Yogi's Bagel Cafe

When your friends come in town do you have that awkward moment where you ask them what they want for a meal and then they say, "I don't care."? You shouldn't ask that question. Why would somebody who isn't from here know what's good? You are so insensitive sometimes.

Other than your complete lack of hosting abilities, you also shouldn't ask that question because there is a chance that they might give you an answer. If they're not from around here, you'll be eating at Chili's or Applebee's. Or even worse....Panera.

What's wrong with Panera, you say? They have good bread, coffee and manufactured personality.... What else could you want?

How about Boo Boos favorite bagel place? Yogi's.

Yogi's is on Hulen, just south of the river in a small strip center on the west side of the road. When you drive by, you'll probably see a large crowd of cars out front and wonder, "how do all of those people fit in a bagel shop?" Well, this is more than just a mere bagel shop. Yogi's is a full service, breakfast, bagel, coffee and newspaper reading place. The menu is long and extensive with a three egg/hash potato/bacon/bagel dish, mexican dishes, eight or so coffees and numerous other breakfast items. They also have lunch items. This is your local replacement for Panera when you want to treat your out-of-town friends to something unique. Or when you're just really hungry.

Mrs. FWHITW actually recommended this place to me a few weeks back and it was a selection full of win. But she has a history of good choices (ahem...me...).

We both got the breakfast plate with eggs, taters, a bagel and some bacon. Both sets of eggs were prepared just as requested although the scrambled eggs ordered by the Mrs. were drier than she normally likes. The bacon was crispy and I bet you could get it chewy or raw though I didn't ask. The bagel was also delicious. I had the cinnamon-sugar bagel which was sticky on the outside but tasted delicious with a little honey on the top. She may have had the same type of bagel but I can't remember. She ate it so it was probably good. Finally, the taters. So many places served hash(ed?) potatoes that are slimy or soft. These are potato chunks that are crispy. They're probably frozen potatoes, but the fact that they're crispy makes me happy.

All in all, the meal was a success. I went again a few weeks later and tried the same breakfast plate with the orange-cranberry bagel. Again, everything was great, and the bagel was another success. Two great trips in a row makes this place a definite repeat place.

The atmosphere also makes this the to-be place of the month. The tables are all packed together and you get to listen on in your neighboring table to discover that maybe if he helped out a little more around the house, maybe she wouldn't care so much if he spent more time with his friends. Or maybe you'll hear the table next to you talking about what they heard you say. It really creates a community atmosphere.

If you're looking for a new breakfast place, this should definitely get your consideration. The food is good, affordable, and the place has a friendly atmosphere that will really wake you up in the morning. Plus, its always good to know what the people next to you are talking about and this is one of the more legal ways to find out. It's also a great substitute to Panera and half of all proceeds go to the Jellystone National Park Foundation.

Let me know if you've been or what you think. If you have suggestions for other good bagels or breakfast dishes let me know.

Yogi's is located at 2710 S Hulen St., Fort Worth.

Paco and John - Dinner

I have a secret. I have a crush. A restaurant-crush. If you've read this blog before, and the quotes in the Fort Worth Foodie magazine, you've probably picked up on my hints. Or maybe you don't sit around all day thinking about me and my thoughts. For those of you that do, you know my secret.

I have a crush on Paco and John, Mexican Diner.

I'm afraid to tell it because it might reject me. But I can't stop staring at it and driving by just to see if its with somebody else. It always is. Maybe its just a tease. But whenever I go in, its so nice to me. I think I'm in love. That awkwardly named place has stolen my dining heart.

You've already had a chance to read my review on the lunch and breakfast at P&J. But now I've got a review of dinner for you.

My other love, Mrs. "Not a restaurant" and I went to Paco and John's for dinner recently on the advice of me. It was her first trip but my second. That day. She was intrigued because of all she had heard. Our friends had promised her that it was delicious and I wasn't just making this up for some elaborate joke. To be honest, I almost had to hide my secret crush. Can you imagine that, keeping a secret, like a crush, from your wife?

If you haven't been at dinner, the menu is different from their lunch menu. That's important to know because if you're going for all of the delicious lunch options, you have to select from the delicious dinner options instead.

But more importantly (for those of us that work during the day), at dinner you can get away with drinking with your meal. Conveniently, there is a gas station next door that sells beer. Rumor has it that they've seen an increase in the "single-beer-buyer" market. I doubt that. I imagine their "single-40oz-buyer" market has been strong for awhile. The "single-yuppie-beer-buyer" market has probably increased ten-fold. So, if you don't feel comfortable having a drink in front of your coworkers, go at dinner because some of these entrees just need a good cold mexican beer or a glass of wine.

Now, about our meal. We started with the queso to go with our chips and salsa. The queso was creamy with a very nice spice. Definitely worth a try if you're a queso-ficianodo.

My meal was the red snapper cooked in a guajillo sauce and served with sauteed bell peppers and onion slices. The red snapper was a large fillet served on a plate in the sauce and covered in the veggies. Each bite was a delicious scoreboard over what my wife ordered. The red snapper was a great dish that had a casual feel, but was really well prepared.

She ordered a chicken with a banana/avocado stuffing. She wasn't a huge fan of the texture - it was thick and creamy, but with little chunks, and tasted like bananas and avocado.... The chicken, however, was cooked great and the meal was prepared wonderfully. She was hooked, despite this setback, and has since made a return trip for lunch. She had the salmon tortas at lunch and says they get two thumbs up. She also offered to trade me for a bag of chile-lime potato sticks.

The two entrees and appetizer cost about $30. That's a bit high for a normal hole in the wall. But, for a place like this, it's a steal. Plus, if you don't like the dinner prices, go at lunch when prices are under $10 for a meal plus tip. Or go somewhere else.

I would suggest that you all try Paco and John's for dinner, but I can't stand to see more of you with it. That just breaks my heart and I don't want to wait in a line just to experience my favorite street tacos, tortas, guacamole, or red snapper dishes. Oh well, it probably wouldn't like me anyways. Some popular kid in the food-review world has probably already caught its heart. Ciao Baby or Bud Kennedy has probably already taken it to a movie and invited it to prom. Well, Paco and John will soon realize that I'm better in the long-run. Until then, Mrs. "Not a restaurant" will do. I hope she doesn't read this.

If you haven't been, you're obviously not a serious FWHITW reader. Stop dragging your feet and try this place out. Everybody I've taken loves it and has gone back numerous times. But what would they know, they are just tons of people that have good taste....

Let me know what you think.

Paco and John is at 1116 8th Avenue and their website is on my link list.