But instead of wow, I got hmm… that was ok. 

The seating time was right around 35 minutes, which I suppose is acceptable for a busy restaurant in a popular shopping center. I was a little disappointed with the atmosphere of the restaurant, which I’ll admit wasn’t bad, but had the ambiance of an upscale cafeteria.  If they ever open a Luby’s in China, this is what it will look like.

Table service was very good, and the food was delivered pretty damn quickly (under 15 minutes). The dishes (wok seared lamb and sweet and sour pork) were well prepared, and served hot.  Overall, the meal was good.  Not great, but good.

And that’s the rub.  When it comes to food, there are only three things I’ll stand in line for: Bargain prices, buffets, & awesome food. Since P. F. Chang’s is neither a low-price fast food restaurant nor an all-you-can-eat establishment, I was really counting on some awesome food.

P. F. Chang’s isn’t bad, but it’s a little short on awesomeness.

RGV Clubs Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

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P. F. Chang’s
3100 E Expressway 83
Mcallen, TX 78501
(956) 664-1516

The seating time was very reasonable, and the table service was good.  The food, however…sigh…

I went with the Grilled Burger Melt, and well, I’m really grasping for a more descriptive word, but mediocre isn’t harsh enough, and disaster is a bit much.  Let’s just say it resembled something I would throw together in the middle of the night.  Drunk.  And I don’t mean that in a good way.

One more thing.  The floor in the dining area will try to kill you.  It seems to be covered with a thin film of grease or cooking oil.  Maybe the janitor just used too much wax, but either way, you’ll want to wear non-slip industrial work shoes to avoid a potential trip to the hospital.  Sure, stiletto heels are sexy, but head injuries?  Not so much.  They might as well just replace it with ice and let the servers skate to your table.  It would be just as dangerous but far more awesome.

Overall, it wasn’t the worst dining experience I’ve suffered through.  I’ll probably give it another shot in the near future, but BJ’s has a lot of making up to do.

RGV Clubs Rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars

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BJ’s Restaurant and Brewhouse
3200 Expressway 83
McAllen , TX 78501
956.687.2005
956.683.9153 FAX
Palms Crossing Shopping Center

It was definitely not overly packed to where it was unbearable. The area held a good amount of people to where you know it was packed yet you still had your breathing space.

This lounge was designed to cater to an exclusive clientele, and I think they’ve succeeded. The clientele and the decor, might I add, reminded me of Cuba Libre, an upscale lounge located in downtown Austin on Colorado, between 4th and 5th st.

The light fixtures were in good taste as well as the colorful sofas. It wasn’t too bright or too dim. The lighting was perfect. I couldn’t think of such a chill spot with a club vibe in the valley that is as comfortable as this one.

If you’re thinking of checking it out don’t forget to “dress to Impress”. DJ Isaac and DJ Joey Fresh were in the mix. They were spinning today’s hits, a bit of old school house, international, and 80′s. The music made everyone in rapid club mode.

Since there is no dance floor everyone was either dancing in their chairs, found a quick partner near them in their area, or just danced by themselves. In other words everyone was moving to the beat of the music.

There was never a dull moment. At the very back you’ll find the bar which consists of around 4 Bartenders. I really didn’t wait long for my drink. They were up to speed and it seemed everyone was satisfied with their cocktails.

Ryan (Detroit), Melanie, Vanny, and Freddy rocked the bar at 701. The energy that these 4 have behind the bar was intense. You’ll see Flaring, and 151 tricks. But be careful not to stand so close when they’re blowing fire. It felt like my eyebrows had burnt off with the heat. Go check out their stylish bartending soon.

As far as I know, they’re open Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. The night ran smoothly, the drinks were flowing, attractive people everywhere and the music was pumping.

Overall I say this might actually be a success. Their ranking in my book is pretty high. The only disadvantage and inconvenience it had was that there is only one bathroom stall for girls and one for boys. And we all know how much we need to pee when we drink.

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The food is good and the prices are reasonable.

Cons
Service at lunch time is hit or miss.

RGV Clubs Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

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Kumori
400 Nolana St # E
McAllen, TX

In fact when I compare enchilada plates at other restaurants, Koko’s is always my point of reference. So far, Koko’s is still on top, and I eat a lot of enchiladas.

Service is excellent, bordering on amazing, food portions are generous, and the prices are very reasonable.

Another bonus: Even when it’s busy, parking is good.

Cons
None (except that they’re not open 24 hours and located in my front yard).

Miscellaneous
There is no bar but they do serve alcoholic bevarages. This may be a good thing or a bad thing depending on your preferences.

RGV Clubs Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

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6100 N. 10th St.
McAllen, TX
(956) 630-5656