Savour Tasting Room and Social Club @ Watters Creek

Cyberspace: savourtasting.com
Grade: B-
Where to Find It: 968 Green Brook Dr., Allen, TX 75002
Food Group: American, Mediterranean, Latin American
How Much to Fork Over: $$$
Faves: Outdoor patio and bar

Peeves:  Maryland Crab Cocktail, our waiter had no personality

The Jibba Jab:

I have been eyeing Savour Tasting Room since it opened several months ago because of their great patio, which overlooks the Green (a park that’s in the center of Watters Creek), and their indoor-outdoor bar.  It was silently calling my name to have a cocktail there, so after I found a coupon for it we had to take them up on their discount. I know, I’m sure you are probably thinking that a place offering coupons is desperate for customers, which is never a good sign, but I wanted to give them a try so I could have my own opinion. 

First, I was a bit astonished to find the patio half empty on a Friday around 8pm, and it sat directly behind the entertainment for the Green that night, which was a group of 3 singers.  Every other place was packed.  Our hostess was very friendly, and she immediately sat us.  Our waiter, on the other hand, was nice and did what he was told, but not very quick  witted and had the personality of a piece of cardboard.   Another worry I had was the size of the menu.  It had way too many things going on such as three long listed categories of Socials (small plates for sharing): American, Mediterranean, and Latin, then entrée Salads, Sliders and Sandwiches, Specialties (entrees served after 4pm) and finally Dessert. We ordered the wine and our appetizer, the Maryland Crab Cocktail.  Both came out promptly, but the crab cocktail looked, smelled and tasted as if it had been sitting in the back of a pickup truck for a few days and then they tried to disguise the repulsiveness by serving it to us in a fancy martini glass.  Not acceptable….at all.  I asked the waiter if we could trade it for a small Wedge salad instead, which was definitely a good move.  You really can’t go horribly wrong with Iceburg lettuce, blue cheese dressing and bacon.  Next, my husband really wanted the dish called Shrimp Depth Charges, which are jalapeños stuffed with shrimp and wrapped in bacon.  I just wanted to try one of their pizzas…..it’s a good way for me to test the waters at a restaurant.  If they can’t make a decent pizza, which is basically yeast, flour, water and some toppings, then they probably won’t succeed anywhere else.  We chose the Arugula, Goat Cheese and Tomato Confit pizza.  Both of our choices were satisfactory.  I thought the Shrimp dish had a good crunch from the bacon and the pizza had a crispy thin crust, but a bit on the greasy side.  Overall, the experience was pleasant, the food was fine, except for the Crab Cocktail, and our service was sufficient.  On the other hand, when our meal was finished, my husband blurted out that he would never eat here again…..I’ve created a monster.

2009 Abbot's Table Pinot Noir

Maryland Lump Crab Cocktail - Yuck

Wedge Salad

Shrimp Depth Charges

Arugula, Goat Cheese and Tomato Confit Pizza

Grimaldi's Pizzeria

Grimaldi’s Pizzeria
http://www.grimaldis.com/

Rating: A
Location: 836 Market St, Allen, TX 75013

Category: Pizza

Pricing: $$

Favorites: Outdoor Bar and Seating, Pizza, Mediterranean Salad, Carafe of House Wine

Comments:

We have been regulars at Grimaldi’s ever since it opened at Watters Creek in Allen. I was first enticed by the place because of the indoor/outdoor bar they have in the front of the restaurant. The outdoor bar is such a great place to wait for friends or for your table (no reservations) while sipping on a beverage and enjoying a warm day or night. One side note is to come here with a party of 4 or more because their portions are huge and you will need to share everything from apps, to salads and of course the pizza or just take home some leftovers to enjoy the next day! When you walk inside every table is adorned with red and white checkered table cloths and pizza stands, and the walls are decorated with all types of New York memorabilia. Patrons also get a lovely view of the kitchen hard at work creating their pizza masterpieces and cooking them in a coal burning oven. If you still want to enjoy the great outdoors they have a fantastic patio overlooking trees, which are lit with white lights at night, a creek and large lawn area, which is used for concerts and movie showings in the warmer days or as a kid play area. You won’t be disappointed of the view.

Pesto Pizza with Mushrooms and Olives

Upon being seated, and if you are a wine drinker, don’t pass up their house wines. They are extremely well priced $15 for a carafe, which is about the size of a bottle of wine. I know not a bad price and it’s pretty decent tasting! If your prefer beer then have at it because they have several to choose from. We then always get a salad, usually the Mediterranean or the House Salad. The sizes on the menu are deceiving as well because the Small is quite large, feeding about 2-4 people and the Large is massive, feeding about 4-6 people. The pizzas are also quite hefty in size with a 12” Personal, 16” Small and an 18” Large. These suckers will feed a lot of people, and with a considerable amount of toppings to choose from you won’t be left unsatisfied. Also, don’t forget the 3 bases of pizza to choose from: White – no sauce, garlic and extra mozzarella, Pesto, and Traditional –secret tomato sauce. My favorite pizza combo is the Pesto with Mushrooms and Jalapeños….I may even add some Grilled Chicken or Italian Sausage on it every now and then. So good and I will be a crust snatcher if you leave it behind on your plate because it’s killer with that coal burning oven! This past visit one of the members of the table, a very tall man with a huge appetite, ordered a Calzone, which I had never ordered at Grimaldi’s. All I have to say is WOW! It was massive and looked like you could take it home and use it as a pillow!! If you still have room for dessert after all of that then you are a hero in my book. We never have room and always end up with a few pizza boxes of leftovers for breakfast the next morning. Not a bad way to end and begin a day!

Traditional Pizza with Sausage and Jalapenos

Top: Pepperoni Pizza; Bottom: Calzone

Closeup of Calzone

Samui Thai: Best Thai in Dallas

Samui Thai Cuisine

http://www.samuithai.com/
Rating: A



Location: 906 W McDermott Dr. Allen TX


Category: Thai

Pricing: $$$


Favorites: Chicken Satay, Pad Thai, Lemongrass Steamed Seafood


Comments:
Need a good go-to Thai restaurant?  Well, Samui Thai is your place!  From the Best Pad Thai in the area, to wonderful curry dishes, to some of the freshest seafood, you can’t go wrong with anything you order here.   MT and I have been going to this place for many years, and we have become acquainted with the owners because of it, so they always know exactly what we want when we walk in.  It’s nice not to have to order, especially since we always want our dishes extra extra spicey….and they will make it that way.  I’ve been to many places that will barely put anything into it when you ask them to make it really hot….hardly giving you any sort of burning sensation, which is what we love!  But, have no fear if you don’t like it that way.  They will keep it mild for you weaklings!  Just kidding.  Also, don’t be afraid to order dessert here because they have always surprised me.  Their Mango Sticky Rice is incredible and worth the extra effort to stuff more food in your full belly!