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

The Gap Cafe--Perini's breakfast, brunch, and lunch spot in Buffalo Gap (get the CFS).

The Gap Cafe  in Buffalo Gap is located at the turn off to go the the Abilene State Park. It is owned by the Perini's so the quality is up to par for my expectations. 

Wooden bar for atmosphere

Neat decor

I have been out there twice for Sunday brunch. They only serve the brunch menu on the weekends. The first time I ordered spinach and mushroom quiche which was a little dry, but the side of bacon I had was cooked perfectly. The second time I went, I got the chicken fried steak tenderloin medallions with fries ($14). Yum!

Both times, I enjoyed my meal but the chicken fried tenderloin was the winner. Practically perfect in every way. The gravy had just the right amount of pepper. The steak was tender with the right amount of breading on it. Their french fries are served with fried jalapenos in them so be warned if that is not something you want.

The Gap Cafe has choices of several standard breakfast plates but the menu is not big. I hope to make it over there for lunch during the week someday to try the Ultimate Grilled Cheese Sandwich as I am always on the lookout for a truly special grilled cheese. Maybe someday...

Chicken fried tenderloin

From what I observed both times I have gone, the place is run with only 3-4 people working. Two young women as servers and someone cooking in the back. The larger room for seating is made up of very large round tables to seat groups. Service is not speedy so do not be in a rush to get in and out of there unless you just want to grab a pastry and a coffee at the counter.

Price points are reasonable so it will not break the bank to take the family or go with a group of friends. It is worth the drive to Buffalo Gap.

The Gap Cafe

2709 FM 89

Buffalo Gap, TX 79508

https://www.periniranch.com/pages/the-gap-cafe 

(325) 572-3334

Hours

Monday: 7:00am - 2:00pm

Tuesday: Closed

Wednesday - Sunday: 7:00am - 2:00pm

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



 

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

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

CLOSED Threadgill's on Riverside in Austin, TX--Home Cookin' in the Capitol of Texas

King Ranch Chicken Casserole, spinach casserole, and San Antonio squash

Chicken fried steak (gravy on the side), mashed sweet potatoes, and green beans

On a recent trip to Austin I had occasion to go to eat with a friend at the south side location of Threadgill's. They are a long time Austin institution for home-style cooking and live music. I had long heard of it but had never eaten there.

After arriving around 12:45pm, we were seated after a short wait. The server did a decent job for us but looked less than enthusiastic to be at work. He was on top of my drink refills so no complaints that he was not in an extra jolly mood. Overall, the efficient and quick service for those folks that need to get back to work is appreciated.

I ordered the Friday lunch special of King Ranch Chicken, though I was very tempted to just get a veggie plate due to the plethora of options. Particularly items that I haven't had the frequent chance to eat since Sunday dinners as a kid at my grandparent's house. My companion went with the tried and true CFS, which Threadgill's is well-known for serving. A basket of jalapeno cornbread muffins and bread was on the table very quickly. We both chose the cornbread and it was yummy, not dry at all.

My lunch was filling and perfectly fine but not "blow me out of the water" delicious. I tasted my friend's chicken fry and the flavor of the meat came through the rather heavy breading. I admit that I prefer pan frying over deep frying when it comes to CFS due to the fact that the breading/meat ratio tends to be higher on the meat side when pan fried. It was a nice-sized portion without question. She doesn't like cream gravy so I don't know if that would have added to the experience. My friend commented on how much she liked that the sweet potatoes didn't have marshmallow or cinnamon added to them, letting the natural sweetness of the potato shine through. My favorite part of lunch was the San Antonio squash side dish on my plate. The squash still had some firmness to it and wasn't cooked into mush. I enjoyed the green chili flavor and the creamy sauce. The spinach was just fine but in retrospect I should have gone for something else, such as the butter beans or the okra.

Buttermilk pie

For dessert, I could not resist the buttermilk pie which is my absolute favorite pie of all time. The little dabs of whipped cream that were served on top added to the presentation. The pie had a thicker floury texture than other's I've tasted that tend toward a more custard-like filling. It was good pie but not as good as I've ever had in the past. My standards are sky high in this regard due to the superior baking skills of my grandma.

I think the fact that there are probably a fewer number of "comfort" or "Southern" food restaurants in Austin (in comparison to my neck of the woods) or people's nostalgia for the past are what  keep people coming back to Threadgill's. The meal was perfectly fine but the restaurant is not somewhere I would make a special trip to patronize. I do wish I had gotten those butter beans and some extra cornbread though. 

301 West Riverside Dr.
Austin, TX  78704
(512) 472-9304
http://www.threadgills.com/

Mon-Thurs 11a-10p
Fri 11a-10:30p
Sat: 11a-10:30p
Sun: 10a-9:30p
Sunday Breakfast Buffet: 10a-1p

Po Po Restaurant outside Boerne, TX--A Tasty Timewarp

Booth with decorative plates above

On a recent trip, I stopped at a place located west of Boerne, TX. It is actually in a spot called Welfare if you are looking for the sign on Interstate 10 between Comfort and Boerne. It is the Po Po Restaurant. Whenever I am in the area, it is a goal to eat there if possible. The plethora of collectible plates on the wall, the white banquet seats, the fried chicken and tranquil views. It feels like a little like a trip back to in time when I visit.

Po Po's has an interesting history. It started out as a "middle-of-nowhere" hill country dance hall in 1929.  The service, though not always speedy, is attentive and friendly. I have eaten at Po Po:s many times over the years; with friends, with family, and all by myself. On this last visit, it was a solo trip for a late lunch/early dinner as I drove into San Antonio for a conference.

View from my table

The menu is large and varied but they are well known for their delicious fried chicken. Prices are more expensive than you might expect--about $2.00 more per item than you might pay in other restaurants,perhaps because they are a bit hidden. I ordered a patty melt with onion rings ($10.99). The rye bread was perfectly toasted and the 1/3 lb patty was juicy. The grilled onions and cheese on top made for a messy lunch but it was worth it. I couldn't finish the onion rings which were hand breaded and thick cut.

Patty melt on rye with onion rings (half-eaten, sorry)

Over the years, I've had the fried chicken, chicken fried steak, catfish and shrimp, and for dessert-- bread pudding. They serve liver and onions for those in search of that meal. Pasta, steaks, seafood are available as well as a full bar. Breakfast is now being served from 7am-10:30am.

If you find yourself in the area, go ahead and take the exit and enjoy a leisurely meal at Po Po's Restaurant. They have featured lunches every weekday. 

Reservations are accepted and recommended for weekends and holidays. They close at 8:30pm Sunday-Thursday and 9:30pm on Friday and Saturday.


PO PO Restaurant
829 FM 289, I-10 Welfare exit 533
Boerne, TX 78006
 830-537-4194 
http://www.poporestaurant.com/
https://www.facebook.com/poporestaurant

Settles Grill--Big Spring Fine Dining

The Settles Grill is in the beautifully restored Hotel Settles in Big Spring, Texas. It was our chosen spot for Thanksgiving in 2016. We also stayed overnight in the hotel (see Trip Advisor for my review of the hotel--excellent place). It was great to take a break from cooking a holiday meal and head out of town for a couples trip. We had two meals in the grill and both were quite tasty.

The customer service in the grill was outstanding. We had a fantastic server who took care of everything we needed. The manager on duty was also accommodating and checked on us more than once. Our reservations were for 2pm and the restaurant was about half-full at that time. The decor was dark wood and blue accents with historic pictures on the wall.

For an appetizer we ordered the Avocado Fundido ($10) which was Queso Fresco, chorizo, black beans and tortilla chips. We dug into it before I could get a picture. Delicious and a generous portion as well.

Turkey tenderloin with fried Brussls sprouts and garlic mashed potatoes

The holiday special we chose was the apricot pecan stuffed turkey breast medallions ($16) even though there were several other choices ranging from steak to fish. We were such traditionalists! There were a variety of sides to choose from such as green chile cornbread dressing, garlic mashed potatoes, cheese grits, fried Brussels sprouts with almonds, lemon butter broccoli, or pan-fried kale.

My sides were the Brussels sprouts, which I loved, and the garlic mashed potatoes. The hubby had the green chili dressing and mashed potatoes. Roasting the sprouts really brought out their flavor. I wished for a bigger serving. The bechamal sauce on the turkey was excellent. Turkey does tend to get dry and the addition of the sauce helped it a lot. There was also had a little bit of homemade cranberry sauce to complement the turkey. There was more meat on the plate than I could eat. Compliments to the chef!

Pumpkin cheesecake

For dessert we had pumpkin cheesecake with brandy whipped cream and a little citrus sugar cookie ($7). I really liked the little sugar cookie and the whipped cream. The cheesecake had a pumpkin spice flavor but with a little overcooked.

We did go back later in the evening for another meal. My husband ordered trout and I had a salad. He loved the trout. Much too "fishy" tasting for me but he raved about it.

I recommend making a reservation for holidays or special events. We will return.

P.S. On the way out of Big Spring, we had to go to Taco Villa. My husband grew up in Andrews, Texas, so if there is a Taco Villa where we travel it is a mandatory stop even for breakfast. The one in Big Spring it the closest one to Abilene if you are interested.

 

Settles Grill

200 E 3rd St, Big Spring, TX 79720

(432) 267-7500

http://hotelsettles.com/dining/settles-grill

Dixie Pig--A Beloved Diner in A-Town bring CASH!

Dixie Pig Diner on the corner of Butternut and S. 14th

Mr. Pig omelette with sausage and bacon

The Dixie Pig has been around a long time (85 YEARS!) and as far as I am aware the menu has been the same for at least the past 20 of them. They are only open for breakfast and lunch, Monday-Saturday. They do NOT take debit or credit cards so bring some cash. I saw no ATM on site.

Saturday mornings usually mean a wait for a table and you are not seated until all your people have arrived. Service varies from super friendly to grumpy, luck of the draw. Decor is piggy. Pig signs, pig knickknacks, pigs everywhere...fun for the kids to spot all of them.

My husband and I went last Saturday. It had been raining and was overcast so it seemed like a good day to go to a greasy spoon for breakfast. In Abilene, that means the Dixie Pig. It is locally owned. I have only had breakfast there, except for one time when we went after 11am and I ordered a BLT. I have never had the famous Pig Sandwich. Lunch is the usual burgers, sandwiches, and chicken fried steak options.

Biscuits and cream gravy

Usually, I go for pancakes or an omelette at the Dixie Pig. The Mr. Pig omelette was calling my name most recently. It is the most expensive breakfast item on the menu for about $8.50. Lunch options are priced similarly. The Mr. Pig is made up of three eggs, cheese, bacon, sausage, with a a little tomato and onion served with hash browns and either toast or biscuits and gravy. The omelette was large and the bacon was abundant and really crispy. The hash browns were a little overdone for my taste but I ate all of them. The biscuits were dense and the gravy was nice and peppery if not homemade. I only ate one of them.

All in all a satisfying breakfast for a reasonable price and plenty of local clientele. We ran into our neighbor which is cool since we all live on the north side and the Pig is on the south side of town. See my review for The Flipping Egg for another local breakfast/brunch/lunch option in town that is open on Sunday.

1401 Butternut St, Abilene, TX 79602

(325) 673-3292

No website, no official Facebook page

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/

Buddys Drive In--Andrews, TX

My husband grew up in Andrew's, TX. When it comes to fond food memories from his younger years, he has two (not counting home cooking)--Buddy's and Taco Villa. Every time we have visited Andrews we have eaten at one or the other...often both.

Buddy's Drive In is an institution in Andrews that is regionally famous for their steak fingers. For the uninitiated that is tenderized round steak cut into strips, battered and deep fried. Little mini chicken-fried steaks if you will. The meal is a pile of steak fingers, french fries, a "salad" of iceberg lettuce, Texas toast and gravy. The also have the usual burgers and such, even breakfast, but I've never had anything other than the steak fingers. They are tender and the batter is nice and crispy. Some people may think they have too much batter, not me.

Steak fingers galore!

You can dine-in or have a car hop come out to your vehicle if there is an empty spot under the awning for drive-up customers. It takes a while sometimes to cook the food so we just go in and grab a table (when one is available). It is not a fancy place. In fact, you may feel like you have stepped back in time to when they opened in 1969. That's okay with me but isn't for everyone. Smoking is allowed in the building during certain times of day.

Remember that Andrews is oil country and hard-working folks want to be fed. It takes quite an appetite to finish a full order. The gravy didn't taste homemade but as far as I'm concerned that is fine. I'd rather have it recently cooked (a mix is quicker and less greasy). The ranch dressing seemed to be made in-house though. It had a garlicy kick to fancy up that ordinary lettuce on the side of your plate. I like it for dipping my fries.

If you find yourself passing through and want some chicken-fried happiness, Buddy's is for you.
  
106 E Broadway St, Andrews, TX 79714-6505

432-523-4890

10am-9pm

Monument Cafe--Cut Above Comfort Food in Georgetown, TX

The Monument Cafe is definitely worth a trip into Georgetown off of Interstate 35 north of Austin. I was headed back home from a conference with some colleagues and one of them suggested lunch at the Monument Cafe. After he told me about the great comfort food (much of it locally sourced and organic) and the scrumptious desserts, I was very game to give it a try.

Art deco coolness

As we walked in I noticed the board with the special offerings for the day, the awesome art deco light fixtures and all the black/white/stainless steel decor. It was about 1:30pm on a Thursday, no wait. Being seated right away is a rarity since normally they are pretty packed.

Hand-made strawberry lemonade

Once settled into our booth, I perused the menu and thought about ordering an omelette since breakfast is served all day but went with the special for the day which was chicken pot pie. There were also burgers, salads, sandwiches, and other home-style favorites like chicken fried steak, liver and onions, truck-stop enchiladas, or fried chicken.

Hand-made strawberry lemonade was my beverage of choice...loved that it was served with the shaker and I could get two glasses out of it.

Heavenly chicken pot pie and onion rings

Everyone at the table ordered the chicken pot pie. I had onion rings with mine and my other two companions got the macaroni and cheese. The pastry on the pie was flaky and tender and the filling was chock full of vegetables. The perfectly seasoned broth and chicken please my palate. Sometimes chicken pot pie can be bland. This may have been the best one I have ever eaten since my grandma's version. The breading on my onion rings had a black pepper twist which accented the thinly sliced onion quite well. A larger portion would have been appreciated.

Carrot cake

Despite being pretty stuffed, I had to have dessert and ordered the carrot cake though I couldn't finish it. Luscious.

Service was friendly and efficient. No complaints. Prices were fair. I didn't pay the bill but I think my meal was around $15.00 without tax or tip.


I peeked into the Monument Store that is attached to the cafe and bought some locally grown hot peppers. There was a variety of veggies, beauty and health items, wine and beer, and a deli in the store.

When driving through Georgetown, I'll have to make sure to  go again! Breakfast next time. Thanks

Monument Cafe
500 S. Austin Avenue, Georgetown, TX 78627
12-930-9586
Sun. - Thrs. 7 A.M. - 9 P.M.
Fri.-Sat. 7:00 A.M. - 10:00 P.M.
http://www.themonumentcafe.com/

CLOSED Sweets du Jour--Bakery and Breakfast/Lunch Spot

My friend and I decided to try out a newish local bakery because I had heard some buzz about their cinnamon rolls and the sandwiches served on house-made focaccia bread. They have been around for about 3 years but for some odd reason I've never tried them out probably because they close at 3pm. The situation changed yesterday when I had the afternoon off and a burning craving for some fresh focaccia. Yum!

The lunch menu gives you five sandwich choices, one of which is a build-your-own.  The meatball sandwich is only available on Friday. The chicken-berry salad is the one sandwich that comes on a different type of bread--a croissant to be exact. There are 3-4 daily rotating soup choices as well. There is also quiche if any is left over from breakfast, a generous slice is $5.00. The small sandwich is $5.50 and that is indeed what you get...just the sandwich. You can add a cup of soup for an extra $3.50 or a bag of chips for .75 cents. A large sandwich, which is basically two small sandwiches, is $8.50. They also have breakfast sandwiches on croissant in the morning for $3.75, along with various pastries. 

There are about 10 tables in the place. It is decorated in a black & white theme with a touch of red. Very quaint. The picture below is of one of the cases with some sweets. I was greeted promptly but they warn on their website that it may take up to 15 minutes to get your sandwich so this isn't a place to eat if you are in a rush.  They told the truth as it took about 12 minutes to get our food and there were only 4 other people in the place, two of which ordered after we did. They do have an online ordering system if you want to take advantage of it for a meal or for ordering a bakery item.

I requested the salami, provolone and olive-relish sandwich with a cup of the chicken gnocchi soup (they 3 soup choices from leftovers earlier in the week).  My friend had the mozzarella, basil and roasted tomato sandwich and chips. Drink options were coffee, iced tea or water. No sodas. Bummer.

The bread was delicious and the toppings were very good quality if not overly generous. My soup was well worth the price. Very flavorful. My friend enjoyed her sandwich as well. All in all, not a place to go if you have a big appetite but enjoyable for a light lunch. Just remember it isn't $5 foot long subs here but a gourmet bakery.

I bought some peanut butter toffee cookies (.76 cents each) for dessert and they were delicious, just a tad too salty.  I plan to return and try some quiche, a spinach artichoke dip sandwich or order a cake/pie.

Sweets du Jour
726 S Leggett Dr. (SW corner of Leggett and S.7th)
Abilene, TX  79605
(325)793-0382

Hours
10:30 a – 3:00 p Tuesday-Friday
9:00 a – 2:00 p Saturday
Closed Sunday & Monday

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

Mimi's Cafe--Fort Worth

I usually don't review chain restaurants that often but I love the breakfast here. The omelets are awesome and come with a muffin, your choice of juice and skillet potatoes. This breakfast can hold you most of the day.

Buttermilk spice and chocolate mousse muffin

Eggs, bacon, Monterrey cheese, and avocado served with salsa.

Monterrey Omelet

Parisian Omelet

 The Parisian omelet is seasonal and is topped with a roasted tomato cream sauce.

Service was excellent. There is often quite a wait on weekends.

Mimi's Cafe
5858 SW LOOP 820, Fort Worth, Texas 76132
(817) 731-9644