Compadre's - 71st & Sheridan

Indulging in our love of Mexican food, Hugh and I recently tried out Compadre’s, a fairly new restaurant that sits atop the hill at 7104 South Sheridan. I decided on the taco salad with beef and Hugh had his favorite cheese enchiladas and all the fixin’s. The taco salad was very good – the beef was tasty without being “hot” (I always appreciate not having a burning tongue when I finish eating.). The salad had refried beans at the bottom of the shell and although they had a nice flavor, they were so mushy that the salad became soggy quickly. Also, I asked the server (who did an excellent job of serving) for extra lettuce because there just wasn’t enough of that. Next time we go there, if I order a salad I’ll order with no beans and lots of lettuce – then I think it would be perfect.

Hugh liked his enchiladas – they had a mild cheese sauce (almost too mild). It seems as if their foods are designed for the North American palate. Their moderately priced menu is extensive so I’m sure if you like your food spicy, they have dishes that can accommodate your tastes, but we were happy with our selections. His beans and rice were good, too. Compadre’s does provide free chips and salsa, also. Don’t you love that about Mexican restaurants?

The décor hasn’t changed much since the restaurant was Mexicali’s and it’s still fun to sit at the windows that overlook the city. As I said before, the service really was good, too. We’ll go back sometime – although Andale’s is still our favorite Tex-Mex restaurant.

Boston Deli - 6231 East 61st

Hugh and I recently stopped in at the Boston Deli for supper and had a delightful meal. The restaurant has been updated since we were there last and looked very spiffy and inviting. In the evening, guests are seated and served – as opposed to the daytime when you can order at the counter and then be seated.

After being seated, our server brought our drinks and some slices of delicious artisan bread and butter. We ordered from the daily specials – I had the chicken kebab which was served with hummus, tabouli and pita bread. Hugh ordered the smoked chicken quesadillas. Then we shared.

The chicken kebabs were very tender and tasty, skewered with sweet purple onions, and green and red peppers. They were delicious, as were the pita bread and hummus. The tabouli, on the other hand, wasn’t just delicious – it was to die for – a wonderful mixture of tabouli, corn, black beans, red beans, tomatoes, and seasonings. None of the food was too spicy hot, but everything had a robust flavor.

With the quesadillas, came another taste treat. They were grilled and filled with plenty of smoked chicken, and piquant flavorings. We enjoyed every morsel of those crispy quesadillas.

We were offered blueberry/peach cobbler for dessert – and quite frankly the dessert display cases held many beautiful, enticing desserts – but we could not eat another bite after the generous portions of our entrees and sides.

We highly recommend Boston Deli – it’s been around for twenty years and is one of Tulsa’s treasures. They are open Mon 11am-3pm; Tue-Sat 11am-3pm, 5pm-9pm.

Mod’s Coffee & Crepes - Downtown

Hugh and I ventured downtown one evening to sample the fares from one of Tulsa’s newest cafes, Mod’s Coffee & Crepes. Finding a parking place not too far away around a corner, we made our way to the café, which is very casual with a contemporary feel. Table space was available not only in the restaurant, but also on the sidewalk in front of Mod’s and in the hallway of the Building where the café is located (very handy for folks who work downtown).

We then looked over the selections on the board behind the counter and ordered our food. Hugh ordered the Baked Apple and Ham crepes and I ordered the Sesame Salmon with dill sauce. The crepes were prepared quickly and brought to our table. Hugh’s crepes were filled with plenty of ham and a slightly sweet concoction of apples (which were not quite as baked as promised, nor was the ham hot in the middle), but he enjoyed the dish. I tried my salmon crepes and found that the salmon would have been more agreeable to someone who enjoys sushi (not me), since the salmon was just barely done. The dill sauce turned out to be more of a cream cheese filling, which seemed a bit heavy. The crepes were of a generous proportion, but no sides were served with the crepes, which would have been nice. (Personally, I would have preferred a small portion of flaky – well done – salmon with a true dill sauce that squished around in the crepe. Ooh! And, a small green salad, or asparagus, or green beans, would have been pleasant, too.)

So, even though a bit disappointed in the entrée, we decided it was only right to try a dessert crepe. We split a chocolate covered strawberry, whipped cream crepe. Ummm! Good. No fancy presentation, but the chocolate was very tasty, with plenty of strawberries and cream.

They offered only a small selection of entrees, including spinach and artichoke, which I will try next time we visit Mod’s. They did several salads as entrees, too. We didn’t try the gelato or coffee, so we’ll have to offer our opinion of those some other time. Mod’s is across the street from Elote’s and is open many evenings. Going downtown to dine (or watch baseball) is always fun and Hugh and I truly hope that the restaurants continue to have enough patronage from Tulsa residents and visitors to be successful.

Junkyard Dawg - 51st & Mingo

A cut above your average hotdog place, Junkyard makes a terrific chili cheese dog (which they call the 'TulsaPup') and offers an amazing variety of choices beyond that including Brats, Hot Links, Italian Sausage, Chicken Sausage and more.

Phoebe and I got Tulsa Pups, plus Phoebe got a Brat dog. We were accompanied on this trip by our dear friends, Harald and Hortense. Harald ordered the "Spitfire" which is a hot links dog with hickory sauce and jalapenos. A few moments later, he turned red in the face and began perspiring. We inquired if the dog was hot (we are highly prescient, after all) and he replied, "No. Well. . . maybe a little." Yes indeed. A little.

The walls are painted black with chain link fencing in front, barbed wire above and auto parts attached to it for an authentic "junkyard" ambience lacking only the smells and the dirt. The Tulsa Pups were $1.47 and some of the "fancier" fare ran all the way up to $4.77. Open 10 am to 8 pm Monday-Saturday.

Good food and great conversation with friends. It was a delightful evening.

Magic Acres Steak House - Beggs

You won't accidentally come across this place, and if you did, you might not want to go in. But then you'd miss a fine eating experience. It's a relatively small, windowless room at the back of a biker bar in Beggs. Actually a mile north of Beggs on Alt. 75. And it's really not as attractive as this photo makes it look, but the food is top-notch.

Phoebe and I went there with a large group of friends and it was universally praised by the group. We both got the Salmon and it was perfect, with a delightful herbed butter sauce. Others around the table got an 8 ounce filet, a chicken fried steak, top sirloin, prime rib (a huge slice) and grilled chicken breast. Not a single complaint or disappointment was to be heard. Our compliments to the chef!

A few opted for the bread pudding and left with smiles on their faces.

The restaurant is operated by Marie and Ron L'Heureux. Ron has taught culinary classes for 15 years at OSU in Okmulgee. Beggs is about 15 miles south of Glenpool and this food is worth the drive. Prices range from about $15.00 to $24.00 for the steaks (with your choice of two sides) and they also have burgers.

Elote - 514 S. Boston

Elote is located in the spot where Nelson's Buffeteria operated for many years and I predict that Elote will be there for quite a while, too. While it is a "Mexican" restaurant, Elote is definitely different from most in this category. In fact, they do not offer items regularly seen on other Mexican menus. They feature a lot of local, organically grown produce and meat, they compost their waste and use biodegradable containers on to-go orders. These people are really green, and they really care about the food they're serving. You have to admire that.

I had one of their specialties, called "Puff Tacos." These are basically tacos wrapped in something that looks a lot like pita bread. Maybe it's a fat tortilla, I don't know. But they are tasty. The beef is like pulled roast beef and has a nice texture as well as flavor. The tacos were accompanied by a mild rice which was nice. Not as good as Andales, but good. For my other side I chose sweet potatoes. They are cut into cubes, then fried, sort of like "cottage fries" in some restaurants. Not typical mexican fare, but a nice side.

Phoebe had a salmon taco and rated it very good. The peach daiquiris were refreshing and welcomed on this hot, muggy night. Our dear friend, Hyacinth, had a burrito and pronounced it "excellent!"

On a Thursday evening, I was surprised to find the restaurant rather full. Our waitress inquired if we were going to stick around for the wrestling. Hmmmmmm. We declined this opportunity. When I told my son, Carlyle, about the crowd, he said, "Well sure. It's Mexi-fight-night." Ah, now I get it: a cultural attraction to pull in the diners.

Elote is brightly decorated, with warm and friendly people, terrific food and it even offers an opportunity to expand your cultural horizons. Go for it.

Joyner's - 8151 East 21st Street

Down home comfort food and plenty of it! Fried chicken, pork chops, fried catfish and lots more. The evening we went to Joyner's with a group of 12, we all went through the buffet line although I believe they do have a menu as well.

On the buffet, you get two meat items and 3 sides with endless refills. I got a smothered porkchop that just about covered my plate and then, on top of that, I got a quarter rotisserie chicken that nearly covered the pork chop!! For sides I had sweet potatoes, corn and spinach. I can't believe I ate the whole thing.

All twelve of us had two, yes two, desserts to celebrate a birthday and an anniversary: chocolate cake and lemon cake. Both of them delicious. If you're really, really, really hungry and just don't give a damn about your health, this place is heavenly.

The White Lion - 6927 S Canton Ave

The White Lion is a hidden jewel. Tucked away in a row of office buildings off of 71st street, it's easy to miss. Inside the "office building" exterior you'll find the closest thing in Tulsa to a real English pub. Small, crowded, dark, broken up into several small rooms with mismatched antique tables and chairs and an ambiance that is authentically European. I love this place which is surprising since the food is authentic English food.

Which is to say, pretty bland, unexciting, English. But not bad. Their beer selection, on the other hand, is outstanding. They have Shepherd's pie, bangers and mash, fish and chips and some items they will have to explain to you. The cheese board is a great appetizer and SO European.

We highly recommend this very surprising bit of Europe in Tulsa, but remember: it IS English food.

Chimi's - 5320 South Harvard

I mentioned in a previous blog how the process of food blogging interferes with appreciation of the food because Phoebe and I have become more analytical about the food we're eating. It seems to happen more frequently with Mexican food than with others. Our most recent victim was Chimis.

We went there for a working lunch with a small church group. Phoebe got the Southwest Salad which she has liked for years and still does. I got the chicken chimichanga which I order infrequently, but I had enjoyed it so much at Andales, that I couldn't resist revisiting it. Oh my, what a disappointment. The chicken didn't have much flavor and there was almost no cheese on it. I didn't finish eating it because I simply didn't care for it.

I have eaten at Chimi's for years and always enjoyed it but even the rice was disappointing. I wonder if it would have been OK if I weren't comparing it with Andales. I'm not giving up on Chimi's, but I won't order the chimichanga again.

Baker Street Pub & Grill - 66th & Memorial

Located across the street from Woodland Hills Mall in what used to be a Mervyn's, Baker Street is a real surprise. Decorated in English Pub style, of course, the restaurant has a nice comfortable feel with a hint of "Sports Bar." The menu is surprisingly diverse. While they do have Bangers and Mash, they also have tacos, burgers, shrimp, steak and much more. . .at surprisingly low prices.

At lunchtime, they have 13 items under $7.00. Evening entrees range from $7.99 to $16.99 with most under $9.99. Despite the low prices, the food is quite good. On our first visit, I and our oldest son, Clapton, home for a while from the Middle East, ordered the Chicken Alfredo Pasta, with blackened chicken. NOT your average pub fare. It was terriffic and only $6.99! Phoebe got the grilled salmon with potatoes and green beans for $7.99 and it, too, was excellent.

On our first return trip I got a half club sandwich (large and tasty) with a cup of tortilla soup which was excellent for only $5.99! While this is a chain restaurant (out of Texas) they seem to be doing things right. Two thumbs up!

Kilkenny's Irish Pub & Grill 1413 E. 15th St.

A jewel of a pub with its dark woods and antique furniture, Kilkenny's has an authentic old world atmosphere (REALLY authentic: the entire interior CAME from Ireland) and a menu that draws on old, traditional Irish recipes. Phoebe and I have been here a number of times and continue to enjoy the experience. They offer a wide selection including potato pancakes, called "Boxty," stuffed with your choice of corned beef, crab, shrimp, veggies and even salmon. I tried the veggie version and it was great. A real "stick-to-your-ribs" meal. They have bangers and mash, shepherds pie, salads, sandwiches, seafood, and even a few pasta choices. Fish and chips are always good.

While we didn't partake of their alcoholic libations, they are amply endowed to satisfy your needs in this area.

Their desserts include a Sticky Toffee Pudding (great!), bannanas O'Foster and a stuffed baked apple!

Oneok Field

While one doesn't usually think of a ball field in terms of eating out, we do, nevertheless, eat there. The food was hyped in the news as being a cut above what one would expect, so we expected something better than most stadium food.

Sadly, it didn't live up to it's hype. I got a chili-cheese hotdog while Phoebe got a regular dog. She says hers was fine. Mine was a bit less than that. The "cheesefood goop" over the "chili" was disappointing. Made me long for a Jim's or Coney I-lander or Carl's. Our friends rated their burgers as "good." Maybe I've just become a grumpy old man.

Oneok Field, on the other hand, is a terrific facility. Seats are comfortable, visibility is as good as it gets, the concessions are arranged so the you never lose sight of the game while making a grub run, bath rooms are large and nice. The Drillers were in top form this night, leading the entire game and defeating the Cardinals 4 to 2. A beautiful evening topped off with a spectacular fireworks display!

Gatsby's - 4421 S. Mingo

Located inside Gardner's Used Bookstore, Gatsby's is a small, informal place with some surprises. Some of their booths are, literally, in the bookstore and you are free to read while you eat.

Phoebe, on a recent breakfast trip, got the pancakes with sausage. She thought the pancakes were the best she had ever eaten! They were so large, however, that she was unable to eat even half of the meal. I got the french toast which was made with some sort of artisan bread, garnished with slices of fresh strawberries, and very good also! The coffee was fresh and tasty, the service was good and prices are very moderate.

Copeland's - on 71st (Kenosha) near 129th

Copeland's Famous New Orleans Restaurant, as you might suspect, stamps a New Orleans flair on all its offerings. Phoebe and I went there as guests of some good friends, and we weren't disappointed. The menu is rather large and fairly diverse with an emphasis on seafoods, of course.

I had the wood grilled Chicken with Yams, a well-seasoned chicken breast, served over a mound of mashed sweet potatoes, garnished with roasted pecan pieces and caramelized onions. It was topped with what they call "onion strings", which is finely cut onion rings. I also got a side of red beans and rice because I really like them and had been told that Copeland's version was very good.

The highly spiced (almost blackened) chicken was moist and tasty, but with the added flavor and sweetness of the carmelized onions and yams, well, I just thought it was delightful. I have eaten yams for many years, but this was my first encounter with them mashed, and I liked them. The red beans and rice, however, were a big disappointment. You can find much better ones at Hebert's Cajun Foods near 71st and Lewis, or, my personal favorite, White River Fish Market on North Sheridan. They are outstanding!

Phoebe had the "simply grilled chicken," and found it to be good, but nothing beyond that. The coffee was excellent and the decor very well done. Copelands is a bit on the expensive side, but a good value. We had eaten at Copelands in other states, but this was our first trip to our local version. We will be back.

Ciao!

Louie's - Jenks

Located in a new strip center just across the 96th street bridge in Jenks, Louie's latest location seems to be fluorishing. The decor is "sports bar" with several large TV screens placed throughout for easy viewing. And, yes, this too is "one of our favorites."

They offer a fairly broad menu with nothing over $9.95! Our favorites include the grilled tilapia, prepared either as lemon-pepper or blackened. It's a generous portion served with two sides. If you choose the fried green beans as your side (a GREAT choice!) it comes with a southwest chipotle ranch dressing which, I have discovered, tastes good on the tilapia!

Another favorite of mine is the 3-cheese macaroni bake. Talk about your comfort food! This is a scrumptious adult version of the childhood favorite. The macaroni is served in a casserole with sliced chicken and bits of bell peppers baked inside, topped with toasted garlic bread crumbs, applewood bacon bits and shredded parmesan.

Their pizza is surprisingly good, my personal favorite being the ultimate veggie version.

The first time we visited Louies, at the 101st street location I was pretty unimpressed because I ordered a cheeseburger. Louie's burgers are pretty ordinary. This is surprising because their other offerings are really top noch. I'm ready to go to Louies just about any time, much more often than Phoebe is.

Rib Crib - 81st & Yale

While Rib Crib is a franchise, it's one of our home-grown ones, having started in one location here . . . a location that is still operating pretty much the way they started. We usually go to the one at 81st & Yale, and, like a lot of other places, it's one of our favorites.

I really like Barbecue. Thank God, to have been blessed with a spouse who shares that gastronomic predillection, else we would doubtless have had more strife in our domicile. Rib Crib's sauce is sweet and smoky. I like sauce and the more the better. I really pour it on. Generally I get their chicken, but occasionally the brisket. I am not fond of ribs, but Phoebe is and speaks highly of them. Their barbecue never dissapoints. Moist, tender and flavorful.

They also offer some nice salads, wraps, sandwiches, soup and chili. They used to serve a corn potato chowder but discontinued it for some reason. I thought it was a great meal and ordered it frequently while it lasted.

Our wonderful grandson, Harrison, likes the chicken, green beans, potato salad and the fruit cup (mandarin oranges). Good food, good prices, a comfortable environment and a local success story. That's a winning combination!

Ciao!

Andales - 61st & Yale, Kingspointe Village

Well, here we are back at Andales. I had never tried their Chimichangas, so I decided to vary from my usual selection (enchiladas) and be a little adventurous. I've had chimichangas at several other restaurants in town with a mixed experience. Sometimes they were pretty good, sometimes I really didn't like them. So here goes.

This chimichanga was a winner. The meat choices were ground beef, fajita beef, shredded chicken or fajita chicken. I chose shredded chicken. Good choice. The chimichanga was stuffed with cheese (cheddar? a mix?) and chicken. I don't know how much it weighed, but it was enormous, and the flavor was heavenly. It was served with rice and beans (from our previous blog, you know I like them). About halfway through the meal, I pushed it aside, thinking, I'll take this home in a box. Then I ate a little more. Then a little more. Then, well, you know, I ate the whole thing. I was stuffed and a little ashamed of myself for such a gormandizing performance. But, it was so goooooood, I just couldn't stop!

Phoebe, on the other hand, ordered something called "The Skinny Bowl." I'd like to think she wasn't just trying to lay some guilt on me, but, well . . . we won't go there. At any rate, it was a bowl of their tasty rice topped with grilled veggies, fire-grilled fajita chicken and pico de gallo. It comes with a light italian dressing. She had ordered a small bowl of white queso with our chips, and she poured the remainder of it over her meal. A little less "skinny" perhaps? Was she doing this to make me feel better? No. It just tastes really good that way.

In our last Andales review, I told you we'd return to try the Buneuela dessert. Not this trip! No way, Jose! Maybe when the weather turns warmer (and it WILL warm up someday, won't it?), we can go down some evening, sit out on the patio and order just the dessert. Maybe after some Margaritas.

I just can't figure out why we can't lose weight.

Ciao!

Charleston's - 70th & Yale

We have been to both Charleston's a number of times and have enjoyed everything we have eaten, from steak, fish, and chicken entrees to soups and salads.

This time I decided to try a cheeseburger, since the Tulsa World had just published a story on Tulsa's $10 burgers. Charleston's burger was a little below that at just $9.00.

I have to say that I was very surprised to be so acutely disappointed in the burger. It was quite large with a generous amount of cheese on the beef, plus lettuce, tomato and a small amount of mayonnaise. I asked for mustard (I am a traditionalist, I suppose). Still, what taste it had, was not pleasing. I added salt and pepper. Better, but not great. I ate a little over half of it and left the rest. I have had better burgers at Ron's, Hank's, Logan's, Goldie's, and . . .well you get the picture. In lieu of fries, I ordered the baked potato soup and it was terrific, as usual. (I was reminded of Louie's, where the burgers are just OK while I LOVE most of their other offerings. We'll write about that soon.)

Phoebe had the Smoked Chicken and Spinach Salad and it was delicious. It also contained small chunks of new potatoes, penne pasta, pimientos, and perhaps some other items. A nice balance of flavors. (Their Champagne Chicken Salad is a long-time favorite.)

The decor is handsome, low-key, and comfortable. Service was great and the prices are fairly moderate.

Senor Tequila, 3348 South Peoria

We live fairly near the Senor Tequila's on 71st street and we had noticed the crowds of people they attracted. On Sunday we were planning a visit to Philbrook and our son suggested we meet at Senor Tequila's in Brookside since it was on the way.

It's a pretty typical Mexican food menu except that their lunch menu is good on weekends too, and the prices were quite low. I ordered the Chile Relleno, Phoebe got the Tostada and the kids, Carlisle and Deirdre, shared an enormous multi-ingredient Fajita platter. Our incredibly handsome and well-behaved grandson, Harrison, shared the fajitas.

I started with the rice. If you read our previous posting on Andales, you know I use rice as an early indicator of quality. The rice at Sr. Tequila's was bland, bland, bland. The Relleno was two small peppers "filled with cheese" the menu said. The first pepper had no cheese in it. The second was half empty with a little cheese in the upper half. The breading on the peppers, which is usually fried crispy, was soft. Soggy, really. The beans were okay.

I leaned over to Phoebe, "How's your lunch?" "Well," she said, her expression telegraphing the message, "disappointing, not much flavor." Now Phoebe is not one for spicy foods, but this food actually needed a boost to have some flavor. The chips and salsa were fine.

Carlisle and Deirdre had no complaints with their meal and even took some home with them. Little Harrison appeared to enjoy his food (especially the chips), each piece dipped in salsa. We might give Senor Tequila another chance, but then again , we might not.

Tucci's, 1344 East 15th

Another of our long-time favorites, Tucci’s (pronounced too-cheese) is small. It has about six booths, six tables and six chairs at the bar. During good weather, there is a large covered deck out front with more seating. Inside, you’ll find dark red walls with black booths and nice art and photos on the wall. It’s intimate and romantic. They play mostly standards by Michael Buble, Steve Tyrell, Tony Bennett, and others.

The food is terrific. We’ve been there for lunch and dinner, have tried a number of items on the menu, and we like it all. Every Friday for the last two or three years, they have offered baked ziti as their lunch special. We make it a point to go there for this dish on a regular basis. It’s served with their home-made focaccia bread and I always ask for an extra piece because I love it.

Their meals come with a lemonata salad which is a selection of fresh Romaine and garden greens, served on a chilled plate with lemonata dressing, a sort of lemon vinegarette that’s crisp and tart. We love this place and recommend it to everyone.

Brothers Houligan

A community fixture for more than 20 years on 15th street, the Brothers opened a new place a couple of years ago at 61st and Mingo in an old Git-n-Go building. Inexplicably, the "decor" of the new place (and that's a generous use of the term) duplicates the atmosphere of the old place. Oh well.

For those who like down-home comfort food, Houligan's is your kind of place. I'm not a fan of fried chicken. Given a choice, I just don't eat it. Except at Houligan's. They serve their well-seasoned, boneless chicken fingers with fries, green beans and delicious country cream gravy. The gravy is used as a dip for both the chicken and the fries. Oh my, they are really tasty that way! If you are the least bit interested in your health or keeping your weight down, this is, obviously, the wrong place to be. I haven't tried it, but I'll bet their chicken-fried steak is a winner too.

The sides are served "family style" and they will bring you refills as long as you can eat them. If you like your green beans overcooked, salty and loaded with grease, then Houligan's beans are perfect!

Phoebe, on the other hand, got a healthy meal: grilled salmon. It was a generous portion, perfectly grilled, tasty, flaky and satisfying. (With fries and green beans, however, it wasn't completely healthy!). We did both have side salads as a tip of the hat to better health. They were pretty typical diner style -- iceberg lettuce, grated carrots, croutons and dressing on the side. Phoebe has also had their grilled trout in the past and it is very tasty, too.

The place holds more people than it looks like, but it can get pretty busy at times. The wait staff serves everyone, interchangeably, and they do a good job of it. Prices are moderate.

Andales

Andales ( pronounced ahn-duh-lays) Tex-Mex Grill & Cantina is one of our personal favorites, we eat there two or three times a month. The food is uniformly good, the prices reasonable and the service is prompt and courteous. They have a large menu with all the things you expect plus a few items you might not find other places. They make a big deal out of the fact that they start with fresh ingredients every morning using recipes that have been handed down for more than a hundred years. Does all this make for good eating? Phoebe and I think it does.

On our most recent visit, Phoebe ordered a taco salad while I got an enchilada dinner. The salad was LARGE and filled with lots of grilled chicken (she could have chosen beef) lettuce, cheese and tomatoes spilling out across her plate from a light, crispy shell. Usually it comes with Pico de Gallo, but Phoebe prefers it without. With a salad entrée, the emphasis on FRESH ingredients really stands out.

My enchiladas, came with a choice of four sauces as a topping. I chose yellow queso. It had a great, cheesy taste with a lot of flavor. I could have chosen (and probably will, some time) either sour cream or verde (a spicy green sauce cooked with fresh tomatillos, jalapenos, onions, and cilantro), ranchero (a spicy red sauce) or the traditional chili con carne.

My enchiladas came with rice and beans, of course. I think a lot of Mexican restaurants spend all their attention on their entrees and the rice and beans are just along for the ride. I’m kind of picky about my rice. The rice at Andales reminds me of Goldilocks and the three bears: She tasted the rice at El Chico and it was too boring, she tasted the rice at El Guapo and it was way too spicy, then she tasted the rice at Andales and it was JUST RIGHT! That’s the way I feel about it! It’s got a nice flavor but it’s not overpowering.

Oooops! I almost forgot to tell you about the “ambience.” Well, it’s not your usual Mexican place. It’s tastefully decorated and they don’t play Mexican hillbilly music. They play some great-sounding jazz. Originally, at Andales you placed your order at the counter then sat down and your meal was brought to you. Now, it’s a full-service restaurant and also has a full-service bar.

Phoebe’s meal was $8.99, mine was $7.99. With drinks, tax and a 20% tip, we were out the door for less than 25 bucks. Not a bad deal for a great meal. We managed to resist their wonderful “Bunuela” dessert which I’ll tell you about later. Andales, a locally-owned restaurant, is in the KingsPointe Village Shopping Center at 61st & Yale, across the intersection from Saint Francis Hospital. Ciao!

Ghengis Grill

While our intent is to review local eateries, we went to this new restaurant on the day we first decided to start this blog. Located in a new building on scenic Cherry Street (15th), there was ample parking behind and you get to do a little walking to get to the front door. Not unusual in this area.

Ghengis, a franchise from Dallas, is a "Mongolian Grill" (more about this later) and is a little confusing at first. They gave us a couple of small metal bowls and a menu. Well, sort of a menu. We started reading it when a young lady came over to lead us into the line for ordering where she explained that we select our "protein" (she's talking MEAT here), from chicken, beef, pork, turkey or shrimp displayed buffet-style. Put whatever you want into your bowl. Next, you select spices such as salt & pepper, garlic and more exotic and "spicy" offerings. Next, you select your veggies from a wide selection including peppers, carrots, brocoli, water chestnuts and many more. Next, you select a sauce from about a dozen selections including teriyaki, sweet & sour, Hosin, and more. Next, you choose your "starch" which is the type of rice, noodles, etc. that you want underneath your meat and veggies. You deliver your metal bowl, now filled or heaped, to a cook at the really large circular grill in the cooking area. Then you sit down. At this point, we realized we had no idea what the prices were.

In about ten minutes, we received our dinners in red bowls which slanted to one side for easier access. It was really quite tasty, and pretty filling. The seating was almost all banquette style with a padded booth on one side and small, wooden, (pretty uncomfortable) chairs on the other. The noise level was high. I ordered a flavored tea and they were out of it. When she brought several bottles of other flavors to choose from, I chose a Coke. (I can easily drink three glasses of tea at a meal. Three BOTTLES of tea would cost $7.50.)

The meals are $11.00 and drinks about $2.50. With a 20% tip (which Phoebe and I believe in giving) we paid about $32.00 for two bowls and 2 drinks at lunch. Was it worth it? Hmmmm, we'll have to think about this. Within two blocks, for instance, there's Tei Kei's where a delicious, full service meal in a great environment can cost less. We'll probably give them another try before forming an opinion.

So what did the Mongols REALLY eat?
Temujin, was declared the undisputed leader of the Mongols in 1206. He then launched a military campaign that, by 1227, put him in control of the largest empire in history: from China to Turkey, and from Siberia to India. Temujin and the Mongols considered their conquests to be ordained by the sky god, Tenggeri. The conquests led by Temujin were legendary, and to celebrate them the Mongols posthumously bestowed on him the title “Fierce Ruler,” or Chingis Khan. Today, thanks to an imperfect Arabic transliteration of that name, he is widely known as Genghis Khan.

Chingis Khan recognized that his people, accustomed to lives of hardship, deprivation, and perpetual motion, were natural warriors. They traveled with huge numbers of spare horses, and by using them in rotation managed to travel up to a hundred miles a day. As nomads, they knew how to live off the land and the peoples they conquered, but during times of privation and hard travel they could sustain themselves by drinking the blood of their own horses - and, if necessary, by eating them. “The men are inhuman and of the nature of beasts,” an English monk of the time reported, “rather to be called monsters than men, thirsting after and drinking blood, and tearing and devouring the flesh of dogs and human beings.”

OK, so this sounds really delicious, right? Admittedly the guys ate some “protein.” But do you really think they added spices, veggies, “starch” and sauce, stirred around on a metal shield over a campfire? Oh, for sure.