West Side Cafe

I've been teased by Mrs. FWHITW for my devotion to you. B y that, I mean going to the same place two times in one day or even three times in three days. She obviously doesn't understand what we have together.

The West SIYEEEED Cafe was introduced to me as the "best blue plate" in Fort Worth. I happen to have four blue plates in my kitchen so I was a bit suspicious, but then I realized what blue plate meant. On a somewhat recent Thursday I made an initial trip and had the chicken fried steak (no queso here, but good thought). The next day, my neighbor and I went. I had the noodles with brown gravy. I went a few days later for breakfast. It is fair to say that I have the necessary expertise to give you a review.

For lunch on day one the chicken fried steak came with broccoli and cheese, mashed potatoes, and gravy. The broccoli was well prepared and covered in nacho cheese. The potatoes and gravy were hot. But of course you only care about the CFS. It was terrific. Great crispy crust, tender meat, and all well flavored. One of my lunch mates opted for the club sandwich. He cried the entire meal.

On day two, I had the noodles and gravy and beef. Imagine carne guisada on egg noodles and a lady named Flo saying, "Need some moar tea Hun?". I can't remember what else I got but it was all delicious.

The CFS and noodles were two of the lunch specials available. The rest of the available items range from your typical cafe blue plate entrees to what you may remember as school lunch-line stuff. They have meatloaf, sirloin covered in gravy, green beans, other veggies, etc. You can try a lot of different combos before going back to the same thing.

But don't load up on vegetables and CFS, because they also have pie. To be honest, I didn't order pie at first because I didn't think the restaurant could excel in both the meal and pie portions of life. I thought only Carshon's could do that. However, after mentally stabbing my eating companions in an attempt to steal their pie, I decided to order a slice. My coconut pie was covered in whipped cream instead of meringue. The cream was firm and lightly flavored and the pie tasted like a million coconut angels tickling my tongue. It was better than you're thinking right now. Stop licking your monitor because it wont make these words taste better.

After my back to back lunch experience, it was breakfast time. I went on a weekday and the WSC was packed. I screwed up though. Normally the best test of a breakfast place is their regular egg/meat/hashed brown plate. However, because of the cold weather, and worries regarding my cholesterol intake over my two previous visits, I ordered the oatmeal. The oatmeal was good. It was creamy, came with some stuff to mix into it and it definitely hit the bill. Plus, I'll now live until I'm old enough to only eat oatmeal.

So, where is this mecca of affordable down-hominess? On the West SIYEEEED, obviously. But specifically, at 7950 West Camp Bowie, just west of Cherry. The line gets long quickly at lunch but you should go and wait. They move quickly and I guarantee that you'll leave happy. If you don't, I'll give you a free subscription to this blog for six weeks.

Let me know if you've been and if you agree. Also, if there is something else that must be had at the WSC, please share it with us so I can tell everybody about it as though I figured it out all by myself.