Every since we moved here, we have been gearing about how DELICIOUS the CHEESE ENCHILADAS are at the Dart Bowl Restaurant and about the home-baked bread, special chili sauce and the EXCELLENCE in general of the Dart Bowl Cafe locating in the Dart Bowl Bowling Alley in Austin, Texas.
When we saw on Channel 8 TV about how City of Austin Building Inspectors had been tracked by the Channel 8 News crew and they had spent inordinate time in the Dart Bowl Restaurant (about a month or so ago) then adjourned to the Bill Miller BarBQue Restaurant down the street, we were once again reminded about how delicious the homemade bread and the cheese enchiladas were and so we decided to go on Wednesday.
The Bowling Alley is located within easy walking distance of McCallum High School so I was really surprised when I saw the sleazy-looking guys hanging around outside, one of whom looked like he had been sent by Central Casting or "Cops" TV show as the stereotypical drug dealer and the White guy and the Black guy hanging around outside looked like they were looking for someone who owed money. A heavily made-up lady with a cigarette hanging out of her mouth and reptilian eyes came roaring in and nearly hit us. My companion chickened out and we did not go back! This was Thursday.
Thursday, we went in after ascertaining that there was NOBODY hanging around aside except a lady who looked like a hooker and she had apparently been told to leave. She was leaving.
As we came in, I noticed that the bowlers were glaring at us. Real friendly place.
The restaurant is a small kind of place where bowlers can order food and there is a full-stocked bar inside. There are two doors to the Dart Bowl and when you are facing it, the door on the right is closest to the restaurant. There is a Big Sign on the GLASS restaurant door that PEOPLE WHO ARE UNDER 21 ARE NOT ALLOWED IN THE RESTAURANT!
We got the Cheese Nachos, orders of cheese enchiladas and a " to-go"large order of chicken fried steak for a shut-in friend. For the free side order we get with the cheese enchiladas, we got the homebaked bread —generous slabs about the size of Texas toast you get at Dairy Queen except THIS BREAD is DELICIOUS! It DID live up to the hype.
The Nachos were amazing and good and the Cheese enchiladas lived up to the hype as well. THEY JUST DON'T MAKE THEM THIS GOOD ANYMORE — TRUE TEX MEX ENCHILADAS at its very best!
We had GREAT service and the Ice Tea was perfect — tasted like fresh-brewed and NOT that powdered instant stuff.
The Cheese Enchiladas come in insulated serving plates and the cheese is AMAZING—stringy and complimented by some of the best non-bean chili I have ever had. Enough said.
We left a 20 percent tip of $6.00.
The friend reported that the chicken fried steak was way below average.
We liked the enchiladas so much, that we took our friend who was feeling better to get some enchiladas. He wore a security guard jacket which resembles a police uniform jacket and I think that is where we made a mistake.
Same GREAT food! Same terrific bread but we decided to try the corn tortillas.
We went back Sunday and the bowlers were still glaring at us, a new bunch this time.
Everything was great, except I noticed that some people were coming to the door and were put off by our companion in his jacket. Comments were also being made in Spanish and English and three young white males who were definitely under 21 made their way inside, laughing about having sneaked in — until they saw us at the table... They stayed —and made threatening remarks about us under their breath until we finally left.
One of my friends made the mistake of ordering THREE refills of ice tea.
The THIRD glass turned out to be a watered-down Dr. Pepper and NOT ice tea. It smelled like Dr. Pepper and it tasted like Dr. Pepper. We think it was a RECYCLED Dr. Pepper that a previous customer had drunk from and left behind, the ice melted. We did call this to management's attention but were IGNORED.
We think we were served it as a HINT to GET THE HELL OUT OF THE RESTAURANT. Three refills were TOO much
And so we did.
Permanently!
I didn't leave a tip.
I am wondering if it was an honest mistake BUT I do not want to be ripped off $27.81 for a Dr. Pepper that someone else drank from again.
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