Spicewood Restaurant

Reata is a cute spot -- it's in a charming old house and has a cozy, historic feel. I ate in the…read morebar area and loved the log cabin vibe inside. I ordered the chicken tortilla soup and the smoked quail. The soup was served with the garnishes in the bowl and the broth poured from a kettle at the table, which was a fun presentation. The quail was also well plated and tasty. Overall, I enjoyed both the food and the presentation. If you're in Alpine or passing through (like I was on the way back from Big Bend NP), this is a great place to stop and grab a meal.

I have been visiting Alpine with a group of friends and decided to try some local food, so made a…read morereservation at this place. The ambiance was old-fashioned (very cute), and our server has been super nice and friendly. The food, on the contrary, was a complete disappointment - spicy margaritas were just ok (not good and not bad); cilantro japalapeno soup had a good flavor but no cilantro or jalapeno was found in it, and it was not spicy at all. Carne asada was dry, overcooked and not fresh, and so was rosemary chicken dish - chicken was pan fried and a bit greasy, but at least fresh. Mashed potatoes were a couple days old and hard as a brick. Steak was overcooked, and we have returned it. The only reason I would give Reata three star is our awesome waitress - she has been the highlight of the experience.

Bar Area

Tortilla Soup

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Outside

Century Bar and Grill

3.6(168 reviews)

1.9 mi

I believe the Century has been closed for quite a while. Last time we went, the service was…read moreexceedingly slow and the food was nothing special.

In short, Fantastic place given you are in a small town in…read morethe vast Texas desert. With a few more details, Food was good, place had a nice vibe inside the hotel and clean and service was very nice and friendly. It would prob be 4 stars if it was in Austin but I'll cut em slack and give them 5. Kudos to them giving good quality tasty food in such a remote location.

Dining area near kitchen

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Cool art everywhere

Magoo's Place

4.1(174 reviews)

2.5 mi

Homestyle diner. Lots of food options and all of it is good! It's crowded at lunch which means it's…read moreloud but it's worth it. The waitresses work their butts off to make sure service doesn't suffer when it's completely packed.

The best part about Magoo's is how easy it was to get there by car only to realize I could have…read morewalked instead. It was a mid morning with plenty of parking spaces and was quickly seated inside. Magoo's is a straight-up Tex-Mex diner with great options to choose and a friendly atmosphere inside. The waitress offered an "off-menu" option after an inquiry about a carne asada burrito. I took it and what arrived was carne asada in a red sauce, scrambled eggs, refried beans with two tortillas. Definitely a crowd pleaser with Magoo's food, and what I wanted was there all along but I had to ask for it. Perfecto!

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I loved this place. A true and valued small town cafe

12 Gage Restaurant

4.0(137 reviews)

28.4 mi

•$$$

The food, service and ambience was all 5 star! Keisha was our waitress and she has a beautiful…read moresmile and provides great care and service. Menu is simple, but everything looked great! We shared the Caesar Salad (it was plentiful) and shared a Rib Eye- it was wonderful!

Wow. Such a disappointment. Here from San Antonio...treating my wife to some glamping in Big Bend…read morefor her birthday, but staying at the Gage first. So, of course I wanted to treat her to a nice dinner. Reservation 6:45p. Seated almost immediately. Service fell off a cliff after that. We ordered the filet for two - $128 - 16 oz of filet - you share a Caesar salad - you share mashed potatoes and asparagus. Salad came out relatively quickly, and was huge. It could easily feed four. However, it was 7:40 before the meal arrived. At one point, one of the waitresses asked if she could bring us a dessert menu or our check. That's how long we sat there. We had to tell her we hadn't eaten yet. When the food did finally arrive, the steak was cooked unevenly and served almost cold, as was the portobello mushroom...which was dry and overcooked. Additionally, I'm not sure there were 16oz of meat on that tray. Totally irritating and not worth the money. No where near worth the money. The only reason they get two stars: the salad was actually pretty decent, as was the bread service.

Light fixtures

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Tri La Bite

4.7(54 reviews)

2.3 mi

Friendly folks and great take out food! Love me some west…read moreTexas hospitality Sign your name and be a part of the party.

# Hidden Gem in the Mountains: Tri La Bite Food Truck…read more **Location:** Alpine, Texas (Deep in the Mountains) **Rating:** (5/5 Stars) Sometimes the best culinary discoveries happen when you least expect them. Tucked away in the rugged mountains surrounding Alpine, Texas, sits a little food truck that's redefining what roadside dining can be. Tri La Bite isn't just serving food - they're creating an experience that'll have you planning your next mountain road trip around another visit. ## The Atmosphere There's something magical about finding a cozy food truck nestled among the dramatic landscapes of West Texas. The mountain backdrop creates an almost cinematic setting that makes every bite taste better. It's the kind of place that reminds you why food trucks exist - to bring exceptional eats to unexpected places where brick-and-mortar restaurants fear to tread. ## The Service The heart of Tri La Bite is undoubtedly the incredible woman taking orders. Her warmth and genuine hospitality transform what could be a simple transaction into a memorable interaction. In a world where customer service often feels scripted, her authentic kindness stands out like a beacon. She's the type of person who makes you feel like a welcomed guest rather than just another customer. ## The Food **BBQ Chicken Sandwich** - This isn't your average gas station sandwich. The chicken was perfectly cooked with that ideal balance of tender meat and slightly crispy edges that only comes from true pit mastery. The BBQ sauce had just the right amount of tang and sweetness, complementing rather than overwhelming the smoky chicken. Served on a bun that actually held up to the generous portions - a small miracle in the food truck world. **Bacon Grilled Chicken Sandwich** - My girlfriend's choice proved equally impressive. The combination of crispy bacon and perfectly grilled chicken created a harmony of textures and flavors that had her savoring every bite. The bacon wasn't an afterthought but a carefully integrated component that elevated the entire sandwich. **Fried Pickles** - These weren't just good - they were bomb, as we say back in California. Crispy exterior giving way to tangy, juicy pickles inside, with a breading that didn't fall off with the first bite. They're the kind of side that makes you question why every food truck doesn't make them this well. ## The Value In an era of $15 food truck sandwiches that leave you hungry, Tri La Bite's pricing feels like a throwback to when food trucks were about accessibility as much as quality. You're getting restaurant-quality food at prices that won't break the bank - a increasingly rare combination. ## Final Thoughts Tri La Bite represents everything that's right about food truck culture. Exceptional food, genuine hospitality, fair prices, and a location that turns a meal into an adventure. Whether you're a local or just passing through the mountains of West Texas, this little truck deserves a spot on your must-visit list. From two travelers who've eaten their way across California and beyond, Tri La Bite earns our highest recommendation. Sometimes the best meals happen in the most unexpected places, and this mountain gem proves that point beautifully. **Pro Tip:** Bring cash and your appetite - and maybe plan to stay a while to soak in those mountain views while you eat. *Love from California*

Fun decor

Fried catfish

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Exterior of food truck and sitting area

Circle Bar & Saddleback Steakhouse

3.5(41 reviews)

44.5 mi

Within walking distance of the Saddleback Mountain RV Park. I believe they might be owned by the…read moresame people. Low-key shot and beer place. Couple of pool tables. My wife and I chose to sit at the bar vice go into the steakhouse. Apparently the bar area is where people actually eat and drink. We ordered their cheese quesadilla and the fried fish believe the order took almost an hour to come out. The owner said her kitchen is slow, deliberately so as everything is made fresh. Prices were reasonable. Glad we were only there for one night.

Within walking distance of the campground located behind it. Was the easy button for dinner the…read morenight we pulled in. Local dive bar serving dinner nightly. We had new york strip steaks, with baked potatoes, I added mushrooms and shrimp and hubby had the pinto beans. Shrimp was amazing, bean delicious, good loaded baked potatoes, but the steaks were over cooked. Good flavor all around, but next time I'd opt for something else off the menu.

Inside

Fried fish

Circle Bar & Saddleback Steakhouse - Literal traitor to democracy. They're flying a flat that says Rigged 2020... and why the huge picture of Biden? Gross.

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Literal traitor to democracy. They're flying a flat that says Rigged 2020... and why the huge picture of Biden? Gross.

La Casita

3.7(145 reviews)

2.6 mi

First -- and I rarely comment on other reviews -- there is nothing "weird" about the food here…read more Further, yes... This is a cash-only business. That's a rarity these days, and I'm sure the IRS and local school district are getting all that's due to them. (Not really.) I'm an out-of-towner, and I stopped here for lunch before heading back south. The food and service were good. Not great. Indeed everyone was friendly, and there was enough gooey cheese to float a battleship. The "frozen" beer mug was actually a plastic mug, which is horse hockey. If I'd known better, I would've saved the dishwasher some trouble and just sipped from the bottle. Back to the food... The cheese enchiladas here are divine. They're gooey, and the red sauce is wonderful. The hard corn tacos are fine ... nothing special. Same thing with the rice and beans. -- Mexican rice in these parts has been wet at every restaurant. I'm used to dry Mexican rice. (And I was taught by a Mexican abuela how to make proper Mexican rice.) But I digress. Chips here are marginal. Hopefully, they come in on a truck, because they hardly taste like they are fried in the kitchen. The salsa, while served cold (which is proper) is a little too chunky for my taste, although it has a nice bite to it. The locals eat here. Good for them, because this place is decent. But also bad for them, because restaurants like this one should breed some decent competition ... even in a tiny town such as Alpine. Also, bad for them because this place only accepts cash, which most people don't carry these days. (Yes, we had cash, but the six ladies at the adjacent table didn't.)

Very disappointing. My wife says we have eaten there before, but I dont remember. Service was OK…read more Wife had green chile chicken enchilada which was not very flavorful. The chicken had no flavor at all and the dish was very soupy. The server said "that's the way they serve it". That's fine, but wife couldnt eat it. The plate was barely eaten and the server offered no recourse. It was wasted. Then the cashier came over, whom I believe to be ownership, and told us we could come to the counter to check out. We showed her the uneaten plate and she just looked at us and said she would charge only 50%. Since it was barely touched, I feel it should have been totally removed from the bill, but what is $7.00 among friends. She really acted as she didnt care. Chips were store bought and cold. Salsa was very good, but was cold as if it had come straight from the refrigerator. I had a bowl of beans and they were "weird". We paid and left. Needless to say, we will not be back. I suppose it's the manner in which the whole situation was handled and the demeanor of the staff.

Inside

Blueberry Earl Grey Scone and Churro Cruffin

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Dining Room

Penny's Diner

2.6(201 reviews)

3.5 mi

Cowboy Chilli Burger was excellent. I always st[ at Penny's when in Alpine. Service was also…read moregreat. Love the ambiance.

If you're looking for a diner to stop at on the way to or from Big Bend, this is perfect. Don't go…read moreinto it expecting any sort of healthy food options, it is classic, greasy in a good way diner food. Had the breakfast sandwich, the hash, and the Texas shaped waffle - all good! Our waitress was kind and attentive and our food came pretty quickly.

Decorations

Chocolate malted milk shake

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Cochineal

3.6(126 reviews)

19.8 mi

This is the best restaurant in Marfa. I had a great meal here with friends while attending Flying…read moreIslands Music Fest. Great food, great service and friendly staff. We ran into some people who we'd chatted with at baggage claim in El Paso who were also there. The next day we popped into a shop and the shop keeper said, "Where you all having dinner at Cochineal last night. You were sat by the door weren't you?" That's the charm of Marfa.

My husband and I celebrated our first wedding anniversary at Cochineal and had such a wonderful…read moreexperience. The staff greeted us with a special toast upon arrival, which made the evening feel extra special. The food was excellent and the service was warm, friendly, and attentive throughout the night. We are so grateful for such a memorable dinner in Marfa and cannot wait to return.

Immaculate bathroom!

Cupcake

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Entrance at night

Bar Saint George

3.9(132 reviews)

19.7 mi

We enjoy unwinding here with a cocktail when we come to Marfa; even if we're not staying at the…read morehotel. Relaxing environment in a cozy lobby nook makes for a great people watching experience.

Was in town in Marfa, TX for a music festival with a friend. Time for breakfast, reviews look…read moregreat! So many people, one person helping everyone for a little while until more help came. He was on it, his service was excellent. Ordered breakfast tacos with a red chili something on the side. Had NM chili with something else. Let me tell you that chili was outstanding! A definite must for breakfast! Full bar! Great staff.