RESTAURANT: Linder Motor Lodge, Homer, LA

RESTAURANT: Linder Motor Lodge, (call for hours)

LOCATION: 24608 Hwy. 2 (at US 79), Homer, LA 71040; 318-927-5464

ONE OF THE DATES WE VISITED THE RESTAURANT: 5-24-05

PRICE RANGE: Low to moderate

FAVORITE FOOD: Western omlette; biscuits and cream gravy

OTHER GREAT FOODS: Bacon and cheese omlette

FOOD WE LIKED LEAST: N/A

MOST OUTSTANDING FEATURE: N/A

SPECIALS: Vary—call for current ones; Buffet at noon on Wed. and Sun.

APPEARANCE: Clean

SERVER: N/A

SERVICE: Good

UNIQUE FEATURES: Western paintings displayed on walls for sale.

COMPLIMENTARY RECIPE: N/A

COMMENTS: Restaurant attached to motel. Does not appear to have changed in 30+ years.

Amazing Cookbook: Flavored with Love

RESTAURANT: El Chico's Mexican Restaurant #255, West Monroe, LA

RESTAURANT: El Chico's Mexican Restaurant #255; (call for hours)

LOCATION: 226 Blanchard St, West Monroe, LA 71291; 318-322-8500

ONE OF THE DATES WE VISITED THE RESTAURANT: 5-22-05

PRICE RANGE: Low to moderate

FAVORITE FOOD: 12-layer chocolate cake with vanilla ice cream.

OTHER GREAT FOODS: Guacamole pico de gallo

FOOD WE LIKED LEAST: Chicken fajita chimichanga, hacienda fajitas

MOST OUTSTANDING FEATURE: nothing

SPECIALS: Vary—call for current ones

APPEARANCE: Clean

SERVER: Rita

SERVICE: Fair, slow

UNIQUE FEATURES: The blandness of the dishes

COMPLIMENTARY RECIPE: N/A

COMMENTS: The food was bland with little seasoning, the manager couldn't find any hot sauce to add to the salsa (One would expect at least Tabasco in Louisiana), even the jalapenos were the mildest I remember ever tasting (I order them religiously with Mexican food).

We had the chicken fajita chimichanga which was passable and the hacienda fajitas which were barbecued pork ribs and a solid chicken breast, neither of which could easily be rolled in a tortilla without the customer going to great lengths to cut and prepare the elements.

The best of our experience was their 12-layer chocolate cake with vanilla ice cream.

This experience certainly does not measure up to our recollection of the Dallas restaurants in that chain. We hope the whole chain is not now reflected in this restaurant in West Monroe, LA.

We will return to another one of the chain but ONLY to determine if they are all of this mediocre a quality now.

Amazing Cookbook: Flavored with Love