Jill P.'s Profile

I met some friends here for brunch last weekend, and it was NOT a good experience. Our waitress was literally one of the worst I've ever seen. She never checked on us, but when she did, she made sure to be as rude as possible so that we'd know she was SO over it, SO far above this job.  We needed extra napkins, ketchup, etc, and kept trying to flag her down. This shouldn't have been hard, as she only had two other tables that were right near us. However, she perfected the art of selective deafness and acted like she never heard us calling her. She over-charged one person in our group who ordered a side item but never got it, yet it was still on the check. Then she refused to take it off the bill, claiming that the prices listed on the menu "should have actually been higher" so that in all, my friend actually came out ahead. What a lame story - if the prices on the menu were supposed to be higher, then they should reflect that ON THE MENU. Novel idea, I know. Funny how menus work - the prices listed are what people expect to pay.

Too bad the food didn't even come close to making up for the hostility of the waitress.  The hashbrowns were of the frozen patty variety, like McDonalds, and while I do like McDonalds hashbrowns, I guess I was surprised that at a REAL restaurant, they clearly came pre-packed and frozen.  Actually, everything I had - including the biscuits and sausage patties, tasted and looked like it could have been popped out of a box of frozen breakfast items from Sam's. We had a big party, so people ordered a wide variety of things. Nobody seemed thrilled with their orders and decided that everything looked better than it tasted.

So that's my review on the food scene. For the bar scene, it's really not much better. I came one night with some co-workers, and luckily we got there early. About 30 minutes after we arrived, the line started forming. It is definitely not worth standing in line to come to this bar, people! There are tons of others!! And the door guys were hassling people left and right. Some of our friends came late to meet up, and one guy was given a hard time for wearing sneakers - not even "running shoes" sneakers, but stylish casual sneakers meant for fashion, not workouts! Sometimes the pretentiousness just wears me out. But we did manage to get a table on the patio, which is nice and spacious. They have heaters for cold nights, and pillows lining bench seating at the tables along the back of the patio. In all, a pretty comfy place to sit, drink, and people watch if you can get there early enough.

I might go back for drinks but probably never again for brunch. I could name at least 10 other places with better food and at least 1000 with better service!

I was in NOLA for work recently and needed somewhere to grab a late lunch after my flight landed. After dropping my things at my hotel, I set out to find an open-air pub or sidewalk cafe where I could enjoy some food and a book. I came across this place and liked the openness of it, so I stopped in and asked if they served food. They did indeed, so I picked a table by one of the open doors and sat down. The waitstaff and bartender were very friendly and attentive. I ordered a grilled chicken and avocado wrap that was HUGE and delicious - perfectly grilled chicken, melted provolone, fresh avocados, and grilled mushrooms and onions. Served with a generous side of their house-made potato chips, which were crisp yet chewy - I loved them! All of that for only $7.50 - can't beat it. I would definitely come hang out here again next time I'm in town.

Such a charming neighborhood wine bar! My friend introduced me to this place on a cold, rainy night when we were looking for somewhere cozy to drink our dinner (don't judge us). They have a nice selection of wines, and the bartender, Anton, makes a mean cheese and cracker plate. Actually, that's not a fair description...really it's SO much more than a cheese and cracker plate...it's a smorgasbord. We told Anton to surprise us, and he really went all out - our plate included prosciutto, serrano ham, salami, 5-6 types of cheese, veggies, and an assortment of crackers that kept us happily snacking through our bottle and a half of wine (again, don't judge us). The interior of this place is cozy and homey - lots of dim lighting, comfy seating, and an ambiance that makes you feel like you're just hanging out in a friend's living room. There are lots of regulars, and everyone seems to know each other. One lady even brought her friendly dog in to greet everyone on my most recent visit. This place is going on my regular rotation of favorite spots!

My group of friends usually picks 4-5 restaurants to try during restaurant week every year - some of them old favorites, but we always try a couple of new places, too. Parigi was on our "new places" list this year.

Pretty much everyone enjoyed what they ordered, but none of the food was so stellar as to be a stand-out. Sure, everything was tasty, but nothing really wowed us to make us say "we HAVE to go back to Parigi, we can't get this anywhere else."  My pork tenderloin in port demi-glace was good, as were all the different appetizers I tried sampling from everyone else's plates. My favorite thing was the cheesy polenta my pork was served with. For dessert, I tried something called the Chocolate Glob - which was sort of a molten chocolate brownie. Sounds delicious, but it underperformed...I must say the molten chocolate cake I make is much better. My husband was the clear winner of the dessert picks - his buttermilk pie was delicious.

Unfortunately, the one thing that will stick in all our minds about this restaurant was how HOT it was in there. Like, miserably hot. Like, actually felt cooler when we walked outside (in the summer of over-100 degree hell) after dinner because at least there was a breeze!! By the end of the meal, lots of us were red-faced with sweaty legs adhering us to the leather benches. At one point, one of our group got up to adjust one of two small oscillating fans that had been placed on a banquette table across from our table. She was immediately approached by a guy, who we think was the manager, who very rudely reprimanded her for trying to adjust the fans. Another lady from a different table tried to adjust the other fan a few minutes later, and he griped at her, too - we heard him say "EVERYONE is hot." Well, if all the patrons in your restaurant are fanning themselves with their menus and eating quickly so they can get the heck out of there....perhaps you should turn down the A/C! Also, he would do well to remember that Restaurant Week is a time when lots of people try new restaurants for the first time, and the impression they take away, not just from the food but from the managerial and wait staff, will determine whether they ever come back.

The general consensus from our group was that some of us might eat there again someday, but that it wouldn't be anywhere near the top of our lists. (My husband said if he returned, it'd have to be in the fall/winter months when it was cooler!) There are so many good places in Dallas to eat, and this one didn't make a good enough impression to bring me back.

Went here with a friend for a Sunday Funday, not knowing what to expect. I can't believe I've lived practically down the road from FOE for so long and have really never heard about this place! It really is a hidden gem, like so many other Yelpers have said.  We were asked by an FOE regular how we would describe the place in one word - we said: ECLECTIC! There is really no better description. You'll see people of all ages, from moms and their kiddos to 20-somethings to old dudes in polyester shirts who look like they stepped straight out of an episode of the Sopranos! Tattoos and piercings galore. On the day we were there, we saw a girl in thigh-high black leather boots and fishnets with her swimsuit...as well as a guy in what appeared to be a boy scout uniform. Like I said...eclectic! And awesome!

Everyone here is super friendly, and they love to meet folks who are new to the FOE scene.  They have a great juke box with a blend of music that is...you guessed it: eclectic! The pool is large, and, thanks to their new aerator cooling system, very refreshing! It didn't look or feel dirty like so many public pools. Add to that cheap drinks, cheap admission, and a laid-back atmosphere, and you have yourself a pretty cool hang-out. I'll definitely be back!

Wow, this place has delicious food! I have been meaning to eat here literally for YEARS, and finally made it this weekend for Sunday brunch. I'll definitely be making this a regular spot.

I'll have to go back soon to try the famous burger. I considered getting it, but then saw all the other delicious offerings on the menu and had to try something else.  My friend and I ended up ordering two things and sharing them - the Fried Chicken Biscuit and the Blueberry Griddle Cakes. The griddle cakes were loaded with yummy fresh blueberries, but their overall consistency was a little tough. They're served with some really delicious thick sausage and real, warm maple syrup. Pretty good, but not the greatest griddle cakes/pancakes around (All Good is still my favorite on that front). But the chicken biscuit. Oh, the chicken biscuit!!!! I died and went to heaven. I wanted to make love to that thing. Crispy, juicy fried chicken breast topped with shredded cheddar AND honey butter, all on a deliciously crumbly jalapeno-cheddar biscuit. Perfection! And, it's HUGE. We could have skipped out on ordering the griddle cakes altogether and just split this biscuit sandwich. I think this may be my favorite brunch item in Dallas...and that's saying a lot, because I looooove brunch!

All that plus a couple $4 mimosas made for an extremely delicious brunch (and an extremely lazy afternoon)!

I can't believe I was going all the way over to West Village to Wink when this little gem was hidden right in my neighborhood! It's cheaper ($8 for eyebrows at Everest), and the technicians are better...I've found my new threading place!

I am not going to lie and say it's painless...threading just hurts, no matter what. BUT, there's far less pain if you go regularly - I've been going to Everest every couple of weeks, and I can tell the pain diminishes each time. Plus, the technicians there are very skilled, and they hurt far less than anyone I ever had at Wink (a couple of times at Wink they nicked my skin and made me bleed - ouch!)

I love the shape of my eyebrows after coming to Everest, and I almost have a wreck on my way home every time because I am admiring them so much in the rear-view mirror!

I have only been here for lunch on a weekday, so this rating is for food and not for the bar scene at Sfuzzi on the weekends. I have to say, I was impressed - in a sea of pizza places, this one offers something a little different. Not like....OMG this is the best pizza ever I could eat it every day for the rest of my life...but still very tasty.

Their ingredients are all very fresh, and you don't feel weighed down by grease when you eat here. My group started off with some portabella frites, and let me tell you, it was hard for me to not gobble them all up myself without sharing! They were so delish, as was the dipping sauce they're served with. A must-order appetizer for sure. They have a good selection of smaller-sized pizzas on their lunch menu. I got the eggplant pizza, which was delicious with sliced eggplant, fresh chopped tomatoes, and yummy mozarella and fontina. Another person in our group got the fresh veggie pizza with sliced zucchini, squash, and tomatoes on top - she said it was delicious...too bad I was too full to try it!  Word of warning - the lunch portion pizza is still quite large - 8 slices! I finished less than half of it, then boxed up the rest to take home for dinner.

My lunch - the pizza and my portion of the appetizer - all cost about $13, which is pretty dang reasonable when you consider that I got lunch AND dinner out of it! I would definitely go back here.

Tasty, simple, and inexpensive Tex-Mex. I like it.

You may not find the unique dishes like Mia's brisket tacos or Matt's Bob Armstrong Dip, but the food at Luna de Noche is everything you'd hope for in Tex-Mex - lots of cheese, thin crispy chips, tasty salsa, and, of course, large portions.  

They have good happy hour specials, too - drinks AND food - and a nice patio where you can enjoy them. And I am pretty sure the sign outside said happy hour goes from 3:00PM to close...that's about 7 very happy hours!

As everyone says, Kalachandji's is a great place to eat. It's great for lunch, it's great for dinner, it's just great! Always a variety of entrees, sides, soups, and salad...and don't even get me started on their cinnamon-raisin bread. I have a love/hate relationship with that bread. Love it because it's the BEST cinnamon bread on earth. Hate it because it reduces my willpower to zero, causing me to eat 3 slices at every visit.

I am not a vegetarian, but I have loved my meals each time I've eaten here. Don't be scared, just try it! Plus, the courtyard patio is beautiful and serene; you just feel calmed by eating here.

What everyone may not know is that Kalachandji's also has excellent cooking classes. I got a package of their classes for Christmas this year, and I've really been enjoying them. Do note that they are cooking demo classes - you are not actually standing there cooking the food. The master chef stands at the front of the room and prepares enough food for everyone in the class (class size is usually about 15-20 people). There is a giant angled mirror mounted above the chef's space, so you can see what she is doing with the ingredients. They provide folders for each student with the recipes and a glossary of ingredients, since some of them are things I've never even heard of! But the chef tells you where you can purchase some of the more rare ingredients, or what to substitute for them. The chef is really sweet and funny - she manages to cook 3-4 different dishes (usually an entree, a rice or side dish, a soup, and sometimes a dessert) per class, while still telling you interesting facts about the origins of the food as well as personal stories about her own family and life experiences.

I have already made at home some of the recipes I learned in class, and they turned out delicious. The classes are extremely cheap - $150 will get you an entire 8-class series, or it's $25/class. And remember that each class includes dinner!