Southern’s at PBK (Main
Street, Pflugerville, TX) – August 2015
I
wanted to take my friend out for her birthday dinner to someplace which was
both nice and casual at the same time.
Since I’d been here previously, I knew this would be a great venue. We sat outside on the patio, but were able to
stay cool in the summer afternoon heat thanks to the strategically-placed
misters.
The
service was great, and the atmosphere was enhanced by a singer who was not too
loud for the venue. Perfect setting for
a couple’s dinner. I had the pot roast,
and the meat was very tender without much fat.
My friend had a chicken sandwich, as her appetite was lighter, and she
enjoyed the taste. We opted for
desserts, and shared the banana pudding (in a mason jar), and the root beer
float (sans alcohol).
We got
there right before the dinner rush, so we had most of the place to ourselves
(and were able to be sat in one of the nice shady areas). Even when the place filled up, the acoustics
of the patio area still made it able to have normal conversation with each
other without having to compete with nearby tables.
Again,
it was another great experience here. I
highly recommend this place to anyone in the Pflugerville regions. And it’s worth the trip from other areas too.
Tres Amigos (Route 290,
Austin, TX) – August 2015
We
were looking for a place lunch which was equal distances from our offices, and
would be easy to get during the noon hour.
This came up as a good place to try.
As it’s located near where 290 and 183 meet, it’s easy to get to, plus
has good parking. The interior was nice
and spacious, and wasn’t too crowded with a lunch rush.
Between
the queso and tortilla soup we had, that was enough to have something to much
on as business was discussed. The drink
menu looked good, but we passed on those as this we were on work-time. Our appetizers were tasty, although the queso
was a bit more watery than what I’m used to getting.
Service
was friendly, and the atmosphere was nice.
This was a good place for lunch, and is worth coming back to so the full
range of the menu could be investigated.
Mesa Rosa (IH-35, Round
Rock, TX) –August 2015
My
friend and I wanted a place to have a few drinks and a light dinner before
heading out for evening activities, and this was pretty close to our target
destination. We sat at the bar, instead
of getting a table, which made it easier for our server to refill the margaritas. We shared some queso and cheese enchiladas,
which were as good as any other time I’ve been here. There are few places in Round Rock to go for
decent Tex-Mex, and this is at the top of the list as far as I’m concern. Every visit I’ve had here always has resulted
in good food and great service, so that’s why I continue to come back here.
Turkey Creek Trail
(Emma Long Park, Austin, TX) – August 2015
When
you turn off FM 2222 on to City Park Road, be prepared to go over lots of hills
and curves as you head towards Emma Long Park.
The park itself is a large flat area on the shores of the Colorado River
with plenty of space for camping (whether via tent or tailgate). A $10 admission fee gives you access to the
park all day.
About
two winding miles prior to the lake’s edge was a small parking lot with the
trail head to the Turkey Creek Trail (not to be confused with the Turkey Creek
Shelter, which was closer to the lake).
The trail makes a loop of about three miles following the creek bed and
up hills with an elevation change which presents an easy challenge. Garbage cans and a dog bag post are also
located near the trail head so whatever is taken is can be brought out.
The
trail is forested, so you don’t get a view of the hill country or the lake, but
that in no way should detract from your enjoyment of the trail. Keep in mind that most people who use the
trail have their dogs off leash. But
since the entrance to Turkey Creek Trail is before the admission gate, there’s
no restroom facilities or water stops, so be sure to hike within your
capability.
Star Co Coffee (Main
St, Round Rock, TX) – August 2015
This
had been nestled in downtown Round Rock for years, but at a slightly different
location. The new address (which has
been open since at least the start of the year), retains the charm of the
original spot. Chairs and tables are
placed in a spacious arrangements to provide a nice meeting area, and there’s a
private room in the back which can be secured for more private functions.
The
coffee and the book lending library still make this a place to relax. One addition has been the availability of
Amy’s Ice Cream, which in my experience hasn’t been previously available in
Round Rock.
Because
Star Co is located right next to the parking garage, you don’t have to go too
far away from your car. This makes it a
nice intimate place for any social gathering.
Green Mesquite (Louis
Henna Blvd, Round Rock, TX) – August 2015
Tucked
away in this shopping plaza can be found this location of the local
Austin-based BBQ chain. The seating area
is large, and the tables are spread out, so even if you came in when it was
crowded you wouldn’t feel like you were squished next to other patrons. There’s also a side room which can be used
from private gatherings or additional seating.
Menus
are on the tables, so you can place your order with the wait staff. I ordered the chopped beef sandwich, and my
friend got the two meat platter (you could tell who was hungrier). Both came with sides. The meats were tasty, and everything was
cooked well. Service was good.
And
since we were here in between the rush periods, the place was quiet. Beer selections are available, and TV’s are
mounted on the wall, so this will serve as a good place to go to watch your
favorite sporting event.
Verde’s Mexican
Parrilla (IH-35, Round Rock, TX) – August 2015
Located
in space which used to house Homefield Grill, this is an “interior Mexican
food” establishment, as opposed to a “Tex-Mex” place. Because of the location, there’s plenty of
parking available, and it’s easily accessible from the highway. While there’s ample patio seating out front,
there’s also plenty of space inside. The
interior décor is elegant and comforting, and not at all noisy.
My
friend and I ordered different dishes so we could share them. She got the Pollo Palomino, which was a
roasted chicken breast topped with avocado, cheese, and a poblano cream sauce
which really pulled the dish together. I
enjoyed their enchiladas, which was chicken and tortilla layers covered in the
poblano cream sauce. I rather liked the
sauce, as it has a good flavor without being spicy or having any heat. Both dishes were excellent.
Our
server was very attentive, and answered the questions about the menu before we
ordered. There was also happy hour
specials going on, so we were able to get a mojito to have with our food. This place hasn’t been open very long, and it
was worth coming here. This is a
recommended place to go.
Kerbey Lane (South
Lamar, Austin, TX) – August 2015
This
classic Austin establishment has a number of locations, and this was one which
I rarely get the chance to visit. As
it’s located at the corner lot of a strip center, there’s plenty of interior
space as well as parking. Being
accessible, and not having a long wait time, are important to continued
patronage at restaurants.
The
menus at Kerbey Lane are the same at each of locations, so that gives a sense
of familiarity. Service were was quick
and friendly, and we were constantly checked on to make sure all was okay or to
refill our water glasses. I had the
ever-good migas, and my friend had a salad.
Sure there were other places we could’ve gone, but we chose that one
because we knew the quality of the service and food would be stellar.
Blue Corn Harvest (Whitestone
Blvd, Cedar Park, TX) – September 2015
My
friend and I were looking for a nice casual place to eat out, and the
suggestion was made to come here. I’d
been here for drinks and appetizers previously, but never an actual dinner, so
that was reason enough to come. As it’s
located in a plaza off of 1431, it’s easy to get to from the highway, and
there’s plenty of parking.
As the
weather was pleasant, we had the choice to sit outside on the patio or inside
(we took first available, as either option was good as far as we were
concerned). Our server Emilia was very
attentive to us, even though it took us some time to figure out what we wanted
due to our conversations. And even after
our meals were delivered, Emilia kept checking on us to make sure all was okay,
and to refill our water glasses.
My
friend ordered the grilled chicken cotija pasta, and I got the chicken fried
chicken. We shared our dishes with each
other, so we could comment on the taste.
The pasta has a great taste due to the herb cream sauce really brought
out the taste of the main ingredients. I
had a large piece of breast meat for my chicken fried chicken which was lightly
breaded, but the gravy was thickly coated.
Each bite was loaded with flavor.
Both dishes had veggies on the side, which were fresh and crisp.
We
indulged in dessert, and shared a piece of the peanut butter pie. This was a thick slice of PB filling topped
with whipped cream and chocolate syrup.
Emilia let us know the desserts were hand-made, so she couldn’t answer
our debate of how many calories it might’ve had. But since it was so delicious and made from
scratch, my friend and I decided the point was moot.
We had
a great meal and excellent service, and it showed we made the right choice for
dinner. This is a highly recommended
place to frequent. And as this is a
local Texas establishment, not a national chain, you know you’re spending your
money locally. The outside patio also
has live music, so it makes a great destination for couples who want to have a
nice night out at a reasonable price.
Panera Bread (Gateway
Plaza, Austin, TX) – September 2015
This
was recommended by my mentor as a place to us to meet and have a good
lunch. Located in a corner section of
Gateway Plaza near REI, there’s plenty of parking and the location is easy to
get to no matter which direction you come from.
While there’s many tables inside, there’s also a dozen or so table
outside near some trees which provide an alternative when the weather was nice
(like it was today).
I
ordered the frontega chicken Panini, which came out to me hot and the cheese
melting. The amount of meat on this was
far less than I gotten at similar locations.
That was my only quibble with the sandwich, and apparently that’s just
the way it’s made. The bread which made
up the Panini was very good, but that was over fifty-percent of the entire
meal.
This
was my first experience with this chain, and it was adequate. I wouldn’t be opposed to coming back here,
but I’ll just know the protein level is far less than the carb level. The location was really what made this a
pleasant dining experience.
Hangout (Main Street, Seal
Beach, CA) – September 2015
While
on vacation in the region, I made two stops to this great establishment, as it
was a place I visited regularly when I’d be out here for business
purposes. The first time was when we
stopped in for lunch right after we arrived in the area. Sure it was a little noisy due to number of
people there, but there was no wait on getting a table. Our server, Ally, made a nice return welcome
for me (my companions had never been here before), and she did an excellent job
keeping our water glasses filled.
I got
the classic cheese burger with fries, which was thick and juicy. The other members of my party also got
burgers, which they commented they enjoyed very much. As a lunch destination, my companions could
tell why I liked the friendly atmosphere of this place and the great food
server here.
For
our last meal before it was time for us to depart the area. It was a Saturday night when we stopped in
for dinner, and while it was busy we were still able to get seated
quickly. The craft beer menu rotates on
a regular basis, so there’s always going to be something new to drink. For our meals one of my party got the brisket
plate; the other companion and myself each got the chicken fried chicken
dinner. The seasonal vegetable was
collard greens, which weren’t that impressive.
But the meat was great. The
brisket was moist and chewy, with only minimal amounts of fat. The breading on the chicken was the
appropriate thickness so it didn’t overpower the taste of the meat. The country gravy wasn’t as thick as I
remembered it, but it was still good.
The
great service and good food reinforced why I frequented this place on my visits
to the region. The vast majority of the
patrons were locals (whole families, or just couples of varying ages) who gave
the establishment a welcoming feel. Dining
here is like eating in a roomful of close family and good friends, while being
attended to by excellent staff.
Hampton Inn &
Suites (Seal Beach Blvd, Seal Beach, CA) – September 2015
Since
I’d stay at this property when I’d come out the area for business, it only made
sense to stay here when I was coming here for vacation. Being centrally located to the attractions I
wanted to see was one of the major factors, and another was the quality of the
breakfast items. Because I was
travelling with people on this trip, it made sense for us to get a single room,
one which had two queen beds. The room
was on the third floor (which I liked), and on the front side of the building
(so it was warmer when we’d return in the afternoon). The room was clean and neat, just like any of
the times I’d come on business.
This
hotel has an outdoor hot tub and a heated pool, which can only be accessed via
room card, a business center with computer and printer, and laundry facilities
for guest use. The amenity which I use
the most was the fitness center, with its selection of treadmills and free
weights.
A hot
breakfast was provided each morning, which consisted of eggs (in various
styles) coupled with another meat or potatoes.
Additional items were oatmeal, fresh fruit, a selection of breads and
muffins, waffles, cereal, and yogurt.
Various juices, milk, coffee, and tea were also available, and items
were constantly replenished by the staff frequently to ensure freshness.
In the
afternoon fresh-baked cookies would be available at the front desk, which have
always been a tasty treat for me whenever I’ve stayed here. The staff was regularly amused by the antics
of my party when we’d leave in the morning, and comment that we’d make sure we
were back in time for the cookies.
Since
I’d stayed here previously, the first-floor lounge area had the furnishings
changed. Previously there were more
small tables and sturdy chairs, and now there were more plush lounging pieces
available. These newer pieces gave a
more relaxing feel to the lounge, and a warmer look to the room, but was a
little more difficult during the breakfast to have a sturdy place to sit. That’s an observation, not a criticism.
I
thoroughly enjoyed my stay, and the staff was as friendly as I recalled. Many of them were the same faces I saw on my
previous business trips, so it added a home feel to the property. My only suggestion would be the addition of
small fridges in the rooms so guests could keep drinks cold in their
rooms. There’s a very limited fridge
quantity available here, and it’s never something I’ve been able to obtain
during any of my reservations. That was
my only issue with the entire stay, and it was only a minor inconvenience.
Denny’s (Seal Beach
Blvd, Seal Beach, CA) – September 2015
While
I prefer eating at local establishments over national chains, the people I was
travelling with wanted to have some “familiar tastes” for a couple meals. Thus while we were in the area, we made two
stops to this location within the same week.
The first was a late dinner after a long day of car travel. My appetizer was a peanut butter milkshake,
which was very thick and tasty, and I nearly had finished it by the time my
main meal had arrived. For dinner I got
the bourbon chicken with a side of broccoli.
The meat was tender, and the sauce was tangy, so it made for a good
filling meal.
Later
in the week, my party wanted a variation from the complimentary hotel
breakfast, so we came here. We each got
our own Build Your Own Slams; mine was scrambled eggs with cheese, turkey
sausage, home fries, and English muffin, washed down by a large glass of apple
juice. It gave me the fuel I needed to
keep going all day.
Even
though we went here at different times of the day, the same staff was there each
time. They were adequate, but no
extra-special service which made the visit memorable. The establishment was clean, and the location
was easily accessible from the street.
Denny’s food is good, so this is a good place to go in a punch when
there’s no other choices available.
Reagan
Café (Presidential Drive, Simi Valley, CA) – September 2015
There
are two places to eat within the Reagan Presidential Library, and this one can
be reached without paying the admission to the museum. This makes it a nice venue for private
gatherings where a view of the hills in the region. There are both pre-packed items available,
and a grill for made-to-order things. We
got the pre-made turkey & cheese sandwiches with chips and drink, as we
need a quick break for refreshments while going through the museum. There was nothing spectacular about the food,
so it was filing and tasty. Due to
conferences which were going on that day, most of the available seating was not
available to the museum patrons. There
were a number of outdoor tables, but few had shady spaces. This had a better selection of food items
than the café located inside the museum, so this was the more-desired place to
go when spending the day at the museum.
Hennessey’s (Main
Street, Seal Beach, CA) – September 2015
We
came here during the Sunday dinner rush, so while we didn’t have any difficulty
in getting a table, the interior was a bit noisy. I’d been here before on previous trips, but
it would be the first for the rest of my party.
As parking at Seal Beach can be hard to find, it’s nice that this place
has its own lot set aside for their patrons.
We had great service from Bethany, who made us feel welcome.
The
shepherd’s pie was what I had on my last visit, so I made sure to get it again. It was just as good as I recalled. Very meaty and yummy, and it was nice to
experience an old favorite. The rest of
my party had the Jameson ribs, and the prime dip sandwich, both of which were
reported to be delicious.
We
stopped by a couple days later for some appetizers during the dinner hour. It was far less noisy then, but still just as
welcoming. We shared orders of chicken
fingers and potato skins, and was just enough for a light meal. This is one of my favorite locations in Seal
Beach, and I highly recommend it to anyone who happens to be in the area. It’s a great place.
Cold Stone Creamery (Main
Street, Seal Beach, CA) – September 2015
During our week’s stay in Seal Beach, we hit this
place a couple times to get a tasty treat.
Depending on when you get there depends on how long of a line there may
be, but it usually moves pretty well.
It’s nice to be able to sample flavors.
My personal favorite was the banana ice cream with the crushed up
Reese’s Pieces in it. My companions went
for the chocolate with the Butterfinger particles. This is a nice place to get a snack before or
after taking a walk on the pier.
Seal Beach Pier &
Beach (Seal Beach, CA) – September 2015
Whenever I came out here for business, I made sure to
take a walk each night along the pier.
Now that I was here for vacation, that trend continued. As well as enjoying the beach itself. There’s a building at the end of the pier
which may have been a restaurant at one point, but it’s now gated off, so you
can’t walk all the way to the end of the pier.
You can still go out far enough to get a good view of the sun setting.
The
beach itself is clean. A lot is nearby
so you can park (for a fee), and there’s bathrooms under the pier for changing
into swim suits. A shower station is
available for those who need to wash the sand off. The pier makes a good shady area to escape
the sun during days hanging out at the beach.
There’s enough space available that even when it is full, it doesn’t
feel crowded. Both of these should be
visited when coming to the area.
Knowlwood (La Palma
Ave, Anaheim, CA) – September 2015
I was
actually heading for the Santa Ana location, but the GPS brought me here. It was great, because I hadn’t been to this
location previously. Located right off
the highway, there’s plenty of parking, although complex its’ located in was
hard to navigate because of current construction. The building looked like a barn which had
been repurposed, although considering the location it was probably designed
that way.
This
regional chain was known for its quality of burgers, and it’s a well-deserved
reputation. My party (most who had never
been to one of these before) wanted to try a variety of what was available on
the menu. I got the BBQ chicken
sandwich. My companions got the fish
fillet, and the French beef dip sandwich.
Each item came wrapped in wax paper, to help cut down on the getting the
dripping juices all over you. Everything
was tasty, but I thought the piece of chicken was a bit thin when compared to
the amount of bread I had.
The
place was clean, and the server was friendly and accommodating. Even though we’d arrived during the lunch
hour, this place wasn’t crowded and there were plenty of seating available. For those who live or work in the area, this
is a great destination for a meal at any time of day.
O’Malley’s on Main (Main
Street, Seal Beach, CA) – September 2015
Since
I was back in the area for a visit and showing all the places I liked to people
who’d never been here before, I made sure we did dinner at this great Irish
pub. We ended up eating a fairly light
dinner. I ordered the whiskey turkey, as
it was something on the menu I hadn’t previously gotten. I was expecting an actual hunk of meat on a
dinner plate, but it came as a wrap. It
was tasty, but not what I expected. I
found the veggies for the side-dish to be a little sparse, so overall the meal
wasn’t filling. The sandwiches the rest
of my party got were reported to be good.
The service inside was as friendly as my previous visits, and the
interior is perfect in recreating the feel of a traditional Irish pub. This is still a place I recommend people to
go when in the area.
Queen
Mary & Scorpion Submarine (Long Beach, CA) – September 2015
Docked at the Long Beach Harbor are two interesting
vessels to check out, the Queen Mary and the Scorpion Submarine. The Queen Mary was used as a luxury cruise
ship for years before being retired to this area to become a floating luxury
hotel and fine dining establishment. In
order to board, tickets needed to be purchased for one of the many available
shows, or planning on eating. We just
wanted to take a look at the interior furnishings, but it was pointed out by
one of my companions it probably looked no different than any other cruise ship
she’d been on. The Scorpion Submarine
was a captured Soviet vessel which normally could be toured, but it was
currently closed for maintenance. A
small nearby building was where tickets were purchased to gain entry to the
submarine, as well as other souvenirs.
Both of these are interesting pieces of history which should be visited
when the opportunity presents itself.
Duke’s (Pacific Coast
Highway, Huntington Beach, CA) – September 2015
We
arrived here in order to meet one of my friends who lived in the area so we
could have an early dinner.
Unfortunately we didn’t realize it would be another two hours before the
dining room was technically open (which would be 5 pm), so we weren’t able to
sit in a place where we could get a view of the ocean. The only place we could get a table was the
Barefoot Bar. Since we hadn’t eaten all
day, we couldn’t wait until the dining area was available, so we got items off
the appetizer menu.
I was
different as I ordered the BBQ burger sandwich, while the rest of my table each
got a fish fry. We all took the
opportunity to have an alcoholic beverage, and I did the Lava Flow. This was a drink I’d gotten on a previous
visit, and was as close as I could get to the rum punches I like so much. All the drinks were good, and food filling
and tasty (even though it wasn’t the completely filling meal we’d been looking
forward to).
Duke’s
a great place to go for quality food and excellent views, especially during
sunsets. This is a recommended venue to
go. Valet parking is available, as well
as the pay lot next door.
Ruby’s (Pacific Coast Highway,
Seal Beach, CA) – September 2015
I’d
been to another location of these regional chain, so I knew what was available,
and thus was able to recommend it to my group when we were looking for a place
to get a late lunch. Ruby’s is designed
to give the feel of a 1950’s style dinner, and it’s pulled off well. Everything is bright and shiny, and the red
& white striped motif is a continuous theme wherever possible.
I
started with a peanut butter milkshake as my appetizer. I like how the metal container which the
shake is made in is also brought to the table, as there’s enough left in there
to refill the glass. My meal consisted
of the Classic Ruby Burger, and my companions had the Chicken Ruby Burger and
the grilled cheese. There were a rather
large amount of fries which came with the meal, and it would be nice to have
been able to substitute that for something less starchy. The burger were juicy and tasty.
Located
at the corner of a busy intersection could present a challenge when pulling in,
and the parking lot is essentially on the backside of the building. But the interior was clean and spacious, and
the service was friendly. The only thing
which was missing on this visit was the servers getting up and dancing on the
tables.
River’s End Café (First
Street, Seal Beach, CA) – September 2015
At the
far end of Ocean Ave where the beach ends at the San Gabriel River is a small
establishment tucked away next to a public pay parking lot. This is primarily an outdoor patio café,
although there was very limited covered and indoor seating. Our server informed us they didn’t have a
liquor license which allowed them to make alcoholic drinks, but they could only
serve what came in bottles. The dessert
menu was also pretty limited too.
As far
as what was available for dinner, there were some decent choices. I got the mango chicken, which was very good,
although it needed something else besides rice as a side to complete the
meal. The rest of my party got the
sirloin (which was okay), but the apple gravy pork chops was exceptional in taste
so much that my companion went looking online to see the recipe so she could
figure out how to make this.
The
view from our table was very nice, being able to see the expanse of the beach
to the east, and the sunset on the west.
That made up for not being able to have a mixed drink with dinner. This is a good place to go in the evening to
wind down the day.
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