mjr092

I’ve only just started submitting reviews for a few restaurants because I’ve just moved to Dallas and checking out the restaurant scene (so far seems lacking, but that’s not quite fair because I haven’t really been everywhere so I’ll reserve further judgment) I ate here last night (6.4.08) and I have to admit that I liked this place better than Charlie Palmer at the Hotel Joule. They are in two different leagues but I'm giving The Porch a 4 overall, but it's really around a 3.5. I’m knocking a half point for pricing. We went at about 6 o'clock, skipped the valet and did the street parking and walked a couple blocks. Got seated right away on the actual porch and watched people, watched traffic, watched near-miss car accidents. They have the misters on the porch, but it was still pretty warm out there. I had the drink that was the vodka, sweet tea & lemonade, it wasn't nearly strong enough though I could taste the alcohol and too sweet, but I should have ordered something else then if I didn’t want very sweet, shouldn’t I? (this is more personal preference than a complaint, as I am more of a bourbon or straight vodka on the rocks girl and not a strawberry margarita girl). I ordered the Flat Iron steak with green peppercorn sauce and the sea salt fries. The steak was tender and juicy, seasoned well and the green peppercorn sauce was really knock out! Peppery, spicy and buttery – all good things. I ended up sopping up my fries with that instead of ketchup. For dessert had the East Texas Peach cobbler with vanilla ice cream, it was nicely done, dusted with cinnamon, crispy warm biscuit crust and the ice cream had vanilla bean seeds and tasted homemade. I was happy with the meal, decent portion size, maybe too decent because I was really full afterwards I ate too much!, and the service was attentive but not clingy. My only complaint is that the prices are still too high for what you get. Drink - $9; Entree - $19; Dessert - $10 – (c'mon, man!). If it were about 20% less I'd be here all the time. Nice and casual vibe, typical K-H trendy crowd. I’m kinda anti K-H, anti-everything. I enjoyed my meal there, but still think it costs too much so not that highly recommended, but recommended nonetheless. Anyway, on to the next restaurant. The Old Monk across the street looked interesting, but methinks I should check out more hole-in-the-wall type places just to balance it out 

I agree. I ate here for lunch and it was not good. What's the hype about. I get better Tex-Mex at Mattito's and there's probably a dozen other places better than Monica's