Chef Otheo Barnes III’s new menu at Equinox Grill & Bar inside the Crowne Plaza Arlington Suites has something for everyone: from the weary business traveler, to the vacationing family, to the local Arlington residents driving down the block for a delicious meal. But Chef O’s new specialties like the Wild Boar Sliders, Fried Green Tomato & Shrimp Tower, Rangers Roast Beef Sandwich, Cowboys Dip, Texas Tomato Bisque, and Amaretto Crème Brulee are the attractions that will keep diners coming back for more!
Equinox Grill Bar at Crowne Plaza Arlington Suites
Address: 700 Avenue H East, Arlington, TX 76011
Hours: Breakfast 6am-11am; Lunch 11am-2pm; Dinner w/full bar 2pm-11pm;
(Room Service from 6am-11pm includes everything available on restaurant menu)
Web site: www.cparlington.com
As someone who travels a lot for business, I know it’s a real treat to find a restaurant in a hotel that serves excellent food with a variety of choices at an affordable price. As the Arlington Insider, I’m always looking to recommend a good restaurant that’s not the same old, same old. That’s why I’m excited about Equinox Grill & Bar inside the Crowne Plaza Arlington Suites.
The new menu is not only going to be a hit with the folks staying at the hotel, I predict other local residents will soon discover that new chef, Otheo Barnes III, has enhanced the Texas-themed menu. Whether you’re stopping by to enjoy a meal before a Texas Rangers game or a concert at Cowboys Stadium, or wanting to impress an out-of-town guest, Chef O has kept the favorites like The Equinox Burger and Build-Your-Own-Pizza, but added more options like the Wedge Salad, Roasted Half Chicken, Jumbo Prawns & Crab Pasta, Fried Green Tomato & Shrimp Tower, Wild Boar Sliders, and vegetarian options such as the Stuffed Shells.
Don’t worry meat lovers, you can always gorge on the: Cowboy Steak (ribeye seared on a cast iron skillet, $37); Texas Sirloin (served with Herb Parmesan Steak Fried and Buttermilk Onions which are soaked in buttermilk before being fried, $30); Fajitas ($16 to $18); and the popular Rangers Roast Beef Sandwich (shaved roasted prime beef layered with smoked onions, mushrooms, cheddar cheese and served on a crusty bread, $12…even fans of the Yankees & Red Sox will like this Rangers Roast Beef!).
On a visit this week, I met Chef O who is a New Orleans native who trained in culinary school in his hometown before coming to Dallas after Katrina and working in places like The Melrose Hotel in Dallas. He suggested that my friends & I try the “Fried Green Tomato & Shrimp Tower” ($11), the “Cowboy Dip” small plate appetizer ($10), the “Wild Boar Sliders” ($11 as an entrée), and the “Fish of the Day” (which that day happened to be Red Snapper served with a tri-color ravioli and broccolini). He also said the Roasted Half Chicken ($20) is one of his favorites, but my friends & I didn’t have room to eat that, too!
Not to skip ahead to desserts, but when ordering your lunch or dinner, save room for the featured dessert which is Chocolate Crowne Cake (chocolate sponge cake topped with three small scoops of house-made Banana Rum Ice Cream, Chocolate Ganache, and peanuts; $8). Yes, it is awesome. Next time for dessert I’ll try the Amaretto Crème Brulee ($7) which Chef O added to the menu (but I didn’t have room to add to my waistline on this particular visit).
Interestingly, one of the most popular menu items is the Cookies & Milk ($5) for which Chef O says, “You can’t go wrong with Cookies & Milk for the kids, or kids at heart!”.
Speaking of kids, did you eat lots of grilled cheese sandwiches when you were young? Try the “Grilled Cheese & Soup” ($8)…there’s fancy cheese on the inside and the bread is crusted on the outside with parmesan, so it’s crispy. The signature soup is the Texas Tomato Bisque, but there’s also a freshly-made Soup of the Day (Mushroom soup on my visit, which I enjoyed; my friend had the Tomato Bisque which is his favorite).
Okay, sorry for getting off-track thinking of dessert and grilled cheese…back to the main menu.
The menu expansion includes more sandwiches because lots of folks staying at the hotel want something grab-and-go because they’re going to a Texas Rangers game or Six Flags or another local attraction. So the menu now has Roasted Turkey Pannini ($10), Ancho Chicken Wrap ($7), and the Crowne Club Sandwich ($10).
Traditional favorites like quesadillas, wings, homemade chicken tenders, Southwest Caesar Salad, and nachos are always available, of course. But there’s also small plate choices like Wild Mushroom Bruschetta ($7).
ARLINGTON INSIDER TIP: Okay, of the new menu items, my friends and I all voted that our favorite was “Wild Boar Sliders” ($11). It’s four sliders of beer-braised Texas Boar topped with Poblano Cabbage Slaw. As Chef O explained, “they got a kick to ‘em”. The Fried Tomato Tower was a close second (although one friend insisted it should be the grilled cheese). So here’s the tip: order the Wild Boar Sliders!
The lunch/dinner menu is served from 11am to 11pm; breakfast is 6am-11pm. The good news for guests at Crowne Plaza Arlington Suites is that this full menu is available through room service, so you don’t even have to leave your hotel room.
Happy Hour is 4pm-to-6pm daily with $5 Drinks of the Day (subject to change, but Monday is Margaritas, Tuesday is Long Island Iced Tea, Wednesday is Cape Cods, Thursday is Screwdrivers, Friday is Cosmopolitans, Saturday is Washington Apples, and Sunday is Fuzzy Navel). In addition to the usual suspects when it comes to beers, Equinox also offers Texas beers including Shiner Bock, Lone Star, and Ziegen Bock.
By the way, whether you’re traveling to town for business or pleasure – or already live nearby but want to enjoy a ‘Staycation’ in the metroplex — have you though about booking a room at Crowne Plaza Suites Arlington and exploring all the attractions in Arlington’s Entertainment District? The hotel’s location makes it a favorite for vacationing families as well as business travelers.
Located in Arlington’s Entertainment District, you’re less than five minutes drive from Six Flags Over Texas, Hurricane Harbor, Rangers Ballpark, Cowboys Stadium, The International Bowling Hall of Fame & Museum, and tons of shopping/restaurants at Lincoln Square Shopping Center. Whether you’re coming for a Rangers baseball game, a Cowboys Stadium Tour, or to attend a special stadium event (including concerts this spring by Kenny Chesney on May 11, 2013, Taylor Swift on May 25, 2013, plus Gold Cup Soccer on July 24, 2013), there’s always something special happening in Arlington!
Crowne Plaza Arlington Suites also offers discount packages including: “Stay & Play Golf Packages”, “Six Flags Packages”, and “Dallas Cowboys Stadium Tour Packages”.
For more information on the hotel and its amenities, go to their Web site (www.cparlington.com) or call for reservations (817) 394-5000.
Crowne Plaza Arlington Suites’ address is: 700 Ave. H East, Arlington, TX 76011. The hotel is located a half-block north of I-30 and one block east of Hwy 360. Click here for a map/directions: http://www.cparlington.com/location.php
