What a pleasant roadside surprise we experienced at Route 35 Diner…read more On the way to a South Texas Ranch, a group of 7 of us met here to have lunch one Saturday morning. It's very easy to miss while traveling down IH-35 S, because by the time you see the sign "diner", you have passed it by. Although all 7 of us have been right by this place many times over the years, this was a first time experience for the group. In fact, we all failed to realize the diner was even here, as it is also overshadowed by the adjacent service station. The consensus was this was quite the unexpected surprise and each person gave a huge thumbs up for their own meal choice. Personally, I went with the poblano chicken and it was the best I've ever had, which is saying a lot. I believe I ordered this same dish dozens of times in a 60 mile radius and what set it apart was the tasty creamy sauce on top of a very flavorful chicken. The chicken was prepared differently and not the usual stringy stands of breast meat used in other local taquerias. The other dishes from the group were street tacos, shrimp quesadillas, fajitas and even a few with breakfast entrees. We all agreed this place is now on our radar and we are all coming back. A few of the waitstaff did not speak English, which was OK, because a few in our group grew up in Mexico, so the transition was easy. It also gave that authentic feeling that we are in the right place. But please don't let the language gap discourage you because the other helpers spoke English well enough for even the gringos in our group got what they wanted. So owners of this restaurant keep doing what you are doing and if you want to be busting from the seams with business, stick a huge sign in a strategic place and be prepared for more great reviews.

I went with 3 other people ... service was questionable considering we were the only folks in…read morethere.. food was average I ordered a breakfast item and it was ok and SCREAMING hit the others ordered lunch items and all gave a fail

We popped into The Hut this morning for breakfast. It's a cute little diner with counter seating…read moreand tables inside, plus a small patio with some outdoor seating. Service was super friendly and fast. Our server took our drink order, brought out the coffee and water and took our food order. The food was out in under ten minutes. Everything was delicious. The English Muffin was nicely toasted and the eggs were soft and fluffy. The hash rowns were will seasoned and toasted nicely. The pancakes were so tasty and moist. Everything was great, especially the service. I'm looking forward to it next visit!

Watch for the guy to have his fingers on your food when he drops it off on the table. Then expect…read moresmart ass remarks when asking any questions. Food is nothing special service is terrible. Highly recommend.

i LOVE the decor! it's like visiting my grandmother's house,…read moremaybe her mother's mother's house. lots of depression150's era devote. chastity was our waitress. all alone but very capable. Great job with a winning person hubby got the kitchen sink taco and i got 3 item with LOTS of good coffee and i am a bit of a snob when it comes to coffee. I'm Scorpio

Quaint country style restaurant, family run, comfortable place. Patty melt with Texas toast and…read morefries hit the spot. Friendly service and tasty coconut cake.

Driving north on I-35 and luckily found this spot! Had an amazing and delicious dinner with…read morefantastic service! We were too hungry to take any pictures! Sorry about that! Started with the spinach artichoke dip - creamy, cheesy, and lots of artichokes, spinach, and mushrooms! The chips served with it were fresh, crisp, and had the perfect amount of salt! My husband and I shared our two entrees - the chicken fried pork chop and the pork chop marsala. Both were excellent! The pork was tender and juicy with each dish. And the Marsala sauce was one of the best I've tried! We wish we could have tried more items...but it would be well worth the drive to come back for another visit!

Great service and good food! Waitress was helpful with the menu. Settled on the pasta lunch special…read morewith chicken. Full bar available as well.

Amazing! Really, just come here! I'm a chef…read more... waffle-Amazing! chicken-Crispy, light, delicious! garlic sauce- Yum! dirty chai latte- So freaking good! Staff is so helpful with recommendations, ambiance is great. Little nooks where you can have some privacy for chats.

We visited Mama's Café on a Saturday around noon. When we arrived, we were greeted right away and…read moreinformed that they seemed to be short-staffed. We were given the option of waiting about 15 minutes for a table or sitting in the bar area, so we chose one of the high-top tables in the bar. The café itself is very cute and has a charming atmosphere. The bar area has red neon lighting along the ceiling, which gives the room a distinctive glow. After ordering coffee and waters, we decided on the fried mushrooms, the meatloaf plate, and the Breakfast Pile. They never ended up refilling any of our drinks. The fried mushrooms came out first and were piping hot. They were served with both white gravy and ranch. The ranch was pretty tasty, but the mushrooms themselves were fairly bland and quite greasy. To be fair, deep-fried mushrooms aren't exactly a light dish, but I found myself adding salt to everything to bring out more flavor. For my entrée, I ordered the meatloaf with mashed potatoes and green beans. The meatloaf contained carrots, which was an interesting touch. The slices were very thick and firm, and honestly didn't resemble or taste like a traditional meatloaf. I asked for the gravy on the side and ended up dipping each bite into it, but the dish still wasn't my favorite. The green beans were the biggest miss for me. They had a mucky flavor that reminded me of mop water. The Breakfast Pile was decent enough: potatoes, sausage, eggs, and gravy layered together. Unfortunately, it also felt underseasoned and could have benefited from more flavor. The standout item of the entire meal was the biscuit with honey butter. They initially forgot to bring the honey butter, and I'm very glad we asked for it because it completely made the dish. The biscuit was warm, soft, and by far the most enjoyable thing we ate. Overall, Mama's Café has a cute atmosphere and friendly service despite being understaffed when we visited. However, most of the food felt underseasoned and lacked flavor. If you're looking for a cozy spot to sit and chat, it's worth a visit, but based on this meal, I probably would only come back if someone said it was their favorite restaurant and I try what they order

Wonderful food. Great service. Clean & pleasant atmosphere. Friendly staff and other guests.read more

i've been here many times, one of the best spots for dinner in castroville! the service was perfect…read more(attentive but also gave me the time to enjoy my dinner) so thank you dana! personally i really enjoy the spinach & artichoke dip and the raspberry carnitas for appetizers. today i tried the pecan crusted catfish which was incredible, definitely hot and fresh! i got the mash potatoes and green beans .. they both hit the spot! lastly dana recommended the crème brûlée (a new edition) and it was a fabulous end to the meal! i think it was a raspberry compote on top and i loved it, will definitely be back! also i think they recently upgraded to having a liquor license so you can get anything to drink now! and side note, dog friendly on the patio!

Great food and great prices!! Service is excellent and the food portions are more than enough!!read more

kennedy was sweet. food was good and serevers were nice. there was a bit of people but they didnt…read moretake very long to get food out

My husband and I love going to Abel's for a yummy, sit down breakfast. No matter where we sit, the…read moreservice is great and we're always satisfied when finished.

Just off the highway, where engines roar and impatient horns echo through the air, sits a small…read morediner tucked quietly into the corner like a hidden refuge from the rush of the world. The moment you step inside, the noise outside fades into something warmer -- replaced by the hum of conversation, bursts of laughter, and the comforting rhythm of a place full of life. The room buzzes with stories from long days, friends catching up over coffee, and the familiar clatter of plates and silverware. From the kitchen comes the constant symphony of sizzling grills, clanging pans, and ice tumbling into glasses, all blending together into the kind of atmosphere that feels alive rather than loud. It's the sound of comfort. And then there's the smell -- sweet maple syrup drifting through the air, butter melting slowly over stacks of golden flapjacks, fresh coffee brewing somewhere nearby. Every detail makes the diner feel less like a restaurant and more like a memory you didn't realize you missed. It's cozy, genuine, and full of warmth -- the kind of place that makes you want to stay a little longer after the meal is over.