This was a wonderful choice for our lunch on our road trip. Everything on the buffet was wonderful, and my husband especially liked the fresh greens.
Mark Plumb
Wonderful place and friendly folks.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Michael J.
Our Tuesday brunch at Sunken Gardens: Dude. Delicious is not enough to describe the food and drink. Here's how it works. It's a buffet style of delicacies but they charge by the pound. It was $7.99/lb. Put what you want on your plate. There's so much to choose from. You can have it to stay or there's to-go containers. There's cold and hot options and plenty of entrees. Dessert is limited to cobblers. I highly recommend the sweet and spicy beef, the catfish, and the jalapeño-cheese beefsteak. Same goes for the tuna salad, crab salad, and zucchini salad. The pasta salad I could give or take because it was al dente. Wife had the meatloaf and it was gooood. Same goes for the chicken strips. The sides were all freshly made (macaroni, rice, etc), and we weren't disappointed with any of it. The rolls were also good but not sweet or anything. They were basic, but that was a good thing because I didn't want anything competing with the food flavors. We also got some cobblers (one pecan and one blackberry, but there were others). I prefer crispy cobbler and this one was doughy and dense. Some like it that way though. I will say that the flavor was good and refreshing, despite being dense. Despite having indulged ourselves at the neighboring Friday's the night before (see previous review), we woke up famished. Having no food available at Shinerville Coffeehouse (see review because they were so nice and even pointed us here), we wound up eating at the Garden. It turned out to be a great experience. At $8 a pound plus $2 for drinks and a tip, we paid around $40, but our plates were laden from side to side. We greedily ate all of it. I forgot about the mozzarella spinach. Get that. Drink options were typical sodas and four ice teas, or (free?) fruit-infused water from a cistern. The teas were also in cisterns. There were four options: a red unsweetened eucalyptus tea that I liked, unsweetened, sweetened, and peach. We got the peach. There's only to-go cups and refills are free, so you're welcome to take some for the road. The atmosphere: Inside it was cool and crisp. The noise level was moderately low and they had good music. Blackbird was playing at one point. Being that it was such a nice day, we opted to eat on the covered wrap around porch that overlooked the Spoetzl Brewery. Btw (in terms of distance) with a good driver and the wind at my back, I could hit the brewery with a golf ball from the parking lot of this place. The restrooms were unisex, as you'd expect for a small establishment like this, and very clean. The people: Staff were excellent, accommodating and knowledgeable. The manager took the time to speak to me for a bit in between rushes, but a wave of people came in so I didn't hold her up. Back on the porch, a young male staff member engaged us in some more conversation and we spoke a bit about Texas history. He is very, very proud of our state and our history - both eager to share and learn. On our way out I met a cook named Mike (easy for me to remember). He was tossing a box with a cool dragon graphic and let me keep it. He also let me fill our carrying-sized igloo with ice. Mike is ex-military like me and it was fun swapping "war stories." He started cooking when he was in the military and is a native Shiner (I gotta figure out what they call the denizens of Shiner). The patrons were also very nice and easily exchanged pleasantries and held doors for one another, which is one of the coolest parts about being a Texan - but is especially so in Shiner. Friendly and unintrusive is the best I can describe. We left full and satisfied in many ways. The pictures are of some cool views I saw. One is their electrical boxes outside, which are painted uniquely, despite being outside of clear view. Just another example of the grooviness that's the prevalent, unspoken expectation of the township. It really speaks to the spirit of the town. We also took pictures of our food before we devoured it.
Kelly S.
Looking for a quick lunch prior to visiting the Shiner brewery. The buffet looked so good. Service was fantastic and everyone was so cheerful. I tasted the Mac & cheese, friend chicken, catfish and pea salad along with Caesar salad. It was all so good. I do wish they had real plates and silverware, but it was a minor nuisance. Took pie to go and haven't tried it yet, but looking forward to it!
Caleb Carr
Awesome down home cooking just like grandma used to make. Worth going out of the way for.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Salad Bar, Pulled Pork, Country Fried Steak, Chicken and Dumplings
Donnie Murphy
Stopped in for lunch and had the most amazing experience. The food is delicious, the atmosphere was welcoming. The staff were friendly and had a great attitude.I ran into the owner, he was kind and very helpful.The prices are reasonable for what you get and the desserts are yummy. The food bar was stocked with fresh homemade food. ?A must go to if you're in the Shiner area.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Salad Bar, Country Fried Steak
Sharon Schaefer
Should have $$$$ upon look upPictures show well lit but dark insideOld pricing on web site says $6.99 per pound..actual price $8.99 per poundNO SENIOR DISCOUNTA LUNCH $17 - TO $25 IF YOU INCLUDE DRINK & DESSERT PRICED SEPARATELY.Definitely city priced
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 3
RoxieLee
First time here this place is a buffet style with lots of choices....food is weighed on a scale at the end for your price but it was super delicious will definitely go again
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Teresa White-Heximer
The meal is presented as a buffet, but it is NOT all you can eat. The meal is sold 'by the pound'. My lunch was just under $20 and my friend's was just over $20. Drinks and desserts are sold separately and for set prices.The salad bar was well stocked and had a variety of salads: green leafy, broccoli mayo, peas, potato, etc. I actually think the salad portion is worth the per pound price. I was disappointed with the dressings AND they were a bit challenging to access, tuned in the corner, in a serving crate.The hot foods sides and entrees weren't hot. Everything I selected was lukewarm. They were all home made.Everyone behind the counter, when there, were polite.The restaurant was very clean, furnished country comfortably and had lots of room.I might return for a small, brief lunch, but not much more.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Salad Bar
Jamie Garcia
The food is always delicious and the service is always great.Vegetarian options: Lots of options!Kid-friendliness: Kid friendly atmosphere.
Get what you want and as much as you want. They have everything. Fresh! No reason to eat lunch anywhere else.Vegetarian options: Vegan friendly ?
Jennifer Harrison
My favorite hometown restaurant when I go to Shiner. It's so good!
James Hulse
We stopped at the nearby Spoetzl Brewery for a tour and then stopped at Sunken Gardens for lunch. It was buffet style and you pay by the pound. So much home cooking to choice from. Highly recommend.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
T R.
Historic building-old dance hall Buffet style Home cooking Lots of vegetables and salads Lunch steak, fried catfish, chicken, etc Across from shiner brewery In shiner Texas Get off truck packed ih10 and take us 90 to Houston
Julian Frachtman
A gem in the wild. Standard country fare, but much appreciated. *The blueberry cobbler was PHENOMENAL.* Stop here for chow before your Shiner Brewery tour!! ??
This was a wonderful choice for our lunch on our road trip. Everything on the buffet was wonderful, and my husband especially liked the fresh greens.
Wonderful place and friendly folks.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Our Tuesday brunch at Sunken Gardens: Dude. Delicious is not enough to describe the food and drink. Here's how it works. It's a buffet style of delicacies but they charge by the pound. It was $7.99/lb. Put what you want on your plate. There's so much to choose from. You can have it to stay or there's to-go containers. There's cold and hot options and plenty of entrees. Dessert is limited to cobblers. I highly recommend the sweet and spicy beef, the catfish, and the jalapeño-cheese beefsteak. Same goes for the tuna salad, crab salad, and zucchini salad. The pasta salad I could give or take because it was al dente. Wife had the meatloaf and it was gooood. Same goes for the chicken strips. The sides were all freshly made (macaroni, rice, etc), and we weren't disappointed with any of it. The rolls were also good but not sweet or anything. They were basic, but that was a good thing because I didn't want anything competing with the food flavors. We also got some cobblers (one pecan and one blackberry, but there were others). I prefer crispy cobbler and this one was doughy and dense. Some like it that way though. I will say that the flavor was good and refreshing, despite being dense. Despite having indulged ourselves at the neighboring Friday's the night before (see previous review), we woke up famished. Having no food available at Shinerville Coffeehouse (see review because they were so nice and even pointed us here), we wound up eating at the Garden. It turned out to be a great experience. At $8 a pound plus $2 for drinks and a tip, we paid around $40, but our plates were laden from side to side. We greedily ate all of it. I forgot about the mozzarella spinach. Get that. Drink options were typical sodas and four ice teas, or (free?) fruit-infused water from a cistern. The teas were also in cisterns. There were four options: a red unsweetened eucalyptus tea that I liked, unsweetened, sweetened, and peach. We got the peach. There's only to-go cups and refills are free, so you're welcome to take some for the road. The atmosphere: Inside it was cool and crisp. The noise level was moderately low and they had good music. Blackbird was playing at one point. Being that it was such a nice day, we opted to eat on the covered wrap around porch that overlooked the Spoetzl Brewery. Btw (in terms of distance) with a good driver and the wind at my back, I could hit the brewery with a golf ball from the parking lot of this place. The restrooms were unisex, as you'd expect for a small establishment like this, and very clean. The people: Staff were excellent, accommodating and knowledgeable. The manager took the time to speak to me for a bit in between rushes, but a wave of people came in so I didn't hold her up. Back on the porch, a young male staff member engaged us in some more conversation and we spoke a bit about Texas history. He is very, very proud of our state and our history - both eager to share and learn. On our way out I met a cook named Mike (easy for me to remember). He was tossing a box with a cool dragon graphic and let me keep it. He also let me fill our carrying-sized igloo with ice. Mike is ex-military like me and it was fun swapping "war stories." He started cooking when he was in the military and is a native Shiner (I gotta figure out what they call the denizens of Shiner). The patrons were also very nice and easily exchanged pleasantries and held doors for one another, which is one of the coolest parts about being a Texan - but is especially so in Shiner. Friendly and unintrusive is the best I can describe. We left full and satisfied in many ways. The pictures are of some cool views I saw. One is their electrical boxes outside, which are painted uniquely, despite being outside of clear view. Just another example of the grooviness that's the prevalent, unspoken expectation of the township. It really speaks to the spirit of the town. We also took pictures of our food before we devoured it.
Looking for a quick lunch prior to visiting the Shiner brewery. The buffet looked so good. Service was fantastic and everyone was so cheerful. I tasted the Mac & cheese, friend chicken, catfish and pea salad along with Caesar salad. It was all so good. I do wish they had real plates and silverware, but it was a minor nuisance. Took pie to go and haven't tried it yet, but looking forward to it!
Awesome down home cooking just like grandma used to make. Worth going out of the way for.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Salad Bar, Pulled Pork, Country Fried Steak, Chicken and Dumplings
Stopped in for lunch and had the most amazing experience. The food is delicious, the atmosphere was welcoming. The staff were friendly and had a great attitude.I ran into the owner, he was kind and very helpful.The prices are reasonable for what you get and the desserts are yummy. The food bar was stocked with fresh homemade food. ?A must go to if you're in the Shiner area.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Salad Bar, Country Fried Steak
Should have $$$$ upon look upPictures show well lit but dark insideOld pricing on web site says $6.99 per pound..actual price $8.99 per poundNO SENIOR DISCOUNTA LUNCH $17 - TO $25 IF YOU INCLUDE DRINK & DESSERT PRICED SEPARATELY.Definitely city priced
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 3
First time here this place is a buffet style with lots of choices....food is weighed on a scale at the end for your price but it was super delicious will definitely go again
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The meal is presented as a buffet, but it is NOT all you can eat. The meal is sold 'by the pound'. My lunch was just under $20 and my friend's was just over $20. Drinks and desserts are sold separately and for set prices.The salad bar was well stocked and had a variety of salads: green leafy, broccoli mayo, peas, potato, etc. I actually think the salad portion is worth the per pound price. I was disappointed with the dressings AND they were a bit challenging to access, tuned in the corner, in a serving crate.The hot foods sides and entrees weren't hot. Everything I selected was lukewarm. They were all home made.Everyone behind the counter, when there, were polite.The restaurant was very clean, furnished country comfortably and had lots of room.I might return for a small, brief lunch, but not much more.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Salad Bar
The food is always delicious and the service is always great.Vegetarian options: Lots of options!Kid-friendliness: Kid friendly atmosphere.
Restaurantji Recommends
Get what you want and as much as you want. They have everything. Fresh! No reason to eat lunch anywhere else.Vegetarian options: Vegan friendly ?
My favorite hometown restaurant when I go to Shiner. It's so good!
We stopped at the nearby Spoetzl Brewery for a tour and then stopped at Sunken Gardens for lunch. It was buffet style and you pay by the pound. So much home cooking to choice from. Highly recommend.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Historic building-old dance hall Buffet style Home cooking Lots of vegetables and salads Lunch steak, fried catfish, chicken, etc Across from shiner brewery In shiner Texas Get off truck packed ih10 and take us 90 to Houston
A gem in the wild. Standard country fare, but much appreciated. *The blueberry cobbler was PHENOMENAL.* Stop here for chow before your Shiner Brewery tour!! ??