Category: Reviews

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Reviews

Stella Nova

Coffee is a main staple in my life. Thankfully, there’s plenty of great options in Dallas. Since I’ve been working hard through this #BarExam review process, I was in desperate need of caffeination.

Enter: Stella Nova.

This new coffee shop in Snider Plaza is across the street from SMU Deadman School of Law – exactly where it needs to be! Law students need all the coffee, lordt knows our legal minds deserve it.

There’s plenty of natural light, comfortable seating, and a lengthy menu. The downside though is that there are few outlets, which means studying here for any real length of significant time isn’t entirely possible – unless you can figure out a way to share an outlet with someone else. Womp, womp.

The menu at Stella Nova is extensive and so is their pastry case! Holy crepes! I tried a the cinnamon roll and it is every bit of perfect, ooey-goodness. I was actually pretty sad I only ordered one, because the hubs helped himself to half of it. >.<

My coffee order consisted of the Smores Latte and Vanilla Latte. Personally, I think their coffee beans were burned, and a bit too bitter. That said, they didn’t over-sweeten my coffee, which I appreciated. The Smores Latte was not my favorite cuppa joe, though. It was slightly toasted, which I felt may have had some potential, but then the coffee itself needed some work. I’m not sure if the barista double brewed it, but the flavor lacked luster.

The rockstar here is the cinnamon roll. Next time I visit, maybe a plain drip is in order.

I haven’t tried everything on this menu yet – that kind of dedication takes time, y’all. However, there’s some excellent options in this cute coffee shop. Sure, there’s similar choices you might find at your local Starbucks but I think the Stella Nova ones taste a million times better. Make sure you pop in and try a few flavors – from coffee to sweets. This new shop is going to become a fave of mine. I’m hoping this location is here to stay.

What do you think of Dallas’ new coffee spot?

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Daily Dose Reviews

Hudson House

Bright & Airy Atmosphere with an East Coast Vibe

This place sits on the corner of an unassuming strip mall. Most of their seating space is for groups of 6 or less, which makes this upscale casual locale a bit more intimate. Though our brunch group tends to be about 8 people, it worked out quite well that only the Beau and I ventured out this morning. Gorgeous summer Sundays in Dallas mean dog park visits, iced coffee, and the best brunch outings!

Hudson House was on my list for a very long time. I am so happy we stopped in to feast! Their menu is small, which I find refreshing. I think too many places try to provide a wide range of offerings, but then the food ends up being quite lackluster. That’s absolutely NOT the case with Hudson House. Our waiter was genuinely sweet and provided us with amazing service for a busy Sunday. This spot is known for their bagels and fish offerings, so we were urged to order up their Lobster Benedict or Lox bagel.

We opted for the Fresh Herb Lox on a sesame seed bagel. LOVE LOVE LOVED these flavor combinations! The salmon was brined well, with just a hint of salt and didn’t overpower the herbed cheese or fresh dill; the mandolin thin cucumbers added some excellent crunch, too! Angel drizzled a little lemon over this dish and it was incredible. We’re going back for another one, this I promise you!

We also tried their breakfast sandwich and the berry pancakes. Now, you all know how much I love waffles, but…these pancakes are my next favorite breakfast dish. I was a bit disappointed they didn’t have the warm espresso butter mentioned in the menu, but that would only have made the dish even better. These pancakes were stacked five high and only slightly thicker than a crepe. The berries on top were tossed in a light honey and the syrup was warm and buttery. I highly recommend an order of these on your next brunch visit. I plan to order the lemon pancakes next time.

As if I wasn’t already over the moon with my options, I also ordered their power breakfast (because why the hell not?). The poached eggs were perfectly done and I quite enjoyed the fact that everything was separated on the plate. It was a bit pricey considering there was no starch involved, but the overall feel and taste of this dish was healthy and scrumptious! I did move the bacon over into the egg dish because it felt awkward not to.

The only letdown was their coffee. womp, womp.
It isn’t wonderful and a breakfast this tasty deserves some damn good brew. Maybe they can reach out to @WhiteRockCoffee and work on a partnership. Those peeps never disappoint a girl in need of a caffeine fix.

All in all, I think I’ve found a favorite new brunch spot. We plan on visiting them again soon for their daily Happy Hour (3-6pm). Hudson offers some excellent fish dishes (our waiter mentioned the Halibut with a side of velvet sauce and, I don’t know what it is, but I need it!), as well as half-off their bellinis, martinis, and cheeseburgers. I’d say that’s a winning combo, don’t you? Keep in mind, their dinner menu is pricey; based on this brunch though, I’d say it’s probably worth it.

Soak up every lovely minute left of this weekend!

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Daily Dose Reviews

Biscuit Bar

The original location Biscuit Bar is in Plano, but the new SMU location is super close to our home and I couldn’t wait to try it. They officially opened on the 24th and I knew this HAD to be our Sunday Brunch spot this week.

My grandparents were in town for my law school graduation and my cousin’s high school graduation (tons to celebrate in our family, woot!). Their midday flight meant we had the chance to stop by early and snag a large table. Look how happy they are – adorable, right?!

This place is super tiny, probably seating about 70 total. There’s two 10-top tables inside and another two outside. This location has a pretty neat garage door they open to allow easier access to the dog-friendly patio. Perfect for wonderfully cool summer mornings like today.

This place has an excellent vibe. I chuckled at their neon signs [“Mind Your Own Biscuits and Life Will Be Gravy” and “Taters Gonna Tate”] and enjoyed their open view kitchen and countertops. Sadly, the coffee was not impressive. It certainly wasn’t the worst coffee I’ve had (I’m looking at you, Henry’s Majestic), but it was just so-so. This banana pudding though completely elevated the coffee. My grandma said “life’s short, let’s eat dessert first!” Can’t say I disagree with her logic.

We ordered several different options from the menu. The biscuits are a relatively hefty size and I don’t think you can go wrong choosing any of them. As you can see, my Grandma loved her order!

You have to order tater tots separately. Womp, Womp. But you know what? They’re ENTIRELY WORTH THE EXTRA CHARGE! Trust me. Do it. We ordered the Taco Tots, which my cousin devoured. Everyone else at the table preferred the Bacon & Cheese breakfast tots. The beau ordered the monster biscuit you see up there. It’s called “The Rough Night” and it’s southern fried chicken, burger patty, ham, turkey, pulled pork, bacon, tots, cheddar, house made sausage gravy. I’m pretty sure I gained five pounds just reading the menu description.

I ordered the F.A.B.B. biscuit and was really disappointed. The arugula in my biscuit was wilted and spoiled which was incredibly disappointing. Since I’m not one to send food back, I just kindly left it on the table and nibbled from a variety of the other great order choices on the table.

Peep that sad arugula. YUCK.

I think my favorite thing about this place is their Bloody Marys. The cocktails were not priced properly (ringing up at $2-$3 higher than the menu price), but they were still worth it. The Bloody Mary was just the right mix of spicy and tomato-ey. I’m a complete FAN!

I’m already planning our next visit. I’ve got to try the hot chocolate biscuit! I’ve also been inspired to prep and post my own biscuit recipe. I’ve got a new KitchenAid stand mixer (thanks broski and sis-in-law) to break in!

What new brunch spots have you tried lately?

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Reviews

Lunch @ Sushi de Handroll

The hand rolls I previously experienced were conical in shape. I did a bit of research and found that seems to be the case worldwide. Unlike traditional sushi rolls, which are stuffed and then rolled into cylindrical shapes before cutting into bite-sized rounds, these handrolls are stuffed and rolled into a cone shape; perfect as an on-the-go meal.

Last week, the Beau and I went out to lunch. He rarely indulges my sushi preferences, so I was thrilled when he agreed to give Sushi de Handroll a try. 🙂

This is a tiny little pop stand that probably seats 45 people. There’s booth and bar options, but there is no conveyor belt to choose pieces from. ::womp, womp:: I’m still searching for that iconic restaurant experience.

Everything here is made to order. I love that you can see a majority of the sushi rolls prepared in the middle of the restaurant, which is a large walking space for the servers and chefs. They cook their scallops with hand torches, which is fun to watch but I’m not sure I’d order that item. The kitchen in the back is used to prepare the rice bowls and daily specials. It seemed like the guys in the back were slacking, especially considering how few patrons there were at the time.

For $11, I ordered a 3 Temaki set and an order of edamame. You can choose your temaki fillings. I opted for spicy tuna, California, and braised Texan Akaushi beef. These handrolls are open-face, which is just a fancy way for plating a Japanese take on Mexican fare. Each roll is served on a metal taco stand and packs quite a filling punch. I was disappointed when they came out but then pleasantly surprised by how filling the entire meal turned out.

The Beau ordered a teriyaki chicken bowl, which took nearly thirty minutes to arrive at our table, and an order of pork dumplings (the daily special that day). As you can imagine, he was more interested in shoveling the tasty meal into his mouth, and less-so for the picture evidence. What I can tell you is the bowl is massive, filled with veggies and a full chicken breast. He ate all of it and didn’t offer me a single bite, so it must have been excellent. Our meals also included a bowl of miso soup. As someone who doesn’t particularly enjoy miso, I must tell you this recipe is scrumptious.

Their lunch specials run from 11am-4pm and the prices are favorable, especially since most Dallas sushi lunches start around $15. This shop is bright, clean, and full of wonderful waitstaff. The food was superb and our wallets quite content. I plan on another visit soon!

Happy noms!

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Reviews

Imperial Cuisine

 

You all know how much I love to meal prep. It’s a specific type of relaxing chaos that I genuinely enjoy. I like shopping for groceries, having conversations with the fantastic Butchers at Central Market, and discussing meal options with various Foodies. The funny thing is that, for as much as I love meal prepping, I sometimes forget to plan…and then everything goes to hell.

The week before my birthday was one such week.
Multiple law school deadlines. Several personal commitments. A few networking events. It was the perfect storm.

I had zero motivation to meal prep, which means Beau’s food cravings run rampant and we basically eat out for nearly every meal. I can’t complain though since I didn’t have to cook, or wash dishes. #GeniusIdea

Our bestie, TJ, suggested we try Imperial Cuisine.

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There were only five of us at the table…I’m honestly impressed we weren’t comatose before leaving the restaurant. This food was superb! The chefs prepare a majority of the noodles (for most of their dishes) in-house.

Our order consisted of Chow Mein, Orange Chicken, Broccoli Beef, Hunan Beef, Steamed Dumplings, Pan-Fried Dumplings, and Wonton Soup (because it’s my favorite!).

I have zero complaints. 

The service was excellent. Food was ordered and delivered in under 15 minutes. The entrees arrived piping hot, and the servings were gluttonous. We had plenty of leftovers, which was perfect for studying and staying in.

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My tummy was so full and happy after this visit. I highly recommend you stop in and order a ridiculous amount of wonderful food. This place is top-notch!

As we were already out and about, so I convinced the Beau to make a Boba run with me. For those of you that haven’t tried ShareTea – you need to get on it! Their peak hours are hectic but the service is fast and the wait is worth it! My current favorite is the Oreo Slush with Mini Pearls (lite).

Cheers!

 

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Daily Dose Reviews

Whistle Britches

A friend of mine sent me this text a few weeks ago:

Dude. Dude. Duuuuuude.

I was willing to die for that meal. If there had been a 3rd biscuit, I would have eaten it and it would have killed me and I would have died happy.

“RIP Shelly. She died doing what she loved: gorging on cheese covered carbs.”

 

Now, I should tell you – my friends know how much I lurrrrveeee brunch. They rarely send foodie finds unless they’re 100% confident that I will agree with their deductive reasoning.

When the Beau and I showed up at Whistle Britches on Sunday, I had zero expectations and an empty belly. Obviously, the first thing we did was order drinks and a round of biscuits – because, who the hell says ‘NO’ to that?! Enter: le biscuits.

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That whipped butter is soft and creamy, it’s best friend happens to be the seasonal strawberry vanilla jam. Shut the french door. Y’all! These biscuits are the best damn recipe I’ve ever had the pleasure to gorge myself on. Seriously. Crumbly perfection, with just the right amount of fluff.

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If I’d stopped at the [heavy-handed] rum punch and these biscuits, bliss would easily have been met. Sadly, this cute little pop stand peaked with the biscuits.

Sure, their Bloody Mary has a full chicken wing in it, and it is quite tasty, but the booze just wasn’t up to the brunch this time around. We ordered the pancakes, which were flat and carried way too much syrup (probably enhancing the wilted presentation), the Mother Clucker, and the B.E.E.C., which takes a crumbly biscuit and adds toppings. It was a mess. A tasty mess, for certain, but not something I was thrilled paying $11 for, especially since the side was a handful of kettle-cooked chips.

I will confirm that the spices and breading on their fried chicken is delicious. The wing on Beau’s Bloody Mary was tender, fried just long enough to have a bit of crunch. It was 11 a.m. though, we hadn’t checked the menu before we decided to venture north, and I honestly was not prepared for so many chicken options at brunch. At the time, I simply did not want another round chicken & waffles.

Hindsight is 20/20, right? I should have ordered the chicken & waffles! After oogling several other orders leave the kitchen, I think it’s safe to say what I’ll order next time.

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I feel Shelly may have experienced either a far superior dish – or I failed to order properly. Normally I would have tried the Benny, but (after the biscuit) I didn’t think I could eat anything on my own. We shared three dishes among 4 brunch guests, and still didn’t clear the plates!

The servings were large, very filling, and tasty. Overall, I’d give WB a 7/10 for brunch. Their service was superb, the drinks delicious, and the biscuits push them up from a 6. My main complaint is their lack of other brunch options. Yeah, yeah – I get they ‘do chicken’ but a few other options would be extra-great!

This cute Plano restaurant has an open patio and they’re pet-friendly! Next time we hope to try their dinner menu and plan to bring our puppers along for a fun evening.

I hope your week is off to an amazing start!

 

 

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Reviews

CBD Provisions

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I was informed that Pimento Cheese is a Texas tradition.
As a life-long Texan, this was news to me.

A friend of mine wanted to meet for lunch at CBD Provisions, because she loves their food. I was thrilled to be close enough to snatch some coffee from Weekend. #Sold

I reserved a table for 12pm, via OpenTable and met a few friends there for lunch. Overall, I’m not as big a fan of CBD as my bestie is. I will admit their tomato soup is tasty – but it doesn’t hold a candle to Breadwinners’ recipe.

I did try the pimento cheese toast. I’m not quite sure why “toast + spread” has such a strong presence in Dallas restaurants, but I think it’s stupid. Paying $10 for 3 pieces of toast and 2 tablespoons of topping is ludicrous. The greens on the toast at CBD were wilted because of the excess dressing, and the toast was hard enough to knock a tooth out.

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The Chef’s attempt at a shrimp cocktail was not horrible, but also not good. Sugar played a huge role in this appetizer, and it shouldn’t have been present at all. The beau liked this dish, but I think the chips allowed it to be edible. So far, I was not impressed. I held out hope until the main dishes came.

 

The carrot + avocado salad was surprisingly boring. The carrots were not prepared, aside from being tossed in dressing, and blanketed with cilantro. The chicken was perfectly grilled, but added nothing to the dish. In addition, the avocado mustard combination worked well – but I wish there’d been more than the dollop I received. Had I not ordered the chicken, I would have ended up with 3 large carrots + a spoonful of avocado crema. This dish was simply not memorable.

Melissa ordered the tomato bisque & pimento grilled cheese. She was absolutely in love with her lunch. The soup was creamy and flavorful, the sandwich was a bit too greasy (for my taste). The beau ordered the Steak Frites, and enjoyed his dish immensely. Since they didn’t mess up the steak, we may find ourselves back at CBD again, but I may wait until they’ve updated their menu. For a restaurant inside the Joule, I had high expectations. Sadly, those marks were not met.

 

What are your thoughts on overpriced toast, and salads that are just carrots + avocado?

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Reviews

Winery Adventures

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Spontaneous winery visits are equally grand! 

Last week, I met my sorority sisters for lunch at Landon Winery, in Greenville, TX. This particular location is in the heart of Downtown Greenville, and is nothing short of idyllic. This quaint little pop-stand caught me by surprise. I hoped for their wine selection to be phenomenal, but my palate only fell for the Rose. I brought two bottles home for myself, to sip while frantically finishing my ConLaw readings. [I’m still pining over a potential wine club membership, btw.]

Since the girls and I met for lunch, and I’d been in too much of a rush to eat a proper breakfast, my eyes flew straight to the available pastas. Chicken + broccoli alfredo? Yes, please!

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Let me just say – the core of this establishment houses one helluva chef! Nearly every last morsel was devoured. I honestly don’t think many of us did much talking once our plates arrived. For 8 chatty women, this was definitely a FIRST! Everything was so scrumptious. I already want to drive back out for another visit.

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Philly Cheesesteak Sandwich & House Fries

 

The menu provided ample options, and all items were college-budget friendly! Honestly, the food was served in hearty portions.  Had I know been so ravenous, I could have brought home half of my pasta dish. The fact that I left nothing on my plate is a testament to the delectableness of my lunch choice.

 

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The service here was spot-on! The waitress doubled as a sommelier, who was kind and accepted the challenge of finding a wine “just right” for some of us. The ambiance of the winery + bistro had such an inviting feel, the dark wood floors almost seemed like we were soaking up time inside a cask of our own.  [Note to self – check to see if wine baths are a thing…]

If you need a break from your hectic week, or simply want to enjoy a great meal with wonderful people – stop by Landon Winery. These loves do not disappoint.

 

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Daily Dose Reviews

Mesero – Dallas

Summer

The Beau and I brunched at Mesero on Sunday. We took the pups, which was a riot – because getting to the patio (with a blocked entrance…fire hazards be damned) was challenging.

Our original plan was to eat at a pet-friendly restaurant (which is a short list in Dallas proper). Now, I’d eaten at Mesero before and was not super thrilled to go back. However, we were now trapped by cars on all sides and there was no end in sight to get our Jeep back from the valet…so off we went toward the bright umbrellas (seriously, they’re ORANGE). The seating hostess was nice, but when we got to our table, the group nearest us leaned over to say the service was sub-par. One patron went so far as to point out which waiter to avoid!

Their brunch menu is small, but the portions are HUGE. Here’s wahat you need to know:

  1. They portion control the tortilla chips. Which is completely NOT okay.
    I’m a firm believer in spreading the chips and salsa love; if you see two people at a table, and you serve chips in a tiny 10oz container that can only fit 14 crisps (yes, I counted them) – then, by the sweet Gods in heaven, bring more chips!IMG_1531
  2. The plates look great, but that does not necessarily mean they’re good. My french toast wasn’t cooked. It was a burned glaze on the outside and a mushy cinnamon-flavored mess on the inside. Normally I don’t send food back, but the Beau insisted because they were completely inedible. They did a better job on the second try, but it was still undercooked. 🙁 One redeeming quality is the whipped cinnamon butter that comes with the warmed maple syrup to drizzle over the toast. Absolutely sinful. And yet – tragically – not enough of a reason to come back to this pop stand.IMG_1533
  3. Their chilaquiles (eggs + chicken + salsa + corn chips) were fantastic. Honestly, their salsa verde brings all the ingredients together in a magical concoction. I’d certainly order that dish again. But I probably will not be back here. Two times, you’re out. Their dinner is pricey and you don’t really get much. Basically, if I can make it in my own kitchen – then why bother going to the restaurant?
  4. In a crazy twist – the cocktails are pricey! Nearly every drink cost more than an actual brunch dish. What in the actual hell? Just know, if you do order one (we ordered the Meserita) then you’ll be plastered on just one drink. Fair warning.

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Overall, we were not too pleased with this brunch spot. I felt like I could seriously teach the Chef a thing or two about Mexican cooking (or whatever they think they’re actually making…). We will not likely be back, barring some sort of kitchen-staff overhaul and a change in menu options.

I hope you’re enjoying your summer break!

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Reviews

Splurging Is Good for the Soul

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The beau’s brother introduced me to SOYLENT 2.0.
We ordered 12 bottles of Nectar flavor. It tastes like fruity pebbles milk, or a melted strawberry milk shake. I didn’t think it was all bad, but it certainly is a different taste. The aftertaste is great, which is nice – because meal replacement shakes (in my experience) aren’t always so kind to my tastebuds.

Skeptical though I was, I gave this nutrient-rich, plant-based shake a try.
According to Soylent, each shake provides 20% of your daily requirements, and is packed full of energy with only 400 calories. 

As a busy law student, this shake has come in handy. I keep it refrigerated and either drink it for breakfast or lunch. I plan to continue drinking them for the next month, replacing a meal here or there (the consistency of always skipping lunch bothers me, so I am going to work them in on hectic days).

So far, I’m enjoying them.

But, I also enjoy a fun brunch. We moseyed on over to Maple Leaf Dinner in North Dallas. As fairly new patrons, this being our second visit, we opted to try a large spread – so the friends we invited along were in for a treat! The french toast is, in my opinion, the best thing they offer. Everything is wonderful, but the french toast was rockstar-level yummy.

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Cheers to a great week!