Cock and Bull on Gaston in Lakewood!!!

The dining room.

Sample menu.

Here’s your sign!

Hours of operation

Ravioli.

Delicious steak.

Au gratin scallop casserole.

 

This place may have the best food in Lakewood EVER!  Still, if you come here, don’t be in a hurry.  There is a possibility that the food may take a while.  In that slight possibility, order an easy appetizer to hold you over.  They often have one bartender, one server, and one cook/bad ass Chef.  It may even just be a bartender and a BAD ASS COOK!!!  🙂  Still, most of the time, everything, including service, is amazing, but you never know when an unexpected rush surprises these wonderful people.

Their specials are generally written on “the board.”  I always like to order the most expensive thing on the board, especially if it is a steak or an odd meat of some kind (like kangaroo).  It’s usually the best thing “not on the menu on the menu” that day, even though a lot of their regular items are pretty amazing.  The board specials tend to run out early in the evening, so if you plan on getting their board special, show up early!  You may see pictured a bay scallop gratin prosciutto with garlic, parmesan, and panko crust.  It’s on the menu, and it ROCKS!!!  The ravioli is on there, too, and I love it!  Chewier than expected, but very satisfying.

As far as music goes, I think they finally did away with the old school jukebox and upgraded to the digital on-line version.  If nothing is playing, be prepared to listen to awkward conversations you shouldn’t be listening to.

All in all, I love this hole-in-the-wall.  It’s been around a long time and hope it stays forever.  It’s totally broken in and has a history we all want to be a part of.  I’ll put a link to their website and menu below in case anything changes.  Please excuse the bad pics taken with my iphone as opposed to my awesome Ashton Kutcher camera that I usually use.  It seems to grab too much attention when I’m out, so I just decided to whip out the phone on a few pictures this time.

Thanks for going out with me.

Cock and Bull menu.

Cock and Bull website.

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

Cellarman’s American Pub in Sherman, TX!

I know.  I know.  It’s not in Dallas!  I promise this won’t happen again, but I HAD to share this ridiculously large loaded baked potato that I had at Cellarman’s in Sherman (my hometown).  It’s only one hour north, guys.  Please don’t abandon me because my blog strayed away from Dallas.  Please just look at the picture, and you’ll see why I strayed.  It was stuffed with butter, sour cream, bacon, chives, red onion, mushrooms, jalapeños, cheddar, mozzarella, monterey jack, and chili!  They have a lot of other things I’d like to talk about, but I’d like to stay loyal to Dallas.  You can check out their menu through the link below.

Their website: Cellarman’s American Pub in Sherman, TX

Their menu:  PUB MENU

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/