I have only been into a Jason's Deli a few times in my life, but often eat their boxed lunches as part of meetings that work through lunch. You end up paying somebody $10 and they usually have a choice of roast beast or turkey, plus some chips, a dill spear and a cookie of some sort.
My wife on the other hand swears that she never gets to go to Jason's or eat a boxed lunch, as if it was some special dining event, and so as a big special treat, we went for lunch on Sunday. Am I a special husband, or what?
The parking lots was full, but because they have so many tables in the place, it didn't seem busy at all. There is a huge soup and salad bar, free healthy frozen yogurt, and a menu that is really overwhelming with healthy food choices. Once you eliminate all the creepy healthy items, you can get down to business and order some food.
My wife went with the club sandwich. It really is big, and as I alluded to before, they don't skimp on the meats. It is a little more classy than say a Subway, because your sandwich comes out on a plate and the chips and pickle (which she didn't bother to eat) aren't in a little bag. By the way, had we really looked at the menu before ordering, she could have substituted something like steamed veggies or potato salad or honey mustard Cole slaw instead of the chips and pickle. She'll know next time.
Not being limited to the boxed lunch options, I had to make a quick decision between the Muffaletta or a Reuben. The Reuben won out and I was reasonably happy with it. In comparing it to places like Schilo's and even Earl Abel's, I think Jason's is easily a bigger portion (lots more corned beef), but the other places grill the bread or something as opposed to toasting it. Maybe they slather a bunch of butter on the top and fry it. Don't get me wrong, it was a good Reuben - I'd gladly enjoy one from Jason's in the future, but I kept thinking as I was wolfing it down, it seemed a tad bit dry. Maybe that was some sort of health trick to make me not want to clean my plate.
Next time we go - and my wife took the menu home so she could study it - so there will be a next time, we may try one of the options that allows you yo get a half sandwich and a soup or salad. Or I may just go with the Muffaletta.
I would compare Jason's to Panera, but Panera seems a little more upscale what with the different dining areas and WiFi access. Cost is about the same. For the two of us, sandwiches, drinks and a cookie, it all came out to over $22.00. I think Panera would run about the same.
Oh, final note: When did Applebee's go out of business? We used to occasionally go to the one located just across the parking lot from Jason's, and now, it is all closed up. What gives?
Do you know about Applebee's? Do you know where I can get a good Reuben or a top notch Muffaletta? Tell me about it or leave a comment here.
Years ago, I recall Bennigan's as being a leader in the Bar & Grill style chain restaurant, and you could always count on them as a good place to grab some food and a beer - in the same type of format as Chili's, Applebee's and TGI Friday's. I guess about two years ago or so, my wife had a series of bad experiences at the Bennigan's on Cinema Ridge near Ingram Park Mall, and aside from calling the manager as we drove to a competitor, to explain why he lost us as customers, we really had no need to ever call or set foot in the place again. Until this afternoon.
I recently purchased one of those fund raiser Entertainment coupon books and figured, if anyone can get $20.00 worth of use in restaurant coupons, we could. So, Bennigan's got their long awaited, much anticipated, second chance from us and, I'm here to tell you, it wasn't bad at all.
If you are familiar with this area, you know that right next door to the Bennigan's is Texas Road House. TRH is packed from the minute it opens until it closes, everyday, without exception. Benningan's on the other hand, was seriously empty. Fine by me.
My wife and I both ordered the Guinness Glazed Bacon Cheeseburger. They do serve up some huge burgers, but I have to be honest, I am usually leary of these specialty types of things. For eaxample, I think Applebee's has just totally gone overboard with all the wierd sauces and stuff they put on thier entire menu. At some poiint in time, you just want a burger with a little salt & pepper and some cheese, not all the extra syrup and such.
So, we were both surprized when we got these bad boys and bit into them. I have long suspected that the burgers are simply microwaved or something, not actually grilled in the kitchen. Who knows? But however they were made, it turned out to be a pretty descent burger. My wife even started doing her little happy dance in the seat - thankfully no witnesses.
Other than it was good, the only remarkable thing about it was the Guinness Glaze. Good stuff on the burger, and especially good when used as dip for the fries.
The other really important point - and this may have had to do with the fact that aside for one or two folks in the bar, we were the only people in the restaraunt and we had awesome service. Not only did our server attend to our needs, several other people, presumably other servers or floor managers came by to ask how we were doing. Funny, had they done this a few years ago, they would have seen us back sooner.
You are officially free to end your own boycott and give Bennigan's a try.
Okay, work with me here.
We were driving home from a so-so visit to Applebee's (more in a second) and my wife noticed this cool looking scene along Grissom Road with the sun hiding behind some clouds.
Is it just me, or does it look like my big dog and little dog laying down in the back yard sunning themselves? I don't know. You hear about people who get visions of The Virgin in their toast or an appearance of Jesus in a a splotch of bird crap on their car windshield. I see dogs in the clouds.
Oh, before I left for work today, my wife had this idea of hitting Chilis for an early dinner this evening. On the way home, I called to tell her I was inbound and she said we ought to change up things a bit and go see Applebee's.
I don't have anything bad to say about Applebee's, although it does seem like they are revamping their "from the freezer to the microwave to your table" menu about every month or two. I tried the Bruschetta Burger. According to the menu, "This 100% Angus burger is juicy, robust—and like no other. It's crowned with a zesty pesto sauce and fresh bruschetta mix, and set on thick wedges of mozzarella. Served between grilled foccacia bread for a delicious crunch. Crispy garlic fries sprinkled with shaved Parmesan complete this classic."
The French fries seemed to be thrown in a small cup and mixed with shredded garlic bread. I suppose, but the appearance made me think that perhaps some earlier customer had left some fries and another customer had left some garlic bread and some crafty cook in the back mixed them together to make my dinner.
But, not bad at all. My hat is off to the creative genius who recycled that into a tasty treat.
My wife on the other hand swears that she never gets to go to Jason's or eat a boxed lunch, as if it was some special dining event, and so as a big special treat, we went for lunch on Sunday. Am I a special husband, or what?
The parking lots was full, but because they have so many tables in the place, it didn't seem busy at all. There is a huge soup and salad bar, free healthy frozen yogurt, and a menu that is really overwhelming with healthy food choices. Once you eliminate all the creepy healthy items, you can get down to business and order some food.
My wife went with the club sandwich. It really is big, and as I alluded to before, they don't skimp on the meats. It is a little more classy than say a Subway, because your sandwich comes out on a plate and the chips and pickle (which she didn't bother to eat) aren't in a little bag. By the way, had we really looked at the menu before ordering, she could have substituted something like steamed veggies or potato salad or honey mustard Cole slaw instead of the chips and pickle. She'll know next time.
Not being limited to the boxed lunch options, I had to make a quick decision between the Muffaletta or a Reuben. The Reuben won out and I was reasonably happy with it. In comparing it to places like Schilo's and even Earl Abel's, I think Jason's is easily a bigger portion (lots more corned beef), but the other places grill the bread or something as opposed to toasting it. Maybe they slather a bunch of butter on the top and fry it. Don't get me wrong, it was a good Reuben - I'd gladly enjoy one from Jason's in the future, but I kept thinking as I was wolfing it down, it seemed a tad bit dry. Maybe that was some sort of health trick to make me not want to clean my plate.
Oh, final note: When did Applebee's go out of business? We used to occasionally go to the one located just across the parking lot from Jason's, and now, it is all closed up. What gives?
