Restaurants At Eagle's Trace Focus on Collaboration and Socialization

Keth and Amy Henley appreciate having seven unique restaurants to choose from at Eagle's Trace, an Erickson Senior Living community in West Houston, Tex.

"We are most impressed by the wide variety of entrees available at the restaurants, ranging from a simple hamburger to an excellent filet, and everything is cooked exactly to order," Keth says.

More importantly, these restaurants have helped create a vibrant social life for Keth and Amy. From gathering with neighbors for lunch to celebrating special occasions with friends over dinner, dining is a highlight of everyday life at Eagle's Trace.

Variety for every taste

Each restaurant features its own distinct menu and atmosphere, and every meal is made-to-order.

The Garden Room, the community's flagship restaurant, offers dinner and Sunday brunch in an upscale environment. Residents can enjoy a similar experience at Stetson's, a full-service venue with elevated entrees like pistachio-crusted salmon and a center-cut filet mignon.

At the Cookhouse, a stylish exhibition kitchen allows residents to watch professional chefs prepare dishes like bang-bang shrimp tacos and Cajun cornmeal-crusted catfish.

New to the dining scene is 1927, perfect for a sit-down dinner with friends. The menu features Southwest favorites like Mexican shrimp cocktail, birria tacos, and chicken enchiladas. "For those of us who hail from the South, Aunt Millie's meatloaf can't be beat!" says Keth.

At Eagle's Roost Café, open for breakfast, Sunday brunch, lunch, and dinner, residents enjoy bold flavors--the chorizo burger and jambalaya are quite popular. The cafe's deli, pizza, salad, and grill stations offer a variety of other fresh entrees.

The Waterloo Café, a friendly neighborhood hangout spot with lighter fare like salads and subs, is a great place for lunch and dinner meet-ups. "For convenience, Waterloo Café, on the ground floor of our building, is perfect," says Keth.

Bevs and bites

For more casual dinner fare, Lafitte's Pub features burgers and crispy fish and chips as well as a variety of beers. "We tend to frequent Lafitte's Pub," Keth says.

For delicious evening drinks, residents often head to the Oleander Lounge. The Perch, a lakeside cocktail bar, is a great place to relax and enjoy the view with a handcrafted cocktail.

Powerful partnership

To ensure residents continue to enjoy high-quality meals, Dining Director Michael Heilman and his team meet monthly with the Resident Advisory Council's dining committee to identify strengths and areas of improvement.

"We incorporate resident favorites and work hard to create new, exciting recipes that satisfy different palates," says Heilman. "With input from the dining committee, we can address all comments, ensuring residents' voices are heard."

"The chefs are always trying new recipes and are quite receptive to suggestions for new menu items," says Keth, chair of the dining committee. "We've also been successful in implementing resident requests, like adding a shuffleboard table and more pub fare to Lafitte's."

Like Heilman, Executive Chef Lyle Mathes finds this input to be invaluable. "The committee helps us make decisions that positively impact our service," Mathes says. "Transparency and trust are very important as we work together to see success."

Amy notes that this partnership has paid off tenfold, as dining staff members--from servers to restaurant managers--are able to cater to individual needs. "The know us, and they know our preferences," she says.

Time to socialize

For Keth and Amy, what really makes mealtime shine at Eagle's Trace is the vibrant, social atmosphere.

"Dining with friends [one-on-one] and as a group is a big plus. It's excellent for socialization, which is so important for sound mental health. Just being out with friends keeps the mind active. Plus, Amy has heard all my jokes, so she appreciates it when someone else is around!" says Keth, with a laugh.

The couple often invite members from their various groups to dinner as well. In fact, many residents host club gatherings in the restaurants, creating additional opportunities for shared meals and conversation.

"We're members of one of the wine clubs at Eagle's Trace," says Keth. "That gives us an extra opportunity to share an interest with our neighbors."

Request more information today to learn more about the restaurants and social dining experiences residents enjoy.

By Susan Ingram