The Spaghetti Warehouse

The Spaghetti Warehouse
1255 W. I-20 (one block east of S. Cooper, next to The Parks Mall)
Hours: Thurs-Sun 11am-10pm; Fri & Sat 11am-11pm
(817) 557-0321
www.meatballs.com

Spaghetti Warehouse is located on I-20, one block east of Cooper.

A train car is part of the fanciful decor.

For those of us with kids who are looking for good value when dining out, Spaghetti Warehouse’s $3.95 Kids Menu is still among the best deals in town. It’s a 3-course meal with an appetizer (soup, salad or applesauce), an entrée, and a little cup of ice cream for dessert. The entree choices are varied and include: spaghetti (meat sauce, tomato sauce or marinara), spaghetti & meatball, cheese pizza (extra for pepperoni, sausage or mushroom), mozzarella cheese sticks, mac & cheese, meat or cheese ravioli, or chicken strips.

And while we’re on the subject of family dining, the décor at Spaghetti Warehouse is so much fun (as a kid, I remember wanted to sit in the train dining car!).

As for the adults, the entrée items are more expensive (spaghetti entrees starting at $7.79), but the portions are substantial and two adults can split a order of pasta. Also, all entrees come with your choice of ‘bottomless fresh salad’ or bottomless soup. The most expensive item on the menu is the Turin Trio ($15.49), a combination of lasagna, chicken parmigiana, and fettucine alfredo. If you want more than pasta, there’s the Trolley Stop ($14.19) with a sirloin stop and spaghetti & meat sauce as well as several chicken dishes including Chicken Tetrazzini, chicken alfredo, chicken parmigiana, etc.

If you prefer the seafood entrees, the shrimp scampi and tilapia are both crusted with crab-crumbs. There’s also an appetizer portion of crab-crusted shrimp scampi ($8.49).

The best bet for appetizers (for those of us who can’t make up our minds) is the Sicilian Sampler ($8.99) in which you choose three from: toasted ravioli, Mozzarella Fritta (triangle wedges or fried cheese), fried zucchini, calamari, or bruschetta.

I know that it’s not for everyone, but I’ve always liked Spaghetti Warehouse’s Beer Chili ($4.39 per bowl) and, several times over the past few years, have ordered the Spaghetti with Beer Chili ($8.29) instead of the traditional meat sauce. It’s just a way to change things up a little bit. Go ahead and add the cheese and/or onions if you go with the chili.

And I know that most people, if they get soup at an Italian restaurant, usually order minestrone, but among the soups, give the Italian Wedding Soup a try.

Lunch specials are weekdays only, Monday thru Friday until 3pm. Yes, the pasta entrees on the lunch menu include the bottomless salad or soup as well as the sourdough bread.

As for desserts, our waitress said that the 12-layer chocolate cake ($6.29) was a best-seller, but you should really try to Tiramisu ($4.59). We’re in an Italian restaurant, after all! Like the entrees, the dessert portions are generous, so there’s plenty to share.

In addition to selections of beer and wine, these guys have their own recipe for Sangria! A glass of Warehouse Sangria is normally priced at $4.50 ($16.50 for a pitcher), but often there are drink specials in which you can get it for $1.99.

For groups, there are banquet rooms for special occasions. Also, Spaghetti Warehouse caters. So if you’re planning a special event or party in Arlington, you can either use a banquet room or order a buffet meal (buffet delivery or full-service catering) by calling (817) 467-3200. For more info, go to http://www.meatballs.com.

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Social Bakehouse Cafe & Bakery

Social Bakehouse Café
Lincoln Square Shopping Center (Collins Rd, one block south of I-30)
Hours: Mon-Sat 8am to 9pm; Sun 10am to 8pm
(817) 274 4200
www.socialbakehousecafe.com

In Lincoln Square, facing Collins Rd, just one block south of I-30.

Cranberry Walnut Salad with a side of Cream of Jalapeno soup.

Ready-to-Take-Home cakes and desserts.

I have a favorite place for a light, healthy lunch…the Social Bakehouse Café in the Lincoln Square shopping center. But it’s so much more than salads/sandwiches/soups… and don’t limit yourself to lunch. It’s open for breakfast and dinner, too. There’s a full Bakery Menu and cakes/breads/cupcakes/cookies/cheesecakes ready for you to take home or back to the hotel room for some late-night dessert.

The café menu features made-from-scratch salads, quiche, soups, panini, pasta and wraps. The portions are generous without being too heavy. The wraps are about the size of a ladies’ fist and the sandwiches/paninis include chips, a veggie garnish and a mini-muffin (this is a bakery, after all).

My favorites are the Homestyle salads. These are not typical garden salads with strips of chicken; these are the scoops of chicken salad, egg salad, and tuna salad. I suggest the Cranberry Walnut Chicken Salad ($8.50), but the scoops of Southwest Chicken Salad are very good, too (includes chicken, cheese, corn, black beans, jalapenos and herbs mixed in a salsa dressing).

There’s a large selection of sandwiches (ranging from $6 to $7.50) includes: The Monterey (try this one!), club, roasted chicken, hot roast beef, turkey-Swiss, veggie, ultimate BLT, pimento cheese, and cucumber dill. Panini selections include: chicken- bacon, turkey jack, chicken pesto, roast beef melt, and Tuscan veggie.

The wraps are in a low carb whole-wheat tortilla and include: turkey Caesar, Mandarin chicken, chicken fiesta, veggie.

There are also daily specials for quiche, pasta, soup and a hot entrée. On my last visit, I really enjoyed the Cream of Jalapeno soup (not too spicy, but just enough of a little kick).

Because it’s a café, relax with a latte or chai tea or one of their Lavazza Italian coffees. If you’re feeling adventurous, go for the Chocolate Marshmallow Frozen Frappe ($2.95).

Yes, there is a kids’ menu for $5 (ham & cheese, grilled cheese or PB&J). It includes organic milk or apple juice, fresh fruit cup or chips, and a chocolate chip cookie.

You order at the counter…and the counter has the display of cupcakes, cookies, desserts. As you walk to the counter, you have to pass the shelves and table with the ready-to-take-home cakes. And not just Italian Cream or Divinity or German Chocolate or Carrot Cakes. We’re talking specialty stuff like: Totally White Chocolate, Mocha Almond Fudge, Hummingbird (spiced banana, pecans, pineapple with buttercream frosting), Caramel Turtle Fudge, White Chocolate Toffee, White Chocolate Raspberry…those are just a few. The cakes range in price from $20 (serves  eight) to $75 (serves 30).

The cupcakes, cookies and petit fours are sold by the dozen. There’s a two dozen minimum for the petit fours (I’ll eat 23 of the 24, and you can have the 24th). Every item is made on-site from scratch.

The pies ($12 to $16) include: buttermilk, chess, pumpkin, sweet potato, French silk, apple praline, fudge pecan, Toll House, key lime, banana, coconut, chocolate, lemon, strawberry, and one called Sawdust (I gotta try that one!).

For breakfast, forget anything healthy and go with the cinnamon roll or sausage roll (the kolaches are good, too!).

The café is located in Lincoln Square Shopping Center. It faces Collins Rd, and is a block south of I-30 (in the shopping center, between Village Jewelers & Talbots).

It’s a bright, pleasant décor and usually a good lunch crowd. I’m always pleased to see the amount of families that bring the kids (better than eating a greasy hamburger!). The brightly painted walls have photos of the desserts…so just try walking out without indulging your sweet tooth!!!

There’s a private room you can rent. The café also caters. This is a great place to pick something up for a meeting or bridal shower or baby shower or party. For the full menu (including bakery items), go to www.socialbakehousecafe.com.

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