Urban Taco...some urban goodness

Great location in the Quarry Market area and its small size coupled with a nice patio give it a trendy and elegant feel. If you are heading in during busy times, the place gives off a nice energy with its Spanish flare with a twist of modern dining.

I typically like to hit this place up at lunch and I have yet to go wrong with any of the taco selections sided with a nice serving of beans and rice. I usually start with some chips and a Trio of Salsa's and also a starter of the original guacamole.

The lunch special allows one to choose from any two tacos on the menu. Rather than list them all one by one, I will tell you to go with what you like as none of them will let you down. And don't forget to make your mind up on flour or corn tortilla's...where once again you cannot go wrong.

The service has always been top notch and the establishment clean and tidy. Good beer selection with with a cocktail menu as well. Only ding I would give this place is I don't think their margaritas are $8 tasty. I'd say they are probably $3-4 dollar tasty.

I'll be back...

Habanero's Grill - Run Forrest....Run!

This place is terrible...after passing it several times we decided to stop in today and give it a try - holy crap this place is crap!

First off the place is a small hole in the wall with a backwards entrance that makes people stand inside the dining area while trying to look at an over sized menu on the wall.

The worst part about this place, other than the food, is that it is filthy!!!! Flies all over the place, soda machine not cleaned, dirty floors, dirty tables - all the sauce trays are empty and the place is just a mess. I would really hate to see the bathroom.

And to the review that said, "Nachos are to die for" - well I ate them and almost died. I am not a runner nor do I like sprinting, but upon leaving this crap hole - I did a mad dash to the nearest toilet.

Save your money and don't try this place, absolutely crap and you will be disappointed!

The Salt Lick - Best BBQ in Texas?

Recommend – YES

Return – YES


Upon Arrival - A
After seeing several television shows showcasing The Salt Lick, including Man Vs Food, we knew we had to take the 45 minute trip out to the beautiful Hill Country of Driftwood, TX to taste for ourselves if The Salt Lick is as good as advertised.  So we traveled through the Hill Country patiently waiting for the site of The Salt Lick to come into view.  Not knowing what to expect, we finally happened on the restaurant sitting by itself surrounded by a sea of cars. 

Parking was a breeze as there is plenty of room available along with several Law Enforcement Officers helping out directing traffic and providing security.  After a short walk to the reception area, we stood in line which moved fast and added our name to the waiting list.  The Hostess informed us that we would have a wait of 45 minutes to 1 hour, not that bad for the amount of people there.  We chose to visit on a Saturday night so on weekdays, the wait could possibly be less.

The restaurant has plenty of outdoor sitting and accommodations to entertain a crowd while they wait.  It doesn't hurt either that this particular location is BYOB.  So needless to say, there were numerous individuals rolling and carrying in their coolers packed with their favorite beverages.  With two large dining halls and picnic table seating, our actual wait time was somewhere around 40 minutes. 

The Experience - A
When our buzzer flashed, we headed to the front to meet the Hostess.  We were properly greeted by a smiling young lady who welcomed us and lead us to our table.  As we walked toward our awaiting table, we passed the indoor smoke pits that held all the delicious meats that we were about to consume.  The aroma of the BBQ filled the air and the atmosphere in the place was warm and pleasant.  We were now very anxious to eat.

The menu is straight forward and simple - all your traditional BBQ meats along with side items and desserts are available.  Beverages include soda, tea and water.  As mentioned before, the Driftwood location is BYOB, so don't forget to bring along your favorite adult beverages.   

The Meal - A+
After reviewing the menu, I settled on the All You Can Eat.  You get a continuous serving of ribs, sausage, and brisket along with side items which include coleslaw, baked beans, potatoes and bread.  All this goodness for under $20.00; and if an adult gets the All You Can Eat, a child can be added on for $5.99.

My wife, since she doesn't eat as much as I, selected the 3 Meat Plate for $11.99.  You are able to select three tasty meats of your choice along with the same sides as mentioned above.

For the meal itself, starting with the meats - everything is delicious, especially the brisket.  I have never had any BBQ like this; it quickly put other BBQ joints I had frequented in the past to rest.  When ordering your meal, if you select brisket, be sure to request some burnt ends as that is where all the flavor is.  It is tender, juicy and truly melts in your mouth.  The ribs are great as well, lightly charred on the outside but with a wonderful taste and fall off the bone touch.  The sausage is a treat; it comes sliced on every plate and is great tasting when dipped into BBQ sauce. 

The side items will not be the highlight of your experience here.  Although they are all great as well and go wonderfully with the meal, they come in a very distant second place to the meat.  The coleslaw is crisp and fresh and not overly done with dressing.  The beans and potatoes are also on the average side but provide a good taste and addition to the complete meal. 

If you have any room left for dessert, you can’t go wrong with any of the choices.  One may choose between Pecan Pie and Cobbler (Peach or Black Berry); make sure to add ice cream to any which one you choose.  As a favorite, I am not a huge fan of Pecan Pie, but have to say that this was the best Pecan Pie I have ever eaten in my life. 

Customer Service - A
Excellent - our server was great and on top of things at all times.  Our drinks were always full, plates kept coming with heaping piles of BBQ, side items full to the brim, and dessert never lagged.  She continuously checked up on us through the night while managing several other large tables and parties. 

Cleanliness - A
Excellent – floors clean of food scraps, trash, and whatever else makes its way on the ground.  Once a party finished their meals and left, a team of bus boys immediately cleaned up all the dirty dishware and cleaned the tables.  The grill areas were clean and all the food prep areas were neat and orderly.  The bathrooms were clean and didn’t lack paper towels, soap, or toilet paper – it was clear that they were checked and cleaned on a regular basis. 

Departure - A

Once our magnificent meal came to an end, we paid and departed.  Along the way we were thanked for coming in and asked to come back soon.  From start to finish it was definitely a pleasant experience and we will strongly recommend The Salt Lick as a Texas favorite.  Where ever you are, it is worth the drive to get there. 

Taste Crepes & More - Not so tasty

Ok, so we have been slacking the past couple of weeks on keeping up with events and tastings on this blog - so sue me.  But I can't let this one go...I recently read an article profiling the new establishment, Taste Crepes & More located on the far Northside in the Rim.  The word "Crepes" automatically signals a red flag to me as I love crepes and have been known to make some pretty mean crepes myself.

So today for lunch our first choice was actually Panera Bread, but figured we would branch out a little bit and try this new place.  The restaurant is located in what used to be a former Quiznos Subs in the Rim shopping center (Thank God Quiznos is gone, yuck).  We had to park in the movie theatre parking lot since it is almost impossible to locate a parking space in the general area of the strip mall. 

Upon entering, the feel was that of a small diner like environment and it boasts a shorts but inviting menu.  The cashier greeted us properly and was very pleasant.  After taking a few minutes to finalize our choices, we were ready to order.  We went with the Mr. President Crepe (sausage, onions, mushrooms, olives), the Club Panini and the Ham & Cheese Crepe.

The best part of our experience was how the food was handled and made; it is an open kitchen environment and all the cooks and food preparers utilize plastic gloves while handling and preparing orders.  I most times have to gag or run out when I see meals being prepared by individuals touching the food with their grubby paws.  Our order was out a few minutes later and the presentation was nice.

After digging into our selections and tasting first bites, all three of us were disappointed - yes, even my 11 year old.  Both crepe dishes were below average with way too much batter in the crepes and little to no "wow" taste factor, all in all just very plain.  We both ate small portions taking the majority of each dish home in a box which, more than likely will end up being fed to the neighborhood dog.

The Club Panini was also a huge disappointment.  Although it too had a fantastic presentation, the taste itself was bland and nothing more that I can make at home - simple cold cuts with lettuce and tomato.  Once again, it lacked any type of "wow" taste.  I mean come on, put something on there to differentiate your product and come up with some creative name to make it different and appealing.  For example, "Tunisian Blue Cheese" - many restaurants use this concept and it works.

So we left disappointed and felt as if we wasted $27 dollars.  In the parking lot after pulling up local reviews, I was shocked.  Seemed like the majority of people who wrote reviews loved the place, one even eating there 2 times a day.  While everyone is entitled to their opinion; there are two things I know in this world - eating and my job.

Overall, the place is nice, clean and the customer service was good.  The prices were average but the food was terrible.  When I go to a new place and try it, I need to taste the "wow" factor, the "what is going to keep me coming back" factor - I got neither today.  I may be enticed to go back and try the sweet crepe menu and see how that fares, but as for their lunch crepes and sandwiches, I won't be back anytime soon. 

Go Spurs Go!

Congratulations to the incredible San Antonio Spurs on their 50th win of the season last night over the Cleveland Cavs.  It's a great accomplishment and there is no finer franchise in all of professional sports!

Keep it up Spurs and thanks for always representing the great city of San Antonio in a respectable and professional manner!

Starting off

Since we have a passion for the Alamo City & the surrounding Hill Country - it is only fitting that we have decided to write about the greatest eats, treats, nightlife and outdoor activities that the region has to offer.

Unlike other blogs or sites that you may read, we will provide reviews in a formatted approach and strive to cover the smallest details in order to encompass the entire experience and provide the reader relevant information. 

So please stay tuned for our latest and greatest reviews, comments, and updates.  Please feel free to interact and contribute as we value all opinions, thoughts and ideas.  And if you have any particular restaurant that you can recommend, we are game to try it!