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The Infamous Mary's Cafe in Strawn
#2208652
03/28/11 01:20 AM
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Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 2,665
twinbubba
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For over a year I have been reading about how good the chicken fried steak is at Mary's Cafe. Not just good but the best in the state, the best I ever ate, people drive for miles and miles just to eat there. A couple of weeks ago we got on an lease North of Strawn and every time we drove by Mary's the parking lot is packed, a line out the door. Today about 2:15 we were heading home from the lease and Mary's didn't look too busy so we stopped to give this world famous chicken fried steak a try. I DON'T GET IT! We ordered a medium chicken fried steak and the meat had been pounded as flat as a pancake, it was drinched in garlic, the breading was mush not crispy like a good chicken fried steak should be, the mashed potatoes were dry and reeked of garlic, the lettuce in the salad was shreaded like the lettuce in a Taco Bell taco and the Texas toast was burned. This was as close to the best chicken fried steak I ever had as Pancho's Mexican Buffet is to the best Mexican food I ever had. I wouldn't drive a mile out of my way to have another one of their $12 meat tortillas. The gravy was good.
2017 Chevy Colorado Z71, 09 Yamaha Rhino 450 Camo,
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Re: The Infamous Mary's Cafe in Strawn
[Re: twinbubba]
#2208670
03/28/11 01:25 AM
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Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,599
jaymz
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Admittedly, the gravy is probably the best part of Mary's. However, the rest of what you mention doesn't sound in alignment with my experiences (and I've had quite a few).
1. The steak is flat, that's part of it's appeal. You can cut it with a fork, it's tender and without strange parts you can't chew. 2. I can't discuss the mashed potatoes, but I can the fries, they are cooked perfectly, a little limp and go great with the gravy. 3. I think the little salad is one of the best parts. It's not traditional and shredded lettuce tends to allow the vinaigrette (or whatever dressing you like) to really soak in. 4. The toast has never been burnt for me. It's always been perfect.
If you didn't like it, talk to Mary about reasonable things, like the toast. Try again, if you still don't like it, it ain't your thing.
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Re: The Infamous Mary's Cafe in Strawn
[Re: jaymz]
#2208786
03/28/11 02:14 AM
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Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 2,778
prohunter2011
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this is pretty funny stuff good old marys in strawn.
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Re: The Infamous Mary's Cafe in Strawn
[Re: twinbubba]
#2208828
03/28/11 02:31 AM
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Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 2,065
exoticbob
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twin, i had the same experience. i hate soggy crust and all the smoke.
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Re: The Infamous Mary's Cafe in Strawn
[Re: exoticbob]
#2210612
03/29/11 12:00 AM
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Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 91,416
bill oxner
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I've never been there but my friend Ron told me that the breading fell off the meat. Soggy is a different story.
Quail hunting is like walking into, and out of a beautiful painting all day long. Gene Hill
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Re: The Infamous Mary's Cafe in Strawn
[Re: bill oxner]
#2210629
03/29/11 12:09 AM
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Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 7,402
TooLow
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Lately it has been and hit or a miss. Last two times I've been once it was horrible and actually Mary wasnt there that day or I would have said something. but the last time I went it was great like it normally is. So give it one more chance and hopefully it's not the same experience that you had.
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Re: The Infamous Mary's Cafe in Strawn
[Re: bill oxner]
#2210635
03/29/11 12:11 AM
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Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 7,304
Big Tony
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Best CFS I ever ate was from Mary's Truck Stop on Mansfield Hwy in Ft Worth. I miss that place.
"A hunt based only on trophies taken, falls far short of what the ultimate goal should be." -Fred Bear
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Re: The Infamous Mary's Cafe in Strawn
[Re: Big Tony]
#2210723
03/29/11 12:57 AM
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 5,192
LonestarCobra
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Thats too bad about being worked up for a dissapointing CFS. I have been getting the livers there the last few times and cant say anything but they are excellent. The last CFS I had there was a little soggy also.
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Re: The Infamous Mary's Cafe in Strawn
[Re: LonestarCobra]
#2212247
03/29/11 05:45 PM
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Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 2,801
booger
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I took two BIG high school kids there this weekend and they along with me LOVED IT!!!! We had 3 large and sides plus chips and hot sauce down in about 20 minutes total. I really enjoyed the "eye candy" that was there that night too.... Wish I could have got the blond in the green dress to shot me her number like she shot me the cotter from across the room!!!!!
Big ones line-up, little ones bunch-up
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Re: The Infamous Mary's Cafe in Strawn
[Re: booger]
#2212271
03/29/11 05:53 PM
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Posts: 1,599
jaymz
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Wish I could have got the blond in the green dress to shot me her number like she shot me the cotter from across the room!!!!! I think you and toolow have been talking...
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Re: The Infamous Mary's Cafe in Strawn
[Re: jaymz]
#2212297
03/29/11 06:03 PM
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Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 7,402
TooLow
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Wish I could have got the blond in the green dress to shot me her number like she shot me the cotter from across the room!!!!! I think you and toolow have been talking... I could only wish one of those country girls would give me the time of day when were out there.
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Re: The Infamous Mary's Cafe in Strawn
[Re: TooLow]
#2212691
03/29/11 08:41 PM
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Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 2,801
booger
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Got to look the part Brothaman.... Dashing good looks and bubbly personality!!!
hahahah
Big ones line-up, little ones bunch-up
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Re: The Infamous Mary's Cafe in Strawn
[Re: booger]
#2213002
03/29/11 11:09 PM
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Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 2,665
twinbubba
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Eye candy? When I was there there were a few local farmers and a herd of geriactric (my age) bikers there.
2017 Chevy Colorado Z71, 09 Yamaha Rhino 450 Camo,
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Re: The Infamous Mary's Cafe in Strawn
[Re: twinbubba]
#2213049
03/29/11 11:32 PM
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Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,599
jaymz
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When I was there there were a few local farmers and a herd of geriactric (my age) bikers there. yes... and.....??? who do you think we are talking about? that's hot.
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Re: The Infamous Mary's Cafe in Strawn
[Re: twinbubba]
#2213370
03/30/11 01:40 AM
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 26,548
JCB
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I have been there twice and it was good. Not good enough to have the reputation they have.........but good. Unless I just happen to be staying in the area I wont be back.
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Re: The Infamous Mary's Cafe in Strawn
[Re: twinbubba]
#2213537
03/30/11 02:32 AM
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Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 35,123
Brother in-law
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Maybe it should be famous for the gravy that hides the meat? Its cool to say its cool to go there
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Re: The Infamous Mary's Cafe in Strawn
[Re: Brother in-law]
#2213617
03/30/11 02:57 AM
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 14,010
NDN98
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I have been there a few times and it has always been top-notch when I have been there.
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Re: The Infamous Mary's Cafe in Strawn
[Re: NDN98]
#2213894
03/30/11 10:49 AM
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Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 2,665
twinbubba
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I guess different people have different ideas about what a chicken fried steak is. IMHO what they serve at Mary's is NOT a chicken fried steak. A chopped sirloin wrapped in bacon, while it may be tender, it is NOT a fillet mignon wrapped in bacon.
2017 Chevy Colorado Z71, 09 Yamaha Rhino 450 Camo,
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Re: The Infamous Mary's Cafe in Strawn
[Re: twinbubba]
#2214661
03/30/11 05:44 PM
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Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 3,478
KBTXHunter
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It's good, but a little overated. The mystique is because of the size of that sob and the portions you get with it.
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Re: The Infamous Mary's Cafe in Strawn
[Re: KBTXHunter]
#2214731
03/30/11 06:15 PM
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Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 3,705
toolman
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Sounds like my last trip to Lowake-very disappointing.
Old age ain't for sissies!
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Re: The Infamous Mary's Cafe in Strawn
[Re: toolman]
#2215163
03/30/11 09:25 PM
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Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 523
pig out
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i've had the same thing happen to me.
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Re: The Infamous Mary's Cafe in Strawn
[Re: pig out]
#2216129
03/31/11 05:14 AM
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Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 4,597
HunterTed
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I have eaten there way more times than I can count and to me its always been the best cfs I have ever eaten. Wendy and I are planning on making the drive saturday night for a cfs.
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Re: The Infamous Mary's Cafe in Strawn
[Re: HunterTed]
#2216701
03/31/11 04:29 PM
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Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 9,354
scot
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Very recently the greatly reduced their portions. They took the weight amounts off the menu. Its only about 30 minutes or less from our farm. At 2 in the afternoon I can see if not being as great as you are in the middle of the day.
I like a thin chicken fried so to me it is good. I don't care much for the gravy too much pepper for me. It's the thing to do. A club but if the food was really that bad it wouldn't have much of a reputation.
Be very careful though if you don't get a chicken fried have tried some other menu items and things were creative.
I don't see myself driving 2 hours to eat there but as close at it is its good food and really pretty affordable.
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Re: The Infamous Mary's Cafe in Strawn
[Re: scot]
#2225223
04/05/11 01:26 AM
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Posts: 3,787
scattergun
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Been there many times and never understood the attraction except it is one of the few places to eat around there.
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Re: The Infamous Mary's Cafe in Strawn
[Re: scattergun]
#2231282
04/07/11 07:31 PM
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Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 2,566
KennyLee
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I've always been more partial to Flossy's across the street, but both can be pretty hit-or-miss. I've been eating at both long enough to remember when Mary's was simply "that new place".
I went to the Smokestack Cafe a couple of years ago and had a good CFS there. New York Hill isn't bad either.
Highway 6 Cafe in Deleon can be pretty tastey as well. It was my favorite when I was a kid, but was called "LaDon's" back then.
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