They had a location in San Antonio over 20 years ago on San Pedro at the former Maverick Cafe and I was impressed with them the first time I ate there. I was impressed with the chicken fried steak and the complimentary corn muffins and sweet potato biscuits. I even got a slice of sweet potato pie once near Thanksgiving. But Hoover's closed down the S.A. restaurant a few months later. No biggie. I'll just go dine at the original one in Austin. A few months later on a rainy and ugly day in Austin in March 2006 I rode the bus from downtown to here. The restaurant was huge and roomy and I got seated but had to wait a long time for a waiter and left as soon as I saw people that got seated after me got served first. A few months later I rode the bus to here and got seated and was served by a young white guy who seemed exhausted and wanted to be anywhere except work. 20 years later I found out the sad news that Hoover's last day in business would be today May 31,2026. I drove here from San Antonio and noticed how much the restaurant has changed. It got smaller inside. Maybe the 2020 pandemic had something to do with that. I got seated and waited on by a friendly black waiter and ordered an Arnold Palmer and a cup of gumbo for an appetizer which was good, hot and satisfying. For the entree I got the chicken fried steak with black eyed peas and buttered spinach. The sides were okay but the CFS was a bit tough when I cut into it. For dessert, a slice of chocolate cream pie was the perfect way to end the meal. I came here one last time last week and got here earlier than I had arrived last time. I was waited on by a Hispanic waiter who seemed friendly but I had a weird feeling he was staring at me weird whenever he left my table. For appetizer I ordered a small cornbread and 2 biscuit muffins. They no longer served the free corn muffins and sweet potato biscuits like they used to serve 20 years ago. I got the Jamaican jerk chicken and a hot sausage link with cowboy beans and coleslaw. The beans were great and the slaw was okay. The perk chicken seemed a bit dry but good and the sausage was good but not as spicy as I expected. The cornbread was good and so were the biscuit muffins that were big for just 99 cents a pop. I ordered the banana pudding for dessert and that was a good conclusion to my last meal here at Hoover's. Hoover's Cooking is an Austin original that will be greatly missed. I hope whatever restaurant that moves into this soon to be vacant space will serve good food at an affordable price and won't be like the other places on Manor that serve outrageous prices for food that is just mediocre or subpar. read more

Oh the sweetness of getting together with a group of friends and enjoying dang good Southern cooking in the heart of Austin! We are really going to miss this place. You can't go wrong, everything on the menu is a hit. We shared appetizers, like the queso w/chips and the cornbread. I ordered the special, the hamsteak and jezebel, with sides salad, mac n cheese, and with a sausage link because why not. I had to remember to save room for dessert because the cheesecake here is amazing! I had the chocolate and cranberry cheesecake, which is worth every bite. The service is also excellent. They know they're closing but that did not stop them from taking care of our group like we were family. Our group enjoyed every bit of the experience. I hope to make it back again. This place has too many good memories and we will miss every bit of it. Get some merch! read more

Hoover's Cooking - chocolate cranberry cheesecake - Southern Near Me - Austin, Texas

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My first time eating here and it was very underwhelming. They do offer a lot of menu choices. I opted to get what the restaurant is most known for. I ordered their 2-piece fried chicken with 2 house mates which they call the sides. I decided to get mac and cheese and creamed spinach. Honestly, the fried chicken was not good at all. It had no flavor in my opinion. The chicken was on the dry side. I couldn't finish it. The mac and cheese was okay, and the creamed spinach was decent. Overall, the meal just wasn't that great unfortunately. The customer service was good, but I probably wouldn't eat here again. read more

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Well, the chicken fried steak might not be completely dead! My friend and I went to a KUTX show (ATXplained) and learned that this dish is slowly fading out of the city. Wild! Yes, chain restaurants serve a chicken fried steak but are they doing it this well? Not at all! I ordered unsweetened tea, okra, and mashed potatoes with mine. Everything was perfect with the addition of some more cracked pepper. Our server was nice (a little rushed for only having two tables) and he made sure the drinks were full and that we ordered dessert. Lord have mercy--the praline bread pudding is otherworldly. I remember eating it cold out of my fridge the next day...it was that good! Only thing I was underwhelmed about was my friend's jalapeño creamed spinach. It didn't have a jalapeño bite to it and the bitterness took over. My okra was warm, not hot. The ambiance felt like an after-church service dining room -- super cozy. I will definitely be back to keep this place on Manor Rd. It was cool to see Mr. Hoover himself! Support this business! read more

Hoover's Cooking - Chicken-Fried Steak Cutlet (1) & 2 House Mates - Southern Near Me - Austin, Texas

Hoover's has been an Austin staple for Southern soul food cooking since the late '90s. It's very sad that they will be closing after 30 years in June. I went there this week for a sad event: a memorial to celebrate the life of Jamie Breaux, the husband of a friend of mine, who was a manager and chef there for 20 years. Owner Hoover Alexander and other friends and relatives shared heartfelt memories of Jamie. After the speeches, Hoover's opened a buffet line featuring some of their famous dishes: brisket tacos, barbecue wings, fried chicken, gumbo (Jamie's famous recipe), and étouffée (a classic Louisiana dish meaning "smothered," featuring shellfish like crawfish or shrimp in a rich, savory sauce served over rice). And the desserts!: banana pudding and a fig cake, (À special combination of churro and another ethnic dessert I forgot.) À band featuring Jamie's friends played a few songs. Milford Milligan, À local favorite blues singer, joined for an appropriate song: "À Good Day for the Blues." It made me cry! The restaurant is cozy, and it was specially decorated with flowers on the tables and images of Jamie throughout. Hoover Alexander was so welcoming and personable. Austin will miss him at this restaurant (though he may have another restaurant concept up his sleeve after the closing). He is too committed to serving great food to stop now! Before Hoover's, he owned a restaurant called "Good Eats." Hoover's Heals: "I have long sought to live in a state of gratitude and love, believing as l do that love-love for community, love for neighbors and friends, love for oneself-will deliver us from the obstacles and difficulties in life. Now I am bringing love into Hoover's Cooking in a new way that embraces everyone through Love Rocks Texas. We all know that Love Rocks our world, but Love rocks are a physical expression of all we hold dear. I hope you will join us in creating and sharing Love Rock by painting or posing with a Love rock. The permanence and stability of a rock lends its strength to becoming a Love The Love Rocks will, in part, be used to sustain the Hoover's Community Fund. 33% of the sale of Love Rocks will go to the Hoover's Community Fund to be disbursed to nonprofits focused on our community. This is one way that we spread the love. At Hoover's Cooking, we know that Food is Love. We invite you to share the food and love with us.". read more

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Gone! Forever! I've been frequenting Hoover's for a couple decades and am sorry to see it go. Made it in for one last visit. Fried pork chops are the bomb. Add black eyed peas, greens, and okra & tomatoes and it's a couple of meals! Always awesome humans here. Always welcoming. I'll miss it. read more

One of my favorites over the years. Restaurant permanently closed. Looks like some take out or catering still.

Great location and environment. Authentic down home menu. Great service and great food. L ordered fried catfish with collard greens and fried okra. I ordered the chicken fried steak with mashed potatoes (gravy), fried okra and a small cornmeal. Everything was outstanding. Comfort food at its best! read more

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Today was only the second time I'd ever been to Hoover's. It's a place I pass often, several times a month. Yet, take it for granted. I'm saddened to learn they will be closing in two months. Looks like I'm gonna be eating there every chance I get over the coming weeks. Though I've been only two times, I'm confused by the negative reviews. My experiences have been good. Really good, in fact. The service has been friendly and patient with a customer like me who is often indecisive. Let me start by saying I love those biscuits! On both visits, my boyfriend and I have shared meals. We've had the meatloaf which is the epitome of comfort food. It's so tasty and juicy and exactly what you'd expect if you were in the kitchen of a southern home! Our sides were mashed potatoes and macaroni and cheese. All expertly cooked and packing all the flavor of love. Mac and cheese=the perfect consistency. We've also shared the turkey and dressing...with extra dressing, mashed potatoes, and green beans. Another splendid meal that tasted like it came from grandma's kitchen. I'm gonna miss you, Hoover's. read more

Ordered through LUNCHDROP at work. Any time I see turkey and dressing as a menu option, it's a must order (it's one of my fave meals). The prices are steep, but you get a lot of sides and the sides are sooo yummy! The only issue I think I had was the taste of the dressing. It wasn't like your typical turkey and dressing. It tasted off like something abnormal was cooked into it. The turkey was good, the black eyed peas were amazing. And the mashed potatoes were ok. I'd probably return to give them another shot read more

Hoover's has changed. The restaurant that was an absolute GO-TO for years seems to be in decline. The food was OK. The service was OK...except that our server didn't seem to have any clue about the menu. Low energy, a lazy vibe and paint-by-numbers food. What was spectacular is now just average. It's sad. read more

Hoover's Cooking - Meatloaf - Southern Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Great Service, Great Food from Scratch. They have had the same desert guy since they opened in 1998. read more

My boyfriend and I went to eat one last meal at Hoover's before we attended the Sting Concert last night. While it a bittersweet experience -- because it is closing forever in 19 days -- Joaquin and his assistant treated us like royalty and as if there were no end. It was like a walk back in time to eat in those nostalgic booths and listen to popular 70's music. But what topped the cake was the outstanding meatloaf and fried catfish. We went all in on the delicious sides including crispy fried okra, mashed potatoes, green beans, creamed spinach and potato salad. My boyfriend tipped them more than our meal cost. Thanks for all of the Hoover love over the decades!!! read more

My bf and I used to LOVE Hoover's. Their breakfast menu on the weekends was amazing especially their hoe cakes and cheddar garlic grits. Their ribs and creamy jalapeño spinach was the main attraction on the dinner menu. Then their breakfast menu was discontinued. Then the jerk ribs disappeared from the menu. My bf and I stopped going. We heard Hoover's was closing its doors forever on May 31, 2026. We decided to go back for old times sake's. We started off with the wings as an appetizer and those were delicious however we didn't get them until much later. The server apologized and said there was a mixup and offered us a free cornbread on the house. I never tried their world famous chicken that's boasted about on their t-shirts. I got two housemates (sides) so I chose the fried okra and mashed potatoes. My bf selected the jerk chicken and butter beans and creamed spinach. The cornbread arrived and was dry. The highly anticipated fried chicken had no flavor at all. The mashed potatoes were dry. I asked for gravy but it never came. The okra was hot and fresh. My bf's jerk chicken was also flavorless and a small serving. No seasoning whatsoever although the sauce that came with it made it better. His sides were good. We had never tried their pies so got two buttermilk slices and two peach pie slices to go. They were very disappointing. The buttermilk didn't taste like buttermilk and was full of nutmeg, we thought for a second it was pumpkin but pumpkin wasn't an option. The crust on both pies tasted old and was soggy in texture. We were charged for the cornbread so we called server over who corrected it. The servers were friendly. On the way out we decided to buy some t-shirts to remember Hoover's. We talked with the cashier and he said the head cook who smoked the jerk ribs left and they couldn't get them right after that so that's why they were discontinued because the quality was no longer there. We wanted to support Hoover's and pay tribute to the restaurant but the quality of the food has definitely declined although I'm sad to see its doors closing after 30+years. A lot of good memories there but this last visit isn't one of them. Bottom line: good sides and appetizer but flavorless main entrees and sad desserts is why I gave it 2 stars. read more

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I hate giving bad reviews, but please save yourself a trip. The service was good and people were friendly. But that could not make up for the poor quality of the food. We thought maybe it would be similar our old gone but not forgotten Threadgills, but it's not even close. I got the fried chicken sandwich which was bland and the sauce that was supposed to be spicy was not and just tasted weird. My side of fried okra was about the only bright spot. My wife got 3 veggies- creamed spinach, butter beans, and Mac and cheese. None of her items were good. The Mac and cheese was mushy and tasted like fake cheese. The creamed spinach was not creamy, and the butter beans were giving hospital food. We even got the biscuits as an appetizer (I love biscuits) but they were obviously made hours ago and left in a warming drawer and were soggy (like the bun of my sandwich). We had been to events in the past catered by Hoovers where the food was good. I do not know what has changed but it is nothing good. The ambiance was your basic diner experience and at dinner time was mostly empty. To say we were disappointed would be a huge understatement. read more

The food was mediocre and service was too. I don't expect gourmet levels of cuisine from places like this but for the prices it should at least be delicious. I got the turkey with dressing. First off the portion sizes are ridiculously small. The turkey looked and tasted like someone bit into a whole turkey and spat it into a plate and covered the evidence with gravy. The cornbread dressing was tasty at least. You can get a better cheaper meal at Luby's. I don't want to knock the service too hard because it looked like the waitress was stretched thin. The place was full with a line and it looked like there was maybe one other server, so it looks like management was at fault on this one. All in all I will never return here willingly. read more

Hoover's Cooking is all about serving the local community with southern comfort food much of which is locally sourced. I have dined here before a few times in the past and was excited to return. It is located in an area full of new popular eateries, but this place is a landmark. There was plenty of parking and was easy to find. It is all table seating except a few booths. I noticed the staff took their time to seat and serve you. No rushing which made me feel more like being at my parents. It was very calm. I also noticed the "Love Rocks TX." slogan all over with a huge collection of painted rocks to spread love which remind when I myself painted a rock during Covid. There was a charm about this place watching an older man painting away. I ordered the 2PC Fried Chicken Dark with 2 House Mates, Macaroni & Cheese and Green Beans, and Sweet Tea. From looking around this place it displays local Austin history all around including items from the Frisco Shop. Once our heavy plates of food arrived the fried chicken looked very good. The food was very hot. I tried a chicken leg and the crust was crunchy and tasty. The chicken was also very delicious. The mac & cheese was great along with the green beans which had chunks of brisket in it. Overall it was really good where it was not spicy at all and perfect for older folks. Really good fried chicken. Planning to return to try the fried catfish or BBQ chicken. read more

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Hoover's has gone so far downhill since several years ago. We went recently on a Sunday at lunch which used to be a very busy day. There were only 5-6 tables and just two people at each. And only one rattled waitress. Service was woefully slow. But the real difference came when the food finally arrived. The butter beans were just a bowl of tasteless mush. I guess they had been made several days before and reheated until the basically dissolved. The fried chicken was ok but not great like it used to be. The small pan fried cornbread was so hard on the bottom that we couldn't eat it. Not burned but just plain tough. The candied yams were pretty good. We never saw Hoover himself, so I'm not sure how hands on he is these days. He needs to get back in there and be visible to his customers and whip things back into shape. And change the worn out tablecloths. We won't be back any time soon. read more

Texas home cooking at its best, owned by Hoover Alexander. There's a great culinary bio of this African American Austin native on their website. There's a hostess stand as you enter, then you are led into the dining area. It has a clean welcoming interior with a large chalk menu on the wall. No wait, with several customers streaming in during our visit. Delicious reasonably priced entrees and certainly a neighborhood gem. It is clearly visible from the street with parking in front. This one is a keeper. Not far from the restaurant, in this well known East Austin neighborhood is the Dr. Charles E. Urdy Plaza tile mural great for selfies. read more

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I haven't been here in about 12 years. The restaurant certainly isn't bustling like I remember. We got here around 1:00 pm and there are many available tables. The problem is that there aren't enough waiters working. We are almost 20 minutes into it and are still waiting for a table. We finally got seated, but now are waiting for the wait person to come get our order. So far, I'm not impressed the customer service. The waitress finally made it to the table and had the personality and attitude of the oak wood we saw coming in. I had the jerk chicken with the jalapeno cream spinach and fries. The chicken and spinach were both bland and nothing to write home about. I had to add Tabasco just to get some heat out of the chicken. The fries are frozen and not fresh cut. This certainly isn't the place I remember and I will certainly not be putting it on a short list to come back. read more

Hoover's Cooking - Menu - Southern Near Me - Austin, Texas

Very pleased with the quality of food. Everything tasted home made. Service was ok. Absolutely recommend. Will be back.

Oh Hoover, what in the world has happened to the once excellent experience we always looked forward as patrons? The food, the service, the ambiance, all were mediocre at best. Tasteless food. Disinterested wait staff, dark and dingy surroundings. Mostly empty tables on early Saturday evening. Soulless. read more

Went for brunch on a late Saturday morning. No energy, food was bland, don't serve brunch cocktails such as mimosas or bloody Mary's. Very disappointed. read more

We will miss hoovers when it's closed. Best fried chicken and bits in town. Thank you for your contributions to this community!

Ok let me be open and say, I don't like giving a rough review, but the only reason i came to this place was because i love chicken fried steak, and my friends found out it was rated best chicken fried steak in Austin by the 2024 Austin Chronicle... um... I don't know what the heck happened between then and now but woah... this was an unpleasant flashback to my high-school cafeteria... and at least they served hot food. I would absolutely not agree with last years review. The meat was thin, but was still tough and stringy. The breading was crunchy but oily and the gravy warm at best and flavorless. I was not disappointed because the Chicken Fried Steak was not any good... Many restaurants struggle for some reason with it but I was disappointed because I came in with such high expectations from the Austin Chronicle... I guess thats on me... but wow... no thank you. the mac and cheese was grainy the green been looked scooped from a can, and the corn bread skillet came out room temperature, and with out any flavor. The cafeteria nostalgia was real, and not kind. read more

Customer service was A1. Greeted immediately at the door, no wait time. Waiter was very attentive. I had high hopes on the food and was slightly disappointed. Everything seemed to lack seasoning. Yams were the best item on my plate. Collard greens were bland. Beans were missing something, just couldn't put my finger on it. Will try again with different menu items the next time. read more

Heartbreaking. Loved the restaurant for over 25 years. Was my absolute favorite. We live outside of Austin and had the opportunity to eat here today. Free bread basket is gone. Entree portions have shrunk. Ordered the catfish. Instead of a big fillet, got fried fish strips (less fish; more batter). Sides I used to love were bland. The lemon wedge was slimy indicating it was old or had not been refrigerated. Tried the pecan pie: it was old. Could not cut through the hard thin crust on the bottom. We have resigned ourselves to never returning and this is just another piece of Austin history we have lost. Actually had another family eating near us start a conversation with us with "It's not the same" as he shook his head. read more

I hadn't been to Hoovers in quite a while, but was SO disappointed in the food: extremely poor quality. The Mac and Cheese used to to be wonderful but is now bland and overcooked--just a cup of mush with what tastes like . The peach "cobbler" is not even cobbler -- it is two pieces of pie crust with a smear of peach jam or something on it-- no actual slices of peaches. It was awful. Hoovers used to be classic, but is no longer worth going to for the food. read more

Amazing soul food right in the heart of Austin. Finally got to stop in Hoovers (I say finally because their hours are complicated) and boy was it worth the wait! The chicken and chicken friend steak were fantastic! Clearly home cooked by someone who makes it with love. I also really enjoyed my collard greens, having lived in Georgia for a while it's been a long time since I've had some great collard greens but Hoovers knows what they're doing! If you can catch the restaurant open, it is a really cute little spot on Manor. The servers were spectacular and comped us our drinks because they felt like they took too long for our food (we didn't complain either) and they were just super friendly and welcoming the entire dinner. Also went home with some not pictured cobbler which was also fantastic. Would go again read more

Hoover's Cooking - Country Chicken - fried Steak - Southern Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Some of the Best southern cooking in Austin! Service is great and don't forget to grab a slice pie to take home

My friend and I were in town on a Friday from Houston to attend Dave Chapelle show. We stopped by Hoovers for a hearty meal and unfortunately were disappointed. I ordered the catfish, potato salad and green beans, while my friend ordered the jerk chicken, a sausage link with Mac and cheese and Caribbean rice. We shared the queso and fries. The food really lacked a lot of flavor. The jerk chicken did not taste like jerk at all, the catfish needed salt, the Mac and cheese taste like it was out of a box. While the food was a miss the service was great. read more

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Felt like a kid again. Miss that home cooking... Everything was scrumptious. Free refills on lemonade & Arnold Palmers. read more

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Yesterday I had the great pleasure of dining for lunch at Hoover's. The food was delicious! I had the broiled catfish in lemon sauce, butter beans & coldslaw. The flavors in the food just exploded on my taste buds!!There was no need for a to-go box since my plate was completely cleaned!! I met Hoover who was the most delightful and welcoming man. I really liked the fact the he promotes "love" not just for his business but for all people to embrace. If you've never experienced great southern comfort food and southern hospitality, you MUST try Hoover's, you will not be disappointed. read more

Well, I hadn't been to Hoover's for sometime, and I was craving something close to my home style Austin favorite Threadgill's. The menu is similar but the taste was far from it. I had the chicken fried steak, with was 40/60 steak to fried batter drowned in gravy. And the sides were no better. Mashed potatoes with too much unground black pepper and very jalapeño creamed spinach. Our waiter was polite and I appreciated the manager's attentiveness. I wish I had a better experience, but I can't say I'll be back soon. read more

We enjoyed our meals. The food never disappoints! Tasty food. The service was good. The manager checked on us to make sure we were okay.

I recently came to Austin, Texas to explore the culinary scene. Being a huge Orlando foodie, I like to see what other cities have to offer, to see if they can compete with my town. A place that was highly touted as I was doing my research was Hoover's Cooking. A place so fresh and homemade that their hours can change week to week and even day to day. I wanted to stop in the Wednesday I got into town, but they didn't open until like 3:30PM, so I had to wait until the next day, when they opened at 11AM. No problem. The vibe of the whole place was as down home Southern as you can get, from the classic red table cloths to the specials written on the wall in chalk. It felt like home. Not Orlando, but my actual hometown. I got in there, asked the cashier for his recommendations, and made my decisions. I ordered the Catfish Po'Boy (Served with tartar sauce. 'Nuff said), with a side of Candied Yams. This was not a reeeaaal po'boy, but it was still good! The small-ish sandwich was served on like a crispy garlic bread baguette thing. Catfish fried perfectly. And a mountain of cooling slaw in there to give your mouth something fresh to cut through all the fatty stuff going on. I loved it. Also, the candied yams were above and beyond. There were good medium sized chunks of yam in here that were cooked soft all the way through, and they were candied with a sauce that was sweet, but not too sweet. A good compliment to the sandwich. I definitely recommend getting this side if you're even a little bit curious. I also got to try the Chicken Fried Chicken Breast (Boneless fried chicken breast, topped with our fine cream gravy! ¼ lb. + 3 House Mates), with sides of Macaroni & Cheese, Potato Salad, and Fried Okra. This was also solid. The fried chicken breast was a good version of what it was, but the true star here was the gravy. Creamy, no lumps, and excellently peppery. A fine gravy. The sides were great, too. Mac & cheese had nice, big, soft noodles draped with ooey gooey cheese. Potato salad had large chunks of soft potato with a great base liquid. And fried okra with no dripping oil and no slime, a nice solid crunch. Overall, this was all really great. I had a local, bottled root beer and the house Arnold Palmer. Perfect complimentary drinks. I just have no complaints. I recommend this place. read more

Hoover's Cooking - Southern Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Had the turkey meal with cornbread dressing, cranberry, fried okra, and mashed potatoes. Everything homemade and made with love. The beet kale salad with a homemade dressing was excellent! Wish they still served rolls with the meal but glad you can still order. My 8 year old says to write "the food is marvelous and the pie is the best!" read more

I hate to write this review buuuuuuuuut!!!!!! I need to have a real heart to heart with whomever is in charge of this restaurant.. My party spent almost $100 dollars, We only ate maybe $20 dollars worth of food the appetizers. Everything is bland, when I say everything I mean EVERYTHING! I get not wanting to have salty food.. buuuuuuuuuuut salt isnt the only season that can be used. I ordered the pork chop, collard greens, yams, butter cabbage, and Mac n cheese. the crust was detached from the pork chop, the butter cabbage tasted just like water and cabbage. A little garlic would've went a long way. Mac n cheese tasted like noodles and cheese. The cowboy beans were hard, undercooked. Unsatisfactory to say the least. Soaking the beans don't take much, a taste test or just the squeeze of a bean would've showed the hardness. No attention to detail at all. If I owned this restaurant I'd be having a talk with my chefs ASAP! I'm sad writing this review and still hungry. This was my first time in Austin, this was also my first attempt at trying a restaurant. The food looks way better than it taste, after reading other reviews I'm not sure how much will change. This restaurant could be so much better, someone must take ownership and accountability for these fixable flaws. I wonder how often the owner randomly taste the food. I would highly suggest the owner start tasting this food randomly. read more

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My daughter saw a large rat in the dining room. She told the waitress who wasn't concerned. We won't be going back. Very sad.

Very disappointing. Hoover's used to have really good fried chicken. Not today. The breast was a weird cut. It wasn't remotely crisp and, for some reason, tasted "off." I don't know if it was the batter, the oil, or the chicken. Sad. read more