SugD33
newbie
Posts: 23
Reg: 05-17-11
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05-12-14 03:21 PM - Post#168500
When is this new restaurant opening?
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Jeremy
enthusiast
Posts: 464
Loc: Allen, Tx
Reg: 06-20-11
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05-12-14 03:50 PM - Post#168501
In response to SugD33
May 22nd according to their Facebook page. I'm looking forward to it but will wait for the craziness to die down. I eat at the one in The Woodlands anytime I'm there and really like it. I think it will do well here.
https://www.facebook.com/BlackWalnutCafe.Allen
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catlady
enthusiast
Posts: 689
Loc: allen tx
Reg: 03-22-02
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05-13-14 09:08 AM - Post#168526
In response to Jeremy
can't get to facebook at the office
where is it going to be?
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SB
enthusiast
Posts: 1553
Reg: 09-07-03
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05-13-14 09:16 AM - Post#168527
In response to catlady
We're located just West of the outlets on the corner of Stacy & Watters Roads. (Opening late May!)
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[from their a Facebook page]
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allen
enthusiast
Posts: 1965
Reg: 12-02-05
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05-13-14 11:02 AM - Post#168532
In response to SB
Seems drastically overpriced for what appears to be fairly generic chain american food.
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mgrayar
enthusiast
Posts: 3861
Reg: 09-25-09
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05-13-14 11:14 AM - Post#168533
In response to allen
Prices seem very similar to most other moderate priced family restaurants. I would compare it to BJ's.
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TXWayne
newbie
Posts: 18
Reg: 10-15-12
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05-14-14 07:12 AM - Post#168558
In response to mgrayar
I like the happy hour menu and the fact it is within walking distance, a good combination...
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mgrayar
enthusiast
Posts: 3861
Reg: 09-25-09
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05-19-14 01:42 PM - Post#168656
In response to TXWayne
I guess it opened. I keep seeing messages from people I know that they tried it today.
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TXWayne
newbie
Posts: 18
Reg: 10-15-12
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05-19-14 03:29 PM - Post#168666
In response to mgrayar
I guess it opened. I keep seeing messages from people I know that they tried it today.
The official opening is Thursday, there have been free, private preview meals ongoing, I went yesterday. Had a Blu Cheese burger and it was ok. From what I get from my friends the breakfast was very good. Will have to reserve my opinion until I can try more things.
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Bytor
member
Posts: 26
Reg: 01-16-09
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05-20-14 08:16 PM - Post#168715
In response to mgrayar
I went today for Lunch. Our party had Salmon Salad, Steak Dinner, and the Tatonka Burger. All were quite tasty, well prepared, and very quick service. I'll have to wait until it opens and visit again.
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txd2
member
Posts: 27
Loc: Allen
Reg: 06-08-09
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05-24-14 11:00 AM - Post#168791
In response to Bytor
I just drove by there this morning and it was packed. The patio was hopping !
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nomoon
enthusiast
Posts: 1026
Loc: Allen
Reg: 05-31-06
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05-26-14 10:13 AM - Post#168805
In response to txd2
I was one of the lucky ones to have gotten a free lunch during their start up. The food was very good. Lots of variety on the menu, and they have breakfast. The atmosphere is definitely a notch higher than most Allen restaurants.
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Jay J
enthusiast
Posts: 595
Reg: 11-09-05
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05-28-14 08:04 AM - Post#168828
In response to nomoon
We tried out Black Walnut yesterday and found the food to be excellent. I had the french dip, my spouse had the pot roast, and were both pleased.
The atmosphere is similar to La Madeline, but it's not rustic it's more modern and upscale, almost reminded me of fancy hotel lobby / restaurant or something.
You get in line to order your food, wait for them to buzz your order ready indicator that they give you when you place your order, then go and pick it up next to where the cash registers are.
It was a bit pricey as for the two meals I mentioned above, and one soft drink it came to $29, and the layout of the restaurant doesn't appear to be well thought out, because the drinks are to the right of where you order, but the seating is to the left.
When we arrived at 11:30am there was already a line to order, so you were forced to have to cut through the line of people to get your drink, and pick up your order and there didn't appear to be enough indoor seating for more than 2 people.
They had a good sized bar area, and a lounge type area near the front door, but I suspect that most folks would prefer to just sit at a table or booth to eat. Likewise, they had a very large patio which appeared to be pretty full when we left, but I can't imagine it's going to be that popular in another month (June) when the temps start to hit the mid-upper 90's.
All in all, i'd give it a thumbs up, someone above mentioned BJ's and I'd say they are both similar, in both price and food quality.
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Will
enthusiast
Posts: 257
Reg: 07-28-09
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05-28-14 10:44 AM - Post#168832
In response to Jay J
We ate there this morning. I enjoyed the breakfast sandwich and my wife and five-year-old son shared the French toast. My wife liked it, but when the manager came to ask how we enjoyed the food, my son, who had not eaten but one bite, quickly exclaimed that they serve dog food. We were a little taken aback by that one. At least he enjoyed his bacon even if it was $2.50 for two pieces of it. I thought the other food was reasonably priced, but drinks were a very steep $2.79 for adults and $1.49 for kids.
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AA
enthusiast
Posts: 864
Loc: Allen, TX
Reg: 07-20-09
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05-28-14 12:55 PM - Post#168838
In response to Will
Apparently we are in the minority. 4 of us went late Monday afternoon and none of us were happy with our food. First off, I really wanted the Cuban Sandwich and my wife really wanted the Pulled Pork… But surprise, Memorial Day afternoon, 3 days after opening and they have no pulled pork. Big strike right from the beginning. I ended up getting the French Dip and my wife had a Chicken Sandwich. The French Dip had the oddest flavor I have ever tasted on that type of sandwich. Maybe it was the Asiago dressing, but even tasting the meat itself I did not think was very good and was actually pretty generic. I’m not sure what the other couple had but they too were not satisfied but we all agreed that the fries were very tasty. Even the deserts were not satisfying. We had a Sherbet and something that I don’t know even how to say  . It was very expensive, our 2 meals, 1 drink and 2 small deserts came out to $36. Not the price I want to pay for lunch at a cafeteria style restaurant. Which brings me to another point to which someone commented on earlier. The layout of the place is HORRIBLE. Since it’s café style, you have to wait in line to order. That line goes directly down the center of the room with dining on both sides. When you have that on top of having to get back up from your table to get your drinks, silverware, napkins and finally your food once they buzz you that it’s ready, you have to weave through the people waiting in the line. There were no trays to carry your food (that I could see) so if you have more than 2 plates in your party, you are making more than 1 trip to the line. It baffles me as to why they didn’t make the line and pick up location along a side wall or something or even a table delivery similar to Jason’s. I’m not sure if I will be back, maybe in the distant future, but taking into consideration the sub-par food and the price, I will probably stick with Cotton Patch.
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richardb
enthusiast
Posts: 614
Loc: Allen
Reg: 04-17-00
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05-28-14 12:58 PM - Post#168839
In response to Jay J
There aren't tables to be seated at and no waiters or waitresses and no indoor seating except in the bar or lounge area?
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Will
enthusiast
Posts: 257
Reg: 07-28-09
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05-28-14 01:36 PM - Post#168840
In response to richardb
There was a room full of tables, but as others have mentioned it is on the opposite side of the restaurant from the beverage station. No wait staff - the concept is upscale counter service. It's more like Cafe Express.
Edited by Will on 05-28-14 01:38 PM. Reason for edit: No reason given.
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Joel
enthusiast
Posts: 380
Reg: 10-11-06
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05-29-14 10:20 AM - Post#168848
In response to Will
Not worth the price. With so many choices why would anyone pay this much for mediocre (at best) food. I can get full service and better food for less.
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rtinallentx
enthusiast
Posts: 453
Loc: Allen, TX, USA
Reg: 04-08-03
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06-20-14 06:55 PM - Post#169242
In response to Joel
Tried Black Walnut this evening. The food tasted great; however, $15 for a definitely small pasta dish and a glass of tea is bordering on being outrageously over priced.
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eddie
member
Posts: 47
Reg: 08-30-11
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06-22-14 12:12 AM - Post#169263
In response to rtinallentx
So, I have been there and done that and also ordered take-out.
In house, I went with my in-laws. My mother-in-law grew up in Cuba, so she and my father-in-law ordered the Cuban sandwiches. They liked them, but said they were not very Cuban, which is to be expected. Allen is not Miami nor Havana. Regardless service was great. I ordered the pulled pork carnito tacos which were very good. My wife and daughter ordered turkey burgers and both said they were great.
Today, sans in-laws, we ordered takeout. I again ordered the pork carnitos to share with my wife, my daughter ordered a a fried chicken sandwich and I decided to try the fried pickle appetizer.
Again, the carnito tacos were excellent although not ready on delivery. So the rest of the order had to sit for 20 minutes. With that in mind, the fried pickles were good, but a bit limp and the breading was sloughing off. However, the dipping sauce is really, really good.
And, the daughter did not get a sandwich. She received instead chicken strips with fries. She did say they were good.
All in all I would have to say the quality of the food is good or better. However, it has a large menu and no wait staff and the price point is high.
There is a bar, though, which I have not experienced. Buying a drink or a beer with a meal is easy in the sense that you have to order your drink and take a receipt to the bar. It does have a lot of seating.
It is similar to Zoe's with a larger menu and a bar.
Very friendly and good food, but I think the place would do better with a wait staff.
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