Locals only

Hey! Mazey and me here again, about to give you the low down on some more tacos. I wasn’t planning on reviewing another Mexican restaurant, but as I have mentioned in a previous post, I could never get sick of Mexican food. I asked my roommate Erin to come on another adventure this week, so I sent her 5 different restaurant menus to choose from and wherever she chose, I would follow. The options I sent her (all dog-friendly, of course) were: The Slider House, Kay Bob’s, Chago’s Cantina and Local Taco. Drum roll please………..Local Taco was the winner!!!!

I happily obliged to eat some more tacos, so off we went. As we learned upon looking up directions, there are more than one Local Taco locations. We went to the one in Sylvan Park off of West End. It was the closest one to our house which is why we chose that one. When we got there to park, I was very confused. The restaurant resides in sort of a strip mall, but is a separate building. There was barely any parking in front of the restaurant and I did not seem to find any sort of parking lot specifically for it either. I ended up parking in a parallel spot in the street, which was not a hassle. However, since the area wasn’t crowded I was able to easily find that spot. The night we went was not crowded, so I could potentially see a problem with parking since that area is heavily populated with four to five restaurants and stores when it is during a busy hour.

Again, the particular night we went was not busy at all, so when we walked in there wasn’t any type of wait. The way that Local Taco works is that customers walk up to the register to order and they are given a number so employees can bring out the food. As I was browsing the menu, it was extremely difficult to pick because all of the options looked great. I ended up getting two tacos: The Alabama White, Nashville Hot Chicken and a side of Mexican street corn (which is usually my favorite part of the meal because I mean, who doesn’t love corn?). Erin got the same Nashville Hot Chicken taco, the Spicy Baja Shrimp and the Crossroads Cantina.

As for the taste, oh my word, the tacos were so good. Both of my choices were incredible, but if I had to choose one of them I would choose the Alabama White because I liked the sauce a lot. However, the coleslaw that was on the Nashville Hot Chicken was out of this world as well, so you can’t go wrong with either. Like I said, the street corn is usually my favorite part of the meal, but that was not the case this time around. First of all, it did not even have the gooey cheese on it like it should and on top of that, I don’t even think there was any salt on it. There also was not either salt or pepper on any of the tables and I couldn’t find any elsewhere. I was pretty disappointed because the picture of the street corn that was on their website did not met the expectations of what they served.

At the Sylvan Park Location, there is an outside patio in the back that allows pups to hang out while you eat. The restaurant also have a game to play with your friends that looks similar to Bocce Ball. We didn’t get a chance to play it, but it looked like a good time. Have y’all been to the other Local Taco locations? If so, I would love to know how it was compared to this location!! Let me know in the comments below.

Let’s brunch

Ya know what’s better than a good breakfast or dinner place? A great brunch place you can go to with friends AND your dog on a bright and crisp fall day. Also, a place that doesn’t break your bank. This past weekend I went to Crow’s Nest (located right across from Kroger in Green Hills) on Sunday with my roommates Erin and Meghan and sweet Mazey.

This was not my first time at Crow’s Nest, but it was my first time for brunch. The restaurant has an outdoor seating area on the lower level where you can sit with your dog. The restaurant has semi-outdoor seating downstairs and upstairs, pictures of these that you can find on its website. We got there at about 12:30 and sat down pretty quickly. It was a fairly crowded day, but it wasn’t as busy as it could have been and did not excuse how long it took to get our food. We had about three different people serving us and we had to wait almost 30-35 minutes to get our meals. Crow’s Nest has a great-looking brunch menu which you can find here. Unfortunately, I am allergic to eggs. Sad, I know. I ordered the waffle breakfast sandwich which was supposed to include eggs on it, but I was able to sub those for extra hash browns and bacon, which how could I go wrong with that?

By the time our food arrived, Meghan’s food was cold, so she sent it back. One of our waiters apologized for the wait and the cold food; however, it was not the most ideal situation. Other than how long it took to eat, taste wise, it was pretty good. My food wasn’t exactly the warmest it could have been, but I was so hungry that I couldn’t wait any longer to send it back.

I would give the overall experience a 6/10. It wasn’t the best brunch I have ever had, but it wasn’t exactly the worst either. Mazey enjoyed it too because she got to eat some of that extra bacon, and there’s not anything much better than that. What are your favorite places to brunch?

Will bark for tacos

If you are anything like me and my roommates when it comes to deciding on a restaurant, Mexican food is always the best option. Not only is Mexican food delicious, but there are so many different combinations and so many flavors to try that it never gets boring. now, and this is a personal preference, I would rather eat a plate of fajitas meant for two rather than a couple of small gourmet tacos.

However, sometimes ya just need to eat some gourmet tacos and bring your dog along and have a trendy meal with your girlfriends. So, that is exactly what I did.

Over the weekend I went to Bar Taco with Mazey and my roommate Erin. Bar Taco is located on 12 South, a hopping shopping and food center right next to Green Hills. 12 South features many great restaurants and boutiques and hosts a variety of Nashville’s food trucks.

Bar Taco is great because you can have a great meal and bring your dog along for the fun, too. The restaurant has ample outdoor seating, water bowls for your dog, heaters in case it’s a little chilly in the evening and blankets in case it is really chilly. Since Bar Taco is in an extremely busy and trendy area, the wait time at Bar Taco can get a little long. However, the service every time I have eaten at the establishment is great. Our waiter over the weekend was warm and friendly and took the initiative to befriend Mazey.

Not only was (and is) the service above par, but the food itself is phenomenal. Although it’s a bit on the spicy side, you cannot necessarily go wrong on any of the food options, my favorite being the Mexican street corn. I ordered the fish and steak tacos, while Erin and I shared a side of pineapple.

You would never guess it, but for dessert, Bar Taco has incredible gelato. I could not tell you why they have an Italian dessert on its menu, but I am not complaining about it because it is just that good. I have not tried any of Bar Taco’s other desserts,  but I have been eyeing its churros for quite some time. So if you have had them, please let me know how they are in the comments below!! What are your other favorite Mexican restaurants?

 

 

Edwin Warner Dog Park: all pups welcome

One of my firsts posts on this blog was about the swimming pond at Edwin Warner Park. However, even though that spot is a great place for dogs, the park has an area that caters specifically for dogs at its fenced-in dog park.

I started taking Mazey here at the beginning of the semester after doing some research on closer dog parks to my house. I was making the drive to East Nashville to Shelby Dog Park prior to hearing about Edwin Warner because that was the only place I knew of. Shelby Dog Park was nice, but it was a little too far and secluded for my liking. Edwin Warner’s Dog Park, on the other hand, is in my opinion one of the best in the area. Located off of Vaugn Road, the dog park is nestled right on the edge of the woods.

As soon as we pull into the gravel lot, Mazey knows where we are. I have to rush to open the door for her because of how excited her barking gets. Depending on the time, the park can either be extremely crowded or be empty. Usually the afternoon between 2 and 6 are the best times to go so your dog can have other dog friends to play with.

The gate to get into the park has two doors so you can bring your dog in, take its leash off and then open the second gate to enter the park. This space allows you some time to get your things organized before other dogs come over to play. It also prevents dogs from getting loose if someone is leaving. The park provides a dog drinking fountain (if you are wondering what this is, look no further and click here) at their height so they can cool off after running around or playing fetch. They also provide doggy bags so owners can clean up after their pup and no one has to ruin their shoes.

The only negative side of the park is that there is not much shade for the sunnier days. Though it provides ample seating for owners, it can definitely get uncomfortable sitting in the sun for a long period of time.

The gif above is Mazey playing with one of her new friends. We see this dog quite often since a lot of the same people go to the park at the same times. Everyone I have met there is always so friendly and open, usually striking up conversations about our pups. Have you been to a Nashville dog park that you really enjoy? Let me know by commenting below!!

Fido’s coffee run

With classes, homework, work, and practices for two upcoming performances, these past couple of weeks have been completely draining. I have neglected to make any time for myself, so this week I decided to change that. In terms of taking a break, there are not many things that are better than a coffee date with a couple of friends and a furry sidekick. I had texted my roommates, telling them that Mazey and I were going to Fido and if anyone wanted to come, they were more than welcome. Leanna and Erin both decided to come with. 

This was not my first time to Fido. However, it was the first time I had brought Mazey along. Fido is located in the Hillsboro Village, along with many quaint boutiques and the famous Pancake Pantry. Though dogs are not technically allowed inside the restaurant (pretty sure that is a health code violation everywhere) Fido accommodates for customers to bring their furry friends and sit outside. Seating was available all along the outside windows of the restaurant and even provided water bowls for the pups.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When we got there, I asked Erin to hold Mazey outside while I went inside to order. This aspect of the restaurant was not as inviting for customers with dogs because if I had not had a friend with me, I would have had to left Mazey outside alone while I went in to order. Luckily, there were not many people there so the it did not long to get through the line to order.

With the fall season and all, of course they had their list of seasonal drinks out. I cannot resist a good latte that tastes like fall or Christmas. So, I went all in. I ordered two Drury Lane lattes that featured nutmeg, clove, vanilla, ginger, and cinnamon. Let me just save you the time of deciding whether or not you should get it–because you should. It was great, and I regretted not getting the larger size.

 

Not only was the coffee great, but the service was too. The cashier was personable and kind. I never felt like I was being rushed out the door or being forced to buy more food or drink than I wanted. I could tell that the barista not only enjoyed his job, but he was intentional about the way he was making these drinks and cared the way they tasted. And boy, did he also do a good job.

I did not get any food this time around, seeing as it was in between lunch and dinner time. However, like I said earlier, I have been there multiple times before with my parents, and I have yet to have anything on the menu I do not like. The one downside to Fido (which I experienced in previous trips) is how long the line gets during busy hours. Thankfully it was not so the day I went with my friends, but I have waited in line for about 45 minutes before to just order my food.

Overall, Fido was and is one of my favorite places to eat, get coffee and sit outside with Mazey. The little downtown shopping area is warm and inviting. There is not usually a lot of traffic, which makes it fairly accessible to walk around and cross the street with ease.

If you have been to Fido or anywhere else that is similar, comment below your opinions and other suggestions on where to go!

Lipscomb University welcomes all (dogs)

Last November, I moved off campus with a few of my closest friends from Lipscomb. Living off campus has many perks. For starters, I was able to get my own dog. However, leaving Mazey at home by herself was quite a challenge. Her razor-sharp teeth cut through anything she could get her mouth on, especially my clothing. Potty training was also another issue we had, considering my room is carpeted. So, rather than leaving sweet Mazey at home, I brought her to school. If you can’t find Mazey and me hanging out at home or at the dog park, odds are we are somewhere on campus.

You wouldn’t think that bringing dogs to school is the most ideal situation, however, it’s been one of my favorite places to take Mazey to hang out or do homework. Though Mazey is not a service dog, I have never had a problem with her being on campus or in the student center. She basically grew up there. Below is one of the first days she came to school. She received a lot of attention from people I had never even met before so I even got to make new friends along the way.

Though Lipscomb’s campus is not technically “dog-friendly,” as in it does not have specific accommodations for dogs, it is a welcoming place to be able to bring your pup. For whatever reason you are on campus, there is a great amount of shade for the hotter days, adequate seating to have a meal or catch up on some late work or even just to walk around the campus and enjoy some coffee from Starbucks or ABP. Starbucks offers many things for your dog that are found on their “secret menu”.

Lipscomb’s Student Activities Board even sets up a table in the square to play with dogs in order to ease stress and anxiety during finals week. Speaking from personal experience, I can definitely say that playing with cute and fluffy puppies really does work. 

Though a college campus is not the first place you would think to hang out with your dog, Lipscomb’s campus is a great option. What surprising or unexpected places have you taken your pup?

 

Beat The Heat

Days are growing shorter, Pumpkin Spice lattes have returned and leaves are starting to fall. Fall is here. Yet, the Nashville heat says otherwise. With temperatures steadying in the high 80s and 90s and humidity making my hair resemble that of a lion mane, it has become preferable to bask in the air conditioning rather than the sun.

I have made it my mission to find a place for Mazey and me to cool off in the unbearable heat. After conducting some research and asking around, I discovered a quiet, little spot nestled in Edwin Warner Park. Mazey, two of my roommates and I ventured out into the weather determined to cool off.

A creek that ran through the park drained into a swimming hole that was lined by deep brush and weeping willows. There were only a few other dogs and their owners there. Mazey was a little tentative at first, but after she saw the other dogs swimming, she joined right in. Tennis balls and dog toys were scattered for anyone’s use, and other dog owners were extremely friendly and kind.

I would definitely recommend Edwin Warner for dogs and owners that love to be outside and go on adventures. It was a place for not just dogs, but also owners, to enjoy each other’s company. What places do you and your pup go to during these blazing, hot days?