Before starting this review, I looked up "arduous" in the dictionary to make sure I would be using it correctly. Instead of finding "involving or requiring strenuous effort; difficult and tiring," I saw a picture of one of the dining rooms in Mary's Cafe. That was how I knew I was on the right track with my word choice. Which is a shame because this could be a good place if the service was slightly faster than "glacial." Six of us journeyed out here on a Sunday because we had heard tales of glory regarding Mary's and their marquee proudly announcing "Home of the World Famous Chicken Fried Steak." International acclaim is fantastic, and if this chicken fried steak truly was globally recognized for providing an experience that would make the poets weep, we wanted to have a similar opportunity to have our collective minds blown. That we did, though not in the ways we were anticipating. When we arrived in the dirt lot behind the building, we marveled at how busy Mary's was. Additional parking across the street was parked solid, and it was clear this was the nexus of activity in town. The place is a lengthy building with two dining rooms bookending an entrance room that house a merchandise table, a cashier desk, a couple tables, and a crane game that is almost assuredly there to test whatever shred of patience you may still have in your possession when all is said and done. The outside is pretty inviting, with a few benches and what looks like a hitching bar to sit upon. Locals and tourists alike were all out here, creating a welcoming atmosphere for first-timers and regulars alike. A hostess would periodically emerge from the entrance and call the names of parties when it was time to be seated. When our group was called, she told us to grab the first table to the right when we walk in. It was not the most personable welcome to Mary's, but we found the table easily as it was the only one open in the packed dining room illuminated by various neon beer signs and a TV set tuned to the football game. For as packed as the dining room was, though, not once did it get loud. We were able to talk with one another and wonder what was taking our food so long without needing to repeat ourselves as we discovered the "trick" to enjoying a visit at Mary's. You see, the locals know to call in their order before arriving. Then, after they are seated, they do not have to endure the 80-minute wait for food after ordering. I'm not exaggerating, by the way: we witnessed a group of seven arrive after us, eat and leave before we were done. And we were not the only table to experience this phenomenon in our dining room. At about the 70-minute mark, a guy in our party asked our waitress what was taking so long and she replied that a fryer had gone out. If that was the case, why would you not tell that to your customers ahead of time instead of making them inquire about the perpetual state of limbo their food is in? Adding more absurdity to the equation was when she returned later to say "they're putting your food together now." That's a deceivingly confusing phrase to use when referring to edible deliverables; it made me wonder if the food was like a low-budget Lego set that needed to be constructed, only the directions were eaten by the cow that was presently being cooked. Nonetheless, food did appear: a side order of green beans and a community-sized bowl of gravy. For about 10 minutes, we all endured a staring contest with these plates, waiting for the rest to arrive. Essentially, we endured a Sisyphean ordeal where the waitress would appear in the doorway with another dish, dashing our hopes as it would inevitably be delivered elsewhere as our almost Pavlovian responses became rites of passage in our attempts to eat lunch. When all was said and done, four of us eventually got food before the remaining twosome got theirs 10 minutes later. The only redeeming factors of this whole ordeal were the prices and the food, itself. Pricing is very fair, and the food, once it arrives seemingly by Pony Express, is universally delicious. It's not life-changing, and nowhere near the best you'll have, but it is tasty. The chicken fried steak is good, the chicken fried chicken is actually better, and the side dishes (plus gravy) are worth chomping down on. Add in 24-oz. beers and you have a place that will not destroy your wallet as you destroy your diet. Really, the service model here is the biggest fault. Why did our waitress have no one helping her? (It was not fair that she had to bear the brunt of dissatisfaction from our dining room by herself.) Why were we not told our food may arrive in 1 to 5 business days? And did the fryer really go out? A quick glance at another Yelp review reflects a similar incident, making me do my best Sherlock Holmes and question if this is simply the go-to excuse if people start asking questions. So while "World Famous" may be on the marquee, "arduous" was a more accurate description for our visit. read more

Masks? If you are concerned at all about Corona. Don't go to Mary's. NO one wears a mask of any kind. NO one sits apart, as close as 12 inches. Please Beware Palo Pinto needs to address this. Hot Spot for sure to catch virus read more

We stopped in on our way back to Dallas from Abilene. I'm sad to say that the restaurant did not live up to the hype. The food was fine, but it wasn't anything to go out of the way for. The portions are ridiculously huge (not a bad thing), and the cream gravy is homemade-just like my grandmother used to make. The French fries are fresh cut & delicious. read more

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The best chicken fried steak you can find and sirloin that will keep you wanting more. Hearty helpings, i had enough mashed potatoes to feed a family of 4 just for me! Its a family tradition to stop by everytime we're in town. read more

The service and food was amazing! We had a range of food items...fried pickles, blooming onion, the Downtown special, cheese enchiladas, chicken fried steak, fried chicken and kids pizza. It was all delicious!! We had a party of 7 and the waiter was great at being attentive to our needs! read more

The day I left the hospital my husband and I decided we would stop at Mary's and share one of their famous chicken fried steaks. They have small, medium and large. we chose a medium and it was so big, even after cutting off a quarter of it for myself, there was still so much for my husband to eat! I can't believe he said,"I can't eat this all." because he's a big eater! I had a quarter of the baked potato , the salad and my 1/4 worth of the cchicken fried; and my husband had the 3/4chicken fried, the 3/4 of the baked potato, and green beans. I have to say I was not crazy about the food. it was ok , but it was not great. But! Mary's Café is the happening place around the Strawn/Gorman area. It was continuous customers arriving every 5 to 10 minutes. if if they only had an area for a band; and some beers flowing! what a fun Saturday night that would've been! As soon as we left there I asked my husband to stop at the convenient store so I could buy a snack. I was starved. The waitress that we had was not very nice to us and she only checked on us one time. Our busboy was friendlier and more helpful! We were not happy with Customer Service. I do like the atmosphere, and maybe if were out that way we will try the Mexican food at Mary's. I've heard that's really good. read more

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I now understand why the reviews of this place were so mixed. The prices are definitely inflated, the product you receive does not warrant the price you pay. My husband and son both had the small chicken fried steak which was so tender he cut it with the fork and the gravy was actually made from scratch and very good. I had a cheeseburger and fries and that was hands down the worst burger I have ever eaten drowning it in mayo and ketchup couldn't cover the rancid taste. read more

Do not leave Strawn until you've experienced Mary's Cafe!! The interior has hometown cafe written all over it, and it adds to friendly, laid back atmosphere! The staff is so courteous and in constant motion preparing meals, refilling drinks, or just checking up on you! The menu is vast; from appetizers, Mexican cuisine, to seafood, then a plethora of southern favorites and finally desserts! Beer on draft? Yessir!! Shiner and a few more flavors, served in a frosty glass; a hearty 16 ounce pour! Ordered was pork chop dinner (large), the quail kabob dinner, and beans & cornbread. Each dinner offered a small house salad, toast, and your choice of potato (French fries, baked potato, or mashed). All food was served hot and freshly cooked, and oh boy what it delicious!! We left with plenty of leftovers, so arrive hungry!! I just cannot tell you how much I enjoyed this dining experience!! Whenever I'm in Strawn, this will be the meal for me and my family!! read more

Mary's Cafe - Large Pork chop dinner (4 chops, salad, large mashed potatoes, cream gravy), plus beans & cornbread, plus quail kabobs, beans, & salad) - American Near Me - Strawn, Texas

Took my wife to have dinner - that was the good part of the trip. Waited 1 hour and 25 minutes and still was not served. We gave up and went to smoke stack. I don't mind waiting - the staff could at least give you a little more information. No apology No reason Not the way to serve customers in Texas. read more

Gravy is amazing the rest is just okay not worth the drive or the time to wait for your mediocre food. But if they were closer I'd buy that gravy every week it's amazing. read more

Pretty much the worst chicken fried steak I've ever had. Service was friendly but poor. Over an hour waiting for food. 20 minutes standing in line to pay and it really wasn't busy when we arrived. A 6 year old took my drink order incorrectly but I shook that off and just drank it. It was the chicken fried steak sopping with grease served in a pool of old grease that got me. Mashed potatoes were good tho.......... read more

Just an FYI if you order queso you don't get chips. You have to order chips separately and was charged $6.50 for them. Waitress said "oh I guess I should have told you." The CFS isn't like it used to be either. Definitely will not be coming back to visit. read more

10 stars!!! While traveling thru the area we decided to go a little off the highway. The ABSOLUTE BEST home cooking anywhere around. I definitely recommend Mary's Cafe. The TX burger is a 2 LB burger. The chicken fried steak is amazing and the Frog Legs oh la la. Large servings. read more

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Everytime I'm in the area I try to stop at this little icon of a cafe to fill up on a chicken fried, french fried potatoes and salad. Unless you're super hungry opt for the medium size. Forget the beer...it just fills you up. Save room for the pie. Love Mary and her crew and this quaint rural Texas cafe. Keep up the good work. read more

Mary's Cafe - American Near Me - Strawn, Texas

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Mary's cafe was very busy, but it didn't phase our waiter, Tyler. He was cheerful, attentive, and was overall awesome waiting on our group of 6. The chicken fried steak was fabulous, and you could cut it with a fork; hardly any gristle whatsoever. The portions were huge and satisfying! It was definitely worth the drive! read more

My husband and I drove 2 1/2 hours to have lunch at Mary's. We heard nothing but good things about it and decided we would try it out. Chicken fried steak was really good and got to visit with Mary, she's super sweet! . Also got to have fried apple pies with ice cream, Yummy! read more

Made a trip to check out..what else..the chicken fried steak. Been hearing and reading about it for an eternity, did a little road trip and drove out on a weekday, got there after the lunch rush. Course it's an older building, but has lots of space, I saw three different dining areas. Nothing fancy, tables and chairs. Sat anywhere, ordered some tea, and shortly after the waitress came over to drop a menu, then back pretty quick for my order. From previous firsthand accounts and reads, I figured I better order the small size CFS. There are three sizes on the menu. Each comes with one side, and a side salad. I had seen some fries come out already, and they were fresh cut and looked good, so I ordered that, since I'm a fries and gravy type guy. Around ten minutes later, my food comes out. The small is pretty big, it looked like plenty (and it was) for a lunch. I was starving, and I was stuffed when I finished. Good amount of fries, hand cut and fried right. Side salad was served in an itty bitty little bowl, like, queso cup small size. Lettuce, and chopped tomatoes was all I can remember it being made of. Waitress grab me a squeeze bottle of ranch dressing, which was...different. However, it was fresh stuff, and I ended up eating it all. Also different, and much appreciated, was gravy came out in a small bowl, which in this case was just the right amount for me. But I'm a gravy whore, so it would probably be more than most people might need. But with my french fry dunking requirements, I still had extra for the CFS...nice. The CFS itself looks pan fried. Didn't notice a lot of breading used. Looked to me like very little. The steak was done all through, upon first look like maybe too much. But it was still tender enough in most places to fork cut. Looks were deceiving, because I thought it was one of the best CFS I've had. Gravy was good, actually had some sausage and or greasy bits flavor to it, which is REALLY nice since so many places try to pass that bland cream gravy crap on you nowadays. CFS and fry/gravy nirvana. I really enjoyed it. I would be more than willing to say it lived up to it's reputation. Anyway, I ate it all. At $18 with the tea, it was worth every penny and the drive out. Might not make it back out for a few years, but I'll look forward to it. read more

I've seen the sign on the interstate. I've been told by friends, that you have to stop. I've read online blogs and reviews about Mary's. We finally decided to stop and were NOT disappointed! The chicken fried steak is excellent! They also have great options for picky kids, like mine. read more

Not worth the time it took to get there from the freeway . . . Soggy - not crisp very disappointed

We went to eat there while attending a funeral in Strawn. Read about it being a "bucket list" that you must try. We had a group of 6, and we were all VERY UNHAPPY. The prices are way too high for the food we were served. Total for all 6 was over 150.00. The Chicken fried steak was all batter, they look big, only do to them flattening them out as they were maybe an 1/16 of inch thick on the biggest end of the steak! The mashed potatoes seemed like they were the night before leftover baked potatoes, they were sorta dark in color like how a day old baker would look. We sure miss Flossies. The steak we had was medium and it was 23.00! God forbid we ever have to come back for a funeral, but even then We won't eat at Mary's. Also what Texas Cafe doesn't serve SWEET TEA? That would be Marys! read more

I've been coming to Mary's for years and it never disappoints. They haven't changed a thing so I know what I'm getting and how to order. If you haven't been here it's definitely a bucket list stop. I had the Med Chicken fried steak, mashed 'taters, coleslaw, with a side of fried okra. All were great. I'll make the trip again when I get a craving for some home style comfort food. read more

We drove from Ft. Worth to Strawn to try out Mary's. Wasn't too busy. The CFS was delicious! I got a small and it was plenty. The sides were also good. The fried pies aren't made on site but it was still yummy with it warmed and added ice cream. We'll be back!! read more

We took a drive from Fort Worth to Strawn to order the famous chicken fried steak. Ordered food and waited an hour and 30 minutes for our food. We finally left without getting our food. This place could care less to please customers. We didn't get an apology from the front desk or waitress for the delay. NO Covid protocol in this restaurant! Staff and waitresses were not wearing masks. When we walked in wearing our masks the locals looked like we were aliens from outer space. The least they could do is tell customers there is a long wait. Terrible customer service! Will NOT be back. read more

Come here every chance we get on our travels. Chicken fried steak and gravy is the bomb. Don't be fooled into getting the large. Small is perfect. read more

It was delicious! We tried the Calf Fries that was an experience ill never forget lol my friends love them! I also tried the fried chicken, the country fried steak everything was really big hugeeee portions, EVERYTHING IS BIGGER IN TEXAS! read more

Mary's Cafe - Huge its HUGE! - American Near Me - Strawn, Texas

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It looks like a hole in the wall but once you walk in it's worth it. I will say we had to wait to get waited on. The food was amazing though. Chicken fried steak all the way or the giant burger. Clean facility and very busy. read more

I ordered the chicken fried steak was pretty good but not the best I've ever had wasn't too fond of the gravy that come with it salad was delicious wife had the hamburger steak she said it was pretty good also tried the chocolate pie was a little disappointed in it also ordered coconut pie It tasted like it came from an instant mix didn't care too much for it read more

We stopped by on a road trip on a Wednesday afternoon, 4-ish. Of course the three of us ordered the CFS, but started with an order of fried mushrooms & chips & salsa with two small Shiner's on draft plus a medium CFS order to go. The chips were super thin & correctly fried (obviously fried in-house) and the salsa reminded me a lot of my favorite breakfast burrito place's salsa; a spicy cooked salsa that was pretty delicious. The mushrooms were really good too, but given the bread-crumb coating I suspected they may've been frozen/food service, but still super tasty. The CFS's arrived (medium) and were (as others have reported) HUGE. But not "stretched to the point of see-through" as you'll see in some places, they were still nicely thick. And this is good, old-fashioned, the way your grandmother made it (if you were lucky!) delicious CFS. Clearly just dredged (no, there is "batter" as one woefully misinformed-about-CFS reviewer noted) in seasoned flour, the way it is intended to be! Sides all around were fries (hand cut, tasty but on the greasy side) and shredded iceberg salad with tomatoes. (I never ate a bit, lol) The bowl of gravy served on the side (yes!)? CFS gravy perfection! Recommended, all the way! read more

Best lil CFS House in Texas. I cheated on you, today, Mary. I went to another restaurant, in Burleson. Ordered the CFS and regretted it the moment the plate was sat down, under my nose. I ate about 3 bites of it and the cold mashed potatoes before making an excuse to box it up. Brought it home and the dog hiked his leg on it. I beg your forgiveness and the dog's. read more

Heard so much about this cafe. And, it is a place for incredible size plates! The Chicken Fried Steak and Mashed Potatoes were Texas-Sized for sure!!! But, sadly the quality was just so-so. Potatoes were very dry. Incredible gravy however. Fun to try. read more

Stopped in during a mid afternoon lunch returning to DFW from business in Abilene. A guy I was with recommended, maybe insisted, we stop here on the way. I love a good chicken fried steak and this place has it going on. Definitely go with the half order unless you want a real Texas sized fried meat. Comes with huge serving of fries and your typical side choices for this type of place. I recommend stopping here read more

What do you rate when food is great, but no Covid precautions? Read about the chicken fried steak, called and was told the staff is asked to wear mask, drove the 45 minutes from Ft. Worth, got there at 11:45, not crowded. Tables we're marginally at 6 ft apart, but it looked like the normal set-up. No staff had masks. I know here in Texas that may be a reason for some folks to go; I pray they remain safe. We (4) decided to stay. Service was great except for no mask. I'm assuming no mask in kitchen either. CF Steak was great, along with smashed potatoes, but the star of the game is the peppery cream gravy. After we are all safe again, I will go back. If we're still in this world. read more

Stopped by at about 2:30 on a Monday afternoon on my way back to Fort Worth. The place was fairly crowded for that time of day. Ordered a medium size CFS, gravy on the side so I could take some home, fries (well done) and a salad. The CFS was huge, tender and very tasty. Not sure it deserves it's #1 CFS rating in all of Texas, but definitely in the top 5, fries were spot on and salad was so-so. Service was not so great and that's why Mary only got 4 stars. Even with iffy service, its definitely worth stopping. read more

Long wait, bad business. We have eaten here on our way back from a reunion last several years, but today was disappointing. Chicken fried steak is great, fries are a bit soggy, and salad is not good. We were told a "30 min wait," but an hour later we checked why tables were vacant without dishes being removed. They said there was no server/busser for that room and we still had 6 parties ahead of us. Told it would be another 30 mins. We left. read more

So went here because I was with a group of work people and maybe what they got was good but I couldn't even eat mine. Not to mention the staff was soooooo rude!! Like I was kind of in shock of how rude our waitress was. Got cheese enchiladas and they came out covered in wax cheese and beef. I told the woman I'm sorry I didn't want beef. I just wanted cheese the menu didn't say it had beef on it. So she gave me a go to hell look and snatched it from in front of me. If I hadn't had been with co workers I would have walked out. read more

Mary's Cafe - Disgusting wax cheese and rice to the top of the bowl in grease. So gross - American Near Me - Strawn, Texas

If you enjoy cigarette smoke with your meal then this is place. Otherwise the chicken fried steak is average and there are probably 10,000 other places you can get it without the cigarette smoke wafting into your nostrils as you try to enjoy a meal. The chairs are uncomfortable the tables and room decor are plain. The wait staff is disinterested and careless. Not worth driving out of your way for. read more

Delicious chicken fried steak!!! Awesome service!!! I love to come here, when I'm in the area!!!

Unbelievable chicken fried steak. It is as good as it is built up to be. The gravy is excellent. The chicken fried was thin and crispy. Absolutely no disappointment and the owner was our server. read more

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ATTENTION: This is Chicken Fried Steak MECCA!! I have never been more serious about anything in my life when I say that if you are a CFS devotee, get in your car right now and head west. Stop for nothing. Mary's Cafe is definitely a haul, but worth every drop of gasoline no matter what the cost. It is located in your quintessential Texas ghosttown (Strawn TX) about an hour west of Fort Worth. The place looks like a little dump with a gravel parking lot, but inside is like Wonka's Chocolate Factory. There are multiple large rooms with lots of tables--all of which are full full full of people! Alright, the reason you're here: CHICKEN FRIED STEAK that God Himself/Herself would make the trip for. This is the "pan-fried" version, not the deep-fried. Now I am of course a fan of both and have almost always had the deep-fried. Pan-fried is more like grandma used to make (if you're from east Texas especially). You have a choice of regular, medium, or large in regards to size of the CFS. Listen, I saw a dude get the large and it was the size of a medium pizza! I ended up w/the medium for $10.00 and it was plenty big itself. Comes with a side chopped salad and your choice of baked potato or fries, plus they also bring a separate bowl of cream gravy to slather over it. This was a nice touch because I prefer to put the gravy on myself instead of the cook doing it. The steak was tender and crispy at the same time. Batter was seasoned and you could taste a hint of the flour in it (which I love). In a way, each bite was a tragedy because it meant there was less CFS for me to eat afterward. Soon, the inevitable happened: it was all gone. But oh so perfect, delectible, ETHEREAL! I am here to tell you this right now: go. I don't care if you have to move Heaven and Hell to do it, just get yourself there. Cut ties, move households, uproot your family, get a fourth mortgage, join the Coast Guard, whatever!! BTW, they take credit cards. The menu is enormous with tons of Mexican offerings plus seafood (mostly fried). We saw a heaping platter of chicken livers brought out to another table. They've got gizzards too. I believe Monday night is All-U-Can-Eat CFS night. Ooo, also spotted a big thick slice of Chocolate Pie being delivered to someone. Also, I recommend a designated driver (one designated not to eat) so someone can drive you back home without Food Coma. (and if you never make it to Mary's, I'm pretty sure St. Peter won't let you into Heaven). read more

What a find! BFF had been raving about this place, so on our weekend visit to a friend's ranch in Ranger, we made it a point to drive a few short miles down the road to Mary's, in Strawn TX, just off I20, about an hour West of Ft. Worth. OMG, what a hoot this little cafe/dive spot is. First of all, the place was packed @ 1300 on a Saturday afternoon. Most likely because it's the only dining option within miles. The menu is amazingly large with a huge selection of comfort foods, steaks, burgers, seafood, and one full page dedicated to Tex-Mex. I shall not fail to note, however, that Chicken Fried Steak is their known specialty, offered in 3 sizes.. Frosty draft beer in large goblets, so heavy it requires two hands to pick up this icy cold libation. And we're off to a great start. On to the food - I opted for one of my faves, Chicken Livers, served with fries or mashed tators, Texas Toast, a side of peppery cream gravy and a small chopped salad. BFF went for the Chicken Enchiladas with rice and beans. When our food arrived (in a very timely manner), I was shocked. The biggest, hugest, largest plate of Chicken Livers I've ever seen. It was, no joke, enough to serve 4 hearty appetites. I must admit that I was so curious at the serving size, I started counting the CL's. Yep, I counted them, one by one, I think to BFF's embarrassment. 42 pieces and large ones at that. Now, I ask, who could possibly eat 42 pieces @ one sitting? Don't think a lumberjack or longshoreman could even finish. I ate only 4, plus a few bites of fries, 1/2 of the Texas Toast, and a tad of the gravy. Never got to the salad. It was all absolutely just like Grandma used to make back on the farm in East Texas. The CL's were lightly breaded, perfectly fried, the protein was tender and moist, and that creamy seasoned gravy was perfect for dipping. At BFF's insistence, I tasted his chicken enchiladas and know why he raves about them. Unlike any I've had anywhere, they were chunk full of freshly roasted, shredded tender chicken, with a blend of several cheeses. The rice was not your typical Mexican Rice, but more along the lines of Spanish Rice. Quite delicious. Things not tried but observed being served will draw us back. That infamous Chicken Fried Steak looked scrumptious; and those burgers? Ever seen a 1 1/2 pound burger? That monster stands about 3-4 inches high, too large for any mouth to fit around it. BFF has had that before and said he could only finish 1/4 of it, and he has a healthy appetite. Watching the table next to us with this gargantuan piece of protein, none of the diners even made a dent in the burger. This was a true experience; the people watching was well worth the visit; one couple in particular. He had on overalls with a plaid flannel shirt and cowboy hat; she was wearing a Mink coat. Yep, all varieties and sizes of patrons. Sooo much fun! Although busy, service was a 10. Couldn't have had a more attentive, friendly and accommodating server. Next time we receive an invite back to our friend's lovely ranch down the road, we'll be back @ Mary's for sure. Yummmmmmmmmmmmmmm :) read more