MasFajitas: Caldwell

Wow, today's format more like a grocery list.

Chips and Salsa: Chips are stale.  Salsa is fresh

Introducing The Laredo:

Rice: fluffy with a hint of chili powder, not much taste other than that

Charro beans- very good.  Slightly spicy, good taste, with chunks of bacon and jalapenos present

Beef Taco: Shell is stale, Lettuce and Tomatoes extremely fresh.  Meat is not real seasoned- odd consistency.  But, overall, pretty good.

Chicken Enchilada- Red Chile Sauce was lame- FULL of chicken except it is mostly dark meat.  The chicken did have a really good taste, but overall, I would skip the enchilada.

Service started out OK, but ended up horrible even at 1:30 pm.  Tea was never refilled and plates sat in front of me forever.  Staff was watching futbol instead! 

The thing that really killed my experience was when I went to pay my bill- of course, I didn't have my check because my waitress disappeared.  Their credit card machine went down, so I was asked if I had any cash.  I didn't, so huffing and puffing, the guy rebooted the computer to see if it would fix the problem.  I asked if he would like me to go get some cash, and he said yes.  When I asked where the closest bank, he pointed across the street.  He was still huffing and puffing- and, he was not asthmatic.  You would think they would have offered to comp or discount my $8 meal, but no, he rudely took my cash offering no apologies.  The funny thing is they had a printed copy of a list on why patrons don't return- 69% was the attitude of the server!  I guess you know that I will not be returning.

MasFajitas does have another location in Taylor.  I hope the staff is nicer to their patrons there, but I can say if you are in Caldwell, Texas, just keep driving past MasFajitas. 

MasFajitas
305 Hwy 36 S
Caldwell, TX. 77836979/567-4007
www.masfajitas.com

Don Jose's: Palestine, Texas

Don Jose's is a creation from the Jimenez Family.  Although they have locations in Ennis, Waxahachie, Corsicana, I am eating at the Palestine location.  I got a little concerned when I walked in and the lunch special of the day was Chicken Pasta.  Every day, there are food and drink specials.  The menu is extensive with color photographs to help you make your decisions.

Today, I try the #5 Combo Plate: 1 beef taco, 1 cheese enchilada with your choice of sauce, rice and beans.

Charro beans are very good.  More like baked beans with chunks of green bell pepper and bacon.

Rice is fluffy.  Pretty bland.

Enchilada: chunk of cheddar cheese smother in a non-event chili gravy.

Taco:  slightly salty ground beef, good, fresh taco shell and lettuce, tomato, and shredded cheese

Salsa- Thick and Chunky Pace with come cilantro thrown into it!

Chips: Good, Non-Greasy

Service: Incredible, Super friendly- probably one of the sweetest ladies I have ever met, Very attentive
Overall, Don Jose's in Palestine served its purpose.  It was fairly good edible Mexican food.  I did want to take a big nap after lunch, but my waitress loaded me up with a to go cup of ice tea.  If you are in Palestine, this is one of their better Mexican restaurants.  It's conveniently close to the Loop, so you can stop in for a quick fix.

Don Jose's
1103 E Palestine Ave (Hwy 79)
Palestine, Texas 75801
903/729-5054

Cowboy Chicken: Longview

I drove past Cowboy Chicken one evening.  The parking lot was packed, so I became curious.  Cowboy Chicken is a franchise out of Dallas.  It was started in 1981 serving natural chicken that has been slow cooked over a wood burning fire.  This is confirmed at the Longview location since there is literally a wall of fire and rotisserie chickens. 

I arrived at 11:15 am on Sunday thinking I was beating the Church crowd.  Not even a chance, the line was wrapped along the wall with not an open table in sight.  From the wall menu, I chose the Famous Chicken Enchiladas with 2 sides: Spanish rice and Ranchero beans.  Since there were no seats inside, I sat outside on the round picnic tables waiting for my meal to be delivered.  Finally, the Famous Chicken Enchiladas arrived.

There was a killer wind that was cooling my meal faster than I could eat it.  The enchiladas were filled with lots of thick white chicken meat.  The tortillas were flour, a little tough, and not at all gooey.  The enchiladas must have been rolled just prior to serving then covered with the tomatillo sour cream sauce.   The sauce was extremely good with hints of lime, sour cream, tomatillo, cilantro, and every once in a while, jalapeno.  Sprigs of cilantro complimented the sauce which covered the WHOLE plate- a little overkill I thought.  Regardless, the Famous Chicken Enchiladas definitely rank as some of the BEST in Texas.

Next time, I would skip the uneventful Spanish rice and Ranchero beans.  Just splurge for another enchilada.  Did I mention that these Famous Chicken Enchiladas rank as some of the BEST in Texas?  Definitely check it out when you are in Longview next!

Cowboy Chicken
3080 N. Eastman Road (Hwy 259)
Suite 100
Longview, Texas  75605
903/663-0777
http://www.cowboychicken.com/