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



 

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

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/

Bogie's--Sandwiches and Burgers (lunch only) Updated Review

Bogie's is a popular downtown lunch spot. It has been around for almost 25 years, They serve sandwiches, burgers, salads, and a daily soup. All the dishes are named after Humphrey Bogart movies. The average price of a sandwich is $7 and is served with potato chips and a dill pickle spear. The price is a bit high when compared to a chain sandwich place but the ingredients are high quality and very fresh. You order at the counter and get your own drink.

I took my brother-in-law there recently when he was in town. He enjoyed the movie posters and the creative menu descriptions. It was a cold day so I went for the Reuben which is named The Caine Mutiny--marble rye, corned beef, sauerkraut, Swiss cheese, and spicy mustard. A hearty sandwich and the bread was nice and soft.

The Caine Mutiny (Reuban sandwich)

My b-i-l got a burger called the Big City Blues.  It had bacon,cheddar cheese, lettuce, tomato and a Bleu Cheese dressing. He enjoyed it but was hoping for Bleu Cheese crumbles as well on an $8 hamburger. He gave it a 3.5 on a 1-5 scale.

We ate after 1pm so there wasn't a crowd but during the noon hour there is often a line to the door. They ran out of their soup of the day, potato bacon. They had chili and substituted a batch of chicken tortilla soup.

Big City Blues burger

During cooler weather, my favorite sandwich is The Big Sleep. It is oatmeal bread with avocado, alfalfa sprouts, tomato, Monterrey Jack cheese with Thousand Island dressing and I add bacon to it. Yummy!

I have also had their taco salad in the past which is called The Isle of Fury (but it isn't really THAT spicy). It was pretty good but I'm not a fan of the Pace picante sauce dressing.

All in all Bogie's is a fun place to eat lunch but not a cheap place to eat lunch.

Bogie's Deli
241 Cypress Street
Abilene, TX 79601
(325) 672-3296

CLOSED Stillwater Barbeque

People have been raving about Stillwater Barbeque for a while. They used to be a food truck only. Now there is a permanent location, mainly open only for lunch though recently they added dinner hours on Friday and Saturday. I tried their brisket nachos at the local fair last month but there wasn't enough meat and it was covered up with an odd garlic sauce so I couldn't get a real sense of the flavor. 

I judge barbecue based on the brisket. Today I ordered a chopped sandwich. No sides, no chips, just the meat, bread and sauce I added with a few pickles. Cost was $7, better be dang good for that price. 

When I walked in there was a line at the counter. People were placing large orders. I was concerned that they would be out of brisket as it was almost 1:30pm and they close at 3pm or when they run out. Ambiance--think BBQ in Austin. That's the vibe they seem to be going for...odd to put hipster and smoked red meat together but it seems to be a thing.  I was tempted to get a sandwich plate that would have included two sides; brisket beans, potato salad, or brisket macaroni and cheese but it was $11. Sides cost $3 each or $6 for a large. No cole slaw but I could get a bag of Ruffles for $1. They also has some pecan pie/cobbler. The mac and cheese looked intriguing, I almost went for it especially since they had just brought out a new batch.

The brisket had a nice crust and a well-defined smoke ring. The guy gave the brisket a rough chop put it on a bun and slipped it on a piece of pink butcher paper. I got several apologies for the wait. Other meat options were beef ribs, pulled pork, pork spare ribs, and sausage (a couple of varieties). Sometimes they have turkey and chicken. Tell the first person your meat, the second your sides, then order your drinks and pay the third person. 

Chopped brisket sandwich

The brisket was peppery and smokey but for my taste the fat to meat ratio was too fatty. The meat was drier than expected with all the fat too. There were two sauces to choose from at the table. One was mustard-based, I assume because of the pork options.  The other was a sweet oily thin sauce. I liked the mustard one. To be honest I was expecting a mouthwatering experience and I just did not get one. Perhaps my I set my sights too high.

I need to have my husband try the ribs and I'll get some pulled pork and we can split a large brisket mac and cheese but at their prices we may have to save up for out next trip. The guy in front of me spent $60 for his family of four. Hopefully they had leftovers. 

3365 S 14th St (River Oaks shopping center in the old Quizno's)

Abilene, TX, 79605

(325) 518-5071
stillwaterbarbeque.com
https://www.facebook.com/stillwaterbarbeque

Hickory Street Cafe--chicken salad and zucchini bread

Hickory Street Cafe is known locally for their luscious zucchini bread and made-from-scratch chicken salad topped with grapes and cashews or you can get it served as a sandwich. They have other sandwiches, salads and soups on the menu as well. There is also quiche. I enjoy the quiche and get it when I want to deviate from the chicken salad.  The restaurant is in a converted two-story house with a gift shop upstairs. They are only open for lunch on weekdays and do a very brisk business. The clientele is heavily female but you will also find some men sprinkled among the "ladies-who-lunch". The location is close to downtown and convenient for business lunches. There can be a wait for a table and their lot is small, so you will probably have to park on the street.  Service is efficient and friendly. Average cost is $8-$9 not including beverage.

Do not skip the zucchini bread! If it doesn't come with your meal order it.

If you are on Facebook--
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Hickory-Street-Cafe/154250291281807


Location:
644 Hickory Street  Abilene, TX 79601
(325) 675-0465

Chicken salad with grapes and cashews served with zucchini bread and butter