Five Guys has arrived in Abilene

 Five Guys recently opened a store in far south Abilene. I do not always write reviews of chains but when a new one comes to town, it is worth a mention when it has a reputation like Five Guys. 

Little hamburger--single patty

The first Five Guys burger I ever ate was several years ago in Georgetown, TX. At the time, I did not realize that their standard burger has two patties and that you get a bunch of extra fries in the bag when you buy even a small order of french fries. I had a much bigger lunch than I could finish and was facing a 3-hour drowsy drive back home.

On my visit to Abilene's Five Guys, I ordered a little burger with a single patty for $8.49 and a small fry for $4.79, and water to drink. Their regular size burger with two patties is $10.69.

The price point is not inexpensive. My lunch was about $14 but I did not leave even the slightest bit hungry. 

The hamburger meat has never been frozen and the fries are cut in-house. You can see the potato boxes stacked behind the counter. It  was a good burger, juicy without being super messy. The patty could have used more seasoning. The toppings were all fresh as was the bun. You can also get as many of the standard toppings as you want on  your burger.

"Little" fries

I find that hand-cut fries are often limp and soggy but the ones at Five Guys had a crisp to them. They must be double fried. I still prefer fries without the skins left on them but that did not keep me from eating and enjoying them. They use peanut oil to fry them.

The menu also includes hot dogs (start at $6.79) and milkshakes ($6).  

The restaurant was clean and well-staffed. It took about 10 minutes for them to cook my order on a Saturday at 11:30am. The restaurant had not gotten really busy yet. There was only one person in line in front of me but by noon, the place was filling up fast. 

I did not see any free peanuts out. There were multiple signs that warned people with a peanut allergies that free peanuts are available while people wait for their food.

If you are a burger and fry fan, give them a try. Especially if you have never had it before but be aware that it is going to cost more than the typical fast food burger. There is no drive through window either since everything is cooked to order. 

The location is convenient for people who live in far south Abilene, Wylie, and Potosi.

Five Guys--Abilene

6950 S. Central Clack St., Unit 1

Abilene, TX 79606

(865) 363-0590

https://order.fiveguys.com/location/five-guys-abilene/menu/burgers

Hours are 10am-10pm all week long.

Gloria's Grill is a SODA district staple with big homestyle burgers served weekdays at lunch

Gloria's Grill is a lunch spot open Monday-Friday located just west of the Taylor County Courthouse. It is locally owned and has been around for decades. People who work in the area are loyal customers of Gloria's.

About a year and a half ago, they closed up shop and retired. However, the reopened again after a break and customers were flocking back there for their mid-day burger break. Other menu options include taco salad, hot dogs, Frito pie, and a BLT.  You can get fries or tater tots as a side. They keep the menu simple, but the folks I saw eating there seem perfectly happy with that.

There was also a nice cross section of Abilenians eating inside due to the restaurant's location. Orders are placed at the counter. 

I got a cheeseburger and fries combo which was $15.50. I cannot recall if the drink came with it or not. It is true that the price is not inexpensive but it is not a small burger. In fact, the combo I ate kept my hunger at bay for the rest of the day, I skipped dinner.

The buns on the burger had been toasted on the grill which is always a plus, and the meat was juicy without being super greasy. It was a really good hamburger. The fries were also cooked to crispy perfection. I am not a fan of limp, undercooked french fries. 

The service was friendly and the food was hot and satifying. It took a few minutes for the food to arrive but there is no doubt it was cooked fresh.

It is a positive action to support our Abilene business owners, so give Gloria's Grill a try the next time you find yourself in the downtown or south of downtown area during the week at lunchtime. 

Gloria's Grill

228 Chestnut St. 

Abilene, TX 79602

325-675-5105

https://www.facebook.com/p/Glorias-Grill-100063715860276/

Hours:

M-F 10:30am-2pm

Rick & Carolyn's Burgers and Fries (and homemade steak fingers too) is popular with a lot of folks!

Rick & Carolyn's Burgers and Fries has been in Abilene for a very long time. They once had several locations in town but are now down to only one located on S. Pioneer Dr. between S. 1st and S. 7th streets. They are a real hometown spot with some devoted customers.

Steak finger dinner with onion rings ($2 upcharge)

As the name indicates they have burgers and handcut french fries but the items that most people rave about are the steak fingers.

The parking lot was full at 12:30pm when I arrived. It looked like a lot of "regulars" were enjoying their lunch. Orders are taken at the counter and they will bring out your food when it is ready. Service was extra friendly. Also, even though it was the lunch rush, the food came out fairly quickly. The people working were on the ball. 

My friend and I both ordered the steak fingers dinner which comes with fries. I substituted onion rings for the fries which was a $2 upcharge. They are also made on the premises. The steak fingers are huge! They are not the pre-made frozen ones you get a most fast food places.

The steak finger dinner also comes with Texas toast, white gravy, and a drink. The meal also come with ice cream but I did not have room for it at the end. I paid just over $20 for my lunch but it will easily be two meals for me. The fingers are basically a chicken fried steak cut into thirds.You can also just order a chicken fried steak if you do not want it cut up. I doubt anyone is still hungry if they finish the entire plate. It is a lot of food.

The peppery batter is thick but there was still plenty of meat. The meat was tenderized well but could have used a bit more seasoning. The same batter was used on the onion rings, which did kind of overwhelm the vegetable a bit. The slice of onion could have been a bit thicker to stand up to the batter. All that being said, I was only able to eat one piece of meat and three onion rings before I was completely full.  

By the way, the hamburgers are pretty good as well, so the next time you are in the mood for some old-fashioned homestyle fried food or a burger, give them a shot. 

Rick & Carolyn's Burgers and Fries

302 S. Pioneer Dr.

Abilene, TX 79605

325-793-2706

Hours:

Mon-Sat 11am-8pm

https://www.facebook.com/RickandCarolyns/

CLOSED for daily business but check their social media for concerts/events--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

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/

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

CLOSED?--MOVED now a food truck --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

Updated: Twisted Root Burger Company puts down roots in Abilene on the "Hill"

August 2024--Just a quick note, that this location has had several issues since it opened. There seems to be some problems here that do not occur in other Twisted Root locations based on various comments I've seen. Hopefully, they will improve. I have only been twice and had hoped to make this a regular spot for burgers.

The various delays due to the pandemic are done and the eagerly awaited opening of Twisted Root Burger Co. has arrived. It is located in the Allen Ridge shopping complex on Judge Ely Blvd., north of Ambler and ACU. They are thriving. Before its arrival in Abilene, the closest location for this regional chain was in San Angelo.

Menu

As is usual for most new restaurants in Abilene (especially one so anticipated), the first few weeks the place was swamped with customers so wait times to order and for food could be a bit long. The line can still be out the door during peak hours.

Twisted Root is a "order at the register" and then come pick up your food type of establishment with a fun, albeit noisy, atmosphere. The "buzzers" they give you for your order have whimsical names that are called out when your food is ready to be picked up. Mine said E.T. There is 80s era music pumping through the entire establishment, including the outside patio area so quiet it is not...which is not unexpected.

There is quite the variety of meats to choose from for your burger including buffalo, Wagyu beef, chicken, turkey, and veggie, in addition to the traditional ground beef. Some options have up charges, of course. There are also three salad options.

Order line and pickle barrels

I ordered an All American burger that came with double American cheese and bacon ($8.75). It was cooked perfectly, the bun was soft and everything was well-seasoned. Juicy patty without being super sloppy. For my side I got an order of the original Twisted Cheese Fries ($6.25) which was big enough to share as an appetizer and used real shredded cheddar cheese. Be sure to eat them quick because once the cheese and fries cool down, it all gets congealed together and the fries become soggy. The fries are hand cut with the skins left on which for me tends to make them less crisp from the start. For other sides, there are fried pickles, onion strings, and the Treat-Yo-Self Twisted Fries that have bacon, jalapenos, and peppercorn ranch in addition to cheese.

Twisted cheese fries and All American burger

My burger order was a $1 more than the Original which is the least expensive burger on the adult menu, the classic which is a cheeseburger. A kid's burger is $5 and comes with fries or there is a grilled cheese sandwich option as well. The most expensive burger on the menu is the Millionaire which has Wagyu beef and truffle aioli at $15. 

There are huge "serve yourself" pickle barrels with lots of options such as bread and butter, ranch, atomic, in addition to the traditional dill flavor. I think the flavors may rotate. The pickles were the thick cut kind rather than the thinner pickles you often find a burger places. I went with the traditional dill for my choice as I feel a burger is not complete without pickles on it. Various condiments are on the tables with a couple of types of mustard, regular and spicy ketchup, and BBQ sauce.

Disappointing milkshake

One disappointment--do not bother with their milkshakes ($5.25). They are mostly whipped cream, not ice cream so not worth the price and not as thick as advertised. I imagine the same could be said of the root beer float option.

This is going to continue to be a very popular place, especially with the outdoor seating, full bar, and attractive environment of Allen Ridge. Go get you burger fix on!

Patio

 

Twisted Root Burger Company

2419 N. Judge Ely Blvd Abilene, TX 79601

325- 274-3150

 https://www.twistedrootburgerco.com/locations/abilene

Sun-Thurs: 11am-11pm

Fri/Sat: 11am-12am

 

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

CLOSED The (new) Towne Crier Steakhouse

This CFS took up the whole plate

New owners, new menu, freshened up atmosphere. This iteration of the long time Abilene restaurant, the Towne Crier Steakhouse, is different...and that isn't a bad thing. Yes, the prices are a little higher. Yes, they now have table service. Yes, the salad bar is no longer free with your meal. However, the soup and salad bar still has most of the same items (minus picked watermelon rind and two kinds of soup--sorry, Mother) and isn't much more expensive then it was before at $8.99 if that is what you want for your meal. There is still a big chicken fried steak and rolls. They also serve beer and wine now which has never been the case in the past.

A huge plus is how much better the interior looks! I was almost embarrassed to take anyone from out of town to eat there before this remodel as it had gotten really raggedly-looking despite the redone floor.

Last week, it was girls night as three friends and myself went to the Towne Crier for dinner. It was my first trip there since the relaunch. Service was very attentive, friendly and quick. Drinks were always topped off.

Fried Brussels sprouts

For a starter, we tried the fried Brussels sprouts. I really enjoyed them and the bacon bits were a tasty addition. A dipping sauce for them would be a good. The menu just says "sprouts" so to ward off confusion, they weren't fried bean or alfalfa sprouts. The sprouts are also a side dish option as were  sweet potato fries. My friends ordered grilled chicken, chicken fried steak, and chopped steak. I had the London broil (marinated steak topped with sauce). It was cooked perfectly and was very tender and flavorful. Delicious! The price was good as well at $13.99 for six ounces of sirloin. Instead of the two sides that came with my entree, I substituted the soup and salad bar and had way more food than I expected for less than $15. The burgers also looked intriguing since they are made with brisket and short ribs.

London broil sirloin

I plan to return and bring the husband. This could be our new place for a reasonably priced steak or upscale burger. The salad bar alone is a great lunch option.

Have an open mind about the changes and give the place a shot. I think you will be pleasantly surprised. It more than competes with some of the chain steak (roadhouses) restaurants in town. Everything changes and though there are some things I miss about the original, this new version definitley has something to offer Abilene.

Update: Upon the second visit the service was not up to par but the food was still very good.

Towne Crier Steakhouse
1 (325) 704-4290
818 E Hwy 80
Abilene, TX 79601
Facebook--https://www.facebook.com/thetownecrier/

Tuesday-Saturday
11am – 2pm
5pm – 9pm

Sunday
11am – 2pm

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

UPDATE now brick and morter--Rock’n Roller’z Roll’n Grill--Scrumptious Burgers on Wheels

Old Schooler traditional cheeseburger

Update 2019--They are now a brick and mortar place at 1055 N. Judge Ely Blvd. in Abilene, TX. Same great burgers!

I'm late to the party with this review of Rock'n Roller'z hamburgers and a report on my first visit to Abilene's Food Park in south downtown. The park is an outdoor dining spot that hosts a rotating group of food trucks, primarily during the lunch hour. It is on the corner of S. 1st and Sycamore St. Most of the parking for diners is in a lot north of S. 1st close to the railroad tracks. The park fits about 4-5 food trucks, so it isn't very big but it is certainly a step in the right direction for food culture in Abilene.

Last year, I had a burger from the truck when they were parked at a local business. At that time I ordered the town favorite, a Poppin' Johnny. It is dressed up with cream cheese, fire-roasted jalapenos, bacon, fried onion strings, and a jalapeno ranch sauce...a mouth-watering combo of jalapeno popper and burger. No wonder it has won some local awards. This time, the hubby and I went to the food park just to have a burger from Rock'n Roller'z for supper. They were the only truck listed to be there for the evening so we did not have to fight a lunch-time crowd and the parking was easy.

Truffle fries

The burgers are served with fries and range in price from $8-$12. The buns they use are delicious and locally produced. The meat is never frozen. You can truly taste the difference so I don't mind paying more for something so delectable. The size of the burger was perfect for me. If you do have a really big appetite, they can throw an extra patty on the burger for an up-charge. My husband went traditional with his order of the Old Schooler cheeseburger. I ordered the Rockin Rolla burger which had pepper jack cheese, bacon, onion strings, tomato, lettuce, pickle and "nasty" sauce which is similar to thousand island dressing without the pickles but with a kick to it.

We decided instead of getting the regular fries that come the burger to upgrade to an order of truffle fries and share them. The fries were hand-cut, tossed in truffle oil, served topped with shredded Parmesan cheese and parsley. Truffle oil adds a earthy "mushroom-y" taste to the potatoes. So often with hand-cut fries they don't get much of a "crisp" on them. These fries had a bit of a crunch on the outside while still being tender on the inside. Score! The truck has other options for special fries ($6) that could be a meal in and of themselves. I've also seen homemade cheese sticks being offered as well.

My Rockin Rolla burger

The last burger on the menu, in addition to the Poppin' Johnny, the Old Schooler, the Rockin Rolla, is the Future Bird which is a bacon cheeseburger with two fried eggs on top. They also tend have a rotating option such as a chicken sandwich or another kind of burger to choose from.

The truck is distinctive so keep an eye out for the tattooed lady painted on it. If you see they are serving--STOP! You won't regret it.

Follow them on Facebook or give them a call to find where they are set-up for a truly exceptional burger. You can also check out the Facebook page for the food park in downtown Abilene to see which trucks are parked there (1089 S. 1st) on any given day. 

www.facebook.com/rollngrill/

(325) 665-0513

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/

It is De-Luscious! Lonestar Cheeseburger Company--San Angelo

The Lonestar Cheeseburger Company is a chef-owned food truck that serves up some delightful burgers in San Angelo, Texas. There are a couple of picnic tables outside the truck but this is primarily an order and eat in your car or take-out type of place.

I ordered the El Paso burger which was the chef special of the day. It was a 1/3 Angus beef patty cooked on a wood-fired grill with melted American cheese, bacon, sauteed green peppers and onions, jalapenos, a homemade onion ring and the house-made mayo. Scrumptious! The ingredients came together really well. I like onions on a burger but prefer that they are cooked. The meat had wonderful flavor and wasn't overdone, very juicy. The bun was fresh and toasted on the grill. I'd say it is one of the best burgers I have had in a very long time. The cost for the burger itself was $5.99 and I added some fries and a drink to make it a combo for $1.99 more. All they needed was Diet Dr. Pepper instead of just Diet Pepsi, so I was forced to drink a regular DP (like the calories matter at this point). My 6'8" husband got a traditional double meat cheeseburger and he didn't leave hungry! The quality ingredients make the hamburger worth the higher price than fast food places. Also, notice the late hours on Friday and Saturday nights.

If you are in the Concho Valley and need a burger fix head to downtown San Angelo and grab one of these burgers and eat it by the river which only a block or two away.

Currently located in the Eskimo Hut Parking on the corner of Beauregard & Bryant in San Angelo, TX.

Monday -Thursday 10:30AM-9:00PM
Friday and Saturday 10:30AM-3:00AM

CLOSED Cattle Baron Cafe--Burgers, Steaks and Home-Style Cooking

This evening my husband, myself and a friend went to the Cattle Baron Cafe on S. 1st, just west of Leggett.  It is in the location that used to be Tuscany's Coffeehouse. The menu offers steaks, several types of burgers, chicken-fried steak, grilled chicken and some nice desserts. Even a fried baloney sandwich.

Amarillo burger with beans and fries

I ordered the Amarillo burger which had cheddar cheese. lettuce, tomato, and onion rings on the sandwich.  Sides were hand-cut fries and home-made pinto beans. The stand out item on the burger was the fresh bun, except for the brand on top. Interesting idea but the scorched part of the bread didn't taste good.  It was a decent burger but I could tell the patty was pre-formed instead of done by hand which was a bit disappointing. Cost was $7.65.

My husband got the large chicken-fried steak which he LOVED...tender and pan-fried instead of deep fried. Yummy gravy, mashed red potatoes and pinto beans. It was actually two steaks for about $15. Our friend ordered the chopped sirloin and it also came with mashed potatoes and pinto beans and was piled high with sauteed onions. He said it was very good. For dessert we had lemon meringue pie, made with real lemon.

The service was excellent. Very attentive and friendly.

We like that the place is in the center of town and we don't have to drive over to the southwest part of the city to go eat at a sit-down restaurant. I'm sure we will go again and try some appetizers. Some of them were very tempting. I plan to try a steak next time.

Now serving breakfast 11/2012.

Cattle Baron Cafe
3905 S. 1st St.
Abilene, TX 79605
325-232-8217
CLOSED DOWN--APRIL 2014