Saddle Club Alpine

Drinks-only review: I've visited The Saddle Club twice in recent years. The first time was solo during a trip to Alpine while I was staying at the Holland. After having already visited the bar, I thought a short walk for another drink (or two) wouldn’t be a bad idea. I was a bit apprehensive about the train noise but decided to give it a shot anyway. I didn’t order any food because I was concerned I might overwhelm the chef in what felt like a Superman phone booth kitchen. I vaguely recall the server mentioning that they were almost out of food options, but that was fine by me since I was more interested in sampling what was behind the bar... the "Social Irrigation." I ordered a shot of Jameson and the beer cocktail of the evening, which unfortunately I can’t remember, but it was fantastic! I might have had another one before stumbling back to the Holland for a game of pool. My second visit was with my wife, who wasn't particularly thrilled about the menu. After a few drinks, including the Bywater—composed of ingredients I could barely pronounce—we decided to walk down to the Century Bar and Grill for dinner instead.

The Epic fries and salmon tacos were delicious and complemented our Pina Coladas perfectly. The fries were essentially nachos, topped with meat, cheese, onions, and other toppings over a generous serving of fries instead of chips. The tacos were flavorful, though they didn’t stand out as anything extraordinary. The drinks were a bit expensive and had a lighter pour on the alcohol. However, the service was friendly and attentive. Overall, it's a lovely spot with decent food and good service in a quaint West Texas town.

The only other place I've seen a Scotch Egg was at an Irish Pub, so I was excited to try theirs. Priced at $10, the Scotch Egg came quartered for easy sharing and was served with Sriracha and a Guinness-mustard sauce. The unique twist here is that they use Italian sausage, giving it a completely different flavor profile. Other notable menu items included a beautifully presented Shrimp Cobb Salad, Wagyu Beef Carpaccio, and a Wagyu Beef burger served Juicy-Lucy style. We also spotted a dessert on the chalkboard; they recommended it since they rarely offer desserts. For $8, the Bourbon Peach Cobbler was delightfully fresh. It may not be a traditional cobbler, as it had more of a crumble topping, but the spiced whipped cream was fantastic. The diced peaches were fresh and small enough to keep things tidy, which is a plus in this living room-style seating where big slices of peach dripping with molten sauce could get messy. The sauce was light and refreshing. It seems they rotate their draft beers and feature some brews from the Big Bend Brewing Company nearby. To find the place, just look for the sign of the Granada Theater next door; it seems to be part of The Saddle Club or vice versa. We found plenty of dinner options in the area and circled the block several times before finally deciding on The Saddle Club. It turned out to be the best choice we made all weekend. After our meal, we enjoyed a lovely evening stroll along the main street for a few blocks.

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.