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I had to leave a new review because I tried something new and need to report. Usually I get the catfish basket for lunch but today I got the Philly Cheese Steak. Oh man, it was delicious. Thin shaved tender meat with grilled peppers and onions. Marsha Jo and her staff are great. The place is very cute with the metal art inside and lots of tables outside under the beautiful oaks. This place is only a little over an hour from San Antonio. You could even stop in Bandera on the way. Read my other reviews if you need enticing. And PS, only open on weekends. Their Facebook page stays up to date
DELICIOUS! First timer, could not get over the cole slaw, Mmmmmm! Had cabrito burger. When I go back, I'll have a hard time to order anything different. Charming wait staff. This is a happy place, for sure!
Finally made it to Tarpley, Texas to the first DDD restaurant. Located 75 minutes outside of San Antonio, this place is a journey. The rolling Texas hills made the drive enjoyable and quite beautiful. Mac and Earneys building is larger and an improvement from the original. The staff was very friendly and clean. For being in a very small town, M & E's was fairly busy for a Saturday afternoon. Our biggest disappointment was that the ancho chili quail was served only on Friday/ Saturday dinner. We were to early to try this dream meal. I guess yhe next visit will need to be better planned. We ordered the red deer burger with blue cheese and balsalmic glazed onions. It was juicy and not gamey. The onions and blue cheese complimented the deer burger. Our other choice was the chabrito (goat) burger with pepper jack cheese. Again, it was juicy and did not have as heavy and thick taste as I expect. The burgers were big in size and very full of flavor. We were happy we had tried and felt it was worth the drive. 0verall, we were pleased with our chouces and had a wonderful day in south Texas with beautiful scenery. If you are looking for a good excuse to escape the city, Mac and Earney's is a great adventure. The food was flavorfully packed and interesting. I think our next visit will try dinner with the lamb chop, ancho chili quail and Fry fecta.
Truly enjoyed this small town diner. We had been wanting to try it since the new year and finally got over there on a day they were open (check their website or give them a call before making the trip over). The Philly cheese steak was on point. I enjoyed every last bite (including any bits that fell out). The fries were also really good. My boyfriend enjoyed the DDD burger which I did sneak a bite of. It wasn't my favorite but it was very good. We would both order these plates again. We did also try the sushi app bc I was starving... wouldn't recommend that but to be fair, I knew better before doing so. Very friendly staff! Oh, and try their sauces! I had the garlic aioli- yum!
Ah, Guy Fieri, the spiky-haired pseudo enfant terrible of the culinary world. A "dive" isn't worth our patronage unless he pulls from his grab-bag of "bro"-speak catchphrases and christens it a "Righteous trip down to flavor town" or some variant thereof. Why am I so down on Guy, you ask? After all, he's just an annoying TV personality who visits hidden gems and puts them on the map. That's precisely why I'm no fan of the man. Quite often, soon after a "DDD" episode airs, hordes of foodies (you know the type -- irritatingly bubbly Instagram narcissists) will flock to said establishment, overwhelm the tiny place, deem the food "meh," leave hastily written negative reviews, and ultimately sink the business. I have seen this fate befall several local restaurants, and it pisses me off. But enough of my rant; you're here to read a pithy, comprehensive review from yours truly, undoubtedly the best writer to ever grace this increasingly lamentable platform. Well, dear reader, that's exactly what I plan to do. Mac & Ernie's -- despite being technically "put on the map" by Signore Fieri in the very first episode of "DDD" -- has somehow managed to avoid the "Fieri Curse" and remain a true hidden gem, a culinary oasis in Tarpley, Texas, a Hill Country town the size of a postage stamp. The mood at Mac & Ernie's is bright and cheerful from the moment you enter the door of what appears to be an early 20th-century home repurposed into a restaurant. Expect plenty of warm, ingratiating small-town hospitality from the ladies behind the counter, all of whom are keen to offer recommendations. The same energy radiates from the open kitchen, with the cooks bopping along cheerfully to a mix of 80s and 90s alt-rock. That good cheer translates to every item I have ordered across multiple visits. The heaping fried catfish platter is everything a catfish platter should be: meaty, clean fish with a crunchy, well-seasoned cornmeal batter that sticks to the filets. The Philly cheesesteak is a marvel of thinly cut strips of juicy sirloin mixed with caramelized onions and bell peppers and plenty of gooey pepper Jack cheese. A hearty, well-marbled, hand-cut ribeye proved to be a winning dinner option (and a great value at $22), but the star of the show that evening was a whole Bandera quail slathered in a sweet, smoky ancho chili sauce. Whatever you order for dinner, add one of these bad boys to your plate; it is well worth the extra $9! The "DDD Burger" (ugh--that name) is indeed a...um..."one-way trip to flavor town" and easily M&E's most celebrated item. The tender, slightly earthy red deer (sourced locally from Ingram and ground fresh on the premises) works in tandem with the pungent blue cheese crumbles and the acidity and sweetness from the caramelized balsamic onions. Even my dad -- a stickler for plain, old-fashioned American beef burgers -- scarfed down every morsel of this multi-note alchemical delight. The accompanying fries were executed by a true master of the Maillard reaction: soaked in water to remove excess starch and fried twice to produce a crispy, perfectly desiccated fry. Were I to nitpick, I might point out that the food is served on flimsy paper plates with plastic utensils. Even a tender, marbled ribeye begs for proper cutlery, so I struggled and occasionally pierced the bottom of the soggy, juice-logged paper plate. I suspect the decision to use disposable plates and silverware was a cost-cutting measure, but I would be happy to pay an additional buck or two per dish to enjoy the convenience of real plates and silverware. But that is indeed nitpicking. If you live anywhere within 100 miles of Tarpley, you owe it to yourself to try Mac & Ernie's. I've conveyed more in this seven-paragraph review than Guy said in his rambling, jump cut-laden "DDD" segment, so perhaps the owners will see fit to paint over the "Guy was here!" decal on the wall and replace it with my handsome, brooding face and the quote, "Ry was here...and nearly fainted from heat stroke while talking to dead people at Tarpley Cemetery afterwards." No, I cannot pen a single review without mentioning instrumental trans-communication.
Almost nothing in this little town but definitely worth the drive. Burger- Definitely more of a "fancy burger" than a greasy spoon diner style burger. The red stag is noticeably leaner than most burger. The assortment of flavors makes for a solid burger. The sweet potato fries were outstanding. The fish was not as crispy as some may like, but the flavor and texture I thought were great. I guess if you like batter to be the star of the show you might not love these but if you want fish to be, you'll love it. read more
14 days ago
5 months ago
Definitely get the corn dip! Both burgers were really good and the sweet potato fries were excellent. Cute little location, lots of seating, a lovely outside area. Kind and quick service! read more
I had to leave a new review because I tried something new and need to report. Usually I get the catfish basket for lunch but today I got the Philly Cheese Steak. Oh man, it was delicious. Thin shaved tender meat with grilled peppers and onions. Marsha Jo and her staff are great. The place is very cute with the metal art inside and lots of tables outside under the beautiful oaks. This place is only a little over an hour from San Antonio. You could even stop in Bandera on the way. Read my other reviews if you need enticing. And PS, only open on weekends. Their Facebook page stays up to date read more
3 months ago
6 months ago
1 year ago
DELICIOUS! First timer, could not get over the cole slaw, Mmmmmm! Had cabrito burger. When I go back, I'll have a hard time to order anything different. Charming wait staff. This is a happy place, for sure! read more
4 months ago
Finally made it to Tarpley, Texas to the first DDD restaurant. Located 75 minutes outside of San Antonio, this place is a journey. The rolling Texas hills made the drive enjoyable and quite beautiful. Mac and Earneys building is larger and an improvement from the original. The staff was very friendly and clean. For being in a very small town, M & E's was fairly busy for a Saturday afternoon. Our biggest disappointment was that the ancho chili quail was served only on Friday/ Saturday dinner. We were to early to try this dream meal. I guess yhe next visit will need to be better planned. We ordered the red deer burger with blue cheese and balsalmic glazed onions. It was juicy and not gamey. The onions and blue cheese complimented the deer burger. Our other choice was the chabrito (goat) burger with pepper jack cheese. Again, it was juicy and did not have as heavy and thick taste as I expect. The burgers were big in size and very full of flavor. We were happy we had tried and felt it was worth the drive. 0verall, we were pleased with our chouces and had a wonderful day in south Texas with beautiful scenery. If you are looking for a good excuse to escape the city, Mac and Earney's is a great adventure. The food was flavorfully packed and interesting. I think our next visit will try dinner with the lamb chop, ancho chili quail and Fry fecta. read more
1 year ago
First time here! Amazing place!! Excellent food!! Superb service. My brother Sergio and I feel in love with this place instantly!! Thank you so much for the amazing service. Absolutely we will be back! read more
2 years ago
Truly enjoyed this small town diner. We had been wanting to try it since the new year and finally got over there on a day they were open (check their website or give them a call before making the trip over). The Philly cheese steak was on point. I enjoyed every last bite (including any bits that fell out). The fries were also really good. My boyfriend enjoyed the DDD burger which I did sneak a bite of. It wasn't my favorite but it was very good. We would both order these plates again. We did also try the sushi app bc I was starving... wouldn't recommend that but to be fair, I knew better before doing so. Very friendly staff! Oh, and try their sauces! I had the garlic aioli- yum! read more
Ah, Guy Fieri, the spiky-haired pseudo enfant terrible of the culinary world. A "dive" isn't worth our patronage unless he pulls from his grab-bag of "bro"-speak catchphrases and christens it a "Righteous trip down to flavor town" or some variant thereof. Why am I so down on Guy, you ask? After all, he's just an annoying TV personality who visits hidden gems and puts them on the map. That's precisely why I'm no fan of the man. Quite often, soon after a "DDD" episode airs, hordes of foodies (you know the type -- irritatingly bubbly Instagram narcissists) will flock to said establishment, overwhelm the tiny place, deem the food "meh," leave hastily written negative reviews, and ultimately sink the business. I have seen this fate befall several local restaurants, and it pisses me off. But enough of my rant; you're here to read a pithy, comprehensive review from yours truly, undoubtedly the best writer to ever grace this increasingly lamentable platform. Well, dear reader, that's exactly what I plan to do. Mac & Ernie's -- despite being technically "put on the map" by Signore Fieri in the very first episode of "DDD" -- has somehow managed to avoid the "Fieri Curse" and remain a true hidden gem, a culinary oasis in Tarpley, Texas, a Hill Country town the size of a postage stamp. The mood at Mac & Ernie's is bright and cheerful from the moment you enter the door of what appears to be an early 20th-century home repurposed into a restaurant. Expect plenty of warm, ingratiating small-town hospitality from the ladies behind the counter, all of whom are keen to offer recommendations. The same energy radiates from the open kitchen, with the cooks bopping along cheerfully to a mix of 80s and 90s alt-rock. That good cheer translates to every item I have ordered across multiple visits. The heaping fried catfish platter is everything a catfish platter should be: meaty, clean fish with a crunchy, well-seasoned cornmeal batter that sticks to the filets. The Philly cheesesteak is a marvel of thinly cut strips of juicy sirloin mixed with caramelized onions and bell peppers and plenty of gooey pepper Jack cheese. A hearty, well-marbled, hand-cut ribeye proved to be a winning dinner option (and a great value at $22), but the star of the show that evening was a whole Bandera quail slathered in a sweet, smoky ancho chili sauce. Whatever you order for dinner, add one of these bad boys to your plate; it is well worth the extra $9! The "DDD Burger" (ugh--that name) is indeed a...um..."one-way trip to flavor town" and easily M&E's most celebrated item. The tender, slightly earthy red deer (sourced locally from Ingram and ground fresh on the premises) works in tandem with the pungent blue cheese crumbles and the acidity and sweetness from the caramelized balsamic onions. Even my dad -- a stickler for plain, old-fashioned American beef burgers -- scarfed down every morsel of this multi-note alchemical delight. The accompanying fries were executed by a true master of the Maillard reaction: soaked in water to remove excess starch and fried twice to produce a crispy, perfectly desiccated fry. Were I to nitpick, I might point out that the food is served on flimsy paper plates with plastic utensils. Even a tender, marbled ribeye begs for proper cutlery, so I struggled and occasionally pierced the bottom of the soggy, juice-logged paper plate. I suspect the decision to use disposable plates and silverware was a cost-cutting measure, but I would be happy to pay an additional buck or two per dish to enjoy the convenience of real plates and silverware. But that is indeed nitpicking. If you live anywhere within 100 miles of Tarpley, you owe it to yourself to try Mac & Ernie's. I've conveyed more in this seven-paragraph review than Guy said in his rambling, jump cut-laden "DDD" segment, so perhaps the owners will see fit to paint over the "Guy was here!" decal on the wall and replace it with my handsome, brooding face and the quote, "Ry was here...and nearly fainted from heat stroke while talking to dead people at Tarpley Cemetery afterwards." No, I cannot pen a single review without mentioning instrumental trans-communication. read more
10 months ago
1 year ago
Don't pass this Gem!+ just the simple things made better. Chicken Breast sandwich cooked to perfection. Side salad alone blew me away. read more
2 years ago
4 years ago
We had the combo wombo! Friendly staff and great food for out in the boondocks! You can't go wrong with anything here. The fried shrimp and Catfish were fabulous. We also had the carrot cake which was also great! read more
1 year ago
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5 years ago
Celebrating Dads 93rd birthday we traveled the 19 miles from Utopia to Tarpley, Tx to Mac and Ernies Roadside Eatery. They are now open Wednesday to Sunday for lunch, then supper as well Friday and Saturday. We all had the wild caught fried shrimp that was perfect, plump, tasty! Mom raves about the pasta salad. Dad and I had the sweet potato fries. Lovely! Polished off the meal with Banana Pudding (made on site) and Chocolate Tuxedo Cheesecake. Had a good mix of locals and travelers. Definately worth the drive! New owner Marsha Jo Sheedy brings a fresh touch to a great menu, expanding with some creative and tasty options, with weekend specials. Always something new to try. It's high end food on a paper plate. Relaxed atmosphere and come as you are. read more
5 years ago
For a gourmet dining experience in the middle of nowhere, come here. I've been coming here for years. It is always good. Great owner and good spot. read more
4 years ago
6 years ago
What a wonderful first night in Tarpley! We were taken out to dinner on our first night here. How awesome to eat out under the oak trees and in the light of the full moon picnic style. The salmon, baked potato and salad were delicious. We will definitely be back! read more
3 years ago
4 years ago
8 years ago
Friday afternoon 2pm on the way from Bandera to Utopia. Driven thru Tarpley 100 times since 1978 and never stopped here. Watched the episode on DDD 3-4 times and determined to have the cabrito burger today. Disappointed as I get the news that the coyotes have eaten all their goats. Order n pay at the counter and the bring it out to you. Wife n I go for the Red Deer blue cheese burger and I get a jalapeño cheese sausage rap. Friends go for chicken sandwich and regular burger splitting fries. They don't watch DDD and dunno what we are doing here. Place is empty except for a couples sitting outside. Lots of windows, a/c, walls are purple with yellow n green tables and chairs. Food comes out in a half of long neck. Red Deer is medium rare, lean with mustard, lettuce, tomato and of course blue cheese. Sausage rap is very tasty with lots of cheese and mustard. Everyone is pleased. read more
3 years ago
4 years ago
9 years ago
Love the service. Love the food. Love sitting outside. Love the goat-riding minion that takes my order to the kitchen. The food here is good even by our Houston standards. read more
4 years ago
4 years ago
9 years ago
Great spot for food in the Hill Country. We got recommended to go eat here from Lost Maples Winery. It looks like a cute little diner that has great eclectic American food. A variety of seafood and meat options that come fresh out the kitchen. I had a seafood platter with kale salad and baked potato. As a starter we had crab cakes which was delicious with a kick of spice. They added sauce decors to it to entertain our eyes before we devoured them. Best food I had in Hill Country. read more
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