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!
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
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.
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.
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
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.
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.
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.
Friday, February 5, 2010
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.
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.
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