Carshon's

You know how sometimes on the weekends, you don't really want a sandwich because you've had sandwiches all week long? So for lunch on Saturdays you go get a burger or mexican food, right? You are wrong to do that. Wrong I say. Here's why. As my lawyer friend said, "it doesn't count as a sandwich if your hands are shiny after eating it." And that's why you should go to Carshon's for lunch on Saturdays. Your hands will be shiny.

Everybody has been telling me to go to Carshon's and I, like a fool, procrastinated and put it off. Although my heart appreciated that delay, my stomach, brain, and eyes have suffered.

If you are unfamiliar with Carshon's, it is a deli, with a restaurant in the back. But I don't imagine a lot of people go in without getting a sandwich and pie. According to the internet (the world's source of truth) its been around since 1928. Because I refuse to research any further, we'll go with that.

Now, don't let my initial paragraph throw you off. I really liked the food here, but they are filthy liars there at Carshon's. We'll get to that after I reminisce and drool for a minute.

First, lets start with the sandwich. I have never had a Reuben sandwich. I'm not really sure that I have ever wanted one. I don't know what corned beef is and I'm sure that is on purpose. I was the guy that had to ask Flo, "what is this" on a menu, in America, that serves sandwiches. I'm cultured.

But, despite my greasy-sandwich blindness, I ordered a reuben with pastrami and asked for the kraut on the side. Even without knowing much about reubens, I do know about kraut. That can stay as far to the side as they can get it. My lawyer friend ordered the sandwich with cream cheese that stands about 8 inches tall. He really liked his, but as you've learned, my friends don't share so I can't tell you if he was lying about how good it was or not.

The Reuben came with melted swiss cheese and a really sweet rye bread that had unique flavor for which there is no substitute (the sandwich as a whole, not just the bread). The sandwich is warm with a greasy mound of pastrami on top and melted cheese holding on tight to the top part of the meat. The bread is crusty and not to thick or too thin. The sandwich, sans kraut, is the perfect size. The eight inch cream cheese sandwich is a bit more unwieldy.

The sandwich also comes with a pickle.

After consuming my sandwich and my pickle, Flo walked to another table with two delicious looking pieces of pie. A quick glance to my side revealed a white erase board with the daily specials. On it, was chocolate coconut pie. mmm... I have never been so excited in my life for food. Even in the greatest days of my yucatan chicken thigh quest I never hungered as much as I did right then. I asked Flo to bring me a piece of chocolate coconut pie. Flo said no. Apparently, despite the fact that both words "chocolate" and "coconut" were grouped to make it appear as though a chocolate coconut pie was available, they were separate options. The white board lied to me.

I settled for chocolate pie. It was amazing, but somehow I had lost my zest for pie. If you'll refer back to my Trinity Bistro write up you'll realize that I hate to get excited about one thing, only to be pleasantly surprised by a different thing. The pie was great. It had a warm filling which makes me think it was fresh and it was topped with meringue. But it wasn't chocolate coconut. I'm not sure if I'd even like chocolate coconut, but for a brief, fleeting moment, I was going to find out.

I will be back. Numerous times. Until my doctor or fiance tell me to start eating healthy. In which case I'll go, but wont report here about it. The sandwiches were fantastic. The pie was fantastic. Flo was fantastic. You can drink fairly inexpensive Rahr beer for lunch, which is fantastic. All in and all, I'm a fan.

If any of you know Flo or the Carshon Clan, will you see if they can make a chocolate coconut pie? Just shoot me an email at fortworthholeinthewall@yahoo.com when they are going to be serving it.

Carshon's is on Cleburne (which is what 8th seems to turn into) just past Berry. Its open from 9-3 or something like that. If you're dining in, just go straight to the back and have a seat. Flo will be with you shortly.

Taqueria San Luis Update

Note:  Since pusting this review, Taqueria San Luis has changed names.  Check back for further reviews.

I promised an update on the carne asada greasiness at San Luis and I don't back down on my promises. Unless I'm lying.

I went back and ordered the mixed plate with two pastor tacos and two carne asada tacos. Lo and behold, a special treat comes with this option: a bowl of charro beans. If you have been to La Familia, you know that charro beans can be a real treat. At San Luis its got a creamier broth (probably the starch of the beans) but it also has jalapeno slices to give it some spice. Needless to say, I'm a fan.

Back to the tacos though. If you'll remember, the pastor tacos were fairly greasy. The carne asada didn't have the same grease content and was a great compliment to the greasy pastor tacos. The carne asada was very tender and the serving of meat was very generous. If they threw in an extra tortilla you could easily make five tacos out of the meat for four. And if you want to know a secret, order your food to eat in the restaurant. They give you chips and two hot sauces if you stay. If you leave, they make fun of you.

As I sat, covering my tacos with cilantro and the red sauce, I watched a busty woman on a telenovela yell at her boyfriend and run off. The boyfriend chased after her and the scary music started that alerts you to a problem. Behind him was an older woman, coming at him with a knife, except she was about twenty feet away and had the knife raised the entire time. It really felt like I was in Mexico and I couldn't help but think how serene this moment was. Then the woman swung at the man and the sound of a dog stepping on a squeaky toy was the sound effect. Telenovelas are so popular, but so cheesy. I really could go in there and watch that for an hour while sipping a bottle of coke and eating some tacos. Half of the time would be interest in the story, the other half would be taking notes on all things that just make no sense.

For those of you looking for lunch on saturday when you're out and about, I would recommend stopping by. A cold coke and a plate of tacos is a pretty scrumptious lunch and it will give you that cholesterol and grease boost you need to get that belly your spouse will love.

Trinity Bistro

Note:  Since posting this review, Trinity Bistro has closed.

I read a review about this place that said "get there now before they raise the prices." I think this is a good
way to sum up this place.

If you take Henderson North out of downtown, look to your left after passing White Settlement. There will be a little shack. Its a restaurant (note that I take no responsibility for any damages to your body if you enter a different shack filled with meth crazed hobos instead of a restaurant).

There are about eight tables and a bar in this place but its not a bar. This place appears to be a restaurant that spent most of its dining room budget on the bar though. Cool idea. If you get tired of your eating companion, go to the bar and hit on some random middle aged person of your desires. I didn't actually see any of that when I went there, but that's fun to watch if you ever get the chance. Ever seen a mulleted man in a leather jacket with an eight ball on the back try to hit on a woman? Awesomeness, but that's another story.

They have food here too. I ordered the fish tacos because for some reason I was craving them. A little warning here. The chef has some experience and likes to try new things. If you think you are craving something and order it, ask what exactly is involved. Fish tacos to me, tend to be flavored like mexican food dishes. So I was expecting a mexican style dish. The only thing mexican about these tacos was that there was a tortilla involved.

The flavors were more asian inspired with an island twist. Roasted vegetables, including pineapple, zucchini, squash and quite possibly a mushroom invaded my naive fish taco. The fish and or vegetables were all cooked in an asian flavored sauce and put together in the tortillas. There was no cilantro. No cheese. And no tomato based hot sauce. But thats ok. Every once in awhile you have to push that envelope and try something that isn't mexican.

Despite that horrible description of the food, it was actually good. It was a bit spicy and the roasted vegetables were prepared wonderfully and was a nice touch. It wasn't what I expected but you could tell the chef knew what he/she was doing and next time I crave asian/island fish tacos, that's what I'll get.

The rest of the menu looked great. They have a wide variety of items to choose from and I get the idea that its all pretty good. I think this would be a great place to go with some people who can never agree on a restaurant. You can have a salad, sandwich, fried catfish, duck, and probably even elephant tongue.

If you go and try something that is different from what you expected, please let me know. I hate to get my hopes up for something and then be pleasantly surprised with the different results. Change is for hippies.

Taqueria San Luis

Note:  Since posting this review, Taqueria San Luis has changed names.  Check back for further reviews.

In my never ending quest to find a place that could kill me, another notch can go on my bedpost of danger. That's probably not completely fair to say. The only real danger is probably coronary blockage, but they'll have a cure for unhealthy eating soon enough. They being them.

On my way to Fiesta I decided to get in the mexi-mood by stopping into a place I have longed to eat at. This is Taqueria San Luis, numero tres. The one on 0cho-th avenue. I walked in and happened to be the only noon-time patron. Lucky for me because I got the best seat in the house...the one right in front of the tv playing a scrambled Mexican soap opera. Ambiance is what sells this place.

Some background. I spent about six weeks in Mexico before law school, "learning" spanish. I learned a lot about the Mexican culture but unfortunately my spanish is about as good as my writing. Its useless, random and probably quite offensive. Anyways, while in Guadalajara, I found these little tacos with different shaved meats on them. They were eaten with cilantro, onions and hot sauce. Sometimes pico de gallo would be added. They were amazing and cost about 25 cents a piece. I would eat six or eight for dinner along with a bottle of coke.

San Luis has a great version of these taco-itos. They are slightly larger, with much more meat, but they come with cilantro, onions, and salsa. I ordered two with pastor (roasted meat) and it really took me back. The meat has great flavor and is extremely tender. It is also incredibly greasy which isn't how I remember it but this is America and we do things Americanly. So we eat grease. Luckily I washed out my arteries with a bottle of coke. Thats right. Not a can. Not from a soda fountain. An ice cold bottle of coke. Jealous much?

They offer a meal of four tacos (and you can pick different meats) for five dollars and some change. I chose to get two tacos and a bottle of coke and it cost me five dollars and some change. So I'm thinking the four taco deal is pretty good. It only cost an extra 1.50 or so.

Next time I'm getting the carne asada along with the pastor. I'll update you on the grease content of the carne asada.

The hot sauce, by the way, is great. It has a real good spice but not so much that you only taste the screaming of your tongue.

If anybody knows of any places that are similar to this or have had the little tacos in Mexico, please let me know where I can find something similar. These were pretty much right on, but I'd be interested in trying other restaurant's versions as well.

I'll put the link up to the side, but you can visit their website at http://www.taqueriasanluis.com/

Galligaskins

I know everybody wants me to get to Carshon's for a sandwich, and I'm working on that. Until I make it however, I have had to fill my time with other options that are closer to where I work. So, with that being said, lets all reminisce about Galligaskins.

Actually there's no reason for me to ask you to reminisce. I don't know how long the place has been there or how long people have been going, but a friend recommended we meet there for lunch. I have to admit, I'm skeptical of sub shops and sandwich type restaurants. They always tend to be the same and they each advertise their "super fresh, no health violation cleanliness, low cal" features. All things I care little about.

But I was told the philly cheese steak was good here. I know what some of your are saying, "Yo I'm from or been to philly and this place got nutin' on a real philly cheese steak, Go Eagles!!" Well, I haven't been to Philly and I don't care for the Eagles (no offense to the bald ones or to Todd Dodge at UNT).

Apparently this is their number one seller. I don't know why they don't slightly alter it and call it the Cowtown calfwich or something quirky like that. Anyways, its really good. The meat was a bit salty but overall it had great flavor and came on some really soft hoagie type bread. Plus, it was hot and just made, along with the french fries. The fries sort of stole the show, in my opinion. I would put them close to the category of Railhead fries which I believe are the best in town. Crispy, hot, not greasy. Kind of like good hicken.

So it was a good lunch. The food is not so overwhelming that you want to go back to work and die. It's enough to fill you up for a decent price and send you on your way. And everybody knows that Cowtown calfwiches are low fat. So its got that going for it.

I think this would be a cool place to work into a monthly schedule of dining out only because they have a bunch of sandwiches and its a compromise of unhealthy and healthy (sandwiches and fries). Its the best of Subway and Whataburger (but better fries). That really isn't a good sales pitch is it?

So I like Galligaskins and I promise I'll go to Carshon's to get a real sandwich soon. Until then, I will probably have at least one more Cowtown calfwich.

Galligaskins is on Camp Bowie between Bryant Irvin and Horne, on the south side of the road. It's open during its operating hours and closed at other times.

Health Inspections

The Star-telegram website says restaurant reviews of your favorite eateries in the Fort are now available on-line. I've been a big fan of not worrying about health inspections. If any of you have ever watched the news in Houston, you may remember the late crazy old guy with sunglasses that talked about these places. I always assumed the places he that failed inspections were probably great places to go immediately after the report because they were on their best behavior.

But as I said, I've never really considered cleanliness when eating at a restaurant. I assume if the places is dirty, its because they're too busy satisfying customers to have time for cleaning. Also, when places start cleaning more, they tend to raise prices. My favorite chinese restaurant in law school cleaned up the "dining area" by putting in tile and wiping off the tables between customers. They also charged an extra dollar for each item. No thanks, I'll spend my $4.45 elsewhere thank you. Yuppies...go back to Pittsburgh.

The reason I mention all of this is because I don't want anybody thinking I will provide reviews that take cleanliness into consideration. I might mention something that stands out when I eat at the restaurant, but I have no intention of checking their record. In fact, I will avoid it. I don't care if they didn't keep their cheese at 42 degrees, or if they didn't wash their hands after cutting chicken or if they used the bowls as toilets in the morning. Honestly, I want cheap, good food. If it takes some bacteria to get there, thats fine.

Note: the chicken thing and toilet/bowl (get it?) thing would actually bother me, but only if I saw it.

I would also like to mention that the next item I mention in this blog should not be read in conjunction with this post. I'm not making a comment on the cleanliness of any restaurant reviewed in the past or future.

One final note. In my opinion, you're more likely to get something nasty (like spit in your food) at a place with surly young people who have no respect for humanity, than you are from a family member of the owner of a small place who has mama yelling at him to hurry it up or he'll get hit upside the head. In other words, big chains with young people who probably easily get mad at customer number ____ are more likely to get upset than the small restaurant people who depend on each and every patron.

One more final note. Do you really think you are that clean in cooking? Lets be honest. You sneeze off to the side while cooking without covering your mouth or your food. You don't wash your hands every time you switch ingredients. You don't keep ingredients at the proper temperature. You may even use your bowls inappropriately. So I wouldn't worry about what any restaurants are doing. Unless it involves surly young teens...

ONG Update - Chicken 'n Dumplings

These last two days have really made me crave something warm 'n dumplingy. Unfortunately I still haven't figured out ONG's Chicken 'n Dumpling schedule. So although I would love to warm up with a nice bowl of soup, I have been relegated to sandwiches at work 'n a delicious sandwich at Great Outdoors (more on that in a later post).

Last week, however, I made it to ONG for lunch 'n lo 'n behold, they had C&D. I've heard of this event before but never actually seen it. But I can now confirm, they have C&D on last Wednesday. Yes, that sentence was written like that on purpose.

A quick history lesson on Chicken 'n Dumplings. According to Wikipedia, it is a dish comprised of chicken 'n dumplings. Thank you wikipedia. I believe this dish became popular as a southern dish which means its healthy. So, as a health connoisseur, let me continue the story of my pursuit of the elusive chicken 'n dumplings.

My eyes widened with happiness as I ordered the C&D 'n an order of onion rings. I thought it would be a good idea to order everything I had heard was great 'n just get it out of the way. The onion rings are fantastic, by the way, but thats not what this review is about.

The C&D comes with dumplings that are doughy/puffy dumpling sheets. That makes no sense but you'll see what I mean when you get there. They're small enough to eat in one big bite, but not so big that you have to use a knife to cut them. Also, they're soft enough that a spoon can cut them apart. 'N you know how weak spoons are. Always getting picked on because of their little biceps. Forks are such jerks for picking on them.

The C&D also has, surprisingly, chicken. 'N its good. Tender, flavored, chunky, 'n chickeny. There were other aspects to the C&D but as you probably have figured out, I don't describe details that are important. So here's what you really need to know: always order the C&D when its available. There's no reason to mess around with other things when thats on the menu. Mama ONG made it fresh that morning for you. She hand plucked the dumplings from their cages, de-feathered them 'n cooked them up, just for you.

If anybody knows the C&D schedule please let me know.

If you know of any other places that have a C&D or other soup/stew that is worthy of making a trip to, please let me know. During these winter months soups are always a nice change from sandwiches.

On a side note: Pho cured my friends AIDs or the cold. I can't remember which one he had. C&D has yet to cure anything but I think its because nobody knows exactly when ONG serves it.