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

 

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

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

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

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

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

Interior--Order at the counter

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

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

Interior looking toward the stage

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

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

Brisket stuffed potato--Saturday only

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

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

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

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

Crane's Craft BBQ

(325) 386-9934

1023 S Access Rd, Tye, TX 79563

https://cranescraftbbq.com/

Hours

Sunday-Tuesday--Closed

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

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

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

CLOSED Cajun/Creole Cuisine in Lampasas, TX at Toupsie's

Toupsie's is a restaurant, bar and live music venue located on the north side of Lampasas, Texas. On a trip returning to Abilene from a meeting in Austin, myself and a friend decided to stop for lunch there. I heard that it was a pretty good spot to get some Cajun food. Granted one would not normally think of Lampasas as a place that would have a restaurant that specialized in cuisine from Louisiana but why not give it a try since we were passing through and hungry! Also, I read that one of the owners grew up in Thibodaux, Lousiana.

Fried shrimp and crawfish basket with fries and red beans/rice

Shrimp salad

We hit Lampasas on a Tuesday around 1:45pm. It was their first Tuesday to be open and it was also pouring rain outside so the place did not have many customers. They had a decent-sized selection of items on the menu. My choice was the combo basket of fried shrimp and fried crawdads ($14.99). Sides were battered fries and red beans and rice (a must-have at any Cajun/Creole restaurant).  My friend got a shrimp remoulade salad and a cup of seafood gumbo...much healthier choices than mine. I asked if they also had etouffee and the answer was in the affirmative though I didn't spot it on the menu. For dessert we split a piece of French silk pie.

Menu--front

Service was friendly and fairly quick. Since there were only two other customers the attentiveness is to be expected. The food came out fast as well. I was quite pleased with my fried entree. The breading on the seafood was crispy and well-spiced. The shrimp were a nice size and the crawfish were small but I take that as a sign that they were not imported. The fries were not quite warm enough, probably sat out too long. Ask to have them cooked fresh. At first, I thought the meal seemed small for the price but it was plenty of food, too much for me to finish. The beans were very tasty. My friend really enjoyed the gumbo. I'm not a fan of stewed okra in any form. Her salad was just fine and had plenty of remoulade sauce on the side. The shrimp were dusted with spices. Our dessert pie from a local bakery was scrumptious! We dug in before thinking of taking a picture.

Menu--back

There are daily specials and other items on the menu such as burgers and a steak night on Saturday. I have a feeling the place is hopping on weekend nights with live music and adult beverages. Toupsie's is worth the stop if you find yourself in and around Lampasas.

Toupsie's 

904 N Key Ave

Lampasas, Texas

(512) 556-5862
Closed Sunday night and Monday