If you haven't ever been to a Gloria's Restaurant, you need to go! We had our first visit on Friday night and chose the Garland Firewheel location (they have nine others).

This is a beautiful place- sleek, modern, 2 story haven and it's already very popular. We arrived at 6:30 pm and had a 30 minute wait but it was WELL worth it. You can wait in the foyer, outside or at the ample bar area. With $3.00 margaritas, mojitos or sangria available anytime, you can imagine that the bar is a big hangout!

Once we were seated, a basket of fresh warm chips, black bean dip and salsa arrived. Our waitress followed right away and got drink orders- we went with the $3.00 margaritas- an excellent choice!

The menu is extensive and is divided into Appetizers & Soups, Salvadorian food, "Salvatex", TexMex, Seafood, enchiladas, quesadillas and more. It all looked terrific.

My dinner selection was the Fish Tacos - three soft flour tacos stuffed with the best grilled tilapia I have ever tasted and accompanied by beans, rice and guacamole, all beautifully presented on the plate. My meal was $13.95.

RJ got the "Mar Y Tierra" ("Surf & Turf) - grilled skirt steak, topped with three jumbo grilled shrimp and served with queso fresco, black beans & rice. $15.95.

We both felt like we'd died and gone to Salvadorian heaven. We sure enjoyed every morsel.

Maybe Gloria's isn't a place you can run over to & dine at every night but it is extremely deserving of a visit when you can. We're already planning our next time over there and what we'll have- there are so many choices!

Gloria's Restaurant, 360 Coneflower Drive, Garland, TX 75040 and nine other locations.

Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass The Lonely Bull