When it comes to local nightlife, we get bored easily.
Often times, as a business, it’s inevitable to lose that initial appeal once people decide your 15-minutes has faded. One minute you’re the place to be and the next you’re yesterday’s news.
Kaf’s Social Club, however, has managed to remain one of the premier night spots in the area. In the last decade, their popularity has surpassed owners’ expectations and kept their establishment a booming business venture.
But it’s also a give and take, owner Adrian Santos says. Over the years, in an effort to keep the clients happy – and the place looking fresh – owners revamped the overall look of the club several times, each time more impressive than the last. In late December, Kaf’s unveiled its newest (and by far most striking) look.

Location: Kaf’s is a landmark in local nightlife with its easily accessible Nolana locale. It still sits between 6th Street and Col. Rowe Boulevard and only a block shy of other nightspots. Lansky & Brat’s, Fast Eddie’s bar and billiards and Dolce are just a few feet away (in the same strip mall).

Atmosphere: If you haven’t been to the club in a while the next time you visit will be like your first time all over again. Kaf’s incorporated a contemporary Asian theme and solicited the ingenuity of Eli Olivarez, of McAllen’s own Ideo Art Design to accomplish that goal. Olivarez’s vision was to make each section of the club into its own space and three-dimensional realities. It maintains the Urban-lounge influence and industrial design but boasts an entirely different interior. Kaf’s is client-driven so the décor doesn’t compete with you, he said.
As soon as you enter and off to the left is the club’s elevated lounge area. Here, a row of crimson red suede couches line the wall, illuminated by rectangular wall-mounted lamps. These tables require a three-bottle minimum ($225) for reservation. Down the center of the club (where the cascading white curtains used to be) is a common area lined with ottoman-style stools beside a cut-out partition. A suggestion: this section is first-come-first-serve and fills up quick so get there as early as possible. The bar sits at the rear of the room, just beneath the jumbo flat screen, but doesn’t command the attention of some noisy clubs. It’s spacious and inviting enough to be able to snatch a drink without a terribly long wait. If that’s still not quick enough, be sure to try the second bar on the opposite end of the club.
One of the focal points of the club (aside from the circular DJ booth) is the water wall on the east side of the room. Though it’s a busy place, this type of decorative piece offers a very Zen-like ambiance. (Another bonus…there's now almost a dozen stalls in both bathrooms).

Price: A night at Kaf’s might set you back a few bills but will be well worth the dent in your pocketbook. Also, be prepared to pay a $5 cover charge and the bottle service charge, if applicable. Drinks aren’t all that pricey, bottled domestics, $3 and wells starting at $7. In the very near future Kaf’s will be opening its doors from Monday through Saturday. for happy hour, which starts at 5 p.m.

Social Factor: Kaf’s is still upscale and bouncers at the door will make sure it stays that way. Dress to impress because they will be watching, Santos says. Kaf’s is sophisticated, sleek and a place to turn things up a notch once the sun goes down. Once the weekend hits expect a huge turnout and a possible wait outside. For fans of rock, Thursdays are your night. It’s a slower night for the club but truly ideal for a small group to take a step outside of their comfort zone of smoky bars and dives. You won’t be disappointed.

The Verdict: Show up with confidence and be ready to strut your stuff. Kaf’s isn’t for the faint of heart and definitely not for those looking for an uneventful evening. The décor makes it a force to be reckoned with among Valley establishments. You’ll escape from mediocrity and get a taste of the good life.
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Miriam Ramirez covers features and entertainment for The Monitor. You can reach her at (956) 683-4468.

Jak’s Burgers ‘n More provides cheap eats in a laid-back atmosphere.
It features burgers, burritos, chicken, fish and shrimp and a variety of comfort foods like Frito pie, chili cheese fries and onion rings. The place reminds me of a mix between McDonald’s and Pollo Loco, but the food is less expensive and tastier. Over time I bet it will become a hangout for teens and a place for families in search of a meal on the run.
The restaurant doesn’t have an upscale décor. It features red, mustard and yellow walls, lined with historical pictures. There is a photo of the Weslaco skyline from 1936, another of the Model Drug Store in 1932, and a parade picture from 1929. The pictures are from the Weslaco Museum and they provide an interesting look at how the town has grown and changed.
People generally don’t go to a fast-food-like restaurant to enjoy historical photos so let’s talk a little about the food. Jak’s offers a step up from your average fast-food burger. I liked the cheeseburger ($1.49), which is large enough to be a meal by itself. It features lettuce, pickles and a large thin patty on an over-sized bun. My mom remarked that it was more bread than meat, but for the price one can’t complain. The same holds true for the chicken ($2.89) and fish ($2.89) burgers. Adding fries to the meal will cost $1.19 and a fountain drink will up the bill by another $.99. I would choose fries rather than onion rings ($1.39) as a side order. I found the onion rings to have more breading than onion, and to lack the greasy crispness I look for in the indulgence.
The chicken dinner with dark meat ($3.79) makes a great, slightly healthier choice. It features two pieces of chicken, a small salad, fries and a roll. The chicken was tasty, as were the fries and the salad added some vegetables to the meal.
I like Jak’s for a quick meal. It tastes better than most fast-food places and eating there won’t break the bank.
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Paige Lauren Deiner covers features and entertainment for The Monitor. You can reach her at (956) 683-4425.

HARLINGEN — It’s dinner and a show at Uchi Japanese Restaurant, the city’s latest eatery.

Chefs lit the scene with towers of flame and one used his spatula to flick cooked shrimp at the open mouths of cadets from the Marine Military Academy.

The North Ed Carey Drive location is the third Uchi for Owner Jong Mi Park. She also owns restaurants on South Padre Island and in Brownsville.

Uchi is a Teppenyaki steak house, which means the chefs cook at grills surrounded by restaurant-goers.
Along with the cooking come flames, twirling cooking utensils and a few jokes.

Guests can also choose from more than 70 different Maki sushi rolls or try the Nagiri sushi, which is usually made from rice and fish.

The menu also includes tempura fried fish and more familiar dishes such as beef and chicken teriyaki.

Service: 3
Ambiance: 3
Food: 4
Overall: 3 1/2

Danny’s Mexican Restaurant is the real enchilada.
Although the restaurant doesn’t have a stand-out ambiance; it’s food more than makes up for the lack of décor. The restaurant reminds me a little of the old Country Omelette. It has ceiling fans and little plants hanging from the ceiling. A wood and stained glass divider breaks the restaurant into a smoking and non-smoking section. The restaurant is relatively big, which is good for the large lunch crowds that come through.
It also has relatively good service. The waitresses are slightly disorganized, but are friendly and food comes out quickly. On my second visit our waitress disappeared, but we flagged down another who kindly took our dessert order and served it to us. I liked that the wait staff works as a team, they monitor other people’s tables and seem concerned that diners leave happy.
What sets Danny’s apart though is its food. The down-home restaurant specializes in enchiladas, and makes these deliciously fattening dishes a delectable treat. Along with enchiladas the restaurant offers a wide variety of Mexican and American fare. But it really shines with these rolled up tortillas, which they stuff with everything from cheese to chicken to beef and then smother in a sauce. My favorite is the cheese enchiladas ($4.99), which come with rice and beans and are covered in melted cheese. The dish is more than filling and very tasty.
If you want more than just enchiladas order the Tampiqueña Plate ($8.99) which gives a sample of everything. It features a cheese enchilada, a beef taco, avocado, fajitas, nachos, rice, beans and tortillas with a starter of vegetable soup. The plate is large enough to for two people to share for lunch, or for one hungry person to eat for dinner; especially if people also share one of the restaurant’s desserts.
My favorite is Danny’s flan, which is creamy and not overly sweet.
I will return to Danny’s to get my enchilada fix. The enchiladas are really tasty, and provide a protein packed indulgence.
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Paige Lauren Deiner covers features and entertainment for The Monitor. You can reach her at (956) 683-4425.

If you want to catch up on gossip, meet the elders of Edinburg or just enjoy a relaxing meal, the Grand View Restaurant at the Echo Hotel might be the place to go.
The Grand View Restaurant inside the hotel offers breakfast, lunch and dinner at affordable prices. The restaurant, decked out in Christmas fineries provides an interesting atmosphere. Little Christmas trees sit on every table, garlands of lights hang from the ceiling, and snowmen, candy canes and reindeer play in the corner. “In the air there’s a feeling of Christmas” as songs of the season drift over the tables.
The wait staff adds to the Christmas spirit with friendly and efficient service. They chat with regulars and make newcomers feel welcome. They refill drinks quickly and check on tables often, which makes dining in the restaurant an easy experience.
Even though the staff is friendly and efficient they miss some details. On both of my visits, I stuck to the table. The wait staff had not cleaned spilled syrup or some other tacky substance. Although this is a minor detail, I do not like to bond to the table while eating.
I went to the restaurant with a friend on my first visit. When we walked in we were both excited about the lunch buffet ($6.95), but the meal became a disappointment for me. The meatloaf was so dried out it tasted like stale bread and the chicken in an almond cream sauce was cold. The cottage cheese at the salad bar had not been kept on ice and tasted like it was starting to turn. To give the restaurant credit, we arrived around 1 p.m. toward the end of the lunch buffet. But I feel that if a restaurant is offering a buffet it is its responsibility to ensure that the food remains consistent throughout the time it’s offered.
My husband and I returned to the restaurant for dinner. I was surprised by how much better the food was and by the variety of the dinner menu. The restaurant offers vegetarian fare, meals for fewer than 400 calories, and an assortment of Mexican and American dishes. The restaurant also offers a children’s menu, and it’s an easy place to bring a young child to. The tables are spaced out so a child’s squeals won’t disturb other diners and there are lots of things for children to look at.
I ordered the salmon in a light lemon butter sauce on my second visit, which arrived with green beans and a baked potato. The meal wasn’t awe inspiring, but it was tasty. Dinners at the restaurant range from between $6 to $15.
I like the atmosphere at the Grand View Restaurant and the service. I have mixed feelings about the food. I would probably return to the restaurant because it’s very close to home, but I wouldn’t drive a great distance to get there. It’s the kind of place where I would go on a weeknight if I didn’t feel like cooking, but not a place I would visit if I wanted an exciting night out.
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Paige Lauren Deiner covers features and entertainment for The Monitor. You can reach her at (956) 683-4425.

SOUTH PADRE ISLAND — The second day of the South Padre International Music Festival started at noon on a sunny day and with many of the bands performing right along the beach and the blue waters of the Gulf of Mexico.

McALLEN — Los Mismos Tacos al Pastor and Seafood immediately impressed me with its relaxing atmosphere.

I liked the stone fireplace decorated with colorful fish and pothos ivy; to the right, the starfish tangled in the fish net hung over a wall set the beach theme.

My friend and I were taking an early dinner, so we had our pick of tables. No one greeted us at the door; we chose a table against the wall and a waitress quickly brought us some menus, along with chips and several kinds of salsa. She pointed out that the fajitas and shrimp plate is the restaurant’s specialty. I scanned over the rest of the menu and had difficulty making my decision.

There are two sections of appetizers, one of them consisting of charro beans, guacamole, nachos and other items, the other falling under the title “Seafood Appetizers,” which includes shrimp salad, fried oysters and shrimp pizza. The menu also includes a Mexican food section, soups, seafood cocktails and children’s platters.

The fajita and tampiqueña plates, both at $5.99, tempted me, as did the shrimp enchiladas ($6.99). I finally settled on the restaurant’s specialty for $6.99. My friend had a more difficult time making her choice before ordering the tacos de camaron, an appetizer that turned out to be a meal in itself.

The waitress soon brought me a small bowl of seafood soup, packed with a delicious flavor and ample chunks of seafood. We soon had our entrees. My friend thoroughly enjoyed her shrimp tacos, especially with the liberal sprinklings of cilantro, although she didn’t care much for the oil that saturated the tortillas. I had one and enjoyed it immensely, whereas she removed the shrimp and wrapped it in one of the hot, store-bought corn tortillas the waitress had brought.

My meal was very satisfactory, with plenty of beef and shrimp cooked just right and mixed with grilled onions and bell peppers. I also liked the charro beans, packed with tasty seasonings that made them almost audaciously delicious. The price for all this?
Less than $13.

I returned the following day with three other dining companions. It was about 1 p.m. and the lunch hour was in full swing. We selected a square table in the middle of the main dining room (there’s another in back), one of the last ones left. Apparently, lots of people have found out about Los Mismos.

The waiter immediately brought us some chips, and the ceviche tostadas, another appetizer, were quickly decided upon.

We also placed regular orders: I got the stuffed crab (three), and the other orders included flautas, shrimp ranchera and bistec tacos.

The ceviche tostadas came first; a fine concoction of fish, onion, cilantro, tomato and avocado on a crispy tostada shell. The mild tartness of cilantro and tomato made this an energizing experience, a perfect prelude to the main meal.
Once again, I got some delicious seafood soup before my main meal, which soon arrived at my table: three crab shells packed with meat and tasty vegetables, with sides of rice, toast and French fries.

The bistec tacos were a hit, although a simple affair with meat, diced onions and cilantro, and a side order of beans which were delicious.

The flautas, were reported as “decent.” The shrimp ranchera was doused in a thick red sauce, but the meal was too hot at the outset. Upon cooling however, the entrée was well worth the wait, offering plump morsels of shrimp laced with a thick, tart sauce.

Everything was nice, hot, and tasty, with good portions, and we liked the service. We would like to have had a waiter or waitress meet us at the door, and I personally wish they had home-made corn tortillas, but these are small matters compared to the overall experience. Los Mismos is a great place for lunch or dinner, and they also serve breakfast.
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Travis Whitehead covers features and entertainment for The Monitor. You can reach him at (956) 683-4452.

MISSION — Café d’Paris immediately struck me with its theme of European elegance.

I felt like I was, indeed, in a French café, even though I’ve never been in one, but I have traveled through Europe a couple of times and this brought back some nice memories.

A waiter immediately greeted me and Dahlia at the door and showed us to a granite-topped table with chairs made of ornate iron with a gold patina. We were impressed with the feeling of great space created by the tall stone walls with decorative lamps. The walls reach high toward a blue ceiling painted with clouds, and there are faux balconies with more wrought-iron railings and flowers.

It is a lively place, and the menu, although not very large, is nevertheless tantalizing. The list of appetizers includes grilled croissant or biscuit, chicken crepes (sautéed chicken breast with Asian spices and parsley in a crunchy peanut sauce) and crab cakes (for $12.95, this seemed more like a full meal). Entrées include the chicken cordon bleu and the Sienne river tilapia.

We also could have chosen from the buffet, which offers a number of dishes including Salisbury steak and fried chicken with mushrooms. A nice touch is the extra room featuring shelves filled with all sorts of breads and pastries.

I finally decided on the grilled chicken sandwich (they also have turkey, roast beef and ham) which come with French fries or house style potato chips; Dahlia ordered the classic Caesar salad for $5.45, adding grilled chicken for another $3.95. She also had the option of adding grilled salmon for only $5.45.

We didn’t have to wait long for our lunch, and when it arrived we thoroughly enjoyed it. The warm and tender chicken in my sandwich was nestled between two layers of thick fresh bread and plenty of crisp vegetables. Dahlia’s plate was also covered with generous strips of tender chicken on a bed of fresh, green vegetables.

I had lunch there again the following Sunday. The buffet featured clam chowder, minestrone soup, corn chowder, a salad bar and other choices. I settled on the chicken chipotle with a side of rosemary roasted red skin potatoes. Again, I didn’t have to wait long, and the chicken was nice and tender, with a gentle spicy flair that I enjoyed immensely. The potatoes, with small sprigs of rosemary sprinkled on top, had a flavor I didn’t expect, and the Alfredo pasta that came with the chicken was very good. The seasoned vegetables gave the meal great balance.

I enjoyed my visits to Café d’Paris and consider this restaurant a great addition to the Rio Grande Valley’s culinary landscape. Good food, good service and an entertaining, romantic atmosphere make it a great destination for an evening out or a mid-week lunch.

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Travis Whitehead covers features and entertainment for The Monitor. You can reach him at (956) 683-4452.

Off-color jokes, politics and coffee.

The local daily paper, eggs, and more coffee.

That’s how the “early morning group,” as it is known at the Country Omelette, start the day.

The gathering of 20 or so men congregates at the McAllen restaurant, talk and drink cup after cup of coffee.

For almost two decades these men have gathered here.

“It’s just a hangout,” Tom Tafel said. “Every town has to have their hangout.”

Some members of the early morning group return throughout the day — some up to three times daily — to gossip, grab a quick meal and drink more coffee.

But on Oct. 25, 2006 a fire destroyed their favorite establishment. Tafel, along with many others, stood or drove through the parking lot as the restaurant burn.

In the days after, a variety of cars, ranging from Jaguars, Ford F-150s, Honda CR-Vs slowly pulled up in front of what remained of the restaurant, drivers and passengers rolling down the windows to see the remains of the eatery. It was a parade demonstrating the customers from all walks of life whom the Country Omelette serves.

Three months later, like a phoenix rising from the ashes, the Country Omelette reopened a few blocks from its original location. Now located at 2622 North 10th Street, the restaurant has more than doubled in size from 2,800 to 6,000 square feet. It has transformed from wood paneled walls and a low ceiling typical of an older style café to a bright, cheery restaurant sporting black and white tiles, with accents of red. To keep with the café style of the previous location, the new Country Omelette features black and white pictures of famous actresses from Hollywood’s golden years and wall-sized mural of Hollywood stars painted by local artist Julie McKee-Shults.

The early morning group has returned, taking seats at the rear of the restaurant, but many say they still have a hard time getting used to the new locale.

“It’s just not the old one, but it’s still convenient, still the same people,” Tafel said.
But they prefer the new Country Omelette to no Country Omelette.

“When the restaurant burned, we were split up like a bunch of homeless people,” Tafel said.

Kenneth Diehl has been eating at the restaurant for almost 20 years. He really the people who come to the restaurant for the three months it was closed, he said. On an average morning the group gathers — sometimes as early as 5 a.m., when the restaurant opens — and then stays usually for an hour. Friends flow in and out of the restaurant, pulling up chairs and sitting down in spaces that others have vacated. The chatter — sometimes irreverent — never stops.

“We solve the world’s problems,” Diehl said. “There are lots of conservatives and a token liberal and they like to talk politics.”

In the front of the restaurant, things are a little quieter. The diners are calmer, and the regulars who eat in that section come in small groups, usually with a newspaper in hand.

Bill LeCroy and Carl Barnett eat at the Country Omelette so often than at 7 a.m. Friday morning, Jan Becker, their waitress, didn’t even have to pass them a menu. She knew their order — a hamburger and cheeseburger — and as she delivered their food she chided them about what burgers did to their cholesterol. LeCroy and Barnett responded that they eat healthy the rest of the week.

Becker, LeCroy and Barnett chatted for a few minutes, laughing and chiding each other about scratched cars.

“It’s hard to put into words (how you feel about a restaurant) when you go someplace all the time,” LeCroy said. “Where else would you go?”

Becker has worked at the restaurant for almost 13 years, and what she likes best about her job are the diners.

“What keeps me here are my customers,” she said. “We’re almost like a family.”
Becker often attends her customers’ weddings and funerals.

Regulars have helped her when she’s had car trouble. They even helped her find a new car when hers went on the fritz, and they helped her get a new roof on house. So when the restaurant burned that horrible Wednesday morning, Becker worried that she would not only lose her job but also her family.

She clung to the words, Country Omelette co-owner Deanne Economedes said. “She promised me,” Becker said. “(She said) I promise you we will reopen.”

The Country Omelette's grand opening will be on June 15.

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Paige Lauren Deiner covers features and entertainment for The Monitor. You can reach her at (956) 683-4425.

Fiesta Tex-Mex Restaurant’s greatest feature is its fresh tortillas.

A woman stands at the end of the buffet and shapes disks of dough into savory tortillas. She makes flour or corn tortillas with a smile. Those tortillas are by far the greatest part of eating at the restaurant, which features bright orange walls and arches with blue and green accents. Vases with cut outs to let the light shine through serve as light fixtures that illuminate Formica tables and red chairs.

This restaurant isn’t completely pristine — some of the chairs and booths have rips and the restaurant lacks the shimmery feel of newer establishments — but it has a down-home feel. The wait staff is friendly, the management wanders through the restaurant checking on and chatting with diners.

Even when they’re slammed — like during the weekday lunch rush — the wait staff still manages to take one’s order with a smile.

On our second visit to the restaurant our waiter was quick to refill our drinks but wasn’t great about removing dirty dishes. They remained with us throughout our meal.

There is little need to order an appetizer at Fiesta, since tortilla chips with a cheese dip and a tomato-based salsa are brought to the table at the beginning of the meal.

For those wanting a sample of the best the restaurant has to offer, I recommend the buffet ($6.95). Each day features different food so that different diners can explore the food featured on the regular menu.

On a recent Monday the buffet offered chicken, ribs, beans, chicken soup, cheese enchiladas and for dessert, carrot cake.

A delicious pot roast and a to-die-for coconut dessert were part of the buffet the previous Thursday. My only complaint about the buffet is that it features very few vegetable items. Also, when selections run low, the cooks don’t seem to be quick about replacing the empty pans with fresh food.

For people who aren’t interested in a buffet, the Fiesta Tex-Mex has a four-page menu full of items from which to choose. The fajita taco salad ($6.50) is a tasty option for diners looking for a healthier meal.

Additionally, lovers of Tlalpeño soup will find ecstasy at the restaurant.

This restaurant is another to add to the list of places for those who want a home-cooked meal, but don’t feel like cooking. It has a warm atmosphere and friendly service that will keep people coming back for years to come.

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Fiesta Tex-Mex
Address: 615 W. Highway 83, Weslaco
Phone: (956) 969-3351
Hours: 7 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Monday to Thursday; 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday; closed Sunday
Credit cards: Y
Wheel Chair accessible: Y

EDINBURG - The Mesquite Grill feels like a restaurant trying to get its act together, which is somewhat surprising, seeing as how this location marks the return of a local favorite to the scene.

The restaurant’s latest incarnation lacks the consistency, quality and customer service that makes customers come back time and time again. Although the restaurant has its high points, it seems like the interior décor is not quite there yet.

The mustard and brick colored walls of the restaurant feature framed issues of Texas Monthly, posters of chiles. Two chairs covered in painted bottle caps hang on the back wall. Crosses hang on the entrance wall.

While most of the restaurant is decorated, a few of the walls remain bare. With everything else decorated in a style that suggests an interior decorators’ hand, the few naked walls make the restaurant feel half finished.

Along with the décor, other discrepancies made the dining experience feel disjointed.
The Mesquite Grill was out of toilet paper in the women’s bathroom, and when it came to food, it was out of potatoes and chicken. Although restaurants frequently run out of things, it seemed strange that the restaurant ran out of staples.

On my first visit to the Mesquite Grill, I left feeling like I had experienced a bad meal. My husband ordered a rib eye steak ($10.99), which was very chewy, and had a lot of gristle. He was disappointed with the Texas toast, which was basically dry toast brushed with butter, and the salad, which was soggy. I ate a mesquite burger ($6.95) which tasted like it had been cooked to just this side of burnt-to-a-crisp. Our service that day was very impersonal, as we felt like we were being rushed to eat and our drinks were never refilled.

We waited a month and a half before returning to the Mesquite Grill. We hoped that by giving the restaurant time we would have a better dining experience. In part this was true. I ordered the quarter-chicken plate ($4.95) and my husband ordered the half rib plate ($7.95). The ribs were tasty, smothered in BBQ sauce and the chicken was good. But the salad I ordered as one of my sides was still dripping wet with water. The green bean casserole was OK, but the ingredients were definitely canned.

We left our second visit more impressed than the first, but The Mesquite Grill is not somewhere we want to return.

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The Mesquite Grill
Address: 2113 W. Trenton, Edinburg
Phone: (956) 631-8580
Price Level: $$
Credit cards: All Major
Wheelchair Acc: Yes
Hours: Monday-Saturday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

McALLEN — I was immediately struck by the fine color scheme: yellow on the top of the walls, a sort of brownish purple along the bottom, and on the tables and chairs at Alonso’s when my girlfriend Dahlia and I walked in for breakfast.

The lunch specials were written on black boards in pink, green and blue lettering. Although I have passed Alonso’s Tres Rios Restaurant on 10th Street many times and the place obviously has a lot of business, everything appeared well-maintained and clean.

The waitress immediately took our drink orders — water and orange juice — and left us to examine the menu. The broadness of it quickly jumped out at me: plenty of soups — beef, chicken, Tlalpeño and more — seafood, a broad variety of beef and chicken dishes which whetted my desire for future visits.

The menu had two different breakfast menus: Mexican breakfast that lists chicharrones en salsa con huevos, machacado con huevo, and barbacoa con cachete, while the American breakfast offered omelettes, pancakes, oatmeal and other similar dishes.

Dahlia chose huevos rancheros, with potatoes and beans and real corn tortillas. In other words, they are made in-house, which is always a winner for me. I got a plate of three pancakes and syrup that came with a side of grilled biscuits.

I thoroughly enjoyed my pancakes, fluffy, warm and full of flavor. Dahlia thought the ranchero sauce that came with her breakfast was very light and tasty. The beans were very smooth and delicious. She wished the potatoes were a little more cooked, like crunchy fried, but they were still good, and she loved the eggs.

All this cost only $13, but the service and the pleasant dining room were definitely worth more — like another visit.

I came back for lunch the same day. Even though the lunch crowd was now in full swing, a waitress again immediately came to my table.

I was intrigued by the chimichanga de fajitas, a giant flour tortilla filled with meat, topped with cheese, chile con carne and sour cream, rice, beans and salad. The chuleton, a “true, rib eye Mexican cut steak,” marinated then grilled, served with rice, beans, salad and tortillas, also tempted me, as did the toreadas, fajitas grilled with chipotle and serrano peppers, with onion and tomato.

The daily noon specials, served between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., include calabaza con pollo, cheese enchiladas and chalupas deluxe. A chile relleno costs $5.95, the asada de puerco for $5.95, and the fajita sizzler goes for $7.95. In fact, most of the fine dishes on the menu were under $10.

I finally settled on the chicken fajita plate, which came out a few minutes later, with generous strips of chicken and grilled onions and bell peppers sizzling on a hot plate with sides of beans and rice, and those fine corn tortillas. The chicken was very good, although perhaps could have had little more flavor, but it was hot and tender and very filling. I liked the fluffy rice, and my beans were wonderfully creamy.

I thoroughly enjoyed this restaurant. It’s a nice, cozy place, whose small size provides for great intimacy among the customers, and the service is attentive. The broad, varied menu provides for many unique experiences here, and the food is delicious.

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Alonso’s Tres Rios Restaurant
WHERE: 2101 N 10th St., McAllen
PHONE NUMBER: (956) 631-2808
HOURS OF OPERATION: 6 a.m. – 10 p.m. Sun.-Sat.
PAYMENT: Checks, all major credit cards
WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE: yes

Masterpiece Café gives diners the opportunity to dine with Botticelli’s The Birth Of Venus, talk around a Byzantine era painting of the Virgin Mary or smile at children painted into a typical Mexican scene.

The Birth of Venus and many of the other paintings are reproductions, but they give the restaurant, which also doubles as a frame shop, a unique feel. Art hangs on every wall creating a kaleidoscope of color and a festival for the eyes. Masterpiece Café features two dining rooms. One has small tables and backless wrought iron chairs. The other has a more relaxed feel. It features wrought iron garden tables and chairs complete with umbrellas. A huge mirror hangs behind one of the tables, creating the illusion of space with in the restaurant.

Atmosphere is one of the café’s best attributes. Service is not. On my two visits to the restaurant, our waitress was unfriendly. She didn’t smile, didn’t greet us, didn’t check on our food and didn’t refill our drinks. She seemed to want to be anywhere except waiting on our table. She also wasn’t responsive. When we asked for a check, on my second visit, she produced the check, took my credit card and disappeared. We waited for 20 minutes for her to return with the credit card slip to sign and then got up, went to the front and asked another waitress to run the card. Our waitress had disappeared – not great for a diner in a hurry.

The menu is relatively small. It features two varieties of quiche — spinach and mushroom or mushroom and bacon — for $6.95. The dish is served with a small garden salad, soup or fresh fruit. On my first visit to the restaurant, I ordered the mushroom and bacon quiche with a fruit salad. The fruit salad was luscious. Fresh mangos, papaya, apples, peaches and kiwi filled the cup. The fruit salad was a meal in itself.

The quiche, however, was rather mundane. Unlike at City Café, where the quiche is large, fluffy and appetizing, this quiche appeared to have lost its fluff. It was dense and didn’t have all that much flavor. On my second visit to the restaurant, a friend ordered the spinach and mushroom quiche and had a different reaction. She thought the quiche was good. She found it to be fluffy and satisfying. Her favorite part was the crust.

On my second visit to the restaurant I had a honey roasted ham sandwich on a croissant ($5.75). The sandwich, which arrived with potato chips, was tasty but not spectacular. My husband had the same feeling about the mesquite-smoked turkey sandwich ($5.75) he ate on our first visit.

Although I wasn’t crazy about the lunch offerings, I felt very different about the restaurant’s desserts. Masterpiece Café has cheesecake worth the three hours on the treadmill needed to burn off the indulgence. The strawberry and dulce de leche cheesecake are mouthwatering and the portions are large enough to share.

Masterpiece Café may not be the best place to go for lunch, but it would be a great place to enjoy dessert. That’s at least what I will go back to the restaurant to have.

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Masterpiece Café
Where: 4500 N. 10th Street, Suite 315
Open: 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday
Phone: (956) 686-4164

Le Lai provides innovative food at a reasonable price.

The restaurant, which offers Eastern fare, has an extensive menu ranging from cuttle fish with ginger and green onion ($12.95) to roasted duck ($12.95). The portions are more than ample and a couple can easily share one entrée.

On my first visit to Le Lai, the service impressed me. Our waiter promptly brought our drinks with a smile. He took our order quickly and our food appeared in record time. I liked that the waiter was concerned that we enjoyed our meal and frequently checked back to see if everything was OK. I ordered pork fried style rice noodles ($7.95). The plate was overflowing with delicious food — noodles, strips of pork, vegetables — all mixed together and delectably seasoned.

When my husband and I visited Le Lai again, the restaurant was slammed. People occupied every table and still more waited at the door. Surprisingly, the service was just as fast as the first time, when the restaurant was almost empty.

I ordered beef with orange sauce ($10.95) and my husband ordered roasted duck. I was less impressed with the food on this visit. The beef with orange sauce came as a plentiful portion, but was rather mundane in that it only featured beef in an orange glazed sauce and rice. There were no vegetables to add any zest to the dish.

My husband had much the same complaint about the roast duck. The portion was huge, but there’s only so much duck one can eat. Also he commented that the duck had a lot of small bones. In other restaurants most of the bones from the bird are removed before it’s served.

The best part of the meal, for me though, was dessert; my husband would fervently disagree. I loved the bean and coconut dessert; he hated it. The dish arrived in a large glass – crushed ice on the top, sweetened coconut milk in the middle, and three types of beans on the bottom. I liked the mixture of cooked black and red beans with the coolness of ice and the sweet milkiness of coconut. My husband thought the dessert was a little too out there.

Overall, I enjoyed Le Lai and it’s a restaurant to which I will return. I will probably choose one of their noodle dishes over their other fare however. And I will definitely order dessert.

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What: Le Lai Eastern Restaurant
Where: 2901 N. 10th Street, Suite K
Hours: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Tuesday to Friday, 12 p.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, closed Monday
Telephone: 956-630-0963

MCALLEN - Thai Red Chili has a serene atmosphere.

Meditative music tinkles in the background. Foliage from small plants greets diners at the door. Framed pictures of Thai markets and Thai foods hang on the wall and a small water feature adds to the ambiance.

In the two years since The Monitor last reviewed the restaurant, Thai Red Chili’s seems to have stepped both its food and service up a notch — although the food and service received high praise in the first review. The restaurant has a little tightening still to do, but on the whole the food and service make it a place I will happily return to.

On my first visit I ordered the Masnan Curry — a creamy, spicy, sweet delectable dish ($10.95). It featured Masnan curry paste, coconut milk, onions, potatoes and a touch of fresh cilantro. I loved the curry sauce in the dish. It had just a touch of spice, but not so much that I felt my mouth was on fire. I also appreciated that the waitress came and asked if it was spicy enough and to my liking.

During the same visit my husband ordered Pad Basil $11.95. He smiled as he ate it and talked about how much he enjoyed the salmon topped with garlic, onions, fresh basil and oyster sauce.

The best part of meal though was dessert. We had the sticky rice custard with mangos and it was out of this world. The juicy sweet mangos perfectly complemented the custard. We were so impressed with dessert that we considered ordering another one.

We returned to Thai Red Chili a few days later, so we could once again enjoy dessert. Unfortunately, the restaurant had run out of it, but they offered us another dessert with sticky rice and custard that was almost as good as the mango one. Almost as good was how most of our second visit to the restaurant went.

Although we had stellar service, food took a little longer and wasn’t quite as good as our amazing first visit.

I ordered the Pad Thai ($10.95). It arrived on a plate full of traditional Thai noodles, chicken, ground peanuts, scallions and Thai spices. The dish was good, but it lacked the wow factor of the Masnan Curry. My husband ordered the Pad Kra Tim ($14.95). The plate arrived with red snapper topped with garlic, mushrooms, onions and Thai spices. Although he enjoyed the dish, he said he felt a little let down after the fantastic first meal we had there.

Thai Red Chili has some fabulous food and stellar service, but not everything on the menu is as good as other items. Take care in ordering when visiting the restaurant and ask the waiter for suggestions. If on one trip you order something that doesn’t wow you, go back again because some things on the menu are truly spectacular.

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Paige Lauren Deiner covers features and entertainment for The Monitor. You can reach her at (956)-683-4425.