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Silver K Cafe
Category: Restaurants American (Traditional) American (Traditional) [Edit]
209 E Main StJohnson City, TX 78636
(830) 868-2911
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
39 reviews for Silver K Cafe
Review Highlights
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39 reviews in English
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Review from Sherri B.
Dallas, TX
We have been several times and it has always been good. Recently visited on a Friday night - didn't know Friday & Saturdays are fine dining nights. All four of us extremely enjoyed our meal. It was very busy, Friday before Christmas and yet the service was still very good. Great selection of dishes.
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Review from Amber M.
Dripping Springs, TX
My husband and I have eaten here twice- both times not good experiences (we wanted to give them a second chance- big mistake).
We walked in and waited a few minutes to be seated- we were on the verge of leaving (figured our wait to be seated was probably a sign of the service we could expect...we were right) when we were finally seated.
We ordered the chicken fried green beans which arrived about 15 minutes after we placed the order- they were good but you could tell they were fried in old grease (a pet peeve of mine- my husband didn't seem to mind).
About 20 minutes later my side salad arrived- were were almost to the point of paying for what we had gotten so far and leaving when our waitress brought it out. We had been waiting for about 15 minutes with empty water glasses and she never looked out way or acknowledged us.
Our food arrived 15 minutes after my salad had gotten to the table, my husband got a porkchop with blackberry sauce (good; but pricy considering how fatty it was) and I got the chicken pasta (horrible; the chicken was bland, the pasta and chicken was hot but the artichoke hearts, olives, tomatoes, and feta were cold, and it was way too salty). Our waitress never came over to check on us- we had to go up to the register and ask for our bill. I was a waitress in college and in grad school so I always feel compasionate towards waitresses, it's not any easy job. I have never not left a tip but our service was so bad we didn't tip her. -
Review from Lucy R.
Austin, TX
I wish I could give this place a 1/2 star. It was dreadful. I was celebrating a friend's 60th birthday and there were 6 of us at dinner. We asked our waitress to split the bill at the beginning of the dinner. She agreed.
Our drinks came out pretty quickly, rolls were hot and the house salad was pretty good. I asked for croutons and the waitress seemed annoyed and brought me a very small amount. Whatever...I didn't say anything. When my Port-A Red fish came out, it was overcooked, the bacon was burnt, the avocado was old, the mashed potatoes were scooped with an ice cream scooper and hard as a rock....It was almost as if they put my dish under a heat lamp, then when the other dishes were done, it sat on the counter for a long time. Dried out, cold and overcooked...What a waste of a $20 dish. I took 2 bites of my fish, 1 bite of the mashed potatoes and 1 bite of the corn paste....GROSS...I didn't say anything because it was my friend's birthday and didn't want to make a big deal about it.
I think this restaurant should took a good look at the "cook" in the kitchen and realize that their prices don't reflect the food. I wouldn't have paid $5 for that at Furr's cafeteria.
And when the bill came, the waitress didn't split it and got pissed when we asked her to. She walked away and came back 10 minutes later to ask us how to split it. Then she took another 10 minutes to come back with our payments.
Good thing I'm going to La Condessa tonight. I need to get the bad taste out of my mouth from this experience. -
Review from Brad S.
Dallas, TX
Was planning on going to Hill County Cupboard but the lady at the beef jerky place told me to go here instead. I got the CFS and it was good. The steak was tender, the broccoli veggie was fresh, and the mashed potatoes had lumps and skin in them so I know they were fresh. Cinnamon ice cream (homemade) for dessert was an added bonus. Only downside was no bread service or sweet tea. Beef jerky lady made a good choice for us.
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Review from Glen C.
San Antonio, TX
We were meeting up with some relatives for dinner tonight, and the original restaurant we planned to visit was closed, so we stopped here instead. What a surprise! We had one of the best dining experiences we've ever had.
The waitress was friendly and, more importantly, very, very helpful--she guided us around some of the lesser items on the menu and focused on the good stuff. The artichoke fritters we had as an appetizer were superb, with lovely flavors of spice and fresh parmesan cheese. The crab cakes were full of crab and very flavorful.
The star of the evening, however, was the basil soup: very intense flavors in a cream base, with a beautiful finish and italian-style rolls to accompany.
Our entrees were also top-notch; I had the chili-rubbed ribeye--tender and very flavorful. My wife had the mesquite-grilled salmon with local peach chutney. One of our guests had the Pico Lime Shrimp and claimed it was "out of this world."
We finished with peach cobbler topped with cinnamon ice cream--again, on the recommendation of our wonderful waitress. This was a superb dining experience that was very unexpected because of the out-of-the-way location. Highly recommended. -
Review from Eric S.
San Antonio, TX
Great homed food and much better than any restaurant in the area. We spend weekends in Horseshoe Bay and eat there most Sundays on the way home.
Excellent chicken fried steaks and reasonable prices on all items. Live music most nights as well.
This is must do hill country stop.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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1/9/2011
Cheap cold beer, fantastic food (great portions) and friendly wait staff. This is a do-over… Read more »
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1/9/2011
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Review from Amy B.
Harlingen, TX
I've eaten here twice. Both times the food has been excellent and the service ... not so much. The first time we were seated in an uncomfortable awkwardly placed table and was almost stepped on every time a server went by. Made for a not so good dining experience. The second (yes, I was surprised that I tried it again too) was better. We were seated at a booth (the way to go it seems) and I actually enjoyed my dinner. I had shrimp and grits which was awesome and my husband had pecan chicken that was excellent too.
Now if only the staff was as good as the food. -
Review from Jacob T.
Horseshoe Bay, TX
Great food, terrible service. My wife had the glazed pork chop and I had the chicken fried steak. The portions were huge and the food was fantastic, especially the pork chop, which was so tender that we didn't need a knife to cut it. Unlike other chain restaurants, the chicken friend steak was more than just fried batter - the steak was juicy and tender. The sides were also great - I particularly enjoyed the scalloped potatoes.
My only complain is with the service, which was downright terrible. In addition to being unfriendly and inattentive - despite the fact that we were apparently her only table - she spilled drinks on the table when refilling our glasses and brought us wet straws. Yes, wet, so that the paper around them was soggy; upon asking for a replacement, she produced a second straw from inside her apron, which was also wet. I don't know what was going on in that apron, but I wouldn't take anything out of it if I were you. -
Review from Nosa E.
Houston, TX
In the texas hill country this little eatery serves mostly sandwiches and salads. I opted for the german ham and cheese grilled sandwich instead of the chicken fried steak (big mist ake). The sandwich was average a good serving of ham but tons of sauerkraut killed the flavor. The cfs on the other hand looked juicy which made me rethink my decision. Service was slow at best and we had to track down our server at the end of our meal. All in all it may be worth checking out if you have time to kill.
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Review from Tim R.
Cypress, TX
This place used to be great. The last few times I've eaten there I noticed the service declining. Tonights dining experience was memorable. We were seated at our table for about 15 minutes before anyone stopped to check on us. We ordered cups of soup and entrees. The entrees were delivered first and were room temperature. I asked about the soup and was ignored. I mentioned that my food was cold. An unhappy lady jerked my plate from the table without a word. The plate reappeared about 5 minutes later with no noticeable change. Very disappointing and the lady who had removed my food abruptly came by the table and gave me another unhappy look a little later in the meal.
This place should be avoided. -
Review from walker f.
Austin, TX
Pretty solid lunch stop on the way to or from Fredricksburg. Stopped in for lunch on our way home on recommendation from, who else, Yelpers. Tehre are pictures of cowboys everywehre and antler chandeliers and the like - intended to be all westerny and cute. Point taken. The décor was what I expected, but I was surpsied to see live music. They had a non-offensive genteleman and his guita playing (non offensive) music to accompany our lunch. Nice.
Somewhat typical fare (chicken fried steak, sanwiches, etc) but was happy to see some veggie options to please the man. I had a turkey and provolone panini whose highlight was the chipoltle mayo sauce on it. Plenty of food - I barely touched my salad that came with. If you should need more spice with your meal I highly recommend their branded tabasco-mustard sauce they have on the table, and also for sale at the register. We took one home it's that good.
Had there been other places to compare this to in the area, would only get 3 stars, as is, it gets bumped.Listed in: A Trip to Fredricksburg
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Review from Judith A.
Dallas, TX
Travel usually means being exposed to really dreadful food. The way to avoid it is to preplan your stops or pack a sack lunch. I didn't do either this past weekend. I took a chance. I walked into the Silver K Cafe off the streets. The Restaurant Gods were smiling. The food really was good. I ordered off the list of daily specials. Meatloaf, green beans and stewed tomatoes. The meatloaf wasn't traditional but it was very good. The vegetables came from cans, but by the time the kitchen finished doctoring them up, they really were good. My dinner companions had to taste the beans to verify that they were in fact canned. The stewed tomatoes were so good I came home and duplicated the recipe. Canned diced tomatoes, brown sugar, white wine vinegar, cinnamon and cayenne pepper. Golly! Those tomatoes are going to be showing up next to meatloaf at my house for years to come!
The kitchen also did a good job of humoring me by honoring my request to only plate up half the meal and put the other half in a to-go box. That request isn't always executed with style and grace. Silver K did it for me and was nice about it. So, I got to enjoy Silver K at lunch on the road and then again at home for dinner. Well played Silver K, well played! -
Review from vidor h.
Austin, TX
KIDS NOT WELCOME!
walking in the Silver K at 6:15PM on a recommendation, noticed there were at LEAST 12 four tops open...Relatively DESERTED- The hostess looks at us and then at our 2 kids (obedient little half-asians) and says "I'm sorry, if you dont have a reservation the wait will be about 45 minutes"
May the blight of the Total Economic Meltdown reign down on your shitbread restaurant like the Hammer of Thor. Just because you are competing with Dairy Queen and a feed store doesn't mean you can be a prick/bitch. -
Review from erik w.
This place is a fantastic little lunch joint in Johnson City right off of 290. I highly recommend stopping here if you're on your way to or from a wine tour.
When we stopped, I ordered a portobello dish and it was cooked to perfection. The deserts looked really friggen good too, but after all the nonsense we ate that weekend, I was afraid my body might go into shock if I had any more sugar/carbs, haha.
They had live music - some mexican dude covering some classic rock and country tunes. They also had some pretty decent art on the walls, albeit some of it was a little corny like the huge painting of a cowboy's ass wearing chaps and stuff.
Definitely worth the stop. Try their hot sauces - delicious! -
Review from Tara M.
I first discovered this place while on the Texas Wine Trail Tour and have returned many times. It is a great place to stop for Breakfast or Lunch before heading to Pedernales Falls State Park and it is even better on the way home for their dinner menu which includes several Local Wines and Music. They have an all weather patio where local Hill Country musicians play several nights a week and during Sunday Brunch.
This charming rustic restaurant is located in the Historic Complex that used to be the Old Lumber Yard; much of the architecture is from the original building which gives it a true historic Texas small town feel. Antique and collectibles shops complete the travel-back-in-time experience. "Rustic Elegance" sums it up - white table clothes in a old rustic building.
For lunch they serve great grilled sandwiches - my favorite is the grilled veggies with melted cheese on rosemary foccacia the Turkey Reuben on Rye is also very good. And they serve Diet Dr. Pepper - they should get 5 stars for that alone - DP is the only soda pop I drink and it is hard to find in a restaurant.
Their dinner menu changes throughout the week. Sunday - Wednesday is homestyle comfort foods like Meatloaf(highly recommended) and Chicken Pot Pie. Thursday - Sat has a more expensive menu with European influenced entrees like Crab Cakes(my favorite) and Chicken with a Tomato, Feta and Olive Relish. The vegetable sides are seasonal and I heard they are bought local; regardless as to where they are picked they are cooked to perfection - just the right amount of crispness and no over cooked mush. Most entrees also come with a choice of potato side - you can't go wrong with the mashers!
They serve some great local Texas wines as well. Becker in Fredricksburg is my favorite. But, it was here that I discovered I enjoy wines outside of the dry red variety. They serve a Moscato from Texas Hills Vineyard that is the perfect after dinner cocktail!
This is one of my favorite places to go for a quick day trip outside of Austin. Johnson City is less than hour from downtown Austin and even closer from my S Austin Casa - a little over 30 min from the Y in Oak Hill. Its a great drive on a sunny day!Listed in: Short Road Trips from Austin
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Review from Victoria S.
Eagle River, AK
Yes, absolutely the best place to eat in the entire city. ;)
My husband and I went for the Sunday buffet after checking out of our lovely hotel room. The buffet is $12.95, and let me tell you, you'll eat that and another $20 on top of it.
No, there is no real theme to the buffet and menu, but if that's important to you, please consider a less rustic vacation spot. During our visit, we enjoyed artichoke cheese chicken, hush puppies, steamed veggies, corn pudding, roast beef, and a ridiculous amount of brownies and fruit for dessert. The breakfast buffet (included and beside the lunch buffet) is what knocked me off the diet wagon.
They offered breakfast casserole, eggs benedict, waffles, an omelet bar, biscuits, rolls, oh God I can't go on.
They only lost a star with me because of the parking and location. God bless 'em, may they never make it down here to San Antonio. I'll never fit into my jeans again. -
Review from Kristen F.
Austin, TX
Read Larry M's review on the clientele, because he's spot-on. Silver K really is the best place to eat in Johnson City. My husband and I went for brunch. It was absolutely delicious. I had fruit and gingerbread pancakes. He ate apple smoked bacon omelet with swiss, and home fries.
We went in November, which I guess is deer hunting season, because everyone there was wearing camoflauge except for us. Why didn't anyone call us? We were so out of fashion. -
Review from John B.
Dripping Springs, TX
Located in an old Lumber Yard.
The weekend brunch is a wonderful experience and full of country/home-style dishes. Rib sticking food and lots of it. Don't miss the prime rib or other roast meat.
Besides the brunch for dinner be sure to try the "Silver K salad"! Wonderful and my favorite. The other dishes like the "Honey Fried Chicken" and Chicken Fried Steak are winners.
On Friday and Saturday nights the menu changes to a more americana and continental cuisine from the regular country texacana leanings. These nights are the really special nights with many specials that are worth sampling. I love what they do with trout and salmon.
While there be sure to check out the little antique/boutique located on the same property. When I remember the name I'll post a review. -
Review from Jim S.
Orlando, FL
I stumbled into this place on my scenic cross Texas drive recently. Like some others mentioned there was a server there who did get flustered quite easily and it wasn't very busy, but she kept letting me know everything was on the way. She was very friendly and made up for lack of focus with a sincere heart.
I had a pork chop with a peach BBQ sauce. It was not quite what I had hoped for... on paper it sounded to die for. It's not that it wasn't good it just didn't knock my socks off like I was hoping. The sides were scrumptious. From the looks of the menu you could make several trips here and have lots of different selections comfort food to keep things fresh and interesting.
Now what I am about to describe to you is reason alone to get off the nearest highway and punch the Silver K into your GPS.... the dessert selection is all homemade and in particular the BUTTERMILK PIE is hands down one of the best desserts I have ever had in my life. I mean it... sounds kind of weird, but it is soooooooo good.. OMG i am salivating just thinking about it now.... -
Review from Nancy T.
Austin, TX
We recently went to Silver K @ 4:45 pm and even though the restaurant was 95% empty, we were told we had to have reservations. The hostess looked at me, my husband and children and was clearly not interested in seating us at all or even talking to us. She told us she could get us in for dinner at 8:45 pm. I asked her if they she could recommend another restaurant near by and she told us go to go a burger place in BLANCO... 12 miles away! So rude! I will never return and am planning on writing a letter to their Chamber of Commerce. Seriously don't eat in Johnson City! Much friendlier folks in Fredricksburg or Austin.
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Review from Larry M.
Austin, TX
What did the square dancer say to the other square dancer?
You'll find out at the Silver K...last time I was there, it was CRAWLING with them, being quiet at dinner, making me concerned as I talked in hushed tones about all my probably-offensive bullshit.
Really 3 1/2 stars, the Silver K is the best place to eat in Johnson City (their slogan- "Rustin Elegance with Texas Pride"), and offers an interesting array of entrees with no real theme or type of food in sight. Crab cakes are quite good, as are the pastas, and steaks, and Mediterranean Chicken...don't quite get it.
Service can be slow or harried, but as we're in the country, a relaxed dinner of superior fare is just fine since they serve wine and beer. -
Review from Jai J.
Their chicken fried steak is SO good! And of course, huge! Although I would've been happpy with half the serving since afterwards I felt stuffed enough to feel I needed to be ROLLED out of the joint. I accompanied my entree with some of their 'prickly pear' tea which after a few sips, I figured it to be Jasmine tea. Still yummy nonetheless. The place is very roomy and the staff definitely watches the upkeep. The prices are affordable (my plate cost about 7 bucks without tea).
When I initially walked in, I read their sign advertising for an "All You Can Eat Breakfast" on Saturdays. I didn't get a chance to ask what they served but I did catch one of the table displays for their breakfast which had 'chicken crepes' written on it. Interesting...
This place is a great find and right along Johnson City's main street. My server was really friendly and her hospitality definitely showed! -
Review from Sana D.
Fort Washington, PA
Poor service. Very disappointed.
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Review from Andrea M.
Wimberley, TX
The food was very good. Crab stuffed tilapia was light and full of flavor-perfectly prepared. The ribeye was too thin for my taste. The steak should be cut thicker, which would also help its appearance. The Corn pudding, green beans and buttermilk pie were very traditional Texas fare and delicious. Our waitress was very attentive and friendly. Well paced meal. Will return!
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Review from Michael B.
Austin, TX
Nice stop in Johnson City. I had the club sandwich. My wife wanted a roast beef sandwich but apparently the meat wasn't available or the slicer was broken. They were kind of cagey on the excuse. She had a ruben instead. I ate half of it and was underwhelmed. As I've said before, I usually come away disappointed if I eat a ruben in a non-deli establishment. The Club sandwich though was more than acceptable and it was huge. It came out on a big metal skewer to hold it all together. My wife ate a bit of it and liked it a lot better than the ruben too.
I see the chicken fried steak is the specialty according to reviewers. I just can't see myself ordering one of those, but maybe I'd give it a go here. I haven't had one in over 20 years! -
Review from Myron K.
Kingsland, TX
The decor is definetly Hill Country Texas with much to look at. Thank goodness because it gave us something to look at while we waited 15 minutes short of forever for a pair of hamburgers. We asked for mayo and there was a trace found on the bun and the burger was cooked dry so I asked for more. It never came. There were as many waitresses as occupied tables (four) so there was no excuse for slow cooking or poor service. If the service was only half as good as the decorations were interesting this would be a must do destination. Given our experience, I'll stop at DQ for a #3.
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Review from abc d.
Sunset Valley, TX
I really like this place because of their food and interior decorations. I have been during breakfast, lunch, dinner and Sunday Brunch. It's almost the only place to eat in Johnson City so I end up here alot on my way to Fredricksburg.
I have read other reviews and would concur the service is not the best. You will wait for your meals and your drinks and your refills and your check, even if the restaurant is empty.
The food is not simple country faire. They have tried to gentrify the old standards and introduce some new items you would not think would be offered in a place with cafe in its name.
Besides, they have really fun bathrooms. Clean, nice art on the walls and last time I was there, real cloth towels to dry your hands with. -
Review from Nancy W.
Garland, TX
Maybe it was 3 females traveling together that caused the total indifference we received. Sat for 15 minutes before our server acknowledged us and it took her another 10 minutes to bring us our beverages. Now we were one of 8 total tables in the whole place so couldn't understand the poor service. We had very mediocre grilled chicken sandwich, BLT (HOW THE HECK DO YOU MESS UP A BLT)
and a chicken salad that took another 20 MINUTES to serve to us.
We were so looking forward to having one of the wonderful looking desserts but since it took an hour for our meal we got the heck out of there. Of course we had to ask for someone to find our waitress and bring us the check. Rarely do I feel good tipping out at less than 20% but this old broad deserved her $2.50 on our $30 tab. -
Review from Irene M.
Houston, TX
I'm a picky eater, but the two times I visited the Silver K for dinner I came away happy. The food was excellent, the presentation delightful, the decor interesting, the house wine surprisingly good, and the service was fine on both occasions. One additional plus, which is important to me: both times I visited the restaurant I noticed that there was either no or very low background music, and that my dinner companions and I could actually converse without having to raise our voices.
I.M. -
Review from Michelann Q.
Austin, TX
Fodor's said that the mashed potatoes were not to be missed, and they were right. Those are some fine mashed potatoes. Also on my list, the prickly pear iced tea, chicken fried steak, and all the desserts I didn't get to try. The service is friendly and homey, and the decor is funky-country-Johnsonesque-eclectic. Highly recommended!
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Review from Lauren M.
Pflugerville, TX
After hitting four wineries in the morning, we were starving and there aren't any restaurants near the wineries along Wine Road 290. We stumbled upon this restaurant and were in for a real treat. We caught their late lunch and were provided with very tasty gourmet-like entrees to recharge for the afternoon. If you are planning a trip in this area, make sure you stop here for lunch or dinner. Just be warned that this place is 10-15 miles from the main stretch of wineries, but it's worth the trip.
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Review from Christine W.
Cedar Park, TX
Outstanding find in this small city. Friendly service and the food was great. The daily special was a peach salad (made with locally grown peaches) and topped with grilled chicken - delicious! The peach cobbler was also some the best I've tasted!
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Review from chick c.
Austin, TX
I mean, if you like deep fried food, then...
The decor is nice, and there's not much else happening in Johnson City.
But! The food is mediocre. It's like going to the state fair. Deep fried avocado salad? Deep fried chicken? Even the peach salad had bad peaches just down the road from peachy Fredericksberg.
You know what's weird about this place? I think it's segregated. We showed up from out of town, and the woman said, "why don't you sit in this room where the air conditioner is a little cooler?" We were the only people in there (7:30 to 9:30). But there was a buzz around the corner. The back room of the restaurant was packed with what perhaps were the locals. They want to experience community?
I'd love to hear feedback from someone who insists on getting the back room on a Saturday night. Who are those people? Insiders! -
Review from Erik B.
Austin, TX
The middle aged waitress was a little too friendly with me, but I had a nice lunch with my parents here. The food and atmosphere were perfect. No complaints.
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Review from Craig S.
Austin, TX
Major complaint was poor service. Elderly waitress seemed flustered even though restaurant was less than half full.
Seems they were trying to give an up-scale image, but missed the mark. Cloth washcloths in the bathroom when paper towels seemed more suited to the surroundings? How about just cleaning the bathroom?
My wife hates bell peppers, and when she asked the waitress if all the veggies were cooked together for the veggie sandwich, the response was "I don't know what they do back there, darling". My chicken fried steak was fine. -
Review from kerry e.
Austin, TX
I ALWAYS stop here for lunch, with my out of town guests, on my way from Austin to Fredericksberg. Great choices. One can choose to eat healthy or enjoy such things as the chicken fried chicken that I nearly always choose. Wonderful homey atmosphere, friendly wait staff, and great food. By the way, my guest always choose to go back as well.
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Review from Harriet G.
Dripping Springs, TX
What a shame. This restaurant needs HELP but I think it may be beyond. The food may be great but the staff depletes any remote chance of a pleasant experience. The wait is extreme, getting a glass of water in less that 20 minutes is rare. What a shame. Last night at 7:30 we went and watched many parties walk out, including a family of 4 that were seated and never waited on. We watched hundreds of dollars walk out. The owner is never around and if she is, she never moves off the chair to do a darn thing! Good luck to you, Silver K.....we will miss you but it looks like we'll be going elsewhere!
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Review from Levi S.
Austin, TX
When you're in route from San Antonio or Austin to Marble Falls or Fredricksburg, the dining options in route are rather limited. Your best bet is Silver K Cafe, where the food is above average. If stopping by for dinner, check their live music schedule on their website.
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Review from utlonghorn x.
Austin, TX
I have been there several times! I especially like the fine dining nights, like Saturday, a true Texas experience!
