Tag: Irving

There is a casual Mexican restaurant that has been serving the Dallas area called Taco Diner. They have been creating authentic Mexico City dishes for 20 years.

I was in town for a quick trip and needed to get a quick bite so I decided to check them out. The inside of the restaurant was very bright with all the natural light coming in through the windows. I could tell they loved the color green because it was everywhere.

As soon as I sat down I was greeted with a basket of fresh tortilla chips. They included a well made roasted tomato salsa and another green salsa that reminded me of a salsa verde.

For my meal I ordered the Al Pastor tacos.

This was 3 fresh made corn tortillas filled with chopped chicken that was marinated in tres chiles. This marinade added an abundance of flavor to the chicken. It was also extremely moist and pulled apart because it was so tender.

It came with grilled pineapple on the side. I put that on the chicken and it added a great sweet and tangy component to the saltiness of the chicken. I have never had pineapple on a taco before but it worked beautifully.

If the tacos were not enough, they also included an avocado salad and a side of roasted corn elote. The avocado salad could have been added to the tacos. It would have added a creamy and crunchy element. I ended up just eating it by itself.

The roasted corn was extremely tangy. Normally the Mexican corn I get is creamy, this was very different. It was interesting but I still prefer the more traditional taste.

If you are looking for a quick, fresh take on Mexican dishes, check out Taco Diner. They have several locations around the Dallas/Ft. Worth area. Find them at http://tacodinerrestaurants.com/

Enjoy!

T

Texas is famous for a few food specialties, Tex-Mex, BBQ, and steak. On a recent visit to the Dallas/Fort Worth area I was hungry for a steak dinner. I made a stop at The Keg in Irving for a bite to eat.

The hostess staff was very welcoming when I walked through the door. The interior of the restaurant was warm and inviting. They have a beautiful stone fireplace that probably looks even better lite when it is not 100 degrees outside.

  

The menu was filled with lots of options for starters and steaks. I started off with the baked brie. The melted gooey cheese came with a basil pesto spread and a red pepper jelly, plus fresh made crostini.

The pesto added a little salty element but it was not my favorite. The pepper jelly was a combination of sweet and spicy. I spread that on the buttery bread and then topped it with the cheese. I thought this was the best way to eat it.

The calamari was another great starter. It had a great herb accented breading that was lightly fried. It came with two dipping sauces, a ginger garlic and a Greek feta. I did not try the Greek feta sauce. The ginger garlic sauce was amazing. It was sweet and had a little heat.

The Keg is known for their prime rib. Though that was tempting, I went with the bacon wrapped filet mignon. They have two sizes but I went with the smaller 7oz. The bacon was not very crispy; it was kind of chewy so I left that on the plate. The filet was cooked to a perfect medium – warm on the outside and pink in the center. It was covered in The Keg’s special seasoning. It had a great pepper flavor and slightly spicy without being salty.

It came with a side of fresh green beans and red peppers. I was also able to select another side. I went for the twice baked potato; it had been years since I have had on of these. It was creamy with chunks of bacon and chives mixed in. There was a hint of sour cream whipped in the potato. They put it all inside the potato skin and then baked until the top was crispy.

I could not pass up a chance to try some desserts. The table got two so we could each have a taste. The Billy Miner Pie was a mocha ice cream on a chocolate crust that was drizzled with hot fudge and caramel sauce and sprinkled with sliced almonds.

The ice cream was light and fluffy. It melted quickly in my mouth and on the plate. The chocolate crust tasted like chopped up Oreo cookies. I could have eaten just that chocolate crust as a dessert. The hot fudge and caramel added extra sweetness and the almonds simply added crunch.

The other dessert was the Margarita Key Lime Pie. I could not wait to try this because they make it from scratch with fresh key limes. It had a graham cracker crust and raspberry coulis (sauce) drizzled on the plate. The key lime was tart but extremely smooth. It was so fresh because of the texture of the filling. It was amazing.

If you are wanting a great steak dinner while visiting the Dallas area then check out The Keg. They also have a few other locations across the country. See for yourself at www.kegsteakhouse.com

Enjoy!

T