Miguel's Mex Tex Cafe--Tex Mex with a bit of Caribbean spin

Miguel's has been one of the most highly anticipated restaurant openings that I can ever remember for our fair burg of Abilene. Citizens have been watching the remodel and additional building on to the old Famous Dave's Barbecue location for over a year. It opened for business five days ago and has been packed ever since. The husband and I went last night. We got there at 5:30pm and the parking lot was almost full. Once we got our names on the list, we were told it was a 45 minute wait. Larger parties I'm sure had a significantly longer wait. We went to sit in the bar since it was open seating and you could order dinner in there if you wanted. As is happened, we struck up a conversation with a man who had been there every night since they opened and eaten in the bar every time. He gave us some tips on what was good and raved about how great the service had been. The bar was hopping with people.

Cool fixtures and art

The atmosphere at Miguel's is very colorful and I loved the blown glass light fixtures and the tile. This a place that cares about the details. The owners have made a HUGE investment in this restaurant. Abuelo's (formerly the fanciest Mexican/Tex-Mex restaurant in town) is in trouble.

The chef is the same gentleman that used to own Bonterra Blu in Clyde. A former favorite before they closed. When I heard that news, I was suffused with happiness because as I have mentioned on this blog before there isn't (wasn't) any truly outstanding Mexican or Tex-Mex in Abilene and Chef Trueblood has the talent to change that.

One of several dining areas

Once we were seated, we were brought chips and three kinds of salsa/dip. There was the traditional freshly made tomato salsa, which was a bit too citrus-y for my taste, an avocado-pineapple salsa, and a creamy black olive dip that was my absolute favorite. My husband thought it too salty. The photo below is out of perspective. The tortilla chips were light and crispy.

Chips and dips

The menu is big. Brunch is served on the weekends. That is a future must try. Dinner was a difficult decision but I went with some classics; a San Antonio style puffy beef taco, a spinach/portabello/avocado enchilada, and a white cheese chili relleno. For sides, bacon and cheddar refried beans and Mexican fried rice. There was also a little bit of steamed cornbread which was really sweet. The relleno was the best I have ever eaten outside of New Mexico. Not oily at all and the pepper had a kick to it. The enchilada was delicious. I actually become too full to eat the puffy taco which had a fry bread shell and another crispy blue corn shell. I had to give it to my husband. The sides were super tasty. I enjoyed the fried egg twist on the rice. The beans were super flavorful. It is so disappointing at other places when I can tell they came out of a can or when the cook doesn't add enough seasoning.  No problem with that at Miguel's.

Classic combo--enchilada, chili relleno, puffy taco

My husband decided on one of the specialties of the house, the #14 which was carne asada steak and bacon wrapped shrimp...surf and turf Tex-Mex style. For a few minutes, we were told they were out of steak but it turned out that wasn't the case. The shrimp were fresh and delicious. The steak was topped with cheese and a cilantro pesto. He wasn't asked how he wanted his steak cooked and in the end he didn't finish it because he wasn't fond of the toppings and the steak was a bit overdone. However, he raved about the shrimp, beans and rice. He also got a side order of the corn on the cob which was topped with chipotle crema and some spices. He wasn't a fan but it looked pretty yummy to me. I didn't taste it because it is impossible to eat corn on the cob with any grace in a public setting, much less corn with a cream sauce on it.

#14

I was stuffed but he wanted dessert when he heard they had  fried bread pudding on the menu.

  It was topped with vanilla bean ice cream. I managed a couple of bites, superb. 

Fried Bread Pudding

Service was outstanding. One of the owners came by our table, as did one of the managers. Our server, Leslie, was excellent.

Now for the skinny on cost. Our bill was almost $60.00 not counting tip. That being said, it was worth it. They have only been open for less than a week and the quality was awesome and the staff very well trained. However, it isn't going to be a cheap meal when you eat at Miguel's. The entrees start at $7 (one classic item and rice/beans) and go up from there. I highly recommend trying it as portions were generous, even if you have to wait a while. There are very few places in town I would bother to wait 45 minutes for a seat but this is one of them.

A word about seasoning. Nothing we ate was particularly spicy but it was spiced. If you are a person who prefers food to be simply seasoned, like how my husband likes his steak without any extra toppings, this probably won't be your place.

Update 8/9/2015

I have been back several times and MOST of those occasions were still a good experience but my visit this past weekend demonstrated some of the issues that others have encountered such as inconsistent service and skimpy portions for the price charged; i.e. only six medium-sized shrimp in my shrimp fajitas at a cost of $17 with less than generous amounts of toppings and sides. One of my companions hated the salmon tacos, said they tasted "off". Still happy with most other entrees I've tried and the appetizers and desserts have all been excellent. 

3001 S. Danville Dr.
Abilene TX 79605
325-698-8100
miguelsmextexcafe.com

Really Texas Monthly?

Texas Monthly has put out their list of the top 50 BBQ joints in Texas and not single Abilene place made the list or even the honorable mentions!  The closest one to Abilene is Big Boy's Bar-B-Que in Sweetwater.  I don't know what to say. I know Harold's has closed but I'm going to have to write some reviews for this area. My current favorite is JoJo's in Potosi but I haven't reviewed it yet because I didn't get a pic of my Jo-Ritto.

Click for the TM list.

CLOSED AGAIN Don Enrique's is back

The large Tex-Mex restaurant has reopened after a fire a couple of years ago. I've missed it. Enrique's was my favorite local Mexican food place until it changed names and became Amanda's. The same family that owns Henry's Diner in San Angelo ran Enrique's and is now running Don Enrique's. If you like Henry's, you will like Don Enrique's. The restaurant is located where Sayles Blvd. dead ends on Danville (access road to the freeway).  

We were seated quickly despite a full parking lot of vehicles. Service was good though our server seemed a bit distracted. He got back on track though.

Today at lunch I ordered the tres colores enchiladas, my son got the a crispy beef taco plate and my husband ordered beef fajitas. Fresh tortilla chips and salsa was brought to the table. The salsa gets hotter the more that you eat. Just the way I like it. For an up charge they will also bring out some white sauce.  It is a garlicy sour cream dip.  Kind of like Mexican aioli. Very tasty.

Tres colores enchiladas

My enchiladas were delicious; one cheese with green sauce, one beef with ranchero sauce and a white meat chicken enchilada with sour cream sauce. Served with cheese-covered refried beans, rice and a small lettuce and tomato salad on the plate. The beans were too salty today but everything else was enjoyable. Definitely plenty of food for me.

Taco plate

The taco plate only had two tacos.  I would have expected three. My son really liked the beans (he likes salty). I'm hoping it was just an off day. The beans used to be one of the reasons I liked to eat there.

Beef fajitas

The fajitas were brought out on the plate instead of on a hot skillet...demerit one.  The meat to vegetable proportion was off, 50/50 instead of more meat then vegetables...demerit two.  The tortillas weren't soft...demerit three. I did notice on the menu that the fajitas came with salad, rice, beans and a scoop of guacamole. No sour cream, no cheese. My husband was disappointed with the "fixins" and thought the pickle spear with his french dressing covered salad was a bit odd. He did like the flavor and quality of the meat but only had enough to make two fajitas. The guacamole was fresh and creamy.

 The food came out super fast. Most of it must be ready to go in the kitchen and only needs the final preparation. I'm sure we will make it one of our regular places, just not for fajitas. They are also known for their drink specials on weeknights. A good way to bring in business during the week is my guess.

There are many other options on the menu, so you don't have to eat Tex-Mex. They used to make a really good burger. Closed on Mondays.

Don Enrique's Restaurant & Cantina
4358 Sayles Boulevard  Abilene, TX 79605

(325) 232-8775 CLOSED DOWN--April 2014

Brick Oven Pizza Co.--A Thin Crust Delight

We enjoy the variety and taste of the pizzas at Brick Oven. They are a small chain with 8 locations in 3 states. Many of the pizza options are quite different from other places in town. They all have a thin crunchy crust. I tend to get the Portobello--pictured on the bottom right--(olive oil, pesto, fresh portobello mushrooms, artichoke hearts, sun-dried tomatoes, feta and three other cheeses) or the Mediterranean (olive oil, chicken, sauteed onions, green olives, green peppers, seasoned tomatoes, feta, cheddar and mozzarella).  My husband usually goes for the Supreme--on the left--and my son likes the Bubba's Choice--upper right--since it has so many different kinds of meats. Some pizzas do use canned mushrooms or dried herbs instead of fresh ones but I think almost anyone could find one they like or create their own.

They do indeed use a brick oven and sometimes it takes a while to get your food. If the place is busy the servers can get overwhelmed with tables. We like to go on a weeknight and have always found the servers friendly. Don't be in a hurry when you go, just in case. No delivery but they do have take-out. The 8-inch small pie is great for one person. Cost for the small runs about $7.25 more or or less. The 10-inch medium is about $12.00 and the 14-inch large is approximately $15.25.

Other food options are several different types of sandwiches (also baked in the oven), salads and pasta dishes. The only appetizer we have ever ordered were the regular or spicy bread sticks but they have nachos, quesadillas and spinach artichoke or portobello dips. They also serve a wide variety of beers which the hubby appreciates.

Brick Oven Pizza Co. is located in the Woodhaven Shopping Center next to Hobby Lobby--

Su-Th 11-10
Fr-Sa 11-11
4714 South 14th Street  Abilene, TX 79605 
(325) 691-5303

CLOSED Bonterra Blu--Creole Southwestern fusion cuisine

Bonterra Blu bills itself as West Texas Nouvelle Cuisine and it certainly is new...there is nothing like it in this area.  It is a chef-owned restaurant in the small town of Clyde about 15 miles east of  Abilene, Texas. They are open only on Thursday, Friday and Saturday for dinner. Reservations are highly recommended as the space is on the small side and it has become very popular. This was my fourth trip in the past year. My husband loves it. The menu changes regularly because of the availability of ingredients so there is something different to try every time we have dined there.

The atmosphere is decorated with local art and the chef strives to use many ingredients from sources that are in the region. One exception would be the fresh Gulf seafood. We are far from the coast. Sometimes they have live music too. The restaurant does not have a liquor license so there is a set up fee if you bring your own wine. Non-alcoholic beverages are available; tea--sweet and unsweet, flavored lemonade and coffee.

Really Big Shrimp

Now for the food! The menu is divided into small plates, salads, big plates, and dessert. Small plates are intended for appetizers but can also be good as an entree for a smaller appetite. I had the really big shrimp small plate as my entree. The shrimp lived up to their title and were fresh and very tasty. Served on top of the creole mashed potatoes. I also had a Bonterra salad. It is a romaine wedge with some AMAZING olive tapenade and fig balsamic vinaigrette. Other salad choices that evening included a caesar salad or an organic greens salad with candied walnuts and goat cheese ($2 up charge)

We ordered crawfish queso with carne guisada served with fresh tortilla chips and calamari as appetizers. I often find calamari to be rubbery and fishy but Bonterra Blu's version is delicious. The Bloody Mary dipping sauce takes it up a notch. The chef using a spice blend of his own design in almost every dish. The flavors tend to be strong so if you have a delicate palate you might find it a bit overwhelming.

Beef filet with creole mashers and fried scallions

Lamb shanks with creole mashers and fried spinach

For entrees, two people at the table ordered the beef filet with creole mashers and one got the lamb shanks. The filets were very high quality with a smokey flavor and the lamb got rave reviews and is one of their most popular dishes. Other starch choices are green chili hominy or sweet potato fries. Portions are generous. However, don't skip dessert.

To round out our meal we had some cappuccino and dessert.  Creme brulee--outstanding!, mini chocolate creme brulee and deep fried bread. pudding. Decadent!

Expect to spend between $30-$50 a person for appetizer, entree and dessert.

205 South First Street

Clyde, Texas
325.513.8548
bonterrablu@me.com

CLOSED but there is a new version at a different address--The Pizza House in Clyde, TX

18 inch with everything

9 inch with pepperoni and mushroom

The family decided to take a little jaunt east on I-20 to eat at The Pizza House in Clyde.  I had heard some good buzz about the place. Since it is Spring Break, we have some time for a short road trip to satisfy a craving for pizza.

The place is large. We hit it at 4:30pm and there were already a few cars parked in front. Lots of seating. The ambiance is nothing fancy...really. Cobbled together decor, concrete floor, seating that looks like it came from a school cafeteria and a couple of ripped vinyl booths. Orders are taken at the window. Parmesan and peppers are in leftover seasoning containers and honey-bear bottles with holes in top. Making use of what they have on hand seems to be the motto. There was also a stage. The ads on the windows said they have live country western music on certain Saturday nights.

After checking out the menu, we ordered a large pizza with everything, a small with pepperoni and mushroom, cheese bread sticks, and three medium sodas. The salad bar didn't tempt us. We were there for the pizza. The bill amounted to $34.00.  No complaints about amount of food for the money...couldn't finish it all and the boys were starving when we hit the door.

I was most impressed by the crust on the pizza. Crispy, flavorful and not too thick. Toppings were generous. Sauce was put on with a light hand but wasn't heavily spiced. Plenty of cheese. There was a bit of garlic salt put on top before they brought it out. My main complaint with the food is that they used canned mushrooms instead of fresh ones but the onions and peppers were freshly chopped. Other than the mushrooms, it is tasty pizza. If you can get past the shabby surroundings give it a try. Next time I might get it to go on my way home from a trip to Dallas/Fort Worth.

The Pizza House
725 South Access Road  Clyde, TX 79510 
(325) 893-4141

Hickory Street Cafe--chicken salad and zucchini bread

Hickory Street Cafe is known locally for their luscious zucchini bread and made-from-scratch chicken salad topped with grapes and cashews or you can get it served as a sandwich. They have other sandwiches, salads and soups on the menu as well. There is also quiche. I enjoy the quiche and get it when I want to deviate from the chicken salad.  The restaurant is in a converted two-story house with a gift shop upstairs. They are only open for lunch on weekdays and do a very brisk business. The clientele is heavily female but you will also find some men sprinkled among the "ladies-who-lunch". The location is close to downtown and convenient for business lunches. There can be a wait for a table and their lot is small, so you will probably have to park on the street.  Service is efficient and friendly. Average cost is $8-$9 not including beverage.

Do not skip the zucchini bread! If it doesn't come with your meal order it.

If you are on Facebook--
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Hickory-Street-Cafe/154250291281807


Location:
644 Hickory Street  Abilene, TX 79601
(325) 675-0465

Chicken salad with grapes and cashews served with zucchini bread and butter

Need to know where to eat in Abilene? I can help.

Welcome! I hope you find my restaurant reviews helpful.

A bit about me. I have lived in Abilene for decades but I never really got into "cuisine" until I started traveling and found out there is more to be consumed than burgers and fries. Now I can say I'm almost a "foodie" or at least that is my aspiration.

If you are visiting Abilene, hopefully this blog will help you decide on places to try.  Below are links to reviews I have written on TripAdvisor and Yelp.  Most of them are for places in and around Abilene, Texas.

 

Eliza Eats Yelp

 

My TripAdvisor Reviews

Some quick recommendations from the top of my head:

Business Lunch--The Beehive

Date night--Copper Creek

A Texan Experience-- Perini Ranch in Buffalo Gap

Asian--Krua Thai at 790 S. Leggett Dr, Abilene TX, (325) 701-9954. Only a few tables inside, better to get it to go.

(325) 673-9972

Burgers--Rockin' Rollerz

Mexican/Tex-Mex--

I'd like to be able to highly recommend a great Mexican or Tex Mex place for you but there isn't really anything outstanding, lots of good but nothing that knocks your taste-buds for a loop or is always consistent but Tex-Mex is my favorite and I never give up hope. 

 

Miguel's which is locally owned and beautifully decorated can be very good but can also be inconsistent. Despite that, it is my favorite local nice Mexican place. For a "hole-in-the-wall" experience is Farolito's which is family-owned, super kitschy, and generally only open for lunch. However, they have wonky hours based on if they have enough workers. Check their Facebook to be sure they are open before you venture there. They are the oldest restaurant in Abilene.

Note: Chains and anything new tend to do well in Abilene when they open. Don't expect to get in the door for at least a month.

Enjoy and happy eating, y'all!