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Our Tuesday brunch at Sunken Gardens: Dude. Delicious is not enough to describe the food and drink. Here's how it works. It's a buffet style of delicacies but they charge by the pound. It was $7.99/lb. Put what you want on your plate. There's so much to choose from. You can have it to stay or there's to-go containers. There's cold and hot options and plenty of entrees. Dessert is limited to cobblers. I highly recommend the sweet and spicy beef, the catfish, and the jalapeño-cheese beefsteak. Same goes for the tuna salad, crab salad, and zucchini salad. The pasta salad I could give or take because it was al dente. Wife had the meatloaf and it was gooood. Same goes for the chicken strips. The sides were all freshly made (macaroni, rice, etc), and we weren't disappointed with any of it. The rolls were also good but not sweet or anything. They were basic, but that was a good thing because I didn't want anything competing with the food flavors. We also got some cobblers (one pecan and one blackberry, but there were others). I prefer crispy cobbler and this one was doughy and dense. Some like it that way though. I will say that the flavor was good and refreshing, despite being dense. Despite having indulged ourselves at the neighboring Friday's the night before (see previous review), we woke up famished. Having no food available at Shinerville Coffeehouse (see review because they were so nice and even pointed us here), we wound up eating at the Garden. It turned out to be a great experience. At $8 a pound plus $2 for drinks and a tip, we paid around $40, but our plates were laden from side to side. We greedily ate all of it. I forgot about the mozzarella spinach. Get that. Drink options were typical sodas and four ice teas, or (free?) fruit-infused water from a cistern. The teas were also in cisterns. There were four options: a red unsweetened eucalyptus tea that I liked, unsweetened, sweetened, and peach. We got the peach. There's only to-go cups and refills are free, so you're welcome to take some for the road. The atmosphere: Inside it was cool and crisp. The noise level was moderately low and they had good music. Blackbird was playing at one point. Being that it was such a nice day, we opted to eat on the covered wrap around porch that overlooked the Spoetzl Brewery. Btw (in terms of distance) with a good driver and the wind at my back, I could hit the brewery with a golf ball from the parking lot of this place. The restrooms were unisex, as you'd expect for a small establishment like this, and very clean. The people: Staff were excellent, accommodating and knowledgeable. The manager took the time to speak to me for a bit in between rushes, but a wave of people came in so I didn't hold her up. Back on the porch, a young male staff member engaged us in some more conversation and we spoke a bit about Texas history. He is very, very proud of our state and our history - both eager to share and learn. On our way out I met a cook named Mike (easy for me to remember). He was tossing a box with a cool dragon graphic and let me keep it. He also let me fill our carrying-sized igloo with ice. Mike is ex-military like me and it was fun swapping "war stories." He started cooking when he was in the military and is a native Shiner (I gotta figure out what they call the denizens of Shiner). The patrons were also very nice and easily exchanged pleasantries and held doors for one another, which is one of the coolest parts about being a Texan - but is especially so in Shiner. Friendly and unintrusive is the best I can describe. We left full and satisfied in many ways. The pictures are of some cool views I saw. One is their electrical boxes outside, which are painted uniquely, despite being outside of clear view. Just another example of the grooviness that's the prevalent, unspoken expectation of the township. It really speaks to the spirit of the town. We also took pictures of our food before we devoured it.
A friend from Weimar and I met for lunch at Sunken Garden. Having never been here, I didn't know what to expect. Several different sources quoted various closing times. Some stated 1:30 p.m., another quoted 5 p.m., while the sign on the door claimed a closing time of 3 p.m. We were in and out for lunch well-before any of those times. The bill is derived by weight: $8.99 per pound for adults, and a different price for kids. Trying to stay on my diet, I stuck with the meats on the buffet line. The food was very good and exceeded my expectations. Everything is self-service, including bussing our own tables. There wasn't any staff or server hovering over our table, which allowed for an uninterrupted time of fellowship. The ambiance is extremely casual as I was in shorts and a pullover collared shirt. This was a good enough experience to want to come back in the future if I'm every in the area again.
We asked a local for a good place to eat. He recommended Sunken Gardens. Sunken Gardens is home cooked food. You choose your plate, then your food and pay for it by weight. The choices range from salads and salad bar items with house made dressings to fried chicken and catfish to chopped beef patties. You can easily go gluten free, low carb, or meat and potatoes with a dinner roll. They have home baked cakes and pies. The german chocolate cake was almost as good as mom's! Mom is always the best cook! You can taste that a box mix was nowhere near when this cake was made!
This is a nice place, a favorite spot of the locals. Comfortable and roomy seating inside and out. This is a self service buffet, but it is NOT all you can eat. You fill your plate and then you pay by weight. I'm personally not a fan of that. The food is very tasty and there was a decent variety of choices. I won't choose to come by myself again but I would go with others.
Looked for a place to eat after our Shiner tour at Spoetzl Brewery, and found the BEST homestyle buffet we've had in a long time- And it's just down the street! You pay by the pound, by weighing your plate at the end of the buffet line. I loved the chicken and dumplings soup, and my husband's favorite was the fried catfish! We had full plates, soups, and a dessert with water cups and it was a little over $30 for both of us- seemed steep until I realized how much food that actually was! Beats a dinner price for the same amount of food, elsewhere! Also- We still had some sample shiner tokens, so this was a great spot right down the road to come back to the brewery for a few more samples!
7 months ago
In the shadow of the city's eponymous brewery (really Spoetzl Brewery but most wouldn't know to which I refer), sits a small diner that offers stick-to-your-ribs comfort food that is sure to quell the hunger of a hardworking brewer on their well earned lunch break. In a style that you don't see as often as their once was, they offer home cooking by the pound. Today there was catfish, chicken tenders, hamburger steak 3 ways, turkey, and lasagna, and probably a few I missed. Their sides collection will take you back to your favorite church pot luck with the breadth of variety. They also had a very fresh salad bar with the best options you can ask for in before you indulge in the fried goodies. I caught them right before close so I was offered a discount take it to go. Al fresco dining was fine by me so I got to enjoy my weighty meal whilst looking at one of my favorite Texas institutions and sat amongst the ruins of the Sunken Garden. read more
3 months ago
1 year ago
9 months ago
3 years ago
1 year ago
3 years ago
Our Tuesday brunch at Sunken Gardens: Dude. Delicious is not enough to describe the food and drink. Here's how it works. It's a buffet style of delicacies but they charge by the pound. It was $7.99/lb. Put what you want on your plate. There's so much to choose from. You can have it to stay or there's to-go containers. There's cold and hot options and plenty of entrees. Dessert is limited to cobblers. I highly recommend the sweet and spicy beef, the catfish, and the jalapeño-cheese beefsteak. Same goes for the tuna salad, crab salad, and zucchini salad. The pasta salad I could give or take because it was al dente. Wife had the meatloaf and it was gooood. Same goes for the chicken strips. The sides were all freshly made (macaroni, rice, etc), and we weren't disappointed with any of it. The rolls were also good but not sweet or anything. They were basic, but that was a good thing because I didn't want anything competing with the food flavors. We also got some cobblers (one pecan and one blackberry, but there were others). I prefer crispy cobbler and this one was doughy and dense. Some like it that way though. I will say that the flavor was good and refreshing, despite being dense. Despite having indulged ourselves at the neighboring Friday's the night before (see previous review), we woke up famished. Having no food available at Shinerville Coffeehouse (see review because they were so nice and even pointed us here), we wound up eating at the Garden. It turned out to be a great experience. At $8 a pound plus $2 for drinks and a tip, we paid around $40, but our plates were laden from side to side. We greedily ate all of it. I forgot about the mozzarella spinach. Get that. Drink options were typical sodas and four ice teas, or (free?) fruit-infused water from a cistern. The teas were also in cisterns. There were four options: a red unsweetened eucalyptus tea that I liked, unsweetened, sweetened, and peach. We got the peach. There's only to-go cups and refills are free, so you're welcome to take some for the road. The atmosphere: Inside it was cool and crisp. The noise level was moderately low and they had good music. Blackbird was playing at one point. Being that it was such a nice day, we opted to eat on the covered wrap around porch that overlooked the Spoetzl Brewery. Btw (in terms of distance) with a good driver and the wind at my back, I could hit the brewery with a golf ball from the parking lot of this place. The restrooms were unisex, as you'd expect for a small establishment like this, and very clean. The people: Staff were excellent, accommodating and knowledgeable. The manager took the time to speak to me for a bit in between rushes, but a wave of people came in so I didn't hold her up. Back on the porch, a young male staff member engaged us in some more conversation and we spoke a bit about Texas history. He is very, very proud of our state and our history - both eager to share and learn. On our way out I met a cook named Mike (easy for me to remember). He was tossing a box with a cool dragon graphic and let me keep it. He also let me fill our carrying-sized igloo with ice. Mike is ex-military like me and it was fun swapping "war stories." He started cooking when he was in the military and is a native Shiner (I gotta figure out what they call the denizens of Shiner). The patrons were also very nice and easily exchanged pleasantries and held doors for one another, which is one of the coolest parts about being a Texan - but is especially so in Shiner. Friendly and unintrusive is the best I can describe. We left full and satisfied in many ways. The pictures are of some cool views I saw. One is their electrical boxes outside, which are painted uniquely, despite being outside of clear view. Just another example of the grooviness that's the prevalent, unspoken expectation of the township. It really speaks to the spirit of the town. We also took pictures of our food before we devoured it. read more
3 years ago
A friend from Weimar and I met for lunch at Sunken Garden. Having never been here, I didn't know what to expect. Several different sources quoted various closing times. Some stated 1:30 p.m., another quoted 5 p.m., while the sign on the door claimed a closing time of 3 p.m. We were in and out for lunch well-before any of those times. The bill is derived by weight: $8.99 per pound for adults, and a different price for kids. Trying to stay on my diet, I stuck with the meats on the buffet line. The food was very good and exceeded my expectations. Everything is self-service, including bussing our own tables. There wasn't any staff or server hovering over our table, which allowed for an uninterrupted time of fellowship. The ambiance is extremely casual as I was in shorts and a pullover collared shirt. This was a good enough experience to want to come back in the future if I'm every in the area again. read more
3 years ago
We asked a local for a good place to eat. He recommended Sunken Gardens. Sunken Gardens is home cooked food. You choose your plate, then your food and pay for it by weight. The choices range from salads and salad bar items with house made dressings to fried chicken and catfish to chopped beef patties. You can easily go gluten free, low carb, or meat and potatoes with a dinner roll. They have home baked cakes and pies. The german chocolate cake was almost as good as mom's! Mom is always the best cook! You can taste that a box mix was nowhere near when this cake was made! read more
2 years ago
This is a nice place, a favorite spot of the locals. Comfortable and roomy seating inside and out. This is a self service buffet, but it is NOT all you can eat. You fill your plate and then you pay by weight. I'm personally not a fan of that. The food is very tasty and there was a decent variety of choices. I won't choose to come by myself again but I would go with others. read more
4 years ago
3 years ago
7 years ago
Looked for a place to eat after our Shiner tour at Spoetzl Brewery, and found the BEST homestyle buffet we've had in a long time- And it's just down the street! You pay by the pound, by weighing your plate at the end of the buffet line. I loved the chicken and dumplings soup, and my husband's favorite was the fried catfish! We had full plates, soups, and a dessert with water cups and it was a little over $30 for both of us- seemed steep until I realized how much food that actually was! Beats a dinner price for the same amount of food, elsewhere! Also- We still had some sample shiner tokens, so this was a great spot right down the road to come back to the brewery for a few more samples! read more
3 years ago
7 years ago
This is the best restaurant in a 40mi radius of this town. A true hidden gem. Even though I live far away, I became a regular here. Everything very fresh, tasty, a lot of different options, friendly staff and great atmosphere. A must visit if you are around this area or passing through here during a road trip. read more
2 years ago
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7 years ago
Loaded up on my veggies today! Love this place! Super fresh salad fixings. Friendly staff and friendly owners. Great location in historic German building. It's a must go! read more
5 years ago
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10 years ago
Delicious!!! Clean, organic food choices that taste wonderful! You can choose to eat healthy or choose to eat fried catfish or chicken fried steak... You get to control your portions too! LOVE LOVE LOVE this place and so happy it is a food option near the brewery now! You make your plate and weigh it by the pound. The atmosphere is clean and enjoyable with a covered patio option and plenty of seats for a large family or tour. Can not say enough wonderful things about this place!!! Posting pictures to show examples of food. They have so many more options and our plates do not show their selection or do the food choices justice. They have many organic food options too which is soooooo nice! read more
7 years ago
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13 years ago
First time here. Traveling through and would stop here again. Homemade healthy food choices with NO butter and salt like a Lubys. Simple food done well read more
13 years ago
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More info about Sunken Gardens
305 E 5th St
Shiner, TX 77984
Directions
(361) 594-3603
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https://sunkengardenshiner.com
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