Nazar Turkish Restaurant - 15107 Addison Rd

I've never been to a Turkish restaurant before, but I've had Mediterranean. I saw this place had $7 lunch special so checked it out. The place was empty at lunch, but after eating decided there was no reason for this. $7 gets you fresh bread, a soup or salad, a lunch, a drink and a dessert. It's not the best food I've ever had, but it was well worth what I paid for it. I had the Döner Kebap ( Gyro ) with lentil soup. The soup was good. The meal came with plenty of meat and tasted a lot like brisket, so I'm not sure if I had any lamb at all. The dessert was a Turkish flan and it was one of the best flan type desserts I've had.

Overall, the food was pretty healthy. If you're looking for a good amount of decent food for $7, I highly recommend this place. Some of the lunches are served with fries, but you can avoid those by choosing other lunches.

They have hookahs and do belly dancing on Friday and Saturday at 8:30 PM.

Menu

Flying Fish — 5100 Belt Line, Neighborhood 7

Village On The Parkway, toward the back, near Montfort

Catfish in Addison!

The sign above and in front of you as you enter reads:
"How it works: order from the guy (or gal) at the register then pay him, take the vibrating flashy thing and find a place to sit down. When it goes off go back to the counter and get your food. Go sit back down and eat it. Then come back and bring a friend."

MENU!

Good food. All you can eat ("till we run out") catfish Wednesdays for $9.99. Great hushpuppies (add hot sauce). No tips. Tea and lemonaide. Beer. Smoking allowed only on the patio. Cajun music. This is a popular place.

Hours:
11:00 am - 10:00 pm daily

So-so map is here.

Big Dave's Burger Emporium - 5403 Arapaho Ste 115, Dallas

The best burger in the Addison area is across the tollway at Montfort and Arapaho, NE corner. Purdy's held this crown for a while, then they were bought by someone that started adding Korean food to the menu. Shortly thereafter, they were gone.

Big Dave's says all of their burgers are 1/2 pound, but they also have a 1/3 pound burger on the menu. Why you'd want anything less than a 1/2 pound is beyond me. The burgers are consistently good. The fries leave a little to be desired, but you're going here for a burger. The chicken strips aren't bad either, and a basket with drink will only run you $5.40 with tax. Concrete floors, a couple of flat panel TVs and some networking boxes on the floor indicating they may offer wireless internet.

Right now, they're giving their customers a Frequent Diner's Card entitling you to 20% off for the rest of the year. Even without the card, I'm not sure where you can get a real 1/2 pound burger, fries and drink for $7 anymore.

Menu

Dickey's Barbecue Pit — 3711 Belt Line

About as far into the sunset as you can ride and still be in Addison.

Of the two barbecue restaurants in Addison, Dickey's is better than that other one. But it's still a chain restaurant in the high rent district and the food suffers because of it. Start with their web site and menu. Most diners get sandwiches with one or two vegetables. The pulled pork is not pulled at all; it's chopped. But it's good. The brisket can be a crapshoot. Like most serving-line BBQ places the vegetables are best forgotten. Currently the manager's special is a sandwich, fries and a 16 ounce drink for $5.99. But the fries are the waffle style. What idiot thought up that design? And the only ketchup around comes in tiny packets hidden above the condiment bar where the raw onions are chopped instead of offered in traditional rings.

For my taste Dickey's sauce is too sweet. It comes in both mild and hot versions. Get the hot. Free soft-serve ice cream is available at the end of your meal. Included in the drink price is a cute yellow souvenir take-home cup.

Allow this fifth-generation native Texan to get on his soap box and pontificate about sweet tea. Some claim that tea must be served sweet to be acceptable in Texas. That's just not true. I may have been born in these parts but I have roots in West Texas. Sweet tea is an East Texas tradition. Sugar wasn't imported into West Texas until a little over two years ago. Dickey's offers both sweet tea and real iced tea.

Seating for 72. No smoking. Average. Delivery available.

Hours:
11:00 am - 9:00 pm Mon-Sat
11:00 am - 8:00 pm Sun

Google map is here.

On The Border — 4855 Belt Line

On the Tex side of the Tex-Mex border, east of Addison Road.

Once upon a long, long time ago this On The Border was on the other side of Belt Line and closer to Midway and if my brain wasn't fried from too much hot sauce I'd guess it was in the building now occupied by Black Finn but I wouldn't bet a chimichanga on it. But I do remember two, large, really cool chandeliers made of empty beer bottles that hung in the bar at the old place. Those two chandeliers immigrated and now reside in the bar of the new location.

On The Border offers typical Tex-Mex fare in a fiesta-colored environment. The food is somewhat unimspired yet good enough to make you go back. La lista de comida es aquí. Pay particular attention to the Create Your Own Combo. Our party of five took advantage of the choices on our last visit. I had the chicken tortilla soup which came with a very small slice of avacado. Good! Everyone else had a house salad. One of the dressings available was jalapeño vinegarette which sounds delicious but no one would give it a try. Neither compliments nor complaints were heard about any of the food. However, a queso dip was ordered to share and share it was with abandon. It should be a must-have on your next visit.

OTB is completely smoke-free inside. Smoking is allowed on the patio which features a unique fountain. A separate to-go counter is located on the opposite corner and has reserved parking spaces. Full bar.

Hours:
11:00 am - 11:00 pm Sun-Thur
11:00 am - midnight Fri-Sat

Google map is here.

Stadium Cafe — 4872 Belt Line

SW corner of Landmark, near Inwood

This is a sports bar with real food. You'll find an extensive menu here. There's something for everyone. The chalk board by the front door lists the soup of the day ($3.75). Add that or any of their other regular soups to a half deli sandwich for just $6.75. If your meal comes with a choice of potato salad, give it a try. It's skin-on and very good. They also have free food weekdays 5:00-7:00 when happy hour ends. The free food is their choice and self-served from a buffet table.

Stadium Cafe is the Official Home of the "Bills Backers." When the Buffalo Bills have a scheduled game you'll find a crowd of 70-140. Saturday afternoon in the fall most of the 17 TVs will be tuned to Big 12 games. When major sporting events are not broadcast live, Foo Fighters-genre music is played.

The big draw back here is the very small non-smoking section, but it shouldn't be a problem during the weekday lunch hours and after happy hour.

Map is here.

Sport Packages Available:
NFL Sunday Ticket
ESPN Game Plan
MLB Extra Innings
NHL Center Ice
NBA League Pass
ESPN Full Court
Mega March Madness

Denny's — 4301 Belt Line

Stumbling distance to Motel 6, if necessary.


Home of the Grand Slam breakfast and other classics. What more needs to be added? Very busy weekend mornings.

Hours:
They're open

The Great Outdoors — 5290 Belt Line

On the east side of Montfort and cleverly hidden behind Chipotle Mexican Grill.

Check the menu board overhead to know what you want before you get in line, then order by number. Your bread options are white or wheat. The guy with 9 ½ fingers operates the meat slicer. If you've never been there before try the Outdoorsman. Then move on down the serving line to choose the veggies you want added. Everything is prepared before your eyes and behind a glass sneeze guard. To either your aggravation or due to their efficiency you are asked to pay before your sandwich is ready. Perhaps that is so you'll notice the tip jar.

The bread is baked fresh daily and can be hit or miss. Everything else is generally spot-on. The Great Outdoors is also popular for take out.

Visit the web site.

Hours:
8:00 am - 9:30 pm Mon-Sat
9:30 am - 8:30 pm Sun

Google map is here.


For those near the north end of Addison Airport, there is another location at the NW corner of Midway and Trinity Mills.

Hours:
8:00 am - 8:30 pm Mon-Sat
9:00 am - 8:00 pm Sun

Google map is here

Prices start at $3.95 but most are in the $4.50-$5.50 range. Extra for double meat and salads. Breakfast items, ice cream and party subs are available.

Manny's Uptown Tex-Mex — 14905 Midway

1 ½ blocks south of Belt Line, next to J's Breakfast & Burgers.

The front door is on the side of the building.
This is casual sit down dining of some very good Tex_Mex fare. Judging from the crowds during weekday lunch hours many agree. The lunch specials, available Monday-Friday 11:00 am - 4:00 pm, are $6.95. You won't be disappointed with what is brought to your table. The refried beans, which are good, do not quite equal those at the Blue Goose. The hot sauce certainly deserves the adjective. You won't be smothered by the black-clad wait staff though they are attentive.

Many times their web site doesn't work as well as their cooks but you can try it.

Happy hour brings the crowds back weekday afternoons 4:00-7:00. Nineteen different types of bottled beer are available, including my favorite, Bohemia. No beer is on tap. Margaritas on the rocks are popular. The bar itself seats 10 where ESPN is usually tuned in on the 3 TV screens. The volume, however, is normally muted so as to not interfer with the musica Mexicana heard throughout the restaurant.

I've saved the best for last: the patio. Fortunately it faces east, an important consideration in hot Texas summers. Only there may Joe Camel light up.
No guns allowed.

Hours:
11:00 am - 10:00 pm Daily

Google map is here.

Pete's Cafe — 3610 Belt Line

Just west of Marsh.



This place is so far out west in Far West Addison that it's actually in Farmers Branch. Barely. But it's an instution, very popular and should be included here. The booths (there are no tables) are clean and functional but the walls, floor and ceiling are low-rent lake cabin. The cash register is an old NCR model but they do take credit cards. KLUV is the radio station of choice. There are no TVs.

But behold! They do have a web site with menus and prices. Be sure to check out the "specials menu" which includes the Early Bird Special available during the week (Monday-Friday except holidays). Two eggs any style, bacon or sausage, hash browns or grits, and toast or bacon and gravy for just $4.25. Cheap. Smoking to the far right weekdays. No smoking on weekends, when you can expect a wait to be seated.

Closes daily at 2:00 pm.
Opens:
5:00 am Mon-Sat
6:00 am Sun

Google map is here.

Siegel's Sign — 15003 Inwood

The iconic sign, long a landmark at the Siegel's package store at Lemmon Avenue and Inwood Road, had nowhere to go when the store was razed. Now Addison has granted an exception to its strict sign ordinance and we should be seeing it at Siegel's Addison store sometime in June.


Google map is here.

300 Dallas — 3805 Belt Line

Third traffic light west of Midway, behind Los Lupes Mexican Restaurant.


A bowling alley in Addison? It's no joke. But this is no Drew Carey hangout. There are 36 lanes (6 semi-reserved for parties), an arcade and 6 full-size pool tables in the bar area which is, oddly enough, lit brighter than the bowling area. For more info on bowling visit the web site.

Let's talk about food. A nattily clad waiter will bring you a menu and take your drink order. Here's a sample of the offerings:
Crab cakes (2) $11
Nachos (ground beef) $10
Sliders (3) $7
•beef
•bbq pulled pork
•honey mustard chicken
Pizza $15
Steak burger $10
Beef empanadas $10
Wedge or caesar salad $8
Plus tax. Plus tip. No smoking. Full bar. ATM on site.

Hours:
3:00 pm - midnight Mon-Thur
11:00 am - 2:00 am Fri-Sat
11:00 am - 1:00 am Sun

Google map is here.

IHOP — 3910 Belt Line

West of Midway, past Sam's, keep going, it's under the blue roof on your left.
They're all pretty much the same and you've probably eaten at an IHOP before so there won't be a review here. This is for visitors and workers who didn't know that Addison ventures this far west. Smoking section except for Saturday and Sunday mornings. Popular for lunch too.

The International menu in English.

Hours:
They're open.

Google map is here.

Topz Healthier Burger Grill — 5000 Belt Line

Addison Walk Center next to Freebirds World Burrito.


Good food, but this place could also be called Topz Expensive Burger Grill. As their web site doesn't list prices, they will be shown here. I truely enjoyed the turkey burger ($5.80, cheese extra). It will make you rethink limiting your backyard grilling to beef. Served on a whole wheat bun, it comes with the typical vegetable accoutrements plus condiments of either mustard or their secret recipe (mayo with garlic) house sauce. Also on the menu board are the 100% Angus beef (¼ lb $4.99/½ lb $6.75) and veggie ($5.85) burgers plus chicken breast ($6.10) and yellow tail tuna ($6.85) sandwiches. Salads ($6.99) incorporate any of the above patties on a bed of romaine lettuce.

Fries ($1.80) are air baked. There is no deep fryer at Topz. The most popular are those made from sweet potatoes. The regular Idaho variety is also available. My only complaint is if I'm paying a premium price for a premium burger I expect to get a premium tomato slice to go with it. Yet what is offered is generally wafer thin and red may not be the predominant color.
Seatinf for 40. No smoking. No beer.

Hours:
11:00 am - 9:00 pm daily except holidays

Google map is here.

Culinary Art Catering — 14370 Marsh

In the Tom Thumb Shopping Center, at Spring Valley.




They were chosen by the Town of Addison to handle the V.I.P. tent at Taste Addison though their primary responsibility was to serve beer and wine. CAC also offers full service catering from small weddings to large corporate events with creations by Chef Yossi. Call Vivian Morgan, director of special events, at 972-744-0660. Web site.

The Londoner — 14930 Midway

On the NE corner of Midway and Beltway.


"World's finest cuisine" and "England" are words seldom found in the same sentence but The Londoner does well within its chosen confines. The requisite fish and chips consists of beer-battered Atlantic cod (flaky and tasty) and very decent fries. Chicken is a suitable substitute but costs a bit more. To accomodate American tastes, shepherd's pie is made with ground beef instead of traditional lamb. The flavor is enhanced with carrots and onions and the topping, as always, is mashed potatoes. Cheese upon request. Yes, the menu included Scotch eggs.

This is a typical English pub in most every sense. The emphasis is on drinking and merriment. The wall behind the bar is a showcase of more taps of regular beer, lager, stout and ale than you can imagine. Many of the denizens speak with a funny accent. Three dart boards and a seldom used mini pool table are off to one side. A sign as you enter advises you to "please seat yourself" with smoking to the right and non-smoking (until 10:00 pm) to the left. Smoking is allowed on the patio. Perhaps smoking is the national pasttime across the pond.

The national passion across the pond is soccer. Texas liquor laws must be followed but The Londoner will open for live satellite coverage of many matches, especially playoffs, on their flat screen TVs. Soccer schedules and menu can be found here on their web site. I wonder, just what is shown on the telly there on Super Bowl Sunday?

Hours:
4:00 pm - 2:00 am Mon
11:00 am - 2:00 am Tues - Sun

Google map is here.

Taste Addison Tips

The margaritas are lime gatorade mixed with crushed ice. If you still feel the need for a margarita, you have options. When you first enter the gate, Cristina's is to your right. Their "margaritas" are $10! You do get some fancy (girly) looking plastic cup that you will probably end up throwing away at the end of the night. A better value is the "margarita" at Cantina Laredo which is back towards the building that hosts the Robert Mondavi tasting. Their "margaritas", though a couple of ounces less, were either $4 or $6. I forget because I consumed several of the value priced 16 oz. Miller Lites at $3 each. That's less than they charge at the restaurants. Don't drink too many or you'll end up switching electricity providers and come home with a bag that says "Green Mountain Energy".

Freebirds is making burritos, though they don't have the full line of choices. My wife, after a couple of glasses of wine and a Cristina's "margarita", said it was "so good".

I think it's Chamberlain's that has a $2 booth. They had some Prime Chili which was outstanding. They had small draft beers too, but wouldn't refill my empty Miller Lite bottle.

If you're there for the concert, don't try to have too much fun. The Addison Police will stop you. As soon as a girl gets on a guy's shoulders, they will be there to stop it. And if you are there for the concert, in front of stage left is less crowded than stage right.

I left a Coke Zero for you in the parking garage. Have fun!

Freebirds Buy One Get One Free - EXPIRED

Step 1: Click Here
Step 2: Print.

Addison Market — 5049 Addison Circle East

On the NW corner of Spectrum.

A typical 7-11 is four times the size. A typical 7-11 has food ready-to-eat. This place offers packaged cold sandwiches and an ATM.
Nearby residents with a nicotine jones go here for a quick fix. But they do offer fresh bananas.

Hours:
7:00 am - 10:00 pm Mon-Fri
8:00 am - 10:00 pm Sat
9:00 am - 8:00 Sun

Pastazios Pizza — 5026 Addison Circle East

On the SE corner of Lewis Pl.

My first experience with Pastazios pizza was when it was catered at a private event in Addison. I really liked the two slices I had. It's typical New York-style pizza with thin crust and just barely enough tomato sauce. The sausage topping had a great taste but the cheese lacked the normal baked-brown look. Still, I was impressed enough to go to the restaurant for a second helping but this time chose the chicken parmigiana sub. What a disappointment. Chicken is not supposed to be tough. This was. I've had squirrel (I really have!) that was easier to chew. What this sub needed was a torpedo.

The restaurant's appearance was nice enough with 3 muted TVs tuned to CNBC and satellite music piped in. Outside there are 11 tables on the sidewalk with a view of the small park across the street. The buildings provide shade in the afternoon. What was missing from the ambiance was customers and this was during the traditional happy hour. Pastazios doesn't attract that crowd with its prices ($3.00 domestic/$3.50 premium) and a beer fridge not stocked for volume.

Here's the menu. Pizza by the slice is currently $2.99 for the regular and $3.99 for the deluxe. Prices are written on an overhead chalkboard and thus subject to change.

Again, I enjoyed the pizza and if your company is buying the employees' lunch I would not be hesitant to recommend Pastazios. They cater and deliver. 972-386-9200. But with so many restaurants in this town I just cannot see this as a dining destination.

Hours:
10:00 am - 10:00 pm Mon-Thur
10:00 am - 11:00 pm Fri-Sat
11:00 am - 10:00 pm Sun

Yahoo map is here.