Was an okay restaurant.... WAS ! Restaurant has been closed 3 years + Yelp wants me to add more words to be able to post . How many words does it take to say CLOSED ? Gone out of business.... No Mas ! Finished Kaput as in BYE BYE read more

Very impressive 'honest' food in such a small town! Vegetarian options much appreciated as usually very different to find around here... read more

Railway Cafe - Soups - Caterers Near Me - Athens, Texas

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First time here! Greeted quickly and warmly by Daniel. Very popular spot and highly recommend! Very dark inside and could not read menu to place our "to go" order. Stepped outside and menu is unique and presented in an office folder! Neat idea! We got two cobbler salads and a chicken Caesar salad. They also carry Topo Chico! Great first time dining experience but they forgot to put bacon on our Cobb salads! Thank you Great job !! Just wish it was not so dimly lit inside! read more

Railway Cafe - Caterers Near Me - Athens, Texas

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! read more

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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! read more

Railway Cafe - Tomato basil soup with grilled cheese - Caterers Near Me - Athens, Texas

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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 read more

Railway Cafe - Salad greatness, they don't get better than this - Caterers Near Me - Athens, Texas

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

Finally able to get in and grab lunch and it was awesome! Had the Buffalo chicken sandwich very good! Great clean atmosphere friendly staff. Nice place to relax read more

Best restaurant in Athens, Tx. Wish they were open for more than just lunch M-F. Their open face fish sandwich with sweet potato frys is excellent...though...I have yet to try something that was not outstanding. read more

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

Hamburgers undercooked. Mine was raw in the middle. Best sweet potato fries I've had in a while. Paper biodegradable straws. Trying too hard to be bougie. Had to ask for dessert. Not worth the $$$ read more

If you are in or around Athens, definitely eat here. We had the pimento cheese and bacon burger and mixed greens salad and they were delicious. read more

Trying to find a place to eat launch in Athens, and the guy I was with suggested Cotton patch. I looked at him like he was goofy, (he kind of is) and I said,No, let me see what Yelp has to say. As I was scrolling through and saw a five star restaurant with 140 reviews, I knew I had to try this place. For the rating to be that high, with that many reviews, something was up. We were not disappointed! The food is very fresh, and not your every day same ok', same ol'. And was it ever tasty. This place is VERY deserving of their rating. Try it, you won't be disappointed! read more

I happened upon this place while traveling through Texas and it was so good that I made sure to stop by again on my return trip. Not only did I have the best sandwich I've had in ages, it was an extra special treat to find celiac-friendly options on the road. I also want to say an extra thank you to the staff. The reason I came to Texas was for handler training for my new service dog. Not only was it one of our first outings together, it was her first time in a restaurant! We were both nervous, but the staff was really kind and and accommodating. They also asked about our needs in a discreet way. You get a lot of attention with a service dog, and that can be uncomfortable. They took care of us without doing so in a way that put all eyes on us, as I've experienced elsewhere. I couldn't have asked for a better reception on top of a great meal. read more

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 . read more

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Stopped here for lunch while driving through for work. It was a very pleasant experience and I definitely recommend this place. The ambiance was very low key and the staff was friendly and attentive. They have a nice menu selection with soups, salads, sandwiches, and entrees, along with daily specials. I ordered the prosciutto sandwich and upgraded from chips to fries for $1. The sandwich was quite large and came out on toasted bread. I had water with the meal and the staff never let my water glass get empty. Overall, the sandwich and fries cost just over $8, very reasonably priced for the amount of food. If you find yourself in Athens, then I recommend stopping for lunch at this location. read more

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! read more

Railway Cafe - Cod served open face with sourdough bread and remoulade. Side order of homemade tomato soup and grilled cheese stick. Delicious - Caterers Near Me - Athens, Texas

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! read more

Railway Cafe - Caterers Near Me - Athens, Texas

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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.

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! read more

Railway Cafe - Caterers Near Me - Athens, Texas

Many other (chain) restaurants have offered sweet potato fries as part of the menu, but this was the first place where I tried them. Man, was I hooked! Also, they have a delicious original(?) dipping sauce for the sweet potato fries, which is the perfect combo. Other restaurants that have sweet potato fries usually just have ketchup, causing them to pale in comparison to this restaurant's sauce. I used to just come here once or twice a year while visiting family, until I moved to Athens, & I can now come anytime! Love that the menu has not just one, but several vegetarian-friendly options! I usually like the pimento cheese sandwiches, the portobello mushroom sandwich, & the avocado & veggie sandwich. I think I've also tried some soups & desserts here, but my long-time favorites are the sweet potato fries & dipping sauce, & the sandwiches! read more

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My first visit today. Im trying to eat better so I thought I'd try the fish and veggies. Wow, the seasoning and flavor of the yellow-fin Tuna was A-mazing. I'm not even a fish person, but now I am! Love this place. Ps: this quality of food is very inexpensive. Put this restaurant in Dallas and you'd double the price! read more

Quality of food and service, friendliness of chef / owner and entire staff. Everything I've eaten there has been deliciously prepared. Definitely the best restaurant in Athens!! read more

Class, health-conscientious, excellence. These words come to mind when I think of Railway Cafe. When consuming one of their dishes, one is reminded and reintroduced to a few imperatives of life that, although they are becoming a rarity, are crucial to the human spirit and what makes life worthwhile: creation, art, passion, and simultaneously you experience the product of those combined, immeasurable in their value. In short, I had my first good sandwich. I chose the avocado sprout sandwich. The bread was lightly toasted and buttered to a such a perfect degree it would bring tears to any bread connoisseur's eyes. As a sprout lover, I was immediately elated at the generous heap of sprouts they somehow managed to fit on the sandwich. The sauce pulled it all together to bring an amazing result of unequivocal pleasure on my taste buds. I was equally impressed with the anomaly of professionalism and courtesy exhibited by the staff, and paired with their knowledge of the culinary arts, Athens is truly lucky to have this restaurant in its midst. read more

Railway Cafe - Caterers Near Me - Athens, Texas

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This is great place! I was at first reluctant to dine here due to the fact that I have very strict dietary needs. One of the servers came to my table to explain the menu to me in detail and to my surprise they had awesome gluten free options. Their meat is also free of sodium nitrate. The fact that they were able to list their ingredients and provide solid recommendations really helped me. The food was great, there is nothing negative I can find to say about the menu options or the taste. In addition, the ambiance was calming, done simple, yet elegantly. If you are in town, I strongly recommend you give this place a try. I loved it! Update: I can't say enough about this place. The atmosphere is elegant and the service is superb. I go on average 1 every two months and the servers still remember me every time. You do not get service like this everywhere. Food is reasonably priced and everyone is friendly. Love it! read more

Railway Cafe - Gluten-free grilled chicken sandwich with sweet potato fries and dairy free mayonnaise. - Caterers Near Me - Athens, Texas

It lived up to the amazing food reviews -- and then some! The food is amazing. The chef does a fabulous job with excellent ingredients. I met his daughter and a former employee. It was fun to hear them talk about how he creates new dishes. It's always a good sign when a former employee is coming back to dine! I enjoyed one of the daily specials: pork sandwich with slaw, bacon & cheese on a toasted bun. Upgraded to the sweet potato fries with a specialty mayo dip -- well worth it! Plenty of food, that I took half home. The former employee convinced me I couldn't leave without dessert, as they were all good. I tried the doughnut bread pudding....yes, you read that right! Apparently one day the chef decided to try bread pudding with doughnuts and it turned out amazing so he adds it regularly. It came with homemade whipped cream, berries, and a mint leaf. Beautiful and oh-so-good! I couldn't finish, but can't wait to have the leftovers at home! Wait staff was so friendly. You can bring your own wine. They even brought a tea light candle over to a couple celebrating Valentine's Day! Other reviewers mentioned it being too dark or tables being too close together. Yes, I noticed that too. But, the food, ya'll! Once it arrives, you won't even notice those trivial things! (And, if you are waiting for a table, you'll be thankful they squeezed in a few extra!) Now, if only I lived in Athens. Guess I'll need to make the trek from Dallas more often! read more

Wow!! My daughter and I stopped here for lunch on our way through town and it was fantastic! We arrived 45 minutes before the cafe was due to close yet they graciously took our name down and we were sat in about 30 minutes. The staff was super friendly and terrific. But the food! So so delicious!!! If you are in Athens for lunch you must eat here!!! read more

Gluten-free friends...EAT HERE. So good & gluten-free options that are killer, I had the turkey BLT with gluten free bread, dessert was amazing = a divine flourless brownie (add the Mexican vanilla ice cream). So great to find such a gem on a whim & didn't have to sacrifice my gluten-free ways read more

Thank you Yelp for sending us to Burger Heaven. As many of the other foodie reviewers have indicated, this is clearly a top-3 burger in the entire world! Seriously, no holds barred. The pimiento bacon burger is out of this world, unbelievable flavor to the patty, smoked Gouda-sharp cheddar pimiento is absolutely the best that I've had in a long time! Add the freshest toppings and smiling service and you have a real competitor for JD Power Best in Class awards! Move over, Chevy! read more

You guys, this place is just phenomenal. We have lunch here at least twice a week and it never gets old. The staff is always so friendly and accommodating, I wish they were open 24/7! I can wholeheartedly say I recommend everything on the menu, this is a staple in the Athens community!!! P.S. Darrell in the back makes the best cookies :) read more

The owners are very friendly and the husband is the creator of their many menu items. Food is great and much better than a normal restaurant in one of the giant food chains. The restaurant is small inside but they offer pickup service if you want to take it to go. Prices are not bad for the food portions. Highly recommend the place! read more

We had lunch and were seated at the last available table. The tables are kind of close together so if you don't mind listening in on other peoples conversations, you will be fine. We enjoyed our meal and would go back. I like that presentation is important to the chef and you can tell that care was given in the plating of your food. I appreciate that! read more

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

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

Fantastic wait staff and delicious. We had their sea bass and cobb salad. Can't wait to eat their again. I highly recommend the place. read more

Whenever I'm in Athens I always stop by here at least once. It's probably the best restaurant in town. The food taste fresh and delicious. My favorite is the Quesadillas! Only open for lunch hours on weekdays and it still gets packed! read more

Best cuisine in Athens hands down! Husband wife team - chef runs the kitchen and his wife runs the front of the house. If you get there from 11;30 to 1;00 there is a wait. read more

Wow, great find on recent trip thru Athens! Food, ambiance, service, and value all 5 stars. Really nice rustic and quaint old building just off the scenic Square; food outstanding (had the lunch special pimiento bacon burger, but every plate coming out of kitchen looked delicious); friendly and attentive waiter service; and very reasonable final bill. Really appreciate their focus on and commitment to fresh, local ingredients. Very nice proprietor even came out and chatted for good while with my table. Her pride and passion for her restaurant, for her food, and for the town were immediately obvious. Really could not have been more impressed with this small town gem, and will certainly return when I pass thru area again. My highest of recommendations!! read more

Totally restored a vacant building into a very luncheon restaurant, but it is the unique menu great, friendly service,and outstanding choices to choose from. The menu is varied and there are daily specials that are freshly made and extremely tasteful. It is definitely worth a few minutes wait!! read more

Very cool lunch restaurant. We were traveling through Athens, and did not expect such a trendy and tasty place to eat. The burger was great, the service friendly and fast. Highly recommended. Obviously a popular place for locals. read more