Restaurant | Down Home Traveler

We spent a recent weekend in Abilene, Texas. One thing on my bucket list has been to check out the famous Perini Ranch and luckily for us, we were able to go Saturday for lunch.

The Perini Ranch is known as one of the best steakhouses in Texas. The Perini Family has cooked for Presidents, grandiose events, featured within multiple publications, honored by the James Beard Foundation as a American Classic (2014), host of the Buffalo Gap Food & Wine Summit maker of delicious food. Considering Robert Duvall wrote the forward in their cookbook, you know they’re a big deal! (He is one of my favorite actors.)

The restaurant is set in an old barn with rustic charm. The chairs are well worn, the old kitchen chairs that you can sink into and feel relaxation wash over you. The kind that I want in my kitchen – the best chairs really. A fireplace sits in the middle of the small main portion of the restaurant. Antlers are hung not only as decoration but as a place for cowboys to hang their hats while they eat their meals. It’s rustic, western and everything a steakhouse in a small Texas town should be.

What did we eat, you ask?

Appetizer – Quail legs with roasted jalapeño.
There were more than two when this first arrived at our table. What can we say, we were hungry! Chicken fried battered with a grilled jalapeño, these two together are like peas in a pod.

Main Course
Today Show Award Winning Ranch Burger – 1/2 lb. grilled patty with cheddar cheese, grilled mushrooms, grilled onions and green chiles.

Grilled Ranch Roast Sandwich – Slices of roasted prime rib topped with melted cheddar cheese, grilled mushrooms, grilled onions and green chiles on toasted sourdough bread.

We also split a side of Zucchini Perini. Tasty – let me tell ya. Slices of zucchini baked in a meat sauce and topped with parmesan cheese. I’m wondering why I don’t make this at home with my dinner.

Dessert – Bread pudding of course! Warm bread pudding with Jack Daniels Whiskey sauce. Makes the belly happy! It’s delicious!

If you’re ever in West Texas, head over the Perini’s. Come with a full belly, be prepared for a photo opp with a giant armadillo and relax and enjoy!

Other Date Ideas In Abilene

While we were in Abilene, we got to check out a couple breweries. It is of course, one of our favorite things to do! Here are some places we recommend.

Pappy Sloakam – A dive brewery if there ever was one. The brewery location is simple and not overdone, a place where anyone can come hang out inside or outside, plenty of games and comfortable to catch up with friends (or make new ones). The beer is phenomenal! It’s so good – so good, full of flavor and life (and their names are pretty clever – you’ll get a laugh)! We’ll be back for more.

Sockdolager Brewing – We’re still trying to figure out how to pronounce the name on this one. The atmosphere is awesome and the vertical flights are extra appealing (go ahead, get a flight, try them all!). There’s a room for the kids which helps to make this a location for all. The beer selection could be improved but still a fun place to check out.

TapHouse Tavern – Need a night out but looking for more than just a brewery and food trucks? Indoor/Outdoor seating. Great bar seating and a well rounded selection of microbrews and the typical bar liquor selections. We went just for drinks but hear the food is great!

What is your favorite place in Abilene?

Down in the Hill Country, on Highway 290 between Johnson City and Fredericksburg lies the small town of Hye. If you blink, you may miss it. Trust me, you don’t want to miss it.

Hye first caught my attention a couple years ago. I was given this incredible picture of an old truck and tractor out (I LOVE those trucks and tractors) in front of a Post Office. There was a little description by the artist on the back stating it was based in Hye, Texas. The Curious George in me started researching. This location holds a lot of history, especially with President Lyndon B. Johnson. I had to find this place and that I did (read more about it here – Hye, Texas).

Most recently, we took a trip down to Fredericksburg. I knew we were going to drive by this old locale and I was curious to see what became of the building. Low and behold, it is now a market with the best damn sandwich I’ve ever eaten!

The Hye Market is perfection. Bringing together the old and the new. They focus on featuring the best locally produced items and it shows in their products. Walking in, it’s hard not to notice the creaking floors, antique fixtures, amazing ceiling and a charm that you can only find in one of these old buildings. I will admit though, sometimes when I walk into one of these places the thought crosses my mind – “Am I going to want to run out of there?”. Maybe it’s those scary movies I’ve been forced to watch. Not the case here. Kick back and relax!

The food! What’s this “best damn sandwich”?! I don’t think I’ve ever eaten a sandwich so fast. Before I knew it, it was gone and then I was a little disappointed. Even now, I wish it was closer so I could swing in and grab one everyday.

The Levi Local – this great sandwich brings choices. I’m still trying to figure out what made it so damn good. Was it the herb aioli that was finger-lickin’ good? The turkey? Was it because it was served in an old pie dish? I’m still trying to figure it out but all I know is I wish it was closer. I’d order another!

The Levi Local – Honey Roasted Turkey, Swiss Cheese, Local Herb Aioli on wheat bread. Holy moly!

The deli area and the main dining area are in two different rooms. The deli area sits alone with a few extra chairs, some antique relics.

The adjoining room is the main dining area. This same room is also town’s post office and I’ve heard Lyndon B. Johnson’s post office box is still there. Filled with microbrews, wine and local items to purchase, have a seat and enjoy your meal. Be sure to look up and take in the old tin ceiling that is only found in these old buildings.

The main dining area leads out to the front porch which houses rocking chairs to observe the traffic and take a breather but more importantly plaques that showcase the historical importance of this spot. President Lyndon B. Johnson grew up down the road. It is here that he claimed to have sent his first letter in the mail. More importantly, the front porch is the very spot in 1965 where President Johnson appointed the United States Post Master General.

The front porch is also the perfect place to sit back and relax after that delicious meal!