Saturday, February 4, 2012

Deep Sushi - Deep Ellum, Dallas

Party of 4 . . .

Deep Sushi is located in a small eclectic area of Deep Ellum.  There are parking lots on both sides of it, across the street are abandoned buildings.  In fact there are several abandoned building down there, but you wouldn't know it from the crowd tonight. 

As was typical for a Thursday night, Deep Sushi was almost to capacity.  They had a large party of 16 on the patio.  We entered and are greeted with a warm hello from no less than 3 employees.  We are seated but not in our usual spot, more mid restaurant.  We can see everything from here.  The fun party on the patio, the sushi chef making rolls, the bar scene and both indoor parts of the restaurant.  We are the only people with children, and that is pretty typical.

Once seated we order our drinks, the bartender makes 2 special drinks for our boys and dolls them up.  The boys love the special treatment.  My husband had a soda and I had water.  We also ordered edamame and a shrimp and veggie tempura.  Deep is consistently good and timely with the appetizers.  First the edamame arrived and just as that was being finished the shrimp tempura arrived.

We placed our order which is filled with "special request."  Our 4 year old wants a California with only crab and cream cheese.  Our older son only wants a shrimp tempura meal with some rice.  The waiter is good to remember my son doesn't like the black sesame seeds on the rice.  Our order is a bit more complicated: one order of a California, a New York, Cherry Blossom, Volcano, and a Longhorn.

The California roll is HANDS DOWN the best roll in town.  I have not had a more fresh tasting roll anywhere in Dallas.  Deep will modify the rolls to make you happy.  I am happiest when my California has a bit of cream cheese in it!

The New York roll is shrimp tempura and avocado on the inside, wrapped in rice.  Where is gets awesome is the crab placed across each roll in strips.  Deep uses a special sauce that blends the sweet and savory for this roll.

My husband's favorite is the Longhorn Roll.  The basics of the roll are similar to that of a New York.  The topping will set you on fire.  Deep uses one drop of Srirache sauce on top of a thinly sliced jalapeno on top of some eel sauce.  It is spicy, warm and all sort of wonderful.

The Longhorn and Cheery Blossom rolls were rolls featured one night on Deep Sushi's features board.  We tried them both and now they are staples when we dine.  The Cherry Blossom roll is one of the pretties rolls I have seen.  Again, it has the basics of a New York but then they add some fresh salmon and cucumber wrapped in soy paper and then rice.  It is topped with a beautiful piece of tuna and spiced up with some spicy mayo, eel sauce and Sriracha. LOVE THIS!!!

The last dish to arrive at our table is the Volcano.  It has a base of California rolls, and is then topped with a special sauce.  We requested for them to burn the topping just a little more than normal since we like it crispy.  As usual Deep accommodates us.  You can have one of two seafood topping on your Volcano.  We get the small baby scallops others prefer the crawfish.

From time to time the Deep's Sushi Chef are creating new rolls and will test them on diners.  That was not the case when we dined last Thursday, but I have been fortunate to have had strawberry rolls, dark chocolate rolls and rolls that had no name at the time! All delish!

We continue to experience good service and great food here. A true bonus is our boys like it so we get to enjoy our meal!

Kid Friendly:  Depends on the children.  The menu can support children eating there, the environment can handle children - they have 2 high-chairs.  My hesitation here is the other diners who want a nice evening out.  I would say no crying is allowed!
Cleanliness:  Pretty clean, I have seen finger prints on the front windows, but other than that never anything dirty or out of place.
Service: Very attentive and they anticipate when you need refills or soy.  Long before you have a bite in your hand and can't request their help.
Cost:  $$
How likely to go back:  I hope to go back before the end of the month.  Truly the best tasting sushi & rolls in the city!


 So, when you drop by for some great sushi be sure to say hi.  I am usually at the small window table when you come in, unless they are full again and I get to sit mid-restaurant!

Monday, January 23, 2012

Snuffers - Addison



Party of 4

We recently took our oldest, his buddy Michael to dinner at Snuffer's when Michael was sleeping over.  Let me cut to the chase - it was great!  It is one of the best burgers in the city and thankfully they have many locations!  We have dines at Greenville Ave, Preston Center, Midway and in Plano.  If we have missed one, let me know.

We arrived a little later than we normally like to eat.  The place was packed, so I offered to do 2 2 tops, as long as they were near each other.  There was just that in our normal area of the restaurant.

We got right on the drink orders, the standard, water, unsweet tea, Sprite and Diet Pepsi.  All come is a nice size glass.  Then we ordered what I believe to be their most famous item.  Cheese Fries!  Hands down the best cheese fries ever.  You can get them with all the toppings or on the side.  We opts for the side, it comes with Ranch dressing, bacon bits, jalapenos, chili, chives - but after Ranch , who needs any of the others!  We ordered one small for our table and one for the boys.  Once the cheese fries arrive there is no talking, just eating!

All the boys ordered a 1/2# cheese burger.  Just meat and cheese.  Two ordered Amercian cheese and one ordered cheddar.  I ordered the Hamburger Salad, basically a hamburger with melted cheese on top of a bed of lettuce.  SO GOOD! 

Snuffer's cooks their burgers normally medium rare.  The boys ordered medium, my husband and I got them normal.  They are so juicy. Great flavor and a good size.

If I had an out of town guest who wanted a good burger Snuffer's is the place I would take them.  All others the rest of their life will pale in comparison!

Kid Friendly:  Without a doubt!  They have kids menus with games, thing to draw on it and room for some tic tac toe.  Colors included.
Cleanliness:  Have yet to see it dirty!
Service: Very attentive - refill the drinks without even knowing they are gone.
Cost:  $
How likely to go back:  Looking to go back next week!  Already thinking about those cheese fries!