Frisco Commons Park - Frisco, TX

                                              
Rating:  5 out of 5 STARS!!!

Frisco Commons Park
8000 McKinney Rd.
Frisco, TX 75034
972-335-5555

Frisco Commons is a 63-acre park fully equipped for a day of family fun in the sun and in the shade.  A wooden play castle, spray park, grand pavilion, fully-stocked pond, amphitheater, Veteran's memorial and water sphere, walking/biking trails, covered picnic table area with BBQ grills, and a clean restroom facility are amenities you will find here at this wide, open-spaced park that was completed in 2004.

It was voted Best Family Park in the Metroplex and received a Park Design Excellence Award as well. Our group enjoyed rollerblading, scooters, frisbee play, playing catch with the baseball, jump roping, volley in the courtyard, the playground, water guns, the grills, and the shaded picnic area. These are just a few ideas of things to entertain you while enjoying this wonderful park and its masterful layout. Contrary to the name, this is definitely not a common park!

FYI:  You should reserve the pavilion area to get a guaranteed spot, especially for large groups. Otherwise, it's on a first come, first served basis.

After enjoying rollerblading, we observed a sign that said "No rollerblading or Skateboarding".

Sprinkles Cupcakes - Dallas, TX

                                                               
Rating:  4 out of 5 STARS!!!

Sprinkles Cupcakes
4020 Villanova Drive
Dallas, TX 75225
(in the University Park area)
214-369-0004
http://www.sprinkles.com/

We enjoyed the black and white cupcake as well as the red velvet cupcake today from Sprinkles in Dallas. The red velvet one is a southern style light chocolate cake with cream cheese frosting…it was outstanding!!The black and white is a Belgian dark chocolate cake with creamy vanilla frosting and chocolate sprinkles…it was delicious!!

Of the two we tried, the red velvet was our favorite. The cupcakes are heavily frosted, fresh, moist, and are kept at the perfect temperature. I have to say that I love the concept of individual cakes. It is much more convenient - no cutting, each person gets their favorite flavor, perfect portion, and you can have endless options for the overall cake/shape design…it just makes sense!

At Sprinkles, expect to pay a little more since these are not your typical cupcakes but it’s comparable to, or less than, many restaurant desserts which makes it a good option. Try a Sprinkle or two!!


FYI:   $3.25 each or $36 dozen. On the box they pack them in for you it says:  Our cupcakes contain no preservatives, trans fats or artificial flavors. As a result, we encourage you to enjoy them at their freshest, on the day of purchase. Do not refrigerate.

Scotty P's Hamburgers - Frisco, TX - Restaurant Review

Rating:  4 ½ out of 5 STARS!!!

Scotty P’s Hamburgers
4710 Preston Rd. #300
Frisco, Tx 75034
972-712-6556
http://www.scottyps.com/

I have never been to Scotty P’s and found it a nice touch being greeted by the heritage of this family as you observe pictures on the walls. You will also see the City of Frisco as it looked in its early days, which lends its history to you and future generations that will call Frisco home.

I ordered “The Original Scotty P’s Burger”. This is an old-fashioned burger piled high with thick-cut tomato and pickle nestled on shredded lettuce. I added cheese and bacon and substituted the mustard for the mayo version. They topped mine with shredded cheddar cheese that quickly melted on the bun. The adult burgers and frings served were large portions. The burger was juicy, fresh, and delicious and one of the best burgers I’ve had to date.

While the kid fry portions were large, the “Chris P. Chicken Strips” on the kids menu were not! They should think about changing the name to match what is actually served, which is chicken nuggets/large popcorn chicken. There were 4-5 chicken pieces served in their basket. I would say that this is fine for younger kids under 7 but not quite enough for 8 and up.

Since I could not decide between onion rings and french fries, they offer a great option called “Frings” which gives you both and is large enough to share. The fries here are good but not exceptional and the onion rings were okay but did not have much flavor. The chocolate chip cookies are huge, moist, and chewy goodness!

The prices are moderate to high for this sit-down. mostly burger, establishment. Offered on the menu are: Burgers, chicken sandwiches, chicken tenders, hot dogs, salads, chili, and soups of the day like chicken tortilla, steak, and chicken noodle. If you are on the lookout for a burger that satisfies and has a wonderful taste, then I highly recommend Scotty P’s!!


FYI: Locations in Frisco, Allen, Plano, McKinney, Firewheel, Preston Forest, and West Frisco and all are family owned.

Celebration Market & Restaurant - Dallas, TX

Rating:  3 1/2 out of 5 STARS!!!

Celebration Market & Restaurant
4503 W Lovers Ln.
Dallas, Texas 75209
214-351-5681
http://www.celebrationrestaurant.com

I went to Celebration for lunch on this Thursday, just after 11am, with friends. Since the lunch rush had not arrived, it wasn't very busy at this hour. I was surprised with how slow the service was. Forty-five minutes had passed before we were served the food. After the meal, it took a long while to get our checks but the waiter was friendly and took good care of us. I had Sammy's Spicy Chicken Sandwich. It was a large portion and was served with chips and salsa, and a side dish. As it states, it was spicy, but delicious! It looked like it was of the buffalo variety, but it wasn't. Just spicy. Rolls and cornbread were served as complimentary appetizers. The restaurant was divided up oddly, probably because it used to be a house. There wasn't much for decor and the atmosphere was nothing more than average. The prices were close to $10 for lunch items and slightly more for the dinner menu. I would recommend Celebration on the food alone, but only if you have plenty of time to dine.

Submitted by:  Brad - Frisco, TX

Texas Land & Cattle Steakhouse - Frisco, TX

Rating:  4 out of 5 STARS!!!

Texas Land & Cattle
3191 Preston Rd.
Frisco, TX 75034
972-668-2832
http://www.texaslandandcattle.com/

On this particular day, I wanted to feed my craving for fried mushrooms dipped in ranch dressing and remembered that Texas Land & Cattle makes the best ones. I was quite disappointed to find out that they no longer serve them. I don’t eat steak often but I will tell you that TL&C makes a mean steak! I dined on the 6 oz. Sirloin and it was cooked to perfection and served medium-well just like I ordered it. My steak was juicy and flavorful as were the other steaks ordered at our table.

I don’t recommend the grilled-cheese sandwich for your child unless they prefer it dry because the cheese is not completely melted and becomes cold quickly, which means they are not likely to eat it, at least this was our experience today. Also, if you order a loaded baked potato, you may want to ask for additional toppings on the side so every bite will be moist and delicious, since they are a little stingy with the toppings.

Overall, the hostess and waiter were friendly and quick to attend to us with drink refills, bread refills, and sauce requests. We sat by the fireplace and enjoyed the ambience that this restaurant provides. Everything is clean and the booths are large enough to seat 3-4 people on each side which makes it nice for smaller groups to have more room or to accommodate extra family or friends. The prices are moderate to high.

If you’re on the prowl for a great steak and one that won’t cost you all your cattle, then I highly recommend Texas Land & Cattle. Happy Dining!!

Corner Bakery Cafe - Plano, TX

Rating:  5 out of 5 STARS!!!

Corner Bakery Café
941 N. Central Expressway
Plano, TX 75075
469-366-3639
http://www.cornerbakerycafe.com/

Today I got a sneak peak at Corner Bakery Café. After lunch, we decided to get dessert from this fine café. I had the Maple Pecan Bar and found it to be a slice of heaven. My lunch date enjoyed the chocolate baby bundt. If the meals here are as good as the sweet treats served, you will have an amazing dining experience.

Breakfast, various salad choices, sandwiches, panini’s, soups, and pastas are on the menu and all look scrumptious. This corner bakery offers a dining style that invites you to enjoy food while reading a good book or enjoying free WiFi. The atmosphere and lighting make for a great conversation area. I highly recommend you bring a friend here and enjoy the afternoon.