Saddle Club Alpine

Dranks only review: Two visits to The Saddle Club in recent years. Once by myself on a trip out to Alpine. I was staying at the Holland and had already visited the bar. I guess a few blocks for another drinky (or two) can't hurt. I was concerned about the train noise! No food ordered; I was worried about overwhelming the chef in the Superman phone booth who was cooking. I seem to remember the waitron telling me they were nearly out of the entire menu. Fine by me; because I was there for what was displayed over the bar....Social Irrigation. I ordered a shot of Jameson and the beer cocktail of the evening. Wished I could remember what that was because it was stellar! I might have ordered one more and stumbled back to the Holland to play pool. Next visit was with the wife who wasn't excited about the menu. After a few drinks including the bywater which consisted of stuff I can barley pronounce... We walked down to the Century Bar and Grill for dinner....

The Epic fries and Salmon tacos were both tasty and paired well with our goblets of Pina Coladas. The fries were basically nachos (meat, cheese, onions, other goodies) over a mound of fries (rather than chips). The tacos were full of flavor but nothing special. Drinks were pricy, light on the booze. Service was good friendly and hospitable. Overall a nice place, decent food and good service in a small West Texas town.

In a cool quirky West Texas town, you could almost pass this Saloon by. Don't. Whether you are looking for a great vibe, an adult beverage or two, or three... , or Gastropub style food this is your place. From the barstool made from a saddle to sofas lounge chairs that look like they came straight out of Central Perk, to a small, but funky food menu, to awesome music...come one and come all! We sat in a booth made out of a bay window right out on almost on top of the sidewalk. Based on other reviews, there was no doubt we were going to order the Epic Fries. These are not your Momma's Cheese Fries. Oh, no! They battered fries are topped with smoked brisket, green chile sauce, melty, cheesy goodness, and lots of other stuff. Yes, $14 sounds like a lot for cheese fries. Your tummy will pay the bill, I promise. Short of a Renaissance Fair, I have only seen a Scotch Egg on one other menu ever, and that was in an Irish Pub. The Scotch Egg $10 came quartered easier to share , topped with Siriacha, and a Guiness-mustard sauce. Unique to this Scotch Egg is the Italian Sausage used. It gives the egg a completely different flavor profile. Also, notable food items on the chalkboard: a Shrimp Cobb Salad it looked great , a Wagyu Beef Carpaccio, and a Wagyu Beef burger done Juicy-Lucy style. We did notice a desert on the chalkboard were informed we definitely should try it as they rarely offered deserts. For $8, the Bourbon Peach Cobbler was delightfully fresh. It may not be a classic cobbler, with more of a crumble-topping. On the other hand, the spiced whipped cream topping was awesome. The peaches were fresh diced small enough to not be messy. Remember, most of the seating here is living room-style, so huge slices of peach dripping molten sauce could be dangerous. The fruit's sauce was very light fresh. It seems they rotate the draft beers, and they also seem to feature some of the brews from the Big Bend Brewing Company right down the street . Finally, you will find this place by looking for the sign for the Granada Theater next door. It appears the Granada is part of The Saddle Club or vice versa . We found a lot of options for dinner in this area, and we literally circled the block a half-dozen times before settling on The Saddle Club. It was the best choice we made all weekend. After leaving, we strolled up and down the main drag for a few blocks on a beautiful evening.

No this is not a tapas place. The Saddle Club is a great bar with six draft beers, friendly service and some pretty good food. But small plates it is not. When we visited the very limited menu included a soba noodle salad, salmon (but they were out), chicken curry, pork belly Ramen (but they were out), Vietnamese rice bowl, and epic fries (french fries with cheese and brisket). The printed food menu on the tables was totally outdated (nothing available), you'd think they could trash it. Kitchen stays open until 10 or the food runs out, whichever comes first. Worth a stop for a fine beer and a nibble but don't make an extra effort.

Walkable distance to most alpine stays, it's a saloon-like bar with 5-star restaurant food. The chef is pretty creative and seems to create new impressive dishes seasonally. The prosciutto covered cod is a genius combination of flavors and ingredients. It was a joy to eat!!! All the ingredients come together Ina perfect ensemble. The albondigas soup is like a smokey hearty bowl chili with jalapeños, tortillas, roasted tomatoes. It has a deep and complex flavor that is warm and refreshing at the same time. I highly recommend it, especially for cold and chilly weathers. The ambiance of the place is warm with lots of lights that has a lodge-like saloon bar feel. It's an eclectic place with really great food.