Come to Ruston, LA, for the Best Barbecue

The Loaded Smoked Potato at Dowling’s Smokehouse‎, 1313 Cooktown Road, Ruston, LA 71270 (318- 513-9966) has the kind of culinary experience that is impossible to forget. Here’s what the owner says about it: “slow smoked for several hours until tender and full of smoky flavor. Served with cheese, butter, sour cream, and chopped brisket, ham, turkey, or sausage.” I had one with chopped brisket.

Tonight I thought I’d try a potato with sausage, but the college student in front of me in line ordered a Scatterload. Here’s what the owner says about the Scatterload: “very popular sandwich made of minced ham, turkey, hot link, sausage, brisket, and cheese all mixed together to make a delicious meal.” Since the young man from LA Tech ordered with confidence in his selection, I decided to try it. I ordered extra cheddar and requested a sour dough bun.

When the sandwich arrived, it was full of finely cubed bits of a variety of barbecued meat. The server suggested I might like extra barbecue sauce. Oh, what sauce! I don’t know when I’ve had a tastier sandwich.

I’ve eaten barbecue in a dozen places in Texas, some of them famous. Last week I ate barbecue in a well-known place in Mississippi. Nowhere have I eaten better barbecue than at Dowling’s right here at home.

The employees did not stop at being courteous . . . they were friendly. The barbecue at Dowling’s is the product of generations of cooks who know what they are doing. Kristen and Jeremy Telford are honoring their family with an amazing restaurant.

For their story visit Dowlingsbbqu.com

Feldman’s Wrong Way Diner

Feldman’s Wrong Way Diner

2100 N. 2nd Avenue - Canyon, Texas 79015 • 806-655-2700
Hours of Operation
Sunday thru Thursday
11:00am-9:00pm
Friday & Saturday
11:00am-10:00pm

Gilligan’s Island provides the theme for Feldman’s Wrong Way Diner, but the inspiration goes beyond Gilligan’s Island. Throughout the restaurant there are walls devoted to movies and celebrities, such as Elvis and The Titanic. There are all sorts of other decorations, such as various kinds of clocks covering an entire wall. There’s a little of this and a little of that, but it all has a western atmosphere.

"Feldmans is dedicated to anyone who has gone the wrong way, taken a wrong turn, made a wrong decision or in some way wandered off the beaten path...in other words: all of us at one time or another. Often, things just don't turn out the way you thought they would; but that's not always a bad thing." Quote from the menu and website www.FeldmansDiner.com

Leaving Amarillo on Soncy, which becomes Farm to Market 2590, you will reach Highway 60. Turn off onto 2nd Avenue. Follow 2nd through its winds and turns until you arrive. Don’t panic if you go the wrong way. Just try again. The friendly Canyon people will help you find the right way to the Wrong Way diner. Or if you prefer, you can take Interstate 27 south to Canyon.

Outside there is a tower. The architecture is modeled after buildings of the old West. It resembles a hangar and the Alamo at the same time.

Inside the place – it’s huge with separate rooms – there are old fashioned tables, some homemade looking of varnished plywood. The floors are clean concrete. By the way, the place is clean and organized. The old-fashioned décor features wainscoting of vee groove centermatch. Colors are red, gold, black, and moss green.

Recently I made my second visit to the Diner. The first time was in the evening. The place was hopping. Three feisty mature gentlemen provided a program of oldies. I loved identifying the tunes they played.

My second visit was in the afternoon. I ordered from the “light” section of the menu. What a joke! Who has ever seen a light menu with fried foods on it, but it is obviously lighter than some other sections of the menu. There was a house salad mostly of Romaine and a few carrots, pieces of red cabbage, cheese, eggs, and croutons. What impressed me was that somebody worked hard to prepare all those ingredients.

I stopped worrying about how light the food was and enjoyed it. The menus said, “Okra.” I expected boiled plain okra or the wonderful okra dish we enjoy in Mississippi and Louisiana with tomatoes. (Recipe is in Flavored with Love.) Instead the waitress brought me a bowl of fried okra, heavily but irresistibly battered. I enjoyed it with ketchup.

A generous baked potato on my plate was topped with a reasonable amount of sour cream, butter, and chives. And there was a complimentary roll.

During the afternoon students from West Texas A&M, which is across the street, studied with their computers. They said there is no Wifi. Also seniors with walkers and wheelchairs came in to enjoy lupper.

I wondered whether a marketing plan would help draw some of the crowd to the slow afternoons. There was a birthday and comment card, which was collected for a drawing. The prize is a free dinner for two.

The Wall of Shame is a special place where customers have an opportunity to eat a meal in 42 minutes and 30 seconds. Those who succeed get to eat free. Of the 46 people who have tried, only 2 have succeeded. Here’s the menu: 24 ounces chicken fried steak, l pound French fries, 12 ounces green beans, 32 ounces gravy, a dinner roll, and a dinner salad.

Although the food I have eaten at Feldman’s has been tasty, I find it bland compared to the Louisiana food, which I have grown to love. I wished I had placed a can of Cajun seasoning in my purse.

Although the food is good, it does not make the place amazing. Neither do the prints with movie themes everywhere. I’ve seen those in less amazing places. The servers were spectacular, but so are they in many other restaurants.

What made Feldman’s amazing was the décor – the atmosphere. Above the tables miniature railroad tracks curve in intricate patterns. Two trains run throughout the restaurant. Tunnels through the walls allow the train to go from one room to another.


Check out this link for a great picture of the restaurant and more information:http://www.thelocalsgohere.com/feld_r.html

RESTAURANT REVIEW: Donald Citrano's Coffee Shop Cafe in McGregor, TX

LOCATION: 1005 W. George W. Bush Parkway (at Hwy 84), McGregor, TX

DATE WE VISITED: 1-3-09

FOOD WE ENJOYED: The "famous country breakfast buffet" was delicious. The breakfast quesadillas, migas casserole, and Spanish Omelet (Western with jalapenos) were great!

The menu is extensive with great sounding food throughout the day, though we were there only for breakfast.

They have a convenient drive-though window.

Their hours are Mon.-Sat. 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sun. 6 a.m. to 2 p.m.

There is a lot of George W. Bush memorabilia and a number of items for sale.

SERVICE: The servers were attentive and our drinks and coffee cups were kept full.

COMMENTS: This is Pres. George W. Bush's favorite place to eat when he is at his Crawford, TX, ranch. Great food, we'll be back!



RESTAURANT: Donald Citrano's Coffee Shop Cafe, Phone: (254) 840-2027

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