TLC in Texarkana, Texas

From TLC

I always thought it would be fun to be a food critic, so from time to time, I will play one on my food blog.

There is this cozy little hamburger joint in Texarkana, Texas, that my family loves to go to when we are in town. My sister in law (SIL) introduced this place to us. We went once again over the holidays while visiting her and the family.  I mean why not pack on more calories and go for broke?  As always, TLC did not disappoint. It is filled with Texas-sized burgers and Texas-sized friendliness. I guess the Arkansans (I swear this is a word) could claim the same, too, since the city is smack dab in the middle of the Texas and Arkansas border, therfore Texarkana.

When you walk in, or squeeze in, you are greeted with a very strong old-fashioned hamburger grill smell. Of course, if you are vegan or vegetarian, this is not a welcoming scent, but if you are serious about your meat, then this aroma is so inviting and tempting. While you stand in a very long, but steady moving line, you can not help but browse the wooden walls plastered with old signs, pictures, and banners ranging anywhere from local political "Vote For Sheriff" signs to a picture of Elvis. I mean you will stare and read while you salivate from the smells until you find yourself in front of the ordering counter next to the grill. Rumor has it that you better be quick on the draw with your order because the counter nazi will scold you as she does not play around. However, my SIL said the more lenient order- taker was working while we were there, so we took a little more time than usual before ordering. Our dilemma was not what we would order, burgers were all the rage for us (except for my rebel of a daughter who chose chicken),  just which one. Do you go for the double meat patty with cheese, double jalapeno cheeseburger or chili-cheese or any variety of combination?

Once you do decide what artery clogging meal you want, then you move your tray on down and help yourself to homemade seasoned fries. The crew there is really friendly and have thick Texarkanan accents.  They will talk to the patrons they know like friends in familiar slang and jocularity and welcome a new customer in the same manner. While we were there, my hubby and I noticed napkins with handwritten messages tacked to the wall. Some were "so and so loves so and so's, others were  raving comments about the place.  Of course I requested my hubby go and put ours up, which he did, right next to our nephew's drawing from the month before. It was still there. I hope ours will be too. I mean I think ours has a chance for survival, considering the impromptu wallpaper we had seen around us.

So if you ever find yourself in Texarkana craving a very good hamburger and don't mind a very casual atmosphere that is kid friendly and so very much the Texas way, then stop on by TLC.  It is a good old fashioned place with good ole people.

Also while you are there,  stop on by Wellworth's 5&10 right down the street. It has slim pickins' but as soon as you walk in you feel like you are walking back in time. The place is almost in original form, but just a little tattered and torn. The original owner still works there. He must be in his 90's. He is a sweet old man who hangs on to the past, but in a good way.  A lot of the inventory is dated and you can smell a sweet dusty attic smell as you walk in,  but there is something about the place that makes you feel good about life and yourself as you browse. Bring some cash, as the little store does not take credit cards, checks, or debit cards. Go ahead and purchase a little something like some ribbon or a postcard or some old-fashioned pomade. You will be happy that ya did.

That's all for now folks!