The Cotton Patch Café is a good value for casual dining

Landon Pool / Reporter

Since the first Black Eyed Pea restaurant, places that feature “home cookin'”, especially in Texas, have been hugely successful. A thriving chain with numerous Texas locations, the Cotton Patch Café is a popular restaurant in this genre.  I paid a visit to our local Stephenville location to check it out.

The Cotton Patch goes for that downhome vibe, but one can still tell that it is corporate.  It has a comfortable setting and is a place where the entire family will feel right at home. It was busy, but I was greeted right away and only had to sit for a minute before being taken to a seat.

For an appetizer, I decided to try their fried mushrooms. They were large, full mushrooms, lightly fried, and served with ranch dressing. They were tasty, although I’m glad I got a small order and had someone to share them with, because about three of them were enough for me. However, one does not have to order an appetizer if they want something while they wait; complimentary light, yeasty rolls and cornbread were brought to the table as well. They were very tasty and lightly sweet, especially with a little of the whipped butter they were served with.

At a restaurant like this, tasting the chicken fried steak is almost a requirement, so I selected that, along with mashed potatoes and fried okra. I didn’t have to wait long for my entrée to be served.  The chicken fried steak was fork-tender, with light breading and very good cream gravy.  The mashed potatoes tasted fresh, buttery and delicate. The fried okra, which is a favorite side of mine, was pretty standard, which is all I expected them to be.  The portion size of the chicken fried steak was astronomical; it could have easily fed two people.  There is a smaller portion option, and unless you are Fred Flintstone or want to get two meals out of it, I suggest getting the smaller option.

My server was genial and quite good, although she was responsible for several tables.  I never waited with an empty glass. The greeters and wait staff worked well as a team.

Overall, the food quality, atmosphere, and service were very solid for its reasonable price point. There is no denying that it’s corporate casual dining, so if you are looking for something unique, this won’t stand out.  However, the Cotton Patch Café seems to very good at doing what they do.