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Who's Who Burgers . . . Who Cares?
I keep reading in certain local publications which shall go unnamed that Who's Who Burgers is supposed to be sooooo good.
So on a recent Wednesday, just before six o'clock in the evening, I decide to finally check it out with two dinner companions, one of whom is 14 months old. We walk in and my first thought is, why isn't there a single solitary soul here? My second thought, I wonder if they even have highchairs. Next, what's with the raised tables and the wooden bar stools? I can feel my butt getting sore already.
Along about that time a young lady appears behind the counter.
"What can I get you?"
"Um, well, do ya'll have highchairs?"
Silence. Then she looks at me like I have a snake on my head.
"I don't know. We might. But they might be all wet."
"Oh?"
Then a young man wearing a giant paper chef's hat walks to the front. She asks him en Espanol if they have any highchairs. Now, I don't know what went on between these two before we walked in, but the poor girl, he just shot her a hateful look and walked away without even answering her question. I smiled, apologized and exited as gracefully as possible.
Anybody out there care to explain this? The restaurant is located right in Highland Park Village, surely people actually go there. . .
So on a recent Wednesday, just before six o'clock in the evening, I decide to finally check it out with two dinner companions, one of whom is 14 months old. We walk in and my first thought is, why isn't there a single solitary soul here? My second thought, I wonder if they even have highchairs. Next, what's with the raised tables and the wooden bar stools? I can feel my butt getting sore already.
Along about that time a young lady appears behind the counter.
"What can I get you?"
"Um, well, do ya'll have highchairs?"
Silence. Then she looks at me like I have a snake on my head.
"I don't know. We might. But they might be all wet."
"Oh?"
Then a young man wearing a giant paper chef's hat walks to the front. She asks him en Espanol if they have any highchairs. Now, I don't know what went on between these two before we walked in, but the poor girl, he just shot her a hateful look and walked away without even answering her question. I smiled, apologized and exited as gracefully as possible.
Anybody out there care to explain this? The restaurant is located right in Highland Park Village, surely people actually go there. . .
Trader Vic's
I went to Trader Vic's the other night on a recommendation. A business associate was in town and I wanted to take him to a place with good food, good drinks, and a quiet atmosphere to discuss the intricacies and pitfalls of his corporate environment. I made a reservation for 2 at 7:30 on OpenTable from the iPhone, which is slick.
Dinner 
Dessert
Upon our arrival, we were promptly greeted at the host/hostess stand and led to our table in the main eating area. It was perfectly lit, dim but not dark, and the environment was adorned appropriately with a mid-Pacific mindset. We perused the drink menu and each promptly ordered The Scorpion. Upon arrival of the drinks, I was surprised at the soup bowl on a stem appearance of the glass with a beautiful Hibiscus flower in the center as you can see here.
The drink was a refreshing mix of fruit flavors with a nice hint of rum.
The drink was a refreshing mix of fruit flavors with a nice hint of rum.For sustenance, we started with a Tuna Poke appetizer. This was good, uninspired, tuna with vegetable chips on the side. I had the Chilean Sea Bass and my associate had a New York Strip. Both were good, quality dishes, served properly. We completed the meal with dessert. I had the Banana Fritters and he had cheesecake. The fritters were tasty, although one of the three bananas tasted under-ripe. My associate said his cheesecake was a 6 out of 10.
Overall, Trader Vic's was an excellent spot for a good meal and drinks, with an appropriate atmosphere for having a conversation without yelling.
Dinner Dessert
Capitol Pub
On a cool evening, the best table in the house is the one by the wood burning fire. There is only one. You can relax and enjoy the glow of both the fire and the plasma TV in the corner.
A pub in the true sense of the word, the drink menu goes on and on. It works out well if you're a bit indecisive as it may take the waitstaff a while to get to your table, but once they do they're so sweet you'll be pledged Facebook friends by the time the check arrives.
The food menu offers the standard pub fare. Fries, fish and chips, meat and cheese platters, all satisfying. No surprises.
I don't know, though. . . If that table by the fire was taken, I'm not sure what I would do. I might just have to go someplace else.
Capitol Pub
2401 N. Henderson
Dallas, TX 75206
214.887.9330
Bolsa for Brunch
Victoria Hines at Bolsa
Bolsa might just be close to the perfect brunch spot. It's not absolutely perfect, but close.
The atmosphere is crisp, Texas-modern. The food is fresh, flavorful, full of life. The staff is warm and helpful. The management, even more so: after a relatively long delay between our appetizer and main courses, the manager approached our table to deeply apologize for our wait and to inform us that our entrees would be complimentary. Now that's excellent service! How many times have we endured the exact scenario except with no apology and certainly no complimentary dishes! And truth be told, we were enjoying ourselves so much, we hardly noticed the lapse.
If I had to do it all over again, I would've ordered the Chilequeles instead of the Eggs Benedict with smoked salmon. The lardo in me secretly longed for some herb-y homefries or golden hash browns with my eggs instead of the delightfully healthy fruit cup that came on the side. As fruit cups go it was exceptional, and (thankfully) without canteloupe, but a fruit cup just the same.
The entrees fall in the $8 -$11 dollar range, adding to the overall relaxed experience. Not that we had to pay for ours.
Bolsa
614 W. Davis Street
Dallas, TX 75208
214.367.9367
El Jordan Cafe (Mexican, That Is)
There was a time when I was a regular at El Jordan. Before I would even get to my seat, one of the friendly wait staff would smile and ask, "Huevos Rancheros?" Why, yes.
I'm no longer a true regular, but I've been to El Jordan countless times. In all my visits, I've deviated only once from ordering the Ranch-Style Eggs I so enjoy. The one time I ventured to try the cheese enchiladas, I was just as happy as with a plate swimming in egg yolk. The strong association with breakfast most likely comes from the restaurant's hours. I found out the hard way a few years ago that they close at four in the afternoon. Curses.
My dear friend Halie has asked that I please use the Spanish 'h' pronunciation in the word Jordan. She's complained that when I suggest El Jordan with a 'j' she mistakes it for a Middle Eastern joint and gets all lathered up for falafel and hummus. It's awfully hard to redirect a craving.
If you're not into spending a lot of money, fear not. The Huevos Rancheros has increased slightly in price, but is still a bargain at $5.50.
El Jordan Cafe
416 N. Bishop Avenue
Dallas, TX 75208
214.941.4451
Sorry to Bother You, Dallas Affaires Cake Co.
The cakes at Dallas Affaires Cake Co. are as cakes should be. The cake itself is moist, the frosting is rich and buttery. They're really quite delicious. A gentle warning: if you expect the staff at Dallas Affaires to share your enthusiasm for your special occasion, you may be disappointed. They will not guide you through your decision making, give helpful suggestions, accommodate special requests or make substitutions. They will, however, sell you a cake that tastes as wonderful as it looks.
Dallas Affaires Cake Co.
2307 Abrams Road
Dallas, TX 75214
214.826.9409
Black Walnuts
Black walnuts are considered a delicacy. North America boasts the top drawer variety which are rich and smoky with a hint of cherry -- cherry liqueur, even. The flavor is sweet, daring, and goes much deeper than your average walnut. If every day walnuts are a Western tune with Bob Wills on the fiddle, black walnuts are a minuet by Bach. Played on a Stratovarius. Exquisite.
But you can't get the doggone things open. You're a fool if you try to use a nut-cracker. Ha! A nut-cracker, please. . . A hammer works, but is not recommended. I've heard of folks driving over a bag full of 'em, I guess that's a possibility. In the small towns of rural Tennessee, many a mom and pop hardware store will carry a handcrafted rig resembling a vice that cracks the walnuts open clean and sharp. I should've thought to pick one up at Forked Deer Hardware in Dyersburg when my grandfather, 94, handed over a medium-sized brown paper bag full.
Until the next trip to Tennessee, the bowl of black walnuts in the kitchen will serve as a fine centerpiece.
Campania's Saturday Night Pizza
Campania is good pizza. It's not the pizza it once was, but it's good. It's probably the closest thing you'll find in Dallas to the pizza they actually serve in Italy. There was a time when the pizza guys in the kitchen were from Italy. Not anymore. And the pizza reflects that. Still, I love that arugula is one of the toppings available. The crust is thin, but not cracker crust. I'm either in the mood for artichoke heart, arugula, and pecorino romano (as pictured here), or my all-time favorite pizza topping combo: jalapeno and pineapple. Don't knock it till you try it. It's got the spicy-sweet thing going on -- tangy and tasty.
We did take-out tonight instead of delivery. Last time we called to do take-out, the girl on the phone said she was really busy -- too busy -- and could we call back. That was months ago.
Expect to cough up 25 bucks for a large.
Campania Pizza
3000 Blackburn Street #150
Dallas, TX 75204
214.780.0605
