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/

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

Whiskey Ridge in Driftwood, TX, offers "upscale casual" dining in a western contemporary enviroment. Make reservations, especiallly on the weekend.

Whiskey Ridge is a contemporary Western restaurant located in the quickly developing Hays county area off a two lane road between Kyle and Wimberley. My date and I were in the area visiting family and decided to go there for dinner on a Saturday night evening.

The restaurant is fairly new and extremely popular. Upon arrival we quickly figured out that we should have made a reservation. By 5pm, the place was already packed. There were several large groups seated (this was between Christmas and New Year's Day) both inside and outside. We decided to put our name on the list since it would take us a while to get back into town to find another place to eat. After that we headed out to the patio bar area but after not seeing a server, we decided to go around the front of the restuarnt where there were a couple of fire pits, a porch swing, and two patio chairs. We watched the sun set as we waited about a little over an hour for our table.   

Once seated on the outside patio, the server arrived quickly to welcom us and give us our menus. The menu was not huge but there were several intriguing options. Steak, of course, some interesting appetizers, upscale sandwiches, salads, and items such as a chicken fried ribeye or a Wagyu burger.

We ordered our drinks but did not get an appetizer, even though some of them were very tempting. I decided to go with the fried jumbo gulf coast shrimp ($23) for dinner. It came with cole slaw and a blackberry horseradish dipping sauce. My date ordered the center-cut filet ($65), cooked medium rare (sides were extra), and we shared an order of fries ($7).  

The food took about 30 mintues to arrive. This was not terribly surprising since the place was extremely busy. The server did check on us and kept our water filled. Fortunately, we were not in a hurry but by the time the food arrived we were quite hungry. It was getting close to 7pm and we had been at the restaurant since about 5pm. 

My shrimp were good-sized but had cooled off a bit by the time they got to the table. Perhaps waiting for my companions steak to be done? Not sure. They were tasty and not overcooked but the breading could have been a bit lighter. I did not care for the sauce that came with the dish, so I asked for tarter sauce and cocktail sauces. They did not have any tarter sauce so they brought me some hot sauce and cocktail sauce. 

The steak was cooked perfectly to order and served with a dollop of garlic butter with parsley on top. However, the server did not wait and have him cut into it to be sure it was how he wanted it. 

It was a very good steak but perhaps could have done with a little less "dressing" up so that the flavor of the meat would shine through. 

The fries were the closest thing to a McDonald's french fry that I have ever tasted outside of Mickey D's. Whiskey Ridge must have figured out the secret recipe! They came out hot and crispy with a side of ketchup.

The service was attentive and considerate, if a bit slow. The restaurant's ambiance is certainly a draw, particulary if you would like to sit on the patio when the weather is pretty. The view from the patio was of a pasture. 

The adult beverage menu was extensive. I can certainly understand why it is popular, even if there were more restuarant options within 5 miles of  the immediate area, which there are not, except for the Hays City Store & Icehouse across the road.

I would go back when I am in the area but next time I will make a reservation and/or avoid going on a weekend.

Whiskey Ridge

Sunday - Wednesday - 3 PM to 10 PM

Thursday - 3 PM to 11 PM

Friday - 11 AM to 11 PM

Saturday - 3 PM to 11 PM

https://www.whiskeyridgetx.com/

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100076531110232

https://www.instagram.com/whiskeyridge.tx/#

8750 W RR 150, Bldg 300, Driftwood, Texas 78619

OMG Noodle House--a new Asian food option in Abilene

The OMG Noodle House on S. Willis (in the same shopping area as AM Donuts) is Abilene's newest entry for Asian food offerings in Abilene. The restuarant currently has fairly limited hours, only being open for dinner Wednesday-Saturday. 

Chicken Pad Thai

The menu is not particulary big. Pad Thai, soups, and rice dishes are the primary options along with fresh spring rolls (these are NOT the deep fried ones), shrimp rolls, and egg rolls as appetizers. There are not currently any curry options on the regular menu. You may find one as a special on occasion though.

My dining companion and I both ordered chicken dishes. I had the fried rice ($10.75) and he had the pad Thai ($12.75). 

The restaurant is small. There are about 8 tables inside. We arrived at 4:45pm and by 5:15pm all the tables were full on a Thursday evening. 

Orders are taken at the counter for both take out or dine in and they will bring out your food when it is done. They do not have servers to take orders at the tables. There was a busy take-out business going on as well. 

The food came out relatively quickly and the ingrediants were fresh.  Nothing on the menu was more than $15. The soups come in both medium and large sizes and are the most expensive items on the menu. 

The presentation of the food was very nice. The chicken in the dishes used thigh meat, not breast meat, if that makes a difference to you. Also, the seafood options on the menu are a combination of seafood and there does not seem to be a way to ask for just shrimp if you are not fond of several types of seafood. The rice and noodles were cooked perfectly in our dishes. 

Chicken fried rice

Both of us thought our meals could have used more seasoning. I needed to add quite a bit of soy sauce to my rice to give it a flavor boost. The pad Thai came with a side of a sauce. However, my date was not full after finishing his meal so I shared my dinner with him.

The soups may be the biggest draw, along with the beef loc lac, spicy Thai chicken, and ginger beef or chicken. There are other spots in town that have better fried rice and pad Thai. These were just familiar options to get for our first try. Next time, I will order something else and also get some shrimp rolls or egg rolls to go with the dinner. 

Give them a shot and support your local businesses when you can! 

OMG Noodle House

Sunday-Tuesday Closed

Wednesday-Saturday 4pm-8:30pm

Facebook page--https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61570049674472

No website listed

325-704-1723

202 S. Willis St., Abilene, TX 79605

Goodnight Steakhouse & Saloon in Albany, TX, is well worth the drive from Abilene--so go!

Menu 1

For my birthday dinner this year, I wanted to go to Albany to try the Goodnight Steakhouse. I had heard some positive buzz about it. It is the restaurant that is now located where the original long established Beehive steakhouse was before the owner retired last year. The building has had some additions and done a bit of remodeling which really refreshed the space. Also, a new party area was added with a stage along with an outdoor seating area.

Of course the real test was how was the food, especially in light of the fact that the Albany Beehive once served me a steak that was in my top five steaks EVER? I can report that the food was very good indeed and without question I'll be driving to Albany to eat at the Goodnight Steakhouse again. My date had made an early reservation, so when we arrived at 4:30pm we were the first customers for the night. They had set up a table in the middle dining from with a balloon on the tabletop since it was my birthday celebration. The server was quickly there to give us menus and ask what we might like to drink. She told us the complimentary bread was still in the oven but would be out shortly.

Menu 2

We gave her our drink orders and started perusing the menu. In addition to the regular listed items, they also had some weekly specials that they were serving. The bread soon arrived hot and fresh with a side of real butter. Other appetizers included jalapeno poppers, pickle chips, queso, bacon wrapped shrimp, a grazing (charcuterie) board, loaded potato wedges, or truffle fries.

Since my companion is an onion ring connoisseur, we requested the onion ring tower ($11) for an appetizer. The rings came stacked on a branding iron with two dipping sauces, ranch dressing and a chipotle aioli. The onions were thick cut and cooked to just the right consistency. The breading was a bit heavy, similar to the breading on a chicken fried steak, but we consumed the entire stack so they agreed with us without question.

Fresh bread and butter

For our entrees, I ordered the 7oz sirloin strip steak topped with truffle butter cooked medium ($29) along with a side of the Goodnight mac & cheese ($11). The side was easily large enough to have been an entree all on its own! Ordering my side was a difficult decision because there were several yummy choices. All were tempting. Prices on sides ranged from $6 to $11.

Onion rings

The mac & cheese was scrumptious. No Kraft mac & cheese here. The sauce definitely had a lot of butter in it, very tasty.

My date ordered the 8oz filet cooked medium rare  ($42). He did not get a side since he ate the lion's share of the onion rings. The steaks came from 1855 Black Angus suppliers and were cooked over mesquite. I asked the server if the same grill was being used in the kitchen as was used when the building was the Beehive and she said that it was. My taste buds remembered that taste, or at least I felt like they did so that pleased me.

There were five steak options ranging in price from $29-$52; a 16oz ribeye, a 12oz filet, a 14oz strip, an 8oz filet, and a 7oz strip. For an additional charge you can get your steak topped with a peppercorn sauce but I would not want to overwhelm the taste of the beef. Both of our steaks were cooked exactly as we ordered them. They were tender and had delicious flavor. 

Strip steak with mac & cheese

There were other entree options on the menu such as chicken fried steak, grilled chicken, a cheeseburger, chicken fried chicken, salmon, pasta, and salads so you do not need to break the bank by ordering a steak. The 8 oz burger served with fries is $16.

There is also a kid's menu with mini corn dogs, chicken tenders, or steak fingers. Prices were $7, $9, or $16 depending on what you order and whether you wanted the small or large version kid's meal.

Desserts were cobbler (two types), cheesecake, ice cream, or a skillet cookie ranging in cost from $5-$12. We shared a peach cobbler topped with ice cream. It was spiced just right and was a good way to top off the meal with something sweet.

Service was friendly and efficient. Our server had worked there when the place was still the Beehive. She knew her business and an answered questions with confidence. 

Filet-med rare

The Goodnight Steakhouse & Saloon is a more elevated version of a small town steakhouse. The surroundings were comfortably rustic and the food was homey but made special by all the extra touches and quality ingredients that were used in the preparation. The menu options are accessible to the average palate without being too gourmet. My meal there was one of the better birthday dinners I have had in recent memory. It is certainly obvious that they are going to be real competition for some Abilene steakhouses. 

On certain nights, there is live music on the saloon side of the restaurant. Since we went on a Friday evening, the saloon was starting to get some steady business as well. 

Happy birthday!

You can make reservations via their website. 

One note: the lights went out mysteriously in the room we were seated before our food arrived, only in that one area of the restaurant and no one was around. The mirrored bar that is in that room was once out at Fort Griffin in wild west days. Haunted, maybe?

Goodnight Steakhouse & Saloon 

517 US 180, Albany, TX 76430

(325) 721-5838

https://goodnightsteakhouse.com/

Facebook page-- https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100093403927968

Hours:

Monday    Closed

Tuesday    Closed

Wednesday    4–9 PM

Thursday    4–10 PM

Friday  & Saturday  4–11 PM

Sunday    11 AM–10 PM

Great Onion Rings at the Diamond R Store & Cafe in Zephyr, TX

Onion ring appetizer with yellow onions (small)

 

If you find yourself on highway 183 south of Brownwood and you are feeling a bit peckish, consider stopping in at the Diamond R Store & Cafe for a good burger, delicious homemade onion rings, or some of the other tasty options on the menu including Tex-Mex and fish. They are open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. There is table service so you can rest a while too. 

Mushroom Swiss burger with purple onion rings

 

The onion rings and top notch! In fact, there are even two varieties, yellow onion which are thicker cut or purple onion which are thinner and more crispy.

Fries are hand cut too. Prices are very reasonable as well.

Hamburger and fries

Additional bonus—homemade ranch (at least it tastes like it.) 

 

 

Diamond R Store & Cafe

11801 Highway 84 E

 Zephyr, TX, United States, 76890

(325) 739-2068

 https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100058924246669&sk=about

Hours

Monday-Saturday

7:00 AM - 9:00 PM

Sunday

CLOSED

Lucille + Mabel Kitchen & Libations for impressive upscale dining in Brownwood, TX

Exterior

Lucille + Mabel Kitchen and Libations was a lovely surprise to find in downtown Brownwood! I cannot recall having a more enjoyable dining experience recently. The best meals I have had eating out this year have been at the Black Cur Steakhouse in Coleman and now this gem in Brownwood. Restaurants in Abilene need to up their game without question. I will happily drive 80 miles for this kind of quality and service.

My dining companion and myself greatly appreciated the atmosphere, the service, and the food at Lucille + Mabel. All were stellar. You really feel like you are at a restaurant in a much larger city but without the attitude that can come with elevated restaurants in urban areas. That being said, the prices are in line with the quality so be prepared. The menu is elevated but not inaccessible to most tastes.

Lucille + Mabel Kitchen & Libations is in a former bank building, complete with vaults. Upon entering we were greeted by the host. We had reservations and were taken to our table quickly. The bar and dining areas are separated but you can see into both. The restaurant is rectangular shaped with high ceilings, exposed brick and a green, black and white color scheme. It has the look of a historical building which tickles the history buff in me.

Bar area

Dining area

After being seated, the server came quickly to pour our water and get our drink orders while we looked over the menu. There were several steak options as well as many creative twists on familiar favorites--Korean fried chicken for example. The water for the table is served in previously used liquor bottles which is a fun way to use an item that otherwise would have just been thrown out. Clever.

Once the server returned with our drinks, she asked if we would like to order an appetizer. We went with the fried asparagus spears that were topped with crispy crab and a Bearnaise sauce ($22). My date had a question about the steaks so our server went back to the kitchen and brought out the various cuts and discussed them in detail to aid him in his choice. 

I ordered the pasta Alfredo with mushrooms and chicken ($21). He ordered the 9 oz prime cut filet ($59) which was sourced from 1855 Black Angus Beef. The steak was served with rosemary garlic mashed potatoes topped with bacon and asparagus on the side.

Asparagus appetizer

The appetizer was yummy and visually appealing. The asparagus were tender but not mushy. The crispy crab on top added an intriguing element to the taste. The portion size was more than we could eat and still have enough room for our entrees.

My pasta Alfredo was ample in size. I could only eat about 1/3 of it as the sauce was so decadent. Unlike so many places, they did not overdo the garlic in the sauce. Yay! The chicken on top was lightly breaded and juicy and the fettuccine was al dente which was quite pleasing to the palate. The past tasted fresh. For the reasonable price of the dish, it may be the best return on investment on the menu. Certainly there was enough left for a second meal the next day.

Pasta Alfredo with chicken

The filet was stellar--cooked to a perfect medium-rare and tender. The server asked that the steak be cut to be sure it was cooked correctly. It was seasoned in a way that really let the beef shine through and was topped with an herbed butter. There was not a bite leftover. A sumptuous steak indeed.

The service was outstanding and that aspect of eating out is getting more and more difficult to find. Our server was friendly without being intrusive but most of all she knew her job, the menu, and was a great ambassador for the restaurant. I had not one quibble about anything in regard to the food, beverages, atmosphere, or service. It was all five star in my book.

Filet cooked medium-rare

One caveat about making reservations there, and you are going to need a reservation, is to just call them. I tried three different avenues to contact them online; via the contact form on their website and two emails to different email addresses that are posted on their website and never heard anything back. Currently, there is no option to make reservations on any of the popular dining reservation apps either. I think the owners are concentrating more on running the restaurant than on their online presence. Their Facebook seems to be the spot with the most up to date information regarding hours and specials.

If you are in the area, I highly recommend trying Lucille + Mabel. Brownwood can surprise you. There is more going on there than you would expect. Check it out.

Update: Yesterday I took two friends to try Lucille + Mabel. Since it was only 4pm we sat in the bar. We ordered drinks and the mint in my friend’s mojito was slimy, not muddled. She had to send it back. The rest of the drinks were fine.

The servers in the bar were okay but not as attentive as what I experienced on the first visit in the dining room. Maybe newer employees? The three of us ordered off the appetizer menu, starting with two tasty crab cakes over grilled asparagus, and one of us added a half wedge salad as well. The steak bites topped with shrimp (3 per order) the others had were very good but we had to ask if the shrimp were breaded with flour, it was cornstarch, as she was gluten sensitive. However, my coconut shrimp tacos ($15) were overpowered by the balsamic sauce on the tacos and only had about two cut up pieces of shrimp in each taco. For dessert we shared a butter pecan cheesecake which was divine. All the desserts were tempting. 

I recommend if you want to experience the best side of the restaurant, get a reservation for dinner and skip dining in the bar.

Lucille + Mabel Kitchen & Libations
114 Center Ave.
Brownwood, TX 76801
(325) 430-0979
 

https://www.lucillemabel.com/

https://www.facebook.com/p/Lucille-Mabel-Kitchen-and-Libations-100076016620145/

Hours (these recently changed so I recommend checking their Facebook page for updates)

Sunday-Tuesday CLOSED

Wednesday 4pm-9pm

Thursday & Friday 4pm-10pm

Saturday Brunch 10am-2pm, 4pm-10pm