Small Towns, Good Eats!

LOUANN STEADHAM, Lewisville

Isaack's Restaurant is at 1606 Main St.; 325/446-2629. Hours: Mon-Sat 6 a.m.-10 p.m., Sun 6 a.m.-2 p.m.

Here's our current recommendation: the Silver K Cafe in Johnson City. We recently returned to Johnson City to browse antique/junque shops there, and a shopowner suggested this jewel of a restaurant. We had missed the luncheon specials, but were allowed to pay for an extra plate and split the meatloaf entrée, sharing the fabulous vegetables that accompanied it: fresh green beans, chunky mashed potatoes, whipped sweet potatoes, and elegant steamed squash. The meatloaf topping was an untypical sweet tomato relish, and lovely roasted pepper strips garnished the plate. The entrée arrived after we had devoured individual salads of spring greens dressed with a sweet balsamic vinaigrette, gorgonzola cheese, and toasted pecans. We also shared a piping hot, fresh loaf of kalamata olive-and-rosemary bread, which we dipped into an olive oil/balsamic vinegar/cracked pepper combo. My husband had iced tea, and I had prickly pear iced tea. What a surprising feast, and all for under $20!

DIANNE AND JIM MEYER, Houston

Silver K Cafe is at 209 E. Main St.; 830/868-2911; www.silverkcafe.com. Hours: Daily 11 a.m.-2 p.m., also Fri-Sat 5 p.m.-10 p.m.

I want to recommend a great barbecue place: Harmon's BBQ in Cibolo. After living in San Antonio for 25 years, I finally found a good barbecue joint! The smoked turkey, beef ribs, and brisket are favorites, along with some of their delicious sides: creamed corn and coleslaw. Also, it makes for a pleasant drive "out to the country."

CAROLINE GARZA, San Antonio

Harmon's BBQ is at 100 S. Main St.; 210/658-8889. Hours: Mon-Sat 11-9, Sun 11-7.

I have traveled widely across the United States, but have seldom eaten at a tearoom with as much charm and good food as that found at Bama's House in Colorado City. The ambiance of the old brick house brings back happy memories. The delicious food is all made from scratch by Roxie Strain. I loved the "Millionaire Pie" [a rich dessert with butter, cream cheese, pecans, and pineapples, says Roxie], but all their food is wonderful. There is a daily hot-lunch special and a wide assortment of salads, sandwiches, and soups. On the first Friday night of the month, they serve a ribeye steak dinner. You won't be disappointed.

JEAN REVERCOMB, Fort Worth

Bama's House is at 440 E. 5th St.; 325/728-9009. Hours: Mon-Thu 11 a.m.-2 p.m., first Fri. of month 6 p.m.-9 p.m.

Having been raised in the small town of Lytle, where Tex-Mex food is the standard fare, I consider myself somewhat of an expert, especially on enchiladas! The very best enchiladas in Texas are at Sammy's Restaurant in Castroville.

WILLIAM J. GIDLEY, Baytown

Sammy's Restaurant is at 202 US 90 East; 830/538-2204. Hours: Daily 6 a.m.-11 p.m.

My favorite small-town eatery is the Shed Cafe, a small, rustic-looking cafe in downtown Edom. My favorite foods there are the chicken-fried steak and the catfish. They also have just about every kind of pie you can think of. But don't wait too long or the pie might be gone.

CINDY ESPY, Edom

The Shed Cafe is at the intersection of FM 279 and FM 314; 903/852-7791. Hours: Sun-Wed 7-2, Thu 7 a.m.-8 p.m., Fri-Sat 7 a.m.-9 p.m.

The Cancun Mexican Restaurant in Elgin! Enchilada plates to-die-for, hamburgers with all the trimmings, a lunch buffet…wonderful! And a tortilla soup and a seafood soup that take two days to eat!

SHIRLEY KIVELL, Elgin

Cancun Mexican Restaurant is at 110 Depot St.; 512/281-4962. Hours: Mon and Wed-Thu 7 a.m.-9 p.m., Fri-Sat 7 a.m.-11:30 p.m.

The Courtyard Rendezvous in Elgin is the best small-town cafe in Texas. The food is wonderful, and the atmosphere is one-of-a-kind. The service is also great.

BETH WALTERSCHEIDT, Elgin

Courtyard Rendezvous is at 111 Central Ave.; 512/281-9445; www.courtyardrendezvous.com. Hours: Tue-Sat 10-10, Sun 10-2.

Way up in the very top of the Panhandle, people can sometimes forget about us! This is probably the reason that El Vaquero restaurant in Gruver has gone undiscovered to most people outside our neck-of-the-woods, or neck-of-the-plains I should say! I have impressed many a business client with the Mexican delicacies that await them there. From the to-die-for steaks to the traditional Tex-Mex enchiladas, not many, if any, have left unhappy. I have sealed many deals with the hot sauce alone. So if you're ever in town, be sure to stop by. The family-owned business, operating since 1970, is always happy to see a new face.

RYON ATWOOD, Gruver

El Vaquero is at 425 Main St.; 806/733-2407. Hours: Mon-Sat 11-2 and 5-8:30.

Jeff's Restaurant in Kress is well known for its homemade cream pies, Friday-night fish fry, and Saturday-night mesquite-grilled steaks.

RHONDA ROGERS, Kress

Jeff's Restaurant is at 500 S. US 87; 806/684-2333. Hours: Mon-Sat 7 a.m.-8 p.m.

My selection is the Smokestack Restaurant in Thurber (population 8). Everything is delicious–hamburgers, chicken-fried steak, large portions of vegetables, pies! Definitely an excellent stop between Fort Worth and Lubbock!

JEANINE SHAFFER BROWN, Lubbock

Smokestack Restaurant is at Exit 367 on I-20; 254/672-5560; www.smokestack.net. Hours: Sun-Thu 7 a.m.-9 p.m., Fri-Sat 7 a.m.-10 p.m.

If you're down Lancaster way, be sure to check out the Cameo Rose Tea Room. You'll find not your typical "tea room" fare, but lovely "light lunch" entrées, hearty homemade soups, a special every day (old-fashioned chicken and dumplings on Fridays), the best BLT ever, and much more. The servings are more than generous, but leave room for dessert–the homemade coconut-cream-praline pie is to-die-for!

MARTHA LASTER, Richardson

The Cameo Rose Tea Room is at 133 Historic Town Square; 972/218-7737; www.lancastersquare.com/cameo.htm. Hours: Tue-Sat 7-3, Fri 6 p.m.-9 p.m., Sun 11-3.

Favorite small-town cafe in Texas: Keiler's Restaurant and Lodge, on the square in Fayetteville. Go on a Friday night and get the absolute best fried catfish and coleslaw. Ask anyone who has eaten Keiler's catfish and slaw and they will agree. And it's cheap!

KARA SCHNEIDER, La Grange

Keiler's Restaurant and Lodge is at 107 W. Fayette St.; 979/378-2578. Hours: Wed-Thu 8 a.m.-9 p.m., Fri-Sat 8 a.m.-9:30 p.m.

My favorite small-town cafe is at the Gage Hotel in Marathon. Great Texas-size breakfast and the best steaks in Texas for dinner. Heck, people drive from as far as Fort Stockton for dinner. It's a great cafe!

JOHN E. STAVAST, Austin

The Gage Hotel's Café Cenizo is at 101 US 90 West; 432/386-4205; www.gagehotel.com. Hours: Sun-Thu 6 p.m.-8:45 p.m., Fri-Sat 6 p.m.-9:45 p.m. Breakfast served Thu-Sat 7 a.m.-10 a.m.

Caroline's Country Cafe in Midlothian: All the food is great, but the homemade pies and desserts are out of this world.

ROGER KEMP, Midlothian

Caroline's Country Cafe is at 1000 E. US 287; 972/723-3881. Hours: Mon-Thu and Sat 5 a.m.-8:30 p.m., Fri 5 a.m.-9 p.m.

While driving through Llano recently, our family stopped at Inman's Kitchen and Catering. What a great surprise! The brisket was flavorful and tender, the turkey sausage likewise, and the delicious sides included fresh-baked bread (white or wheat). The only problem: We didn't leave room to try the scrumptious-smelling pies! This was our first visit, but it certainly won't be our last.

C.M. RUSSELL,Menard

Inman's Kitchen and Catering is at 809 W. Young; 325/247-5257. Hours: Tue-Thu and Sat 8-6, Fri 8-7.

I would like to recommend two small roadside cafes. One is Gandy's Chicken & Bar-B-Que in Olney, which has already received recognition for chicken-fried steak. The fish platter is yummy, too. Good fish is also a staple at the Onion Creek Grill near Archer City.

GARRY RHODES, Olney

Gandy’s Chicken & Bar-B-Que is at 122 W. Main St. in Olney; 940/564-3539. Hours: Mon-Fri 11-2 and 5-8. Onion Creek Grill is at 103 S. Center St. in Archer City; 940/574-2200. Hours: Mon and Thu-Fri 11-2 and 5-8:30, Sat 6 a.m.-8 p.m., Sun 11-2.

Would you believe that our two favorite eateries in Texas have the same name? Outrigger's Seafood Grill & Oyster Bar in Seabrook and the Outrigger Restaurant in Palacios. Seabrook's is right on the waterfront and has a "Jimmy Buffett Margaritaville" atmosphere. The food is outstanding; I heartily recommend the "Super Shrimp Platter," with shrimp prepared five different ways. Palacios' Outrigger Restaurant is especially popular on Saturday nights, with all the boiled shrimp, buttered corn-on-the-cob, Czech sausage, and boiled potatoes you can eat for $12.95. My wife and I will spend our second weekend there in celebration of our 43rd anniversary. Why go to Europe when Texas has so much to offer?

CHARLES WILSON, Houston

Outrigger’s Seafood Grill & Oyster Bar is at 101 Bath St. in Seabrook; 281/474-3474. Hours: Wed-Sat 11-10. Outrigger Restaurant is at 515 Commerce St. in Palacios; 361/972-1479; www.outriggerrestaurant.com. Hours: Mon-Thu 7 a.m.-9 p.m., Fri-Sat 7 a.m.-10 p.m., Sun 8 a.m.-2 p.m

Willow Creek Cafe on the square in Mason has great food, friendly service, and some of the best homemade pies [chocolate meringue, apple, pecan, coconut cream, cherry cheesecake] in Texas.

RONALD DUCKWORTH

Willow Creek Cafe is at 106 Fort McKavett; 325/347-6124. Hours: Sun-Thu 5 a.m.-9:30 p.m., Fri-Sat 5 a.m.-10 p.m.

We like Mudd's in Krum. Entrées consist of half of a delicious golden-fried chicken, two-inch-thick pork chops, a huge chicken-fried steak, and more. Vegetables and salad are served family style. If you are still hungry, the desserts are sinfully delicious.

TOM BROOKS, Sanger

Mudd's is at 208 W. McCart St.; 940/482-3668. Hours: Thu-Sat 11-1:30 and 5-9.

Our favorite small-town cafe is Babe's Chicken Dinner House in Roanoke. They serve chicken-fried steaks and fried chicken with all-you-can-eat salad, biscuits, and creamed corn. They also have mashed potatoes with cream gravy and fries. Excellent quality, reasonably priced, and great service.

EUGENE REUSS, Hurst

Babe's Chicken Dinner House is at 104 N. Oak St.; 817/491-2900. Hours: Tue-Fri 11-2 and 4:30-9, Sat 11-9, Sun 11-3.

We frequently travel through San Angelo and plan our itinerary to enjoy the unequaled fare at Hidalgo's. From breakfast through dinner, Hidalgo's cordially and simply serves the best Mexican food we have discovered. We are both native Texans and have sampled some of the best in the world over many years, but this old reliable is our favorite. Try "Armando's Special" or the "Steak Frontera."

SUE DALE and SONNY BALDWIN, Kerrville

Hidalgo's is at 2020 S. Bryant Blvd.; 325/658-3977. Hours: Mon-Wed 7 a.m.-9 p.m., Thu and Sun 7 a.m.- 10 p.m., Fri-Sat 7 a.m.-11 p.m.

My top choice is Garza Cafe in San Juan.

MARK S. PEÑA, Edinburg

Garza Cafe is at 308 Nebraska Ave.; 956/787-9051. Hours: Tue-Fri 11-2:45 and 4:30-7:45, Sat 10-8:45, Sun 8-7:45.

The best small-town Texas cafe is without a doubt Back Street Cafe in Sinton. All the food is wonderful! The blackberry cobbler is to-die-for. The bean bar is excellent, with hot cornbread.

NORMA L. FRATI, Portland

Back Street Cafe is at 106 E. Borden St.; 361/364-2445. Hours: Mon-Fri 8-5.

When my wife and I come out to Texas to visit relatives, one of the eagerly anticipated highlights of the trip is dinner at El Zarape restaurant in Bay City. The "El Zarape Dinner" is mouth-watering Tex-Mex cooking, with delicious enchiladas, hot tamales with sauce, a taco, tostada, chalupa, and a pitcher of iced tea, with side orders of refried beans and steamed corn tortillas. Yum! We can hardly wait for our next visit to Texas.

BOB MAULDIN, Charlotte, North Carolina

El Zarape is at 1917 13th St.; 979/245-2097. Hours: Mon-Sat 11-1:30 and 5-9.

Canales Cafe in Tivoli makes the best cheese enchiladas anywhere. We're rodeo bums and have traveled all over and have never found better enchiladas anywhere. We've mentioned this to other people, and they always agree.

JANET CUSTER, Port Lavaca

Canales Cafe is at Main and Wilson; 361/286-3255. Hours: Wed-Mon 6 a.m.-9 p.m.; closed Tue.

Hannibal Country Store near Stephenville.

BRETT (no last name given), Fort Worth

Hannibal Country Store is on Texas 108 North, about 25 miles northwest of Stephenville; 254/965-3658. Hours: Tue-Thu 6:30 a.m.-3 p.m., Fri 6:30 a.m.-9 p.m., Sat 11-9.

Come to our little town just south of Abilene for some serious farm-country home-cooking at The Home–place in Tuscola. Sunday lunch is a little slice of heaven: turkey with dressing, homemade rolls, lots of vegetables, ham, fried chicken, and roast beef. There's nothing else like it in the state of Texas!

NO NAME GIVEN

The Homeplace is at 2034 CR 131; 325/554-9610. Hours: Thu-Sat 5 p.m.-9 p.m., Sun 11:30-2:30.

I can't tell you what makes a tortilla burger; you just have to drive to Woodsboro and experience The Frosty's great meals.

MIKE SCHAEFER, Pasadena

The Frosty is at 809 Wood St.; 361/543-4522. Hours: Mon-Sat 10-10.

We like Larry's Mexican Restaurant, on US Alternate 90, just before the bridge going into Richmond. He's been there since 1962!

MARION AND JOEL HALL, Damon

Larry's Mexican Restaurant is at 116 US 90A; 281/342-2881. Hours: Daily 7:30 a.m.-9 p.m.

Cross-Town BBQ in Elgin is the best-kept secret in Texas. If folks just take a short trip off the beaten path, they will find the best pork ribs in the state. Cross-Town is owned by locals and is where all the locals go to eat real barbecue ribs. The atmosphere is small-town Texas, and the staff is genuinely glad to see you. Check it out and see for yourself.

JANE W. FRANK

Cross-Town BBQ is at 202 Ave. C; 512/281-5594. Hours: Sun-Thu 10-8, Fri-Sat 10-10.

Ms. Tracy's in Study Butte is my favorite small-town eatery. I was out there a couple of years ago and was surprised (more like shocked) to find a wonderful vegetarian taco plate that was absolutely delicious. It's not often I am able to find good (or any) vegetarian food out in the boondocks. And Ms. Tracy is a true Texas character: a fascinating mix of gruff and friendly in the same package. I loved her and her place. I'll be going to Big Bend soon to do some hiking and camping, and my meals will be on the porch at Ms. Tracy's lovely little cafe, with a big glass of her delicious iced tea.

DEBRA CROSBY, San Antonio

Ms. Tracy's is 80 miles south of Alpine on Texas 118; 432/371-2888. Hours: Daily 7 a.m.-3 p.m.

See the full article in the January 2004 issue.

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