Crane's Craft BBQ at the old Wagon Wheel Dancehall in Tye, TX, is a feast for the family

 

Crane's Craft BBQ is a family run restaurant that is open Wednesday-Saturday from 11am until 4pm (or sell out) which is located off of I-20 between Abilene and Tye. It was once the location of the Wagon Wheel which was a squaredance emporium back in the day. I enjoyed the nod to the history of the place that you still see in the building. 

Chopped brisket with a side of chips and queso and green chili hominy

As my mom, my brother, and myself walked in at around 11:30am, we were greeted by the owner. He was super friendly and quick with a joke. You place your order at the counter.

My usual order at all barbeque joints is a chopped brisket sandwich ($14) which was made with half lean/half moist brisket in this case. The sandwiches come with a side of smoked queso and totopos (tortilla chips). I also ordered an extra side of green chili hominy ($3) and a glass bottle of Mexican Coke ($3).

My mom ordered a smoked baked potato stuffed with chopped brisket and all the usual loaded potato toppings, which I believe was about $14. The potato was cooked in the smoker instead of an oven and rubbed with beef tallow. It was huge.

Interior--Order at the counter

My brother who is doing keto right now had a half pound of moist sliced brisket ($15). All of us were pleased with the taste of our brisket and the prices are about average for our market. My mom and I both had leftovers that will make a second meal for us.

You also get onions, peppers, or pickles for your plate but they are not self-serve. The options for sauces were self-serve and included a sweet version and a tangy version. Both tasted sweet to me and had an ingredient in them which made the taste a bit wonky. None of us were fans of the sauces. The meat did not really need the sauce but a nice sauce and help take the barbeque up a notch.

Interior looking toward the stage

I found the smoked queso to be unique. The taste of the cheese put me in mind of the Kraft Old English Cheese spread you used to get in a small glass jar mixed with some Mexican spices and smoke. The totopos were on the thick side. They will not break when dipping them in the cheese. I would have liked it if I could have substituted the queso and chips for a different side but I ended up paying the extra to get another side to try the green chili hominy. The taste of the hominy was nice but it was a bit on the oily side for me. I think a bit of sour cream would have helped it. 

Meat choices other than brisket included pulled pork, pork ribs, four kinds of sausage (house, chedder jalapeno, cracked pepper, boudin) and turkey.  Their marketing indicates that their beef comes from Goodstock by Nolan Ryan. They offer a nice variety of sides but none of them were low carb, except for perhaps the cucumber salad. Some sides they have that are a bit different are pineapple cassarole, elote asado, and chedder jalapeno grits. There is also the usual loaded potato salad, beans, mac and cheese, and Texas twinkies (jalapeno poppers). You can also get two slices of white bread for a $1. 

Brisket stuffed potato--Saturday only

Dessert options were a chocolate flan or banana pudding. Drinks are all bottled. No fountain sodas. Beer is also served. 

Service was great! I also liked that there was handy access to take out boxes. Seating is family style with long tables and benches. 

The restaurant also offers live music. Check their social media on Facebook or Instagram for who is playing and any specials such as the smoked potatoes or beef ribs.

Give the place a try if you find yourself around Tye and have a craving for some BBQ for lunch.  

Crane's Craft BBQ

(325) 386-9934

1023 S Access Rd, Tye, TX 79563

https://cranescraftbbq.com/

Hours

Sunday-Tuesday--Closed

Wednesday--Saturday 11:00AM - 4:00PM (or sell out)

TurtleMan’s Burger Grill in Potosi has smash burgers, jumbo mozzerella sticks, ice cream, and more

Cheeseburger and fries

TurtleMan’s Burger Grill was doing a brisk business, both inside and for take out, on the Saturday afternoon when myself and a couple of family members arrived after a short jaunt from Abilene for lunch at 1:45pm. There was parking, so I took it as a good sign that a table would be available inside.

After looking over the menu, I ordered the cheeseburger ($9) with fries and a drink ($3 extra) and an order of mozzerella sticks to share ($8), which came with both ranch and marinara sauce. My brother ordered the popper burger ($11) and added added fries and a drink ($3). Mother just got a cookies and cream milkshake ($6). Lunch for the three of us came out to about $43.50. TurtleMan's is not a cheap burger place, so be prepared.

Once you order, they take your name and will call you to the pick-up window when your order is ready. We only waited about 7 minutes for our burgers to be done because there was no one in line in front of us when we ordered.

Jumbo mozzerella sticks

My brother's popper burger had grilled jalapenos, cream cheese, fried onion strings, regular cheese, bacon, with ranch dressing. It filled him up for the rest of the day. The cheeseburger I had included all the usual burger toppings.

Smash burgers are known for having crispy edges from being pressed into the grill and for having a thinner patties. If you prefer a thick burger, you may want to try another item on the menu.

The smash burgers were a decent size and the meat had a good flavor and was bigger than the bun. I especially liked the pickles as they reminded me of the more expensive refridgerated pickles that have a good crunch and extra dill flavor to them. The other veggies on the burger and the bun were fresh. It was not a dry burger except for the crunchy edges, and certainly not a "non-greasy" type of hamburger. 

The french fries are handcut with the skins on. Personally, I do not prefer to have the skins left on my fries as at times the potato is not washed really well and you can get a hint of dirt taste from the skin. That being said, the fries had a crisp to them which is better than many handcut fries that tend to be a bit floppy and soggy tasting.

The mozzerella sticks come two to an order. The picture does not do justice to the size of the sticks. For long time Abilenians, think about how the cheesesticks were at Gardski's Loft back in the day. They are very big and can easily be split between 3-4 people. It is possible that the restaurant will run out at some point during the day as they make mozz sticks in-house and when the supply is gone that will be it. They are a very popular item and a highlight for me. Also, the sticks took extra time to cook so we got our burgers before they were done.

Receipt

One slight issue was that my mom had to go back up to the register to remind them about her milkshake. The workers at the front were supposed to bring it out to her. There was a rush of customers after we put in our order and the shake was forgotten. TurtleMan's uses Blue Bell ice cream so once she got it, my mom was happy with her shake. 

The next time I go, I plan to order the corn dog ($4.50), which I believe is hand dipped, and the mozz sticks again.You can also try a fried bolonga sandwich ($10.) I have never seen on a menu locally. Oh, the good old days of corn dogs and fried bologna. The remind me of childhood. There are onion rings and some chicken items on the menu as well. No salad options.

Front of the restaurant

I am certain the people who live in Potosi are happy to have TurtleMan's in the area. It is worth the trip from Abilene to give them a taste.  

TurtleMan's Burger Grill

1920 FM 1750 (on the "curve")

Abilene, TX 79602

(325) 230-4009

Hours:

M-Sat 11am-8pm

Sun 11am-3pm

https://www.facebook.com/p/TurtleMans-Burger-Grill-61568159738551/

Abilene favorite El Fenix (not the chain) in Burro Alley has reopened

For those of you who have missed the long-time home-grown eatery, El Fenix, in Burro Alley on S. 1st and S. Willis, it has reopened under new ownership recently. This El Fenix is a stand-alone and is not part of the El Fenix chain.

Based on how much buzz there has been about the reopening, Abilenians are here for it! Other reviews have been mixed. Seems like there are bumps, so this review may not reflect everyone’s experience. 

My mother and I went for an early lunch at 11am last Sunday. The usual "rush to go to a place that just opened" was not in evidence at that time, so there was no wait. The server was attentive and friendly which is always a plus in my book. One new feature of the reopening, is that they now have a full bar which was not the case in the past. Another change is that you can now pay the server at your table instead of paying at the host/hostess stand as in the past. For ease of parking, use the lot behind the restaurant. It is much easier to get in and out than parking on S. 1st street in front.

As in the majority of Mexican restaurants in Abilene, the chips and salsa came out first. At El Fenix you get two types of salsa. One is tomato-based and one is a tomatillo sauce. Both had a bit of a kick. In fact, they had the most spice of anything we ate. I prefer the tomatillo because it had a fresher taste. Unfortunately, the chips were stale or perhaps stayed in the fryer too long, so they were not crisp. I usually overeat the chips and salsa but did not on this occasion as they did not tempt me.

For my meal, I ordered what I tended to always get in the past, chicken flautas ($14). My mother got a cheese and onion enchilada topped with queso ($10). Both meals came with refried beans and rice (though I believe charro beans are also an option.) The flautas, four on the plate, were the same as I remembered, topped with lettuce, tomato, shredded cheese, sour cream and guacamole. This pleased me a lot. I believe the meat inside the flautas was a combination or white and dark meat or it was thigh meat. Few people would have never known that they were not made by the previous owner, except there was less meat than in the past.

Our meals came out quickly and everything was the correct temperature. The guacamole was especially outstanding. Very fresh and tasty. Next time I may get some of it as an appetizer. It was just that good.

My mom enjoyed her enchilada but she also does not like spice. It was right up her alley. I thought the queso looked like processed American cheese (see the pic) but she was happy with it. It is probably a good choice for kids or those who are not huge Mexican or Tex-Mex food fans.

The refried beans were on the bland side but not runny. It is a pet peeve of mine when the beans are too thin. They needed more seasoning but at least they were not over salted. The rice was good, not dry and had a tasty flavor. I liked the rice quite a lot and finished it before the beans which is a reversal of my usual precedence.

I would suggest, based on what I have heard about the experiences of others since they opened, that you do not go during peak times. The wait times for tables and food, along with adequate food temperature, have been an issue when the restaurant is slammed with customers. Also, keep in mind that although the menu is much the same as the "old" El Fenix, it is going to have some differences. Everything on the menu is not going to be exactly as it was in the past. Some people have not been happy with the differences in flavor profiles but I hope that once the bumps have been smoothed out with the timing in the kitchen, that most of these issues will resolve.

 Their extended hours are especially useful along with the breakfast options on the menu. Several locally owned Mexican places in town are not open at night. They just need to be sure the tortilla chips are up to par.

El Fenix was missed while it was gone.

El Fenix--Abilene (no website, Facebook page only)

3241 S. 1st St.

Abilene, TX 79605

325-788-0062

 

Hours:

Sunday 10am-2pm

Monday-Thursday 11am-10pm

Friday 11am-11pm

 Saturday 10am-11pm

 

 

The Smokehouse at the Doubletree Hotel in Abilene--A new edition to Abilene upscale dining

The Smokehouse is the restaurant inside the new Doubletree hotel in Abilene which opened in late July. It serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner seven days a week. For my birthday, my date and I had dinner there in late August. 

Hummingbird cake

Chocolate cake

Previously, when the hotel first opened some friends and I stopped in for dessert in the lounge outside the restaurant called the Cattleman's Exchange. All three desserts were delectable and very large for the price which was $10 or less. Each of us took about half of our portion home with us. In addition, the lounge also serves bar food. I highly recommend stopping in for a sweet treat. I understand they have their own pastry chef. The server also told us that the restaurant employs a chef that moved to the area from New York City.

 The ambiance of the restaurant is modern with a western touch. Inside there are booths but most of the seating is tables for two or four individuals. For a date, ask for a booth. 

Chocolate chip skillet cookie

Our reservation for dinner was early so the restaurant was not crowded at all. More people came in as it got closer to 7pm. Once we were seated the server came promptly and asked for our drink orders. Upon returning with our drinks, he told us about the specials for the evening. We decided to try the appetizer for the night which was fried bread and butter pickle spears. I tend to prefer dill pickles but these were quite sour for bread and butter pickles so they had a bite to them and a slight spicy flavor. They were served with a barbeque aioli dipping sauce. I found the batter to be on the heavy side. In the future, I want to try the fried green tomatoes which are on the regular appetizer menu.

Restaurant interior

For dinner, I had the brisket plate and my companion ordered the filet cooked medium rare. Sides for the steaks can be ordered separately but the price on the menu is for the steak only. The sides that came with the brisket were pureed potatoes and broccolini. The brisket was topped with fried onion strings and a gravy. The steak was a little over $50 and the brisket plate was about $18. The website for the restaurant does not list prices but expect the meal to be on the expensive side for Abilene. Since it was a celebration we were prepared for the cost.

The steak was cooked nicely and had a good color and flavor. He said it was a little different than most "Texas" style steaks. The brisket was on the fatty side for me, but many people like that. It did indeed have a strong smoky taste (as one would expect from a place called the Smokehouse). I enjoyed the sides very much but found the gravy on the meat to have a shade of a sour taste but perhaps that was leftover on my tastebuds from the strong fried pickle appetizer. The portion was generous and I could not finish the dish.

Service throughout the meal was attentive and professional. The server was able to answer any questions we had or if he could not he found someone else who had the answer. We were pleased with the training that had obviously been done with the waitstaff before opening for business.

Sliced brisket plate

The next time I go, I will go for lunch since the price points on the lunch menu are lower and there is a greater variety of choices. The dinner menu is not large but they take pride in what they serve. You can tell that this is a chef-driven place

For most locals, dinner at the Smokehouse will be a special occasion splurge, much like Copper Creek or Perini's in Buffalo Gap. The Smokehouse has a more contemporary look inside, less rustic and Texan than either of those but still with a nod to locality in the artwork on the walls. A couple could easily spend over $100 on dinner, if you both had steaks, not counting sides, appetizers, desserts, or alcoholic beverages, so be prepared.

Filet

You can make reservations on OpenTable on the app or online. Currently, the website for the hotel does not have the menu or the prices available to check before you go. 

The Smokehouse

https://www.hilton.com/en/hotels/abidtdt-doubletree-abilene-downtown-convention-center/dining/

Doubletree Hotel

500 Cypress St.

Abilene TX 79601

(325) 999-1878

Hours

The Smokehouse

Monday-Sunday 7am-10pm

Cattleman's Exchange Lounge

Monday-Sunday 11am-12am



 

Cork & Pig Tavern in Abilene--a chef-inspired place in a popular location

 The Cork & Pig Tavern is an upscale chef-driven casual dining spot that is a creation of Felipe Armenta who grew up in San Angelo, Texas. San Angelo is about 90 miles away from Abilene and I have visited the city many times and had some great meals there. The first time I ever went to the Cork & Pig Tavern was in San Angelo several years ago. Until another one opened in Abilene, I was not aware that there were other locations around the state outside of San Angelo. There are restaurants in the DFW metroplex (2), one in Midland, and one in Odessa as well. 

In addition to having a catchy name, there are several options on the menu including traditional entrees, salads, sandwiches, and pizzas, and a full bar with specialty cocktails.

Crispy Chicken Sandwich with fries

I have eaten at the Abilene Cork & Pig Tavern three times in the last 8 months or so. I decided to wait until my third visit to review them because my first visit was not impressive. My first meal there was in the winter and they had only been open a few months. My last two visits have been within the last month and were a vast improvement over the first visit.

The first meal I ate at this location was the fish and chips. I found the fish to be too heavily breaded, skimpy, lacking in seasoning. The fries/chips were shoestring fries that could only be classified as limp. The tarter sauce, however, was delicious but that is not much of a recommendation for a meal that costs $21. Also, at that time the price of the meal on the ticket did not match the price on the menu for both my meal and my companion's salad, with the ticket price being higher. This was disappointing and the server seemed annoyed that we pointed out the discrepancy. After that, I decided to give the place some time to work out any "newbie" issues before returning and reviewing them.

My second visit, I was eating with some work colleagues. This time I ordered with the crispy chicken sandwich ($15). It was topped with a bacon vinaigrette cole slaw, cheddar cheese, and pickles and came with either homemade chips or peanut cole slaw. I decided to ask for fries instead since chips did not appeal and there was cole slaw on the sandwich. The fries were still not very crisped up but at least they were not "wilted". I recommend if you want fries with more of a bite to them, ask that they make them extra crispy.

Ultimate Pepperoni Pizza

The fires notwithstanding, the chicken sandwich was FANTASTIC. I loved the flavorful slaw on top. The chicken was breaded just right and it was juicy and crispy. The bun was nice and fresh. I think this sandwich will be my "go to" in the future when I eat here. My lunch companions got the ahi tuna salad ($22), the steak salad (as quoted), and a wood-fired pepperoni pizza ($19). The ingredients were fresh and great quality, as you would expect.

The service was good but not overbearing. A very pleasant lunch was had by all. Giving the restaurant time to refine everything paid off.

Zuni chicken salad

My third time to eat there was a trip to Cork & Pig for a 4th of July lunch with the girls. We ordered the spinach and artichoke dip for an appetizer ($14) which came with tortilla chips and a small side of smokey salsa. The dip was a cream-based sauce rather than a cheese-based sauce but the flavor was nice. This time around I had the pepperoni pizza as my entree even though I was very tempted to get the chicken sandwich again. The pizza could have used a bit more sauce and cheese on it but the slices of pepperoni were big and tasted delicious. The crust was done around the outside but softer in the middle. I found this to be typical in many wood fired pizzas. I took home three pieces of pizza as leftovers. This meal could easily be split between two people. My friends got the crispy chicken sandwich, the ahi tuna salad, and the Zuni chicken salad without the blue cheese ($17). The veggies on the salads were nice and fresh and the dressings were delicious. We left satisfied and I know it was the only meal I had for the day. Everyone really enjoyed their lunch.

Ahi Tuna Ponzu salad

Service was efficient and handled well, especially considering it was a holiday.

Overall, the Cork & Pig Tavern knows how to provide quality meals but you do have to realize that the prices reflect that and that portion sizes are "normal". The most inexpensive entree on the menu at the moment is $15 and there are several items that say AQ which means you have to ask the current price, including the steaks and the fish of the day. There is also a black truffle pizza option which is pretty special for this area...and, yes, a cheeseburger too.

Appetizers range from $9-$16. There are deviled eggs and calamari on the appetizer menu if those appeal to your taste buds. There are a few desserts as well, including beignets. The Cork & Pig serves brunch on Saturdays and Sundays.

As with most restaurants in the Allen Ridge area, they do have outdoor seating. Also, parking can be a crush so you may want to park in the overflow parking across the street. 

Cheesburger

I do recommend reservations as it is not a large space and most of the tables are set up for 2-4 people. There is also seating at the bar top. This is perfect for date night. You can stroll the path around the pond after dinner. Unfortunately, the noise from the interstate and Ambler Ave takes away a bit from the ambiance when you are outside.

Cork & Pig Tavern (Allen Ridge Shopping Center)

2467 N Judge Ely Blvd, Abilene, TX 79601

325-289-4749

Hours:

Monday-Thursday    11 AM–10 PM

Friday        11 AM–11 PM
Saturday     10 AM–11 PM
Sunday       10 AM–9 PM

Catfish Corner--downhome favorites and AYCE catfish

Catfish Corner the name pretty much says it all...and yes, there is a $20 PB& J sandwich on the menu but it's a joke folks, I think.

The highlight is, of course, is the all-you-can-eat catfish plate ($11.99) and has been for years. They have spruced the place up with better tables and chairs and a general remodel but it is still the same food that Abilenians have been coming to enjoy their catfish fix for over 30 years. They also serve a good old-fashioned burger and hand-breaded onion rings. The fries are hand-cut too. This is not health food but you do not leave hungry. They have chicken-fried bacon on the menu for goodness sake. 

AYCE Wed shrimp special

On Wednesdays, they offer AYCE shrimp ($15.99) and it comes with catfish as well. They also have lunch specials that include catfish plates that are not AYCE. There are also chicken tenders, frog legs, chicken fried steak, hamburger steak, and options for kids who don't like fish (in addition and less expensive than the PB&J).

Plates come with choice of potato--baked or fries, salad or coleslaw, and hush puppies.

I took my mom and brother there for lunch on a Wednesday and we all left stuffed. The onion rings ($9.99) we ordered for an appetizer were a hit but they could have come out of the fryer just a bit quicker as they were extra crispy but still very good with nice thick onion inside. 

My shrimp had a nice breading on it as did the catfish, not too heavy. I had a baked potato and coleslaw as my sides, The meal was not overly seasoned and the fish was mild. It could have used a bit more spice but I know that is not for everyone and that issue certainly did not keep me from eating all of it. Mother got a loaded potato for her lunch because what she really wanted was the onion rings and my brother order the five piece catfish plate with a salad and fries. 

The server was attentive and friendly especially considering there were several tables of customers and she seemed to be the only server working. Experience shows.

It had been about three years since I had eaten at Catfish Corner and it was pleasing that they are still in business and serving up traditional favorites. Give it a try next time you want some fried food and the new year resolutions have worn off.

Five piece catfish plate

780 S Treadaway Blvd

Abilene, TX 79602

(325) 672-3620

• https://catfish-corner.business.site/
• Open 11am-9pm all week

Biscuit Bar--Go for breakfast or brunch when the biscuits are fresh

The Biscuit Bar is a theme restaurant  that opened in Abilene last fall. The food is served on a biscuit. Not just breakfast items but all sorts of sandwiches. It is located in the new entertainment area on N. Judge Ely Blvd. close to Abilene Christian University. The other restaurants that are already there are Fuzzy's Tacos (Abilene's second location) and a Vietnamese place. 

The area has lots of outdoor seating, a playground and is situated around a pond with a walking track around it. In this pandemic world, the outdoor seating has lots of appeal. Even more so than it normally would with the generally agreeable weather in this area. There is room for more establishments to come in to the space. 

For a girls night in mid-December, myself and three friends went to have dinner at The Biscuit Bar as none of us had been there yet. Yes, they do have an actual bar and serve alcoholic beverages in addition to their menu of biscuit sandwiches and tater tots with a variety of topping options. It is a small chain with a few other locations around the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex.

We arrived on a Friday evening around 6:30pm, early yes but with most new places in Abilene we anticipated that there would be a line even though they had been open for about 3 months. Lo and behold, no line and only about three diners inside. This set off a bit of warning bell in my mind that it was so sparse but I put it down to the end of the semester and the mass exodus of college students for Christmas break. There was a large party seated outside along with a couple or two. 

The service set up is to go through the line and place your order and it will be brought out to you. We all placed our orders and went to find a seat inside which as I stated wasn't a problem, except that we had to clean it off ourselves. I ordered the Fancy Chicken ($6.60) with a side order of plain tater tots with ranch ($3.80) and a drink. The sandwich was a fried chicken breast, dill pickles and house-made "fancy" sauce, which tasted like ranch to me. I found the biscuit to be tough and not warm enough, very disappointing since the entire restaurant concept was based on their biscuits. The breading on the chicken was tasty but the entire sandwich was quite small for the price. I do realize that prices have gone up everywhere but almost $4 for an order of plain tater tots no bigger than a large order of tots from Sonic was to be blunt, dissatisfying. To get toppings on them would have added another $2.50 to the cost. I think the toppings are meant to make them an entrée so the price follows. They are just not good enough or plentiful enough to cost that much, sorry.

My friends ordered the grilled chicken biscuit ($6.90), the grilled chicken biscuit with no biscuit--as there were no gluten free options in regard to the bread and salad would have cost $2 more--and the biscuit French toast ($5.80). Out of all of us the French toast biscuit was the best option. Perhaps going there and sticking to breakfast style features is a safer bet. Safer still would be to go early in the day when the biscuits are fresh. All day you have the option to get a sausage biscuit or a biscuit with sausage gravy for less than $5 or a bacon, egg and cheese for less than $6. Kid's meals are about $5 and there are salads but they start at $8.50. There are sweet potato tots for those that like them.

All in all, I may go back for brunch sometime and enjoy sitting outside if the weather is nice but it is not going to make my regular rotation. 

https://thebiscuit.bar/

2447 N. Judge Ely Blvd

Abilene, TX 79601

Sun – Thurs: 8am – 9pm

Fri & Sat: 8am – 10pm

abilene@thebiscuit.bar

325-267-6538

Phoenix Pho--Casual Vietnamese in the new center on Judge Ely north of ACU

 

Nice view

I finally made it to Phoenix Pho last night. It has been open for about six months. There is a reason it has taken so long for me to get there so let me be upfront, I am not a pho fan...not really a soup person in general (chili is not soup) and those that I do like tend to have cheese in them. So this review will not be talking about the pho since no one I was with ordered it. We also did not get the boba (bubble) tea on offer, though they were doing a brisk business with the beverage sales.

In fact, when we walked in it was not apparent that they were even serving food since the menu behind the counter was all drinks. However, once we figured out the process--put you name down on a list if you want a table--we were shown the food menus and then stood in line to order at the counter. The food was then brought out as it was cooked (not all at the same time for everyone in the group). 

The space itself is nice and has outdoor seating with a view of the pond and the walking track around it. This is a new center in Abilene north of the Abilene Christian University campus and will eventually house several restaurants. It is a landscaped space with places to enjoy outdoors, walking paths, and water features. Even a playground for kids. It is already popular and is not even half occupied at this time (likely due to the pandemic). So far a Fuzzy's Tacos, Phoenix Pho, and a nail salon are all that are in operation with a Biscuit Bar and Twisted Root Burgers to join them in the future.

Back to the food. I ordered the fried rice with tofu. My two friends both ordered the combination fried rice with chicken, steak and shrimp ($12). We also got crispy egg rolls ($5) to share which were served on the cold noodle salad. Since none of us got the pho (soup), the bun (noodle salad), or the banh mi sandwich which were the the Vietnamese items on the menu, it isn't very fair to review them based on the more generic Asian dishes we ordered but I will anyway.

My tofu fried rice came out first, so while it was still warm (not hot mind you) my friends told me to go ahead and eat while they waited for their orders. I liked the variety of vegetables in the rice but I did have to use quite a bit of soy sauce to add some flavor. It was a bit too subtle for my taste buds. The portion was generous but at $11 it should be that way. Eventually the egg rolls (which were more like spring rolls in texture but did have meat in them) arrived and then my friends got their entrees. The shrimp was tasty though not plentiful but both of them found the beef and chicken to be too dry. One of my friends ordered a kiwi soda which she enjoyed a lot.

Combination fried rice

We sat outside to enjoy a very mild spring evening so the setting was great but we just found the food a bit underwhelming for the price point. Perhaps those that love Vietnamese food can comment and give feedback on those dishes?

Go there for the unique drinks and smoothies and to enjoy sitting outside. It will not be making my Asian food rotation though.

2449 N. Judge Ely Blvd

Suite 2501

Abilene, TX 79601

325-721-3631

https://www.facebook.com/Phoenix-Pho-104711701287433

Grain Theory--Craft beer, wine, and coffee with some food to boot

The long awaited space on the northwest corner of Pine and N.2nd is now open. On the second floor is Grain Theory. You can get up to it via an outside staircase on the N. 2nd side or an inside one on Pine. I assume there is an elevator but I did not look for it. Apologies.

I had a business lunch there so I cannot speak to the alcoholic beverages but as you would expect by the name, craft beer is highlighted. Prices are on the "on tap" menu inside. There is also a small list of wines with by the glass prices of $7 or $9. They open at 7:30am so coffee is also featured.

Fish and chips

The food menu is not extensive but that is to be expected since the focus is on the beer. For lunch, I ordered the fish and chips. One of my colleagues ordered the same and the other ordered the grain bowl with bacon added. I am glad bacon was added because otherwise that was too healthy of a lunch. Lol.

There was no table service when we went for lunch. We ordered our food at the bar and it was brought out to us. 

The fish and chips was an entire large Alaskan pollock fish filet beer battered and deep fried. Served with their peri remoulade sauce and another sauce of your choice with thick cut kennebec fries on the side. My second sauce was the spicy goddess which was a mix of ranch, green goddess, and jalapeno. Both sauces had some heat which I liked. No traditional tarter sauce option but if you want mayo there is Duke's mayo available too. The cost of the fish and chips is $14 but the portion size is generous.

I found the fish and chips to be the best I have had in land locked Abilene but my New England born colleague said the fish needed to be cod and the breading was a bit overdone on the outside and underdone on the inside. However, he did agree that is was good compared to Abilene's other fish and chips options. I need to get my British brother-in-law to come to town and give it a try. 

Grain theory bowl

The grain theory bowl was $8 and an extra $3 with bacon added. It is a combination of ancient grains, roasted sweet potatoes, green onion, pecans, cranberries, and sage served with a maple miso vinaigrette. This is a direct quote, "it feels like I could be eating this at a place by the beach in Santa Monica."  Take that as you will but he enjoyed it. This option, sans meat, would be great for vegetarians/vegans. 

Other items on the menu includes sausages, a chicken roll, flat ironed Akaushi flat iron steak, salad,and a few appetizers like the Belgian fries--plain with side sauce or loaded with beer cheese, green onions and bacon or biltong (air-dried beef similar to tender jerky) and pretzel bits.

At this time there was one item on the dessert menu, a coffee stout panna cotta.

The food menu is designed to compliment their beer selections. The day we went the steak ($25) was not on the menu for lunch.

Soft drink options are sparkling water, iced tea or some craft sodas ($2.5).

The space if impressive. They have a wrap around outside seating area on two sides and the interior is metal and wood, a sophisticated industrial look. I have no doubt that Grain Theory will be a popular spot in the evenings and on weekends. It fits right in with the revitalization of downtown Abilene and the increasing focus on dining and nightlife options in town.

 

202 Pine Street, Suite 201, Abilene, Texas, 79601

 (325) 513-6628

Hours--

 Mon-Wed 7:30am-10pm

Thur 7:30am-11pm

Fri-Sat 7:30am-midnight

Sun Closed

https://www.graintheory.beer/

Torchy's Tacos comes to Abilene--Updated

Update: This past Sunday at about 11:15am, I went by Torchy's to get lunch for myself and my mom. I ordered two different types of tacos, some chips and green chili queso, and some guacamole. It took about  20 minutes to get the food to me even though they were not particularly busy. When I got to the house 5 minutes later, the order was correct but my taco wasn't very hot but my primary issue was the hair clinging to some cilantro in the queso. Not cool, along with the general overuse of cilantro in everything but that is a personal preference. All in all, Torchy's is just too expensive for what you get. The bill for all this was $23.00. I fail to see what all the fuss was about regarding this chain.

 

Torch's Tacos has finally made it to Abilene. I went with a small group of friends on a Wednesday evening. For those of you who have never been to one, it is a go through the line and order your food type of place. Then they will bring it out to you. Fast casual it the term I believe nowadays. The difference with Torchy's is they also have a full bar as well with a variety of specialty drinks.

Trailer Park (trashy) and Chicken Fajita tacos

The restaurant was quite popular (and probably a bit too crowded by pandemic standards though there were tables blocked off) and there was a large contingent of college students and under 30 folks there that evening. It is a noisy space so if you prefer a quieter dining experience, go at an off time or get take out instead of dining inside.

Now to the tacos. There is quite a variety. Many with creative names. There is also a salad option and a burrito too. The ingredients were fresh. The tacos are in the usual soft taco-sized tortillas.

I ordered a Trailer Park and made it "trashy". Trashy means instead of lettuce it had queso on it. The meat inside was fried chicken with green chili, pico, cheddar jack cheese, poblano sauce (on the side) served in a flour tortilla, though corn is an option as well. The chicken was tasty and I'm always a fan of green chilies. One taco is not likely to fill a person up if you are hungry so the second taco I ordered was a chicken fajita taco--went more traditional. It has grilled onions and bell pepper, pico, cheddar jack cheese and tomatillo sauce on the side. You can have either a flour or a corn tortilla. The chicken was juicy and I did not think it was greasy as though it had been sitting in oil. I was pleased with both tacos.

The vegetarian choice on the menu is a taco with fried avocado. There is not tradition ground beef taco on the menu. Carnitas, shrimp, salmon, barbacoa, brisket, sausage, beef fajita, and Jamaican jerk chicken are all options.

One of my friends ordered the green chili queso. It come with a small dollop of guacamole, a bit of cotija cheese, cilantro and a drizzle of diablo sauce on to top and a basket of thin tortilla chips. It was probably my favorite thing. Very flavorful but not a large serving. I believe it was about $5 for the bowl. The sauces provided with my tacos were quite good.

Probably my biggest issue was the price point. The tacos are quite good but at $4-$5 a piece they are expensive. There are no sides that come with them so if you want beans or rice that is an extra charge. Two tacos will cost about $10.

I am sure I will return but not if I want a big meal.

  

Located on the south end of the Shops of Abilene--

3765 Catclaw Dr. Abilene, TX 79606 

325-480-3380

Hours--

Monday - Thursday 11AM - 8PM

Friday 11AM - 9PM

Saturday 9AM - 10PM

Sunday 9AM - 8PM

https://torchystacos.com/location/abilene/

 

The Local--Trendy Tacos and Tequila

Morning margarita

UPDATE--Recently a friend and I visited The Local for lunch on a Saturday. I'm happy to report an expanded and more flexible menu, outside dining and brunch made for a lovely experience this time around. Prices are still a bit higher but the presentation and surroundings help to alleviate the issue. Great service as well!

Brunch migas with bacon

 

Original review--

The Local is Abilene's newest downtown restaurant/bar located in the former Busch Jewelers building on Cypress Street between N. 2nd and N. 3rd streets. They specialize in gourmet tacos and high end cocktails ($8 and up). It is great to see downtown Abilene continue to expand and offer more and more options to head down there in the evening.

My friends and I went by on a Thursday evening about two weeks after they opened. We went fairly early at around 5:30pm and were seated immediately but the place soon started to fill (as any new place in Abilene will the first few weeks after opening) and remained popular before the pandemic hit. I ordered chips and salsa for the table. The portion size was not overly generous but the salsa was tasty. The chips were on the stale side. 

Three of us ordered a single taco at an average price of $5 per taco. The fourth ordered a grilled chicken salad. He, by far, made the best choice since a salad is generally not meant to come out hot. The presentation was great but the tacos were tepid. This is a common comment that I heard from others that have eaten at The Local, even several months after opening. However, it did not seem to dim their popularity among the socialites in town.

The two chicken taco versions that were ordered were flavorful but my carne guisada taco was practically inedible. Not only was it lukewarm the meat was so tough I could not chew it. Very disappointing. Plus, I was fairly certain I had ordered the carne asada taco as I generally do not care for gravy on my meat. 

The food was brought out on small metal trays with a paper liner that had old Busch Jeweler ads on it. The nod to the history of the space was a nice touch. The decor is upscale. Lots of glass, metal, with black and amber accents. There is also an upstairs area.

I have been back a couple of times but only to meet friends for drinks and conversation, not to actually order a meal. My recommendation--go by for an adult beverage before or after a downtown event but do not go there hungry.

The Local
250 Cypress St, Abilene, TX 79601
325-232-6463
https://www.thelocalabi.com/

Grumps Burgers--Patties, Patio, and (free) Peanuts

Dublin sodas

Hello burger fans, there's a new place in town for some hearty burgers. Grumps Burgers is a small chain that has seen a warm welcome in Abilene. It is a stand-in-line, order your food, and they bring it to you, style of place. The prices are reasonable for the burgers. Sides are prices separately.

Things I like--

Homemade potato chips and queso

1. Good price points on sandwiches.
2. They now have an outdoor patio for al fresco dining.
3. It is in the middle of town (N. 1st around Westwood) which makes it getting to it less of a hassle than the far south side places.
4. Friendly workers and fun atmosphere.
5. Delicious homemade ranch dressing.
6. Run various specials--check their social media.
7. Free peanuts in the shell to snack on while you wait for your food to be cooked.
8. Homemade potato chips.
9. Bluebell ice cream.

Mushroom burger with onion rings

Cheeseburger and fries

Things that need improving--
1. Heavy handed with the salt on everything.
2. Some may not like that they only serve Dublin sodas but there is tea, water, beer, and frozen margaritas.
3. Fries and onion ring portions are on the small side for the price.
4. TVs are sometimes a bit on the loud side.

Grumps Burgers

3533 N 1st Street
Abilene, TX 79603

325-232-6753

https://grumpsburgers.com/locations/

https://www.facebook.com/grumpsburgersabilene/

BUSINESS HOURS

Mon - Sat

11 AM - 9 PM

Sunday

Closed

Galveston Seafood Company now in Abilene--fresh and quite fabulous

My apologies for the long absence from the blog. Sometimes life gets in the way of dining out.

Now on to the good stuff.

There is a new seafood place in town, Galveston Seafood Company, in the old Towne Crier location on Highway 80. Table service, nice dishes, freshened decor, very attentive servers and a visit from the son of the owner to check on us, I have to say--I was impressed. But what most impressed me was the food. Lunch specials for $10...alright, alright, alright!

Lunch fried shrimp with red beans and rice and hushpuppies

My companion and I walked in and were greeted promptly and seated quickly. We both had the fried shrimp $10 lunch special. Two sides were included. Me being me, I had to have the red beans and rice and hushpuppies.  My friend got fries and mixed vegetables to go with her shrimp. Other side options were greens, fried cabbage, and red potatoes. A definite southern/Cajun/Creole influence was at play.

The shrimp had a tempura style batter and they were fresh. You can just tell. The texture is different. Fresh seafood is something that is not easy to get in landlocked Abilene. The shrimp were good-sized as well, not those sad little ones you get served in chain seafood restaurants.

I enjoyed the extra effort in the presentation of the food. The red beans and rice were tasty but my preference is for a bit more spice so some added Tabasco sauce did the trick. The hushpuppies came out crisp. The fries and mixed vegetables that my friend has as sides were good as well, though keep in mind the vegetables are sauteed not steamed. Portions were generous.

Lunch fried shrimp with fries and mixed vegetables

The service was excellent. The son of the owner brought me a sample of the crawfish etouffee after he stopped by our table and we were discussing the food. It was a variation on a recipe from his grandma.  The etouffee was extremely rich. Butter and cream were part of the roux and it had a nice spicy kick to it. I could not finish the sample due to being stuffed from the size of my lunch. He told me that they bring in the seafood every 2-3 days.

Dinner prices are higher but I would imagine the servings are large. The main menu had a lot of variety of seafood and included some non-seafood items such as a burger and chicken Alfredo pasta.

Sample of the crawfish etouffee

This is a nice restaurant and fresh seafood is not cheap. Plan accordingly. The quality and service was wonderful and my next visit will be for dinner or maybe breakfast/brunch on the weekend which had some intriguing options on the menu.

If you like seafood, I highly recommend you give them a try.





Galveston Seafood Company
818 E. Hwy 80, Abilene, TX 79601
325-232-6580
https://www.facebook.com/galvestonseafoodcompany/

Friday 11AM–3PM, 5–9:30PM
Saturday 8AM–3PM, 5–9:30PM
Sunday 10AM–3PM, 5–8PM
Monday Closed
Tuesday 11AM–3PM, 5–9:30PM
Wednesday 11AM–3PM, 5–9:30PM
Thursday 11AM–3PM, 5–9:30PM