Big Country Beer Garden and Cocktail Courtyard is a fun spot with outdoor seating and tasty eats

Chips and homemade salsa

The Big Country Beer Garden and Cocktail Courtyard is a new spot in Abilene in the SoDA (south of downtown) district off of S. 1st and east of Treadaway. Recently, a few female friends and I got together for lunch on a Saturday to celebrate a birthday. We wanted to try somewhere new in town. 

Nashville chicken sandwich

The food menu isn't extensive but most anyone should be able to find something they like. There are several appetizers, a smashburger ($17), an upscale hotdog, a pork belly sandwich, a chicken sandwich, salad options, a meatball sub, and a grilled cheese. The sandwiches come with crispy fries and the bread on all the sandwiches was fresh. The people who own the Taylor County Taphouse in Abilene also own this establishment. If you like the food at Taphouse, chances are you will also like the food at the BCBG. The quality is high and the prices reflect it. 

Service was spot on, friendly, and attentive without hovering--pretty much perfect. We opted to sit inside instead of on the covered patio simply because it was a windy West Texas spring day. However, it was tempting to sit out there instead.

For our starter we ordered the chips and homemade salsa ($8). The salsa was flavorful but without a lot of heat. Quite enjoyable. The chips were thin and crispy with a bit of seasoning on them. As you would expect by their name, there was a fairly large menu of beer options and also a craft cocktail menu with some tempting creations listed.

Grilled cheese

The birthday girl ordered the Nashville chicken sandwich ($16). The chicken breast was hand battered (if a little heavy on the batter) but the flavor was great and the sauced cole slaw on top had a good crunch. She enjoyed it.

I ordered the grilled cheese sandwich ($14) made with Muenster and sharp chedder. It was perfectly "melty".  I could tell it had been done on the same grill as a burger so be advised that there may be a bit of smashburger clinging to the bread on the grilled cheese. If you are looking for a out of the ordinary grilled cheese sandwich, give it a go. 

Banh mi sandwich

One friendn was adventurous and ordered the Vietnamese bahn mi sandwich ($17). The portion of pork belly was generous and it had lots of fresh jalapenos on it as well. The meat was perhaps a little leaner than one would expect from pork belly but is was quite flavorful and worth the price. 

The last order at the table was a "build your own" smashburger wrapped in lettuce. The usual smashburger is served on a bun with three types of cheese but my friend needs to eat gluten and dairy free. She liked the smash sauce and she said the burger was good but she did not finish it. It looked like she only got one patty instead of two. The burger likely tastes better in the original form since smashburgers are known for their crispy edges and the cheese helps the texture and fat content of the burger to help it stay juicy. I am not sure if she had to pay the regular price or if it was discounted a little bit since there was no bun or cheese.

Build your own smashburger with lettuce wrap

However, for those who are gluten free there are salad options; a garden salad (can add salmon or chicken for an upcharge), a green chile grilled chicken salad, and a spinach salad. Price range on the salads was $13-$20.

Everyone at lunch that day said they would definitely return. The next time, I plan to try the Hatch chile queso or the fried cheese chunks appetizer. Other unique options on the appetizer menu are chicharrone encrusted boudin balls, a sausage board, and a meatball trio. For an entree the fancy hot dog is tempting. I almost ordered it this time. One of my friends would like to order the homemade meatball sub with the scratch made sauce next time. 

The restaurant is on the corner of S. 2nd and Pecan St. Be sure to check their social media pages for live music and other special events. Parking in the area is primarily street parking so keep that in mind. There is one small lot on the Pecan St. side. There was a mention of brunch being served on the weekend on their website but I did not see a brunch menu when we arrived at 12:30pm.

Next time you are looking for a fun spot to meet friends or have an adult beverage and some apps, go to the Big Country Beer Garden and Cocktail Courtyard.

HOURS

Monday CLOSED

Tuesday CLOSED

Wednesday 11:00 AM - 10:00 PM

Thursday 11:00 AM - 10:00 PM

Friday 11:00 AM - 12:00 AM

Saturday 11:00 AM - 12:00 AM

Sunday 10:00 AM - 10:00 PM

(325) 704-3181

806 S 2nd St

Abilene, TX 79602

https://www.bigcountrybeergarden.com/

https://www.facebook.com/bigcountrybeergarden

Caitie Pies makes handpies fun and they have regular pie too, great spot for lunch in downtown Abilene

Caitie Pies is a new discovery of mine for lunch in downtown Abilene. 

I had a craving for soup one day and they are one of the few places that has a rotating selection of homemade soups. Today, while at lunch with a friend, I had a handpie for the first time. It was a green chili cheeseburger handpie ($8) and it was yummy. Along with it, I also go some corn chowder ($5) but I was too stuffed to finish it.

 My friend got the same kind of handpie but also ordered a slice of coconut cream pie ($5.) Both of us ordered a soda. They only have canned sodas but do have iced tea as an option along with water.

The handpies had a golden crust that was tender. I found the filling to be delicious and flavored well but not a lot of heat from the green chili. It was served with a spicy dipping sauce. Next time I hope they will not be sold out of the chicken pot pie handpie.

The corn chowder was yummy as well and easily could have been a meal on its own. There seemed to be either bacon or ham in it. The spice level was mild.

I am not fond of coconut but the coconut cream pie looked appetizing and my friend ate every bite so it must have been good! There are other baked goodies, sweet handpies, sandwiches, and salads on the menu. A little something for everyone, really. You can taste that they put a lot of love into their food. The bakes there are so tasty! 

Since they open at 10am there are breakfast options as well.

Some things to keep in mind, the elevator in the building is out of order and because of the age of the building, I would guess that means it may never be repaired due to both the lack of parts and repair experts to fix it.  You are required to go up a set of stairs to get to the restaurant. Also, I am not so sure that there are a lot of gluten free options, call ahead and ask. 

They are only open for lunch but if you follow their social media, there are special dinner events on occasion. 

Service is quick and friendly. Make plans to go as soon as possible!

P.S. Sorry that everything we ate was yellow/gold. :-)

Caitie Pies

244 Pine St (2nd floor)

Abilene, TX 79601

Located on the second floor at Under One Roof/Poppies and Pearls store.

Tue-Sat 10 AM to 2 PM

(325) 999-8677

https://www.caitiepies.com/home

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CaitiePies.Abilene/

FB

La Torcia Brick Oven Pizza--thin crust pizza, breadsticks, dips, pasta, salads, quesadillas, nachos, wings, and sandwiches for everyone

La Torcia Brick Oven Pizza or as most locals refer to it "Brick Oven" is my favorite pizza place in Abilene. The restaurant is a small chain with locations in mostly in Arkansas, Texas and one in Missouri.

 

I like them not necessarily because I prefer thin crust pizza, which I actually do not most of the time, but because of the variety of pizzas they make. I am a fan of the Mediterranean pizza. Again, not because I usually get chicken on a pizza, but because the combination of flavors on that particular pizza with the feta, cheddar, green peppers, red onions, tomatoes, green olives and, yes, chicken on a crispy brick oven baked crust with olive oil instead of tomato sauce just works for me when I want something different. Usually, my pizza choice would a classic traditional crust pepperoni and mushroom or a deep dish supreme--if I feel like going for it in the pizza game. Brick Oven also makes a taco pizza which is unusual and another called the favorite which has artichoke hearts and turkey among several other traditional and specialty pizzas. You are also welcome to create your own with what you like the best. 

I am also a fan of their Mediterranean salad ($10 for a full size, $7 for a small) and get it on occasion instead of pizza when I want to be "good." They use crisp lettuce which I like because of the crunch.

 

Brick Oven is not especially big but has a lot of tall four person booths along the walls which feel cozy and there are tables in the middle. Televisions are around playing sports but it is not generally obtrusive. You will see lots of families eating together. There can be a wait during peak times, so feel free to order carry out. However, I do not recommend using Door Dash or some other delivery service (since the restaurant itself does not deliver) because it tends to arrive less than hot and shaken up in in my experience. I have almost always experienced good service, if a bit slow on occasion, but will acknowledge that some people have have issues in that area in the past though I have not heard any complaints about it recently. Like many places staff shortages happen so tables can take a while to get cleared or refills on drinks.

I eat at Brick Oven about every six weeks or so and have for a number of years so not sure why it has taken me this long to actually write a review. On my most recent visit, I had a Sunday lunch with my mom and my brother. We ordered some bread sticks ($7)) for an appetizer with ranch dressing instead of marinara sauce. Four of them come in the order and they arrive cut in half.
Their ranch dressing tastes homemade but does cost extra if you want some to go with your pizza order. The bread sticks come with garlic butter melted on top. They are the soft kind similar to what you get at Olive Garden. There are several other appetizer options including several dips and nachos. I ordered a small Mediterranean pizza ($9), my mom got spaghetti and meatballs ($11.50), and my brother had a Pork Paradise calzone ($9) which had pulled pork, mozzarella, cheddar, tomatoes, jalapeno peppers, and was topped with barbeque sauces, ranch dressing, and banana peppers and came with sides of more barbeque sauce and ranch. My mother's spaghetti and meatballs had 5-6 good sized meatballs but she thought they were under seasoned and came with two piece of garlic bread. The portion size could have been larger for the price. The pulled pork in the calzone was good but there could have been more meat inside. The crust to meat ration was heavy on the bread side. I was pleased as usual with my pizza but there did seem to be slightly less toppings than in the past. Perhaps inflation is hitting them on the supply side though I did not notice a significant rise in the cost of the pizza itself compared to the past. For three adults to eat out for less than $40 plus tip (we all had water to drink) is pretty good nowadays.

 

My recommendation is stick with the pizza style options or perhaps a sandwich. I have never been with anyone who tried the wings, quesadillas, or nachos.

 

Without question, I will be back again. There is comfort in consistency, a fair price, and good pizza.

 

La Torcia Brick Oven Pizza
4714 S. 14th St.

Abilene, TX

325-691-5303
https://www.brickovenpizzacompany.com/

Hours: Sunday-Saturday 11am-10pm

No delivery

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

MOVED now a food truck at Peacock Patio on Hickory St--Matera Bar & Grill--New use for a historic space

This past Saturday I went for a late lunch with a friend at the Matera Bar and Grill. The restaurant's space was previously occupied by the Sockdolager Brewing Company. The structure was built on land that was the historical Matera Paper Company. The building burned down in 2012. When the brewery went out of business earlier this year, this new restaurant took over the building. It is one of the few places in town with covered outside seating as well as the requisite indoor seating. There is a bar area and a small seating nook with a couple of couches but most of the public space inside is tables. I saw two top and four tops inside. Larger picnic benches are outside, along with more regular tables. It is recommended going in the north door, versus the west or south door, since on the north is where the host/hostess stand is located without having to walk through the seating areas. There is a small parking lot to the east of the building off of S. 1st but be careful as we saw a three car accident while having our meal which looked like it was caused by someone either pulling in or out of the lot. Like most of the SoDA (south of downtown) district, most parking is on the street or over by the courthouse. 

I suggest checking Matera's social media sites to see if live music or some other event is occurring in the evening before going for a family meal or quiet dinner as the atmosphere becomes more bar-like when those are happening.

We arrived about 1:30pm and waited a few minutes to be seated. The restaurant was not crowded but they did look bit short-handed. A server seated us outside, which we asked to do since it was a pleasant day. The server took our drink order and then returned in few minutes with the waters we requested and to take our food order.

I  heard good things from others about the onion batter-coated (gluten-free) deep fried green beans, so we had that as an appetizer ($8). They came with a zesty sauce and were very tasty. I do recommend them. he portion was just right for two people to share but if you have a larger party you will need more than one order.

For my entree, I got the shrimp po'boy sandwich ($12.95/$15.95--not sure which we were charged as I did not pay but both prices were listed--lunch vs dinner?) It came with fries, regular or sweet potato choices. My shoestring potato fries were limp and not hot. This happens a lot, I have found, from what I have read this occurs with hand-cut fries when they have not been soaked and dried before being fried or they were fried in oil that is not hot enough. The sandwich had four large breaded shrimp, homemade coleslaw, and pickles on grilled hoagie roll. I was very happy with it. The shrimp were juicy. They did not taste like frozen breaded shrimp which pleased me. The coleslaw was on the sweet side and very fresh.

My companion order the candied bacon Brussels salad ($17) which was served with raspberry vinaigrette.  The salad consisted of mixed greens, fried Brussels sprouts, candied bacon, mandarin oranges, dried cranberries, and pecans. Despite the variety of ingredients, my friend said it lacked the flavor he expected. Visually, I didn't see much but lettuce and a few Brussels sprouts and a sprinkling of bacon (apologies for no picture.)

Service was attentive and friendly though a bit slow but as I mentioned, I think they were short-handed, and we were sitting in one of the farthest tables out on the deck.

Overall, we enjoyed our lunch and it a perfect day to eat outside with mild temperatures and only a slight breeze. I am certain I will return and try some of their other offerings to find my favorites. Several of the items on the menu were tempting though they did seem to be out of a few items. Prices were not out of bounds with what dining out costs right now. Appetizers from $5 (chips and salsa) to $23 (charbroiled oysters). Lunch options started at $9. Dinner entrees ranged from $13 (chicken tenders) to $55 (filet and shrimp). They have only been open for a few weeks so there are still a few flow issues to work out but they are off to a strong start. Also, any new restaurants in Abilene tend to get slammed with customers at first and have to adjust to normal traffic once the "new" wears off.

Matera Bar and Grill

833 S. 1st St 

Abilene, TX 

325-704-1073 

https://www.facebook.com/MateraBarAndGrill/

Hours--

Monday--Closed
Tuesday-Thursday--11am-2pm/4pm-10pm
Friday-Saturday--11am-11pm

Sunday--11am-2pm

The Tavern in Fort Worth--an Armenta's restaurant

On a recent visit to Fort Worth, my youngest sister and I went for brunch/lunch to The Tavern on Hulen. There was both indoor and outdoor seating. It was busy but not crowded but to avoid a wait (we were hungry), we decided to sit at the bar and were seated immediately. The atmosphere was classy but relaxed.

Margarita (no salt)

The bartender was our server and he was attentive and very helpful answering questions. The menu was quite broad and brunch is served on weekends. There were several different price points and dishes. Everyone should be able to find something to their taste. As I was perusing the menu, I noticed that the Mexico City Enchilada ($15) had Armenta's sauce. Now, Armenta's is one of my favorite family-owned Mexican food restaurants (located in San Angelo, Texas). I knew that a member of the family had gone on to become a well-known chef with several restaurants in the metroplex. A quick "google" later and I knew I was now sitting in one of them! I had been wanting to try one of his places for a really long time but had never purposefully made a plan to eat at one of them. Lucky!

Once I saw those enchiladas on the menu I knew I had to order them. They were shredded chicken topped with the sauce and cojita cheese. Sides were fresh guacamole and black beans and rice. My sister ordered the Mexican Migas ($14) off the brunch menu. Side note: she raved about the margarita ($9) and pronounced it was a perfect creation! House-made mixers do indeed make the difference. Not too sweet with just enough bite to it.

Mexico City Enchiladas

The enchiladas were delicious. The chicken was well-seasoned and not dry but the star of the show was the Armenta's sauce. Smokey and full of flavor. The guacamole was yummy and didn't have too many onions which can be an issue. I can take or leave black beans and rice but the were perfectly good. 

My sister's migas were presented very well (sorry, no pic) and she was happy with them. They did have diced avocado along with the usual migas ingredients.

We both left full, though not stuffed, and happy. I will return, there are so many other things to try! Maybe the pastrami sandwich or the crab cake salad next time.

Info

817.923.6200

2755 S. Hulen

Fort Worth, Texas 76109

https://www.thetavernftworth.com/

 

Hours

MON - FRI 11am - 10pm

SAT 9am - 10pm

SUN 9am - 9pm

Curbside To Go: Available All Day

Update: Milk and Honey Bakery, Venue, and Bistro

Entry way

They are not longer a bistro. Milk & Honey is a bakery and caterer. Check hours on their Facebook page.

 

Milk & Honey is a specialty bakery inside what was once a private home so it is easy to drive right past them and not realize they are in business. They do not have a vast array of baked goods to just drop by and pick up but they did have french macaroons in various flavors ($2 each), two types of cake balls, slices of red velvet cake and apple tarts for individual sale in their cases. Two ready-made cakes were also available for purchase.

Bakery case

A friend and I visited them for the mid-day meal recently. They serve light lunches and a brunch on Saturday. The dining area is very small, about 20 seats. The service is run with only two people as far as I could tell, so it is not a quick place to grab a bite. They have a limited menu and the prices are on the high side...as is to be expected for a "ladies who lunch" type of establishment.

Spinach and cheese quiche

I had a spinach and cheese quiche and some bacon cheddar croquettes as an appetizer. The spinach in the quiche tasted a bit gritty as though it had been put the egg mixture raw instead of sauteed. The cheese in the quiche was high quality but the portion at $5.75 was small and not served with any type of side unless you get the meal option that included a drink and side but increased the price even more. It had a rubbery consistency rather than being creamy.

Bacon cheddar croquettes

The bacon in the croquettes was thick cut and could have been a bit more cooked but the cheese in them was excellent. I am not sure if it was the spinach or the bacon but it is sad to say that the meal did not sit well on my stomach afterward.

Smoked bacon chicken sandwich

My companion enjoyed her smoked bacon chicken sandwich ($7.50) and mentioned that it had a nice flavor and was not dry. On the brunch menu, they serve gourmet toast (such as avocado salmon), crepes, quiche, oatmeal, or French toast made with brioche bread. Drink options were water, various teas, lemonades, and coffee.

The best part of my meal was the slice of red velvet cake I ordered for dessert. It was delicious! I dove into it so fast that there is no picture to tell the tale. It had an apple spice flavor more than a cocoa note in the cake itself which was different. Perhaps they use applesauce to keep the cake moist? The cream cheese/buttercream icing was perfect. At $3.50 for a slice it was well worth the price.

Stick to the desserts at Milk and Honey. The wedding cakes they had on their website looked beautiful.

325-701-7316 / 325-513-2683

480 E. Ambler Ave Abilene, TX 

MilkAndHoneyBVB@gmail.com

http://www.milkandhoneybvb.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/milkAndHoneyBK/

Lunch menu

Lunch menu

Brunch menu

Brunch menu

UPDATED address--Flipping Egg--Breakfast and (Br)(L)unch

Homemade fried cheese with ranch and marinara

The Flipping Egg is one of my two locally owned spots for breakfast. The other is the Dixie Pig. Both are quite popular and a wait for a table is not uncommon at either restaurant since they are not really big spaces. I try not to just head to IHOP, Denny's or Cracker Barrel when I'm in the mood for an omelet or pancakes because of long waits and average tasting food.

When I go to the Flipping Egg which is open on Sunday unlike the Dixie Pig, I usually order the Texas Hash which are hash browns mixed with jalapenos, grilled onions, and melted cheese topped with two eggs of your choice,
two bacon or two sausage, and choice of bread or a pancake. They have several varieties of pancakes; buttermilk, sweet cream, gluten-free, multi-grain, and sweet potato. There is also a waffle made out of a cinnamon roll! My favorite is the sweet cream pancake. A little sweet but not too sweet. They serve eggs Benedict and frittatas which I have not seen on many menus in Abilene.

I featured a picture of their fried cheese because almost every time I have ordered it. Last time it wasn't so great. The breading was too floury and it tasted like it may have a bit of freezer burn. The first time I have been disappointed out of four previous orders. The cheese sticks are fairly large in size and come in batches of 3 or 6. There are also several burgers on the menu and other sandwiches, as well as salads if lunch is more your style. Portions are decent sized but not huge. Prices on some items are a little high but on a standard egg, meat and bread breakfast they are reasonable.

Service varies from efficient to somewhat inexperienced but is always friendly. Parking can be an issue since their lot is small.


Flipping Egg
4138 Ridgemont
Abilene, TX
325.232.7840
Tues - Thurs. 7am-2pm
Fri - Sat 6am-2pm
Sun 8am-2pm
http://www.theflippingegg.com/
https://www.facebook.com/The-Flipping-Egg-328066910615648/