JOE'S Pizza, Pasta and Subs!

Joe's is a great little italian place behind the mall off of Buffalo Gap. They serve fast italian but great stuff in the genres of pizza, pasta and subs. I'm a long-time fan of the Joe's movement. They have tons of these located all across the Dallas-Fort-Worth area where I'm from and I was pleased to find out there was one here in Abilene. It was the first place I dined at when I moved to town and I'd consider myself a regular these days.

Katherine Lane and I paid the little place a visit last night. We both got the house salad (you have to get it with the house dressing) which is my favorite salad in town and it comes with this garlic bread that makes a great compliment while you wait on your food. Everything is made fresh and it has a very New York feel and flavor to it. Last night I ordered the meatball sub and Katherine ordered the baked ziti... both were absolutely scrumptious! It was too much food for us girls but it was hard to stop because it was so good! We recovered from our full stomachs with newsroom coffee a slow night at the station.



My recommendation... GO! It's great, affordable and has the best house salad in town!

Sharon's BBQ

Sharon's BBQ, I've found out is pretty well known in the Abilene area. Michelle Dapper and I had a few minutes while we were on our way to a live shot at the expo center on friday night and we were STARVING so we made a pit stop at Sharon's. It was my first time but Michelle had been before. We decided to get two different things and spit them both. Michelle got the chopped brisket and I got the sliced sausage sandwich and a variety of sides between the two of us. The BBQ was great! Some of the sides were really to die for as well. They have a corn side... it's creamy with corn and jalapeno chunks and who knows what else but the flavor was great. Also their potato salad was interesting - different but top notch as well.

From what I understand, Sharon's serves fantastic bread. We were a tad in a rush so somehow this little detail was overlooked but the bread comes so highly recommended that I'll have to make a return trip.

Overall, great BBQ joint. I'm not the biggest fan of BBQ normally but this place surpassed my expectations. Check it out if you're not already a fan.

Brick Oven Pizza Company

So conveniently located at the intersection of S. 14th and Winters Freeway, Brick Oven Pizza Company is a little Italian place that shares a shopping center with Hobby Lobby and Abuelos. I'm not sure what my affinity is to these little hole-in-the-wall joints but this was quite good as well. They have an entire selection of different pizzas that range from adventurous to standard. I went for a pizza called "The Favorite" with cheese, artichokes, peppers, onions, tomatoes and more - a delish combination of flavors. The little restaurant appears to be one of those come order your food at the counter and sit down with it kind of places but it's not. They have servers in matching uniforms and a salad bar that is small but has everything you need.

Overall, great food with a mediocre atmosphere. Great for an affordable lunch date and Oh yes - they had a small selection of beer and an even smaller selection of wine but they had it nonetheless so with that combination of things, they win my vote. Check them out!