Taste Buds

Taste Buds

We Got a Sitter for This
Taste Buds Goes on a Downtown Double Date

Shelby

When Andrew floated the idea of a double date night downtown for the Taste Buds column, I didn’t even let him finish the sentence. Yes. Absolutely yes. The grandparents were called, the sitter situation was handled, and the girls were finally getting a night out, because if you have been reading this column for any length of time, you know we are the wives behind those tired dads. We have earned this.

What followed was one of those evenings that remind you why you love where you live. We started with cocktails at The Eagle Bourbon and Wine Lounge, laughed our way through fun golf games at Tee It Up Golf Lounge, and ended the night at Verona with food so good we were still talking about it on the drive home. Downtown Texarkana delivered in every way: the ambiance, the energy, the food, the fun. If you have been sleeping on what’s happening down there, consider this your wake-up call.

Ray

One of the things I appreciate most about downtown Texarkana is how easy it makes a date night. Park once, and the whole evening unfolds on foot. No shuffling cars, no debating where to go next—just good company and a short walk between great stops. We called ahead to Verona earlier in the day to lock in a reservation, which I would recommend if you’re planning to make a night of it. Beyond that, the evening took care of itself.

There is something about being downtown on a night when it’s all lit up and busy that feels a little like being somewhere else entirely—somewhere bigger, somewhere with more going on. But Texarkana has that if you just know where to look. This night was a good reminder of that.

Andrew

If you want to impress someone—a first date, an out-of-town guest, your wife who is skeptical about your choices—take them to The Eagle Bourbon and Wine Lounge and let the room do the talking. The moment you walk in, you feel it: the warm light and exposed brick of a beautifully renovated building from the 1800s that somehow manages to feel both historic and completely alive. New Orleans and Charleston both came to mind, and neither comparison feels like a stretch.

Melissa and Chris Fuller opened The Eagle less than a year ago, and what they have built is genuinely unlike anything else we have downtown. The cocktail menu alone is worth the visit, with drinks named for Texarkana landmarks that are both clever and well-executed, including The Grim, Broad Street Sour, Union Station, and the Stateline Sazerac. I went with The Smoked Eagle, a sophisticated riff on an old-fashioned with just enough smoke to give it real depth and richness.

We also made short work of the jalapeño pimento cheese spread, served on toasted naan triangles with crumbled bacon and fresh jalapeño slices. It was the perfect kick to a classic southern bite. There are small plates and desserts to round things out, whether you’re stopping in after work or winding down after dinner. We did both, and I regret nothing.

On a return visit, I tried the Second Breakfast Old Fashioned. It was incredible with its hint of maple, coffee, and bacon-infused bourbon. It tastes like the best breakfast you have ever had, served in a glass, at night. Go get one.

Andrew

As an avid golfer, I was elated when I heard we were going to the Tee It Up Golf Lounge as part of our couple’s date night during Downtown Live. My wife, on the other hand, did not think that the words “golf” and “date” could coexist in the same sentence. I will do my best to cover all the entertainment options this place offers, but first, I have to say that Shelby walked out saying, “We need to come back and do this again!”

Lance Scott, owner of Tee It Up, has been involved in the Texarkana golf community for many years, and to see what he has built downtown is truly impressive. There are three hitting bays, plus a fourth option that is remote and can be brought out on location, all using Foresight simulators. There are dozens of games to play, including options like TopGolf and courses the pros play, like Pinehurst, Pebble Beach, and Torrey Pines.

If you have ever played golf on a simulator, you know how hard putting can be. Not at Tee It Up, thanks to the Puttview putting green. This technology reads where you hit your ball on the green, then lets you go over to the putting green and sink the putt for real. It’s like playing a video game in real life.

Shelby and Joy enjoyed playing tic-tac-toe, putt-pong, and other games on the Puttview, while Ray and I played a quick round of TopGolf on the Foresight.

Lance also offers club fittings and club repair, which is great for golfers of all skill levels. For the avid or serious golfer, this is a great place to get your swing data, practice on a rainy day (or when it’s 105 degrees outside), or do a club or putter fitting. For the more casual golfer or someone new to the game, this is a great place to enjoy golf without the traditional feel of a round. There are also tournaments and league options posted on their social media. You really need to check it out.

Ray

Verona Restaurant & Wine Bar has been a downtown fixture since 2015, and there’s a reason it keeps showing up on every list of Texarkana’s best. The space is warm and unhurried, candlelit in the best way, with an atmosphere that makes you want to order another glass of wine just to stay a little longer. The wine list is solid, and the food makes you slow down and actually pay attention to what you’re eating. Our server, Jacob, was excellent from the start—knowledgeable, attentive, and responsible for one of the evening’s best calls. That recommendation was Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon, and it set the tone for everything that followed. Caymus is a wine that earns its reputation every single time—a rich, full-bodied Napa Valley Cabernet with deep notes of dark fruit, hints of vanilla and mocha, and a finish smooth enough to make you forget you were planning to stop after one glass. It paired beautifully with the food and complemented the evening perfectly.

I ordered the blackened snapper with rock shrimp risotto, and it was outstanding. The fish had a beautifully charred, spiced crust that gave way to tender, flaky snapper underneath. The heat was real and intentional, not just for show. The rock shrimp risotto alongside it was rich and creamy, loaded with flavor, and the two together made for a combination I would order again without a second thought.

I also had the chopped wedge salad, and it deserves its own shoutout. It was crisp, cold iceberg stacked with toppings, dressed just right, and substantial enough to feel like a full course.

Andrew started with the Caesar salad made with romaine, freshly made dressing with just the right amount of anchovy depth and lemon brightness, shaved Parmesan that melted into every bite, and house-made croutons with a satisfying crunch. A Caesar salad could be easy to phone in, but Verona took the time to do it right. It was exactly what a Caesar should be.

Andrew tackled the night’s special—devil’s shrimp pasta, which our menu listed with a Sicilian name none of us caught or can remember, but the dish itself needed no translation. It arrived in a deep, glossy sauce built on heat and butter, the kind that coats every strand of pasta and makes you want to drag bread through the bowl when no one is looking. The shrimp were plump and perfectly cooked, soaking up all of that bold, spicy richness.

Joy chose the braised beef cannelloni, a rich combination of braised beef, mozzarella, tomato sauce, and truffle. The pasta was tender, the beef filling was flavorful without being too heavy, and the tomato sauce added just the right balance. The truffle gave the dish a subtle earthy finish that worked well with the richness of the mozzarella and beef. It was warm, comforting, and beautifully done without overcomplicating the dish.

Shelby opted for the steak frites, and it was a standout. The steak arrived cooked exactly as ordered—a beautiful sear on the outside, tender and juicy all the way through, with enough flavor that it needed nothing extra. The frites, thin, crispy, and perfectly salted, were the kind you keep reaching for even when you’re full. It’s a deceptively simple dish that only works when every element is done right, and Verona got every element right.

We knew the babysitters were waiting, but we ordered the chocolate cake and crème brûlée anyway, and we have zero regrets. Crème brûlée was a childhood favorite of mine, and Verona absolutely did it justice. The chocolate cake arrived looking as if it was meant to serve a table twice our size—dense, dark, and deeply chocolatey, with frosting thick enough to stand on its own. The crème brûlée was silky and perfectly set, with that satisfying crack of caramelized sugar on top that never gets old and takes me right back every single time. Four adults who had already eaten too much gave it everything they had, and we almost finished it.

Portions are generous, the vibe is relaxed, and the atmosphere encourages conversations that keep going long past the time you meant to leave. Call ahead, slow down, order the Caymus, and do not skip dessert. You will not regret a single bite.

Joy

Turns out the best night out we have had in a while was about ten minutes from our front door. Who knew? Downtown Texarkana did! It has been waiting on us the whole time. Make the reservation, call the sitter, and go. But you may need to warn the babysitter not to wait up.