Texas Loosey's - A Temecula Tradition

A recent evening found companion and I headed for a local theatrical opening and in need of a some fortification. For a little something different, we stopped by Texas Loosey’s, cousin to legendary Temecula steakhouse Texas Lil’s, for a little down home cookin’. Loosey shares parentage with Lil, some menu items are the same and the servers are equally comely – all good things.

Texas Loosey’s menu is pretty extensive and includes some Country Salads, Tex-Mex Specialties, Fishy Things and of course Ribs & Steaks and Trail Boss Favorites. For a little lighter fare there’s also some hefty burgers, chili spaghetti, chili tamales, chili fries and one offering called ‘The BIG Weenie’, a ½ lb. foot long dog smothered in chili, cheese, onions and tomatoes. It’s not a diet special.

From their ‘Out of the Shoot’ appetizers, we decided to try Pedro’s Poppers. I don’t know where Pedro gets these things but they are the hugest jalapeno’s I’ve ever seen. These monsters are lovingly hand-stuffed with cheeses, battered, deep-fried and served piping hot to the table with a little ranch dressing. While these poppers are indeed huge, they are surprisingly mellow and darn tasty. Other appetizers include their signature Ceviche, riblets, twisted onion rings and the Texas Egg rolls that have been a staple at Texas Lil’s for years. To serve up a passle of cowboys, you might want to order the Rodeo Sampler, a heapin’ helpin’ of all these favorites plus nachos, taquitos and more.

There are so many tasty sounding treats on the menu that it’s not easy paring your selection down. How to choose between Sierra Maria Tri Tip, Baby Back Ribs, sizzling Texas Style Fajitas or Spicy Meat Loaf featuring lean ground Buffalo meat. We grilled (heh-heh) our very helpful server but she was no help at all. “Everything is good here – maybe you should try the Bullrider Combo where you can get a steak and shrimp, or chicken and ribs, or Mahi Mahi and Sirloin or…” Thanks for the help.

Companion thought the Stuffed Sirloin Steak sounded like a winner. It’s 12 oz’s of ground Sirloin stuffed with Bleu Cheese, grilled to perfection and topped with sautéed mushrooms, grilled onions and  a few more Bleu Cheese crumbles. Mmmmmm. Served with a baked potato and cornbread, this is one tasty and filling meal.

I was roped in by the Baja Stuffed Shrimp. These large gulf shrimp are stuffed with crab meat and cheese, wrapped with bacon, deep fried and served on a bed of Jasmine rice, steamed vegetables and cornbread. Yep. It’s as good as it sounds.

Now there are times when you feel like just a steak or just shrimp and the unadulterated flavors thereof. But then there are the times when you feel a little adventurous and want a few taste buds ticklers stacked together. This was one of those times and these meals just fit the bill. The combination of sirloin, bleu cheese, mushrooms & onions is hard to beat, but bacon wrapped shrimp stuffed with crab and cheese is a close second for tasty flavor pairings. Fortunately companion was willing to share a bite or two (grudgingly) of the stuffed sirloin and I was forced to reciprocate by sacrificing a couple of my shrimp.

I’ll also mention that Texas Loosey’s offers a full bar along with some house specialty drinks, Margaritas and a herd of custom martinis like the Dirty Cowgirl, 2000 Flushes and a Flirtini. Woooo- woooo. Their draft beers are served ice cold in oversized glasses and include Sam Adams, Sierra Nevada and DosXX.

Needless to say, after an adult beverage or two, stuffed jalapenos, stuffed sirloin and  stuffed shrimp, companion and I were, ahem, stuffed – but pleasantly so. Better yet, we didn’t have to mortgage the ranch to pay the tab. Dinner and drinks for two plus a great performance by the Murrieta Repertory Theater set us back less than a C note, and that’s not a bad night out.

In addition to being reasonably priced, Texas Loosey’s also has Happy Hour every day from 3 – 7, Two-fer Tuesday when a meal and 2 drinks includes a free second meal and a 60+ club that’ll land you a couple free meals after joining up for free. Lots of good stuff. Located in the Tower Plaza, Texas Loosey’s is back behind Starbucks where Rockin’ Baja used to be. If you’re visitin' Temecula looking to wrassle up some good grub fer a fair price, it’s worth stoppin’ by. You can reach them at (951) 694-8119 or check into www.TesasLooseys.com.

Gene Wunderlich - Selling Southwest California Homes including Temecula, Murrieta and the Southern Californias Wine Country.