600 N. FM 548
Forney 75126
Rapid Dose:
If you frequent the Starplex Cinema in Mesquite, and are tired of the smell of stale urine and your feet sticking to the floor – drive the extra 10 minutes down 80, and shell out the extra few bucks to have a much more pleasurable movie viewing experience.
Review (More FYI though):
Okay… so you want to see a movie, but you are not sure exactly what to do. OH! THE PRESSURE!
* Do you spend the mega bucks and go to AMC 30 in Mesquite?
* Do you save some money, see an older movie, and endure the nasty, broken seats and horrid ambiance of Starplex Cinema in Mesquite?
OR…..
* Do you drive 10 minutes down 80 to the Starplex Cinema in Forney where everything is nice and clean (including the employees), and you STILL get to see a new release movie for a fraction of the price?
Here is a breakdown of prices…
AMC 30: All shows before noon: $5.00 everybody
All shows after noon: $8.50 adults $6.50 seniors $5.50 children
Starplex in Mesquite: All shows before 6pm: $1.25
All shows after 6pm: $1.75
TUESDAY’S: .50 cents! All day!
Starplex in Forney: All shows before 6pm: $5.00 for everybody
All shows after 6pm: $7.00 for adults. Seniors and kids are still only $5.00.
So, what is your poison? Do you prefer comfort to filth? Deal over wallet buster? Or perhaps you like to flash that cash like you are rich (and don’t have to fill that SUV up with gas) and stick with the AMC 30. You have all the facts now. Be warned… all places have OUTRAGEOUS prices for concessions – but I bet you already knew that.
I personally recommend that you give the Starplex in Forney a try. It is not that far away, and it can save you some money. Of the 14 theaters it has, all the movies were the exact ones playing at AMC 30; so they do always show the new release movies. However, I will hands down choose to sit in dried up pee on Tuesdays just to enjoy a .50 cent movie. You just cannot beat that with a stick!
I give Starplex Cinemas in Forney 8 out of 10 points. The place is clean and nice just like the people who work there, and the prices are right for new releases.
Friday, April 25, 2008
Friday, April 18, 2008
Wood Pit BBQ & Grill (Past the High School on Davis St.)
1151 E. Davis
Mesquite 75149
Rapid Dose:
Short and quick: if you are looking for some good, tasty BBQ… go somewhere else.
Review:
I was really looking forward to doing this review; after all, I always smell the wonderful smoky aroma coming from the Wood Pit Bar-B-Que. I was so excited; I was even to prepared to dote on this restaurant because they have two parking spots designated especially for motorcycles. (I have not even ever been on a motorcycle before, and I was fired up to tell you of these parking spots!) Even walking into the establishment, I was ready to tell you how clean and well presented this walk up and order restaurant was. In fact, I was so worked up… I almost missed just how poor Wood Pit Bar-B-Que really is.
Let me take a step back… it is not horrible. The food was fairly average. The service was VERY slow. We were the only people waiting inside, yet we had to wait a good seven minutes to pay for our food after we ordered. Then, after we paid, we finally got our food and the order was not even completely correct. I had ordered a turkey sandwich – I got brisket. (At this point, I was still in the honeymoon stage. I did not want to upset the mother type figure who was serving us so I stuck with the brisket.)
My daughter got a sausage sandwich (which she liked), macaroni and cheese (which she did not like) and potato salad (which she loved). My son got a rib sandwich. Please allow me to explain what this rib sandwich consisted of… two thick pieces of toast with ribs thrown in the middle. Bones and all. His favorite part of his meal was the toast. And as for my brisket sandwich? I ended up taking off all the meat, cutting off the fat and cutting out the blood vessels. I also got scalloped potatoes, which were greasy, and the bacon in the scalloped potatoes consisted of they chewy, fatty pieces. Yuck!
We all left with a good portion of food on our plates; and that just does not happen with us – we normally are pretty good about finishing the food that we buy. Not at this place though! In fact, if we did not care about our health, after we left the Wood Pit Bar-B-Que, we would have gone to McDonald’s to get something to fill us up and satisfy our appetite.
I give Wood Pit Bar-B-Que 4 out of 10 points. Don’t bother going. Stick to something you know.
Mesquite 75149
Rapid Dose:
Short and quick: if you are looking for some good, tasty BBQ… go somewhere else.
Review:
I was really looking forward to doing this review; after all, I always smell the wonderful smoky aroma coming from the Wood Pit Bar-B-Que. I was so excited; I was even to prepared to dote on this restaurant because they have two parking spots designated especially for motorcycles. (I have not even ever been on a motorcycle before, and I was fired up to tell you of these parking spots!) Even walking into the establishment, I was ready to tell you how clean and well presented this walk up and order restaurant was. In fact, I was so worked up… I almost missed just how poor Wood Pit Bar-B-Que really is.
Let me take a step back… it is not horrible. The food was fairly average. The service was VERY slow. We were the only people waiting inside, yet we had to wait a good seven minutes to pay for our food after we ordered. Then, after we paid, we finally got our food and the order was not even completely correct. I had ordered a turkey sandwich – I got brisket. (At this point, I was still in the honeymoon stage. I did not want to upset the mother type figure who was serving us so I stuck with the brisket.)
My daughter got a sausage sandwich (which she liked), macaroni and cheese (which she did not like) and potato salad (which she loved). My son got a rib sandwich. Please allow me to explain what this rib sandwich consisted of… two thick pieces of toast with ribs thrown in the middle. Bones and all. His favorite part of his meal was the toast. And as for my brisket sandwich? I ended up taking off all the meat, cutting off the fat and cutting out the blood vessels. I also got scalloped potatoes, which were greasy, and the bacon in the scalloped potatoes consisted of they chewy, fatty pieces. Yuck!
We all left with a good portion of food on our plates; and that just does not happen with us – we normally are pretty good about finishing the food that we buy. Not at this place though! In fact, if we did not care about our health, after we left the Wood Pit Bar-B-Que, we would have gone to McDonald’s to get something to fill us up and satisfy our appetite.
I give Wood Pit Bar-B-Que 4 out of 10 points. Don’t bother going. Stick to something you know.
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Troubador Music (In Forney by the big o' Jackrabbit)
106 S. Bois D’Arc
Forney 75126
Rapid Dose:
Troubador Music will enlighten students and give a purpose to all people who have ever entertained the idea of playing a musical instrument.
Review:
I have to admit it… I was going to try to juke you all. I was planning to write a somewhat deceitful review, pretending not to have any ties with Troubador Music, or Kevin Curtis. Allow me to explain why…
In today’s world, it seems that somebody is always out to make a buck. If you know somebody who knows somebody and you scratch their back, you will get something in return. That simply drives me crazy. While networking is great – I really despise that fact that some people will relentlessly do or say anything to benefit from an underhanded advertisement or conversation.
So, why then was I going to try to pull the wool over your eyes? It is because I know of a great business, owned and operated by a wonderful person and I want you all to know about it. I figured that if I came across as not actually knowing the owner, you would believe me, and see what a superb business Troubador Music is. Well, I am telling you now… I am not getting anything special, I am not receiving monies for this review, I am simply spreading the word about the best thing that has ever happened to my son (outside of our own family of course!), and that happens to be Kevin Curtis – who owns Troubador Music.
In a nutshell, my son started taking lessons with Mr. Curtis when he was only 7 years old; and he took the lessons at an elementary school. It was “Guitar for Beginners”. While in that class, he learned how to play “Sweet Home Alabama”, and boy did he play it well! The next step was the next guitar class that Mr. Curtis was teaching. I forget the name of it, but for the sake of this article, we will call it “Guitar Two”. My son excelled in that class as well. (Keep in mind that neither my husband nor I carry any musical talent whatsoever.) Unfortunately, those were all the classes that Mr. Curtis was teaching for kids. Well, it was unfortunate for only a couple of months until my son started taking private lessons from Mr. Curtis. With private instruction, he started to really take off. Now, he has been taking lessons for a total of about 4 ½ years from Mr. Curtis. And it shows…
I am not bragging about my kid here, just conveying the ability of Mr. Curtis. Since he started taking lessons, he has not only gained an unbelievable amount of confidence, knowledge, and purpose – he has actually started playing gigs in the area. He has been asked back several times by the city we live in, he has played in several venues that Mr. Curtis has set up for all of his students to perform at, he has participated in teen open mic nights, and he has even played at “The Door” in Deep Ellum, where he was paid $40! None of this would have been possible without the instruction, support and guidance from Mr. Kevin Curtis.
We have watched Mr. Curtis literally grow his business, Troubador Music, from the ground up. We have seen his business explode from him giving lessons in his apartment to what it is today. He now has two studios, and an additional guitar / bass instructor named Nick Nykoruk and a piano instructor named Betheny Miles. He has students that start with him, and never leave – and not all of his students are kids! If you are… ahem… “older”, don’t let that stop you! There are several students that take lessons at Troubador Music that can keep you company!
In closing, let me say that my son is a sensitive kid. Very sensitive. Kevin Curtis has listened to him cry and helped him through his musical problems. (Actually, with musicians, I have found that the problems they are having with their music can be closely related to problems in their lives.) Mr. Curtis has spent hours not only teaching him, but also being his friend.
If you have ever wanted to pick up a guitar (or bass or piano) and play, this is the place to go. You owe it to yourself to follow your soul’s desires and express yourself through the harmony of music.
If you go to http://www.mesquite-garlandfyi.com/DynamicPages/Website_TroubadorMusic_Mesquite/Coupon.html, you can read more about Troubador Music and find a coupon for 25% off your first month of instruction. If you simply want to hear Mr. Curtis play his guitar, you can go to http://www.kevincurtismusic.com/.
I give Troubador Music 10 out of 10 points. The passion that we all seek in life, you will find here.
Forney 75126
Rapid Dose:
Troubador Music will enlighten students and give a purpose to all people who have ever entertained the idea of playing a musical instrument.
Review:
I have to admit it… I was going to try to juke you all. I was planning to write a somewhat deceitful review, pretending not to have any ties with Troubador Music, or Kevin Curtis. Allow me to explain why…
In today’s world, it seems that somebody is always out to make a buck. If you know somebody who knows somebody and you scratch their back, you will get something in return. That simply drives me crazy. While networking is great – I really despise that fact that some people will relentlessly do or say anything to benefit from an underhanded advertisement or conversation.
So, why then was I going to try to pull the wool over your eyes? It is because I know of a great business, owned and operated by a wonderful person and I want you all to know about it. I figured that if I came across as not actually knowing the owner, you would believe me, and see what a superb business Troubador Music is. Well, I am telling you now… I am not getting anything special, I am not receiving monies for this review, I am simply spreading the word about the best thing that has ever happened to my son (outside of our own family of course!), and that happens to be Kevin Curtis – who owns Troubador Music.
In a nutshell, my son started taking lessons with Mr. Curtis when he was only 7 years old; and he took the lessons at an elementary school. It was “Guitar for Beginners”. While in that class, he learned how to play “Sweet Home Alabama”, and boy did he play it well! The next step was the next guitar class that Mr. Curtis was teaching. I forget the name of it, but for the sake of this article, we will call it “Guitar Two”. My son excelled in that class as well. (Keep in mind that neither my husband nor I carry any musical talent whatsoever.) Unfortunately, those were all the classes that Mr. Curtis was teaching for kids. Well, it was unfortunate for only a couple of months until my son started taking private lessons from Mr. Curtis. With private instruction, he started to really take off. Now, he has been taking lessons for a total of about 4 ½ years from Mr. Curtis. And it shows…
I am not bragging about my kid here, just conveying the ability of Mr. Curtis. Since he started taking lessons, he has not only gained an unbelievable amount of confidence, knowledge, and purpose – he has actually started playing gigs in the area. He has been asked back several times by the city we live in, he has played in several venues that Mr. Curtis has set up for all of his students to perform at, he has participated in teen open mic nights, and he has even played at “The Door” in Deep Ellum, where he was paid $40! None of this would have been possible without the instruction, support and guidance from Mr. Kevin Curtis.
We have watched Mr. Curtis literally grow his business, Troubador Music, from the ground up. We have seen his business explode from him giving lessons in his apartment to what it is today. He now has two studios, and an additional guitar / bass instructor named Nick Nykoruk and a piano instructor named Betheny Miles. He has students that start with him, and never leave – and not all of his students are kids! If you are… ahem… “older”, don’t let that stop you! There are several students that take lessons at Troubador Music that can keep you company!
In closing, let me say that my son is a sensitive kid. Very sensitive. Kevin Curtis has listened to him cry and helped him through his musical problems. (Actually, with musicians, I have found that the problems they are having with their music can be closely related to problems in their lives.) Mr. Curtis has spent hours not only teaching him, but also being his friend.
If you have ever wanted to pick up a guitar (or bass or piano) and play, this is the place to go. You owe it to yourself to follow your soul’s desires and express yourself through the harmony of music.
If you go to http://www.mesquite-garlandfyi.com/DynamicPages/Website_TroubadorMusic_Mesquite/Coupon.html, you can read more about Troubador Music and find a coupon for 25% off your first month of instruction. If you simply want to hear Mr. Curtis play his guitar, you can go to http://www.kevincurtismusic.com/.
I give Troubador Music 10 out of 10 points. The passion that we all seek in life, you will find here.
Friday, April 11, 2008
Norris Family Music (In strip mall with CVS and Long John's on corner of Kerney and Galloway)
64 Broadmoor Plaza - Mesquite
Rapid Dose:
Norris Family Music is a nice music store with even nicer owners. It is tucked away in a tiny grove in Mesquite that is easily passed up by the speeding motorist. Take your time and slow down so you can find and stop by this music store. Not only will you find musical instruments and necessities, you can also take lessons on several different types on instruments.
Review:
Let me announce my first review ever that stages two guest reviewers along side myself. They are my kids… and I think they are plotting to take me over. I better hide the duct tape and knives.
Norris Family Music is an efficient store with plenty of inventory for the average musician. I will leave the nitty gritty up to my kids, but let me say that the reason I loved the store so much was because of the respect they extended to my son. He is not very old, but they trusted him enough to let him play a beautiful guitar, then once it was realized that he knew what he was doing, the gentleman in charge not only got him another guitar to “have in his hands”, but spent the time talking with him the art of playing guitar. Anybody that is going to treat either one of my kids like an actual person, and not a good for nothin’ kid deserves a gold star in my book. The owners obviously have a passion for music, and it comes through their eyes. Passion. It is a beautiful thing.
I give Norris Family Music 8.5 out of 10 points.
Guest Reviewer #1
Norris Family music has a distinct welcoming feel. The two people who own the store are friendly and helpful! They told me about some very old, mint condition guitars they had. Like a 63' Gibson SG, and a vintage redone Fender Stratocaster, with all the vintage works! I didn't see a lot of name brands in there, but I did see a few. Fender, Epiphone, Yamaha, and Washburn were among the several kinds in the store! Plus, they had a variety of straps and picks, and other instrument accessories. They also had quite a few steel guitars in there as well.
Just before we left, the co-owner of the store took me to the back of the store, to watch a quick video of steel guitar with distortion. Back in the room, it gave me the feel of an old time jam room with brownish / orangish shag carpet and a small TV, a couple of desks and some posters on the wall.
If you’re in Mesquite, I would stop in at Norris Family Music, and see what they are all about!
Although they are short on variety of advanced guitars, they make up for it with personalized attention and respect. For that reason, I give them 8 out of 10 stars.
Guest reviewer #2 is here!
When you walk into Norris Family Music, if you look to the back right of the store, you will see a Jimi Hendrix poster right beside a Kurt Cobain poster.
Just a few of the instruments you can find at Norris Music are: harmonicas, clarinets, french horns, electric, acustic, and steel guitars, and even a banjo or two. You will also be delighted to find free coffee toward the back of the store!
I found Norris Family Music to be a wild ride of fuzzy purple guitar straps (one of which sold for $63.17). Anything musical you can think of was there! Except those dang flutes that you play with your nose… I wanted to start a collection.
Overall rating: 8.7 out of 10. If you are in the town of Mesquite, and you are a searching musician, stop at Norris Family Music. It will be a fun, exiting ride!
Rapid Dose:
Norris Family Music is a nice music store with even nicer owners. It is tucked away in a tiny grove in Mesquite that is easily passed up by the speeding motorist. Take your time and slow down so you can find and stop by this music store. Not only will you find musical instruments and necessities, you can also take lessons on several different types on instruments.
Review:
Let me announce my first review ever that stages two guest reviewers along side myself. They are my kids… and I think they are plotting to take me over. I better hide the duct tape and knives.
Norris Family Music is an efficient store with plenty of inventory for the average musician. I will leave the nitty gritty up to my kids, but let me say that the reason I loved the store so much was because of the respect they extended to my son. He is not very old, but they trusted him enough to let him play a beautiful guitar, then once it was realized that he knew what he was doing, the gentleman in charge not only got him another guitar to “have in his hands”, but spent the time talking with him the art of playing guitar. Anybody that is going to treat either one of my kids like an actual person, and not a good for nothin’ kid deserves a gold star in my book. The owners obviously have a passion for music, and it comes through their eyes. Passion. It is a beautiful thing.
I give Norris Family Music 8.5 out of 10 points.
Guest Reviewer #1
Norris Family music has a distinct welcoming feel. The two people who own the store are friendly and helpful! They told me about some very old, mint condition guitars they had. Like a 63' Gibson SG, and a vintage redone Fender Stratocaster, with all the vintage works! I didn't see a lot of name brands in there, but I did see a few. Fender, Epiphone, Yamaha, and Washburn were among the several kinds in the store! Plus, they had a variety of straps and picks, and other instrument accessories. They also had quite a few steel guitars in there as well.
Just before we left, the co-owner of the store took me to the back of the store, to watch a quick video of steel guitar with distortion. Back in the room, it gave me the feel of an old time jam room with brownish / orangish shag carpet and a small TV, a couple of desks and some posters on the wall.
If you’re in Mesquite, I would stop in at Norris Family Music, and see what they are all about!
Although they are short on variety of advanced guitars, they make up for it with personalized attention and respect. For that reason, I give them 8 out of 10 stars.
Guest reviewer #2 is here!
When you walk into Norris Family Music, if you look to the back right of the store, you will see a Jimi Hendrix poster right beside a Kurt Cobain poster.
Just a few of the instruments you can find at Norris Music are: harmonicas, clarinets, french horns, electric, acustic, and steel guitars, and even a banjo or two. You will also be delighted to find free coffee toward the back of the store!
I found Norris Family Music to be a wild ride of fuzzy purple guitar straps (one of which sold for $63.17). Anything musical you can think of was there! Except those dang flutes that you play with your nose… I wanted to start a collection.
Overall rating: 8.7 out of 10. If you are in the town of Mesquite, and you are a searching musician, stop at Norris Family Music. It will be a fun, exiting ride!
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
Habitat for Humanity Home Improvement Outlet Store (On 30 and Beltline in Garland)
451 W. I-30
Garland 75043
Rapid Dose:
This Habitat for Humanity Outlet Store is a mish-mash of many different items that you could need around your home for either everyday life or home improvement. While not all their items are the most current, it is worth a trip here before you venture off to your local Home Depot so you can see if you can save some money.
(Allow me to apologize for not getting this out to you for my regular Friday review. I have been socked with my first UTI and a just as terrible cold for the past week.)
Review:
When you walk into the Habitat for Humanity Outlet Store, you might be a bit confused on which way to go – only because there seems to be SO MUCH to look at. My advice is to just jump in, and plan on spending at least a good 30 minutes browsing the isles. You will find a bit of this, and a bit of that on your trip through the store. For example:
Bulldog Shovel: $9.00
Grandfather Clocks: $160.00 - $280.00
45 sq ft. stick & peel tile: $17.00
Bedroom furniture set: $1131.00
Suction Cups: $0.25
Cabinet Knobs: $0.25
Elongated Toilets: $70.00
Large Rugs: $30.00 - $55.00
Kitchen Dining Set: $250.00 - $400.00
And the above is just a short list!
Habitat for Humanity is a wonderful business to support because of all the good it does for our neighborhoods, and the people lucky enough to move into the homes that are built by volunteers. The next time my husband and I do any type of home improvement (and there WILL be a next time!), we will definitely go to this outlet store before we make our purchases anywhere else. Not only are the prices good, it will make us feel good to know that we have in some small part helped support the organization.
You can go to their website: www.dallas-habitat.org for information about their organization and to find out how to volunteer.
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”
Garland 75043
Rapid Dose:
This Habitat for Humanity Outlet Store is a mish-mash of many different items that you could need around your home for either everyday life or home improvement. While not all their items are the most current, it is worth a trip here before you venture off to your local Home Depot so you can see if you can save some money.
(Allow me to apologize for not getting this out to you for my regular Friday review. I have been socked with my first UTI and a just as terrible cold for the past week.)
Review:
When you walk into the Habitat for Humanity Outlet Store, you might be a bit confused on which way to go – only because there seems to be SO MUCH to look at. My advice is to just jump in, and plan on spending at least a good 30 minutes browsing the isles. You will find a bit of this, and a bit of that on your trip through the store. For example:
Bulldog Shovel: $9.00
Grandfather Clocks: $160.00 - $280.00
45 sq ft. stick & peel tile: $17.00
Bedroom furniture set: $1131.00
Suction Cups: $0.25
Cabinet Knobs: $0.25
Elongated Toilets: $70.00
Large Rugs: $30.00 - $55.00
Kitchen Dining Set: $250.00 - $400.00
And the above is just a short list!
Habitat for Humanity is a wonderful business to support because of all the good it does for our neighborhoods, and the people lucky enough to move into the homes that are built by volunteers. The next time my husband and I do any type of home improvement (and there WILL be a next time!), we will definitely go to this outlet store before we make our purchases anywhere else. Not only are the prices good, it will make us feel good to know that we have in some small part helped support the organization.
You can go to their website: www.dallas-habitat.org for information about their organization and to find out how to volunteer.
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”
Margaret Mead, Anthropologist (1901-1978)
I give Habitat for Humanity Outlet Store 8.5 out of 10 points. Great company, great purpose, good prices, limited selection.
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
Dos Panchas Mexican Restaurant (In old downtown Mesquite)
103 Broad St.
Mesquite 75149
Rapid Dose:
Dos Panchas has the potential to be a great evening full of south of the border fun… if they would only try. While the décor is exceptional, the food is lackluster and the initial service is slower than a turtles pace. Cross your fingers that this Mexican restaurant will soon step out the mediocrity and take us on a fun trip to Mexico.
Review:
Walking into Dos Panchas, you will think you are in for a real treat! The walls are orange and yellow, the floor a burnt brown ceramic tile, and there are fun pictures that you must take a good long look at so you can see what they are really made of. The air is filled with Mexican music coming from the overhead speakers that will whisk you away. As you look to either side of the restaurant, you will see awnings with seating underneath them. It really lends the feel of an outside eatery – with little stringed puppets hanging down from the awning. There are rope lights on the ceiling, as well as around the awnings. All of this décor lends to a very festive feel. They did that part right.
Now we sit down at our table (unfortunately not under the fun awning). We get our menus and realize that we are about to settle down to read the novel that has been laid before us. There was WAY too much selection. (Remember Jadyn’s Deli? This place had more selection that that… MUCH more!) If you watch “Hell’s Kitchen” you are well aware of who Chef Ramsey is. Well, he would have a fit over the amount of choices Dos Panchas has on their menu. I honestly can’t remember the last time it took us that long to look over a menu and decide what we wanted to shove in our mouths.
Oddly enough – the kids menu did not have much of a selection at all. Our kids actually ordered off the adults menu. It was rather kooky that they did not have that much to choose from; after all, it did seem like the author of the menu really enjoyed putting different dishes together, then got bored when it came time to do the kids menu.
Some other oddities about the menu… drinks are $1.50 and you only get one free refill. One of the drinks was “rice and cinnamon water” for $1.75. I was going to try it so I could explain it to all of you, but I just couldn’t bring myself to do it. Sorry, everybody! Also, there are daily specials Monday through Thursday. I think the most special day is Tuesdays when they offer a whopping .60 cents off the cost of fajitas. Come on, now. Sixty cents off?! Insane.
The food… it had an authentic Mexican taste. That ‘taste’ also includes the smell of the grease, and the pools of fat that my taco left on my plate. The food was unexceptional. Blah. Nothing really to write about except that my husband said that if he had 5 places that he could go and get fajitas, Don Panchas would be #5 on his list. Yikes.
If you do venture in to experience the décor… you have to make a trip to the bathrooms. It is fun to walk allllll the way back and you get to see inside the kitchen, the storage room, and a couple of other “peeks” that you normally don’t have the opportunity to see at a restaurant. Plus the walk back there can feel like a maze. There are several turns that you make, and I have never seen as many restroom signs with arrows in my life.
If I could offer up just a little of advice for the owners, it would be this…
· Give your employees a reason to enjoy their jobs.
· Invite a mariachi band to come and serenade your patrons – at least on the weekends! (Let them keep all tip money so you don’t have to pay them out of your pocket. There are plenty of bands out there just looking for this type of opportunity.)
· Clean up your back hallway on the way to the restrooms. If we, as customers, must see inside all of those rooms – we would like to know that they are clean and maintained.
I give Dos Panchas 5.5 out of 10 stars. Nothing special in the food – although that could be looked over if the environment was better.
Mesquite 75149
Rapid Dose:
Dos Panchas has the potential to be a great evening full of south of the border fun… if they would only try. While the décor is exceptional, the food is lackluster and the initial service is slower than a turtles pace. Cross your fingers that this Mexican restaurant will soon step out the mediocrity and take us on a fun trip to Mexico.
Review:
Walking into Dos Panchas, you will think you are in for a real treat! The walls are orange and yellow, the floor a burnt brown ceramic tile, and there are fun pictures that you must take a good long look at so you can see what they are really made of. The air is filled with Mexican music coming from the overhead speakers that will whisk you away. As you look to either side of the restaurant, you will see awnings with seating underneath them. It really lends the feel of an outside eatery – with little stringed puppets hanging down from the awning. There are rope lights on the ceiling, as well as around the awnings. All of this décor lends to a very festive feel. They did that part right.
Now we sit down at our table (unfortunately not under the fun awning). We get our menus and realize that we are about to settle down to read the novel that has been laid before us. There was WAY too much selection. (Remember Jadyn’s Deli? This place had more selection that that… MUCH more!) If you watch “Hell’s Kitchen” you are well aware of who Chef Ramsey is. Well, he would have a fit over the amount of choices Dos Panchas has on their menu. I honestly can’t remember the last time it took us that long to look over a menu and decide what we wanted to shove in our mouths.
Oddly enough – the kids menu did not have much of a selection at all. Our kids actually ordered off the adults menu. It was rather kooky that they did not have that much to choose from; after all, it did seem like the author of the menu really enjoyed putting different dishes together, then got bored when it came time to do the kids menu.
Some other oddities about the menu… drinks are $1.50 and you only get one free refill. One of the drinks was “rice and cinnamon water” for $1.75. I was going to try it so I could explain it to all of you, but I just couldn’t bring myself to do it. Sorry, everybody! Also, there are daily specials Monday through Thursday. I think the most special day is Tuesdays when they offer a whopping .60 cents off the cost of fajitas. Come on, now. Sixty cents off?! Insane.
The food… it had an authentic Mexican taste. That ‘taste’ also includes the smell of the grease, and the pools of fat that my taco left on my plate. The food was unexceptional. Blah. Nothing really to write about except that my husband said that if he had 5 places that he could go and get fajitas, Don Panchas would be #5 on his list. Yikes.
If you do venture in to experience the décor… you have to make a trip to the bathrooms. It is fun to walk allllll the way back and you get to see inside the kitchen, the storage room, and a couple of other “peeks” that you normally don’t have the opportunity to see at a restaurant. Plus the walk back there can feel like a maze. There are several turns that you make, and I have never seen as many restroom signs with arrows in my life.
If I could offer up just a little of advice for the owners, it would be this…
· Give your employees a reason to enjoy their jobs.
· Invite a mariachi band to come and serenade your patrons – at least on the weekends! (Let them keep all tip money so you don’t have to pay them out of your pocket. There are plenty of bands out there just looking for this type of opportunity.)
· Clean up your back hallway on the way to the restrooms. If we, as customers, must see inside all of those rooms – we would like to know that they are clean and maintained.
I give Dos Panchas 5.5 out of 10 stars. Nothing special in the food – although that could be looked over if the environment was better.
Friday, March 28, 2008
Candle Hut (In Kroger parking lot - across the street from Toys R Us)
Towne Crossing Center
3600 Gus Thomasson, #180
Mesquite 75150
Rapid Dose:
The Candle Hut is a nice, quaint gift shop that will fill your needs from soy candles, to high school spirit items, to gift baskets with crafted chocolates. You will pay a little more than going to a large chain, but the items at the Candle Hut are clearly made with love and respect to the craft. This is a wonderful place to stop when you need that “something special” whether it is for Mother’s Day, Homecoming, or a special present for numero uno: YOU!
Review:
I walked into the Candle Hut to be greeted by the owner, Pauletta, and her dog, Oreo. (Oreo is a yelper, but apparently, it is only because she just had her second surgery for breast cancer. Other than that – she won’t bother you!) Pauletta is a wonderful woman who left her life in the corporate world to do something she has always enjoyed – candles and chocolates!
The aroma in the Candle Hut is amazing… it smells so fresh and relaxing. And why shouldn’t it smell so wonderful with tons of candles?! Pauletta has many sizes of candles ranging from about $20 down to $2.49. She offers candles, chocolate CD’s, chocolate roses, “spirit” items (for local schools), mylar balloons, aromatic oils, car fresheners, some religious items… and many other treats too! Pauletta will also fill your favorite containers with her gloriously scented candles for only .75 cents per ounce.
This is a place you really have to visit to appreciate. You really have to take in the ambiance of the Candle Hut, and browse around to see what tickles your fancy.
Most of my time in the Candle Hut was spent talking with Pauletta. She is a wonderful woman just trying to live the American dream – and isn’t that what we all really want? Wouldn’t you love to be the one getting out of bed in the morning to do something that you love to do? It is for that reason I encourage you to support the Candle Hut. Aside from the nice items that are sold there, we need to step up as proud American’s and back those who are fighting the large chains and trying to live the life of their soul’s desires.
By the way, as I write this I am pleasantly pre-occupied by the scent of the candle I got – “Floral Garden”. It was only $2.49 and worth every penny. In today’s world, we have to take our pleasures where we can find them – and this is truly a pleasure!
You can see pictures of what is offered at the Candle Hut by visiting: www.candlehutonline.com.
I give the Candle Hut 8 out of 10 points.
3600 Gus Thomasson, #180
Mesquite 75150
Rapid Dose:
The Candle Hut is a nice, quaint gift shop that will fill your needs from soy candles, to high school spirit items, to gift baskets with crafted chocolates. You will pay a little more than going to a large chain, but the items at the Candle Hut are clearly made with love and respect to the craft. This is a wonderful place to stop when you need that “something special” whether it is for Mother’s Day, Homecoming, or a special present for numero uno: YOU!
Review:
I walked into the Candle Hut to be greeted by the owner, Pauletta, and her dog, Oreo. (Oreo is a yelper, but apparently, it is only because she just had her second surgery for breast cancer. Other than that – she won’t bother you!) Pauletta is a wonderful woman who left her life in the corporate world to do something she has always enjoyed – candles and chocolates!
The aroma in the Candle Hut is amazing… it smells so fresh and relaxing. And why shouldn’t it smell so wonderful with tons of candles?! Pauletta has many sizes of candles ranging from about $20 down to $2.49. She offers candles, chocolate CD’s, chocolate roses, “spirit” items (for local schools), mylar balloons, aromatic oils, car fresheners, some religious items… and many other treats too! Pauletta will also fill your favorite containers with her gloriously scented candles for only .75 cents per ounce.
This is a place you really have to visit to appreciate. You really have to take in the ambiance of the Candle Hut, and browse around to see what tickles your fancy.
Most of my time in the Candle Hut was spent talking with Pauletta. She is a wonderful woman just trying to live the American dream – and isn’t that what we all really want? Wouldn’t you love to be the one getting out of bed in the morning to do something that you love to do? It is for that reason I encourage you to support the Candle Hut. Aside from the nice items that are sold there, we need to step up as proud American’s and back those who are fighting the large chains and trying to live the life of their soul’s desires.
By the way, as I write this I am pleasantly pre-occupied by the scent of the candle I got – “Floral Garden”. It was only $2.49 and worth every penny. In today’s world, we have to take our pleasures where we can find them – and this is truly a pleasure!
You can see pictures of what is offered at the Candle Hut by visiting: www.candlehutonline.com.
I give the Candle Hut 8 out of 10 points.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
