Red and white-checkered posters and decor along with a short order menu, burgers wrapped in foil and put in paper bags all added to the feel of a time gone by.

What was different was the fresh made to order food that Five Guys served up.  I will say that I didn’t understand the menu lingo at first, but the person taking our order explained everything to us.  I guess she could tell we were new to this burger joint.  We both had the “little hamburger”, a full size burger with mayo, mustard, ketchup, lettuce, pickles, tomatoes, grilled onions and grilled mushrooms.  You can add additional items for an extra charge, but we really didn’t need any more.  We also split a regular fries which was plenty for us, but you can get a large fries if you are really hungry. Our burgers were very juicy and all our food was very fresh.

The menu also offered hot dogs and a few sandwiches for those who aren’t in the mood for a burger.  The only thing missing to make this a real blast from the past was the jukebox and the ice cream shakes.

Five Guys is open 7 days a week from 11AM to 10PM.

1321 N. Loop 1604 East, Suite 105, next to Costco.

210.402.7305

www.fiveguys.com

We decided dessert was definitely a must at Auden’s.  Who wouldn’t be tempted in trying a comfort dessert, right?  My husband decided on the Baklava Cheesecake.  The nut and honey crust and topping were a nice touch for the creamy cheesecake.  Not sticky sweet or fruity for a change of pace.  However my choice for dessert was the most luscious lemon pie I have had in many years.  I have spent years comparing a certain lemon pie from my childhood to lemon pies all over the world.  I have to tell you Auden’s Kitchen lemon pie is the pie of my dreams.  A perfect flaky crust, a tart/sweet melt in your mouth, to die for filling and the perfect real, made from scratch meringue to top it all off.  If you don’t get to Auden’s Kitchen for anything else, go for a slice of lemon pie.  However I bet you can’t resist many of the other offerings on their menu.

Auden’s  Kitchen is open for lunch and dinner as well as Sunday Brunch and they offer take away.  They also offer an extensive wine and beer selection.

www.audenskitchen.com

I was hungry, so I decided to start with the Calamari which was fried in a perfect light batter so it was crispy and not at all greasy.  The Calamari was accompanied by thin jalapeno  and lemon slices which were also fried in the same batter.  The dish was served with a sweet chili garlic sauce which had a nice after bite.

Being it was Memorial Day weekend I decided on the Classic Backyard Burger for the main course which was fixed just like a backyard grilled hamburger should be done; thick slices of onion and tomato, lettuce, pickle, mustard and mayonnaise, American cheese on top and served on a sesame seed bun. Of course the burger was served with a large cup of great fires.  The menu states that the burgers here are ½ pound and extra lean.  However they will  “boulderize” your burger if you are feeling really hungry, upgrading it to a double meat for an extra charge.  The ½ pound was plenty for me after having already partaken of the Calamari earlier.

I found the hamburger just a bit dry (probably because it was extra lean, so I’m thinking healthier), but otherwise it hit all my Memorial Day cookout cravings for a burger.  The service at Stone Werks was prompt and attentive throughout the meal and even though it was Happy Hour and the start of a long, busy weekend, it wasn’t overly noisy.  I would recommend Stone Werks Big Rock Grille if you are looking for a Sports Bar atmosphere with a good draft beer selection and extensive sandwich, salad and pizza type offering.

Watermark Grill - Jumbo Alaskan King Crab Legs

Watermark Grill - Aged Center Cut Prime Rib Eye Chop 18oz.

Watermark Grill - Lobster Tail & Grilled Shrimp

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In My Opinion By Robert McGuire:
Watermark Grill Prime Seafood & Steaks in San Antonio, TX – Watermark Grill is a great place to get some of the best and freshest fish & seafood from around the world. Watermark Grill also serve up some prime steaks as well and they’ve got a nice raw bar where you can sit and eat, also spark up a conversation with their great chefs. I’ve been there a couple of times now with friends and family, each time has been a great experience, along with a delicious meal.

Although Watermark Grill is located in a shopping center within Stone Oak, the parking has not been an issue at all. The service each time I’ve been thus far has been very attentive and friendly, which I think is a must now a days for the future of restaurants. I’ve put this place at an above average price for restaurants, but the quality of food and service here is a great experience that you should try and once you get here, take your time and let your taste buds enjoy the food.

Let me run down a short list of things you must try here:
Jumbo Alaskan King Crab Legs – as they are huge! They are steamed to perfection and when you get them on your plate the chefs cut them in a manner that helps you get to the delicious and very tender crab meat. You’ll also get them served with your plenty of lemon and melted butter. *This is a highly recommended item and must try from me!*

Aged Center Cut Prime Rib Eye Chop 18 Oz. – is a very expensive item on the menu as it is a 100% USDA certified, aged Prime Beef (not Choice Beef). My steak was cooked to perfection as it was very juicy, full of flavor, and tender. This was a large steak so be sure to have the appetite for it and your wallet as this meal and sides will run you $49.95. If you want steak but have a budget in mind, try some of their choices on the menu.

Grilled Shrimp – is cooked on a natural wood burning grill so you get that great smokey flavor within each Grilled Shrimp. This is a great side addition to any of main entrees or you can just order several of them and make it a meal on its own. *This is a highly recommended item and must try from me!*

For more information visit their website at:
www.watermarkgrill.net

My Overall Experience: 4.10 Stars out of 5
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Customer Service: 4.5
Food Quality: 4.0
Atmosphere: 3.5
Parking: 4.0
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Category: American Food, Seafood, Grill
Price Range: $$$ (between $20-$40 = Above Average)

Location Visited:
18740 Stone Oak Pkwy
San Antonio, TX 78258
tel: (210) 483-7600

Google Map:

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In My Opinion By Culinary Cara:
A Truly Delicious Austin Experience: Shady Grove Restaurant in Austin, Texas is a melting pot of artistic culture of various mediums. Music, film, visual art and unique cuisines are all heavy influences to the capitol city.  Every single time I visit Austin, grabbing a meal at Shady Grove is mandatory.  The fresh flavors along with the beautiful environment make it a must see for anyone stopping by the music capitol of the world.

Most of the restaurant features al-fresco dining beneath the comfortable shade of a giant pecan tree in the center of their over-sized patio, which is a perfect treat to beat that legendary Texas heat.  The bar can be found outside as well, featuring many native Texas beers fresh on tap.  Keeping strong to the local music scene, Shady Grove also has a stage, and hosts bands on a weekly basis.  There is indoor seating as well, but you’ll never get the full experience of this eatery by hiding under a roof.  The staff are friendly, young and attentive.  If they can’t seat you quickly (it does get packed during peak hours), they will always make the extra effort to make you comfortable in the meantime.

My absolute favorite dish they serve at Shady Grove is the Tortilla Fried Queso Catfish, and it’s perhaps one of my favorite meals of all time.  The name sounds odd at first, but the flavors simply cannot be beat!  The use crushed tortilla chips to bread some of the freshest catfish ever, and fry it until just golden and the fish is perfectly cooked.  You can still taste some of that fresh water flavor in the fish that always makes me a happy camper.  The fish is topped with some fresh pico de gallo, and a wedge of lime for a brightly flavored garnish.  A slightly spicy queso sauce lies just beneath the fish, so that the breading stays crisp.  What a slick idea!  The flavors in this dish compliment each other so well, and I think it best represents the city of Austin on a plate.  Just like the city, this dish seems a little weird at first, but the creativity of the flavors make it dance on your taste buds in just the right way to keep you intrigued.  The entree does come with a side dish and a salad of your choice, which there are always differing selections.  Personally I get my house salad with balsamic vinaigrette and a side of fresh, buttery, steamed broccoli.  I’d hate to ruin such delicate flavors with some heavy fries on the side.  Every time I think about that fish, I just want to drop everything and make the hour drive just to have a plate.

It’s a truly delicious Austin experience.  It is indeed the perfect representation of what the colorful city of Austin has to offer; creativity, healthy demeanor, outdoorsy lifestyle, and of course, a little weird.  Stop by Shady Grove and enjoy the beauty of Austin, Texas.

For more information on the restaurant, including contact info, maps, menus and more at their website:
www.theshadygrove.com

My Overall Experience: 4.00 Stars out of 5
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Customer Service: 4.0
Food Quality: 3.5
Atmosphere: 4.0
Parking: 4.5
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Category: American Food, Tex-Mex
Price Range: $$ (between $10-$20 = Average)

Location Visited:
1624 Barton Springs Rd
Austin, TX 78704-1035
tel:(512) 474-9991

Google Map:

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In My Opinion By CulinaryCara:
Buffalo’s Southwest Cafe in San Antonio, TX – My Buffalo’s Southwest Cafe was over-cooked and under-flavored. Sometimes I catch myself being less adventurous with restaurants.  In the event that I do find a great new restaurant, I stick with it for awhile.  Every now and then, however, my bored palate gives me a swift kick in the rear to try something new.  This weekend, my better half and I decided to try something local in our San Antonio suburb (aka Helotes), and stopped by the relatively new Buffalo’s Southwest Cafe on Bandera and 1604.  Not being a huge fan of southwestern cuisine, I was a bit skeptical, but open-minded.

Upon entering the establishment, we arrive to an unattended host/hostess booth.  We stood there for a couple of awkward minutes and, out of nowhere, our hostess appears.  Our hostess completely lacked friendliness, enthusiasm, or even fundamental job skills.  She seemed confused as she looked at her seating chart, and didn’t even tell us to follow her when she walked off.  We arrived before the typical dinner crowd time, about 6pm, so the restaurant was fairly quiet.  Our hostess decides to seat us in the VERY corner of the restaurant.  My better half requested to her that we sit somewhere else, with a clear view of the bigscreen TVs to catch some Sunday football.  Without any verbal sign of agreement, she just walked us to another table.  Not exactly the welcome I was expecting.

The decor of the restaurant was done as an immitation of old saloon style with a modern twist, and a very TGI Friday’s method of wall decor.  Random objects with a western theme were displayed all over the walls.  The walls were a rustic wood paneling, painted in the most despressing color of brown.  The lighting was poorly done, making the ambiance much more dreary.  At least the restaurant and tables were clean and neat.

Our waiter was another interesting character.  Better than our hostess, but that’s not saying much.  He lacked confidence and basic customer service capabilities.  Greeting us in a rather drab manner, he took our orders.  We decided to try a couple of their signature burgers, the Western Burger, and the Blackjack Burger.  I was glad that our waiter asked us how we would like our burgers done, perhaps the only check-mark I could give for his service.  It was a long wait for our food considering that the restaurant was about 1/3rd full of customers.  They were small burgers and curly fries delivered in a plastic basket that I would usually see serving small portions of appetizers.  Not at all as they appeared on the menu.  The fries looked like something from a pre-cooked storebought product at your local grocer.  The buns were squished and as plain as the packaged buns you would find at the grocery store.  It reminded me of a McDonald’s combo meal, but at least McDonald’s has better fries.  I ordered the Blackjack burger, which came with onions, cheese, bacon, and their signature sauce.  The burger was chargrilled and well-done, not medium like I asked.  The burger has a little but of flavor, but I’ve had better at a drive-thru.  My better half ordered the Western Burger.  His burger was also overcooked, from a flat top and not chargrilled.  His burger has cheese, bacon, and something that looked and tasted like McDonald’s special sauce.  Not very western if you ask me, and was completely flavorless.  Our fries didn’t even taste like potatoes, moreso a vessel for frying oil.  When the waiter returned to check on us, my better half informed him about the burger being overcooked.  Instead of offering to take back the meal and offer something else, the waiter simply said, “Oh, I’m sorry about that,” and walked off.

Feeling ripped off, my better half decided to speak with the manager.  The manager was understanding and tried to offer us something else to make our experience better, but the damage was done.  Thankfully, the manager at least removed the western burger from our bill.  We politely paid the balance and left.  Neither one of us finished our meal, we ate about one quarter of our meals at best.

I can’t remember the last time I was this disappointed in a restaurant.  All the planets were in alignment  for culinary doom:  Poor service, poor food, poor design…thank goodness I didn’t order a cocktail!  Buffalo’s Southwest Cafe needs to ride off into the sunset.

My Overall Experience: 2.80 Stars out of 5
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Customer Service: 3.0
Food Quality: 2.0
Atmosphere: 2.0
Parking: 4.0
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Category: American Food, Southwest Food
Price Range: $$ ($10-$20 = Average)

www.buffaloscafe.com

Location Visited:
11812 Bandera Rd.
Helotes, TX 78023
tel: (210) 695-1810

Google Map:

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Cheddars - Logo and Chocolate Cake Sundae

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In My Opinion By Mike Tezel:
Cheddar’s in San Antonio, TX – We went to Cheddar’s, which is a Casual Place, however they have dimmer lighting inside than a casual place. Music was on the ceiling speakers slightly louder than they needed to be. None of the Cheddar’s employees have name tags or logo shirts. They did all have long sleeve button down shirts with ties.

I have heard they normally have a line out the door. We were seated right away at 7:15PM on a Tuesday with a fairly busy parking lot. The bill was just over $55 for 5 of us, and we all got tea! Great food and great prices. Most expensive entree was $13 but most were under $10. Two of us loved the chicken pot pie, 1 of us loved the steak and chicken tenders, 1 of us liked the 2 inch tall “Baked Spasagna”, 1 of us liked the fried shrimp and couldn’t get enough of the cole slaw!

Sweet tea was good as was the mash potatoes and salads. My fries were average but everything else was excellent! Hope they build one on my side of town soon!

My Overall Experience: 4.60 Stars
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Customer Service: 5.0
Food Quality: 5.0
Atmosphere: 4.0
Parking: 4.0
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Category: American Food
Price Range: $$ ($10-$20 = Average)

www.cheddars.com

Location Visited:
7403 NW Loop 410
San Antonio, TX 78245
tel: (210) 522-0011

Google Map:

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