Tylerites - Your guide to everything Tyler! » Restaurants

Fat Catz Louisiana Kitchen

Tylerites — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 02:45:31 +0000

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

Bruno’s Pizza and Pasta

Tylerites — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 17:10:59 +0000

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

Bernard Mediterranean Restaurant

Tylerites — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 01:41:24 +0000

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

Basil Thai Cafe

Tylerites — Sun, 20 Jun 2010 21:50:36 +0000

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

Currents

Tylerites — Sat, 19 Jun 2010 19:35:08 +0000

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

Burger House

Tylerites — Sat, 19 Jun 2010 02:33:51 +0000

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

The Purple Pig Cafe

Tylerites — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 19:26:41 +0000

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

Orange Leaf Self Serve Frozen Yogurt

Tylerites — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 20:02:45 +0000

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

The Egg & I

Tylerites — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 00:52:47 +0000

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

Cajun Bayou Seafood Market

Tylerites — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 18:22:33 +0000

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