Review: Brunch at Brownstone

The Brownstone Special

Brunch is one of my favorite parts about Sundays. Eat a huge meal that combines breakfast and lunch, typically in buffet form. How could that meal like that be bad! I recently went to a restaurant in Fort Worth I like called Brownstone. I heard they offered brunch so I decided to give it a whirl. It was not a buffet but I'll take it.

What I got: The Brownstone Special

Mimosa!!

Bread Pudding French Toast

Brownstone, for those who have never been, is kind of an upscale southern-style restaurant. It is damn good too. Their brunch was no exception. The Brownstone special is a brisket and potato hash, Sunny-side up eggs, and a spicy chili. It was simple but so good. The potatoes were crispy on the outside but soft on the inside. The brisket was moist and flavorful, which is probably due to the bits of fat it still had left on it. The eggs were just how they should be with a hash like this. The bottom was solid but not burnt and the yolks were just runny enough. Enough heat was provided by the chili to give it some kick without overpowering the flavors of everything else. I also got a mimosa which was only $4 or so and had unlimited refills! It was not to watered down at all, maybe even a little on the strong side, which is the way it should be. I was with my girlfriend who got the Bread-pudding french toast. All I can say to that is wow. It was their bread pudding, sliced into sticks and deep fried. It was extremely sweet but absolutely delicious.

Rating 5/5- "It's the Bee's Knees!"

The quality was superb, the food was delicious, and the price was reasonable. Brownstone is slowly becoming a restaurant in Fort Worth I really enjoy. The atmosphere is homey and the service is good. I definitely recommend giving it a shot if one is ever in Fort Worth.

Review: Double Dutch Style!

I am going to review two burgers from Dutch's today for you all so enjoy!

Hickory BBQ Bacon

Round 1: Hickory BBQ & Bacon

This burger is as simple as it sounds. It is hickory BBQ sauce, bacon, american cheese, and thousand island dressing. I got mine with lettuce and tomato because I like veggies on my burger. It makes me feel like I am eating healthier. Anyways I am a pretty big fan of BBQ sauce on burgers, but for some reason I do not really love this burger. As with every Dutch's burger, the burger and bun are both top of the line. The bacon is crispy and thick and the american cheese adds some notable richness. The problem with this burger is the sauces. The combo between the sweetness of the Thousand Island and the Hickory BBQ is too much. It is like trying to combine the Ying and the Ying. There is too much sweetness and tanginess with nothing to balance it out. Also it is just the sauce and meat, so the burger is a bit too boring. I have added fries to this before and that does a lot to help it. If they popped an onion ring on this thing it would definitely go up on my rating. Anyways if you love BBQ sauce you might like it. Plenty of my friends think this is the best one but for me it is just too sweet.

Hickory

Rating 3/5 "It's Just Meh"


















Second Burger: The Texana

Texana

The second burger reviewed here today is the Texana. It is avocado, shredded lettuce, tomato, pickle, and ranch dressing. So the staples here are all fantastic as expected from Dutch's. The thing that separates this from the others is actually the lightness of it. As far as the burgers go it is definitely the least heavy with maybe the exception of the original Dutch (which I will be reviewing soon). The avocado is noticeable and adds some great creaminess to it. If you get the burger and think there is no avocado, check the top bun, it is typically hidden under the lettuce. The ranch adds some good flavor as well. I am actually not a huge fan of the ranch at Dutch's because it is so watery but on this burger that plays to its advantage. It adds flavor while keeping it light. I will warn it is a messy burger. The avocado and ranch seem to drip everywhere so have napkins ready. Between the creaminess of the avocado and ranch and the sourness from the pickles, the flavors here blend really well. Definitely worth getting multiple times.

Rating 4/5 "It's Just Swell"

Texana

That is all for today folks. Should have a new Taco Bell review up this weekend. Word on the street is they are releasing a new item Thursday!

Review: Dutch's Bacon Bleu Cheese

Another Dutch's review today. This time I did not go out side of my typical orders and went ahead and got my favorite burger of the menu!

I have a love affair with bleu cheese. I could eat bleu cheese whole and not get tired of it. It has always struck me as a love-it-or-hate-it type food. I mean I understand why people are turned off of it. It has mold in it and has a taste that if not familiar with it will make you cringe and make a face of someone who just licked a jockstrap. Anyways so when I came to Dutch's the first time 4 years ago, this was the burger I got. After first bite, I was in love.

The burger is bacon, bleu cheese, lettuce, tomato, onions, and chipotle mayo. Everything here has its place and balances itself perfectly. The burger patty, as I have discussed before, is perfect. The center is moist and juicy and there is a nice crisp crust. Bacon this thick is the stuff you see at a great breakfast place, so adding it on a burger it is like sprinkling it with gold. The vegetables all add a nice amount of blandness and freshness that helps balance with the strength and richness of the hearty chunks of bleu cheese. Some nice flavor is added by the chipotle mayo when it is not overpowered by the taste of the cheese. I got cheese fries with it as well. Dutch's adds their thick queso and shredded cheddar to the fries. They are delicious but heavy and you will need a fork to eat them.

Rating 5/5- "It's the Bee's Knees"

I cannot get enough of this burger. I have probably eaten it at least once a month for the past three years and have no problem keeping that trend alive. It has been ranked one of Texas' top 10 burgers and it is clear to see why once tried. If you don't like bleu cheese..... sucks to be you. If you do, try this burger. NOW!!!!!

Can we get much higher.....

Review: Dutch's Portobello Mushroom Burger

Portobello Mushroom menu items always seem to be hit or miss to me. Some places do them very well and when done so they can be compared to any piece of meat I can get. When done poorly however, they can be dry, chalky, and disgusting. Thankfully Dutch's did it right.

What I got: The Portobello Mushroom Burger

Once again, I found myself not only not getting a burger, but getting something I have never tried at Dutch's at all! Why did I venture out to the land of mushroom? Before spring break I was on an all fruit and veggie diet so this was the only thing that met my requirements on the menu, and I was not about to skip my weekly Dutch's trip. The sandwich is just a portobello mushroom, lettuce, tomato, onions, and mayo. It is a very simple sandwich but do not let that fool you. The taste is far from simple. This thing is delicious. I was blow away by how much flavor it had. The mushroom itself was marinated in some sort of sauce which gave it a tangy but salty taste. It was strong at first but the mayonnaise did a great job toning down the intensity and providing a nice contrast and smoothness. The mushroom itself was as think and juicy as a piece of steak. The mushroom was charred nicely on the outside without being burnt. The few toppings made sure the sandwich stayed light, which it was. My only complaint is it was a hard sandwich to keep together because the mushroom kept sliding around.


Rating- 4/5 "It's Just Swell"

I cannot say I will be getting this that often only because I love meat. That being said, if I ever am looking for a lighter  option or have a vegetarian with me, I would definitely call on this sandwich. It was flavorful and hearty. An easy recommendation.

Review: Dutch's Chili Cheese Burger

Dutch's Burgers review number two! Except this time I actually got a burger. I have never actually gotten this burger but I decided to stray out of my normal routine and give a new burger a try. What do I think?


What I got: Dutch's Chili Cheese Burger

I have never really understood chili cheese burgers. I mean why would I top a beef burger with more ground beef? That is not to say I do not like them but I just would rather have a chili cheese hotdog i think. Anyways what did I think of THIS burger? Well I will start with explaining what it is. The burger is a 1/2 pound burger with chili, onions, cheddar cheese, and a jalapeno relish. The burger patty was great and thick. They typically prepare them medium-well, but thanks to the quality of the beef used they are not dried out at all. The meat is spiced just enough to enhance the meat but not overpower it. The cheddar cheese is melted and seems to be everywhere, which is AWESOME!

Now the chili I was kind of disappointed with. It just does not have any special flavor to it. Very bland but plenty hearty. If I want to put more meat on my burger I want it to be more flavorful than the burger, not less. The Jalapeno Relish was also pretty weak. It was just pickle relish with some jalapeno mixed in. I got a mix of fries and onion rings on the side, both of which are awesome. I have already described the fries here, so I will take a moment for the onion rings. These are NOT onion strings. These are a Man's onion ring. The breading is think, almost too think if you are not expecting it. The batter as huge chunks of black pepper that you can see. With onion rings this big, they fill you up fast too so I do not recommend eating them before your burger. They are great if you like onion rings, not strings.

Rating- 2/5 "It's Not Worth It"

I cannot say I will adventure out to this burger again. The burger is special for it's chili and jalapeno relish, both of which are disappointing. I cannot really recommend this burger when there are so many better options there.

fly away on my zephyr

Restaurant Review: Sushi Axiom (Hulen & I-30 Location)

Sushi is one of those types of foods where it is not always a great idea to be adventurous. Once you find a good Sushi place, you tend not to branch out too much from it. I have really yet to find a sushi place in Fort Worth in the three years I have been here. This is because a mix of sushi being out of my college-student sized budget and fear. Finally I had a solid recommendation from my girlfriend to try a sushi restaurant called Sushi Axiom. We took a trip there together recently and I was pretty impressed.

We visited the original Sushi Axiom on Hulen, which is in a strange location. It is located in a little strip shopping center next to a tanning salon, not the place I expected after reading up on their "fusion cuisine". Inside on the other hand, the decor was very modern and serene. The restraint itself was small, but did not feel cramped. We were sat immediately and waited on promptly. This is more likely due to the fact it was 4:30 in the afternoon and we were one of six tables but good service is good service. I would be curious to see what it is like there when it is busy.

The Double Happiness Roll

On to the food! I got something called the Double Happiness Roll (DHR), which is according to the website "spicy tuna, tobiko roll with tempura crab, cream cheese and avocado". My other half got the Pacific Roll (PR), which is "shrimp, crab, and cucumber wrapped by seared tuna, avocado, & ponzu sauce". They were both fantastic.  Now I am no sushi expert so I will explain these the best I can. The DHR was awesome. It had a smoky flavor which I think came from smoked sesame seeds, while also having a bit of heat to it, which is from the spicy tuna I assume. the outside was tempura fried, but only slightly, so it was crunchy but not breaded heavily. The only complaint is the cream cheese came out a bit too strong while the avocado was not even noticeable. The PR had strong fish flavor, but in a good sense. The seared tuna wrapped around the outside was melt-in-your-mouth good and had a nice taste to it. It went down silky smooth when paired with avocado. The middle was more of a subdued flavor in which the cucumber came through well.

The Pacific Roll

Overall it was a good sushi experience. The food, service, and atmosphere was wonderful. My only complaint is the price, which was not too bad but a bit steep. At the same time I would rather pay a bit more and be assured quality fish than get cheap sushi with bad fish so I can not complain too much. I definitely plan on going again and trying some new things! Thank goodness I finally found a sushi place I like, I was getting tired of Kroger Sushi.

Rating 4/5 "It's Just Swell"

On to the next one...

Review: Fort Worth's Own Dutch's Burgers

Time to start what will be the first of many reviews for one of my favorite places to eat in Fort Worth, Dutch's Burgers. Dutch's is literally next to my college campus so it is well known among TCU folks and most people in Fort Worth. I was recommended this place my a student 4 years ago when I was looking at TCU and have been a fan ever sense! It is your typical college town burger joint. It is small and has a very homey feel to it. It is run very well and everyone who works there is very friendly and willing to do what they can to make their guests happy. It is popular for families during the weekends and always full of students during the weeknights. I personally have been going almost every Tuesday for two years now for half price burger night. This place is famous for their burgers and has received several accolades for them. they have six or so different varieties of burgers on the menu and I do plan on reviewing them all. Ironically enough, the first review I will be doing will not be for a burger, but a chicken sandwich.

What I got: The Spicy Chicken Strip Basket (I asked them to make it a sandwich, which they apparently are asked to do often because when I asked it seemed like not big deal).

So why did I get a chicken sandwich at a burger joint you ask? One, It was not half price burgers, so this was cheaper. Two, I love their spicy chicken. The sandwich is just three breaded chicken strips covered in Dutches spicy sauce with lettuce, onions, tomatoes, and blue cheese dressing on one of dutches special buns. It quickly becoming one of my favorite things at this place. The chicken strips are big and tender. They are heavily breaded as well but with just the right amount of crunch. 

The sauce they use is one of the best hot sauces I have ever had on chicken. It taste like a mix of honey, sriracha, and buffalo sauce. It has a very unique flavor. It is sweet at first but then kicks in late with the heat. Perfect with breaded chicken. On a Sandwich it is fantastic. Dutches does a great job on putting lots of veggies on their burgers as well Which I really like, especially because they have good veggies. The tomatoes are juicy, the lettuce is green and crisp, and the onions taste fresh. Dutches also has some of the best buns I have ever had on a sandwich. They remind me of the Hawaiian sweet roles, but they are not quite that sweet. The buns are dense though, and very filling, so if you are looking for low carb I recommend looking elsewhere. 

The basket comes with fries, although you can sub out for onion rings or tator tots. The fries are fresh cut and thick. They are crispy around the edges but still a little limp. It works well for their fries though because they are so thick, if they were crispy they would be too greasy. They season them with a sea salt and black pepper mix which adds some great flavor to them. They give you plenty as well so you rarely can eat them all. 

Rating 5/5 Stars- "It's The Bee's Knee's"

Dutch's has become one of my favorite restaurants in Fort Worth and a place I miss when I am gone from here for too long. The food is great, the people are awesome, and the atmosphere is relaxed. If you are ever in Fort Worth, give this place a shot. You will not regret it. If it is on a Tuesday there is a good chance I will be there too. I will have more reviews of the other burgers coming soon!

Tell next time