboard and referred to as "Big Board Specials". That night one of the Big Board offerings was Chicken Meatballs with Ricotta Gnocchi and Mushrooms in a White Wine Cream Sauce. I'll be honest, I was a little disappointed in the result. I have come to really enjoy chicken meatballs at other restaurants, and I found these to be dry, slightly tough and without a lot of flavor. The mushrooms didn't provide much flavor either, which was disappointing as I usually find mushrooms to be a great addition to any pasta with cream sauce. Finally, I guess I'm just an old fashioned potato gnocchi girl because I found the ricotta gnocchi to be too sweet and with a texture that was not to my liking. I don't think I would recommend this plate, it was too rich and lacked flavor all at once, which is hard to do.

My coworker ordered the brisket enchiladas and I must say they looked divine. Their appearance along with the fact that he cleaned his plate confirm that they were quite delicious. The brisket is finely shredded, wrapped in a corn tortilla and topped with red chile enchilada sauce. They definitely looked as though they would be worth trying next time. One of our recruits ordered the Country Club with the Tomato, Cucumber and Basil salad and it too looked amazing. The sandwich was served on hearty slices of white bread, perfectly toasted and filled with the delicious combination of smoked turkey, smoked ham, thick peppered bacon, cheddar, and provolone and the salad looked crisp and refreshing, a nice delicate contrast to the hearty sandwich. Our other recruit ordered the cheeseburger and it too looked delicious. At the conclusion of the meal I asked my companions for their verdict and all were pleased to confirm that they thoroughly enjoyed their meal. I guess I just made the wrong choice this time.

While parts of this most recent experience were disappointing, the atmosphere continued to impress and the service was impeccable. Based on what my dinner companions ordered, I think I will definitely try one of their choices next time and I'm confident I won't be disappointed and besides, there's always their cocktail menu. :)

JD's Chippery, a Dallas Classic

Well, tonight I had planned to bake and share with you a delightfully easy and delicious recipe for pumpkin spice muffins. Unfortunately, my local grocery store has not yet begun to stock canned pumpkin, an essential ingredient to this recipe. So instead, I decided to write about my favorite muffin bakery, JD's Chippery.

JD's Chippery opened in 1983, on the corner of Daniel and Hillcrest in Dallas, Texas, across from the Southern Methodist University campus. This quant, local bakery specializes in cookies and muffins that are made fresh daily. Additionally, JD's provides cherry limeades made from scratch that take one back to soda fountain days gone by.

I've been fortunate to live just a few blocks away from JD's the past two years, and it has frequently become a go to spot for breakfast on my way into work in the morning. Over the years, I've tried several of their muffins and each one is enjoyable for different reasons. Their double chocolate muffin is sinfully decadent and tastes more like dessert than breakfast. I tend to go for this option for special occasions, such as birthdays, anniversaries, and other celebratory events.

Photo credit: JD's Chippery Website

One of my other favorites is their pumpkin muffin. It's offered year round and tastes like fall in your mouth, much like a pumpkin spice latte from Starbucks. If you're concerned that a muffin won't fill you up and keep you full, I like to enjoy their ham and cheese muffin as a change to the sweeter muffin varieties, taking advantage of the protein that both ingredients provide.

Finally, if health is your concern, JD's offers 3 muffins that are low-fat: oat-branana, blueberry oat bran, and carrot apple raisin bran. My go-to muffin for day-to-day is the oat branana. It reminds me of the banana bread that my mom would make growing up with banana baked inside along with the bran. I like that it's more interesting than your standard bran muffin without losing the benefits that bran provides.

I know I haven't said much about the cookies. I've tasted several over the years and while they too are delicious, they are not what has me coming back for more. To me, JD's Chippery is all about the muffins and giving me something to eat on those rushed mornings headed to work. One important thing to note: they accept cash and checks only, no cards so come prepared.

Cisco Grill: A Mother Daughter Tradition

Cisco Grill holds a very special place in my heart. This Dallas staple is located in Snider Plaza, the "downtown" of the Park Cities. Snider Plaza is perhaps the most quaint shopping district I have ever had the pleasure of shopping in, and many of the stores and restaurants located along the plaza have been there since I can remember. Walking around Snider Plaza, you feel as though you have stepped back in time to 1950, a comforting and calming feeling. Some of my favorites include: Amore, Peggy Sue's BBQ, JD's Chippery, Mustang Doughnuts, A Peek in the Attic, Bubbas, Cotton Island, Kuby's, and Suzanne Roberts Gifts. My very favorite is Cisco Grill, for many reasons, the most important of which is my mom. My mom and I love Cisco Grill, and we go together for lunch at least once a month. We have been doing this since I was in high school, and goodness, I graduated 10 years ago! We almost always have the same waiter, who already knows our order before we sit down. He still asks what we want, and then chuckles when I order the same salad for both my mom and myself, as I have for the past 10 years, with the exact same stipulations every time. We have laughed, cried, shared joys and sadness at almost every table in this small neighborhood restaurant, and always over a delectable meal with friendly service. I do not know what we would do without Cisco Grill! I don't have any pictures of us at Cisco Grill....so please enjoy some of my favorites!

Cisco Grill, Amore and Peggy Sue's BBQ are all owned by the same lovely family, the Hall family. I grew up with their daughter and was always so jealous of her! I assumed they got to eat every meal at these three restaurants. I couldn't imagine anything better! Each restaurant is completely unique from the others, with the decor in each perfectly fit to each unique menu.

Cicso Grill is Southwestern in feel and taste. The front step is warm and inviting with large windows and a small patio to the side, a delightful place to sit and chat when the weather complies. The inside is warm and comforting, and really feels as though you might be in Santa Fe. There are two best seats: the two booths that jut out onto the front patio enclosed with windows, so you are very private within the restaurant but can also spy out onto the hustle and bustle of the plaza. One thing that I think is very unique and special about Cisco Grill is the loyalty of the wait staff. Waiters and waitresses are there for years upon years, and they are clearly happy and comfortable in the restaurant. This leads to an easy and casual feel, almost as though you are at your dear friend's house for lunch or dinner, as though you were an invited guest, not a paying customer.

I have only one negative, and it is external to the restaurant. Parking! Parking is just horrendous in Snider Plaza. I cross my fingers and toes hoping for a parking spot, and generally end up circling three times and then parking down the street. I love going to Snider Plaza in the Fall and Spring, as I can walk there from my house. I would far rather walk to a restaurant than drive, but Dallas is not the most walking friendly city due to the general distance between places, and the ridiculous temperatures...110 today. Anyways, I hope the parking situation will be addressed someday.

I must confess, this is not the most well rounded of reviews in regards to the food, as I have only had two things on the menu in the past 20 some odd years. Until high school, I always ordered the cheese toasts, and probably would still be ordering these if I hadn't tried my new "regular" order. I keep trying to order new and different things, but every time I go to Cisco, I go because I am craving this delicious dish! My "regular" order with my mom is the Southwestern Chopped Salad with grilled chicken rather than the fried as stipulated on the menu (and mom always gets my guacamole). This salad is perfect. I have tried to recreate it many times, and I just cannot! It is the freshest combination of perfectly grilled chicken, cold and crisp lettuce, tiny diced tomatoes to match the bright corn kernels, crunchy tortilla strips and creamy BBQ ranch dressing. It is served with a warm cornbread muffin. This is not just a muffin, but a golden sweet fluffy muffin that melts in your mouth and tastes like freshly picked corn. I could eat a whole basket full of these muffins, so it might be a good thing that they just give you one.

I have been with people other than my mom, and they have broader horizons than I, as they order a variety of dishes! However, no matter who I go to Cisco Grill with and what we order, we always end the meal with full tummies, happy taste buds, and we are always a little better off than we were when we sat down to eat. Thank you Cisco Grill!

Trip down memory lane....puppy Cort!

Cort at one year! She looks pretty much the same today...perhaps a pound or two heavier...

Sevan G&G Cafe: A Wonderful Taste of the Mediterranean

Photo Credit: Sevan G&G Website

One of my favorite cuisines is Greek/Mediterranean. When I graduated from high school my parents and I took a trip to Italy and Greece. During my time in Greece I completely fell in love with the fresh flavors that infuse every dish. Ever since I am always on the look out for a good Greek restaurant in whatever city I am in. Sevan G&G Cafe will certainly be my go to Greek restaurant in Dallas from here on out.

Sevan G&G Cafe is located on Greenville Avenue just south of Belmont in a small strip center across from the old Whole Foods store. While the first impression from the street may not be much, don't let that keep you from walking through this East Dallas gem. The interior dining room is warm and inviting and a nice intimate size for a great date or double date location. And it's BYOB which also makes it an affordable date for those nights when you want a night away from the home but don't want to spend a lot of money.

Photo Credit: Sevan G&G Website

Robert and I were joined by our friends the Morgans for dinner at Sevan G&G earlier this week and we found the food delicious, and the restaurant quiet, perfect for some great conversation. We decided to start by ordering the Sevan hummus as an appetizer. The hummus was smooth with the perfect balance between garlic and tahini flavors and the boldness of the sauteed lamb and roasted pine nuts were a nice contrast to the smoothness of the hummus.

Robert and Andrew both opted to order the Gyro plate, which includes both sauteed lamb with pita, fresh vegetables and tzatziki sauce. The tzatziki sauce was perfectly seasoned with dill and other herbs so that they provided a full flavor without overpowering the yogurt. The lamb was well seasoned and not at all gamey, a key indicator of great Greek food, in my honest opinion. The pairing of the fresh vegetables and pita with the lamb provided a healthy, yet fulfilling meal that both men enjoyed thoroughly.

Missy and I both ordered the Chicken Tawook: seasoned chicken kabobs, fresh vegetables and vermicelli also served with tzatziki sauce and pita bread. The chicken was perfectly seasoned and the coolness of the tzatziki sauce was a perfect compliment to the spices in the chicken. I have always loved vermicelli that is a staple in Greek cuisine. Vermicelli is basically rice with small pieces of rice pasta that has been sauteed and has wonderful flavor and texture. Much like the gyro plate the guys enjoyed, our meal was filling yet light. On a previous visit Robert enjoyed a Greek salad and spoke nothing but praises about the blend of the vinaigrette, cucumbers, olives and shaved feta, which he insists is far superior to crumbled feta.

All in all Sevan G&G was a big success and certainly a place we will return to again and again. The atmosphere was perfect for an evening out with friends, the food was amazing and, thanks to the BYOB policy, we got out for about $30 a couple. We ran out of room for dessert, but next time I plan to save room for some Baklava.

A Celebration of 50 Posts at R+D Kitchen

Bunker, Suzie, Staci and Robert celebrating our 50th post.

Tonight's post marks the 50th post for A Thyme to Eat, and to celebrate, Suzie and I, along with our husbands, Bunker and Robert, enjoyed a lovely dinner at R+D Kitchen. In the past, I have started blogs for my personal life and have never posted with the level of consistency and dedication that we have achieved on this blog. To me, 50 posts is both a significant milestone and merely the beginning as I fully anticipate many more posts and milestones to come.

R+D Kitchen opened in Dallas a few years ago, and it has quickly become a favorite of Robert and mine. In recent months we have gone from being occasional diners to weekly regulars. R+D provides us with several items that we find essential in a regular dining spot: a wonderful patio, a dining room with plenty of natural light, attentive service and food that is well prepared and with great variety.

We started the evening at the bar as we waited for our table to be ready. Suzie and I enjoyed a glass of Times Ten chardonnay and the boys enjoyed their selections from the bar's extensive collection of scotch and bourbon offerings. We have found that if you arrive for dinner after 7, you will likely have a wait of about 30 minutes during the week and as much as an hour on a weekend. With this in mind, it's good to go with the expectation of enjoying a drink and some conversation at the bar while you wait.

Once our table was ready, we ordered two appetizers, the dip duo and the Thai tuna roll. The dip duo is a combination of guacamole and a southwestern cheeseball served with tortilla chips. The guacamole is a little chunky and contains the right amount of spice, just the way I like it. Additionally, the cheeseball is a little more on the spicy side and serves as a nice contrast to the cooling nature of the avocado in the guacamole. Our second appetizer, the Thai tuna roll, is actually an off menu sushi roll that is often the reason Robert and I crave a night at R+D. In step with Thai cuisine, the roll contains peanuts that give the roll an unexpectedly delightful crunch that is a perfect contrast to the softness of the tuna, rice and avocado.

For my entree, I enjoyed the chicken meatballs and spaghetti, taking great delight in the freshly made spaghetti pasta. Unlike most restaurants that offer spaghetti and meatballs, I enjoy the lightness of the chicken meatballs and the addition of the broccoli florets to provide me with a little less guilt when enjoying what can often be a heavy and rich meal. Robert ordered the cheeseburger, an entree we often split and enjoy together. I firmly believe that R+D has the best burger in Dallas. They grind their beef fresh daily and use a combination or mayonnaise, mustard and hickory sauce to adorn the burger. Paired with shoestring french fries, this meal is great comfort food for me. Suzie and Bunker ordered the "West of Paris" roasted chicken and the carnitas sandwich, respectively. While I have yet to try either option, both looked delicious and I have no doubt would be as good if not better than they look.

All in all, it was a great night. Good food, close friends, delightful conversation and a reason to celebrate, all the ingredients you need for a wonderful evening out. If you've not yet enjoyed an evening at R+D Kitchen, do yourself a favor and, next time you're in Dallas, give it a try. I think you'll be glad you did.

The Place at Perrys: Not a place to which we will return

A climbing antique rose from my rose garden.

May 26th, a Thursday night, was our four year anniversary! I really cannot believe that it has been four years. The years have really gone by in a quick breath, and yet it also seems like we have gone through so much and really grown up together in the past four years. I am big on anniversaries and birthdays and things like that, I think that they should be remembered and special, something to look forward to with anticipation and look back upon with smiles and lovely thoughts. I am sad to report, that this May 26th was not one of those happily remembered anniversaries. Without sharing too much, we have had a very hard year. Our hearts were broken by the loss of our daughter early this year, something from which I know our hearts will never fully heal, never be full again. We have grown together through our loss, and are now closer than I imagine two people could ever be. We are only four years into our marriage, but I feel as though we have been together fifty years, forever bound together as one.

A picture from our wedding day.

We really wanted to treat ourselves to a quiet and intimate evening this year, and as we have just recently returned to Dallas, we were not really sure where to go for our special evening. We settled upon The Place at Perry's on Cedar Springs. We went to this restaurant, when it was known simply as Perry's, for many special events when we lived in Uptown about four years ago, and we had really not been since then. We thought this would be a wonderful place to go, as we had so many happy memories with family and friends, surely it would be the perfect venue! Well, we were sadly mistaken.

Upon entering the restaurant I noticed a different ambiance, not based on changed decor or table settings, but based upon the clientele and the large number of people at the bar and a pharmaceuticals power point presentation in the large seating area. Due to this presentation we were seated off in a dark corner, which at first I thought was great so that we would have a nice quiet evening. However, we quickly realized that our evening would not be quiet, as those sitting next to us were some rather over-served guests who were basically yelling  at each other the whole evening! Also, despite the fact that there were relatively few diners, our waiter took about 10 to 15 minutes to come to our table to ask for our drink order. The rest of the evening just went down from there: didn't have the wine we wanted, the waiter seemed irritated we had delayed his exit for a date or something far more interesting then us, my Cesar salad seemed as though it was from an out of the bag mix preparation, the bisque was just not quite right, Bunker's potatoes au gratin were really just sliced potatoes topped with sandwich sliced cheddar cheese and about a cup of oil, Bunker's bone-in was about half fat, and the bread was almost stale! On the other hand, my steak (Filet Mignon, rare plus) was actually delicious and perfectly prepared as were my whipped potatoes. I hate to give such a bad review, but I really was so disappointed, we so wanted and needed a nice evening where we felt taken care of, and that just did not happen. I suppose this is now just a restaurant, and not a place you go for a lovely evening or a speical memory. Very dissapointing. So much so, that we are actually on our way out to dinner this evening for an anniversary dinner re-do! We are going to Fearings at the Ritz......pretty positive this will give us the evening we so very much wanted on Thursday night!

So take this post for what it is worth, perhaps we hit The Place at Perry's on a bad night, perhaps we were not in the best moods, but regarless, we will not be returning. I hope you can take away that you can always re-do a special evening!

Also, hold those whom you love close to your hearts and hold their hands whenever you can.

Sleepy Shafer.

Neighborhood Services

Let me preface this post, I have had two glasses of wine tonight, I think that will make for a more honest post. If you know me...even slightly...you would know that two glasses of wine into an evening, will indeed do the trick.........oh dear.........I think I have actually had three!

Anyways....I love Neighborhood Services in Dallas on Lovers Lane. You approach the restaurant, and it is surrounded by antique stores, bakeries, and other various services stores. It is rather unassuming from the outside. There is just a faint glow from within the frosted glass door and tiny lettering on the exterior wall, just a small hint of the deliciousness inside.  It is like a modern day speakeasy, like a private club which you stumble upon, and want to return to as often as possible. What a wonderful evening.

My husband, Bunker, travels about 4 nights a week, however, he has basically been gone for a full 2 weeks, and finally came home, therefore, we had a bit to catch up upon, and I am super selfish with his time when he finally comes home. What better place to have a yummy dinner and quiet evening conversation than Neighborhood Services? One of two tips: (1) You will wait about an hour for your table...just fine for us as we wanted to have a cocktail at the bar and chat before we sat down for dinner. (2) If you are from Dallas, you will see someone you know, something of which I consider a delightful treat to catch up with someone during an unexpected encounter.

We had a very kind and incredibly knowledgeable waitress, who even thanked us for being her table at the end of the evening....I suppose we are rather intriguing diners. I love engaging waiters and waitresses, as I worked at Lobster Ranch during my summers in college. Yes indeed, it was called Lobster Ranch, it was a Romano concept, one which did not succeed. I know, so glamorous sounding, Lobster Ranch. It was in Preston Center, where Snuffer's is now located. Anyways, being a server in a restaurant is one of the most difficult jobs, something I think everyone should experience, a job in which you really must be charming and upbeat for hours on end, regardless of your personal life, regardless of how clients or fellow workers act.

All that being said, we had a fantastic evening at Neighborhood Services, from the bartenders who were incredibly responsive and friendly to the rather large and demanding crowd, to the warm and intimate atmosphere, our fabulous waitress, and our tasty dinner. I ordered my once a year hamburger, and honestly, I am going to up my hamburger intake to a minimum of 20 a year from Neighborhood Services based upon how delectably delicious this hamburger was. The only things I omitted were the Mayonnaise and the pickles, and I had it cooked to medium. Oh my goodness, it was juicy, flavorful, rich but not greasy, topped off with sharp melted cheddar cheese, atop a soft and fresh bun and accompanied by crisp and perfectly seasoned and clearly fresh cut potato fries.

What a fantastic evening! Thank you to Neighborhood Services for being the perfect venue to let us chat about life and exceed the expectations of our taste buds! Go tomorrow night, and build in an expectation of an hour of cocktails before you can sit down for dinner, at least one of you must order the burger, and engage your waiter or waitress in conversation (honestly, you should do this at any restaurant, it will make your evening more interesting and more enjoyable...and will make life a bit more interesting). Enjoy!

Shafer says hi!!

PS.....Here are some pictures of our front yard....this took like 6 hours! But well worth the effort!