North Texas Daily

It’s time for lunch. You’re alone and empty. Your stomach growls for attention, begging you for more sustenance than iced coffee. What do you feed her?

I’m not here to shame anyone for eating Chipotle multiple times a week. But for those looking for an out, I hear your call for help and I am here to steer you in the right direction.

Oldwest Cafe

For those looking for a little more than IHOP, Oldwest offers classic breakfast items with a southern twist. This isn’t a competition, but the Gold Fields french toast is a definite winner. Appropriately named, two half-sliced pieces of soft, gooey bread are dipped in an almond-crisp batter and topped with a dash of powdered sugar, sliced bananas and buttery whipped cream.

The coffee menu has expanded thanks to the relocation of Oldwest, which has granted the restaurant a whole coffee bar. The white chocolate mocha is topped with a hill of whipped cream and the vanilla iced coffee is sweetened to perfection.

Thai Ocha

I wouldn’t coin Denton for its authentic cuisine, but the humble family-owned Thai Ocha does a good job making their dishes fresh and flavorful. Thai Ocha does sweet and savory dishes well, and the curries are the menu’s strongest points. Pa-nang, Mu-sa-mun, yellow and red curries are all made hearty and jam-packed with veggies, nuts and your choice of protein.

The curries are also offered on a made-to-order spiciness scale of one to four. Thai Ocha is relatively small and the friendly staff makes your experience pleasant enough to visit often, if not just to have a quiet lunch away from the noise.

Ravelin Bakery

How dare an amazing little bakery be hidden in plain sight. Truly one of Denton’s gems, Ravelin Bakery is a haven for pastries, breads and desserts galore. Owned and operated by Eric and Pamela Helland and named after their two daughters, how much more mom-and-pop could you get?

Impress your friends by walking in five minutes late to class with an almond sticky bun. For having to wake up in the ungodly hours of the morning, the staff sure are pleasant. Everything is made fresh and early in the morning with a rotating bread menu every week, so there’s a reason to come by every day. Wait, bread makes you fat?

Alamo Drafthouse

Alamo Drafthouse has a cult following, especially with those who may have grown up with the chain of theaters from south Texas. No, it’s not a restaurant. But the food is 80 percent scratch-made by the kitchen and it is worth spending double what you would at a normal movie theater. The most surprising items are found on the vegan menu. Non-vegans will love the crispy buffalo cauliflower and the Beyond Meat vegan burger just as much as actual vegans. The vegan ranch is not so much of a dressing as it is a gravy, but its lack of dairy has no effect on flavor.

T.A.C.O. (Tickets Are Cheaper On) Tuesdays are possibly the best kept not-secret, with $5 movie tickets and a special taco menu. On the special menu, the Taco Taco reigns king. The classic ground beef, tomatoes, cheddar and lettuce in a crunchy taco shell and stuffed in a flour tortilla with mashed black beans. It is literally a taco within a taco. The convenience of Fry Street and fast food located at the Union make for easy meals, but routines make life stale.

Variety is the spice of life and all of the aforementioned establishments offer something unique in not just the food, but the atmosphere and staff. Eat like a local, not like a college student.

Featured Image: Ravelin Bakery. Courtesy Facebook.