Fried Mushrooms (8)
El Rey

El Rey

1721 S Commerce St, 78644, Lockhart, US, United States

Fish • Juice • Seafood • Cocktail


"The oysters on the half shell, however, are outstanding! The cocktail sauce is fine, but it would be preferable to provide the ingredients so patrons can mix their own—think ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, Tabasco, lemon juice, and horseradish for the standard version, and perhaps a bit of mayo for a Creole twist. I also found the steamed vegetables puzzling; why season them with something spicy? They should just be cooked in butter! I am a fan of heat, but not when it comes to my steamed veggies. As for the gumbo, it’s far from authentic—tasteless with a blonde roux, which makes me wonder if it’s from a package. If cooking a proper roux is too challenging, just buy it pre-made! The dirty rice was also disappointing, extremely dry and lacking any form of liver. I wouldn’t recommend it at all; I experienced the same unpleasant dish three times. The fried seafood was decent, but I’m hesitant to try the jambalaya or gettuff given the poor quality of the gumbo and dirty rice. There’s definitely room for improvement in the kitchen. They need to look for authentic Cajun recipes for dishes like rubber bears and dirty rice, or perhaps hire a true Cajun chef! The drinks are adequate but there aren't many options for those who don’t drink beer, especially considering the prices. It’s nice to have Jameson or Jack, but I’d appreciate a bourbon option as well. After four visits, I’d rate this restaurant three stars. I’ll likely keep coming back for the oysters, but I'll probably stick to fish dishes. I didn't check out the other side where the billiards and live music are, so I can't comment on that aspect."

Shanghai

Shanghai

734 N Riverside Dr, 87532, Española, United States

Cafés • Asian • Lunch • Chinese


"Shanghai is situated in the heart of Española's Strip (also known as Riverside Drive). It’s tucked away in a small strip mall that’s easy to overlook when driving north. My wife and I decided to have a date night without the kids on a Saturday evening, and since we're still exploring the Española Valley, we thought we’d give Shanghai a try. The dining area is oddly positioned in the middle of the building. On that Saturday night, there was an unused buffet table in the center of the dining room. Only one waitress was managing all the tables, but thankfully, the restaurant wasn’t too crowded. We ordered two entrees: Lemon Chicken and Cantonese Noodles (with chicken and pork). Each meal includes a soup of the day, which happened to be Egg Drop during our visit. Unfortunately, the fried rice that was supposed to accompany the Lemon Chicken was forgotten by our server, but we didn't mention it as we had more than enough food. The soup arrived quickly and was quite good, served hot as it should be. Our entrees came out at staggered times, about five minutes apart. We typically eat family-style in Chinese restaurants, and this was no exception. The Lemon Chicken was well-prepared, with a nice crispy coating that wasn’t too heavy or greasy. However, the lemon sauce was a bit heavier than I prefer. The Cantonese Noodles were a highlight of the meal. I often find that Asian restaurants struggle with cooking noodles properly, but Shanghai nailed it. The vegetables were perfectly cooked and of great quality. Overall, we had a good meal and will certainly return when we're in the mood for Chinese food, especially considering it seems to be a better option than some of the other Chinese restaurants in Española."