I have avoided eating McDonald's hamburgers for many years. I ate them as a kid, but when they responded to an E. Coli incident by microwaving their burgers after grilling, they became inedible. I stuck to chicken. Even ordered a Filet-O-Fish recently, though that was pretty disgusting (who puts cheese on fish? Mickey D's!). This location has recently been renovated, so I decided to give a burger another try. I went to this location for a late lunch (3pm).
I used the kiosk to order, which they are encouraging customers to do. Got a quarter pounder with cheese meal and a McFlurry.
The
kiosk is OK if you want to avoid dealing with the counter help (and you
may want to, there are fewer registers now), but I've used the system
twice now and it's very slow. I haven't tried the app yet, but that's
another option for skipping the line. But I think the fastest way to
order is still to talk to a person at a register.
I took my
number and sat at a table. The renovation is clean and functional, but
it's not as fancy as the one at Kuykendall and Rayford (in the Shell
station). The burgers are not instantly ready anymore, since they cook
them to order. But I got mine in about 5 minutes. The table service
concept may need some time to settle in at this location--I didn't get
my drink, or any condiments, when the food was brought out. And they
don't have a condiment bar like they used to, so you have to ask the
(reduced) staff for condiments. That part is not an improvement.
But
I can say that the burgers have graduated from nasty to a
good average. Mine was hot, fresh, juicy and tender, though it still
tasted as generic as they usually do. Fries were fine as usual. I
tried a McFlurry for the first time, and while it wasn't bad, I probably
won't have it again. McDonald's ice cream is very creamy, and an Oreo
McFlurry seems like it just adds graininess.
The bathroom was OK, not completely clean but not bad for a Saturday afternoon.
Overall, though, I'm happy I at least don't have to completely avoid burgers if I go there.
My Yelp Review
Monday, May 28, 2018
Tuesday, May 22, 2018
Starbucks at 2920 near Kuykendall
The brand-new Starbucks is close for me, but the one at 2920 and Kuykendall is right by Lowe's, and I'm sometimes there early for home projects. This week I stopped in at 6:30 for breakfast. I ordered a chicken
sausage and bacon biscuit, some coffee cake, a donut, and a double shot
of espresso.
The staff was friendly and seemed happy to be there. There were a few rough spots in service as many of the staff members seemed new--maybe they have cleaned house, I see several reviews about poor service from earlier this year. In any case, the chicken sausage biscuit was an excellent breakfast sandwich, one of the best I've had anywhere. Flavorful sausage, bacon crisp enough to bite through cleanly, and some, but not too much, nice gooey cheese, all on a fine biscuit. Didn't taste prepackaged at all (though it is--all Starbucks food is packaged). The coffee cake was very good, it ate nicely as finger food and hit all the notes. The donut was, well, a packaged donut. OK if you like those, and certainly better than yesterday's donut that some shops will serve you early. But clearly inferior to the nice fresh ones I got right around the corner at Top Donut.
The espresso was top notch, as Starbucks usually is. That's really what one is there for, having the breakfast items available is nice but it's the coffee products that sell the place.
This Starbucks, like most of them, has two unisex restrooms. Makes a lot of sense to me, having two people of the same gender need the facilities at the same time is a common situation. Both were clean and ready to go when I was there.
My Yelp Review
The staff was friendly and seemed happy to be there. There were a few rough spots in service as many of the staff members seemed new--maybe they have cleaned house, I see several reviews about poor service from earlier this year. In any case, the chicken sausage biscuit was an excellent breakfast sandwich, one of the best I've had anywhere. Flavorful sausage, bacon crisp enough to bite through cleanly, and some, but not too much, nice gooey cheese, all on a fine biscuit. Didn't taste prepackaged at all (though it is--all Starbucks food is packaged). The coffee cake was very good, it ate nicely as finger food and hit all the notes. The donut was, well, a packaged donut. OK if you like those, and certainly better than yesterday's donut that some shops will serve you early. But clearly inferior to the nice fresh ones I got right around the corner at Top Donut.
The espresso was top notch, as Starbucks usually is. That's really what one is there for, having the breakfast items available is nice but it's the coffee products that sell the place.
This Starbucks, like most of them, has two unisex restrooms. Makes a lot of sense to me, having two people of the same gender need the facilities at the same time is a common situation. Both were clean and ready to go when I was there.
My Yelp Review
Monday, May 14, 2018
Kroger Marketplace Deli at Rayford and Kuykendall
Most grocery stores offer some sort of dining-in options. Some go out of their way to make them attractive and comfortable restaurant-like experiences--the best example in our neighborhood is Harvest Market. Others are more minimal--I'd say that our Walmart and Kroger at the 2920 and Kuykendall intersection fit in this category. One of my favorite places to eat, period, is lunch at any Whole Foods--a great selection of things you can't find anywhere else.
For a time, the Kroger Marketplace at Rayford seemed to be trying for better than minimal. We had deli food from there a few times when they first opened and it was pretty good--the fried chicken was better than at most Krogers. Seating in the place is the opposite of flashy, but usable.
But the last time I went it was a big disappointment. No BBQ, really nothing on the steam tables except some picked-over baked chicken, green beans, corn and long-suffering mac and cheese. I went ahead and ate some to dull my appetite ahead of shopping. The chicken was edible but the skin was really chewy. The sides were overdone. I went to get a drink from the fountain and found it was not working--no sign to that effect, and it doesn't look like they will make an effort to fix it. This was on a busy Saturday at noon so one would expect a bit better. The staff had to pull stuff from the store and heat it up for their lunch. I'll continue to shop at the store, but don't bother with the deli at all, unless it improves significantly.
My Yelp Review
For a time, the Kroger Marketplace at Rayford seemed to be trying for better than minimal. We had deli food from there a few times when they first opened and it was pretty good--the fried chicken was better than at most Krogers. Seating in the place is the opposite of flashy, but usable.
But the last time I went it was a big disappointment. No BBQ, really nothing on the steam tables except some picked-over baked chicken, green beans, corn and long-suffering mac and cheese. I went ahead and ate some to dull my appetite ahead of shopping. The chicken was edible but the skin was really chewy. The sides were overdone. I went to get a drink from the fountain and found it was not working--no sign to that effect, and it doesn't look like they will make an effort to fix it. This was on a busy Saturday at noon so one would expect a bit better. The staff had to pull stuff from the store and heat it up for their lunch. I'll continue to shop at the store, but don't bother with the deli at all, unless it improves significantly.
My Yelp Review
Wednesday, May 9, 2018
NHOA Crawfish Boil
I wanted to give a shout out and big thank you to the NHOA Social Events committee for a great crawfish boil event this last Sunday. We were lucky enough to have great weather for the event. The band that played the event (The Shuffle) did a fine job with the classic rock covers--not every cover band can do justice to Chicago tunes, but they sure did.
But of course the focus of the event is to eat some great crawfish and enjoy time with friends. The crawfish were impressive. I'm used to the small ones you get at chain restaurants or buffets. These were great big guys, aspiring to be small lobsters. The tails were cooked exactly right, so that you could pinch the tail and pull the meat out in one piece, rather than having it disintegrate. I think the spicing in the boil was just right for this kind of event. My spice tolerance is slightly below average--it had a nice burn for me but I could still enjoy the taste. If it wasn't spicy enough for you, keep in mind that it had to be for everyone, and bring your own hot sauce. The corn and potatoes picked up the spice just right in the boil. I normally drench my corn and potatoes with butter, but that wasn't necessary with the delicious spicing. So I enjoyed my generous plate of food without feeling like it completely blew my diet. Kudos to Billy the crawfish chef for a fine meal.
They had plenty of food right through to the end of the event, so next year if you can't show up right at the beginning don't worry, come when you can and there will be some for you. Please do support the event with your presence and your help!
But of course the focus of the event is to eat some great crawfish and enjoy time with friends. The crawfish were impressive. I'm used to the small ones you get at chain restaurants or buffets. These were great big guys, aspiring to be small lobsters. The tails were cooked exactly right, so that you could pinch the tail and pull the meat out in one piece, rather than having it disintegrate. I think the spicing in the boil was just right for this kind of event. My spice tolerance is slightly below average--it had a nice burn for me but I could still enjoy the taste. If it wasn't spicy enough for you, keep in mind that it had to be for everyone, and bring your own hot sauce. The corn and potatoes picked up the spice just right in the boil. I normally drench my corn and potatoes with butter, but that wasn't necessary with the delicious spicing. So I enjoyed my generous plate of food without feeling like it completely blew my diet. Kudos to Billy the crawfish chef for a fine meal.
They had plenty of food right through to the end of the event, so next year if you can't show up right at the beginning don't worry, come when you can and there will be some for you. Please do support the event with your presence and your help!
Monday, May 7, 2018
Starbucks at Grand Parkway Marketplace
Back when I was in graduate school my wife and I were living pretty frugally. "Date night" was a mocha frappucino at the Starbucks inside the Barnes and Noble. It was a happening place, we'd see lots of other students and faculty there. I am no longer a regular at Starbucks, but going there brings back good memories so I decided to return. There are three Starbucks in our neighborhood, not counting the two
inside other stores. Over the next few weeks I'll be visiting all
three.
As it happens, I started with the very newest one--it's only been open for a few days. I thought it had been there longer as it was on Google Maps as a planned location for several months, but at the wrong address. But they have put up signs and people seemed to be finding it. A major difference from my grad school days is that Starbucks has branched out significantly beyond coffee and pastry. I had a turkey with tomato and pesto sandwich (warmed in the microwave), some chips and a mocha frappucino, my drink of choice in the past.
I would have to say the place is absolutely ready to go. The furniture is comfortable enough to sit at all day, and the place was well staffed with people who seemed to know what to do. Service was zealously friendly, not surprising given their recent challenges, but they really did do a nice job. The patio is attractively set up, but the construction in the area deterred me from sitting outside. I had a nice chat with the manager, who had his very darling baby girl with him for a visit while I was there.
You go to Starbucks for the coffee drinks--it's nice that they now have full meal options but the sandwich wasn't super amazing. Competent, but about what you would expect from a packaged, microwaved sandwich. The mocha frappucino was perfectly executed and just as I remembered. They have some interesting "protein box" lunches that I have had in the past and will try again, and breakfast sandwiches as well.
Online reviews say the 2920 location near Lowe's gets too busy on Saturday mornings. This new place is ready to take up some of the load, and will likely do well with all the growth in the area.
My Yelp Review
As it happens, I started with the very newest one--it's only been open for a few days. I thought it had been there longer as it was on Google Maps as a planned location for several months, but at the wrong address. But they have put up signs and people seemed to be finding it. A major difference from my grad school days is that Starbucks has branched out significantly beyond coffee and pastry. I had a turkey with tomato and pesto sandwich (warmed in the microwave), some chips and a mocha frappucino, my drink of choice in the past.
I would have to say the place is absolutely ready to go. The furniture is comfortable enough to sit at all day, and the place was well staffed with people who seemed to know what to do. Service was zealously friendly, not surprising given their recent challenges, but they really did do a nice job. The patio is attractively set up, but the construction in the area deterred me from sitting outside. I had a nice chat with the manager, who had his very darling baby girl with him for a visit while I was there.
You go to Starbucks for the coffee drinks--it's nice that they now have full meal options but the sandwich wasn't super amazing. Competent, but about what you would expect from a packaged, microwaved sandwich. The mocha frappucino was perfectly executed and just as I remembered. They have some interesting "protein box" lunches that I have had in the past and will try again, and breakfast sandwiches as well.
Online reviews say the 2920 location near Lowe's gets too busy on Saturday mornings. This new place is ready to take up some of the load, and will likely do well with all the growth in the area.
My Yelp Review
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