La Hacienda Ranch
Pappasito's Cantina
- Category:
- Tex-Mex
- Location:
- Arlington, TX
We always have great specials at Pappasito's Cantina - click on our website to see our current offers! http://www.pappasitos.com/home/
1 review for La Hacienda Ranch
OK folks, here it is. After much discussion, I finally decided on my "in between Dallas and Fort Worth" lunch place. La Hacienda Ranch in lovely Useless -er, Euless.
My first impression was DAMN this is a long trip out to lunch! I don't usually like cheesy chain restaurants, especially those found on a service road, but this one is local and right smack in the middle of where both parties were coming from.
When I spotted it, it looked homey, like a giant log cabin and I could tell there was going to be gratuitouos "Texan-azation" going on. I was right. Signs for to-go parking only were done in "western" style and stated "git n go only" and I'm pretty sure I saw a few "Howdy pardners" on the way in, where a giant buffalo head greeted me in the main lobby.
However, instead of being instantly repulsed, like I would normally have been, I was actually intrigued. "I kinda like this place!" It was warm and cozy, though expansive. I was waiting on 2 other people to arrive, and since it was a business lunch one of them was someone I had never met and therefore had no clue what he looked like. (both of them were named Bob, so it was kinda funny)
The host and bar staff were very friendly and accomodating, asking who I was here to meet and asking every person who came in alone if they were a Bob :)
As I waited I took time to stroll around and check everything out- stools with old saddles as seats in the bar area...cute but no thanks...then I discovered this room off to the side with a fireplace and old timey TV playing black and white cowboy movies. A sofa covered in cow (hair? hide?) looked inviting, even though it was a little sad (yes I'm a member of PETA, although I eat meat and wear leather shoes... but I donate money and only buy free range chicken) so I took a seat and glanced over a menu in this cozy little nook by the oversized Christmas tree. (Thanksgiving hasn't even happened yet, folks)
Finally, upon the arrival of both my Bobs, we were seated in a smaller room, which I was happy for since the main dining room seemed a bit loud and busy. It was as if they knew we were there to talk shop and wanted to give us a quiet place to do so.
The dining room had a fireplace in it as well, but still had the animal head theme which I'm really never fond of but again, in this case I found it old school Texas charming and not garish and cheesy.
Our waitress arrived and was a little wet behind the ears, smiling broadly with her braces (no joke) and offering up drinks and specials. She was nice but a little too green as she came back several times to get our order when none of us had opened the menus yet as we were doing introductions and the usual small talk....but overall she was sweet and helpful.
My favorite part - and likely the reason for the 4th star (other than the fireplace and the cool oversized mural above the bar) was the salsa. I dont like tomatoes, so for me salsa is hit or miss. I dont like it chunky, and I'm also a wimp (despite being cajun) and dont like excessive heat, so there are only a handful of restaurants that have salsa I will eat. This was a dark and smoky, almost sweet salsa with the perfect consistency and flavor. The chips were a bit thin and weak, but made do just fine until my fajitas came out.
I ALWAYS order fajitas, and my #1 complaint about most places is they give you too much chicken (or beef) and not enough veggies. So I make one fajita and then I'm all out of veggies but still have tons of chicken on my plate. Some places (GLORIAS BE DAMNED!) also neglect to bring you cheese unless you ask for it, but this was accompanied by a side plate of guac, cheese and sour cream - which you'd think is pretty standard but as a person who has fajitas 5-6 times a month, I can tell you it's not!
The food was all great, we didnt have aps or dessert but the menu looked to have a lot of great options (including brisket tacos and cheeseburgers) so I could come back and perhaps try something other than chicken fajitas for once in my life.
I didnt get the check so not sure what the bill was, but I think most entrees were $12-16 and there was a separate lunch menu so that could have been less. The food came out pretty quickly, so if you were in a hurry (and didnt have to drive 25 mins to get there) you could easily be in and out for a quick bite on a weekday.
Overall, I'm very surprised that I like this place (they play country music in the background) but I really did! It's for sure one of those places you take your friends from LA or CHI who say they want to go somewhere all "Texasy" when visiting Dallas.