Paco and John Mexican Diner

Have you met Paco? I have. And he's now one of my favorite restauranteurs.

I am writing this review again after several more visits to what has become our second favorite place to eat in Fort Worth. I don't know how anyone could have doubted our choice, since our favorite is John's restaurant of Paco & John... St. Emilion.

Last weekend Hambre Esposo & his wife joined Foodie and hubby at Paco & John for what turned out to be the most exciting visit to date. Side note: We have gone to eat brunch just about every weekend for the past month - see future posting on the brunch options. Back to the surprise - the dinner menu has been updated!! Not that the menu was bad before, but for all your veg eaters out there you have more than one option.

Here are a few of the newest additions to the dinner menu - the street taco's are available, vegetable enchiladas, spinach & cheese enchiladas, and I think there are a few more - I was so excited I forgot to write them all down.

Of course I had a hard time deciding since I thought I was just going to have to have the Chile Reino again. But, I finally nailed it down to the vegetarian enchilada plate (served with a side of rice, no beans). The plate included two of their sauteed vegetable enchiladas with a spinach & cheese enchilada in the middle. What a feast. The vegetable enchiladas are fantastic. It's the same mix of veggies that they use in their vegetable & sweet potato breakfast burrito - roasted peppers, zucchini, squash, mushrooms, and onion. They are all seasoned perfectly and cooked just right to be in an enchilada. The spinach & cheese was okay - but next time I will order all veggie...

Of course the same starters are available - complimentary chips & their great salsa, quesos (crab, chirizo, and a new one with roasted peppers/onion), guacamole.

If you have not had a chance to try this new jewel in the Southside - don't waste another day. Remember for now BYOB and they are closed on Monday's.

Ranking: 4 Carrots

Yogi's Bagel Cafe

Small place, Strange name, Great breakfast.

Hubby and I found this place thanks to the title company we went to several years ago when we bought our house. We had been a few times (mostly bagels & cream cheese visits), but hadn't been in at least a year and a half.

Hubby's sister came to town a few weekends ago and we needed some place new to take her. We decided to give Yogi's Bagel a try once again. I have to say if you're claustrophobic this is not the place for you. It was Sunday morning and the place was hoping. The line was to the door, the tables were full, and it just kept getting more crowded the later it got.

For those of you who have never been, the menu is so full it's almost overwhelming. If you have a hard time making decisions - I highly recommend you check the menu out before you go. This place runs like the "soup Nazi" from Seinfeld - when it's your turn to order in line, you better know what you want.

They are well known for their "coffee bar" - probably 15 different types of coffee are fresh brewed with a "help yourself" type attitude. Also available is pre-packaged house made cream cheese and any type of bagel you can imagine.

Upon this last visit there was a wide range of ordering - Breakfast Taco (egg, cheese and potato), eggs/waffle/toast/meat, and Migas. Nothing is ever "bad", but they do have so many things on the menu - I think they make some things better than others. I highly recommend sticking to the "original" American type breakfast while here.

Don't be afraid to call ahead or take things to go. I have gone in many mornings and picked up bagels & cream cheese to go. The bagels are made fresh every day and the cream cheese (flavors & original) are prepared in house.

Ranking: 3 carrots

Ellerbe Fine Foods

I know the reviews have been mixed, mine is no different.

About a month ago my mother-in-law came to town and hubby and I decided we should treat her to one of our fine establishments in our area. Since we had been dying to go to Ellerbe's we thought there couldn't be a better occasion.

We made reservations for 7:30 on a Saturday, and arrived to find a fairly full restaurant. Tables are presented with simplicity accompanied by a menu printed and posted on a wood board and attached by rubber band. Each table is topped with a vase of the herbs from their garden on site. I know what you are thinking -are you talking "country kitch"? Not quite - think simple French country.

The menu is limited, but created seasonally with high quality meats, vegetables and herbs. Each dish is paired perfectly - meat with a vegetable. Now, on to the more disappointing part of my evening. There is one salad that is prepared vegetarian right off the menu, but not one entree on the menu that is vegetarian.

Fresh french bread is served with creamed butter and Hawaiian pink sea salt. The trio is wonderful, a delightfully sweat treat to start.

The salad of choice was the Mexia Peaches and Deborah's Farmstead Chevre. The citrus vinaigrette was just delightful and paired perfectly with the peaches and Chevre.

On to the main course. I was so disappointed when the waitress gave pause to my question regarding a vegetarian dish. Almost half of their vegetable sides are created using chicken broth or cooked with a meat product, leaving me with a less than desirable option. I just couldn't believe that a restaurant located on Magnolia would find it acceptable to have a menu with no vegetarian alternative. I felt that as a restaurant who touts their fresh, local, simple - what better blank canvas than to create a masterpiece for the vegetarians that frequent the Southside.

Nonetheless, I was brought a dish of soup broth with summer vegetables topped with their fried okra. The vegetables included, squash, zucchini, green beans, asparagus and peppers. The broth was seasoned perfectly and would have been great for a soup. The vegetables were grilled and had no flavor beyond the broth. The okra was breaded and seasoned perfectly and actually cooked whole, sliced in half - which is a new way for me to eat fried okra. If this is the only option for a vegetarian - I think they will find we visit once not again. I can't imagine paying the average price of an entree for this dish more than once.

As far as the other dishes served at the table - Veal Picatta and Johnnie Fair Glazed Petite Pork Shank - all were a hit. Hubby has listed this as one of his favorites.

Now who can eat such a meal and not have dessert? I had the Maw Maw's Bread Pudding, hubby had Mexia Peach and Prosecco Semifreddo, mother-in-law had the Schokinag Pot de Creme. I think we all should have just started with dessert. All the comments involved - "best dessert ever"... blah blah blah. I have had to Bread Pudding grow on me over the past several years - and this was by far my favorite. Simple, traditional and to the point is the only way to describe. I hate when bread pudding is like eating custard - this had just the right consistency.

For those of you that don't have room for dessert, all tables are served a complementary pastry - a single bite pastry with a vanilla sugar center topped with powdered sugar - delightful.

Reservations are recommended especially on the weekend.

Ranking: 3-4 carrots (totally in the middle)

Jazz Cafe #2

Oh, how you break my heart. Why Jazz Cafe do you have to let me down?

I know you say, "...after such a raving review"! I don't know what's worse, having to tell you all the truth or admitting to myself that my dream brunch joint has to be left in my sleep.

"What," you say, "could cause such heartache?"

The first (and only other visit) was with a large group, the restaurant was full, the music was playing and my heart was racing... so I probably let the adrenaline rush cloud my judgement of the overall service. Upon the second visit, hubby and I decided it couldn't take that long with only two of us, and not to mention when we arrived it was probably half as full as last time. The music was still playing, and the time management was still a HUGE problem.

We sat down at about 10:45 on a Sunday morning, ordered at some time around 11:00... here is the order: sampler Hummus, Black Bean Enchiladas (yes Veg friendly, see notes below) and 1/2 order Eggs Benedict. Not a complicated order - no special requests - just straight off the menus. We get our appetizer at some time around 11:30 or 11:40 - I know you think I am exaggerating - but I am not. You must be thinking that we ended up eating our appetizer with our breakfast - and you wouldn't be too far from what I was thinking, until it was well after 12:15 when our food finally arrived. I know, I know I must be crazy - but I am not - I didn't get to Central Market until 1:00!! I wasted my whole Sunday morning WAITING FOR FOOD!

Now on to the food.

Hummus was simple with lemon and tahini - not too bad - I'd eat it again. Black Bean Enchiladas: I thought I was going Vegan, until they arrived with a huge "dollop of Daisy" on top. This dish was nothing to ride home about - black beans inside one corn tortilla. I asked for a back up tortilla just because there was so much bean on the plate - I had to do something with it. Of course hubby ate the Eggs Benedict as fast as he could cut it and get into his mouth. He swears that it is one of the best Eggs Benedict's he has had.

Ranking #2: 2 Carrots

Vapiano

Several weekends ago, I decided to have a surprise date night with my hubby. We love to enjoy new "art house" movies (usually movies that will not show in wide release). In order to do this we usually have to make the crazy trek all the way to Dallas or Plano. For those who want to know, the movie choice was "Moon". Great movie and I would recommend it to anyone.

Now on to the main show: the new concept in dining out. Vapiano (plans are to have one in Fort Worth by the way) is an Italian restaurant that operates very closely to a Luby's. Don't confuse the food with the concept... Fresh & casual dining that you order at a walk-up bar, swipe your gift like card (used to carry your bill), take a buzzer, and move on to the next walk up bar you want to order from. Seems overwhelming at first, but don't let it deter you from checking out this joint. Low overhead (your doing the ordering, picking up and checking out) keeps the costs down to a minimum.

Because the concept was coined in Europe - the menu is extremely veg friendly. The choices are almost overwhelming - fire-roasted pizzas, fresh pasta, salads, antipasto dishes. The pizzas that we decided on: Margherita and Verdure. Both exceptionally made - I have to say I was jealous of my hubbies Margherita pizza - the flavors were just a little more complex and well formed for being what can normally be a "plain Jane" pizza. The Verdue was topped with mushrooms & roasted red/yellow bell peppers - not bad - I had great pizza a few days the following week for lunch.

If you are ever in the area and need somewhere to go, I highly recommend you at least try it once. The modern decor and the updated concept on "cafeteria" style dining is a great change to either fast food ordering or stifling restaurants with wait staff who may or may not take care of you.

Ranking: 4 Carrots

Top 5 Brunch (or breakfast) Spots

I was given a challenge the other day by a good friend to pick my top 5 of any category and keep a running list. He said my rules were they had to be top 5 based on my vegetarian requirements and that at any point the 5 could rotate or loose a spot.

Always up for a good challenge, I decided to start with my 5 top Veg Brunch spots around town. Remember these are only based on my vegetarian perspective and will have nothing to do with whether a place does or does not serve bacon & eggs.

1. Spiral Diner - by far best all you can eat pancake brunch (Sunday only)

2. The Jazz Cafe - who can beat jazz music and a great meal to cure growling stomach.

3. Esperanza's - I have never reviewed this place because I eat here usually once a week (that could be tedious), but if you crave Mexican early in the morning (or even at lunch on the weekends) their breakfast is great.

4. Taverna - one of our favs overall whether lunch, dinner or brunch (brunch: Saturday & Sunday only).

5. Cafe Modern - only been once, but the options for veg or vegan were nice and they change the menu seasonally.

So don't be a hater. If your joint isn't listed at least give these a try or post your favorite places and that way I can give them a try. I am always looking for new places to try (especially for breakfast/brunch).

The Jazz Cafe

I have found a new best friend and it plays jazz to me and feeds me wonderful vegetarian delights.

After several failed attempts to go to the Jazz Cafe for brunch we finally made it today for a friends birthday. After eating not so good sushi (review coming) and drinking (late but not too late) for said friend's birthday, we decided to get together on actual birthday for brunch.

Do not be afraid - you might drive past this inconspicuous building on Montgomery more than once. And, you might not be able to find parking in their tiny parking lot (it's worth it to park in the street or a lot across the street on the weekend). Or once you finally make it to the entrance the not so well kept patio could deter you from entering, but fear not - I won't lead you astray.

Today I entered the morning version of the Scat Jazz Lounge - my calling in another life. The music was playing, the tables were full and the place smelled wonderful.

I sat down at the table and made the comment that the food would have to be really bad for me not to return. And overall, I wasn't disappointed. This menu has a little bit of something good for everyone. I debated seriously between the Black Bean Enchiladas and the BOS eggs - I had to decide what I would order the next time I came. I decided on the BOS eggs (after prompting from the waitress) and was not disappointed. Now mind you it's not a Mexican joint, but it's definitely a spin on a classic. Scrambled eggs stuffed with cheese, onion, tortilla chips, potatoes, and jalapenos w/ a spicy black bean and pico on the side. They give you three tortillas to create your own breakfast tacos. Other orders at the table included Steak and Eggs w/ a side of French Toast (made with an English Muffin - a unique way to create french toast); Eggs Florentine (Eggs Benedict made w/ spinach in place of the ham) w/ a side of a single pancake (large enough to feed the table, this pancake was killer. Thick, fluffy and with a spice in the batter it was excellent); and a half order of Eggs Benedict. All the eggs were poached just right - not too runny and not too hard. The sauce was thick, but not chunky.

Yes, you can get a full order or half order of most of the Benedict options - just the right size for portion control - I don't know who wants portion control with this type food - but it's there.

One downside was the lack of service. We got one coffee & water refill the entire time we were there and we were there for a while. A table of two sat after us and got their food service almost a full 15 minutes before us. That was probably the most frustrating was waiting and waiting and waiting to get our food. And then really once we ordered we didn't see our waitress again until she brought us our food and then we had to go track her down to pay (literally).

Don't be fooled - I'll go again. I wasn't in a hurry this visit and I'll make sure I'm not in a hurry next time. It was worth the wait to enjoy the conversation with our friends and listen to the great music.

Don't forget the following: At the Jazz Cafe it's okay to call in an order to go, bring cash or check book - they don't take credit/debit cards, it's first come first serve seat yourself.

Ranking: 4 Carrots