J. Black’s on Henderson! (CLOSED)

Here’s your sign.

Front patio.

Side patio.

HD action over the bar!

Lounge area.

Lounge area.

Tables on the back wall.

Calamari.

Half priced pizza on Tuesday!!!

We got really lucky on the night we visited J. Black’s.  We were just driving around and randomly chose this place.  I said, “Let’s just go there.  I’m too hungry to think.”  It was Tuesday, and they have half-priced pizza and $3 select drafts on that day!  Score!!!  I think I got the Rahr Whiskey Warmer.  Plus it was kinda slow, so we had awesome service.  I didn’t know if our server was a manager, server, bartender, or all the above, because he was all over the place.  Behind the bar, on the floor, making drinks, running food, adjusting other server checks, etc.  Whatever the case, he was bombtastic.  I hate that they were kinda slow, but I loved it too.  It was nice and laid back.

For an appetizer we got calamari.  It was great!  It came with greens, parmesan, cocktail and tarter sauce.  As soon as we were done, we got our half priced pizza.  We were gonna get the crab an portobello pizza but ended up getting the omnivore that was recommended by our server/manager/bartender/owner/carpenter dude.  He said that he thinks seafood is odd on a pizza… to him.  He said it’s good but odd.  I like odd. I’m gonna try it next time.  Anyways, we got the omnivore.  It had Jimmy’s Italian sausage, pepperoni, salami, ranch bacon, mushrooms, pepperoncini, and feta.  It was nice.  The crust was thin and crispy, and it was meaty.  Very flavorful!  The half priced pizza deal strayed me from perusing the rest of the menu, but after we were done, I realized they had lollipop lamb chops!  I love lamb!  Sooooo……  next time I’m getting the weird pizza and lamb.  No need for a menu.  Just ring that in please…  And crab cakes.

Off the subject, I LOVE that they played some old school Michael Jackson.  I think it was Girlfriend or P.Y.T.  I was in heaven.  Also, the seats were super comfy, and there was a LOT of … HD TVs!  😉  I highly recommend this place during their slow times.  I’ve heard less impressive stories during their peak hours on the weekend.  To be honest, that’s the case at any restaurant or bar.  It’s just common sense.  We all strive for perfection, but we’re only human.  Sometimes we fumble.

J. Black’s Menu

J. Black’s website

The Old Monk on Knox/Henderson!

The Old Monk.

LOOK FOR THIS WALL!!!

The bar and dining area.

The uncovered patio.

The covered patio.

Fish and Chips, no chips, sub potato salad. I’m allowed.

The calamari.

They won awards, y’all!

I love the Old Monk!  I’ve noticed that I tend to visit places with a strong earthy (woodsy?) presence.  This pub has a covered AND uncovered patio and a nice, cozy, dark interior.  They even have a dart board and guess what?  HD action!!!  I’ve had the mussels here, and they’ve always been bombtastic!  I love the cheese board because you get to choose from a nice variety of cheeses, and it actually comes on a board!  My favorite burger is the Monk burger.  I substitute out the cheddar blend with the stilton cheese.  I know.  Most places hate substitutions, but I know what I like, and the waitress didn’t make a face, so I felt safe.

Anyways, on this visit, I got the fish and chips, but instead of chips, I got the German style potato salad.  Nice and warm with a bit of vinegar.  I know.  Another substitution.  Please forgive me.  My friend asked me, “If you’re gonna do a food blog, should you be doing substitutions?”  I yelled, “I DO WHAT I WANT!!!”  I mean, really, it’s my blog.  MINE!!!  Sorry for yelling again.  Okay, inner peace.  My friend got calamari.  I love calamari, but not everyone does it well.  Some people go too chunky, too greasy, or too much breading, but they do it just right with a zesty marinara sauce.  Okay, this post is getting too long.  I tend to ramble on when I like what I’m….  short and sweet!

http://www.oldmonkdallas.com/

Here’s their menu.  http://www.oldmonkdallas.com/foodmenu.html

Vickery Park on Henderson!

Lounge by projector screen

Rosemary chicken.

VICKERY PARK NEIGHBORHOOD BAR

The dining room again.

The dining room

WINNER WINNER CHICKEN DINNER

Mac and cheese

Smoked turkey club

This is by far one of the best neighborhood bars I’ve ever been to.  It’s just dark enough so you can’t see my slight imperfections…  Just kidding.  I have a lot of imperfections.  Anyways, I’d like to apologize because in the beginning, I promised to keep all my posts short and sweet, but they seem to be getting longer and longer and longer and…  It doesn’t help that I just added this sentence.  Sorry.  Vickery Park.  I had the Rosemary Chicken on this visit.  The flavor was amazing, and it was HALF PRICE because it was on a TUESDAY!  Also, the bearded bartenders are SUPER nice.  I love the ambiance indoors, and the patio is super cool.  Also, if you’re looking for a lounge area, they got it.  Oh, if you like mussels, they are really good here.  Chicken fried steak?  “Winner Winner Chicken Dinner”!!!  Gravy and mashed potatoes.  Mmmmmmm.  You like mac and cheese?  They do it well.  So good.  You like spicy?  Get the shrimp and scallop pasta with the chipotle Alfredo sauce.  Best sandwich?  Smoked turkey club.  They also have crab cakes and calamari.  Okay, I’ll stop reciting the menu.   Check out the menu on their website.  Their food is really good.  Short and sweet.

www.vickeryparkbar.com

Alligator Cafe’ in East Dallas!!!

Yep!  We went Cajun this time!  This place was pretty busy with only three servers.  Generally, I try not to go to a restaurant during their dinner rush, but, oops!  I did it again.  I just had to be sure that I was ready to order enough “stuff” every time the server stopped by.  Right away we ordered water, Pabst Blue Ribbon (don’t judge, it was refreshing), shiner, calamari, and crab cakes.  I just gotta say, I love when someone does fried food well.  Not too greasy or chewy, etc.  The crab cakes were on an awesome sauce that I can’t pronounce.  The calamari was served with tartar and cocktail sauce.  Both appetizers were very good.  It made waiting, which wasn’t that long, more bearable.  It’s just that time is in slow motion when you’re super hungry.  For dinner we had more beer, blackened tilapia that sat on a bed of dirty rice (instead of white rice by request) topped with an AWESOME shrimp cream sauce, fried okra, blackened alligator, blackened salmon, and fried cream corn.  I loved everything.  I don’t have to describe all the flavors, just know that it was great, and please try all this good stuff.  I see why their Chef has been on television.  Also, one of their regulars told me I should’ve got the pork chops.  Next time.  No dessert this time.  I couldn’t even finish my tilapia which I took some home as leftovers.  It was even better the second day!

Oh, I understand they sometimes have live music.  Acoustic blues and jazz I think.  Check out their website for that info.  Speaking of their website, their pictures on there do their food much more justice than mine.

http://eatgator.com

I love food, and I approve this restaurant.  (Sorry, election coming up.)  😉