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

Velvet Taco at Knox/Henderson and Central(75)!

back patio

VELVET TACO

The number 9 and 18! 😉

The wall menu

dining area

front patio across from Victor Tangos! 🙂

Alright.  So this is my first takeout post!  I really wanted to do one, and Velvet Taco immediately came to mind.  By takeout, I mean no servers, but they do have a dining room and beer.  These aren’t street vendor tacos, though, even though I love those as well.  These tacos are made with quality ingredients and seemingly by a Chef.  Also, just because they don’t have servers doesn’t mean to pretend the tip jar isn’t there.  Throw something in.  You’ll feel better.

I had two tacos.  I was satisfied, but three would’ve filled me up.  I only ordered two this time, because one of my tacos was a bit pricy, but I HAD to try it.  It was the maine lobster.  It was good, but if I would’ve expected the lobster to be cold, I would’ve enjoyed it more.  Good flavor, just shocked by the temperature.  The shredded pork taco I had was excellent!  It made me moan (just a little bit okay).  It had bleu cheese crumbs and avocado cream on it!  They may not have a bar or servers, but there is a beautiful wall with shelves of healthy beverages, but on the bottom?…  Beer!  Good beer at that!  If you’re not a boozer like me, then they have creamsickle tea that gets refills like the sodas.  I also highly recommend the rotisserie corn “elote style”.  Just get it.  You’ll like it if you like corn.  If you like chicken, it looks like they slow cook it rotisserie style.  You’ll see the whole birds rotating.  A chicken taco is next on my list.  I didn’t see the those birds until after I ordered.  😦

They do have two little patios, if that’s what you’re looking for.  If you’re looking for some HD action, get it to go or for “takeout”.  😉  Anyways, I just had to say HD for no reason.  Check this place out. Their food is great.

Velvet Taco website

Velvet Taco menu…  even though I took a pretty good picture of it for you.  😉

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

The Hacienda on Henderson! (CLOSED!!!)

The Hacienda on Henderson!

The patio from a distance.

The blurry bar after a few $2 beers.

Complimentary chips and salsa!

The delicious ceviche lighted by Iphone.

Before I came here, I watched hours of a competitive cooking show (“Chopped” I think), and one of the Chefs competing made ceviche out of the ingredients given to her.  That made me crave it, so immediately I thought of Hacienda.  I love their ceviche, plus I can combine the complimentary chips and salsa that comes first!  I just mix everything given to me and go to town.  I squeeze the limes in, dump in the salsa, cut up the avocados and dump in, etc. and just mix it all up.  Chips for dipping!  When I was done, I noticed the cholula next to me.  I LOVE cholula and didn’t see it until the end.  Bummer.  Oh well.  Next time.  They have a lot of good Mexican food that I didn’t actually try on this visit.  This post is obviously obsessed with the ceviche.  I will expand it more at a later time.

As far as specials, they have HALF PRICED FOOD on Mondays, and Tuesdays they have $2 select drafts, $2 tacos, and $2 house margaritas!  Also, they have a comfortable patio with, you guess, HD flat screens!  Check ’em out.

http://haciendaonhenderson.com/

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

Barcadia on Henderson in Dallas, Texas!

We doused it with hot sauce. Yeah, it doesn’t normally come like this. It tasted better than it looks. Damn neon lights!

I love playing games after stuffing my face and drinking beer!

The patio at Barcadia. Giant Jenga!!!

I had the wings, shiner barbecue and original spicy, and the Barcadia burger with pepper jack cheese, green onions and fruit as my side.  My friend had the chicken fried steak and gravy with veggies and cheddar mashed potatoes.  Of course, everything was very good.  We both got rather full and enjoyed $3 Texas beers (Tuesdays).  Video games are free on Tuesday, but only learned this after shelling out about $5 in quarters!  I thought it was half priced food, but that’s on Mondays.  Still, our tab was under $60 even with all that food and about 5 or six beers.  I didn’t look at the check.  I just paid it.  One habit I should probably change.  We had fun (cuz I won most of the arcade challenges), and we left satisfied.  Thanks for being there, Barcadia.  It’s nice to escape to the past every once and a while.