Kristy Alpert files this report.

Overview: Luckily for Outta the Oven, the place I had originally planned on reviewing was closed for renovations and this all-natural bakery was in my sights as my lunch mate threw one of his famous I’m-so-freaking-hungry-get-me-food- now hissy fits. I’d heard rave reviews of their cakes and thumbprint cookies, but I had yet to hear anyone mention their menu items in their café. So, on a whim, I pulled in and stepped into an odd mix of aromas: freshly brewed coffee, sautéed onion, and cake frosting.

Menu: From panini and salads to quiche and muffins, Outta the Oven Café and Bakery offers a pretty nice range of breakfast and lunch items with some outstanding baked goods and pastries. They’re known for their elaborate and moist layered cakes but their petit fours are both adorable and delectable. I rarely have time for breakfast in the morning (aside from a banana or cup of yogurt), so the fact that they serve breakfast until 3PM makes it easy for people like me (read: not morning people) to get their toast or pancake fix in, even if it is later in the day!

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Texas Feast served until 3PM daily.

Roast beef and provolone sandwich.

Sweets!

Some of the condiments at the Tea Bar.

What we ate: It took me three seconds to decide. Two words: Texas Feast. For $7.95 I got three eggs over easy with a piece of whole wheat toast, three hearty (and salty) strips of bacon, a mini blueberry walnut muffin, and rosemary potatoes that taste like all the flavors of Thanksgiving rolled into one. While I took photos of my friend’s roast beef melt sandwich ($8.95 with mini muffin and chips), I turned over my mini muffin, one egg and two strips of the bacon to appease his hungry glares. His sandwich tasted like a French dip without the au jus, with slices of roast beef nestled beneath melted provolone cheese, caramelized onions, and a horseradish sauce. Both meals were excellent and incredibly filling.

Extras: Dessert. Mmm the dessert. After lusting after a strawberry layer cake, I reluctantly decided to save it for another time. I did however get a cup of their house coffee, which was smooth and lightly roasted. They also have a tea bar with orange and lemon slices and fresh mint leaves set up (so cute!) and desserts displayed on every available counter space.

5100 Beltline Road, Suite 802. 972-866-0011

Mon – Fri : 9:00 am – 3:00 pm
Sat :  9:00 am – 3:00 pm

http://www.outtatheoven.com/

(They have a second location in Las Colinas.)

701 Commerce Street.

Kristy Alpert files this report.
Overview: Original owner Emily Susman has gone to pursue the “family life” with her husband in Austin, Texas, but new owner, Norma Westurn, has decided to keep Susman’s original menu and recipes alive at EClaire Texas Café in downtown Dallas. (She’s made a few additions.) The café is light and airy, but on the sunny, cool day I visited, the green grass of the park in front of the restaurant and next to the courthouse was begging to be picnicked on. Even the lack of EClaire’s outdoor/sidewalk seating wasn’t enough to keep me inside on such a gorgeous day.

Menu: The café is known for offering up a varied menu, ranging from Texas breakfasts to Cincinnati-style coneys with cinnamon-laden gravy and cheddar cheese ($1.25) to fresh off-the-griddle sandwiches ($6.50), and will soon include a few Brazilian appetizers and desserts that pay homage to the new owner’s family heritage (brigadeiros!). Their salads are made fresh to order, and come in two sizes (small $3.99; large $6.99). They make their specialty sauces in-house (tomatillo and ranchero), and bake their own cookies from scratch daily (try the chocolate chip or the white chocolate and cranberry, $1.50).

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The Cuban.

What we ate: I’m in the camp that believes food tastes better when eaten outside, so I’ll be the first to admit my review of EClaire’s Cuban sandwich could possibly be a bit biased. The sun was shining and there was a State Fair parade going through downtown when I took my first bite of this warm sandwich ($8.99, with chips). The pork was thinly sliced beneath a blanket of melted cheese, fresh pickles and a nice delicate sauce between two slices of Empire Bakery’s ciabatta bread. My friend, who had spent the better part of the summer dining at EClaire’s between lunch breaks of a pretty big trial, ordered the chicken hot griddle sandwich ($6.50) that came with seasoned shredded chicken, lettuce and tomatoes on a wheat bun with EClaire’s homemade ranchero sauce. Let’s put it this way, she’s been ordering this same lunch for months and has yet to grow tired of this mildly spicy, powerfully flavorful sandwich.

Chicken Hot Griddle Sandwich.

Extras: They also have tacos made on a four inch tortilla with homemade queso fresco and pulled pork for $2.50 and regular deli sandwiches made with Boar’s Head turkey or ham for $6.50. The new owners are hoping to roll out a few new specials and possibly even incorporate some new menu items from diner’s suggestions. Alright Dishers, let’s help these ladies out! What would you like to see on the menu at EClaire’s?

Glittery cake balls.

Tomato mozzarella and pesto sandwich with drip coffee.Kristy Alpert munches some grindage at this Deep Ellum coffee shop

Kristy Alpert munches some grindage at this Deep Ellum coffee shop.

Overview: Murray Street Coffee is the type of place I could live; if only owners Liz and Doug Davis would allow cots in the backroom. It’s two stories with three rooms that can take you from the serious “don’t mess with me I’m on deadline” room with plastic chairs on the first level, to the “ah I finished and now I can relax” room with overstuffed chairs on the second floor, to finally the “coffee has kicked in and I have to get this energy out” room with one common farm-style table of board games. They’re known for their coffee (Coffee Eiland roasters based in Richardson, same coffee used in the Pearl Cup’s Pearl Latte), but their light/airy/funky/clean vibe make this a great place to grab a bite between caffeine fixes.

Menu: Most everything at this coffee shop is locally-sourced (from coffee in Richardson to muffins and cookies from Central Market), and their sandwiches are no exception. Meats and olives come from Jimmy’s Food Store, mozzarella comes from The Mozzarella Company a few blocks away, and their tomatoes come from Lemley’s produce stand at the Dallas Farmers Market. Breakfast is served all day and ranges from a granola parfait ($5.50), The Blinker (a scrambled egg and prosciutto sandwich on an English muffin, $5.50), a bagel with lox ($5), to Eggo Waffle with fresh fruit, syrup and whipped crème ($4.50). Their sandwiches include The Insider vegetarian—can be made vegan—for $8 and a PB&J on Ezekiel bread with banana, honey, jam or jelly for $5.50. All sandwiches can also be prepared gluten free.

Turkey and arrugla sandwich.

View from upstairs.

What we ate: Luckily I saw someone else eating a full sandwich as I walked in, so I knew immediately a whole would be too much. With that in mind, I ordered the half tomato mozzarella sandwich with basil pesto from Central Market, ripe tomatoes (yellow and red) and fresh mozzarella on olive oil and sea salt ciabatta bread made specially by Whole Foods. The sandwich came and a peanut butter cookie came to $4.50. I added a water and a drip coffee ($2) to wash it down. My friend ordered the half turkey sandwich with smoked turkey, sharp cheddar, arugula, and homemade chipotle aioli on the same soft ciabatta bread with an oatmeal raisin cookie ($4.50). Overall, the tomato mozzarella sandwich was both of our favs. The tomatoes were vintage Texas fresh and the bread was perfectly soft with that nice ciabatta crust. Oh, and their coffee is excellent.

Extras: They also sell a hummus plate that comes with traditional and red bell pepper humus, naan, olives, roasted red pepper, feta cheese, and tomatoes for $7.50, and they carry Tamale Company tamales if you can catch them before they sell out. One of the best things about this place is, along with their amazing coffee, they also have a pretty nice selection of beers and wines to help make playing Candy Land with strangers at the common table that much more intense … and memorable!

103 Murray Street, Dallas 75226

Kristy Alpert sends this report.

Overview: From the outside this place looks a bit sketchy. The billiards place next door was already blasting music at 11am (who are these people playing pool in the middle of the day?) and people were sitting on the curbs of the nearby pawn shops. However,  the interior of Thai Tanee is styled like an Asian Pottery Barn with sheer drapes, warm colors, and fresh flowers at each table. Most patrons order take out, but this place is a great spot to chill out while eating some amazine Thai food. Music warning: they play a lot of Yanni.

Menu: Thai Tanee pretty much has what you’d expect in terms of appetizers and starters, with Thai dumplings ($4.95), chicken satay ($5.95), and my favorite Toms (Tom Yum and Tom Kha; $3.95 small, $7.95 large). Their entrees range from the classic Pad Thai ($8.50) and Kua Kai ($8.50) to five different varieties of curry ($8.50) including a pineapple curry. Their chef’s specialties of note include volcano shrimp ($13.95) and a red snapper in 3-flavoured sauce ($13.95/market price).

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Pad Kee Mow at Thai Tanee in Dallas.

What we ate: I’m a sucker for Pad Kee Mow. If I could only eat one thing the rest of my life; it’d be Pad Kee Mow, specifically Asian Mint’s version. (Unfortunately their lunch version is 95 cents over my budget.) But Thai Tanee did a great job with this dish ($7.75 with soup and a fried spring roll). Although the chicken tasted like shrimp, the noodles were the perfect size (big flat noodles, but not awkwardly so) and the flavor was spot on. My friend went with the Pad Thai lunch special ($7.75), based on a recommendation printed on the menu in the description that simply says, “So good.” It was, in fact, so good. If I’m honest, I totally out-ordered her with the Pad Kee Mow, but their version of Pad Thai with chicken was exactly what we expected with a sweet, mild flavor, lots of bean sprouts and not-too-sticky rice noodles.

Pad Thai with chicken at Thai Tanee Cafe in Dallas.

Extras: If I hadn’t torn through my meal, I would have loved to try some of their desserts. Green tea ice cream, sweet rice with mango (seasonal) and, the item I’ve been craving lately, fried ice cream. Anyone been here and know if their desserts are worth saving room?

5635 Alpha Road, Dallas, TX 75240

Philly cheese steak sandwich.

Overview: Unpretentious and “relatable,” Tootsie’s Café is every bit as charming as it is quirky. Luckily it’s not their decorating pizzazz or grammatically correct menu that keeps the downtown crowd packing this place for breakfast and lunch. On one side is a dining hall filled with red and white checkered picnic tablecloths and framed Ansel Adams posters along wallpaper that looks like a continuous magic eye stereogram. The hall attaches to the front counter/menu area and a “fixings bar” stocked with sauces ranging from southwest ranch to Sriracha, and looks out on the Tootsie’s slogan hung on a wall, “Home of Fresh Bun.” Not “Home of the Freshly Baked Bun,” or “Home of our Famous Fresh Baked Buns.” Just “Home of Fresh Bun.” See, relatable. To the point. My kind of place. I liked Tootsie’s right from the start, despite the annoyingly yet endearingly cute name.

Menu: Tootsie’s has a truly varied menu, ranging from baked potatoes and salads to burgers and gyros. I’ve heard their salads aren’t much to write home about (basically burger toppings thrown in a bowl), but their breakfast is worth a trip. Cinnamon rolls ($2.99) here are famous and come out, according to one patron, the size of a kindergartner’s head. Hurry, they sell out every day right around 10AM. Quite literally you can get anything on the menu here for less than eight bucks (chicken fried steak combo, $6.29; chicken fajitas, $4.99; tuna melt meal, $6.99; etc.), but anything on one of their fresh baked buns is where I’d choose to spend my dough.

Mushroom Swiss burger on fresh buns.

What we ate: I don’t order burgers. It’s pretty much an unspoken rule I have with myself. It’s not for any other reason than I simply figure there are better meals to spend my precious few calories on when I go out to eat. At Tootsie’s I broke my ru

le, and I’m glad I did. Without thinking I walked right up to the counter and ordered the mushroom Swiss cheeseburger lunch special ($6.47). The burger was pretty, with a nice sheen to the top of “fresh bun” and Swiss-coated mushrooms peeking through a layer of seasoned meat and melted cheese. No condiments needed on this burger. The bun was warm, doughy, and, as I expected, fresh. This was one great burger and was totally worth my calories, even if I had to spend the rest of my day on the treadmill. My friend went with the “Phillies steak cheese sandwich” for $7.38 (again, relatable), and left a bit parched from this bready, dry Philly. (Where do you find a good Philly in Dallas?)

.Extras: They were out of any kind of dessert at the time, so I plan to go back for their $1.29 brownie or the $2.99 cinnamon roll. After I placed my order I overheard handfuls of other diners order their meals with fried okra instead of fries. One woman told me the okra is “why I come here.” But for a real taste of Tootsie’s, make it there in morning (7-10:30AM) for their Texas-sized breakfasts.

400 North St. Paul Street, Dallas, TX 75201

Fresh naan.

Kristy Alpert ‘paks’ in the flavors of the Middle East at Al Markaz Restaurant in Carrollton.

Overview: If you pull up to Al Markaz, see it’s a grocery store, and think you’ve arrived at the wrong place, don’t leave. Just peak through the windows and you’ll a small restaurant in the back area. Like some of the best hole-in-the-wall places, Al Markaz is set in an unassuming shopping center surrounded by corporate loading docks and hid in plain sight off a major highway. It’s an Indian grocery store, restaurant, and catering business all in one, with an amazing selection of meats and pastries just about everywhere you look; I walked in to a steaming tray of phyllo pastries just in time to beat the lunch crowd to the booths.

Menu: Their lunch special is what draws most people to this place … that and the amazingly accurate Pakistani/Indian dishes, of course. For $6.45, you can get three dishes with a side of naan and a salad. But their dinner entrees are incredibly authentic and, even more importantly, consistent. Their most popular dishes are their chicken briyani and seekh kabob, but judging from the looks on the other patron’s faces, they must not have many entrees that don’t delight.

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What we ate: I’m still batting in the minors in my Indian-eating career, so a chance to try different flavors for the $6.45 lunch deal was too good to pass up. My friend and I both ordered our own renditions on the special, but with a strong recommendation from the front counter, we both started with the chicken boti, a boneless chicken seasoned with a spicy dry rub and cooked until tender. The first bite didn’t impress either of us right away, but I’m not sure what “seasonings” they put on that chicken because after bite two neither of us could move away from this delectable dish. It was seriously addicting. For her other two choices, my friend went with Karahi chicken (spicy chicken curry; which lived up to its name with a very nice, not-too-crazy amount of spice to it) and mixed vegetables (which neither of us would recommend; go rice or go home, I say). My two picks included an order of chicken masala, which was quite possibly the best I’ve ever had with tender chicken pieces and a consistently smooth and flavorful sauce, and an order of spinach and lentil dal palak: meh. To wash it all down, we split a mango lassi (basically an Indian smoothie), a delicious blended bevy with fresh sweet and salty mango, yogurt and milk.

Karahi chicken lunch special.

Not-worth-the-stomach-space mixed vegetables.

Extras: The lunch special comes with an order of naan, but if you’re a glutton for greatness, go crazy and order two pieces. They make their naan from scratch daily, and it always comes out piping hot with gorgeous oven blisters gracing a few select bubbles. While I couldn’t even finish my one piece, I would have gladly skipped out on some of the other dishes here to save room for more naan.

Overall: Props, Al Markaz. Mad props.

1205 W. Trinity Mills Rd. Ste 112, Carrollton 75006

LA Burger with K-Town fries at LA Burger in Irving.

This week Kristy Alpert samples some Korean/American fusion at the recently-opened LA Burger in Irving.

Overview: When I walked in to this place for the first time, I expected to find yet another Korean taco joint touting creativity through “fusion” and “flavor.” The walls are painted in a simple two-toned color-scheme of mustard and ketchup, the restaurant sits next to a Domino’s Pizza, and, although I was greeted with an oddly delightful scent of kimchi and garlic, all signs pointed to a “good for them” burger experience. Thankfully, I’ve never been so wrong in my life. Open just a scosh longer than three months, LA Burger is owned and run by brothers Benjamin and Jon Lee. These boys transplanted here from … wait for it … LA (get the name now?) by way of the Air Force, and have set out to bring some of their favorite food styles to their new home in DFW. Although, just like their restaurant, they may look clean cut on the outside, the Lee brothers have some crazy creativity brewing behind closed doors.

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Asian Tacos with bulgogi and dejigogi at LA Burger in Irving.

Menu: I think it’s fair to say this menu will continue to change. These brothers like to play with their food, and I for one am glad they do! They have a great range of burgers, from the Psychedelic with sautéed ‘shrooms and special ‘shroom sauce ($4.95) to their Holy Smokes burger with BBQ sauce, bacon and two crispy onion rings ($5.45). Lighter items include an Ocean Side salmon burger ($6.95), their Naked bun-less burger ($3.95), and salads that start at $6.95. For a taste of what the Lee boys can really do, try the Asian Bulgogi Hogi ($5.75) or the Seoul Dog ($4.95), an American hot dog fused with Korean bulgogi and sautéed kimchi. They make all their kimchi in house, fermenting for at least a week. They have plans to bottle their version of this super food soon and sell to the public … you heard it here first!

What we ate: Suffering from a bout of indecisiveness, my friend and I decided to go halvsies on Benjamin Lee’s recommendations. Yes. Halvsies. We started with the Asian Tacos ($4.95), that came with two bulgogi (Korean “fire beef”) and one dejigogi (Korean “pork beef”) served on a corn tortilla with freshly chopped onions, loads of fresh cilantro and a special sauce. While both were great, the bulgogi was a definite favorite with its sweet yet spicy flavors and oh-so-tender beef. Next we dug into some K-Town fries ($5.75)—a basket of shoe-string French fries loaded (literally loaded) with bulgogi, kimchi, cheese, cilantro, onions and “magic” sauce. De-li-ci-ous. If I’m sending someone to this place, I would make them order this dish. Every bite gave off a burst of flavor. They also do a K-Town version of nachos, where they add jalapenos and homemade tortilla chips. These could easily be an entire meal with as much meat that comes piled on top. But did we stop there? Psh. Next we split the LA Burger ($6.95), formerly the K-Town Burger, that comes with a fried egg (just right: not too runny, not overcooked), kimchi, a teriyaki marinated Angus patty, tomatoes, lettuce and … who cares … their kimchi alone makes this burger amazing. I went through six napkins to get through my half of the burger, and once it was over, I found myself wiping kimchi sauce off all my rings. It was a beautiful thing.

Puffed ice cream burger at LA Burger in Irving.

Extras: When in doubt with this menu, ask one of the Lee brothers what to order. Chances are they’ll blow you away with one of their creations or even whip up something “made-to-order” on the spot. Don’t leave without trying their Puffed Ice Cream Burger ($1.75) if you have any room left. It comes with Blue Bell ice cream sandwiched between Asian puffed rice cakes and tastes like a reinvented ice cream cone.

MacArthur Blvd, Irving, TX 75063

Philly steak sandwich.

Overview: Although this bar and grill has changed names and management about two or three times in the past three years, their core specialty has remained the same: great pub food and cheap booze in a simple setting. Flat screen TVs fill three of the four walls, and although the place is small, there’s ample tall-booth or low-table seating, seats at the bar, and even a shaded outdoor patio that will be great if once we drop below 100-degrees. Whoever was in charge of the music mix the day I was in was spot on with some great jams, making the place feel alive even though it was only filled with a few regulars who each said bye to everyone in the place before heading back to the office. This place feels like an Irving version of Cheers, but with all-day happy hours, $3 shots, all drinks for $3 on Wednesdays, and, ah yea, karaoke every Tuesday night.

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Buffalo chicken sandwich.

Fried pickles.

Menu: This place used to be known for just their wings (they’re still pretty above-average good … and that’s coming from a former wing waitress), but their other menu items are really stepping up to the plate lately. They have a honey BBQ burger ($7.49) made with a medium-well cooked 100 percent USDA Choice Chuck (never frozen) patty, cheddar cheese, smoked bacon bits and BBQ sauce. If you’re looking for cheap, they have nachos for $6.99, 10 wings for $6.99, turkey and cheese sandwich for $5.99, and a grilled cheese sandwich for $2.99. Their side orders are pretty generous portions as well, and include fried jalapenos ($2.50), mini corn dogs ($4.99), onion rings ($1.99), fried squash ($4.99), zucchini fries ($4.99), and other fried goodies.

What we ate: My frugal-food-friend ordered the Philly Cheese Steak sandwich with regular French fries ($7.99), which came out hot with a basket full of beautifully seasoned fries. Let’s just say if you’re looking for a manly, greasy, messy Philly, this isn’t your sandwich. In my opinion, it’s a nice feminine version of the sandwich, which I would have been very pleased with if I had ordered it. My lunch mate on the other hand was hoping for a suck-the-grease-from-your-fingers cheese steak and he was slightly disappointed with this pretty Philly. He ran to the bar immediately and put in an order for fried pickles ($2.50) to offset his disappointment. The French fries were pretty out of this world, seasoned with nothing more than plain salt and pepper. I ordered the original buffalo chicken sandwich with sweet potato fries ($6.99). The chicken didn’t even come close to fitting on the bun, but this is a sandwich I would drive from Dallas to sink my teeth into. I love me some spicy food, and this sandwich gave me a delightful, mini nose run, always a good thing in my book. What I couldn’t finish, my unsatisfied friend quickly gobbled up, adding fried pickles to the buffalo chicken in every bite he took. Gross or awesome?

Extras: If I were, say, coming here for karaoke on a Tuesday, I would be far less concerned with the food (except I’m open to trying their queso with taco meat for $4.99), and far more concerned with their drink specials. Draft beer is $2 for a pint and $8 for a pitcher, and house margaritas are only $3. But who am I kidding, I’d probably give in around my second rendition of “Shoop” and order a rocky road brownie ($3.99) … or two.

8150 N Macarthur Blvd, Irving, TX

This week Kristy Alpert gets down with some cowgirl grub at the Jack Daniel’s Saloon in Gilley’s.

Overview: Owner John Gilbert opened his new saloon concept in January 2011 inside Gilley’s 91,000 square-foot entertainment venue, and, like the venue itself, the restaurant definitely draws a diverse crowd. Exposed brick walls and autographed guitars (Sheryl Crow, Pat Greene, and more) add to the venue-vibe while a massive circular bar sits dead center at the core of the restaurant. Even during the lunch hour, the place felt alive with disco balls gleaming overhead and giant bottles of Jack Daniels sitting in glass cases (they’re empty … I asked). Not only did the décor fit the saloon theme, but the staff plays along as well, yelling from the bar “hey sweetie, where do you want to sit and what are you drinking?” as soon as I walked through the door.

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Menu: In my opinion, the best parts of this menu can be found in the appetizer section. Hannah’s Fried Pickle Chips ($4.95; named after Gilbert’s 11-year-old daughter who gets a batch of these weekly from her dad), Vaquero Quesadillas ($7.50) and giant Texas 1015 Onion Rings ($5.95). Their quesadillas are one of the best things on the menu, loaded with chicken or steak—never skimping on the cheese! They also offer over-sized salads, Southern-style fried baskets, Shiner Bock Chili ($5.50), and tons of great sandwiches and wraps.

What we ate: Already in the saloon mindset, I went with Gilley’s Original BBQ ($6.00) sandwich with slow smoked beef brisket and black pepper BBQ sauce and a side of sweet potato fries. Although the sandwich was excellent once I drenched it in the homemade sauce, the incredibly tender brisket fell out at even the slightest touch, making it hard to eat unless you use a fork and knife. The not-too-thin-not-too-thick sweet potato fries won the meal over for me though, with the perfect combination of sweet and salty in each bite. My good ol’ Texas-boy-at-heart friend went with the bartender’s recommendation: The 1/2 Pound Saloon Burger ($6.95), with American cheese, red onions, lettuce, tomatoes, pickles and an onion and pickle ranch dipping sauce with a side of sweet potato fries and Hannah’s Fried Pickle Chips—his first fried pickle ever, y’all! Again, although this was an above average burger, it was forced to sit in the shadow of those ridiculously awesome fried pickles. Lightly battered, seasoned with salt and peppers (black and cayenne), we both could have made a meal of just pickle chips.

Extras: I would venture to say, based on my experience that their sides rule the roost here. Their desserts are legendary, but they also offer free soft-serve vanilla cones after the meal. If you’re hankering for the Jack Daniel’s Whiskey Chocolate Pecan Pie ($5.95), save room because these portions are huge! The food here is definitely worth the money, and the service was over the top great.

Roast beef sandwich at La Spiga in Addison.

This week Kristy Alpert manga’s some Italiano.

Overview: Tucked away in an ever-so-elusive location in the warehouse district of Addison is where you can [hope to] find Donato and Carolyn Milano’s tantalizing Italian bakery, La Spiga Bakery and Cafe. The scent is so powerful it can’t be contained by brick and glass walls, as patrons can catch their first whiff of warm, baked bread as soon as they step foot into the parking lot. Open since 1994, La Spiga is known for one product: artisanal bread. Boasting hotel, restaurant, and country club clients around Dallas and the ‘burbs, this bakery has made their passion known. But there’s a whole other side to this leavened location.

Boxes of Ruffino Chianti stack against the walls to hold displays of Italian memorabilia and antiqued photography, adding to the already overwhelming sense of comfort to this place (what’s more comforting than the smell of bread, fresh out of the oven?). All their breads are baked daily in brick ovens, and the café serves a varied menu for both breakfast and lunch. The best part of this place? The free samples. Walk through the tight tables to the back of the room to find a buffet of glass jars covering mounds of warm breads, muffins, pastries, homemade butters and jams, and more. From egg and wheat to sundried tomato and lahvosh, if you could sneak into the back unnoticed, you could feast on bread alone … worry about your conscience later. Unfortunately though, you’d be missing out on some amazing lunch dishes.

Tomato soup at La Spiga in Addison.

Menu: La Spiga is a definite bang-for-your-buck place. Their salads are huge and even their half of one of their sandwiches is enough to satisfy a fierce appetite. House (large $4.95), chicken (large $6.95) and Caesar (large $4.95) salads all come with homemade creamy Italian dressing and are themselves an entrée; although most people get a sandwich on the side. All of their soups are made in house and range from $3–6. Although their pastas are all over eight bucks, I’ve heard the penne pasta with vodka cream sauce is heavenly and worth the extra $.75 if you’re trying to stick to the eight-dollar-budget, as is their Bolognese lasagna. Their pizzas are made on the spot and come on homemade square pizza dough with fresh ingredients for only $8.75.

What we ate: Bread. Lots of bread. Like a rookie I ordered way too much food (it all looks so good and it’s so inexpensive!), and started with a cup of tomato basil soup ($3.25) which had a nice hearty consistency that was gently pureed, creamy and delightfully thick. Then we ate more bread. Blueberry muffin tops, cinnamon apple scones, egg bread, and more. My friend ordered the half roast beef sandwich with thinly sliced roast beef, sautéed onions, melted cheese, tomatoes, lettuce and a side of salty homemade chips ($4.25) with a fresh-brewed iced tea ($1.50). The sandwich alone was outstanding, but the homemade horseradish dip took it over the top. I ordered the half Italian ($3.95) with Italian dressing, vinegar and oil, onions, black olives, turkey, ham, pepperoni, and mustard. Both sandwiches were served with warm, doughy bread and lightly browned lunch meat served hot between melted cheese and decadent toppings.

Blurry photo of Italian sandwich at La Spiga in Addison.

Blurry photo of Italian sandwich at La Spiga in Addison.

Extras: Have I mentioned the bread? Good. Get some. But being an Italian bakery, it’d be a shame to leave without a cup of espresso ($1.50) and a slice of Italian cream cake ($3.25). They also have some mighty amazing muffins, brownies, and lemon bars, and if you catch them on a good day you can even try a Godfather-worthy cannoli … leave the gun.

Old School Bowl at b.b.bop rice bowls. Imagine it topped with a fried egg. (photo courtesy of b.b.bop)

Like many of you, I was imprisoned on 75 southbound on Wednesday somewhere between 365 and Woodall Rogers. I was actually on my way to check out a new restaurant when, after 30 minutes in traffic, I realized I wasn’t going anywhere. As I sat on the Lovers Lane exit ramp, waiting for the light to cycle and let two more cars through, I looked to my left. The signage for the newest location of  b.b.bop rice bowls caught my eye. “Forget this,” I said to my date, and took a sharp turn to the left.

jump for the rest…

While I crave bi bim bap on a regular basis, I hadn’t made it in to this new location (the other is in Carrollton) yet—primarily because the location is hard to get to and not especially easy to see from the road. (The new Pho is for Lovers, which I ended up in under similar circumstances last week, just opened in the adjacent strip mall.)

The luck of my happening to stop in when I did: the kitchen had decided to start offering the traditional fried egg topper on their bowls (up to this point, they’ve been serving an omelet-style egg topper). While I realize this change isn’t groundbreaking, it’s important to note because some bbb lovers may have been avoiding the place because of the absence of that essential element.

As flavor insurance, we opted for a variety of sauces from traditional Korean hot sauce to a creamy nut sauce. The meat on the bowls—which by the way, for only $8, provided enough food for dinner last night and lunch today—on our old school and spicy pork bowls (beef and pork respectively) was tender, sweet, and spicy. Veggies crunched, vinegary marinades shone through, and the rice was perfectly glutinous.

Even better, carry-out containers in hand, we were able to get back in the car and head back home–the opposite direction on 75–with no traffic whatsoever.

Could this be the best hummus in Dallas?

This week Kristy Alpert heads east to Cafe Izmir.

Overview: Co-owners Mehdi Nazari, Ali Nazary, and Beau Nazary are on to something. More than 14 years ago they opened Café Izmir on a quest to bring quality Mediterranean food to Dallas. “The closest place to get good Mediterranean food before was in Los Angeles,” says Mehdi Nazari who came to Dallas from Persia. Two years after opening the doors, Café Izmir developed a loyal clientele for their magical mezze for lunch and prompted this family-owned establishment to open the Izmir Market & Deli a few doors down. Just like its sister restaurant, the market offers Mama Nazy’s recipes and an escape into a truly enchanting world.

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Also Mehdi is quite possibly the most adorable human being on the planet. He’s the type of guy you’d want to invite you over to his home for some homemade wine and fresh cheese made from his goat out back. His aversion to hummus makes him even more interesting, especially since Izmir claims to have the “best hummus in Dallas.” “The hummus here is my mama’s recipe,” Nazari says. “It’s the only hummus I will eat. It really is the best.”

Menu: The prices here are beyond reasonable. A Mediterranean cheese plate with feta, dolmas, pita bread, olives, nuts and fruit will only cost you $7.99, and their Mediterranean pizza on a seven-inch pita crust is $6.99 (toppings extra). Other must-try items are their chicken burger ($6.99) that comes with in-house ground chicken with no fat and no skin (just the way Mama made it), tomatoes, lettuce, pickles, mayo, onion and pesto stuffed inside a piece of pita bread. Their eegra (grilled eggplant dip) is another house specialty and comes in three different portion sizes ($4.99/$7.99/$15.99). They also have a fresh feta sandwich ($4.99), which sounds like the perfect Mediterranean sandwich for a hot day, with fresh feta cheese, roma tomatoes, cucumber and basil on warm pita bread.

What we ate: When someone claims to have the “best” something; I’m trying it. We walked in immediately and ordered a bowl of hummus ($4.99) and pita bread ($.60 per piece). With a self-proclaimed “hummus snob” by my side and her 2-year-old daughter with her own already-established affinity for the dip, I honestly wasn’t expecting them to be blown away. A resounding, “That is seriously the best hummus in Dallas,” was followed by “I want a burger” (guess who said what). My friend ordered a delightfully light, yet filling, Turkey Muffaletta ($5.99) with sliced turkey breast, green olive relish, dijon aoli and swiss cheese melted inside a warm fococcia bun, and a side of fresh fruit, while I chose the Lamb Gyro ($5.99) with baked lamb and beef spices, parsley, onions and ziziki sauce, rolled in pita bread, with a side Greek salad topped with homemade balsamic vinaigrette dressing. I wouldn’t be surprised if they started touting the best ziziki sauce pretty soon, because, dang. That sauce made the sandwich.

Extras: Where to start. Aside from the assortment of  sandwiches and salads,  you can head down the street to the market to pick up hummus, bags of borage and couscous, and an amazing selection of Mediterranean desserts, from fresh baklava ($2.75) to homemade Greek butter cookies ($.89). Don’t leave without trying the Turkish coffee ($2.75). You’ll thank me later.

This week I headed to Oak Cliff to find one of my favorite hole-in-the-wall restaurants. I can’t even remember its name but I knew where to go. I’ve been living out of Dallas for a while but that didn’t soften the blow when I looked up to find my beloved dive is now another location of Ojedas. We decided to turn around and hit El Ranchito, the lively Tex-Mex with a touch of Monterrey restaurant run by owners Oscar and Laura Sanchez who also operate two locations of Calle Doce.

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Enchiladas rice and beans at El Ranchito in Oak Cliff.

We opened the door and were welcomed by the smell of warm tortillas, freshly hand-made in the tortilla station. It wasn’t but a minute after we were seated that our waiter brought us fresh tortilla chips and individual bowls of salsa (I love when restaurants do that!). Painted clay vases lined the shelves behind multi-colored paper lanterns hung from the exposed wood-beam ceiling, and the décor truly showcased Texan and Mexican flare with bright painted chairs on the floor and Mavs jerseys framed on the walls (Dal-Mex, maybe?).

After grazing on chips and salsa (heavy on the cilantro, a huge plus in my book), our food came out piping hot. Sometimes it’s a great thing when food doesn’t photograph well, and in this case, the fact that neither of these dishes look appetizing on camera is a great thing. My friend ordered the cheese enchilada special ($5.99) based on her theory that the best way to judge a place is to see how they handle the basics. Her platter was a hot mess, in the best sense of the phrase. The picture looks revolting, but every bite was delicious. It came with two cheese enchiladas in homemade corn tortillas, smothered with a chili-gravy sauce with cheese and accompanied by buttery-smooth refried beans and Spanish rice.

Chicken mole enchilada with soft cheese tacco and rice at El Ranchito in Oak Cliff.

I ordered the #4 Tex-Mex lunch special ($7.50) that came with a soft cheese taco in a homemade corn tortilla drenched in a cheese sauce, a chicken mole enchilada, and a side of Spanish rice. While the cheese taco was authentic “old-school” Tex-Mex, the enchilada was covered with a thick black sauce with a subtle perfect blend of sweet, savory, and spicy flavors which enhanced loads of seasoned, shredded chicken inside the fresh corn tortilla. Definitely recommend this to your friends on your next lunch out to this place.

Overall: This place is popular, festive, and satisfying. I could see this being on a regular rotation for lunch groups; and judging by the tables full of Dallas County Police “people,” it’s already a regular stop for most people craving authentic Tex-Mex. Not only do they have a ton of lunch specials for way less than eight bucks, but most of their regular menu items fall below the mark as well, from tortas and hamburguesas Mexicanas to Mexican salad and chalupas.

610 West Jefferson Ave., Dallas, 75208

Well Dishers? Where should I go next for my $8 lunch?

Kristy Alpert’s latest report on where you can find great food for less than eight dollars.

Trying desperately to satiate the serious travel bug I’ve come down with lately, and gearing up for some reggae tunes from a local-Texas-boy at the Cas Haley concert later that night, I grabbed my beach-bumming friend and headed out to The Island Spot in Carrollton. I figured if I couldn’t be on a beach in the Caribbean, at least I could eat some Caribbean fare. Lucky for us, The Island Spot is authentically Caribbean, down to the chill attitudes and friendly smiles.

As soon as I got out of my car, I could see through the window and watched a waiter rush from the back of the restaurant to open the door and greet us with an overly excited, “Welcome to The Island Spot. So glad you’re here mon!”

Jump for jerk

We ordered our food and sat back to enjoy the laid back atmosphere and smooth reggae beats coming from a flat screen on the back wall. This place was opened last year by Jamaican-born Charis Clemetson and several Caribbean partners. Their passion to create an Island authentic experience is evident: a steel drum band plays every Friday night. Dancing is optional but inevitable.

The food came out on two large platters. My lunchmate went with the jerk chicken lunch special ($5.99) with homemade jerk BBQ sauce (sweet with a hint of spice), red beans and rice, and sautéed veggies (a mix of shredded carrots, cabbage, and onions). I went with the jerk chicken entrée ($7.95) with their spicy, homemade Jerk sauce, rice and peas, and plantains. Somehow my rice and peas turned into red beans and rice from the time I ordered, but honestly, they looked so good I didn’t totally care.

Both entrees were bone-in chicken, marinated and smoked in a special The Island Spot’s blend of jerk seasoning, with sauce on the side. The chicken didn’t need any sauce at all and was so tender the meat fell off the bone at the touch of a fork. (I would bathe in the rub they put on that chicken.) Although the red beans and rice lacked flavor, my friend doused hers with BBQ jerk sauce. I hope they start selling their sauces, because both were outstanding. The BBQ was slightly sweet and perfectly spicy, and my straight-up spicy jerk sauce kept my nose running for hours after I’d left. The plantains were perfect. ‘Nuff said. Lightly crispy and warm from the pan on the outside and soft and subtly sweet inside.

Overall: Great way to get a taste of the Caribbean in Dallas. The lunch portion was large, and the full entrée was too much to eat in one setting. This is a great value and they have some great sides–coco bread, bammy, fritters, doppers—that I have yet to sample. They also have beef or chicken patties ($2.50) like the ones I ate on my honeymoon in Jamaica three years ago. The only thing missing from is a margarita machine (IJS), but Clemetson and her team are hoping to get approved for their license in July. They will begin offering a weekly Sunday brunch (buffet style), kicking off this Sunday, 6/19, for Father’s Day. Part of the beauty of The Island Spot is that it is still relatively undiscovered, so get there before everyone starts realizing how great this place is.

2661 Midway Rd., Ste 106, Carrollton 75006

Well Dishers? Where should I go next for my $8 lunch?

The media noche at International Bakery Cuban Dulceria.

Kristy Alpert’s latest report on where you can find great food for less than eight dollars.

For this week’s lunch “under” eight dollars, I headed to Carrollton for a Cuban food at International Bakery: Cuban Dulceria. I tried, truly I did, to stick to the $8 limit. However on this day I was on a quest to enlighten my mom on the deliciousness of Cuban cuisine. For her, I spared no expense—you can only have your first bite of a Cuban sandwich once. What we ended up having could be considered complete Cuban enlightenment.

Nestled between Target and Petco, and behind a Chili’s, once you are inside the door of this hole-in-the-wall bakery the strip-mall surroundings disappear and you are transported to tiny shop in Havana. The walls are covered with bright paintings and black-and-white family pictures. The shelves are full of aged wooden crates, nostalgic cigar boxes, and Cuban groceries.  They only have a handful of tables, most customers grab their baked goods to-go, but we choose to sit and enjoy the whole experience.

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The media noche at International Bakery Cuban Dulceria.

It’s hard to believe this little bakery has been up and running since 1979. Owners Rita and Sara Vazquez, once formidable fashion designers for Havana 1515, their line of high-end home accessories influenced by their Cuban roots. They quit the fashion biz to run the shop when their father retired.

One of sisters greeted us right away and recommended we try the homemade Cuban juice ($1.50 each) she just finished mixing together. As we waited for our sandwiches, I sipped my guahabana juice (soursop) and my mom sipped on her maracuya (passion fruit) juice while the sister went to make our lunch.

The sandwiches came out deli-style, in a black basket with butcher paper ala high school lunches, but the sandwiches were far from anything you’d ever find in a cafeteria. I ordered the Media Noche ($5.50), warm freshly pressed sandwich filled with roasted, shredded pork which had been marinated in a homemade mojo sauce and cooked all night. The pork was covered with ham, melted cheese, and pickles placed between two slices of homemade, sweet Cuban bread. My mom went with the traditional El Cubano ($5.50) with the same ingredients served on slightly less sweet Cuban bread. We both fully intended to only eat half of the sandwich and take the rest to eat later, but quickly found ourselves devouring every last bite and chatting with the sisters.

Sensing we were suckers for their stuff, they told us we couldn’t leave without trying their coffee and baked goods. Although I technically shouldn’t include this part in the review since I had now spent more than eight bucks on my meal, it was too good to leave behind. The Café Cubano ($1.85) was excellent as was my mom’s Cortadito ($2.25) coffee. Both came in perfectly small portion sizes, just enough to compliment the heavenly macaroon ($1.00) we split.

Overall: I’ve heard about this place from a lot of different people but sitting at the tables made us feel like regulars every time someone walked through the door and checked out our table full of food. My mom was quick to make recommendations with the authority of a seasoned Cuban food authority. Always behind the counter, Rita and add a vibrant and passionate vibe to your lunch. Yes, we fudged our budget by spending a little more than eight dollars each but we left feeling like we had just been out of the country for less than it would cost to rent a taxi to the airport. Pretty great budget travel if you ask me!

Well Dishers? Where should I go next for my $8 lunch?