Help with restaurants and entertainment in Plano, TX
 

I have been designated by my adult skating team to find a restaurant for a team dinner at the end of January. This will involve between 20-25 people. We are open to most types of cuisine but try to find a place that has variety. Most people prefer not to spend more than $20 for an entree. We would prefer to not have to drive too far [20 minutes]. The meal will most likely be on Friday evening or Saturday late afternoon or evening.

Another request is for a place to go line dancing. This does not need to be the same place that we eat.

Any help will be much appreciated.

The Cheesecake factory in Stonebriar - huge menu everything from Italian to Chinese and carribean.

am not sure if they take reservations - they do have long waits on weekend evenings.

ttt

Plano has numerous opportunties for fastfood or fernbars.

If you could drive to Fort Worth, you would have fun at Billy Bob's for line dancing. http://www.billybobstexas.com/

I remember the advertisements when Dallas opened Gilley's, but I'm not sure how much of drive that will be for you. http://www.gilleysdallas.com/

Suzietrue... also try guidelive for resto and line dancing options

Line dancing is pretty much out of style these days, but you might still find people doing it at Billy Bob's. There aren't any country dance clubs in or even near Plano. :-(

Thanks for the heads up about line dancing. What about restaurants?

Try Mario and Alberto's which is a straight shot south on Preston Road from Plano to LBJ (I-635) and Preston in North Dallas. It's on the southwest corner, in the back of a strip shopping center across LBJ from Valley View Mall.

All of their entrees are under $15 and the food is excellent. We always order from the right side of the menu, the Mexico City style cuisine, but they also offer the typical Tex-Mex (tacos, enchiladas, etc.)as well. We especially
like the pollo con crema or the filite
de la casa, and their menu is not spicy. We've tried other Mexican restaurants in Dallas but we're always disappointed, so end up back at Mario's. They've been in business for over 30 years!

They also have a private room available, but their main dining room is beautiful. You may want to phone them in advance; they're busy, especially on weekends. Heres a link:
http://www.dallasrestaurantreviews.n...ndAlberto.html

Sounds good. Any other suggestions?

Patrizio's is also good. It's listed at 1900 Preston, but it's really around the corner on Park Blvd, just east of Preston, on the south side of Park. Good Italian at reasonable prices. They have an alcove that may hold your whole party with some privacy. It's a very popular place so call a few days ahead to try to set-up the alcove area, or just stop in to see a menu and if it suits you. We love the cheese-filled spinach ravioli with artichoke hearts in a white wine sauce. Most entrees around the $10 range with a few around $14. Has a list of daily specials also. No web page unfortunately.

The DMN's www.guidelive.com may help.

It's pretty acurate.

No comment on Plano in general.
M

We love El Fenix. They are all over Dallas. There is one in Plano. The best cheese enchiladas and chicken sour cream enchiladas. Great chips. Awesome margaritas. Pretty good Tex Mex for the price.

There is also a PF Chang's up there. Those are always good. And Z Tejas, which might be more TX food, if you all are from some place else. I haven't eaten there but I understand they are popular.

In Plano, though, it is mostly chains. My brother lives near South Greenville and won't go north of LBJ to eat. He is a food snob.

El Fenix is a local chain and I don't find their food to be anything special. It's the type of Mexican food you could get almost anywhere in the USA.

Z tejas had a location on the tollway near Frankford, but they've been closed several months now.

Actually I have eaten a lot of Mexican food all over the US. Right now I live in CA and get a lot of their fresh Mes, which I love.

But, I was raised in Big D. El Fenix is pure TexMex. Sure there might be better, but it is EF cheese enchiladas with the very meaty, spicey chile con carne sauce that I crave and miss the most (except for the BBQ, like Sonny Bryans).

It might be just a chain, but the food is mighty good. In fact usually my sister picks us up from the airport and we head straight to, you guessed it, El Fenix. Ole...

My husband grew up in Del Rio, which is on the Texas/Mexico border. He ate at an El Fenix ONCE and pronounced the food "horrible." We have never been back. (Same goes for El Chico!)

In Plano, we like the Dos Charros mexican restaurant. I can't remember exactly which intersection it is in...Alma and Parker? But it is family-owned and VERY good. Hubby says it is some of the most authentic Mexican food he has found in North Texas!

ChristieP Dos Charros is great - hole in the wall but good - it is on Alma and Parker.

I like Tres Meridas in Frisco - South American food.

I'm spoiled as I live in Central MX a few months a year - the educated mamas in San Miguel and in most of the state of Guanajauto are the best MX cooks!
It's very difficult, as a gringo, to get invited to comida, but I would sell my soul to "eat their lunch".
Nothing in DFW is remotely comparable.
M

no fair mikemo :)

Thanks everyone for your replies! Just found out we will be using a shuttle service for this competition. Anything close to the Marriott Legacy at Town Center in Plano?

Bunch of places right there - from upscale to pizza.

Mi Cucina might work best - tex mex and they probably would be able to seat a group of your size. Half shells is nice but a pretty small place.

Naan for great Korean food, on the higher side of your budget. A cool wine bar called Cru' lots of wines by the glass.
There's a couple of more expensive places there as well.

Or you could grab NY style pizza at Sals' and then grab some ice cream at the Cold Stone and finish up with coffee at Starbucks.