COLORADO GRILL in Hot Springs, Arkansas

I have been on the look for the perfect 'Taco Salad'.  I found my favorite to this point. It's the one at the Colorado Grill in Hot Springs. 

I found it several years ago and had it again just the other day. 

We took my sister and brother* there for her #84. It was as delicious as I remember it. The birthday girl had the same thing and she agreed. Yummmmm!











*There is an 'in-law' behind their name, but we drop that in our family.

ZipList.Com

I have found the greatest website where I can clip and save recipes I find on-line: Zip List! Click here to view!

Here is a recipe that I found and was able to add it to my Recipe Box on Zip List with a Clipper on my Tool Bar. 

Cheesy Enchilada Casserole

La Hacienda Mexican Restaurants, Arkansas

I have now eaten at:

La Hacienda in Benton

La Hacienda on Cantrell in Little Rock

La Hacienda in Hot Springs


...and have yet to find anything that I absolutely wanted to go back and eat. Usually, I will find at least one item on a menu that I will order every time I go to that restaurant.  i.e. Buffalo Grill-Grilled Turkey sandwich or the Guacamole Salad or Franke's Roast Beef or Country Fried Steak and of course, a Hamburger with lettuce, tomato, and mayo at Arkansas Burger with fries, no salt.


But not at La Hacienda.  We keep trying but no such luck.

One more chance...
La Hacienda, West Little Rock
Keeping my fingers crossed!

Also, trying to figure out if they are connected in any way or is La Hacienda just a popular name?
Well...upon investigation...

The menus look alike

The logos look alike

The food looks the same

Conclusion: If it walks like a duck,

talks like a duck,

and looks like a duck...

It is probably 

La Hacienda !

Browning's OUT OF BUSINESS

After more that 50 years in business Browning's sadly closed in the early 2000's. My husband remembers going there as a child with his parents and sister. I remember going there in the 60's and 70's. The new Browning's didn't make it either. Sad. Time moves on!


Wow!  Chuck and I decided to eat out after his guitar lesson.  I read until he finished then we headed to Cantrell Road.   We have been curious about Chipolte that just opened in the Pleasant Ridge Shopping Center. Well, imagine our surprise...they were lined out the door to get in to eat.  We are not patient "waiting in line" customers.    After circling the parking lot we headed to the Heights for Chinese until we remembered that Browning's had reopened under new management.  Since our taste buds were still set for Mexican so we settled for Browning's.  

Yes, we are talking about the Browning's Mexican Food Restaurant that has been a Little Rock fixture for over 60 years.  I say 60 years because that is how long Chuck remembers eating at Browning's. In the 1940's his family would travel from Benton to Little Rock for a night out.  There were very few places to eat out in Little Rock:  Hank's Dog House, Bruno's, The Embers, Tijuana and Browning's...can you think of more?

We are back to the "Wow"!  What a transformation!  It is very open, updated and very trendy.  

This is what should have been done the last time Browning's opened under new management...but no they had to give in to public pressure and go for the "same ol'; same ol'" stuff.  We love the new ambiance.  The acoustics aren't great, but bearable. It keeps your conversation private even if you can't hear yourself think.  There are TVs for sports, booths, tables, and a great bar area...something for everyone!  ...and the best part, scrumptious Margaritas!

Saltillo Plate

Chuck had the Saltillo Plate and I had the Summer Plate. They are both menu items from the original Browning's.  Chuck had a punch for nostalgic reasons. The helpings are bigger and the guacamole side is definitely a step-up.


When we go back and we will, we are going to sit at the bar and try some new menu items: Salmon Vera Cruz and Grilled Shrimp Tacos and White Cheese dip when they figure it out. It wasn't available because they had not perfected it...so said the waitress.  Speaking of waitresses, none of the original crew was to be seen.  I think they finally retired. There is a youngish wait staff full of energy and ready to serve.  Just when I said, "I think our food should have been here by now", it arrived.  It was delicious!


Highly recommend you give Browning's a try!

On the Border! Thumbs Up!

We got one seat immediately at the bar. Our new favorite thing---sitting at the bar with a glass of wine and a beer on tap.  It is a good vantage point to watch people.  Also, when it's slow, you can have a good visit with the bartender.  The acoustics aren't that great here, but not so bad that you can't visit while you sip.  


We are liking our new favorite thing so much, we are eating at the bar, too.  No. 1 you don't have to wait for a table during busy times and No. 2 the service is faster.


When Chuck got a seat, we ordered. We split a Border Sampler*  as our entrée.  It was delicious and more than enough for us.  We find that we can't eat as much as we did when we were younger. We get that uncomfortable "stuffed" feeling if we do.  We have learned the hard way to limit our quantities and split when we can.


 *Chicken Quesadillas, Steak Nachos and Chicken Flautas. Served with guacamole, sour cream, pico de gallo and original queso

Wholly Guacamole! Thumbs Up!

Wholly Guacamole, Batman!  Why am I just now finding this product?  It would have saved me several bad avocado choices and packages of guacamole mix!  I found the snack packs at Target and since have found that Kroger has the large packages. 


I love the snack packs for us.  One pack mixed with a diced tomato is great on our cheese nachos.  I also used part of one on my BLT (w/o the "L") instead of mayo.  The other part I used with the rest of my tomato as a dip for my taco chips.


...and only 100 calories per pack!

Izzy's Thumbs Down

I am not sure why we keep going back to Izzy's.  I guess it's like a bad experience: the further you get away from it you lose sight of the experience itself.


We have never ordered any item that motivates us to come back.  Yet, we did it again Saturday night.  After I got home from work we didn't want to cook so away we went.  We wanted Pizza.  We want Pizza at least once a week and indeed, that is what we ordered.   Their menu has untraditional Pizzas; we went for the veggie instead of the "all meat"...our names...they have "Grab You" names.  


The crust and sauce were great.  However, it was as if they cooked they crust first. Then threw the veggies and cheese on top; stuck it back in the over to melt the cheese.  The rest is history.  There was a lot of uncooked spinach and a lot, and I mean a lot, of uncooked Zucchini squash.  Maybe the next time, and I mean maybe, we will build our own cheese pizza with Pepperoni.    The veggie pizza will not entice us to come back.  


Some people must like it.  The dining room was full.   I am not sure why.  There are better places to get Pizza....and Mexican...and hamburgers. Maybe they have found something that we haven't in the last 15 years.

Senor Tequila---Hit or Miss

Tonight was a "Miss".  We decided to change our routine.  I went to First Tee and hit some golf balls at 5:00pm instead of noon.  Chuck was teaching class.  We decided to stop at Senor Tequila's on University on the way home.  We were both thinking "Mexican"!  We are usually there for lunch.  I always have Chicken Taco Salad and it is good.  Chuck gets a traditional Mexican plate.  




Tonight we thought we would try something different.  Not a good idea.  I had Chicken Nachos, rather tasteless, and cheese dip.  They have the white dip, my favorite.  It was the best part of the meal along with the beer on tap in a frosty mug.  




Chuck had Seafood Fajitas, Scallops, Tilapia and Shrimp.  They tasted too fishy.  It was too much food, mainly filler...chips for me - onion and mushrooms for Chuck.  Chuck thought the mushrooms were good.


We will go back because next time our selection may be better.  We know the service will be good and the price reasonable. (We did note; however, that the coke cost more than the beer.  Go figure???
)

Cantina Laredo - Viva Mexicano!

Last night we were treated to dinner and conversation by two of our favorite people at one of our favorite restaurants, Cantina Laredo at Midtowne Little Rock. 


The occasion-our 25th Wedding Anniversary.  Here's how our evening went:


We would like a booth, please!  (We like booths...for conversation and privacy.)

Lynne:  What is that in the bowl? "An avocado and a lime".  It must be to entice you to order quac.  We opted out for cheese dip...delicious!

Drinks:  Pinot Grigio for me, 

virgin pomegranate margarita*, 

and 2 beers.

      *could have been better with tequila! :) 

Lynne:  I am going to have the new CILANTRO CHICKEN SALAD-Fajita chicken with black beans, red pepper, monterey jack cheese, and avocado with cilantro-lime dressing..that is, unless you want to split?


Chuck:  No, I am going to try something different...which ended up being 
TAMPICO-Grilled chicken breast topped with sautéed artichoke hearts, mushrooms, spinach, red bell peppers with sour cream-poblano sauce and monterey jack cheese


On previous visits we split the Botanos Platter and the Fiesta Grill.  These were by far better selections than what we had on this occasion.  


Lynne:  The salad was in a neat bowl that appeared to slant toward you...that's all I can say for the salad.


Chuck:  The TAMPICO was just fajita chicken with a little sauce and potatoes on the side.  It really didn't taste Mexican.


While we were somewhat disappointed in our entrée selections last evening, the atmosphere, service and DESSERT made up for it.  DO NOT, repeat DO NOT miss the Mexican Apple Pie. How can you beat apple pie sizzled at the table in Mexican Brandy Butter Sauce and topped with cinnamon ice cream?  It was delivered with four spoons and was shared by all.


Friends were heard to say:  Her: "C'mon Brooks you have to try the Sauce.  It is to die for...no apples for me, just sauce.  Brooks: "Hmmm, the ice cream is good."


We highly recommend the experience, especially with two of your favorite friends. The wait, if there is one, is reasonable as are the prices...and did I say the service was excellent.  We had the cutest waitress who was not only charming but was knowledgeable on the menu. We will return.