The Texas Tavern's counter -- same as it ever was -- and a sample of two hots with.
There's a greasy spoon in Roanoke called the Texas Tavern. It isn't really anybody's idea of Texas or Texan food -- no BBQ or mesquite or anything. But it is an institution, open 24/7/365, serving Roanoke's hungry, hung over and haggard since the 1930s. A sharp entrepreneur, whose name I have forgotten if I ever knew it at all, moved the former railroad dining car from New Castle, Ind., to Roanoke during the Great Depression wisely recognizing that The Noke was thriving during this time due to it's bustling railroad business. He built a brick structure around it and it has been in the same spot, had the same paint scheme and even the same footrest ever since.
It has been a late-night requirement for post-concert revelers and patrons of the bars after closing time. Probably the two busiest times are lunchtime M-F and 1-3 a.m. Fri. and Sat.
The staples are a Cheesy Western and a bowl with; that's a hamburger w/ egg, mustard and relish, and a bowl of red kidney beans cooked beyond flavor or visual identification with onions unceremoniously plopped on top. They also offer water, sodas, bad coffee and buttermilk as beverages.
My faves there are the hot dogs w/ chili and the Cheesy Ham-n-egg.
No comments:
Post a Comment