Chef Matthew Brown at the Equinox Grill & Bar in the Crowne Plaza Suites Hotel Arlington has not only accomplished his goal of competing with top local restaurants with delicious results, he’s on his way to making Equinox a desination restaurant for local diners. Skillfully prepared and creative, these menu items are made fresh daily with most of the vegetables, fruits and meats from local farmers & ranchers. New eclectic selections include everything from Scallops Fra Diavolo… to Braised Beef Short Ribs… to Wild Boar Enchiladas with House Mole & Oaxaca Cheese… to Jerk Chicken. There’s also the more standard fare of pizza, Cobb Salad, Tilapia, Nachos, Ribeye, and the Panini of the Day. Headed to a Rangers game or event at Cowboys Stadium? There are Grab-n-Go specialty items, too.
EQUINOX GRILL, CROWNE PLAZA SUITES ARLINGTON
700 Ave. H East, Arlington
Hours: 6am-10pm daily, Bar open til midnight (Breakfast Buffet 6am-11am)
Phone: (817) 394-5000
http://www.cparlington.com/arlington-tx-dining-equinox-grill.php
Chef Matthew Brown has taken local cuisine and added different twists. One evening may have a more French flair, another may have more Greek, Italian, or Mexican influence. And about the only menu items flown-in from out-of-town are the seafood items. Everything else Chef Matthew tries to purchase from local growers/ranchers. For example, the salad on my last visit had lettuce from Keller and goat cheese from a local vendor.
Our server, Taylor, says the most popular menu items are the Scallops Fra Diavolo ($20) and the Braised Short Ribs ($28) . I can see why because I’ve had both. She also says the Amuse Salad ($6, spring mix topped w/lemon pepper vinaigrette) and the Bourbon Onion Soup ($4 cup, $6 bowl) are really popular, too. I will try them on my next visit, as well as the Wild Boar Enchiladas ($16).
Also according to Taylor, the 5th Quarter Nachos ($8) are piled high and most folks can’t finish them by themselves. And the bacon on the BLT & A (the ‘a’ is for avocado) is applewood smoked bacon. There’s also a chipotle aioli on the BLT&A ($7).
Monday through Friday, there’s a Panini of the Day ($11). The regular menu also includes 10-inch individual size pizzas ($10) and favorites like hot wings and jerk chicken.
If you like Baby Back Ribs, these are slow-roasted for 5 hours ($18 half-order, $22 full-order). The braised short ribs take about 6 hours.
If you go to the Crowne Plaza Suite Arlington’s Web site, you can click on the full menu and take a look for yourself. Here’s the link: http://www.cparlington.com/arlington-tx-dining-equinox-grill.php
As for breakfast, it’s a buffet served daily from 6am-11am. The price is $11.50 and includes omelette bar, etc. And speaking of mornings…
If you’re attending a Texas Rangers premiere game or gone to an evening game/event at Cowboys Stadium, call ahead to see if Equinox is doing their late night buffet ($9.95) from 10pm-1am. It’s not every Rangers game, usually the weekend games against premiere opponents, so double-check. Chef Matthew will vary the late-night menu for each game, it could be anything from fajitas to pasta to gumbo.
Also ask about Grab ‘n Go boxes for pregame which you can take with you. They can do things for slider dogs to kids, etc.
The bar is open ‘til midnight and Happy Hour is 4pm-9pm. Karl, the self-professed mixologist at the bar, claims to specialize in martinis & margaritas.
As a person who travels frequently for business, I know that hotel restaurants are generally generic and the food is re-heated out of some box. Generally when you dine at hotel restaurants, you’re paying top prices but not getting top quality or selection. Not the case here at Equinox. I had the chance to visit with Chef Matthew Brown who has brought 22 years of training at Michelin-rated restaurants to his menu creations here in Arlington.
My hope is that guests of Crowne Plaza Suites Arlington are not the only people trying the new menu items. Equinox Grill wants to compete with local top restaurants like Cacharel and Piccolo Mondo. They also want to eventually expand to off-site catering. If that happens, I’ll let you know. For now, you can plan special events (party, corporate gathering) here at Equinox. Chef Matthew will work with you on a special menu. So call him or call Logan Davis, who’s in charge of the entire Food & Beverage department, for more information (817-394-5000).
One more suggestion: a Chef’s Roundtable. I had the good fortune to attend one of Chef Matthew’s recent roundtables. You can arrange one for your group/clients and they’ll work with you on the menu and the price.
One last note: Chef Matthew makes a wonderful Chocolate Souffle for dessert, but it’s not on the regular menu. Call ahead if you’re planning on dining here and ask Chef Matthew if he’ll be able to prepare one especially for you.
Equinox Grill is located inside the Crowne Plaza Suites Arlington at 700 Ave. H East in Arlington, a half-block north of I-30 and one block east of Hwy 360. Click here for Google map/directions: http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Crowne+Plaza+Suites+Hotel+Arlington&cd=1&ei=JZ6bTInLNJb8yAWHyYDNBg&sig2=d_3sk2_ElLLm7LGpEXvbmg&sll=32.761638,-97.057933&sspn=0.006295,0.006295&ie=UTF8&hl=en&view=map&cid=3269845242923016358&ved=0CH4QpQY&hq=Crowne+Plaza+Suites+Hotel+Arlington&hnear=&ll=32.761024,-97.056152&spn=0.006295,0.006295&iwloc=A&source=embed
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