Monthly Archives: October 2011

Kenny’s Wood Fired Grill – 5 Stars

Ahhh, Kenny’s. One of the best places to eat in Dallas, hands down.

I could probably write all day about Kenny’s restaurants. This is the first restaurant that I was exposed to from Kenny. The “Kenny’s” restaurants (collectively) are essentially my second (possibly first) favorite place to eat in Dallas. While it is a bit on the expensive side, for a chef-style meal, this is probably the most bang for your buck you’ll get in Dallas. Worth EVERY penny. Breaking things down:

Atmosphere: Sleek. Sexy. Kind of darkish. Overall, pretty awesome. It does get pretty loud at peak hours, though.

Service: Wait staff is prompt and do a very good job.

Food: Frickin’ AWESOME. I’ve never had a bad meal at Kenny’s, and I’ve been a NUMBER of times. Probably my favorite things here are:

-Appetizer: The Brie Cheese Fondue at Dinner
-Free Appetizer: They’ll always bring you a popover at dinner. (I’m not sure if they do at lunch, though.) These are awesome, and fun to eat in the aforementioned brie cheese fondue.
-Wine: I recommend the Conn Creek. Expensive, but quite good.
-Meal: You can pretty much throw a dart at the menu and you’ll get something awesome. My favorite thing on the menu is the steak sandwich. The meat is juicy and tender (my mouth is watering just thinking about it). It’s got just the right amount of topping, an awesome bun, and the sauces that come with it are top-friggin-notch. Especially the homemade horsey sauce. Mmmmm…. that stuff is FANTASTIC. I’ve had other things here (also amazing) but I can’t think of them off the top of my head.
-Side Dish: There’s two that I usually go between, because there’s a couple that are worth mentioning. My two favorites are the french fries (quite possibly the best in DFW), and the adult Mac & Cheese.
-Dessert: The bread pudding is legendary. Get it and you won’t be disappointed.

Overall – GREAT restaurant. I’d love to have my picture on the wall of Kenny’s.

Posted in American, Positive, Review

Review: Magic Time Machine

Oct 30

Posted by jkiszka

Magic Time Machine (Dallas location) – 2 Stars

The Magic Time Machine is the place that I always bugged my parents to go to (when we lived in San Antonio–there’s a location down there as well). They never brought me, but I was always intrigued by the concept that the waiters dress up and act as different characters. Now that I’ve grown up, frankly I’m not really sure what to think about it. I’d probably give it 2.5 stars if I could. I kind of feel like a “hater” giving it 2 stars, but I think it’s just honest. Also, I’m not really sure where to start with this review. I’ll just break it down into categories.

Location: The location of the restaurant is awesome, and this actually hurts the restaurant. It’s at the heart of restaurant row on Belt Line Road in Addison, across from Kenny’s Wood Fire Grill (easily one of the best restaurants in Dallas, IMHO). It’s between Chammps and Hooters (this kind of helps, because I’d go to the Magic Time Machine before I’d go to either Chammps or Hooters, given the choice. However, those that know me know that this isn’t much of a compliment for the Magic Time Machine.)

Atmosphere: The Magic Time Machine is probably the most fitting name ever. When you sit down to eat, it’s almost like you went back to the 70′s. (At least for me, this is NOT a good thing.) Not that I was even around in the 70′s myself, but what I think of the 70′s, I think of the Magic Time Machine. It’s in an old schoolhouse building which is a neat concept, but kind of creepy when you think about it. Also it kind of smells funny. Eeew. Also… the decor of the restaurant is kind of DRESSY. What’s up with that?

Food: Okay, but not great by any stretch of the imagination. Certainly pricey, if you ask me. The salad bar in the car is kind of nasty. I don’t know why, it just is. As for the main course: the portions are fairly substantial, but the food just isn’t that good! And looking at the menu, you get the idea it’s kind of a “steak and pasta” kind of place. Again–with Kenny’s, Houston’s, and about a million other places where you can get a better steak for about the same price, I just wonder “why?”?

Experience: The servers are always very nice and funny, and act like the character they are. We’re not talking true thespians or anything. Just nice people having fun. This is the most endearing quality of the restaurant. And I say this though I’ve had pretty slow service before.

Overall: Heck–it’s been around forever. It’s extremely eclectic, and that’s usually something I like. Every time I’m here, I want to give it a chance… I want it to be a “win.” I REALLY want to like it. (In fact, I always kind of want to go back to give it another shot!) But, when I walk out, I always wonder–am I missing something? Simply put–it’s pretty much underwhelming. If this restaurant was in rural Indiana by my parents house, I may go to it more often. (Actually, I’m not sure that I would.) But this is Belt Line Road! The sexiest of sexy of restaurant eating! Perhaps the thing I’m missing is the nostalgia of the 70′s…

Either way, something you may want to check out once, though you may get frustrated like me.

Posted in Negative, Review