North Carolina

Excited about Eating by Ernie & Dora Hiers

/ Dora Hiers / 7 Comments

This edition of Excited about Eating takes us on a road trip to Wilkesboro, NC and to Dodge City Steakhouse, a locally owned restaurant serving hand-cut steaks, chicken, ribs, pasta, and sandwiches. Now to most NASCAR fans, Wilkesboro brings up memories of North Wilkesboro Speedway, which hosted NASCAR races from 1949 to 1996, but it is also the second location of Dodge City Steakhouse.

Dodge City Steakhouse Excited about Eating Ernie Hiers

Limited hours and ALWAYS jammed when we drive by. Glad we finally decided to stop.

Dora here. Every time we’ve passed this place during their opening hours (which are limited to four days a week), the parking lot is packed. I’m glad we finally decided to stop. This place is ginormous with ample space for hosting large parties.

Ginormous inside with ample space for hosting large parties

I chose the 12oz. New Orleans Sirloin with a loaded baked potato and a side Caesar salad. The New Orleans meant special spices that added a little kick to the meat, and the loaded potato came with cheese, bacon, sour cream, and butter. Although I ordered the steak medium well (a slightly pink center), it came out a little overcooked. Even so, that did not hide the zesty flavor. The baked potato was cooked just the way I like them, with a hard outer skin and soft inside.

Dodge City Steakhouse Excited about Eating Ernie Hiers

Dora here. I almost felt bad for Ernie because my steak tips were a perfect medium well, with just a touch of pink, and tender. Mmmm. The veggies were well seasoned and firm, and oh-so-good! Drool-worthy, yes? I don’t order a baked potato very often, but when I do, this is exactly how I want it. Salted on the outside with plenty of butter and sour cream. 🙂

Dodge City Steakhouse Excited about Eating Ernie Hiers

Steak Tips a perfect medium well and those veggies were oh-so-good!

What’s your favorite type of potato?

We rate this restaurant 4 forks out of 5 for a family restaurant serving great food.  If that steak would have come out medium well, it would have been a 5.

Excited about Eating by Ernie & Dora Hiers

/ Dora Hiers / 2 Comments

This edition of Excited about Eating takes us to a restaurant located in the heart of downtown Boone, just one block off King Street. Proper, a restaurant serving “homestyle southern cooking with a modern, seasonal slant” offers ingredients sourced locally from the community.

Dora here. The exterior looks like you’re walking up to somebody’s house. Good thing their sign is big. lol. 

Excited about Eating by Ernie & Dora Hiers, Proper

Outside…looks like you’re walking up to somebody’s house, lol

Inside was jammed shortly after they opened on Sunday, but we found a nice, quiet spot on the heated porch. Even on the porch, we could still hear the faint strains of the guitar from the live music. Subtle and soft, not in your face like some restaurants, and invited you to sit and linger over your meal.

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Heated porch

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Inside was jammed shortly after they opened for Sunday Brunch.

We shared a Brunch Biscuit Baby, like a cinnamon roll without the cinnamon, with strawberries and figs topped with a lemon glaze. Not being a fig type of guy, I was not sure how I was going to like this, but it was outstanding, with just the right amount of sweet and the figs were great. Dora here. OH MY! What a fabulous start, but it almost could’ve been an ending. Sweet, almost dessert-ish, but not so much that we had trouble eating our meal. Of course not, lol.

Excited about Eating by Ernie & Dora Hiers, Proper

Brunch Biscuit Baby…Biscuit dough rolled up, strawberries, figs and lemon glaze. Oh yeah!

Since we visited on Sunday at lunch, we were offered the Brunch menu. I chose the Chicken and Waffles. The chicken was crispy (just the way I like it), juicy and very flavorable. The waffle was light and fluffy and complemented the fried chicken well. Outstanding choice!

Excited about Eating by Ernie & Dora Hiers, Proper

Chicken & Waffle, outstanding choice!

Dora here. The Breakfast Tacos came heaping with delicious, tender brisket, sour cream and salsa. Not sure why they were called Breakfast Tacos other than they were on the Brunch Menu. The selection of fresh fruit (pears, apples and grapes) was right up my foodie alley. This meal, this place, definitely warrants a repeat several times over. 🙂

Excited about Eating by Ernie & Dora Hiers, Proper

Breakfast Tacos with a side of fresh fruit. The brisket was so tender and DELISH!

Just an FYI. Close parking is virtually non-existent. Any spots right next to the building were all taken. Parking on Water St is prohibited and the nearby lots are private, so you might have to hike from King St, just a block away. Trust us, it’s worth it. 🙂

Does music play a role in how long you hang out after a meal?

We rate this restaurant 5 forks out of 5 for a family friendly restaurant serving outstanding food.

Proper Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

Excited about Eating by Ernie & Dora Hiers

/ Dora Hiers / 10 Comments

This edition of Excited about Eating differs from our regular review of restaurants to a cafe making outstanding doughnuts and breakfast sandwiches in Harrisburg, Faith Coffee & Sweets.

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The outside gives you no clue as to the goodness waiting for you inside 🙂

This neighborhood gathering spot was packed on our Saturday morning visit with the kiddos all standing at the doughnut case picking out their favorites.

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Jammed on a Saturday morning!

Dora here. Hmmm. Looks to be plenty of adults, too, Ernie. lol. Check out this sugar heaven!

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Sugar Heaven!

I started with a Ham, Egg & Cheese sandwich on a toasted English Muffin. The sandwich was huge, tasty, and too much to eat with six doughnuts sitting on the table.

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Egg Sandwiches on a toasted English Muffin – huge and delicious!

Dora here. Six doughnuts. Ohhhh….but, before you think we’re crazy–or gluttons, lol– we only planned to taste one bite from each and save the rest for the next day. 

We selected a pumpkin spice, maple bacon, Reese’s, and chocolate mocha, all yeast doughnuts, and a coconut and cinnamon sugar cake doughnut. All were great. My favorite was the maple bacon (everything is better with bacon) and the sugar cake doughnut which is always a “go to” doughnut for me.

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Dora here. We each picked three and do I have to tell you how difficult that was? And all those exotic choices and he picks cinnamon sugar. Really, Ernie? I’d been craving a pumpkin doughnut since Halloween and I finally got one. That was my favorite. Melt-in-your-mouth, similar to a Krispy Kreme fresh from the oven. The coconut was soooo good, with a hint of…citrus? Yum! Good thing this place is a few miles away or we’d be hanging out with all the other regulars on Saturday mornings. lol.

What about you? What’s your favorite doughnut?

We rate this cafe 5 forks out of 5 for a family friendly restaurant serving outstanding food.

Faith Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato