Yea, I like good food and wine. Where to? I'm talking night out with no kids (assuming I can find a sitter soon). Good food from an actual chef who knows how to make a plate. Not too concerned with atmosphere...just the food and drink. Any suggestions in the area? I'm in HH.

Cheeves in Temple.

Cheeves in Temple

Cheeves in Temple

Bring money

Also, since you're in the area, here's a few suggestions. I like all of these, but priority on the ones with an *. I probably left some off.

*wise guys - heights

old Chicago - Killeen

*jody's (chk fr stk, catfish) - temple

*Lois and jerry's (burgers) - Bartlett

*rosati's - Waco (get the rosati's monster deep dish)

*Korean kitchen - Killeen (get the bulgogi and rice - spicy)

com yum Kung Thai - cove (small hole in the wall. Get the Tom kha Thai chicken soup and red curry beef)

Cove Thai - cove

tham rab Thai - Killeen (Wednesday buffet)

red onion Indian - Killeen

mr mike's pizza - temple (garlic parmesan wings)

dynasty Chinese (beef sechuan on the menu)

jaliscos - belton (breakfast!!!!)

meggs - temple (expensive, but good) this place will fit your bill for high quality, freshest local ingredients. Breakfast is best)

Oscar store - burgers, music on weekends

*brick oven German - kempner

*walburg - walburg (hit the beer garden when temps cool a little.)

* BJs - brew pub and restaurant

Clem Mikeska's BBQ - this will set off a debate, but I went last weekend and it was very good

schoepfs BBQ - belton (chicken)

Also, since you're at Hood, try that little Hawaiian cafe on rancier. Kind of a lunch spot. I liked it when I went.

Cheeves...now that is a wine list. Thanks guys. I will start putting these down to visit. This forum has been a big help.

Cheeves is the best in Central Texas for my money.

Definitely would hit up Walburg too.

not to hyjack, but we had our first properly cooked steak at 135 Prime the other night. I will say, they have the best Ceasar salad (partly taken from the old Northwood recipe). The cheese tray was a nice change from the normal appetizers.

piag, have they gotten better? I heard they went into the crapper for a while.

FlyArmy,
I did think of something. since you're into wine, there is a nice little wine Bar in downtown Temple. Forgot the name if it, but it's pretty cool. I also forgot the name of the Italian cafe next door, and I think you can order food from the Italian place and eat with your wine next door. I THINK you can do that. These might be good places to go sans the kiddos.

Anybody know the names of those places?

wife got the sea bass and I got the rib eye. Both were cook nicely. Their prices are higher than diamondbacks. We were satified. Before we arrived, we both told each other this was it.

Before this trip our biggest complaint was the thickness of the filet. I did notice, some lady got a very thin cut. I guess they like to butterfly, but that make zero sense. Great Ceasar.

Why would you butterfly a filet? Holy crap.

A date took me to 135 a few weeks ago. We were both impressed.

My steak was excellent. She had the sea bass, she usually doesn't come close to finishing a meal but did that night.

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Anybody know the names of those places?

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Dibz is the Italian place and J Kowboy is the wine bar.

Have to politely disagree about about the best Ceasar Salad in CenTex.

Need to try The Inn on the Creek in Salado. They only serve dinner on Friday and Saturday nights. Menu is set. Go when they serve the "Salado Salad," best Ceasar you'll eat. Their bar is called Alexander's Distillery. Great drinks, they are about to put in a deck/patio overlooking the creek. Cost is about the same as Cheeves though wine list is not as extensive. Owner is an Aggie.

Thanks, erac. Is Dibz any good?

Oh, forgot about Salado. Try "The Range". I have never been, but I have heard it is good, and it fits your criteria. Owner is Dave Hermann, who was trained at the Culinary Institute of America in New York.

my steak at 135 prime was good last week. prior to that, i hadnt had a good one there ever.

Diamond Back's is hit or miss like that too. I alternate had one of the worst and one of the best steaks I've ever had on successive visits there.

can't remember last time I had a bad steak at DB's. The service can be hit/miss, but my steaks are usually spot on.

I don't know....maybe it was a bad night. And you are right about the service. That makes a difference too. The time I had the great steak, the server was awesome too. The time I had the bad one, the server left a bunch of dishes and glasses on our table after we were done with them. Maybe I just expect too much.

Dibz is the very good...and it's byob so take your own wine

We frequent Dibz and were told by one of the wait staff that they are now getting their liquor license because business is so bad.

I have no idea why, except that maybe it's because their menu is small and limited.

It's one of my favorite places. Pignettis is nicer, and the food was ok, but I personally prefer Dibz.

So, if you like Dibz, help us save them by going more often.

[This message has been edited by janag81 (edited 6/27/2011 5:17p).]

Will do

I saw someone mention a wine bar- is the one in Temple the only one or does Salado have anything? We just moved back to Central Texas from Aggieland and I got spoilled by a great wine bar in downtown Bryan.

There is a winery in Salado. Don't know about a wine bar.

I don't care for wine bars. It's like, big deal, I can get wine anywhere. Plus, I can get a whole bottle of whatever you're serving at Specs for the price of a glass here. I know. Cynical.





[This message has been edited by Captain Pablo (edited 6/27/2011 9:07p).]

Try the Salado Wine Seller and Silver Spur Theater.

Also, if you're looking for a place to kick back with the wife, try the Stagecoach Inn Saloon. Been there, and it is pretty cool.

ddp

[This message has been edited by Captain Pablo (edited 6/27/2011 9:11p).]

Anyone been to the new wine bar next to Austin's on the Avenue in waco?

The Klassy Glass. Not bad. It's better than The Grape or the one in Hewitt. Decent selection.

speaking of Austin's on the Ave.....
man, that place has gotten pure ghetto. The Baris brothers now own it and it has become a place you really don't want to be around after about 12. Pretty bartenders, but that's it

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BohunkAg
posted 7:46p, 06/28/11



The Klassy Glass. Not bad. It's better than The Grape or the one in Hewitt. Decent selection.

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quote:

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piag94
posted 9:24a, 06/29/11



speaking of Austin's on the Ave.....
man, that place has gotten pure ghetto. The Baris brothers now own it and it has become a place you really don't want to be around after about 12. Pretty bartenders, but that's it

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agree with both of these. the owners of klassy glass son is an aggie. good people.

also, i ended up at austin's last thursday late night, and it was a rough crowd. i stuck out big time.

Speaking of that block, someone told me that whoever was going to open up the old Green Room got nailed for defrauding their grandmother a couple weeks ago. I guess that restaurant isn't going to happen now. I didn't think the Green Room was that special, but Waco definitely needs a fine dining establishment like that.