Reservoir - Fort Worth, TX

 

Hey y'all I stumbled across this review that I did in Texas last month and wanted to share it with you here! The Reservoir is a bar, patio and kitchen located on Foch Street. It is one of many upcoming cool places to hang out. Fort Worth has been growing, growing and plans on even more restaurants and bars coming to the area.

Our bartender was a cool chick with a modern mohawk, she could really pull it off. I, on the other hand, would have looked ridiculous... some people just can look good in any style. I had the Tito's Punch, it was lemon and orange juices, muddled with black berries and mixed with Tito's Vodka. It was very refreshing!

As Scott and I hung out at the cool bar we decided to get some bar snacks to have with our cocktails. I ordered the Chicken Tortilla Soup based on our bartender's recommendation and it was good. Totally cheesy tough, so every bite there were strands of cheese stuck to my chin. That would be my one complaint as it was delicious tasting! 

Scott was eyeing some pizza as they were leaving the kitchen and I didn't blame him, They looked great! We opted for The Balboa pizza complete with Genoa Salami, and Tito's Vodka Sauce. Do you notice a theme here with Tito's Vodka... Lol, they must have a good relationship with the Vodka company! Anyway, the pizza was great the crust made for very good bar food. 

The Reservoir was a cool place to kill sometime and visit with friendly bartenders. I would give their service an A for effort that is for sure!

The Tavern - Fort Worth, TX

Hello fellow readers! I am back... Taking a few days off from blogging makes me really miss posting! We still have a few more Fort Worth eats left so here we go... On one of the last few night in town Scott and I enjoyed a meal at one of our usual spots while working in Texas, The Tavern.

Nothing is more fun than interactive meal. I like that Grilled Artichokes taste great but what I also love is that they take a while to eat. I like to linger over food rather than gorge it down quickly. That is why this is the perfect starter, food and entertainment.

Crab Cakes, Cole Slaw and Mashed Potatoes?! Heck yes! I loved taking bites of the savory crab cake with fresh, crisp cole slaw and than alternating with the smooth, creamy potatoes. A feast for all the senses! 

 I was seriously torn on what to order before settling on my order above. My other choice is exactly what Scott ordered! How funny, two peas in a pod! He got the the Zuni Chicken Salad with roasted chicken, chopped egg, julienned apples, pecans, goat cheese, golden raisins and tossed in a bacon vinaigrette. How delicious does that sound? If there was one complaint it was kind of a small salad for a dinner portion. They could double up on the fixings to make you feel like you had a meal.

That is pretty much a wrap on Texas feasts... Time to get make to posting about California eats! Are you ready for more food?!

Flying Fish! - Fort Worth, TX

And we are back at Flying Fish! Like I told you before our Texas trip began we would be here at least once and here we are! With my VIP/Frequent Diner Card stamped and seated. I soaked in the air conditioning as much as possible. Besides having really good Dr. Pepper and crunch ice, the freezing air is probably one of the most memorable things about the place.  

They asked for it... 

Scott ordered the Tilapia Po Boy and he asked them to make it Snappy! Snappy equals spicy in this joint. The sandwich was delicious according to my faithful reviewer. The fries were also tasty. A little salt and a lot of ketchup was going on over there! 

I went for a classic in the fish house, Fried Catfish. The hush puppies that came with the fries are like little teasers. It makes me regret not ordering a whole basketful. The dipping sauce for my fish is always a heavy 2:1 tartar sauce to ketchup ratio. Just so it is pink. I end up using it for fry sauce too.

Well, that is our visit in a nutshell. Easy to order, cheap bill and satisfied tummy. You can't get much better than that! I should have ordered a few oysters while I was there, I sense a craving coming on...

Montgomery Street Cafe - Fort Worth, TX

Located just a half a mile from our stalls at the Will Rogers Coliseum is the Montgomery Street Cafe. Everyday, in and out of the horse show, we drive past it. Well, one morning Scott suggested we try it instead of ignoring it. I agreed and we walked in the unassuming building.

We walked in to an almost packed house. It is first come, first serve so be prepared to wait outside if there is not an open table. There are no menus, you just place your order with the waitress who hollers it off to the scratch cooks in the kitchen. 

The lack of guideline to order from left us pretty standard with normal breakfast fare. Scott went for over easy eggs, crispy bacon and wheat toast. He asked for salsa and it came out afiring. It tasted like someone knew someone who knew someone that knew how to make some mean chili! 

 Pancakes. Bacon. Yes, sir. It is my go-to when ordering breakfast because I love the salty sweet combination. I liked that these pancakes came out fluffy and light. The pancake mixture must have had some oomph to it to make it rise up. I like oomph!

Well, it wasn't our finest culinary adventure but it was priced right. I never realized how affordable breakfast really is. I usually am on the go or not craving it so it is the one meal I usually skip out on. Looking at those pancakes right now makes me want to get up extra early this Sunday and indulge in a stack!

Pacific Table - Fort Worth, TX

Scott and I loved our lunch at Pacific Table so much that we decided to go back for dinner. We each ordered a glass of wine and enjoyed the Texas evening. Can you believe it was actually cooler in Texas than it was in Ojai?! We lucked out! I had a glass of my favorite, Turley Zinfandel. I loved every sip. 

True to its name Pacific Table offered up all kinds of West Coast goodies, one being: Grilled Artichokes. I sometimes forget how simple it is to grill artichokes and served them with mayonnaise. That is my favorite way to eat them. I like how they also grilled the lemon to be squeezed over the entire dish.

I opted for the Trout Almondine grilled simply and topped with herbs, almonds and brown butter. It was served with sauteed vegetables but I saw a plate of their mashed potatoes pass by and I could not resist. I am a sucker! It was perfectly cooked and a truly heavenly meal. I left feeling full and happy.

Scott went for a special of the evening and it was Texas Red Fish served in a lemon butter sauce and topped with flash fried rock shrimp. It sounded delicious and I was really torn on ordering it or not. I was glad I stuck with my order because I think I found a fish that I am not a fan of. What a shocker! I did think the sauce was lovely though. The cucumber salad that came with Scott's fish was quite refreshing!

My dinner at Pacific Table was just as stunning as the lunch. It is my new "go-to" restaurant in Fort Worth. Just put on blinders when walking through the parking lot... There are too many fun places to shop in its location!

La Familia - Fort Worth, TX

I love coming to La Familia because it is as close to the Mexican food as I enjoy at home. I was craving it even more after our visit to Pulido's. I love the decoration inside the restaurant. From the outside it looks just like a strip mall but inside it is so beautiful!  

Chips and salsa are brought to the table and they are great. The chips are dusted with the right amount of salt and the salsa is flavorful without burning out the taste buds. 

You are given a choice of Al's Cactus Bean Soup or Tina's Chicken Soup with your entrees... Always order the CACTUS BEAN! It is extremely flavorful. I have never had a bean soup quite as good as this! I will order a whole bowl next time! It was packed with cactus, cilantro, pinto beans, tomato, chile, garlic and a savory chicken broth. It just worked!

Scott went for a Taco Salad with chicken fajita strips as his chosen protein. The flour taco shell was filled to the brim with shredded lettuce, tomato, jack cheese, chicken, queso sauce, guacamole and sour cream on top. It was a beast of a shell so you really had your work cut out to finish it up. He was very satisfied.

Flautas! I wanted a little crunch for lunch so I decided to go for their version of the crisp little devils. I asked for beef but got chicken but it really was not a big deal. They were good! The beans and rice was even better! I should have known after that cup of soup! I could have just ordered sides of the beans and rice and been content. 

What an excellent meal with a wonderful lunch crowd! The owner seats you and checks in on your meal. You can really feel the "Familia" vibe. I cannot want to tear into another bowl of that soup... 

The Great Outdoors - Fort Worth, TX

Sometimes all I crave is a really good sandwich. It is rare, but when the hunger strikes I usually like to make it a good one. I am a major Togo's fan and despise Subway so I figured The Great Outdoors was as close to a togo's type sandwich as possible... 

We went into the sub shop at about 11 A.M. so I guess Scott wasn't ready for lunch because he ordered a breakfast sandwich. It was complete with 2 eggs, pastrami, swiss and cream cheese. It sounded quite decadent really. He was very happy with his selection as he ate the sandwich in between sips of coffee. 

As soon as I saw the Croissant Club I knew it was the sandwich for me. Ham, turkey, bacon and cheddar cheese were the base starters. Lettuce, tomato, plenty of mayonnaise, salt, pepper and sunflower seeds made up the extras in the colossal sandwich. It was delicious. 

What I like the most about The Great Outdoors is obviously the sandwiches but a close second is their ice! They serve their large drink selection in a great, sturdy plastic cup and you can munch away on that fantastic ice. On humid days in Texas it is like a dream come true! Go for the ice if nothing else!!

Pulido's - Fort Worth, TX

 Pulido's is the type of place where local working lunch crowds come because you can get seated, order, eat and pay your bill in your allotted lunch hour. Scott and I were not in that kind of rush but we were hungry so Pulido's seemed like the best option to get our food pronto. The chips tasted like heaven because of my hunger but I knew they were not the best. The salsa is spicy so be prepared before dunking.

Underneath all that Iceburg lettuce is my Crispy Beef Tacos. They were more like a taquito because all that was inside them was beef. They were topped with lettuce, cheese, and tomato and served with a side of sour cream and guacamole. It was good, not great. I did leave feeling full and felt the price was very reasonable.

Scott ordered the "El Flaco" and it made me smile because it reminded me of my old horse. If you remember Flaco he was sold last March and we recently just found out he and his new owner qualified for the American Quarter horse Association's Select World Show! That made me so happy to hear! Anyway, back to the food... The plate was a carb free plate of all kinds of fun things. Fajita steak and chicken, avocado slices, lettuce, cheese and a stuffed chile. It looked like a lot of food but ate like a salad. An excellent option!

Pulido's is fast, cheap and filling. There are several locations throughout the Fort Worth area and all have the same type of menu. We like to go at least once a trip because we generally are craving Mexican food on our trips, since we eat it here a couple times a week. Tex-Mex just doesn't cut it for us! 

Bravo! - Fort Worth, TX

As much as I love going to fancy restaurants in Fort Worth, which is really easy to do as there are a lot of them, the real challenge is to find good eats for not a lot of money. That is where we stumbled upon Bravo! An upscale chain Italian restaurant is just what I had in in mind and that is just what it was.

Warm bread sticks were brought to the table and replenished whenever the basket got low. The dipping oil was nice but I personally just prefer balsamic and oil.

The waitress sold this Shrimp Napoli pretty hard to us. I could tell from her description and energy that managers must have encouraged every waiter to get an order from every table. She did well though, obviously we ordered it. The fried shrimp were nicely done and the roasted tomato sauce took on almost a sweet taste so a salty cheese would have been nice to counter the taste spectrum.

Scott was such a healthy eater that night and requested Tilapia and vegetables only. I don't blame him. Fish and vegetables is exactly what I was craving too. Too many days of eating out will do that to you. He really liked him plate of food and said he would be happy to return.

I went for the Salmon topped with sauteed spinach, tomato, asparagus and basil pesto. I subbed out the pasta for mashed potato and felt like I could not have ordered any better. The bites of rich salmon, sauteed spinach and smooth potato was just like heaven to me. I crave meals like this, they make me feel happy. 

Scott and I skipped dessert or a glass of wine with our dinner this trip and didn't feel like we missed out on anything. The experience was such a good one we would for sure recommend it for another meal. Think of it as an upscale Olive Garden, Macaroni Grill or Johnny Carino's...

Silver Fox - Fort Worth, TX

Sally Harrison Photo

Yesterday was such a fun day! Not only was it my husband's birthday but he won the NCHA Summer Spectacular open Derby Gelding Finals! He drew up first and "Ruben" came out firing! They cut two cows and stayed hooked for tons of working time. I was screaming my guts out cheering for the duo in my one man band! I have some pretty fierce lungs though...

Sally Harrison Photo

We had to wait through two sets to see if our score remained on the top of the leader board and sure enough it did! We are both so honored to have such a fabulous horse in our barn. The only thing missing from yesterday was this guy...

Sally Harrison Photo.
Cowboy Ron! We wish you were there to celebrate with us and see your horse in action! Congratulations on your horse's big win!

We wanted to celebrate our success in the arena last night but I also wanted to treat the birthday boy to a nice meal as well. It was getting late by the time we were done with chores so we decided to stay close to our digs and dine at the Silver Fox. We haven't been there for years so it seemed like a visit was due. I ordered a bottle of Silver Oak to go with the theme of the Silver Fox and away we went...

Scott started his meal with the famous III Forks Salad complete with field greens, blue cheese, granny smith apples and pecans. I am not sure why it is called the III Fork Salad but all I can imagine is maybe when one person at a table orders it three fork's of other diners try to go in and enjoy it as well.

I had a tough decision on how I wanted to start my meal I was thrown Lobster bisque, Scallops and a Crab Cake into the list of options and I was just so torn. Ultimately, I went for the Crab Cake. The Crab Cake always wins. It was a large portion, enough for two people to share or just one really hungry loper.

Mid way through our dining experience Scott was brought over a chest to pick his option of knife to use for his upcoming steak. I though it was so clever. It is the little things that make a dining experience memorable and this is one of them.

This bright, cheery plate was of course mine! I went for the Chilean Sea Bass because I a seafood eating machine. The fish was cooked perfectly and was a real whopper in size. The one thing I missed on my plate was mashed potatoes, I think wild rice is fine but I just love, love the mashed potato of heaven. Green snap peas, slices of tomato and creamed corn made me feel like I met my vegetable quota for the day so I left feeling quite healthy.

The birthday boy ordered a filet was pleased with his order of medium rare. He was lucky enough to receive the prized potatoes as well as his favorite creamed corn. We also ordered asparagus on the side but I didn't grab a photo of it. 

Our waiter was so kind to have brought out a little bite of dessert even though we declined when he offered. I sang "Happy Birthday" in my best outdoor voice and Scott closed his eyes and made a wish...

We came home to enjoy a cupcake made by my friend, Mica Chartier. She is extremely talented so I hit her up to make an order for Scott Good Taste. When we got back to the hotel last night we both enjoyed one and called it a day!

What a really great experience.

Happy Birthday Scott!

Vickery Cafe - Fort Worth, TX

Breakfast joints. They seem like they are few and far between in our part of the world but in Texas, they are very much alive! Scott and I have been up early every morning to beat the heat and crowds in the practice pen so by the time we are done with chores it is usually prime breakfast hours. Enter the Vickery Cafe... 

One morning Scott explored the Latin side of the menu and ordered the Huevos Rancheros... A crispy tostada shell rested as a base for over easy eggs, salsa and cheese. Refried beans served along side were smooth and totally creamy. We like our bacon crispy and this version was on the verge of almost burnt. I liked it, Scott didn't.

I love a good Chicken Fried Steak and this place does it right! The breading on the steak was super crunchy and the gravy whisked up from scratch. I can just tell. The hash browns were nice, I prefer them maybe cooked a little longer and I mostly ignored my egg. I was too full!  

On another separate visit I wanted to try the Corned Beef Hash as I have never tried it before. As I child I had a bad experience with corned beef so it has made me gun shy in my adult years but that morning I decided to give it a go. It was good, maybe a little fatty and salty. I ate most of it but worked my way around the potatoes that were not cooked until golden brown. I ate the yolk of the eggs because they are the most delicious, the whites are just not my thing.

Breakfast. My least favorite meal of the day. I guess it is good to explore all types of foods but I would rather just eat an enchilada for breakfast. Or Funyuns.