ChristieP, interesting you mentioned Mariano's as this was also recommended to me by a couple of others not on this board. Are you (or anyone else on here for that matter) also familiar with Avila's on Maple? That was one other recommendation and it was also listed on the guidelive.com site.

We're headed down there from Tulsa this weekend with the teenagers to see the Sox and eat some good food.

Thanks!

Ddubya, if you're coming down for the Sox, there is a Mariano's near the Ballpark in Arlington. Close enough to go to Joe T. Garcia's in Fort Worth for the absolute best (about 20 minutes on FW Northside). In Dallas, second the vote for Matt's (El Rancho) and Uncle Julio's (one of those in FW also).

I'm not familiar with that place on Maple, but that is a neighborhood that's well-known for authentic Mexican food!

I also love Joe T. Garcia's - worth the drive.

I took my team to Avila's for dinner and was really disappointed. I have had mush better meals at many Dallas Mexican places and was honestly a little embarrassed that I selected the place.
I'm known as a big 'foodie' to coworkers and took a leap of faith that this place would be a great authentic example and I suppose it was... but not in a particularly good way. Nothing specific made it bad, it was just nothing special. It was like 1000 other small places in Dallas.

Well, we ended up eating at Avila's and I'd say overall it was average at best. Certainly not what it's purported to be from the guidelive and other rec I received outside this forum. A couple of dishes we had were a little above average and a couple were a little below. I'll be back down in a couple of weeks so Joe T's, here I come. The good news is we had some great family time and the Sox won.

ddubya... I have had many such experiences with GuideLive. So many that I no longer use it as anything more than a basic directory.

There are always lines at Joe T's so we try to go before 6 (they don't take reservations) and it's usually not too long. Also, they are cash only.

Los Lupes in Irving on airport freeway is excellent.