We love Chemn cafe!!! I really appreciate how much creativity they put into their menu. They have…read moredelicious syrups and espresso, compared to big chain coffee stores there is no question that Chemn is the winner! I personally cannot drink caffeine but my wife is a coffee fiend so we end up here a LOT. They have decaf espresso which I really appreciate because all the lattes are so delicious and I don't wanna be left out of drinking them! The sandwiches and pastry's that they offer are also very good and I haven't been disappointed in anything I've ordered. The service is great! Quick and friendly which is perfect for a coffee shop like this! I love the ambiance and all the chemistry related decor. The selection of entertainment in the form of book and board games is great. The vibe in here is very comfy cozy and comfortable to stay a while. I've been to a couple of the events they hold here as well and have had a great time. Overall I think Chemn is absolutely a gem in Elgin and I feel very lucky to have them!

It's local places like this that make or break a community. I can tell that Chemn is a place that…read morebuilds up the community and takes care of people. Also, some great coffee to boot. I had an iced carmel latte and stayed awhile to get some work done on my way home from a conference. The staff way friendly and I felt welcome to stay and work while they did their closing hour tasks.

I was after some gluten free cookies, and I didn't want to drive into Austin to find any. After…read moregoogling local gluten free bakeries, Tough Cookie Bakery in Bastrop came up. They have gluten free options as well as vegan options and options for those who can have gluten. I went there for three out of the six days that I was on vacation in that area. I had originally wanted a chocolate chip cookie, but they didn't do just regular gluten free ones. However they did have gluten free peanut butter chocolate chip cookies. I'm not a big fan of peanut butter, but I thought I would try it since I was really craving a cookie. I had just the one, and it was so so so good! It didn't taste overly of peanut butter which was a win for me! It had just the right amount of peanut butter and chocolate chips. It was crispy around the edges and chewy towards the middle. I went back that same day and got two more of those cookies. The other days I went I got the same thing. One day, I did try their gluten free apple butter bar which was just as amazing! Service was fantastic! Each day I went, there was someone I hadn't seen before working. Each of them were super nice and friendly. The bakery itself had a very calm ambiance about it. It had a lot of space inside if you wanted to eat your meal or dessert inside or you could get it to go. I also love how Tough Cookie Bakery supports the LGBTQ+ community. There was a pride flag painted outside of the bakery, and that just made me love the place that much more! I would definitely recommend Tough Cookie Bakery in Bastrop. I can't wait to go back once we're back in the area at the end of this month.

The history and charm of this shop immediately caught our attention and drew us in. The original…read morefurniture pieces add such a warm and nostalgic touch to the overall aesthetic, and the staff couldn't have been friendlier. The only letdown was finding out that the ice cream isn't homemade or unique to the shop--it's just Blue Bell. Now, as a lifelong Blue Bell fan, I'll never turn it down, but with a place that has so much originality and character, we were hoping for a menu that reflected that same spirit. Still, it's a cute spot and worth a visit for the atmosphere alone.

Had dinner here but service from the kitchen and bar was terribly slow. We only ordered a couple…read moresalads and they had clearly forgotten about us, after having taken forever to get our drinks made. The waitress was very sweet and apologetic and the service on her end was very good. The food itself was delicious- that soba noodle salad especially! I could've eaten two. Prices are on the higher side for the portions you get, same with drinks... they were great drinks but the prices could come down a little bit. I was also disappointed that when we went back the next day in the afternoon for more drinks, that we couldn't order the pretzel. Something like a pretzel should definitely be available on every menu! As for the ambiance, it was comfortable and cozy. I'm sure eating outside is even better but it was a bit chilly for us when we went.

This bar is now named Mavericks. The menu is basically the same. They have a great craft beer…read moreselection from Austin breweries. . We were not very hungry so we had the crab meat dip with warm pretzels. There was not much crabmeat, but there was plenty for two and very tasty. We were the only ones seating outside and the service was slow to begin, but we ended up with a great server (Joe) who took great care of us. We were fine with the wait since it was very pleasant looking at the beautiful trees and watching the birds. The inside was loud and rowdy!

Ordered a cake for my nephew's bride to be's shower. Jennifer was so helpful! She's so nice!…read more The cake was exactly what I wanted. Received so any compliments from the guests. I was pleasantly surprised at how moist the cake turned out, since it was naked. I also ordered cookies decorated as a bride's dress. They were so pretty and the flavor was delicious. Lastly, I ordered a heart shaped cookie tarte. It exceeded my expectations! It was beautiful. Can't thank Jennifer and staff enough for helping make the shower a success!

One of the stranger bakeries I have ever been into, they really don't have much to purchase. When I…read morewalked in, they had two cinnamon rolls, and some dog treats. I asked about a pie and they said that all pies have to be ordered two days in advance. I'm not really sure why they have a storefront. I gave a second star because they were very nice despite not having any, you know, baked goods for purchase. *** Edited to include business response: Well darn! I wish you had directed me to that case, we probably could've done with some cupcakes. I will try again next time I'm in town.

I had a much better time than thr last time I was there when the guy seating us swung a chair to…read moreremove it and hit Me with it. Hadn't been in a while.... The plates physically got smaller, as did the tenders and the price has increased. Since the price of groceries have increased we have no choice. But everything was delicious. Chciken tenders were crunchy, broccoli cheese casserole was cheesy and good. My kids loved it. Especially the croissants.

Cheddar's is part of the Garden Corp (Olive Garden, Ruth's Chris, Bahama Breeze, Capital Grill, and…read moreseveral other chains). I had never heard of Cheddar's until a couple of years ago when some Texas friends mentioned it. The time had finally come for us to go. First of all, I don't understand the negative reviews. You know what this place and others like it are before walking in. I digress... You start with a complimentary basket of croissants drenched in butter. Holy bread are they good! Totally addictive. I had the pot pie and it came with a side salad. The pot pie was really good and the crust tasted like the croissants...woah! The salad was crisp and fresh and very typical of what you get at such chains. My boyfriend got the Monte Cristo sandwich with fries. I hadn't heard of a Cristo since the 80s! Had a couple of bites and it was really good. He totally loved it. Our server was attentive without being overbearing. Tablets mounted to tables for self-pay. We had an enjoyable visit & good food.

We had a delicious lunch. I had the 602 Alfredo. It was very flavorful and creamy. My husband had…read morethe chicken fried chicken with potatoes the green chili gravy was amazing!! We of course tried a beer or 2. We really liked the 602 Clever Gurl! Very delicious! Our server was very nice and helpful. We loved the vibe of the brewing company. We will definitely be back!

Food and service were great, 3.25% credit card fee is ridiculous- charge more for food and people…read morecan vote with their wallet if they want to eat at a more expensive restaurant.

Really good southern style comfort food!! Best cream of corn I've had. Greens beens were really…read moregood as well! I'd definitely recommend!

Another hidden gem discovered! ** Make sure before you go…read moreyou call and check if they are open. They do close for events. Hours are Wednesday -Saturday 11am-3pm.** I'm going to be gaining a lot of weight with this place being so close to home. My husband got the chicken fried steak with Mac and cheese, mashed potatoes with gravy, and cornbread. I had the shrimp Po'boy with fries and a side of friend okra. For dessert we had banana pudding. Let me break down the meals..... Heaven! All of it! It was the most delicious home-style meal. I can't wait to go back. My mouth is watering just typing this.

This is 4.5 for me…read more Southern comfort food and dessert. Love the family atmosphere. For me, the star of the show is the desserts. Her pies and cakes are . I have to stay away from this place. It has become a Bastrop favorite for me.

TLDR: Charming and very kid-friendly restaurant with delicious comfort food and friendly service…read more What a pleasant surprise! Came here on a whim and loved it. First of all, it's very kid-friendly! Almost every family that walked in had small children. They have high chairs, crayons/coloring pages, and a kids menu. The kids menu deserves a kudos! Usually, I expect bare minimum but they really invested effort into the food. The grilled cheese came on big fluffy buttery pieces of bread and was something I'd expect to receive from the main menu. The chicken tenders were big and juicy and delicious too. Kids devoured their grilled cheeses (to be fair, they've never met a grilled cheese they didn't like but that's what makes the restaurant's above-and-beyond effort more admirable). I enjoyed my food as well. I got the chicken-friend steak. I rarely eat fried food -- this was worth it. Delicious. Also the show-stealer was the Brussels sprouts side! Fantastic. Perfectly browned and crisped (not overdone/too blackened like many places do). Mashed potato side was tasty too. Finally, the service was excellent. Super nice and attentive staff. Parking is very easy -- free lot next door.

This is the absolute cutest little diner - a hidden gem! The dining room and gardens surrounding…read morethe building lend old world charm, making you feel like you're eating at Grandma & Grandpa's cabin. My husband had a cheeseburger and I had the chicken salad sandwich. Both were yummy! Our server, Kelly, was helpful and attentive. We will definitely eat here again when we pass through Bastrop!

Although I've been in Austin for almost 20 years, I still miss all the catfish places back in…read moreLouisiana. This place was a random find today and I'm so glad I found it. Y'all they might have some of THE BEST batter on any catfish I've ever had. Perfectly seasoned, and the fries were perfect as well. The shrimp basket was great too. The best part though, was walking in and feeling so welcome and at home. I can't wait to come back again.

Rec's Hushpuppie Heaven -- A True Gem…read more Let me tell you right now--this place lives up to the name! I ordered the Catfish Basket (2 pieces) with fries, onion rings, and their famous Mac & Cheese Hushpuppies, and babyyyy... perfection. The hushpuppies were the star of the show--golden brown, crispy on the outside, and then you bite in and boom... creamy macaroni and cheese with brisket inside. Deep-fried to absolute perfection--moist, flavorful, and unforgettable. I dipped mine in the creamy jalapeño sauce, and that combination needs its own award. I'm already plotting my return to try the shrimp and jalapeño bacon version. The catfish? Listen... crispy on the outside, fluffy and tender on the inside, seasoned just right. Almost as good as mine--almost! The fries and onion rings were fried just right too--hot, fresh, and not greasy or overcooked. And let me not forget the coleslaw--a simple side done right. Cool, fresh, and the perfect balance to all that deep-fried goodness. Don't skip it. The establishment was spotless--and that matters. When you walk into a restaurant, you want to smell good cooking, not something unpleasant lingering in the air. This place was clean, welcoming, and the young men working that day greeted me as soon as I walked in the door. Excellent service from beginning to end. And here's what makes it even better--the owner gives back to the community in a big way. That alone deserves support. Reasonable prices, amazing food, clean space, and heart behind the business. Whether you're local or just passing through--do yourself a favor and stop by. I'll definitely be back.