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    Railway Cafe

    4.8 (171 reviews)
    Closed 11:00 am - 2:00 pm

    Services - Railway Cafe

    Catering

    Railway Cafe Photos

    Recommended Reviews - Railway Cafe

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    1/2 chicken salad sandwich and tomato soup- which also came with a grilled cheese! So much food! They must have run out of pickle spears
    Courtney C.

    Hit up the railway cafe today and am so glad I did! I'm usually never here when this place is open because it's only weekday lunches and we live out of town. I'm glad I thought about it today. Took the kids- it's very kid friendly- loud enough so you aren't paranoid about your kids and their kids menu has lots of options. Love this local gem and so glad it's always busy when we go! The environment is cute. The portions were large- I thought the grilled cheese with the tomato soup was supposed to be mini but boy were they huge! The kids ended up just eating the grilled cheese and we took the Mac n cheese home. Boy those Crustinis are deliciousness-- I'm sure they aren't short in Calories haha but they are tasty! Came on top of the Mac n cheese and with the hummus and also the pimento cheese. The prices here are really great/ honestly they should increase them with all of the inflation. It's a great lunch spot! Definitely check it out! We will be back!

    Tomato basil soup with grilled cheese
    Jerry W.

    On a day trip to Athens, I figured it was all too appropriate to find a place that had a good burger. After all, Athens is one the places attributed for the origin of the hamburger. Also, we had seen a PBS show that stopped in there, so we figured to give it a try. We walked in at 11:55 and found two tables empty. The one in the corner had been reserved, and the one by the door was the one we were eventually seated at. We were required to wait a few minutes, so the server could "catch up". Otherwise, the place was full. Even after our meal, after we had run to one of the shops and come back by, there was a long waiting line outside. Decor: Completely wrong for a lunch only venue. The lighting was dim, and the seating was intimate, and did not match what is primarily a sandwich / lunch spot. Additionally, every time someone entered or left, the light streaming in from outside was pretty intense. The lighting and decor would be much better suited to a dinner establishment. Service: Outstanding. Our server was Nellie and she did a great job of taking care of us. Other servers joined in as well, and it seemed to be a well oiled team effort. Food: My burger was excellent, and was presented with what appeared to be house made mayo. The skinny fries were a little too thin, and so didn't hold the heat very long at all. The flavors were quite good though. My wife and mom both had the tomato basil soup with grilled cheese mini sandwich on the side. The soup was scratch made with a powerful hit of basil. Both ladies felt that the sandwiches, though tasty, were a bit too hard to eat. Even with dipping them into the soup, the bread was hard and crunchy. Again, the flavors were right on point. FYI: The corner table did get seated by a crew of "professional" type gentlemen. We joked that it was probably the Mayor and his cronies. All in all, the Railway was an excellent choice for our lunch. I only wish we could have saved room for dessert!

    Salad greatness, they don't get better than this
    Teresa L.

    Update... recent late March visit to try the alleged, best burger ever, topped with pimento cheese. I also had a great little salad, cranberries, apples & pecans w mega fresh crisp lettuce. One of the best salads ever... As for the burger, I can't say it was absolutely the best burger I've ever had but definitely rivals it. Outstanding, fresh EVERYTHING.. what more can I say. This is a spot you shouldn't miss in any city USA. And if you live around Athens, it's one of the few places that truly has food worthy of the use of the words fresh or homemade. My only suggestion to improve, open for dinner, at least a couple nights or weekends !! The

    The BEST Ham, Crispy Bacon, Homemade Pimento & Cheese Sammy on soft sourdough hoagie bun I've EVER eaten!  w/Potato Leek Soup w/ Bacon.
    Spicy M.

    Coming home from East Texas (from Palestine), we were finally able to stop in and try Railway Cafe! Hubby & I had been lookin' forward to trying this place for quite a while. Railway uses all fresh local farm ingredients for all of their dishes. We arrived at 12:00pm & the lunch crowd had started forming. We were immediately greeted by a friendly waiter, & were seated right away. First, I really like the rustic/urban decor of Railway and, the comfortable cozy atmosphere. We're off to a great start! We were soon greeted by our friendly waitress and she took our drink orders and told us the daily specials. We both chose the Baked Ham, Bacon, Homemade Pimento & Cheese Hoagie w/ fresh tomato soup and hubby ordered bacon and potato soup. I have to say, that has to be one of the BEST Sandwiches I've ever eaten! My Tomato Soup was fresh and perfectly delicious! Hubby really enjoyed his Potato Leek Soup with thinly Crisped Bacon & Homemade Croutons, as well. Last, but Not Least, we shared the desert of the day, Homemade Pound Cake topped with Whipped Cream, Raspberries and Hazel Nuts.......it was simply the BEST! Great ending! It was the perfect lunch, all the way around! I can't wait 'till our next visit to Railway Cafe'.....I'm droolin' just thinkin' about it! If you're ever in Athens, it's certainly worth a stop! They're only OPEN M-Friday, 11:am - 2:PM .

    Cod served open face with sourdough bread and remoulade. Side order of homemade tomato soup and grilled cheese stick. Delicious
    Terry J.

    A trendy lil cafe in Athens, Texas. I had the open face cod served on top of sourdough bread, a cup of homemade tomato soup with a grilled cheese stick. Super delicious and well prepared and perfectly served! Service was impeccable!

    Nancy B.

    We are staying on nearby Cedar Creek Reservoir and wanted to get a good hamburger nearby. Yelp guided us to the Railway Cafe in Athens, TX. A hip spot, it would be at home in Austin or San Francisco - and as it turns out, the chef/owner Justin spent time in both before returning to Athens to open the Railway Cafe. We had the cheese burger with regular fries, the pimento bacon cheeseburger with sweet potato fries and the BLT with fruit. Dessert was Mexican ice cream with homemade puff pastry. All were delicious. The cafe uses local, fresh farm ingredients and it shows on the plate. We would make a detour to eat here again. Pro tip: the Railway Cafe does not sell wine or beer but is OK with BYOB. The chef's sister runs Come And Take It located across from the cafe so be sure to stop there first and pick up an adult beverage for your meal!

    Vanessa P.

    Very forward thinking and deliciously Texan at the same time. I'm sooooo happy to have found this gem. I'll be a regular lickyity split. I just returned to Texas after 12 years in Los Angeles and this is a breath of fresh, healthy, yummy air. I selected from daily specials; a tasty black eyed pea and pork soup with a cracklin' garnish and open faced grilled fish sandwich with roasted veggies; tomatoes, potato, cauliflower, spinach, and garlic. I was too full for dessert, but I wanted all of the desserts esp the Mexican Creme Brûlée! Next time!

    Chilled local melon soup also has sprouts, jicama, & onion--stuff I never knew could go together--but wonderful!

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    3 years ago

    Railway is NO LONGER serving lunch - only catering! ONE of the saddest discoveries of my year!

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    8 years ago

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    3 years ago

    Good food and service. Clean and quiet atmosphere. Easy to converse with wait staff and members of a party.

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    4 years ago

    Food was alright. Staff was really friendly Food was a bit overpriced. I would not go back. It just wasn't my type of cafe.

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    4 years ago

    Wish I lived in Athens just for this place. Great staff, really cool vibe, please eat here so I can live vicariously through you

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    8 years ago

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    6 years ago

    Super yummy! Great restaurant staff and very clean! The pimento jalapeño cheese sandwich was great, tomato soup yum!

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    Review Highlights - Railway Cafe

    Also, they have a delicious original(?) dipping sauce for the sweet potato fries, which is the perfect combo.

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    Anding Acres Weddings and Events

    Anding Acres Weddings and Events

    (2 reviews)

    First off, let me say that my mom and I researched hundreds of venues. We wanted something that…read morewould be cost effective and exactly what we were looking for, a rustic-like wedding experience nestled in the country. We found Anding Acres. Lisa Anding was absolutely fantastic. I could not have asked for a better experience at her venue. She, so kindly, decorated the venue with her expansive décor closet. The decorations were elegant and even better than I imagined. She asked me what I was looking for and delivered a beautiful setting. Lisa and Randi were present during my wedding and treated me and my family just like theirs! They were professional and provided exceptional service. The open air chapel is absolutely stunning in pictures. It was a perfect feel for our ceremony. The open air barn was a fantastic setting for our guests. The farmhouse tables, the couples table, where food is served, and the cake table are perfectly placed and perfectly decorated. I LOVED the wooden dance floor framed in twinkly lights. My advice is to go with Lisa's recommendations on whoever she recommended. The DJ and caterer she recommended were both wonderful. If you are looking for a venue that delivers everything you need for a stress free wedding day Anding Acres is your place! Anding Acres will make all of your wedding dreams come true!

    I cannot say enough good things about this venue. If you're looking for a rustic and beautiful…read morespace for your wedding that doesn't break the bank....look no further. This place is GORGEOUS. Lisa (owner) is so friendly and helps in any way she can. They have a full room of decor that you can add to your package for a nominal fee and saves tons on having to buy your own expensive decor. Linens, napkins, tables, chairs and dishes are included which is HUGE. For a bride on a smaller budget like myself, this place was a true blessing. The ceremony site is to die for; it's absolutely breathtaking, especially in the evening with the lights up. There are super cool features such as an outdoor dance floor, fire pit with hay bale seating, Texas light up flag on the fence, and a full indoor kitchen. You can bring your own food/caterer in and your own alcohol. Thank you Lisa for making my wedding a dream come true!!!!

    Railway Cafe - catering - Updated May 2026

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