Los Arcos Restaurant

I drive the Vegas - Austin commute at least once a year, and I've always dreaded the distance…read morebetween Albuquerque and Austin... a long boring stretch with no interesting stops in between to give my weary body a break. I usually avoid going through Abilene but when I saw Grain Theory pop up on an online search, I was sufficiently hungry and needing a rest so I decided to take a different route and headed to downtown Abilene. I was pleasantly surprised at the cute downtown, even more excited to find a fashionable brewery with good food and chill vibes after a long day of driving. I had dinner in the outdoor area as the sun set, and this was a lovely way wrap my day.

I will forever be amazed by cool places, especially when they appear in unexpected cities like…read moreAbilene. Located on the second story of a beautiful building in downtown Abilene sits Grain Theory, a brewpub and coffee shop towering over the city. It is a mixed indoor-outdoor space with plenty of shaded outdoor and cooled indoor seating. Looking at their tap list, my girlfriend and I were impressed by their unique beers to try. I started with the Strawberry Peach Tonic (Fruited Hard Seltzer) and she had a Bella Rose (Rosé IPA). Both were served in cool glasses, with mine being tall and skinny and hers being almost like a wine glass. Shocking to nobody, mine was quite fruity while her Rosé IPA was hoppy with an underlying rosé flavor. Next, I ordered their Oktoberfest (German Märzen) and she had their Season's End (Belgian Dubbel). She described her drink as tasting like a Biscoff cookie. My Oktoberfest was quite malty, and I was a big fan. To close, we both ordered their Luscent (Belgian Table Beer) because small beers are back in fashion and I wanted to try it. It was obviously very light but still had a good flavor that was very bready. Nice and easy to close out our drinks with. They also have food and coffee that we didn't try, but the food looked sensational from what we saw others eating. They also have plenty of board games and card games to play while you're at the brewery and many beers available to take to-go. My only minor complaint is the lack of TVs in the brewery. Maybe it's a purposeful decision, but Texas Tech was playing football, and it would be a great place to watch the game. The bartenders are very friendly and willing to let you try and sample as many beers as you need to make your decision. Grain Theory feels like the kind of place every small Texas city wishes it had. I am very excited to come back here and try more beers, especially with how excellent the space is. RIYL: Cool-shaped beer glasses or a rooftop bar

Interior and balcony seating

Fish and chips

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Rosé IPA and Strawberry Peach Tonic

Cypress Street Station

4.0(222 reviews)

For starters the menu is great, there's a lot to choose from and the pictures online make it hard…read moreto choose because everything looks amazing! Since I was undecided, I asked our waitress what she'd recommend and she didn't disappoint. I got the stuffed avocado with chicken salad and wow, the flavors between the chicken salad and hot sauce on top were perfectly balanced 8/10. I also enjoyed the prickly pear lemonade, it was so fresh for the hot summer days. Definitely a nice spot for lunch or even for dinner, plus the service was so good. Everything came out quick and our server was very attentive, even while bartending. Highly recommend and I'm definitely going back to try the dinner menu.

Everything tasted wonderful!! Love the cheese fondue. Super creamy and yummy with the shrimp and…read morelump crab. Came here for a work dinner and truly enjoyed the food as well as the hospitality. The staff were super friendly!! We will definitely come back.

Rainbow Trout.

Cypress Street Station - Outside / Exterior pic of restaurant in historic downtown Abilene - right next to the Cypress Bldg (oldest commercial bldg in Abilene)

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Outside / Exterior pic of restaurant in historic downtown Abilene - right next to the Cypress Bldg (oldest commercial bldg in Abilene)

Sway

4.4(18 reviews)

1.6 mi

Lowkey it ain't Sway anymore but still great place for a quick lunch and cup of joe. Ig last owner…read moremoved on or sold but I recommend to anyone visiting or looking for a place to study

This lovely coffee shop has delicious drinks and yummy food! I went twice last week! Both times I…read morehad the smoked salmon BLT that is based on a sandwich that used to be offered at Abi Haus ( no longer in business.) Big chunks of bacon. Chopped up salmon. Thick tomatoes. The owner said she knows it sounds scary, but I needed to try it. I'm so glad I did. It was a taste sensation! I paired that with their rosemary and olive oil chips in a bag and was in heaven. And I had it on Gluten Free bread, which was yummy, too. They cater to people with gluten or dairy intolerance. Even the pickle was gourmet! The tomato basil soup is super creamy and delicious, as well. I've also tried their coconut matcha green tea with almond milk at the suggestion of the barista and was thrilled. Don't be put off by the color! The ambiance is lovely here. You'll come back again and again!

Outdoor

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Beehive Restaurant

4.3(494 reviews)

1.5 mi

•$$$

The food was beyond amazing. We ordered a couple of sirloins and the spinach dip all of it was…read moredelicious. The service was amazing, we never had to ask for anything.

Steak and potato were amazing! Staff were excellent. Highly recommended. Will stop here again the…read morenext time I'm in town.

Chicken Fried Steak

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Vagabond Pizza

4.5(294 reviews)

Last night, Vagabond had an amazing win that they weren't even aware of…read more We're friends with a couple who just had their second baby yesterday. The husband is stationed out of Dyess. Neither one of them really knows anything really about what is uniquely available to eat in Abilene. My wife and I were on our way to the hospital after picking up their kid from daycare when we were asked to pick up some dinner. We had offered to get them anything in town to eat while at the hospital. Given how they were new to town, their regular from Dominoes was requested. It was at this point I suggested Vagabond, telling the couple how for years it's been the best. The wife saw the menu and was impressed, eager to try it out. (We ordered 1 Lucia, 1 Carnivore, 2 Crawfish Hand Pies) The order was placed online, right as we left our driveway, I received a text confirming the order, which was followed up 15-20mins later by another one stating it was ready for pickup. It felt fast. As I walked in, I saw the traditional sights: the owner at the front welcoming everyone in, a filled up room with various parties enjoy their food and conversations, a staff working hard and yet ready to serve. I was told by the owner to go up to the bar where my order was waiting for me. I was in and out so quickly that I could feel the warm air coming off the pizza as I took it outside to my car. My one regret was not telling the owner on my way out how this meal would be the first meal for a mom who just gave birth. When I got to the hospital, the food was still warm. When both the mother and father had their first bite of the Lucia, they both had that 'wow' reaction to how amazing the taste was. Everything ordered honestly received a 'wow.' It was perfect. I have had Vagabond ever since they were out of a food trailer. Since then, it has been the place I always bring people to, particularly if they are visiting from out of town. It was the place where my wife and I brought our kid for his first restaurant meal. The consistent experience of it all is simply the best. I don't review places often, but last night was special. Never a bad thing to say thank you to a group of people who unknowingly wowed a father and mother in a hospital room. Thank you.

Just driving through Abilene and serendipitously discovered this amazing place. I wasn't expecting…read moresuch good and reasonably priced pizza in this little corner of Texas. The jalapeno pepper jelly condiment hit the spot! At least one of the employees here is from the East Bay in California. They have a large selection of Californian wines here. I mean that's all they have on their wine menu - California. No wines from anywhere else. Not that I'm complaining.

Sofia - italian sausage & piquillo peppers

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Street Entrance

Cork & Pig Tavern

4.1(188 reviews)

2.1 mi

Wow, this place really impressed us. Trendy design and great food -- I spent 10 years in Abilene…read moreback in the 80s, and a spot like the Cork & Pig was not what I expected to find here. My wife had the asian salad, and she says it was the best she'd ever had. I had the fish tacos with mac and cheese, and both were unusually flavorful and had a great texture (I rarely eat much mac and cheese, but I finished all of this). Service was good, friendly and helpful. I appreciated the decor and general vibe of the place, inside and out, including the music. My only quibble might be that parking was a bit tighter than expected, but not a problem. Great place overall, and we were discussing how we might find an excuse to return, plus wishing a branch would open closer to Houston.

Slow wait staff. Limited brunch menu and no substitutions. Example flour tortillas instead of…read morecorn. Same goes for the sandwich bread. Our food was cold. Eggs must have been sitting for awhile and were cold as could be. Bacon was not cooked and looked like it barely saw the grill.. There are better options for brunch. Won't be back!

Scallops with Mushroom Risotto (Fish of the Day Special)

The wait was 35-40 minutes with no wait area or seating.

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Gluten free pizza

Smokehouse

3.6(26 reviews)

1.6 mi

Food was surprisingly very good! Always a little wary when it comes to hotel restaurants, but this…read moreplace exceeded our expectations. I will say that you could probably get away with sharing the 12 oz brisket between two people. The sides are designed to be shareable so it's pretty much built in. Brisket was tender, and sides complimented the meat. The server was very kind. Highly recommend as a date night spot.

This was the Thanksgiving buffet and it was horrible! Cold food tasting leftover with all the same…read moreflavor. Desserts were not set up properly. Was mixed up with cornbread display and not properly grouped and labeled. Tea was not refilled. Waitress never attentive. Employees visited each other mostly. Immediately got stomach cramps after eating I do not recommend this place.

Indoor seating

Jalapeño cheddar cornbread drizzled with honey and served with spiced butter.

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Ice House

4.2(25 reviews)

Family-owned & operated

Free parking

This was my first visit to the Ice House. I'm going to call it a brew pub. We were here to try…read moretheir speciality hamburger for the downtown Burger Brawl. They have 8 to 10 different beers on tap, and however many in cans. They have appetizers, burgers, and sandwiches on the menu. I think a couple of salads too. The burger we tried was called the Peanut Butter Smash. A bacon cheeseburger with peanut butter and house made strawberry jam. It was very good! And the French fries were some of the best I've ever had! The best burger we have tried in the Burger Brawl so far! Whether you need a drink or something to eat, give Ice House a try!

Gave them another try! Service was a bit slow initially, which I think is due to the seat yourself…read moreatmosphere. Live music! Kitchen closes by 9, so if you're there for food like I am then make sure you make it in time! Tried their burger and fried pickles this time. Their sourdough bun was great, fresh toppings, the pepper jack cheese was perfectly melted on the burger! I'd honestly happily come back and order this! They are a part of a local burger contest, and I can understand why. Loved the Cajun seasoning on the fried pickles. The fried macaroni I tried last time gave a bad impression, but the food here is enjoyable!

Nice place for a drink and hanging out

#NotYourMommasBolognaSammich was fantastic!!

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Food Menu

Hickory Street Cafe

4.5(118 reviews)

1.4 mi

•$

It's been a while since I've submitted an issue of "In my Humble Opinion."…read moreI'm kinda falling behind. In my humble opinion. Hickory Street Cafe 5 stars February 22, 2023 Me and my Aunt arrived before 11am and already people were waiting for the door to open. Hickory Street Cafe is a cute 1 1/2 story cottage style cafe refurbished into a small restaurant. Each room inside seats 2-4 tables. We sat in what May have once been the dining room. Placed our order around 11:05 and lunch hit the table at 11:09. Seriously swift service. We both ordered the chicken salad. Mine was on the croissant sandwich. The service was great, food was amazing. And I absolutely must recommend the zucchini bread. It was fantastic.

I placed an order for pick up, paid for online, charged, then after I was charged, it said it would…read morebe available for pick up the following day at 11:00 a.m. It was supposed to be my lunch for today. It was ordered prior to closing. During the ordering process, it said it would be available for pick up at 1:45 p.m. today. After paying, it said I could pick it up tomorrow. Guess no lunch for me today. Tried calling the store during business hours but no answer. Very disappointing.

Quaint spot with items for sale

Our Famous Homemade Zucchini Bread

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1 1/2 story cottage style house

The Biscuit Bar

4.0(139 reviews)

2.1 mi

I recently stopped by The Biscuit Bar for brunch, and it did not disappoint. First off, the…read morelocation is beautiful--set in a charming part of town with outdoor seating overlooking a lake, complete with fountains and a walking trail. I tried both the Monte Cristo and the Philly biscuit sandwiches, and they were fantastic. Especially the Monte Cristo with the sweet and savory balance. Great food, great atmosphere. I'll definitely be back to try more of the menu

Oh my goodness what can I even say. The atmosphere was so relaxing and the natural sunlight was…read moregorgeous, there amount of space is incredible on top of the back patio with even more room. The service was amazing, we were greeted as soon as we walked in and immediately taken care of with no wait, as well as bid a fond farewell on the way out. The food was semi quick and absolutely delicious, the biscuits were so fresh and re-freshing. As a first time try I cannot wait to go back!