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I had never heard of The Cottage Charm Team Room and actually discovered them when I was doing a search online for places in the area to view Christmas light displays. We went to view the show on...
I had never heard of The Cottage Charm Team Room and actually discovered them when I was doing a search online for places in the area to view Christmas light displays. We went to view the show on Christmas Eve and we were very impressed, especially since this is apparently their first year doing this. The lights were presented in different combinations and sychronized with Christmas music. They also had a table where visitors could donate canned goods to Katy Christian Ministries. You can learn more about their light show here:
http://christmas.cottagecharm.org/
We were impressed with the light show and decided to visit during regular business hours. In addition to the tea room, they haev a number of specialty shops that sell everything from home decor items to gourmet teas, coffees, and jellies. The location is beautiful inside and out and would be a great location for wedding receptions, luncheons, or formal dinners (they will provide accommodations for any of these events).
Lunch is served from 11 am-2 pm and they offer items such as salads, soup, and sandwiches in addition to tea. Dinner is served from 6-9 pm and is by reservation only. You can view their menu online.
In addition to the Christmas light show, they also offer outdoor movie nights for families from June-November and Gourmet Dinner/Star Search on select dates throughout the year.
If you haven't visited the Cottage Charm Tea Room yet, it is worth checking out. I think it is one of Katy's hidden treasures!
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Rover Oaks advertises themselves as a "pet resort" offering boarding accommodations ranging from luxury suites (complete with air conditioning, a sofa, and a color TV) to "the bunkhouse" (indoor dog...
Rover Oaks advertises themselves as a "pet resort" offering boarding accommodations ranging from luxury suites (complete with air conditioning, a sofa, and a color TV) to "the bunkhouse" (indoor dog runs). They also offer services such as extra play time, cuddle time, and even gourmet meals. Our puppy has major separation anxiety and does not handle being boarded well (we have only tried it once before and it was a nightmare).
We recently had to go out of town for a day and decided to try Rover Oaks. We were pleased with our entire experience. When we dropped our puppy off, they were very professional, and they even give us a personalized report about what she did while she was there and how she did. They were willing to accommodate special requests (and allowed us to bring in our own food, toys, and treats). Our puppy was happy and healthy when we picked her up.
Prices are reasonable and range from $26 for a standard bunkhouse suite to $36 for a luxury suite. Cat boarding is $15/day. They also provide grooming on site (for an additional fee), a doggie day camp, and training programs.
If you're looking for a great place to board your dog or cat, check out Rover Oaks.
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We had heard about Las Mananitas from family and friends, but we were hesitant to try it. We are picky when it comes to Mexican food, and we have been fans of La Finca for a long time. We got a...
We had heard about Las Mananitas from family and friends, but we were hesitant to try it. We are picky when it comes to Mexican food, and we have been fans of La Finca for a long time. We got a buy one, get one free coupon from them in the mail and decided to go ahead and check them out. I am so glad we did because I think we have found a new favorite!
Las Mananitas is located off Mason Road in the same shopping center that houses Firestone, Subway, and Pizza Hut. If you don't know about it, you would probably overlook it if you were just driving by.
The location is relatively small inside, but we were seated very quickly (we did go early to try to avoid crowds). The smoking and non-smoking sections are not well separated. There is only a small wall (3-4 feet high) between the areas, so if you are very sensitive to cigarette smoke, you will want to ask to be seated away from the divider area. If this is your first visit, you might not even notice this, but fortunately the people we were with did and so we requested a table at the front of the restaurant.
Upon being seated, we were quickly provided with drinks and complimentary chips and salsa. They have a red sauce and a green sauce. The red sauce is served warm (heated), which is a slight difference from other locations we have visited in the area. Both sauces are excellent.
If you visit La Finca often and are familiar with the menu, you will find that the menu at Las Mananitas is very similar. The main difference is that their serving sizes are larger (for example, you you order enchiladas, you will get three instead of two). Their prices are less expensive. When our food arrived, we were very impressed. The entrees and even the side items (rice and beans) were packed with flavor!
The service was great, the food was awesome, and the prices were affordable. It won't be long before we go back again!
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Although the new Chili's doesn't necessarily stand out when you are driving by, I'm sure that there are plenty of others like me who watched eagerly to see what was being built there and who were...
Although the new Chili's doesn't necessarily stand out when you are driving by, I'm sure that there are plenty of others like me who watched eagerly to see what was being built there and who were thrilled when they realized it was a Chili's. I was actually surprised that they were building a new location so close to the other location on Mason Road, but I'm not complaining. It has obviously "caught on" quickly because both times we have visited, we have gone early (in an effort to beat the dinner crowds), and it has still been relatively busy.
Although it looks small from the outside, there is really quite a bit of seating available inside. This Chili's lcoation has a very "open" concept, which I liked. While most locations have a bar and a smoking area, the bar is typically fairly small (with a few tables) and closed off from everything else. In this location, the bar and smoking area are all together. There is a wall that is probably 3-4 feet high with glass from the top to the ceiling the separates the smoking and non-smoking areas so you can still see into the bar/smoking area, but you don't have to worry about the smell. This location seems to have more booths than it does tables, so if you are bringing a large group, it may be difficult to find seating to accommodate the entire group (and you'd likely have to wait awhile to do so).
The service we have received both times has been impressive. At the location on Mason Road, it seems like our servers are always rushing us through our meal so that they can move on to the next customer and that was not our experience here. Even though they have been very busy on both of our visits, they managed to keep our drinks filled and also checked on us frequently. I felt like we had just placed our order and our food was already arriving. Everything was exactly as we requested.
One of the great things about Chili's is that their menu is very diverse ranging from salads and pasta to chicken, shrimp, and even steak, so there is something for everyone. I have tried several of their appetizers and have never been disappointed. My two "favorites" are the Southwestern Eggrolls and the Skillet Queso. This location has all of the same "favorites" as the other locations.
This location also offers "call ahead seating." Basically, you can call in advance and get your name on the list so that you can be seated quickly when you arrive. This is a great option, especially if you have children.
If you don't feel like dining in, you can also place a "To go" order. You can order any items from the menu and go in and pick them up. They have special "to go" parking and a "to go" counter so it is basically hassle free.
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Lids
Category:
Sportswear
5000 Katy Mills Cir
Katy, Texas 77494
(281) 644-5437
I recently made my husband throw out a baseball cap that he had been wearing for years. I decided it was not fit to be seen in even around our home. I knew that there would be ramifications for...
I recently made my husband throw out a baseball cap that he had been wearing for years. I decided it was not fit to be seen in even around our home. I knew that there would be ramifications for doing this. He is very picky when it comes to baseball caps, and I knew it would be difficult to find him a replacement.
A few weeks before Christmas, he mentioned that he liked the baseball cap that his brother had, and I immediately jumped on the opportunity. I figured it wouldn't be too difficult to find something similar, but I was very wrong. I spent weeks searching online and in various athletic stores (including places at the mall that specialize in selling hats). By Christmas Eve, I was desperate because I still hadn't found the hat. Fortunately, I found the Lids for Less store at Katy Mills Mall.
The location is small and inconspicuous. It is located in "neighborhood six" near Bed, Bath and Beyond. The majority of patrons, at least on the day I visited, were teenagers. They have a large variety of hats for men and women ranging from college and professional sports teams to standard Nike logo caps. More expensive caps are kept behind the counter and you need employee assistance to look at those. Overall, the prices are very reasonable.
They only have one register, and so you may have to wait awhile if there are very many people in the store. You can return any item your purchase for a full refund if it is in new condition and you have your receipt.
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We have a rambunctious puppy and in one of her latest adventures, she discovered the air conditioning unit at the side of our house. She loves to chew and nothing is safe. In the short time she...
We have a rambunctious puppy and in one of her latest adventures, she discovered the air conditioning unit at the side of our house. She loves to chew and nothing is safe. In the short time she was outside, she quickly chewed through the cords surrounding our AC unit.
We needed to get things repaired quickly, but were not sure who to call. Our previous experience with the service company provided through our home warranty was terrible and we knew we didn't want to contact them again. I remembered reading the review of George's AC & Heat here and we quickly contacted him. When we called, it was the day after a holiday, so we figured we would have to wait a day or two before he came out, but we were wrong. He was at our home within 30 minutes.
He quickly repaired the damage to the cords and wrapped them to prevent further damage. When he gave us the total for the repairs, we were very surprised. It was completely reasonable and much lower than we had expected.
In Texas, no matter what time of year it is, you cannot afford to be without your air conditioning. If you are looking for someone who offers reasonable rates and quick turnaround time, George is the man to call!
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We often forget about 9ers as it is somewhat hidden (so out of sight, out of mind). They are located just off Grand Parkway and Highland Knolls in the shopping center with Ruthie's Mexican...
We often forget about 9ers as it is somewhat hidden (so out of sight, out of mind). They are located just off Grand Parkway and Highland Knolls in the shopping center with Ruthie's Mexican Restaurant. Their menu items are comparable to other places in the area such as Skeeter's, but it won't be nearly as crowded.
The burgers are very large, and the combo meals are very affordable (about $5 for a burger, fries, and drink), so it's a great value for your money. They have a number of burgers to choose from ranging from a standard cheeseburger to favorites such as bacon-cheese and mushroom-swiss. Burgers are cooked to order, but turn around time is relatively quick (usually under 10 minutes) depending on how busy they are. They have self serve fountain drinks.
9ers offers a family friendly atmosphere. They have booths and tables as well as video games for the kids.
You clear your own table when you are finished, but they are very quick to have someone come out and wipe down tables as people leave so that there are plenty of tables as people come in.
They often have buy one, get one free coupons in the Entertainment books. If you are in the mood for a burger and want to try a new place, you won't be disappointed in 9ers.
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On the Border just opened in November 2006. They are owned by the same company that owns Chili's, and so my expectations were very high.
I have only visited this location once and I guess it's...
On the Border just opened in November 2006. They are owned by the same company that owns Chili's, and so my expectations were very high.
I have only visited this location once and I guess it's only fair to give them the benefit of the doubt since they are a fairly new location. We went during lunch and it was a teacher inservice day, so it was packed. They seated us fairly quickly, but they only had seating available in the bar area (which was smoking and we had asked for nonsmoking).
I was not overly impressed by the menu. They have a number of "traditional" items such as burritos, fajitas, and quesadillas as well as an option to create your own burrito. The average prices for items on the lunch menu were $7-9. You can get a great dinner entree at plenty of local "Mexican restaurants" and I guarantee you that the food will be better and more filling.
I decided to go with the "build your own burrito" option. They have an order pad on the table, and you choose how you want your burrito prepared (fresh, grilled, or fried), what meat you want, what "fillings" you want (beans, sour cream, guacamole, lettuce, tomatoes, cheese, etc.), a sauce, and then a "side" (black beans, side salad, etc.). You can only choose two "fillings" which I thought was a bit skimpy since the burrito itself is $7.99.
The service was incredibly slow. I do understand that it was lunch time and that they were very busy, but we were on a lunch break and most restaurants make an effort to get you in and out quickly during the lunch rush. We had to wait almost an hour before we even received our food (and nobody ordered anything "special" that should have taken extra time).
Several of our orders were wrong. For example, the fillings that I had requested were not included and so the burrito was very dry. The side salad I had ordered also was not there. Several other people at my table were missing items and had incorrect orders. It took an additional 10 minutes before the additional items or fillings were provided. Our drink orders were filled initially, but our glasses pretty much remained empty after that.
I was not impressed. I do not plan on returning any time soon, especially with their prices being as high as they are and the service being so poor. I'd recommend skipping On the Border and sticking with some other "favorites" in the area instead.
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My husband loves wings, but I am not a huge fan of them. We have been hearing about Wings 'N More pretty much since we lived here and especially about the "Buy one, get one free" deal that they...
My husband loves wings, but I am not a huge fan of them. We have been hearing about Wings 'N More pretty much since we lived here and especially about the "Buy one, get one free" deal that they offer on Tuesday nights. We finally decided to go and check them out, and I have to admit that even I was not disappointed.
Wings 'N More is located off Mason Road in the same shopping center as PetCo and Palais Royale. The atmosphere is very casual. When you walk in, they have large tables, big screen TVs, air hockey tables, and video games. The "decor" is banners and paraphenalia for a variety of sports teams. There are big rolls of paper towels on the paper (and you definitely need them!)
We went on a Tuesday night and we were seated quickly (but we got there early). As the night went on, it was VERY crowded, and I'm sure if there was a big game on TV, it would be even more crowded. On Tuesdays, they have a "buy one, get one free" special on their wings.
The wings come in a variety of "spices" including: mild, medium, hot, spicy BBQ, Hawaiian, honey mustard, and even "suicidal." They also offer additional flavorings such as garlic, garlic parmesan, lemon pepper, and parmesan. You can order different flavors in sets of 5 (so, if you get a 15 piece order, you can try three different flavors). My husband tried garlic parmesan, lemon papper, and the "hot" flavors. He was impressed by all of them. My brother-in-law tried the suicidal and was breathing fire after only two. If you can eat an entire serving, you do get your order free, but I don't hink it would be worth it to even try!
Since I'm not really into wings, I ordered a grilled chicken sandwich. The marinade was awesome and the meat was very tender. It was more than a standard chicken sandwich!
The kid's meals are pretty standard fare including things like hamburgers, hot dogs, and chicken nuggets. My daughter ordered a hot dog and curly fries and was not disappointed.
The prices are pretty standard and comparable to places like Chili's. The chicken sandwich was about $7 and it is about $13 for an order of 25 wings. In addition to their Tuesday night specials, they also have coupons in the Entertainment book. If you enjoy wings, you should definitely check out Wings 'N More!
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Kohl's
Category:
Department Stores
1200 S Fry Rd
Katy, Texas 77450
(281) 599-3050
Kohl's is a favorite place for me to shop at any time during the year, but I have also had very good luck when I have shopped their post holiday sales. Last year, we found a digital camera on a...
Kohl's is a favorite place for me to shop at any time during the year, but I have also had very good luck when I have shopped their post holiday sales. Last year, we found a digital camera on a rack with items that were 60% off and we ended up getting it for $85. They also carry the Hallmark keepsake ornaments and they are 50% off on December 26th. I have found that they usually have a larger selection of ornaments left than the actual Hallmark stores and have been able to get some great deals on ornaments in previous years.
They also have great deals on clothing. I have been able to find shirts for my daughter for $1.50-2 each and even shirts for my husband and I for $5.
They have Early Bird specials from 6 a.m.-1 p.m. Some of the highlights include:
*50% off entire stock of Leap Frog toys
*50-60% off all winter outerwear and seasonal accessories
*70% off all Trim a Tree and holiday decor
*50% off Hallmark ornaments
The one thing I dread about Kohl's is their long lines. At every location I have ever been to, they have a few registers (usually 4-8) located near the doors. The lines seem to go on and on and it takes a very long time to get through. I have never understood this as JC Penney's has the same set up but is usually very organized and manages to get people through very quickly. If you are there with more than one person, you may want to have one person wait in line while the others finishes up the shopping.
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