Arlington Insider

Cowboys fans are invited to dine/shop at Lincoln Square before-and-after Dallas Cowboy home games. Parking for games/events at Cowboys Stadium is free with $40 purchase from Lincoln Square merchants.
 LINCOLN SQUARE SHOPPING CENTER (N. Collins St, 1 block south of I-30)
PARKING/SHUTTLE FOR COWBOYS STADIUM

Info:  http://www.lincolnsquarearlington.com/park/cowboys-stadium-event-parking/

PARKING/SHUTTLE TO COWBOYS STADIUM ON GAME/EVENT DAYS…..

Lincoln Square offers a great deal on parking for games, concerts, and other special events at Cowboys Stadium. If you spend a minimum of $40 at Lincoln Square merchants on a Cowboys Stadium event day, you can leave your car parked at Lincoln Square and walk to Cowboys Stadium (2 ½ blocks away southbound on Collin Street) or spend $10 to take a short shuttle ride to the stadium. The receipt(s) must be for that day.

The $40 doesn’t have to be from one merchant, it can be from a combination of merchants. So, for example, if you spent $20 at Half Price Books and spent $20 at Social Bakehouse Café, that would be at least $40 worth of receipts. Another example: purchase a $40 gift certificate from Black Eyed Pea, TGI Friday’s, or other merchants; that would count, too.

Here’s the info from the Lincoln Square Web site about Cowboys Stadium Event Parking:

EASY Steps:
*Spend a min. of $40.00 at Lincoln Square Merchants on a Stadium Event Day (one merchant or combination thereof)
*Display receipt(s) on the dash of your car (receipt must show “that day’s” date)
*When you’re ready, take a quick walk to the stadium and/or take our shuttle (shuttle details below)

Helpful Hints to Know:
*Don’t leave your purchased items in your vehicle…lock them in your trunk.
*Park your car in the same general area as the place you shop or dine
*Towing is enforced for cars WITHOUT receipts AFTER the Stadium Event Start Time
*If you don’t have time to shop or eat….just buy a GIFT CARD….and use it later or when you get home!

LINCOLN SQUARE SHUTTLE BUS TO COWBOYS STADIUM ON EVENT DAYS:
COST? $5 round trip before Labor day, $10 round trip after Labor Day (ask about Group Discounts!) Kids 12 and under are FREE (one child per one adult for free kids’ ride!!)

SHUTTLE BUS LOCATIONS HOURS?
Our (3) locations are open 3 hours before GAME or EVENT time (shuttle running hours begin approx two hours before kickoff/event start time). Shuttle locations include: Boomerjack’s Grill, Lupe’s Tex-Mex, Sherlock’s Pub, and Chaucer’s (click here for link which shows map of shuttle locations: http://www.lincolnsquarearlington.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/shuttle-stop-locations.pdf

SHUTTTLE BUS RUNNING HOURS?
Shuttle buses will begin running at a minimum of 2 hours before GAME or EVENT time or it may run earlier if demand dictates.

SHUTTLE RESERVATIONS?
Yes, you can prereserve your ride to the stadium. Go to http://lincolnsquare.theparkapp.com/ to reserve your shuttle passes! Check out the Web page for group discounts!

HOW? You conveniently leave your car at Lincoln Square while you hop on our on-site shuttles. Be sure you leave your shopping or dining purchase receipt(s) on your dash before you leave! You will take a quick ride down the street and be dropped off on the northwest corner of the stadium. After the game is over, you will be picked up at the same spot and be brought back to Lincoln Square. For Cowboy Games, we will sell shuttle passes and begin shuttle service 2 hours before the Game Time. For College Games, we always sell shuttle passes and begin shuttle service at a minimum of 3 hours before Game Time. It is important to note that we will provide “return service” at the beginning of the 4th Quarter and continue the “return trips” continuously until exactly 1 hour AFTER the game is over.

Dining/bar options include:  Boomerjack’s Sports Bar & Grill; Chaucer’s Sushi; Sherlock’s Pub;  Lupe’s Mexican Food; Louie-Louie Dueling Piano Bar;  Birraporetti’s (Italian food & Irish bar); Olenjack’s (one of the best-reviewed restaurants in Arlington); Colter’s BBQ; Sprouts Spring Roll & Pho; Hibachi 97 (yes, you sit around the grill and the chef prepares the food in front of you); Marble Slab Creamery; Black Eyed Pea; Jason’s Deli; TGI Friday’s; Olive Garden; and Social Bakehouse Café.
Late-night options include Louie-Louie’s Dueling Piano Bar (open til 2am, but closed Sunday thru Tuesday), Sherlock’s Pub (open til 2am),Chacuer’s Sushi (open til 2am) and Boomerjack’s (open til 2am).

Here are the shopping options at Lincoln Square: Accent Optical, Ann Taylor Loft, Art USA, AT&T Cellular World, Bath & Body Works, Bed Bath & Beyond, Best Buy, Chico’s, Claire’s Boutique, Curves, DaVita, Electric Boutique, Furnish 123, GAP, GNC, Half Price Books, Happiness Hallmark, Lane Bryant, Maren Karsen Salon, Merle Norman Cosmetics, Michael’s, Mylinda Renay Salon Spa, Office Depot, Palm Beach Tan, Perfecto Cigar Shop & Lounge, Petsmart, Pier 1 Imports, Quikset Jewelry Repair, Rack Room Shoes, Ross Dress for Less, Stein Mart, Studio de Salon/Texas Candles, Stylin Around, Super Cuts, Super Nails, Talbot’s, The Children’s Place, The Popcorn Store, Ulta, Wedding World Bridal & Formal, World Nails.

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Ever since The Food Network’s “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives” featured the restaurant, the word has gotten out about Prince Lebanese Grill which is no longer one of Arlington’s best-kept secrets.

Prince Lebanese Grill
502 W. Randol Mill Rd
Hours: Mon-Sat, 11am-9pm; closed Sun
(817) 469-1811
www.princelebanesegrill.com

Yes, when you see the Prince Lebanese Grill for the first time, you’ll have the same thought as the rest of us: hey, this looks like an old Sonic, but repainted blue & white! You’re correct, it is an old Sonic drive in. But instead of waiting in your car for a kid on roller skates to bring you a limeade, go inside and dine at one of the better kept secrets of Arlington (who knew you could fit so many tables inside an old Sonic).

Actually, Prince Lebanese Grill isn’t that much of a secret anymore. Ever since it was featured on The Food Network by Guy Fieri, the word spread pretty quickly.

Fresh ingredients, friendly service, and healthy options, and delicious food have kept this place in business since 1989. Its patrons are loyal.

Some of you may think, “no way would I try Lebanese food, I don’t even know what it is!” You’re missing out. Besides, if you’ve ever had a Gyro or a beef kabob or chicken kabob, you’ve already tried something on this menu.

The menu includes pictures of entrees which is particularly helpful for those of who are unfamiliar with Lebanese food. Seeing a photo of what you’re ordering takes some of the fear out of trying something unfamiliar. In fact, you can click here and see their menu posted on-line (photos included): http://www.princelebanesegrill.com/menu.php

All meat entrees come with grilled vegetables, a serving a cucumber sauce, a bed of rice, and pita bread. You can also add sides to your entrée for only $2.49 (the sides include a choice of Greek Salad, Tabouli, Babaganoush, or Hummus).

Prices are affordable. The sandwiches start at $3.49 and go up to $4.49. The salads (small $4.99, large $5.99) include: Greek salad (served with homemade vinegar, olive oil & oregano dressing); Fetoush (chopped onions, tomatoes, cucumbers & parsley in olive oil dressing), Tabouli (parsley, lemon juice, tomatores, cracked wheat, onions, olive oil spices) or the Lebanese Salad (chopped tomatoes, onion, cucumbers in lemon juice & olive oil dressing).

The Specialty Salads ($7.99 lunch, $9.99 dinner) come with Chicken, Falafel, or Gyro meat on top of the Greek Salad or Fetoush or Tabouli.

If you have a very large appetite, get the Prince Lebanese Special because it’s a sampling of all the grilled meats. At $14.99, it’s the most expensive item on the menu, but there’s plenty to share. In fact, if you’re coming with a friend, order this and share. The assortment includes Kafta Kabob (beef kabob), Mashwi Shish Lamb (marinated and grilled), and Shish Tawook (grill chicken breast).

Other entrée choices include:
*Shawarma Plate ($8.99 lunch, $11.99 dinner): beef or chicken cut into small pieces & stir fried with onions & tomatoes, served on bed of rice.

*Falafel Plate ($7.99 lunch, $8.99 dinner): Falafel patties served with hummus, Tahini, pickes, tomatoes, olives & pita bread (Falafel is popular with vegetarians especially; it’s ground up chickpeas mixed with spices and fried into little bite-size pieces).

*Gyro Plate ($8.49 lunch, $10.99 dinner): strips of grilled gyro meat on rice, servied with the cucumber sauce and gyro bread).

*Grilled Vegetables ($7.99): fresh off the grill, put on top of a bed or rice.

*Dolmas Plate ($7.99): rice & spices wrapped in a grape leaf (bite size, normally an appetizer). These dolmas are served alongside a bed of rice plus the grilled vegetables to make a nice portion for dinner.

As for the appetizers, if you’re coming with friends & family, you can get the Mezza Plate ($9.99) which is a sampling of the Hummus, Babaganoush, Tabouli Salad, Dolmas, Olives and Pita Bread.

Appetizers ($4.99-$5.99)
*Babaganoush Dip: (you dip the pita bread into these dips) grilled eggplant mixed with tahini, lemon juice & garlic.
*Hummus Dip: mashed chick peas mixed with tahini, lemon juice & garlic.
*Falafel: fried bite-size pieces of mashed chick peas mixed with onions, parsley & spices.
*Dolmas: rice & spices wrapped in grape leaves, served with sauce.
*Fava Modamas: fava beans mixed with tahini, lemon juice & garlic, servced with pickles, tomatoes & pita bread.
*Thyme Pie: Middle Easter open pie topped with herbs/Thyme.

Note: Dinner portions start after 3pm.

The dessert menu is small, but as long as Baklava is on there, that’s all you need (hmm, the walnut or the pistachio….). You can get an order of Baklava ($1.99) or smaller portion of a Baklava finger (99 cents). Honestly, I still haven’t tried the Borrma ($1.99). Next time, I’ll get the Dessert sampler ($4.50which includes Baklava and Borrma.

Are there any coffee lovers out there? Have you tried Turkish coffee? You can try it here, but allow a few minutes for preparation because they make it fresh upon ordering. The coffee is $1.89.

Take-out is a big part of their business. Call ahead to place your order at 817-469-1811. The restaurant’s Web site will eventually have an on-line order form, but was not ready as of July, 2011).

Prince Lebanese Grill is on located on W. Randol Mill Road, just east of Cooper Street (between Cooper Street and Collins), about one mile west of Cowboys Stadium. If you’re traveling westbound on Randol Mill from Collins, you’ll go through the intersection at Center Street. For a map/directions, click here then scroll down: http://www.princelebanesegrill.com/contact.php

Piccolo Mondo, one of the best and most popular Italian restaurants in all of North Texas, is right in the heart of Arlington. Whether it’s a ‘date night’ or get together with friends or business colleagues, Piccolo Mondo serves the finest northern Italian cuisine.

Piccolo Mondo Italian Restaurant
829 Lamar Blvd East (in the Whole Food Shopping Center)
Lunch Hours: Mon-Fri 11:30am-2:15pm
Dinner Hours: Mon-Thurs 5:30pm-10:15pm; Fri & Sat 5:30pm-11pm; Sunday 5pm-10pm
(817) 265-9174
http://piccolomondo.com

You can’t call it a “best kept secret” because locals have known for more than 25 years that Piccolo Mondo is one of the best Italian restaurants in the metroplex. Zagat Restaurant Guide recognizes it with ratings of ‘high excellent’, ‘one of the Top 10 for Food’ in the Ft Worth area, and ‘one of the area’s finest restaurants’. D Magazine recognizes Piccolo Mondo among ‘best restaurants’, ‘best atmosphere’, and ‘where the locals eat’.

Okay, sounds good.  But how authentic can it be? Well, an Order of Sons of Italy in America cited Piccolo Mondo with a ‘citation of Epicurean excellence’ and said it ‘exemplifies the fine art and traditions of Italian cuisine’.

So obviously the food has won awards. But the atmosphere is great, too. Upscale with a full service bar and a grand piano in the middle of the room because there’s live music during dinner on Tuesday’s through Sundays (Tues-Thurs, 7:30pm-10:30pm; Fri-Sat, 7:30pm-11pm).

If you are looking to impress business clients (or maybe your in-laws), consider Piccolo Mondo. And if your group needs an upscale place for its meeting or a special occasion like an awards ceremony, a special occasion banquet room is available (maximum capacity 50 persons). For info on renting the room and/or menus for groups, call (817) 265-9174.

To be honest, Piccolo Mondo doesn’t look fancy from the outside. It’s in the middle of a strip shopping center, between Whole Foods and Boston Market. But step inside and it’s all table linens and fresh flowers on each table. And the service? These are long-time, professional servers, not a bunch of high school kids with part-time summer jobs. A full bar and wine list is available.

Lunch menu entrees start at $7.75 (Spaghetti Bolognese) and go up to $23.75 (New York strip). Most of the lunch “Pasta” entrees are $9.75 with the chicken or veal or shrimp lunch entrees at $14.75.

Samplings of the lunch menu: fresh tomatoes & mozaarella salad $7.75; chicken salad or shrimp salad $9.75, soup of the day $3.75, carpaccio $7.75, linguini & clam sauce $10.75, lasagna Bolognese $9.75, capelli d’angelo pomodoro e basilico $9.75, tortellini della Nonna $9.75, shrimp marinara $14.75, eggplant parmagiana $11.75, veal scalloppine marsala $14.75, shrimp provinciale $14.75, chicken forestiera $12.75.

That’s a sampling, there’s more (of course!). And there are daily specials which will always include a couple of seafood items (maybe tilapia or cod) and some chicken specials.

All lunch entrees are served with your choice of soup or salad. On my most recent lunch visit, I enjoyed the veal scalloppine marsala (the white wine sauce) and a cup of lentil soup.

The Dinner Menu, with the larger portions, has expanded options and nightly specials. Pasta and/or House specialties start at $12.75 (spaghetti aglio e olio, spagehetti Bolognese) and range up to $42.75 for Mare e Terra (surf & turf). The most expensive item is the two Lobster Tail Isabella (2 lobster tails) for $64.75.

A sampling of the Dinner Menu: Caesar salad $3.75, prosciutto e melone $10.75, calamari I umido appetizer $10.75, lasagna alla Bolognese $13.75, fettucine Alfredo $13.75, baked maniccoti $13.75, veal scallopine alla parnigiana $23.75, beef tenderloin $31.75, New York strip $30.75, shrimp marinara $21.75, chicken rolatine $18.75, broiled chicken and sautéed mushrooms $17.75.

Don’t forget to leave room for dessert! If you can’t pronounce it, it must be good! Profitterol al Cioccolato is $6.75.  Same price for crème caramel, cappuccino pie, cannoli, cheesecake, tiramisu, spumoni and sorbet.

Dinner Hours are Monday thru Thursday from 5:30pm to 10:15pm; Friday & Saturday evenings from 5:30pm to 11pm; and Sunday from 5pm to 10pm. Lunch hours (weekdays only) are Monday through Friday, 11:30am to 2:15pm.

You don’t have to make a reservation, but I would recommend them for weekend evenings. For reservations, call (817) 265-9174.

Piccolo Mondo is located at 829 Lamar Blvd East at the northwest corner of Collins St at Lamar (one block north of I-30). The restaurant is in the middle of strip shopping center of the Whole Foods shopping center. From I-30, exit Collins St. (Hwy 157) and go north for one block.

Click here for a Mapquest map: http://www.mapquest.com/maps?city=Arlington&state=TX&address=829+E+Lamar+Blvd&zipcode=76011-3504&country=US&latitude=32.765714&longitude=-97.098435&geocode=ADDRESS

Piccolo Mondo is closed major holidays including: Christmas Day, New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, 4th of July, and Labor Day.