Dillard’s had the grand opening this morning for Kiehl’s inside their cosmetics department. Try the Lip Balm #1 it is fantastic!
Dillard’s
4601 South Broadway Avenue
Tyler, TX 75703
(903) 561-1221
Finally Tyler has a Sephora!  The cosmetics, skincare, and haircare retailer has partnered with JCPenney’s and has opened a store inside the department store.
Now we all have a reason to go to Penney’s aside from the easy access to the mall and the always plentiful parking. The Sephora store located inside offers a modified product selection that is not quite as extensive as their full stores, but still offers us an option other than Ulta for higher end cosmetics and beauty products.
Today is the grand opening at the new Sephora and starting at 10am goodie bags will be gifted to the first shoppers who come check it out. I am telling you now that I WILL be one of those who gets a goodie bag!
Sephora
4401 S Broadway
Tyler, TX
(903) 561-3333
Next time you fly out of town consider leaving from Tyler Pounds. By the time you pay for gas, drive to Dallas and park your vehicle it just might be worth it. DFW is just a short 30 minute flight away and with valet carry-on service and online boarding pass printing from American and Continental, it is oh so very convenient to fly right out of Tyler!
Tyler Pounds Airport
700 Skyway Blvd.
Tyler, TX 75704
(903) 531-2343
Did it this morning & it was great! I’m now in Denver,Co for a Scentsy Convention!
I like using Pounds Field, unless it rains. It seems like rain blows their mind and causes too many delays.
Next time you fly out of Tyler, look for pictures of Richard McKellar as you go through security. It was one of his first modeling jobs.
I hate this airport. Once when I tried to fly out of it, the plane was broken and they took us to Dallas by bus! Another time the flight was delayed due to problems. The service here is slow, and they only have flights to Houston or Dallas. Ultimately, I think it costs less money and saves time to just drive to DFW and take a flight to anywhere from there!
A whole slew of Cajun restaurants have been popping up south of Tyler and I do admit that I am a fan of the Cajun movement. However, you don’t have to go South for some good Cajun food. You can go right over to the corner of the Loop and Troup where Fat Catz is nesteled next to the Electric Cowboy. Fat Catz holds a special place in my heart as it is the first place I ever tasted fried pickles, which have become increasingly popular and easier to find since the day I first tasted them several years ago at Fat Catz. In fact, I remember everything I ordered back on that fateful day, and it was all delicious, as everything I’ve had from Fat Catz in the years since has been.
I definitely would not say that I frequent Fat Catz, but I really do like the food there and would recommend it to anyone searching for that type of cuisine. I love the red beans and rice, the corn bread, the crawfish wraps, the blackened tilapia, and of course, the fried pickles. Last time I dined there I had a pretty good salad topped with avocado, crab meat, shrimp, and roumalade sauce. The menu at Fat Catz is extensive, and I’d say there’s something for everyone from fried fish to salads, from grilled chicken to gumbo.
In addition to their regular menu, Fat Catz also caters.  Recently, they catered an employee luncheon for me, and they did an incredible job. They brought grilled chicken breasts, salad, crawfish wraps, dirty rice, mixed vegetables, and a whole tray of warm and delicious bread pudding. They definitely went above and beyond and really stood out both in food quality and and quantity.
Fat Catz delivers consistently good food and decent service.  The owners actually live in the Dallas area, yet strive to make a connection with us Tylerites and actively support the Tyler Tourism Committee. Hopefully more restaurateurs will follow in their footsteps and see what great things can come from being involved!
Fat Catz Louisiana Kitchen
3320 Troup Highway
Tyler, TX 75701
(903) 593-1114
I loved this place. Went there for my B-Day with a party of 7 including 3 kids and got seated right away. Our server was GREAT and we even talked to the owner. Our server took the time to explain everything on the menu we had questions about. The food came out with great timing and everything was right the way we ordered it. The food was GREAT. Cooked just right and with great flavor. We were seated close to the kitchen since we needed such a big table, but it wasn’t a bad place to sit like you would think in most places. And on the record the kitchen is not dirty I seen it!!!
This is a great atmosphere and I have never had a bad meal there! Best fried pickles in the world!
The Tyler 21 Plan includes special revitalization for the downtown area to become an arts and cultural district. To support this, Liberty Theatre is being renovated into the East Texas Symphony’s Liberty Hall, which will host music, recitals, and meetings. If you would like to contribute to the project you can sponsor a seat with your own personal engraving. For more details go to:
http://www.cityoftyler.org/Portals/0/docs/departments/communications/pdf%20files/Liberty%20Seat%20Brochure%20pdf.pdf
Liberty Hall
103 East Erwin
Tyler, TX 75702
Bruno’s has been a Tyler staple for years now, yet I don’t find myself venturing over that way too often. In fact, before this week I had only eaten at Bruno’s once and that was several years ago. That being said, I’ve always known Bruno’s to be a Tylerites favorite and have yet to hear a bad word uttered about the place. Lucky for me, and many of the other south-siders, Bruno’s opened a new location on Old Jacksonville just north of the four way intersection in Gresham.
I met my sister at Bruno’s for dinner this past Thursday evening. Their new location is shiny, big, and new and is a fantastic choice for families or friends or couples. It is BYOB so I brought a bottle of Ecco Domani Pinot Grigio which I’ve been fueling with all summer. Bruno’s is known for their pizza, but I was more in the mood for pasta so I turned to that page in the menu. There are no creative dishes on the menu at Bruno’s. Your options are limited to marinara, meat, or Alfredo sauce. Of course they also offer ravioli and lasagna, and everything comes in either full or half sizes. I took this as a sign to order with caution and ordered the half order of spaghetti with marinara and one meatball. My sister did not pick up on the warning and ordered the full portion of lasagna.
Soon after we ordered our dinner salads were delivered. Talk about yum! The salad came with thick, freshly sliced mozzarella cheese, green olives, and a porchini pepper. I ate all the cheese off mine and waited anxiously for my entree to arrive, though I was starting to get full after that salad. Not long after, our dinner was delivered to our table. I dove right into mine. Spaghetti and marinara with a meatball is a pretty simple dish, and Bruno’s does it right. The noodles, the sauce, and the meatball all tasted great. I sampled a bite from my sister’s vat of lasagna and it too was delicious.
I am certainly happy that we decided to venture over to Bruno’s. Good food, friendly service, and a nice but casual atmosphere make for an experience I am sure to come back for again and again. Not only is the food good, but it is also very reasonably priced. I hope a few other Tyler restaurateurs will follow Bruno’s example and expand south!
Bruno’s Pizza and Pasta
15770 FM 2493
Tyler, TX 75703
(903) 939-0002
I live right across the street from this place….We have been there at least 3 times in the past 6 months…..Everyone I know loves this place….Recently went there with 7 people with 3 of those people being children( the youngest 3) and did not feel we needed to be extra quiet and worry about the kids….In fact I would recommend going there is you have kids….There is usually not many people in there and the food is great and you get a lot of it for the price….Love the salads and Italian sandwiches….And the pizzas of course are great and really big!!!
Just wish they were open on Sundays! We always do pizza on Sundays and I always forget…they are closed! UGH
This is absolutely my favorite pizza place! Been getting pizza here for at least 30 years. Love the pizza and the family!
The Best Pizza & Me & My Daughter LOVE the Dinner Salad…We go there sometimes just get the Salad & Tea~
I’ve always known Bernard’s to be the place to go for a romantic dinner. It’s fair to say that it is THE date restaurant in Tyler, and on any given night I’d venture to say that 90% of the tables are couples dining over candlelight and a bottle of wine.  In fact, my now husband and I actually came to Bernard’s on our first date. That being said, Bernard’s is a great place to go on occasions other than dates, though a couple of buddies may feel a bit awkward dining together amongst scores of couples. To them I would suggest securing a corner table in the bar.
There are several dishes at Bernard’s that are standouts, though it’s really hard to go wrong with anything on their menu. My favorite appetizer is definitely the crab cakes which is unlike any other I’ve ever tasted. It is a puff pastry filled with crab meat and drizzled in a delectable sauce. On my last visit, I branched out and tried one of their appetizer specials which was an avocado cubed and served with lump crab meat, shrimp and scallops and was served in a delicious mustardy-lemon sauce that lightened up the rich flavors of the crab and avocado.
If asked to name my favorite entree at Bernard’s, without hesitation I would say the Filet Bearnaise.  If ever a sauce could inspire a feeling, this would be the one to do it. Bernard’s Bearnaise sauce is lick the plate irresistible, and when drizzled over a perfectly cooked filet it is positively sinful. Order the Tiramisu and a coffee with Bailey’s to end the night on a good note. Bernard’s is not the place to suppress indulgent urges.
I’ll wrap up by mentioning that the service is always impeccable at Bernard’s.  Their team is one of the best around, offering a level of professionalism that many other area restaurants can often leave to be desired.  From the food to the ambiance to the service, Bernard’s does it right.
Bernard Mediterranean Restaurant
212 Grande Boulevard
Tyler, TX 75703-4226
(903) 534-0265
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Courtyard by Marriott Tyler – Now Open!
The Courtyard hotel is officially open as of July 1st, 2010
Amenities include:
121 guest rooms and suites, including luxurious jacuzzi suites
4,200 square feet of flexible meeting and banquet space
On-site fitness center featuring cardio equipment and free weights
Indoor pool and spa
42″ LCD flat screen tvs in every room
Free wireless internet
Patio with fire-pit
Starbucks available 24 hours a day
The Bistro Eat. Drink. Connect. restaurant and bar
Stop in and check it out!
For reservations go to http://www.courtyardtyler.com
Courtyard by Marriott
7424 South Broadway Avenue
Tyler, TX 75703
(903) 509-4411
Starbucks available 24 hours a day within a block away from home?… I L<3 VE it !!! 
Beautiful – thanks for sharing.
DITCH THE WORKOUT, JOIN THE PARTY!!!!
Sign up for my small group ZUMBA classes today!
Class size is limited, be the first to sign up.
Contact Emily for more information.
903-316-5304
http://www.emilymariani.com
Cool off this Summer at Silverleaf Resorts’ WaterPark @ The Villages!
The WaterPark @ The Villages
18270 Singing Wood Lane
Flint, TX 75762-9436
(903) 561-0589
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ZDKvEgYy9A
check this link out of the video at Waterpark at Villages….ZipLines…and Purple Pig. AWESOME!
You’re going to need to get to all the great places in and around Tyler.
Make sure you experience a truly new way to buy a used car or used truck from the Peltier family of dealerships at Pauto.com , across from Peltier Nissan.
I’ve been hearing a lot of buzz surrounding Basil Thai restaurant on the corner of the Loop and 5th Street, the majority of it proclaiming the food delicious and the decor downright scary. After I’d heard so many negative things regarding the restaurant’s interior I was actually quite relieved when I tried Basil Thai for the first time on Saturday to see that it’s not so awful after all.
Sure, the dining room is decidedly minimalist, yet it’s clean and tidy and sufficiently serves its purpose. There was only one other table in the dining room when we arrived, so we had a moment to ask the girl behind the counter for a few suggestions. We’d been advised that the dishes are served in astronomical portions, so we knew ahead of time that we would start with an appetizer and split an entree. We were told the Pad Thai and the Spicy Basil were the two most popular dishes, so we decided on the Pad Thai and ordered a bowl of Tom Yum Goong (really spicy shrimp and mushroom soup).
Items on the menu at Basil Thai are rated in terms of heat by either one, two, or three stars. One star meant you’d experience a tingling sensation, two stars a stimulating kick, and three stars meant raging fire. Our soup had two stars and it felt to me like raging fire, so I am certainly happy I didn’t try anything with three stars. The Pad Thai had no stars so it was not spicy, yet it was very delicious. And yes, the portion was ridiculously large.  It had chicken, bean sprouts, egg, tofu, green onion, and Thai glass noodles all together in a tasty sauce. I would most definitely order it again.
I am so pleased that Tyler finally has a good Thai restaurant. If you’re concerned about the no-frills dining room, I’d suggest calling in your order for takeout so you can enjoy your meal at home or at work or wherever you prefer. This is one hole in the wall not to be missed.
Basil Thai Cafe
1700 S Southeast Loop 323 #102
Tyler, TX 75701-5000
(903) 566-8000
Have you guys checked out Coolie J’s Italian Restaurant in the same shopping center?
I’m wild about this place. My favorite is the deluxe Thai salad (with the green papaya strips) and spicy dressing, the Thai egg rolls and the red curry chicken. My husband and I get those almost every time but I’ve also tried the coconut soup (spicy) and the pad Thai. We like spicy things and they certainly deliver. Another new place to try is Pho Vietnamese on Hwy 64.
Currents has been one of my favorite Tyler restaurants for awhile, but prior to last Monday I had not visited in at least a couple of years. Lately I’ve been gravitating to restaurants offering a more casual atmosphere, yet there is certainly something to be said for the fine dining experience offered at Currents.
We arrived around noon for lunch. There were lots of ‘ladies who lunch’ to be seen throughout the dining room. The dining room, by the way, is great. Understated decor and huge windows overlooking the woods of East Texas create an elegant setting where you definitely want to place your napkin gently in your lap and start working your way through the forks as proper etiquette dictates.
The good thing about Currents is that the cuisine perfectly matches the ambiance.  My favorite things on the menu are the beef roquefort, the fig puff pastry, the goat cheese puff pastry, and the flourless chocolate cake. None of these things really make sense to me as lunch options, so I opted for the Saumon Provincial on my last visit after the glowing reviews it received from our server.  When it arrived, it was in fact quite impressive. The truffled potatoes the salmon was served with can only be described as to die for.
I’d venture to say that Currents offers the finest dining to be found in all of Tyler. All foodies out there who’ve not tried it must do so immediately.  Just a glace at their impressive menus will reveal the talent and artistry that goes in to each and every offering. Also, like many of my favorite places, the owner of Currents can be found working lunch and dinner most days either delivering food, pouring wine, or checking in to make sure everything came out of the kitchen ok.
Currents
1121 East 2nd Street
Tyler, TX 75701-3314
(903) 597-3771
Current”s is one of my fav’s…..Love the grilled chicken cesare salad…..Great salmon, ck it out…Robert is the man and he’s so chatty with everyone….Really makes you feel welcomed. Ask for Christopher for exceptional service…..
Artists
Megan Bryant @ Gallery Main Street
Nick Fadley@ Balance Lab
Jennifer Moreman @ Subway
Celeste Lewis @ The Studio
Tyler Chamber of Commerce Azalea Trails Snap Shot Gallery @ The Studio
Nyle Reams @ The Studio
Sally Taylor @ The Studio
Briana Sutton @ People’s National Bank Building
Cissy Boyd @ People’s National Bank Building
Dana Cargile @ People’s National Bank Building
Monty Graham @ People’s National Bank Building
Sandra Basurto @ People’s National Bank Building
Lisa Horlander @ cue:creative
FLY KiDS @ T.B. Butler Plaza
George Faber and Friends @ T.B. Butler Plaza
Bobbye Koncak @ Edward D. Jones
Dolph Miller @ East Texas Symphony Orchestra
Mary Lynn Bublitz @ Jakes
Joan Iverson @ Sports Zone
Maureen Killaby @ Sports Zone
Various artists @ ArtWall
No shortage of burger places in Tyler. Try Jack’s Famous Fries at Burger House!
Burger House
2301 South Broadway Avenue
Tyler, TX 75701-5402
(903) 526-6622
I was really disappointed in this restaurant. I had such high hopes for it. I ordered a hamburger and their special seasoned fries and a shake. The hamburger patty was pitiful..had absolutely no flavor. I could make a better burger at home. I had to throw out the fries..the seasoning on them was all wrong! The shake was great! Overall, I dont think I will ever return unless I am really craving a milkshake.
When I first started going to the Purple Pig about four years ago it was nothing more than a good old BBQ joint. It’s still a good old BBQ joint, but now they’ve extended their menu, expanded their patio, and have managed to please their ever growing crowds with friendly service and live music.
I’ve always been a fan of their barbecue. Before their menu expanded to offer some Mexican dishes including fajitas and tamales I’d always get the turkey plate with cowboy beans and southwestern corn salad. Their barbecue plates come with the best buttered toast I’ve ever had, and I’m also a big fan of their barbecue sauce. The pulled pork is fantastic, the ribs are outstanding, and the chicken is delicious as well.
Another thing I like so much about the Purple Pig is the fact that every single time we visit the owner is there chatting with the customers. I became especially fond of him one evening when he told us about the soft spot he has for the litters of homeless kittens around the area and how he buys bulk cat food to feed them… A man after my own heart right there.
Last weekend my husband and I decided to head out to the Pig for a casual dinner. I couldn’t decide what to get so I made a last minute decision to go with the shrimp fajitas. This turned out to be an excellent choice. Lucky for us Patrick James was also performing that night on the patio. He played a little of everything from Wizard of Oz tunes to the Eagles and we ended up staying longer (and drinking more) than we had intended.
This place is a must for everyone who likes to eat good food and have a good time. They’re open for breakfast, lunch and dinner seven days a week. For more info, visit www.purplepigcafe.com.
The Purple Pig Cafe
19785 State Highway 155 S
Flint, TX 75762-4617
(903) 825-6800
This place is GREAT…..last year Channel 19 did a story on New York, Texas ZipLine Adventures, WaterPark at the Villages and the Purple Pig Cafe…..check it out on Youtube!!
O’did I mention they have GREAT ribs???
We were in the Tyler area on a recent
Saturday and wanted to have lunch at the Pig. The BBQ was not anything special but the June Bug that had been fried in our pickles topped everything off. Our server just laughed and told us those critters were flying all around and sometimes that just happens. I guess when the travel or food channel featured them they did not get a serving of FRIED JUNEBUG.
I agree with small time girl, BQ was not great and rib eye was so salty u couldn’t eat it. The BQ sauce is the worst tasting sauce I’ve ever tasted. The place is never clean. Everything always seems greasy. I ate there 4 times each time trying something different & nothing was great. If people think that the dried out Bq is good then they hav never had good BQ. The last time I was there they forgot to bring the rolls & I asked for them to take home to my dogs ang the girl behing the register was really rude about it. I will never eat there again.
I hear you — I hear ya — I live very near the PIG and my only real complaint is that some of the girls (usually behind the register) can be rude. Also, we get takeout usually and their to go boxes leave much to be desired — they ALWAYS leak in the bag and run into other compartments. I would think at their prices, they could afford to invest in quality to-go boxes.
their food is greasy, the owner is rude (to some customers and employees which makes the employees unappreciative), the music is way out of date, and the place is a mess a most of the time. i have had good and bad food there. the owner is an egotistical slob who uses his money to buy friends and hire immigrants for low pay. small town girl, that junebug was unacceptable. the waitress you had that night was ignorant anyways. dont remember if it was a friday or saturday though.. to jennifer, the girls behind the counter were rude but that has all changed due to a high turnover rate and movement of the “to-go” counter which is now located outside the front door. as far as the plates they pack the food in… they are cheap. that all goes back to the owner and terrible management. old and new. just ask for the sides to be put in separate containers and they will be glad to do that(suprisingly). and to dalia, that was jose correct? great man and he made the place worth eating at. ed helped tremendously also. as far as eating there goes-you should all give it serious thought. ask their employees(get the right one and hear the truth) or management(who will lie about the color shirt they are wearing right then)…hell, even ask the owner whats up. he is the fat man in the purple shirt with the medicine bag that sits at the table closest to the front door. sure, he will blow hickory smoke up your rump but you will end up either end up getting verbally sexually assualted, given a free “pig wing rib” sampler, or given a job depending on the size of your breasts. let the choice be yours. (men need not apply for waitstaff. impossible position for you to be hired on to)
Orange Leaf is now open. I tried a sample of the Pina Colada (pineapple mixed with coconut) yogurt and it was fab!
Orange Leaf
3985 Old Jacksonville Rd
Tyler, TX 75701-8519
Love my Orange Leaf in Stillwater, OK. Glad to know I have one in my hometown of Tyler when I visit!
We have been waiting and waiting for this place to open. Can’t wait to try it and to recommend it to our guests.
Visited Orange Leaf on Thursday evening. Having just moved to Tyler in the last year from the Phoenix area, there were 2 things I really wanted Tyler to get-a frozen yogurt place and good sushi (Shoguns did not make me that happy truth be told). I haven’t tried Wasabi or Yamato yet, but it is on my list. In Phoenix these days, frozen yogurt places are on every corner-about like churches, donut places and banks here! 
Anyway, I had the peanut butter and added coconut on one side and kitkats on the other. It was delicious! I think the temp was a tad off of the frozen yogurt machine as it was a little too soft and started that melting process before I was really out the door, but it was still delicious. I also think the pricing is a little high. I think we paid about $.39/oz and at Orange Leaf it’s $.45/oz. Not that big of a deal really, and if you’re the only frozen yogurt place in town then I guess you can do that, right? Supply and demand… Anyway, I would definitely recommend this place!
Hi! I am with Counterscapes in Tyler, and we fabricated and installed the white Corian counters and the frames around the yogurt stations at Orange Leaf. Would it be okay for us to use these pictures? They are great!
We decided to try orange leaf today. I was impressed with how clean the place looked. Overall we liked it…we got sample cups to sample some of the flavors. Some of the flavors tasted “icey” to me…(is that a word?) I thought the peanut butter and chocolate flavors were fantastic. There are lots of toppings ranging from nuts to crumbled cookies, fruit and candies. Would I go back? Sure. It is nice to have a yogurt place in Tyler!
Pickups and Pearlsnaps
I attended my first Cattle Barons’ Saturday night. I’d planned a trip for the weekend to float the river, but the strong storms across East Texas last week severely flooded the Guadalupe to the extent that no river floating will be happening for awhile. I’ve wanted to attend the gala ever since I had moved to Tyler nine years ago and this year I was finally able to go.
The event was held at The Park of East Texas between Hwy 31 and Hwy 64. After making our way down the dusty trail we parked and entered the party. It was set up much like a carnival. I am not sure what I was expecting, but this wasn’t really it. The Horseshoe Casino had a gaming tent with blackjack, roulette, a football throwing game and a wine toss. Oh, and a mechanical bull. Across from the Horseshoe tent was the auction tent which housed the numerous things up for silent auction and there was food and drinks a plenty.
A decent distance from the tents stood the stage where Lee Ann Womack would perform later in the evening. After making our rounds and taking in the sights we got in line for some food. The food turned out to be my favorite thing about the whole ordeal. There were pork sliders, burger sliders, avocado halves, barbeque ribs, brisket, sausage, potato salad, fried mushrooms, sweet potato fries, enchiladas, tamales, ice cream, strawberry cobbler plus much more. Everything I ate was fantastic. The food was provided by Eddie Dean’s catering, and those guys did an amazing job. I seriously went back for more food maybe four times. Yikes, so much for my summer diet!
Once it was time for Lee Ann to take the stage many people began wandering over to that area. She sounded incredible and put on a good show. By the time she was done it was about time to wrap things up and head home. I think it was around 11:30 at this point which is way past my bed time. Overall my first Cattle Barons’ experience was a great one. I saw lots of good friends, ate lots of good food, and finally got to see firsthand what all the fuss is about surrounding the event.
The Park of East Texas
2112 W. Front Street
Tyler, TX 75702
(903) 597-2501
I am so glad that you attended the 2010 Tyler Cattle Barons’ Gala. It sounds like you had a wonderful experience and I want to thank you for spreading the word. I personally poured alot into the event and to hear about it from a first timer really makes it worth it. The Gala serves as a fundraiser for the American Cancer Society here in Tyler – we like to refer to it as a “party with a purpose”. This one was actually our 23rd Gala in Tyler. Having air conditioning in the tents was new this year. I thought that Lee Ann Womack was awesome too! It was great to have a hometown girl from Jacksonville come to Tyler and play for such a cause. Mark your 2011 calendar now for next year – June 11th!
The Egg & I has been around for several months now, and I just got around to trying it out. I’d heard good things, but I’m not typically a big go out for breakfast person. I was up early last Saturday and had some free time so I decided to pop in for some good breakfast.
We got a booth and I promptly ordered a Diet Coke. I just can’t do the coffee thing. There were several things on the menu that looked good, and I was having a tough time decided what to get. I was leaning towards the breakfast quesadillas, but was still feeling very wishy-washy. When our server, Ramona stopped by to take our order I decided to ask for her help. She said the quesadillas are good but her favorite thing is the Athena Scramble which is scrambled eggs, feta cheese, tomatoes, asparagus, and portabella mushrooms. That sounded pretty good to me so I took her advice and went for it. My sister got the Mediterranean frittata which is egg whites, sundried tomatoes, chicken and cheese.
Our food arrived fast, and I thought mine was really, really tasty. I was very happy with Ramona’s suggestion and ate almost all of my eggs. It came with an English muffin and breakfast potatoes which were also delicious. My sister enjoyed her frittata as well.
As impressed as I was by the food, I was even more impressed by the service we received from Ramona. She was a fantastic waitress! She was impeccably polite, she offered great suggestions, and she was quick and efficient despite the number of tables she was serving. I suggest asking for her section the next time you visit. I’d also highly recommend the Athena Scramble.
The Egg & I
150 East 9th Street
Tyler, TX 75701-4227
(903) 592-3447
So glad you had a good meal. I have been there several times and think it should be illegal for a restaurant with the word EGG in it’s name not to know ow to poach an egg. If I wanted the yolk solid, I would have ordered boiled eggs! The only thing I have had that was decent, was the Reuben sandwich & it is actually really good. That is the only thing I will go back for… and that’s sad.
I’ve been 3 or 4 times, and I’ve always been satisfied and I’m not real easy in that area. Cobb Salad is good, Club Sandwich is good, a breakfast item (don’t recall the name)is eggs, bacon or sausage, hashbrowns, and an enourmous wheat pancake about the size of an LP record. The Egg and I has an excellent atmosphere, nice classical music in the background and people seem to converse at a lower volume than you commonly find in the average restaurants.
To ddpb I would say, why not stay home for poached eggs instead? As a former breakfast cook I can vouch…they are hard to do and require a lot of monitoring.
We used to go to Egg & I all the time. As soon as it opened we were there with bells on and waited with the best of them to get in to eat! Until they changed the menu and took off almost all of their seafood breakfast items. The Nantucket scramble was phenomenal! Now all you can get are your average breakfast and about half a dozen salsa meals that you can get pretty much anywhere or do like we do, make such things at home. Don’t misunderstand me, I LOVE this placed. It has a nice vibe and the customer service is as good as it gets! I just loved it more when you could go and eat something different than what you can get at IHOP…
A new Cajun restaurant recently opened on 155 in Flint. Like Randy’s, it is a casual place with no air conditioning and it’s BYOB.
As far as ambiance, it is basically a huge wooden patio shaded by large trees. You walk to the counter to order, then your food is delivered once ready. I was having trouble decided what to get, so I asked the guy behind the counter what he’d consider the specialties to be. He said everything on the menu is great which is nice but didn’t really help narrow it down. I finally decided to go with a shrimp poboy, and my sis got the soft shell crab poboy. We had no idea what we were getting ourselves into. Our jaws dropped when the sandwiches were delivered… These things were huge! They tasted good, but I could only eat about a third of mine before throwing in the towel.
I ended up going back with my husband several days later, since he hadn’t gotten to try it yet. This time we got the crab cakes, fried pickles, vanilla sweet potato fries and fried boudin. I am in love with fried pickles, and these were good. The crab cakes were good, but they were covered in a thick sauce which overpowered the flavor of the crab. Next time I’d definitely see about getting the sauce on the side. The vanilla sweet potato fries were also good, but I think the vanilla may have been a bit too strong for my taste. The fried boudin was good, and I think anyone who likes boudin would like it.
I’d say this place is a must for anyone who likes Cajun food. It is really cool and will be a great summer hang out.
Cajun Bayou Seafood Market
18950 Hwy 155 South
Flint, TX, 75762
(903) 825-1158
here are pics of the menu with prices:
http://www.tylerites.com/images/cajunbayoufront.jpg
http://www.tylerites.com/images/cajunbayouback.jpg
the crab cakes are not on there but I think they were around $10
Hey Shannon we ate there this week. Tony and Hunter loved the food but it is kinda $$$. 50.00 for 5 of us. and they didn’t have the fans running or the music on. It was way to hot to eat outside.
Thanks for the info Kristie … It helps when you have other people’s opinions to go off of !!!
Foods ok… They are pricy. Spud fries are like potato chips, not fries! Owners brag too much in my opinion and the young “manager” doesnt seem to know anything about restaurant business or how to handle situations. Last experience the manager and owner were getting into a verbal argument behind the counter, where customers were present. I wont be back
I love trying new restaurants when they come to Tyler, so I have been a very happy girl lately. I mentioned a couple of weeks ago how impressed I was with Wasabi. So naturally I had to check out Yamato to see if it could compare.
Yamato is much larger than Wasabi, and their menu is beyond extensive. They have hibachi and sushi and different seating areas to correspond. Of course I wanted to try the sushi, so we were led to a table and promptly greeted by our server. I was really hoping for a glass of wine so it was a bit disappointing to learn that Yamato is still waiting to receive their liquor license. If I owned a restaurant I would definitely not open for business if my restaurant was not complete, but that’s just me. This is not a deal breaker, but I will probably not be back until they get their license situation straightened out. What can I say? I like a glass of wine with my meals when I go out to eat.
Despite the minor speed bump I was still really excited to try the food, especially the bento boxes. I read a really strange Japanese novel several years ago called Out, and that’s where I first heard of the bento box. In my mind I pictured it being the Japanese equivalent of a Lean Cuisine. We ordered a sashimi salad, a sashimi bento box, and a Tyler Roll. We got our ginger salad and miso soup first which were both good. When our sushi arrived it was quite obvious that we had ordered way too much food. The Tyler Roll (spicy tuna, tempura flakes, sliced tuna topping in special sauce) was good, but my focus was on the bento box. It was like a really cool cafeteria tray with fresh sashimi, a California roll, tempura vegetables, rice, and fruit. All the food tasted fresh and delicious.
I mentioned before that the menu at Yamato is extensive, and is it ever. There would definitely be something for everyone here. The sea bass bento box caught my eye and I’d really like to go back and try it sometime. I think a lot of people will really like this restaurant, and I bet it will do well.
Now tell us, what is your favorite kind of sushi?
Yamato
2210 WSW Loop 323
Tyler, TX 75701
(903) 534-1888
Give them a break!! Food is comparable to Shogun, except it is more authentic style asian food. If you want more of a Asian Fushion style, Shoguns is the place to go. But Yamato is so much nicer, you don’t cringe at your surroundings. They will get their liquor license soon, you can’t blame them for the speed of how the state works. Plus TABC are having all those issues about who the wholesalers will be w/those stores in Winona. I liked it so much, making RSVPs for Fathers Day
Beautiful place! We had a group of six sat on the Sushi side. Wish we sat at the hibachi side. Only because I don’t know if the Servers were quite ready for such a large table. It took 10 minutes the most for our part of the group who ordered the hibachi to receive their food. On the other hand, it took one hour for us who ordered sushi. Luckily, they do now have their Liquor License. When we finally received our sushi it was quite Delish. I think once they get their servers in order this place will be amazing! Will for sure go here again though.
loved the atmosphere but the food was horrible! sushi was very dry, the rice almost had no flavor at all! We ordered lobster, shrimp and scallops and we ended up getting ONE steak tepanyaki. They gave me all the vegetables and steak and split my rice with my fiance and gave him nothing else! The chef didnt juggle knives or anything he just cooked. Ugh! So disappointed!
Had lunch at Yamato yesterday. From the time we entered the front door it was a VERY pleasant experience. The fountain in the lobby is exceptional. The Hibachi room was fresh, exceptionally clean and very welcoming. Our waiter was very personable and our chef, Michael, was a lot of fun. The food was cooked perfectly and the plumb wine, what can I say, very tastey. Our next visit there will be for an evening meal. We checked out the sushi bar but didn’t partake this trip. Everyone was friendly and seemed genuinely anxious to be of service to us. We’re looking forward to many more visits.
Yamoto impressed me! I was very pleased with my experience. The menu is quite impressive, full of variety and many options to keep its customers returning! The hostesses were great and the management very accomodating. Our server was not very attentive to our needs, but he was nearby if we needed him.
The hibachi table pricing is similar to Shogun, but if you are looking for more affordable pricing, you can always take a seat at a booth. At the time of my visited, Yamoto was apologetic in regards to not having their liquor license and in return, served one complimentary alcoholic beverage per person. I think this was a wonderful gesture, especially in rebuttal to the comments made in the above reviews.
I loved the atmosphere, a very relaxed vibe and great music makes a great place for a date. I will definately be back to try a few more things on their expansive menu!
I love sushi and Hibachi here.I am so pleased that Tyler finally has a good japanese restaurant–yamato .delicious food .our chef.Michael was a lot of fun.everyone was friendly.I had very enjoy time.I will come back with my friends.
Love all of these great captured memories !