Chewing and Reviewing

Vernon's Kuntry Katfish

2009-10-27T17:59:00.000-07:00

Restaurant: Vernon's Kuntry Katfish
Type: Home Cookin'
Address/phone/web address:
5901 W. Davis
Conroe, TX

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I had a revelation about this place tonight. What makes Vernon's such a great place to go to? What gives it that "down home" feel?

Maybe it was the death of a high school band mate that made me reflect and realize how much has changed in the past 15 years since I've graduated high school. I think it's because as different as things are, Vernon's has remained virtually the same. I mean, nothing changes about that place, and that's what makes it so wonderful. It would not be the same if they took the lettering off the door informing customers that in 1997 it would become a smoke-free establishment. Or if they went to a more modern ordering system. There's just something about the green restaurant check with your total written in black Sharpie. It seems there's a lot to say for consistency and dependability.

I know when I go there, I can get the best banana pudding with real whipped cream, or some darn good chicken fingers. Now let's not forget Chicken and Dumplings on Wednesdays either. I can't say I'm a fan of their french fries, but they are cut from real potatoes. Some folks I'm sure think they're great. Now the potato salad--that's another story. That stuff is as good as my Mom's. I could make a meal on the hushpuppies, pickled green tomatoes, potato salad and banana pudding. How's the Katfish? Hmmm...since I think Katfish tastes like dirt, I've never had it. I'm sure it's tasty. They have a banner out near the road claiming it's one of the top 10 places in the State of Texas for catfish. So I guess it's good.

Another thing I look forward to is their free egg nog that is served beginning the day after Thanksgiving. My family and I affectionately call it "thumb-nog" because as you are scooping out the noggy goodness with the industrial-sized ladle, it runs down your thumbs back into the bowl. Kinda gross, but that's what makes it extra tasty. I'm sure there's some sort of health department violation, but who cares?! We're all family. It adds to the charm.

So, Conroe-ites, when you find yourself longing for old times and what "used to be," make a trip to Kuntry Katfish. Thanks, Vernon's, for being that one thing that doesn't change in this ever-changing world.

Price range: Mid-range
Local establishment or chain: local
Exterior Cleanliness: 8
Interior Cleanliness: 8
Service: 10
Hostess: 7
Waitstaff: 10
Food rating: 10
Overall rating: 8.8
You should order: Potato salad, banana pudding
You should stay away from: The french fries

Egg Cetera

2008-08-24T17:18:00.000-07:00

Restaurant: Egg Cetera
Type: Breakfast and Lunch
Address/phone/web address:
3010 W. Davis
Conroe, TX

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Price range: Mid-range
Local establishment or chain: local
Exterior Cleanliness: 10
Interior Cleanliness: 10
Service:
Hostess: 9
Waitstaff: 7
Food rating: 10
Overall rating: 9.2
You should order: pancakes
You should stay away from: Nothing that I know of yet

So this place is located in an old service station that I used to frequent on breaks during band practice. It has been nicely updated and the atmosphere is great for a quiet breakfast. The service was very friendly, but kind of slow. The food was so wonderful it overshadowed the mediocre service.
I ordered the Build Your Own Breakfast. You get to choose from various proteins, side dishes, and my favorite, carbs. I chose my eggs over medium, ham steak, fruit cup, and a pancake. Oh, the pancake. I’m still salivating right now. It had to be the best pancake I’ve ever eaten. Now, it was a little tough, but that didn’t matter because it tasted so good. They were very dense and tasted almost like a dessert. You must order the pancakes when you go. That’s a non-negotiable. The rest of my breakfast was very good as well. I had a nice portion of ham steak, and the eggs were cooked as I requested.
I’m thinking this place is going to give the Conroe main-stay, Garden Café, a run for its money. Conroe has been lacking in the breakfast restaurant department, and Egg Cetera fills the void. Everything seemed very fresh, and I can’t wait to go back.

Chewing and Reviewing on a Diet

2008-06-27T09:07:00.001-07:00

I know when you visit this page, you can hear the crickets. It's been so long since I've reviewed a restaurant. With the start of The Woodlands LearningRx, ending the school year, and life in general, blogging about food was low on the priority list. Now I've gone off the deep end and started a diet. What is wrong with me? No more mac-n-cheese, chicken fried steak, or mashed potatoes . . . no more pasta, cream sauces, or gooey desserts. I think I've lost it. Now it's all about veggies, protein and a little fruit. That pretty much tastes the same wherever you go, so I'm on a bit of a break. Now, if I have some really outstanding grilled chicken or steamed broccoli somewhere, I'll let you know. In the meantime, hang tight. My 30 day yeast cleanse will be over soon, and I'll be able to have a little more variety in my diet. Chewing and Reviewing WILL return!

Italian Grille

2008-01-19T19:14:00.000-08:00

Restaurant: Italian Grille
Type: Italian
Address/phone/web address:

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2129C W Davis St, Conroe, TX
(936) 539-3839

Price range: Mid-range for lunch; slightly expensive for dinner
Local establishment or chain: local
Exterior Cleanliness: 10
Interior Cleanliness: 10
Service:
Hostess: 10
Waitstaff: 10
Food rating: 10
Overall rating: 10
You should order: I’ve never had anything bad
You should stay away from: The desserts

So I’ve waited a week to review Italian Grille, and that is a mistake. I won’t be waiting that long again. Also, I was more interested in socializing with my co-workers and friends than on what I was going to write in this review. My memory of the experience is a bit sketchy, so I’ll keep it short and sweet.

If you want some excellent Italian food in Conroe, this is the place to go. The bread and olive oil dipping goo is excellent. Make sure everyone at the table eats some because the garlic is really strong. I pity the fool who has to hang out with a bunch of people with garlic breath!

I actually visited Italian Grille twice in one day. It was our work-day for teachers in Conroe ISD, and any chance we get, we teachers like to go out in the free world for lunch. Oh, how I can’t wait to eat lunch every day in the real world, but that’s another blog. I don’t think they were expecting the crowd, but the service was still very good. Now to the important part: the food. I had the Tuscan Chicken Sandwich. It was a darn good sandwich. I think I want another right now. It had some really creamy cheesy stuff spread on flat bread that blended well with the chicken and red peppers. I will definitely order that again.

For dinner, I met up with a couple of friends, Jess and Karen. Karen brought along Tori, and it was very nice meeting her, too. I had the Chicken Marsala. It was good, too, but not as good as that sandwich. The marsala sauce was a bit thin, but it had a good flavor. It came with a whole side of spaghetti and marinara which I took home. But I swear, since I’ve turned 30, my memory is starting to go. I left it in my car overnight and had to throw it away. I’m sure it would have tasted very good because my dog wolfed it down in about 3 seconds. Oh, he just told me to tell you it was the best he’d eaten.

The only reason I say to stay away from the desserts is because they seem a bit Sysco-ish. I don’t think they are made on the premises, so they’re nothing special. They’re certainly not bad, but they’ve been open and established long enough where they could start making some improvements in that area. A crème brulee or a better tiramisu would be super and make this the perfect Italian eatery.

Bing's Asian Bistro

2008-01-06T18:01:00.000-08:00

Restaurant: Bing’s Asian Bistro

Type: uhh—Asian

Address/phone/web address:

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13731 W FM 1097
Willis, Texas 77318
Phone: 936-890-8868
Fax: 936-890-8818

Price range: Upper mid-range for dinner/ lower mid-range for lunch

Local establishment or chain: Local

Exterior Cleanliness: 10

Interior Cleanliness: 10

Service:
Hostess: 7
Waitstaff: 9

Food rating: 9.5

Overall rating: 9.1

You should order: Honey Crispy Chicken; Orange Peel Chicken; Orange Peel Beef; steamed dumplings

You should stay away from: Hot and Sour Soup; eggrolls

What can I say? I love Bing’s! I’ve never seen a health department report in The Courier, but I have a feeling it would be a good rating. Once again, Jason and I used a gift certificate we won at the Hydrate Hope fundraiser back in November. No, you are not experiencing dejavu. You’ve read that sentence before. I’ve visited Bing’s several times before, and have enjoyed it each time.

We ordered some steamed dumplings for an appetizer. The steamed dumplings take a while, but they are worth the wait. They are seasoned very well, and I love the sauce it’s served with.

This time, I ordered the Orange Peel Beef as my entrée choice. It was good, but the Orange Peel Chicken is better. It’s a little more tangy than Sweet and Sour dishes, and that’s why I like it. The batter also seems to be a little different. I was also excited when the waiter asked if I wanted white or brown rice. If you read Chewing and Reviewing regularly, you know I don’t like white rice, so I was delighted to have brown.

A manager (owner?) visited our table several times and was very friendly and accommodating. Our table had a slight wobble and he fixed it on the spot. Our drinks were refilled promptly and with a smile. If you like Chinese food, you need to head out to Willis and give it a try.

Macaroni Grill

2008-01-06T17:28:00.000-08:00

Restaurant: Macaroni Grill

Type: Italian

Address/phone/web address:

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1155 Lake Woodlands Dr.The Woodlands, TX 77380281-367-3773
http://www.macaronigrill.com/

Price range: Mid-range; prices are in line with quality

Local establishment or chain: Chain owned by Brinker International based in Dallas

Exterior Cleanliness: 9

Interior Cleanliness: 9

Service:
Hostess: 8
Waitstaff: 9

Food rating: 7

Overall rating: 8.4

You should order: Vodka Rustica; Pollo Magro “skinny chicken”

You should stay away from: the bathroom

Well, it was time to use another gift card we won at the Hydrate Hope fundraiser in November. We had a gift card from Chili’s (not my favorite), but the card could be used at any of the “sister” restaurants, with Macaroni Grill being one of them. We decided to go there after signing our lease for our Learning Rx franchise.

First of all, don’t go to the bathroom in this place unless it’s an emergency. They play some stupid “How to Speak Italian” tape so loudly you want to cry. I couldn’t get out of there quick enough. It’s horrible. However, that’s pretty much the only thing I don’t like about Macaroni Grill. Well, the bread ain’t so great either.

I started off with a Caesar Salad. The lettuce was fresh and crisp. It satisfied my craving for a good Caesar Salad. Now the bread is another story. There is some spice in there that I don’t care for. The olive oil for dipping needs some garlic in it. It’s kinda plain. I prefer the bread and dipping sauce at Italian Grille in Conroe (I’ll review that one soon).

I have enjoyed all the entrees I’ve ordered there. The Pollo Magro is very good if you are looking for something on the “light” side. The balsamic glaze is tangy and has lots of flavor. This time I threw caution to the wind ordered the Vodka Rustica—something I’ve never had before. I love the Gnocchi with Vodka Sauce at Maggiano’s (also owned by Brinker), so I figured the vodka cream sauce here would be pretty good. And it was. I also had whole wheat pasta instead of the regular stuff. Hey—I was trying to be a little more healthy. The portions were very large, so I had enough for lunch the next day.

Since I was going to write a review for this place, I decided to order some dessert. Isn’t that a great excuse for eating sweets? It’s for the people, man! I ordered the Dessert Ravioli. It was like a melted Snickers bar stuffed into ravioli and fried. Pretty good, but I’m not sure if I’d order it again. I think I’d rather have the Snickers.

So basically, when you go to Macaroni Grill, skip the bathroom, bread, and dessert and stick to the salad and entrees.

Hyden's

2007-12-28T18:23:00.000-08:00

Restaurant: Hyden’s

Type: Seafood

Address/phone/web address:
5104 West Davis
Conroe, TX 77304
936.441.FISH
http://www.hydensrestaurant.com/

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Local establishment or chain: local

At a Glance:
Exterior Cleanliness: 9

Interior Cleanliness: 9

Service:
Hostess: 10
Waitstaff: 10

Food rating: 8.5
You should order: Seafood enchiladas; coconut cream pie
You should stay away from: Steamed veggies

Overall rating: 9.3

This is a long review, but I promise to make the next one shorter! It's still shorter than Sketch's blogs!

The Back Story
I’m not a big fan of this place at all. We had three poor experiences there in a row, and I had written them off, vowing I’d never return after being overcharged $15 at our last visit—not to mention mediocre food and service. Well, as the saying goes, never say never.

At the Hydrate Hope fundraiser last month, Jason, my husband, and I won a collection of gift certificates to various North County eateries. Hyden’s happened to be one of them. I decided we had better go ahead and use it quickly before that place closed its doors forever. There never seem to be any cars there, and since they moved from South County, I felt that their food and service had deteriorated. So that’s how we ended up there—a gift certificate. Needless to say, I set my expectations really low, as to not be disappointed.

The Review
As you can see by the ranking, the hostess was very friendly. Maybe this wouldn’t be so bad after all. I saw another glimmer of hope when our waiter, Darin (sorry if I misspelled your name—like he’s reading this or something), greeted us so genuinely. He didn’t seem to be reading from the “waiter script.” Throughout the meal, he provided us with prompt, informative, and friendly service. Ask for him when you go.

I’m getting long here. I’ll get to the point.

I ordered the Seafood Enchiladas ($18.95). It came with black beans and Spanish rice, but I substituted the rice for green beans because I’m not a fan of rice. If you would like to know why, I can tell you privately while you’re not eating. Jason ordered the Top Sirloin ($15.95) with Au Gratin Potatoes and Steamed Vegetables. Now, you gotta watch them because they charge an extra $1.95 for a salad or the Au Gratin Potatoes. That can quickly raise the price of one meal to over $20.

The enchiladas were out of this world! It was honestly some of the best food I’d had in a long time. There was a little bit of spice, but not too much for you pansy-mouths out there. I still have half of the enchiladas left, and I think I hear them calling my name right now. I definitely recommend them. They’re pricey, but worth every penny. The green beans were a pleasant surprise, too. They were not from a can, as most restaurants serve. Score another point for Hyden’s.

Jason ordered the Top Sirloin. It was cooked medium, just as he’d ordered it. It did seem to lack seasoning, though. He had to add salt. Overall, though, it was a decent steak. The steamed veggies were a little too steamed. They lacked color and were a bit limp. The Au Gratin Potatoes were very good. This was another surprise for me; the last time I visited, my dish had 3 small chunks of potato and a bunch of sauce. Ick. Definitely not worth an extra two bucks. But now I have a different opinion of those potatoes. Yum.

Of course we ordered dessert. I got the Coconut Cream Pie, and Jason ordered the Cheesecake. The portions were huge—large enough to share. I know the pie is made there, but I’m not so sure about the cheesecake. It was still very good and had a nice, creamy texture.

Needless to say, Hyden’s exceeded my expectations—and not because I had set them very low. It seems they are really trying to improve service and food quality—something that was missing in my previous few visits. I encourage you to go if you’ve got the money to spend. It’s not cheap, but based on this visit, definitely worth it.

My Texas Grill

2007-12-24T12:41:00.000-08:00

Restaurant: My Texas Grill

Type: Country Cookin’

Address/phone/web address:

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604 N Loop 336 W.
Conroe, Texas 77301
Phone: 903-760-2030

Prices: Low prices for a sit-down establishment

Local establishment or chain: Local place

Exterior Cleanliness: 10

Interior Cleanliness: 9

Service:
Hostess: 6—Only semi-friendly; the majority of the staff seems to be teenagers
Waitstaff: 9

Food rating: 5

Overall rating: 7.8

The Review
Prices are in line with quality. At $6 a plate, I wouldn’t expect the quality of Saltgrass or Vernon’s Kuntry Katfish. I ordered the Chicken Fried Steak, mashed potatoes, and green beans. The CFS was seasoned nicely and was very good. Everything else was just okay. The mashed potatoes were a bit lumpy, and I don’t think they were lumpy from chunks of fresh potato. They tasted kind of like instant potatoes that had been “doctored” a bit. The gravy was also instant. This was a real disappointment considering the fact that the cfs was so good. Who wants fake gravy on a great cfs? For dessert, I ordered the bread pudding. To say that I was a bit disappointed would be an understatement. It was very rubbery and its only saving grace was that it had real whipped cream on top. I wouldn’t order that again.
For the price, this food was decent. I definitely will go there again to give them a second chance. If you decide to go, don’t set your expectations too high, and you won’t be disappointed. The owners seem like very nice people, and maybe they need to get the kinks worked out of this new restaurant. I say we need to give ‘em a chance.

Chewing and Reviewing

2007-12-17T11:55:00.000-08:00

I’ve been thinking about gettin’ on the blog bandwagon for a while now, but haven’t known what to write about. I honestly don’t think anyone would enjoy reading about my life. Unless, of course, you were looking for something to help you fall asleep. I know of a pill that works much better, though. Anyway . . .

I just couldn’t think about what to say, until the other day when a friend affectionately called me Marvina Zindler. If you don’t know already, I’m a walking health department report. I keep up with what restaurants are clean--and which ones are not. Then it hit me—why not write restaurant reviews? If you’ve seen me, it’s obvious I like to eat! This new blogger role fits me like a glove.

I’ll be posting reviews of Montgomery County restaurants which will include locally-owned establishments and chain restaurants. I’m still working out the details, but hopefully I will have my first review posted soon, so be sure to check back soon.