Pizza By Design--Create your own "fast" pizza (update: only on the Southside off of Catclaw Dr. now, northside location closed)

Menu board

Pepperoni, bacon, black olive, artichoke hearts, sun-dried tomatoes

Pizza by Design brings to mind the familiar sandwich and burrito places. You know what I'm talking about...pick your crust, sauce, cheese, add toppings of choice, they run it through the conveyor belt oven and off you go. The 9-inch individual pizzas are $7.99 ($1 price increase since initial review). I also got a fountain drink and a side salad (romaine or spinach, cheese, grape tomatoes and carrots) for $3 more plus tax. Even at that price, I predict they will become a lunch staple for folks on the north side, particularly during the school year when the college students are in town. They opened in late April 2016.

This being said it wasn't outstanding pizza. Better than frozen but not up to the standard of a traditional pizzeria. The sauce and cheese were not very generously applied but the upside is that you can get all the toppings you want and there is quite a variety. They also serve beer and wine.

Side salad and drink

My pizza was original crust which was a bit chewy in texture. Other crust options were thin, wheat and gluten-free for $2 more. For sauce, I choose the spicy tomato sauce. It really is spicy and I'm not wimp when it comes to heat. They also have non-tomato options for sauces such as Alfredo, pesto or olive oil. Cheeses included buffalo mozzarella, in addition to traditional shredded mozzarella, cheddar, feta, and Parmesan rounded out the cheese choices.

Get in line to create your pizza

Once you choose the basics you can go wild with the other toppings. They advertise "unlimited" for the same price as one topping. I went for pepperoni, bacon, black olives, artichoke hearts, and sun-dried tomatoes. I could have added a lot more veggies and more meats. They also have some specialty creations if you don't want to bother with choosing your own toppings.

The decor is modern; yellow, red, blond wood, and metal. There is not a ton of seating but I imagine there will be a lot of "to go" business. Ordering to consuming took about 10 minutes, a little longer than Subway but the pizza has to cook so that is to be expected. The restaurant is located in a strip shopping center on the east side of highway 351 south of the E. Lake Road intersection. This part of Abilene is booming right now with eating and shopping options (and road construction).

Pizza by Design
1811 Hwy 351
Abilene, Texas 79601
(325) 704-5450

Hours: Monday-Saturday 11 am to 10 pm. Closed Sunday's.

https://www.facebook.com/PizzabyDesignAbilene/

Hashi Teppan Grill--Fast and Flavorful Japanese

I think I have found my "go to" place for quick Japanese food.  Hashi is tasty and reasonably priced...just wish it was closer to my house! Me, my husband and son went by for dinner while out Christmas shopping. I had the hibachi shrimp with fried rice and grilled vegetables, my husband had the steak with double fried rice and my son had the salmon (he raved about it) with fried rice and veggies.  They also have chicken and Hashi steak which I believe has sauce on it. 

Steak with double fried rice

We also ordered a California roll for an appetizer. The roll was pre-made. They do not make the sushi in front of you, my only complaint. They do have a variety of sauces. The ginger sauce seemed to be homemade and was quite good. The fried rice reminded me of the now closed Fuji which made the BEST fried rice in town.

Meals range from $6.50 (hibachi vegetables) to $9.50 (Hashi steak). On the menu it states they you have a choice of a starch OR a vegetable but when we went they gave us two sides but then again they had just opened the week before and probably wanted to build up good word of mouth.

Salmon with fried rice and vegetables

The set up is that you go through the line and order. Pay the cashier and they will bring out your food packaged in take-out containers. Seating is limited, so you may not find a table during peak hours.

Service was very friendly and efficient. There is a cook at the hibachi making the meats after you order. The rice, veggies, noodles and appetizers are already made and you can see them dishing them up behind the glass barrier. There are also Asian salads and soups.

The decor is minimalist and the restaurant is very clean. I'm sure we will go back since it is less expensive and quicker than the sit-down hibachi places. However, the sushi won't be a draw since it is similar to what I can get at the grocery store.

Hashi

3388 Rebecca Lane

Abilene, Texas 79606

T: (325) 704-5388

FB: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Hashi-Teppan/1462333737380977

Heff's Burgers & More--Tasty Hamburger chain that started in Abilene (well, Potosi)

Heff's Burgers started out as a grill in the back of a convenience store in Potosi, TX. They were very popular with the folks in the area. The owners decided to move into "town" and open up a store south of the mall. That place was packed all the time so they opened a location on S. 1st, which has since closed because they built a brand new building off of 351 (Albany highway) that is very cool with the 1950s soda shop theme, purple and teal decor and fancy drink dispenser.  They have also opened a restaurant in San Angelo, TX. Heff's is a true success story. I think Heff's may expand even more in the future.

The small 1/4 lb burger (kid/senior menu) with twister fries.

 The owner told me that they only use fresh hamburger meat delivered several times a week, never frozen. They make their own fries, either the regular kind or twister fries which are more like homemade potato chips.

The price for a regular 1/2 lb. burger combo (fries and drink) runs a little under $8 with tax but I promise you won't be hungry after you finish it.

The burger patty is made in-house and grilled to perfection, juicy but not greasy. I appreciate that the buns are always soft and the veggies are fresh. The burger is the only thing I have ever ordered but they also have steak fingers, a chicken sandwich, chicken tenders, a BLT, and even a salad. You can have one of two kinds of fries or onion rings as side dish options. The onion rings are handmade as well but tend to be a bit greasy. 

Service is always excellent but can be a slow if they are crowded but quality takes time. There is no-drive through. I heard that they build another location on the far south side of town. Since I live in the middle of the city, it is a bit of a drive to any of the locations since they closed the one on S.1st but they are worth the travel time.

Abilene Locations:

3374 Rebecca Ln. (325) 691-1930

2642 East Lake Dr.
(325) 437-3006

http://www.heffsburgers.net/

Find them on Facebook. 

CLOSED Mick's Just Good Food but still OPEN Niko's Greek Restaurant--short reviews on Yelp

Mick's "Just Good Food" --CLOSED

Niko's Greek Restaurant