Mels Diner

We went here for lunch. There were two of us at about 1:30…read more We had not been here before so a new experience. The daily special was chicken fried steak and mashed potatoes with gravy, green beans a dinner roll. We both had that. The food was amazing. Hot, fresh and delicious. Way to much for us the eat it all so we brought some home for tomorrow. The service was fast and friendly . Oh I forgot to mention that the special came with peach cobbler. It's about 40 minutes from Weatherford and well worth the drive.

Making my summer visit home. I have to make my usual pit stop. I went for the breakfast chicken and…read morewaffles. The waffle was great. The chicken strips were a little sad. The $7.95 lunch special price made it worth it!

Interior

Catfish special

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Barbwire

Mary's Cafe

3.5(522 reviews)

4.5 mi

Great chicken fried steak at Mary' Café. We watch the show The Daytripper with Chet Garner on TV…read more He did a segment on Mary's Cafe. So, we drove about 2 hours west of Fort Worth. The place is just an old diner in the town of Strawn. We showed up at 1130. They had nice crowd no wait. Sit down and order. We got a small and a medium chicken fried steak. For the sides fries and mash potatoes with a small salad each. The small steak is prefect size for me. But if you are hungry go for medium or the large. The chicken fried steak is made a little different than most. Not the usual type of breading. We really enjoyed the meal all was very good. The steak was tender and great flavor. Fries cook perfect and great for dipping into my gravy. Mary came around and took the order and she also went to each table and made sure you like the food. Very good service from all the staff. We will be back and you should give them a try.

Came here based on the Daytripper review saying this was the #1 CFS place in Texas. I hate to give…read morea hometown, non-chain restaurant a bad review, but also want to be honest. I'm really surprised at how many four and five stars there are. Almost nothing we got had flavor: Queso - literally just cheese with nothing added - no salsa, no jalapeños, no onion - nothing. If you put queso on the menu, I think people expect it to have more than literally melted cheese. Chicken Fried Steak - loved that the breaded parts stuck to the meat and was excited to eat, but again, literally no flavor. We didn't finish it and we didn't take the leftovers. Mashed potatoes - No flavor AGAIN. We were so surprised and disappointed. You can see everyone there busting their tails though. Those women deserve every penny of every tip left for them.

Interior

Chicken fried steak

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Exterior

Jake & Dorothy's Cafe

3.6(147 reviews)

25.3 mi

Great staff, Dawn was friendly and jovial…read more Great food. Long term local business. Plenty of food options.

I'm glad yelp has 5 star ratings... 2 just isn't enough and 4 was too high…read more So, first of all don't expect much in the way of ambiance here... a literal hole in the wall... but I like holes in the wall because you usually get the best foods there. On to the review: First of all the salad really does need to be served cold or at least chilled, mine was served at room temperature. Taste wise it was ok, just lettuce and tomatoes with some crackers. Now, for what brought me here... The Chicken Fried Steak... while it was okay, I thought it was a bit overrated. Don't get me wrong, taste wise it was decent, but not as good as other places... I actually did like how they serve the steak on top of the gravy (which was good too) with a nice peppery taste... the mashed potatoes were pretty good, lumpy, but good.. that is just a sign that they are real. My wife had the cheese burger and the waffle fries. She said that the burger was ok, but I didn't do a review on it because I didn't try it... I did try the waffle fries and while a good flavor, I personally thought they needed to be crispyer. The staff was very friendly, especially our waitress, but I did not use her/them as part of the review because who knows if I were to ever get her again, but as a shout out, she was good. No dessert on this trip to review.

"Small" chicken fried steak

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Jake & Dorothy's, since 1948. That's a lot of chicken fry's!

New York Hill Restaurant

4.7(236 reviews)

2.4 mi

What a neat place to stop and eat! Home cooking. Best chicken fried steak around…read more Abby was a wonderful helper today. She found out we were newbies and was just so helpful. Mom tried the chicken fried steak and gives it two thumbs up. I tried the veggie platter and I loved the okra and the pinto beans. Make sure you try some apple cobbler if it's available The restaurant is very clean and somebody loves to keep Plants alive! The restrooms were very clean.

New York Hill restaurant is a great place to stop on your journey. The food is good and the history…read moreis fascinating. The wait staff here are nice and helpful. The food is fresh and nicely prepared. Everything we have had here has been good.

Decor. Very cute

Chips and green salsa

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Texas sizzler

Happy Days Diner

4.1(95 reviews)

26.2 mi

What a sweet place! The antique atmosphere is charming, the folks are wonderful, and the food is…read moredelicious!!! I wish it wasn't fifty miles away!!! LOVE IT!!

We came here for breakfast before a show. I liked the Happy Days theme/ambiance and it was kind of…read morefun and gave us something fun to look at for the over 30 minute wait that we waited. In fairness they told us it would be a wait, but we chose to stay anyway. Once it got there, Our breakfast was very average. The scrambled eggs were more just broken eggs on the griddle than they were truly scrambled. The biscuits and gravy were ok, but once again not great. The really good thing was the pancake, which was delicious. It was not a horrible experience but I'd probably try someplace else before I'd come back here.

$15 Twisted biscuits and $2 side of bacon

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Inside

Koffee Kup

3.3(328 reviews)

44.5 mi

I have eaten here twice. I was not on Yelp either time I ate at this establishment. The last time…read morewas for lunch on 06/26/2026. My husband, myself, my MIL,& my SIL were on our way to Colorado. All three of them had the "Lunch Special ". I believe it was chicken fried steak with your choice of two sides. I had a grilled cheese sandwich which was yummy, but I was waiting for dessert. The waitress smiled knowingly when I said that. The restaurant was packed, but the wait staff was friendly and efficient. The rolls were to die for. But Omg the pies were wonderful. I had my fave Chocolate Meringue it was Devine, almost put me into a chocolate coma..lol. It reminded me of my grandmothers. My MIL & SIL had the Coconut Cream and said it was absolutely delicious. You can buy whole pies.we declined since we were on our way to Colorado. The Daily Special includes dessert which they took with us. I definitely recommend stopping if you find yourself in Hico. And take some pie home you won't regret it.

Stopped along the way to Austin. Family had a party melt, chicken nachos, and a burger…read more The burger was ok. A little too thick of bun for my taste (too rollish too). Nachos were disappointing. The chicken was seasoned so I'd say above average. The portion was large. But the cheese seemed canned. No peppers or onions. No sour cream, salsa, or guacamole. Patty melt was ok. Meat was a little chewey and bread was toasted but not flavorful. I will say that if you want pie. I watched a dozen carry out orders. Also admitted one of tallest meringues I've ever seen. We just weren't in mood for pie. Service was ok. My water was empty for about 1/4 of my meal. They were it overwhelmed and had numerous empty tables. She was very friendly fly though. Ambiance is a charming little roadside cafe. Lots of neat salt and pepper shakers in a display case on the wall. Parking was not difficult but certainly more difficult that average. Looked like a popular chocolate place was next door.

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Inside

Red Star Cafe

4.2(59 reviews)

26.2 mi

The food is always so good and the waitresses are nice and friendly. I had their special the last…read moretime I was there and it was yummy! Love that I know where to find a good meal nearby.

We were on a road trip from Sweetwater to Arlington and thankfully just happened upon The Red Star…read more Both food and service were top notch. He wants to go back tomorrow, but it's 1hr 40 minutes away.... Darn!

Very few places still have a bar to sit at!

Classic Burger

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The Dessert board and the Specialty Cake of the day, Coconut

Dianne's Ranch Diner

4.6(21 reviews)

28.7 mi

I had driven by this place several times before I finally stopped for dinner with my family. I wish…read moreI had done so sooner! The food is simple, but almost flawlessly executed. The menu leans heavily toward comfort food classics like meatloaf, lasagna, and shepherds pie, but lighter options like a chicken ceasar salad were also available. The desserts were definitely the highlight of our meal. Like the other menu items, the dessert portions are HUGE. My daughter and I split a piece of coconut cream pie, and we still didn't finish it. An amazing view, rustic atmosphere, and wonderful service rounded out the experience. If you're passing through the area, don't miss this place! I can't figure out why it wasn't packed to the gills.

We really like trying new places. Sometimes it doesn't always work out for us. This was one of…read morethose times. Be prepared for sticker shock. We got the meatloaf, king ranch chicken, two teas and one desert and it cost us $54. And for that price we got served on flimsy paper plates with plastic forks. The food was less than average. We didn't finish our food and declined a to go plate. The cheddar biscuits had no flavor and were not warm. For desert ,we got the apple "crisp" which was not crisp at all. It was very mushy. Thank goodness we got ice cream with it. I am posting a picture of the Apple crisp. There is certainly a lot going on there. We stopped on The Junk Store (as they call it) and the sign was correct. We were not impressed and will not be back. To answer your response, the words "delicious" and "great" never left our lips. And no motive other than to provide an accurate review of your restaurant and food.

French Dip Sub Sandwich w/ Soup or Salad (Made with local, grass-fed Chapman 3C Cattle Company beef)

Chocolate Mousse Pie

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Blackberry Pie

Runaway Train Cafe

4.6(183 reviews)

67.3 mi

Food was great. Fast service and friendly staff. Several young men working who were very thoughtful…read moreand respectful. Highly recommended! Patty Melt is excellent!

We always make it a point to stop at Runaway Train Cafe when we're passing through Brownwood on our…read moreway to Fredericksburg. It's one of those places we genuinely look forward to every time. The restaurant is set inside an old train car, which is just really cool and different. The hamburgers are always spot on -- juicy and full of flavor -- and I can't pass up the Reuben. It's perfectly toasted with plenty of meat and just tastes great every single time. The service is consistently friendly and welcoming, which makes the stop even better. It's become a tradition for us, and it never disappoints. If you're anywhere near Brownwood, it's definitely worth pulling off the road for.

Half order fried pickles

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Outside

Newton’s Saddlerack

4.6(103 reviews)

25.4 mi

Newton's has been our go to restaurant when we want to enjoy some delicious food. We normally only…read morecome here for dinner, which is when we had the ribeye and chicken fried steak! The ribeye was perfectly cooked, tender and perfectly seasoned. My wife always gets the chicken fried steak. It's a huge meal and a heck of a deal. Each plate came with mashed potatoes and some veggies. I love desserts and I am always trying new places to find the best desserts. I can honestly say that Newton's bread pudding is the best bread pudding I have ever had and is one of my favorite desserts. I follow their social media and I always see their burger Tuesday's. We happened to be passing through and decided to stop in. Carlos was our server and he was on top of things and he offered great customer service. I got the triple meat smash burger with grilled jalapeños and bacon added. My wife got the buffalo chicken sandwich. They were both tasty. I would definitely stop by again for their burgers but their steaks are still my go to. And of course we had to finish our meals with a bread pudding!!

Country decor is fitting for the "cowboy chef" and the menu falls right in line. The chicken fried…read moresteak was great, sorta wished my grilled veggies and mashed potatoes was separated on my plate instead of basically mashed together under the steak and gravy. My wife had the filet and the kitchen was nice enough to sub a gluten free pasta for the blue cheese gnocchi that was on the menu. The pasta was buttery and rich, very rich but my wife enjoyed it and said the steak was up there with the best steak she's ever had. Get the bourbon glazed carrot.. trust me.

Smash burger and buffalo chicken sandwich

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Chloe J.

0

3

0

4 years ago

Delicious food and great service! I met with a friend halfway who lives in Dallas area and we stopped for lunch here. Our waitress was friendly and upbeat. They have a surprisingly large menu and we both enjoyed our meals, especially the Chicken BLT salad. Highly recommend! read more

Mels Diner - diners - Updated September 2026

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New York Hill Restaurant

4.7

(236 reviews)

What a neat place to stop and eat! Home cooking. Best chicken fried steak around…read more Abby was a wonderful helper today. She found out we were newbies and was just so helpful. Mom tried the chicken fried steak and gives it two thumbs up. I tried the veggie platter and I loved the okra and the pinto beans. Make sure you try some apple cobbler if it's available The restaurant is very clean and somebody loves to keep Plants alive! The restrooms were very clean.

New York Hill restaurant is a great place to stop on your journey. The food is good and the history…read moreis fascinating. The wait staff here are nice and helpful. The food is fresh and nicely prepared. Everything we have had here has been good.

Gulf Burgers

4.1

(8 reviews)

One word...Outstanding! If you are driving I20 near Ranger, make the stop. It hasn't been open…read morelong but has a great vibe (see pics). The burger is fresh and tasty, locally sourced beef. The bun is slightly sweet. The brisket as a topper gives a great smoky flavor. Don't let this gem slip through your fingers. Stop and have a burger! (Live music outside on the day we visited too.).

Interesting place with very limited menu. Fun vibe. Live music available though we didn't stick…read morearound for the start. Mostly just burgers which are big and juicy. But they put mayo in their burgers and can't do grilled onions. So had to have both held. They did have mustard bottles to add your own but just odd that they couldn't sub it in the kitchen. Pricing was very reasonable. Service was friendly. Mostly outdoor seating and even indoor seating is open air do you have to deal with lots of flies which is super annoying. But could see this place being a huge local hangout in the future with games available and even a pool for the associated RV campground and motel.

Shooters Cafe

3.9

(15 reviews)

Great spot! Went for breakfast/brunch had the croissant with egg and sausage with a side of bacon…read moreand a pancake. The pancake is the best I've had from any place! My hubby had the breakfast plate It was great. My mother in law had a burger she said It was amazing and my aunt the waffles and biscuits with the gravy she said It was the best she's had. Great service as well and loved that they run the heater so we weren't cold . Lots of seating as well pretty big inside. Definitely will be coming back many more times!

The food was bussin no cap and canyon tore it up fr on skib honestly I highly recommend this place…read moreif you want a good meal for lunch

Chaparral Grill

3.3

(37 reviews)

Nice place to go. Convenient…read more Food is good Reasonable price. Will continue to go many times per yr

We have a house in the Cliffs, so we really hoped that food would be excellent even if prices are…read moreelevated. Tried the restaurant last weekend. Service was slow due to the large parties. Food was terrible. We were so disappointed. Chicken fried was cold, mash potatoes cold, pretzel with cheese looked like cheese has been sitting too long. New server was not trained. Unfortunately, most cooked items were poorly prepared. Maybe I need to go back to the over priced club sandwich. I certainly hope with the new dinning room that they give the residents a reason to frequent the restuarant before it closes itself.

Mesquite Pit

3.7

(175 reviews)

Fast friendly service! Food is always fresh. The banana pudding and margaritas are the best around.read more

This place was alright, especially for the area. Definitely a locals watering hole. The bar was…read morebusy and servers were bustling. We opted for a couple of house drinks and some takeout. The drinks were a little sweet for our liking, but they tasted of good quality and most of the mixers were house made for what we ordered. The food was mid but good for the area. The smoked ribs were quite tender but lacked any bark. The smoke was there but a side thought at best. These were cooked and had smoke around, but not cooked by the smoke. Better than Dickey's. The sides were fine. My wife ordered the grilled chicken and enjoyed it. Pretty solid. We might be back if we are in the area but wouldn't travel for it by any means. I bet the desserts are really good.

Zim's Cafe

4.9

(7 reviews)

Here's the latest from Gary at Zims. Sad sad day in Strawn…read more PseudoPandemic 1 / Small Biz Owner ZERO. See the text screen shot below.

First, you need to know this is a CA$H establishment. I was In the area returning my grand Littles…read moreto their father that morning. A friend came with me for the drive and we wanted to find a brunch place in the Thurber area. Yelp led us to Zims Café. The atmosphere is a mix of appreciating the past with a touch of Austin artisan. The pottery is handmade by the proprietor. The coffee cups fit your hand perfectly! So perfect, I purchased one to take home. The food itself is really good and fairly priced. Everything was done to my preferences. (Over medium -right on the money!) The hollandaise sauce was exactly to my taste with the lemon evident but not overpowering. I would have purchased a pint of that to take with me too but didn't think to ask at the moment! The owners are personable and the business was steady. I would go out of my way to come here again.

Mary's Cafe

3.5

(522 reviews)

Great chicken fried steak at Mary' Café. We watch the show The Daytripper with Chet Garner on TV…read more He did a segment on Mary's Cafe. So, we drove about 2 hours west of Fort Worth. The place is just an old diner in the town of Strawn. We showed up at 1130. They had nice crowd no wait. Sit down and order. We got a small and a medium chicken fried steak. For the sides fries and mash potatoes with a small salad each. The small steak is prefect size for me. But if you are hungry go for medium or the large. The chicken fried steak is made a little different than most. Not the usual type of breading. We really enjoyed the meal all was very good. The steak was tender and great flavor. Fries cook perfect and great for dipping into my gravy. Mary came around and took the order and she also went to each table and made sure you like the food. Very good service from all the staff. We will be back and you should give them a try.

Came here based on the Daytripper review saying this was the #1 CFS place in Texas. I hate to give…read morea hometown, non-chain restaurant a bad review, but also want to be honest. I'm really surprised at how many four and five stars there are. Almost nothing we got had flavor: Queso - literally just cheese with nothing added - no salsa, no jalapeños, no onion - nothing. If you put queso on the menu, I think people expect it to have more than literally melted cheese. Chicken Fried Steak - loved that the breaded parts stuck to the meat and was excited to eat, but again, literally no flavor. We didn't finish it and we didn't take the leftovers. Mashed potatoes - No flavor AGAIN. We were so surprised and disappointed. You can see everyone there busting their tails though. Those women deserve every penny of every tip left for them.

Maverick Travel Center

4.2

(69 reviews)