#43 Javier's--a special occasion indulgence

Javier's Gourmet Mexicano

Dallas, TX

Quite possibly Javier's has ruined me for any other Mexican food experience. Although it is a large restaurant, there are many small dining rooms scattered throughout, so that each diner has an intimate experience. The decor is a mixture of Mexican elegance with some big game trophies on the wall.  A strange combination, but it works. The lights are low which adds to the romantic ambience. Serving the Dallas area for over 30 years, Javier's is a city tradition. I can't believe it took me almost two years to go there.

The full-sized bear is the restaurant's mascot.

My entire meal was decadent starting with the chips and salsa, which were served with whipped butter. I don't typically dip my chips in butter, but my friend convinced me that it was quite a sensory sensation. The waiter told me that it was just butter, but I'm convinced it was a special butter. Land O'Lakes never tasted as good. My favorite salsa was the green tomatillo. The waiter gave up the secret ingredients after a bit of prodding--cilantro, worchestershire, and cinnamon.

Although I'm not a big meat eater, my friend insisted that I try the Filete Pimenta--a steak served with pepper sauce. I ordered it rare and it melted in my mouth. It was so rich that I only ate half. I had some served cold this morning for breakfast and it was just as delicious cold. The steak was served with creamed spinach--again I swear there was a special ingredient. Maybe a dash of cinnamon. Not too heavy on the cream.

outdoor patio

My friend ordered the Red Snapper Mojo De Ajo, which was served in a lemon garlic sauce. It was tender and perfectly flavored. One bite was not enough, so I begged for another.

I forgot to mention that the top-shelf margaritas were very tasty--still not as good as Cantina Laredo's, but they packed a punch. The only disappointment was the guac--no tableside and it lacked any real panche.

Javier's is pricey, but worth it for a special splurge or indulgence. The restaurant was filled to capacity on Saturday night and judging by Javier's $300,000 McLaren sports car parked out front, his business is flourishing.

Humidor. Javier's is known for the cigar bar.

#42 Amigos--An Adventure in Mediocrity

May 16, 2013
Amigos Restaurant Comida Casera
Richardson, Texas

The best part about my Amigos experience was celebrating the end of the semester with my digital video students. Amigos gave us a private table near the bar, so we didn't have to worry about disturbing other guests. I had high hopes for this restaurant, since the online reviews raved about the food. Overall it was disappointing. I gave each student a chance to be a food critic for the day and voice their opinion.  Below are their responses.

Max--The meat in the brisket quesadilla was dry and the cheese overpowered the taste.

Manny--I ordered migas and got scrambled eggs. No tortillas.

Ron--Veggie enchiladas were heavy on the sour cream sauce, which overpowered the taste.
(Vic & his wife also ordered this entree. Vic subscribes to the tenet that if you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all. He ate his meal in silence.)

Holly--Chicken fajitas were tender and well-seasoned, but skimpy on the amount of chicken.

My cheese mole enchiladas were average. Satisfied my craving for mole.

The class voted and gave a lazy thumbs-up. All agreed that the price was right. Very affordable lunch and our server was attentive. She even volunteered to give us separate checks, lying and saying that was easier for her.

I will give a disclaimer that quite possibly our senses were dulled from our damaged/burned taste buds. Ron ordered the hot sauce and it was deceptive in its slow burn. First taste is flavorful and then the burn begins and intensifies until your mouth is ON FIRE. So it's best to go back and re-taste, just in case.

#41 Petra's, A Fresh Surprise

May 14, 2013

Petra

McKinney, TX

Like many Mexican restaurants in Collin County, Petra's is located in a non-descript strip center. It is is not a full-service Mexican restaurant, but is a step up in terms of menu diversity and quantity found at the loco taco joints that are sprouting up everywhere.  I had a groupon for the place and 

 decided to celebrate the end of the semester with a colleague. She had been here a number of times with other professors and said the food was consistently good and fresh.

Lowdown: 

chips--thin and salty, just the way I like them.

salsas--one had a smoky flavor (delish) and one was the standard tomato version (bland)

guac--at $7, it's hands down the best value for tableside guac.

drinks--wine, beer, sangria and margaritas

My friend ordered a hibiscus margarita. Kudos for inventiveness, but it was a bit of a disappointment. Hibiscus-flavored syrup swirled in a standard frozen marg.

Main course lowdown:

veggie tacos--spinach, mushrooms, peppers, onions and squash. nothing out of the ordinary but tasty.

chicken flautas--again nothing out of the ordinary, but my friend cleaned her platee.

Each entree comes with a choice of two sides. The tortilla soup is different from standard fare. It had a creamy tomato-based stock with a cheesy finish. Definitely a highlight of the meal.

We passed on dessert. Highlights include fresh ingredients, which was evident in the food quality and not just a marketing ploy. Also the service was friendly and the atmosphere was light and airy with nice  ambience. Again a step up from the quirky taco joints. Price is moderate, but quantity of food made it an excellent value.