Called to place an order for pick up. 3 chicken fried chicken 2 with mashed potatoes and 1 sub with dressing 1 turkey breast and dressing First issue I have is with the chicken fried chicken---It's not fried or deep fried. It's more pan fried. Their chicken fried steak is deep fried so I assume it would be prepared the same way. I'm wondering if ordering by phone i need to specify DEEP FRIED chicken fried chicken Second problem is with the mash potatoes and creamy gravy --both are kinda bland. I could add salt but it's not going to taste the same when it's seasoned during cooking. Cheese Broccoli and rice --could use more broccoli and the rice could be cooked just a tad longer. Mac and cheese --it's ok Don't know what happened but it's just not the same taste wise and I don't know what to say about the chicken fried chicken. I did noticed the chicken fried chicken before I paid but I don't have time to talk to someone about it. I just hoped it was better than it looked or what I had in mind. Tried it! Disappointed with lunch! Disappointed that I didn't raised the issue when I was there (I needed to get back to work with everyone's lunch order) And oh boy did i get an earful from my coworker about the chicken fried chicken. They thought they were going to get a battered deep fried chicken breast. The turkey entree is for dinner so I hope it turns out good. Anyhoo everyone was disappointed with lunch so I don't think cleburne is going to be part of the rotation now. We understand rising labor and food cost but we don't want to pay for disappointment. Disappointment doesn't taste good. Would I go back-probably not mainly cause the food was kinda bland and just average. Would I recommend-maybe not for takeout. I wouldn't recommend Ordering online cause the layout isn't very user friendly. Ordering by phone isn't much help either cause you feel rushed. They need to hurry to take the next call. They use to be so good so there's always room for improvement. They been in business for a long time. But for today it's a 2 star. read more

Cleburne Cafeteria - Receipt to show review is real - American Near Me - Houston, Texas

The stars are for the strawberry cake. Their cake slices are HUGE. And i tried Italian crème cake and it was way too dense and flavorless but that strawberry cake was nice. It's even better chilled so it's ok to save it and savor it over time. I can't speak on the food though....i think i need to be about 30 years older to appreciate the food. I will return for the cake. read more

Well, Luby's this will never be!! Generous servings but NO flavor! Liver & onions Mashed potatoes and gravy Steamed spinach Plenty of leftovers but . read more

I have tried Cleburne a couple of times, and hoped if I got something different it would be tasty. I will say the one time I got the turkey and dressing, it was delicious, so 2 stars for that. I took my grand daughter tonight, she got the baked chicken and some sausage. The sausage was good. I got the chopped steak, it was rubbery, and overall terrible. I also got the broccoli casserole, bland. Her mac and cheese was also bland. Huge expensive dissapointment! The staff is nice. read more

Cleburne Cafeteria - American Near Me - Houston, Texas

Omg why did it take me so long to visit this!! I would like to than my friend for telling me about this place. Not to compare them but they are Luby's on steroids in a great way!!!! Where can I start.... first I like that it's a family business and when you walk in there is a mural talking about the history. Which is really cool. The staff is very friendly and will help with carrying your tray if you have to much. Now let's get to the good part the food portions is bananas!!! The selections is so much, I could not decide. My friend warned you will not be able to eat everything. So of course I got a salad, liver and onions, mash potatoes and cheese cauliflower. Everything seasoned well and the liver was fork tender. Dessert was huge that you can share. You will definitely leave satisfied and full! read more

The food is fantastic. It is always fresh and brings back memories of when I was growing up in the country. I always try to go on a Sunday.

I have been to Cleburnes a handful of times over the last 15 years. I love the new updates and amenities with th remodel,;appreciate the fact that they accept debit/credit, now (used to be cash only); and the flavors are consistent. The only drawback is the value/price. My average ticket is $30 bucks for just me!!! It usually consists of a main protein (turkey, meatloaf, or liver are my usuals), one side, and a dessert...i can only imagine if i added bread, xtra side, or drink!!! Would definitely visit more often if it was more economical for a cafeteria style establishment. read more

The last time I was here, was before the fire that devastated the complex. Since they rebuilt I hadn't had the opportunity to come back. I was interested in starting a New Year's tradition here, but even close to 2 pm the line was still crazy long. Some immediate atmospheric and practical changes I noticed was the use of valets and the amount of expensive cars that were parking here. The clientele has definitely become fancier, since my last visit and with that too the prices. They have options to order certain seafood and steaks at the start of the line, which was interesting, but I wasn't their for that type of service, but it was good to keep in mind. The wait was long. Crazy long. I don't know if everyone wanted to be their for New Year's day or if people all got the same idea I had. Regardless, I wasn't prepared for that type of wait. I wish I could tell you this is a one time thing, but I really don't know. However, the valet would indicate otherwise. I still am enamored with the vast amounts of food and choices, including the sides. To this day, their broccoli cheese casserole is still one of the most masterful and well made things done in Houston. Also, their dessert aisle is just spectacular with the vast array of choices from strawberry shortcake to huge pieces of diner cake. It was all mouth watering. We chose the diner cake. The chicken fried chicken was the best ever, tasting more like chicken with a hint of fried to it. I can't explain it, other than they had the chicken fried portions down to the max. For drinks, I stuck with water, due to personal preferences. Despite the large line, we were able to get a seat and were able to eat comfortably and at our own pace. I don't know how that happened, but it did. I didn't notice anyone else struggling to find seating either. Some downgrades of course are the valet...for a cafeteria style restaurant and prices. Some mark ups were expected, but not to that extent. Again, cafeteria style food, but I think it's the clientele that garnered these changes. I'd recommend people to try it out, especially around Christmas so you can see the Charlie Brown tree. read more

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Great is the food, had turkey and dressing and WOW. They helped carry my tray as I had a walker. A cart can around ever few minutes to see if we needed anything. It a place if we're closer I would go more. read more

I dined her for lunch with a coworker. My side item I ordered was the cauliflower. While eating I noticed My cauliflower had a bug in it. I brought it to the wait staff attention. I was dismissed but the bug had whiskers it was not seasoning. I asked for the manager. I was told I would have to wait 5-10min for the manager. I was told I could get another serving of the same contaminated side vegetable. Then I was offered a $5 gift card. The manager stood at the counter with another employee talking and looking at my coworker and I. I got up to the counter to talk to the manager . I asked for my money back because I had lost my appetite and felt sick. The manager told me "you have eaten most of your food" and refused to refund me. This use to be one of my favorite cafeteria's. Not anymore!!! Poor customer service to treat someone the way they did and rude manager! read more

Read this was listed as America's best cafe in 2019 and it was merely a 15 mins drive. We have never heard of this place despite living in Houston for two decades! Ample parking and there was a valet available too. Grab a tray and silverware, like Luby's. It was salad, and several fried items like fish, chicken, etc, then ham, ribs, soups and all the sides. We got prime rib and 5 sides. Asked for beets salad but was given cranberry salad instead. Had to flag down someone to exchange. Portions were large! Food were flavorful and there was a lady who refilled tea/water. Overall, good experience and will return. read more

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It's been many years since we've been to the Cleburne Cafeteria. Good food at a slightly higher price. You can use a credit card now, in the old days they didn't take cards at all. The serving line is a smooth well run operation with lots of help during and after point of sale. Get a tray carried? No problem. They have people ready to fill a drink glass promptly. After people who've eaten leave, the tables are cleaned in a very timely manner. We came around 11:15 am and the place started to fill up. I was proud of me for walking right by the well stocked shelving full of tasty desserts. My wife loves meatloaf with tomato sauce and they have that here, she also got navy beans and lime congeal....I did have to taste test everything for an honest review....all very good. I enjoyed a humongous chicken fried steak with cream gravy, ate it down to the last bite, very good. I enjoyed some cucumber salad and some spinach. I'm not a big fan of cafeteria style food but I'd come back here, next time, the dessert bar better look out. read more

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Seasons Greetings! Let me share a little information about a Houston institution we know as Cleburne Cafeteria. From the time that you walk into their welcoming doors and take sight of the delectable offerings available, you'll become as giddy as a schoolboy receiving his first kiss (or was that just me? Anyhew...). A few of my MANY favorites include their amazing Blackened Brussels Sprouts, tantalizing Turkey and Dressing, and just downright tasty Chicken Tenders and Mashed Potatoes. These chicken tenders are so good they make ya want to slap yo momma (that's just a southern thing. I just love saying it so that my Mom throws me her side eye). Last but not least are the absolutely sinful selection of desserts. If indulging in these wonderful treats is wrong, Sistah I don't want to be right! My favorites include the Lemon Pound Cake (tastes like somebody's grandma Ethel is back there churning out these slices of heaven with all of her heart and soul), large assortment of cream/custard pies, and OMG their Bread Pudding (somebody put their foot in this bread pudding! Again...just a southern thing. Simmer down.). Check them out and let me know with a review of your favorites. Happy holidays!! read more

Cleburne Cafeteria - Beautiful Christmas tree as you walk through the front doors. - American Near Me - Houston, Texas

I've been to Cleburne's twice and each time I was pleased. They are more expensive than your Luby's but you get HUGE portions. The quality and taste of the food is on point. Everything looks and tastes freshly made. The desserts are off the chain and the service is outstanding! I will be going back. I just wish that they had one on my side of town. read more

Excellent cafeteria! Food is remarkably good! Highly recommend this cafeteria! We have been eating here for years! read more

Definitely favorite cafeteria in Houston. So many choices, it's very hard to decide. You have to make several trips to experience. Great old time dining atmosphere. read more

After hearing how great Cleburne's was, I decided to stop in and it exceeded my expectations!! Everything about this place is perfect--great comfort food, service, and ambiance. The turkey and stuffing were so tasty, I wish I could have it everyday!! Apart from how great my experience was, the owner, Mr.Mickelis, topped our experience by offering us a couple of (so many!) desserts to taste and coffee to go with. They were all so delicious, specially the lemon pound cake! I cannot wait to come back again and experience it all over again! Thank you again Mr. and Mrs.Mickelis! Great restaurant you have! read more

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Once again, Cleburne didn't disappoint. All my selections were fresh. The line moved at a nice pace. Floor staff made sure my glass remained full. read more

A very beautiful place. The food was good and you had a lot of options to choose from. They had a lot of nice and spacious sitting options. My family decided to go and eat here Christmas Day. Even though there was a long line it was moving fairly quickly. And the whole place was decorated beautifully. A lot of artwork and pictures. The only reason I'm giving it 3 starts is because of the 2 people we came in contact with when we first got to the cafeteria. One was a younger guy? Teens to maybe 20s? He was on door duty and was responsible for letting people in. Over and over he kept commenting saying that he didn't know what to do and that he wasn't sure what his job was exactly and had no idea to do what he was asked to do. While he's ushering people in, the owners step daughter comes up and tells him that too many people are in and why did he let so many people in. His response was that we just kept walking in. As he's saying "okay you can come in". Then the girl proceeds to rudely tell us that too many people are in there and that we need to back up and all of us can't go in because of different hazards. Which I agree and respect and will gladly comply if you talk to me like a normal human being. But she came with so much attitude and being rude. Then as we are standing there her and the other guy proceed to talk about why so many people have been let in and he just continues saying how he doesn't even know how to do his job. All right in front of us. Just because of that interaction that could've been handled a different way I most likely won't come back here. read more

Don't expect any customer service whatsoever. I've visited here several times and while the food is good in quality the service is far from friendly. Every person on the food service line starting from the salad bar ALL THE WAY down to the register is rude, quick to dismiss, and lacks the ability to communicate at all. Questions are met with rude stares and mistakes are not owned by the staff members or management. These employees are very disgruntled and should not be helping customers at all, put them in the food prep area where they don't need to interact with others. The service on the floor however is very pleasant but having good overpriced food does not make up for the rude tone at this establishment. Manager included. I will not be going back and expect a generic response by the owner/management to this honest and humble review of this restaurant. read more

I was hoping for an elevated Luby's experience like others told me it was. While the service and ambience seemed much above par for a typical Luby's, I cannot say the food was inherently better. Portion sizes were huge, but the food lacked any flavor at all. read more

Eat 1941. I'm not that old but I used to go to places like this all the time with my parents growing up. It's along the lines of Luby's or Piccadilly's. Everything is ala carte (no Lu Ann platter) so choose wisely as it can add up. A slice of Texas toast was $1 for example. Prime rib looked impressive but was actually a bit tough. Meatloaf wasn't how my mom made it. It's got a tomato like base that was lightly seasoned. I think they do that for the clientele who are mostly older folks (like over 60 by the looks of it on, at least on a Sunday at lunch). Couples with young kids were getting balloons brought to them. Steaks made to order are available for reasonable prices ($25). They got New York strip and rib eye. Lots of desserts. Lemon meringue pie was tart as it should be. My kid liked the Chocolate box pie. Horse radish is right after the deserts on ice in a little take away container. Steak knives are around the corner to the right after paying at the cash registers. They got wine too near the take out at the end of the line. Roving carts have ketchup and refills on your drinks. It wasn't that packed on a Sunday (I thought it would be because of Lakewood being close by). Staff on the food line seemed impatient. But the ones on the floor serving water etc were nicer. I tried catching some snapshot of the food line. Enjoy. read more

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Came for New Year Day and they had free servings of pinto beans! The line wasn't long and parking was easy. I love the comfort food of this place. read more

Cleburne Cafeteria - Turkey dressing & baked haddock - American Near Me - Houston, Texas

Waaaay too expensive. Ridiculous! Can you believe Turkey & Dressing $17.95??!! Two small scoops of dressing, two cranberry sauce cups and an abundance of tender turkey. Filled the plate completely. . . So I am a petite lady. . . could only justify ordering 1 side, no roll, water to go along with entree. I had a half of turkey to take home and no dressing. My husband had tea, carrot salad, salmon croquette, and undercooked green beans, cornbread. We got a piece of Italian Cream Cake to share. $54.65. The servers are all talking to each other in Spanish as you walk down the line. No smiles. No owner or manager welcoming you. Going back to Luby's for more practical sized servings, better food and friendly greetings. Still cannot believe $54.65 for what we got! Highway Robbery! read more

This place is a treasure! It reminds me of Sunday after church with family. Amazing food, friendly staff, great selection. Won't miss it on any trip to Houston!!!!!! read more

Love this place! Food is amazing and a lot of fresh options to chose from. Plates might look small but once you start to eat you will realize they aren't small at all. Once you get in you can notice a very long line of people waiting on their food. That's not a problem, line goes quick because of the amazing people that work at this place. My family and I loves to come here because of great food, people that works there and atmosphere. In my opinion this is perfect place for some good family time. read more

I realize this is going to shock most native Houston residents... but since coming back to Houston in 2014, we have never made the trek to Cleburne Cafeteria. Not until my fave SIL asked if we had ever tried this establishment - well "No... but we will..." I am not an adventurous soul - willing to try the 'new" place, Imagine my surprise that it is far from a "new" place, but rather an icon in Houston. And, I now understand why. Not because they assisted my beloved & physically-challenged spouse... not because the line moved faster than any other cafeteria... not because they filled my beverage numerous times and provided take home cups full of their delightful drinks... NO it was the fooooooood! Wow! A cafeteria that understands seasoning, selections, quality, quantity (although the serving sizes were far larger than required), service - they "run-the-table!" Forget the smug digs that it is too expensive - I nibbled on my take-home for days. Oh YES... we will be back again & again - even though we live in Cypress! read more

Great food at all times. Such a wide variety of all kind of different food. Staff is also so excellent, will get you anything you need.

I've never been a fan of cafeterias until I can to this spot! I felt like I was at a Las Vegas buffet with all of the options. Bring the whole Fam! When you walk in you see all of the history of the restaurant with family photos from decades prior. The crowd is a little older so this place is wall to wall packed for Mother's Day and on Sundays. The first stop on the line is Steak! You can get steaks made to order right there on the grill. They literally have everything! Shrimp, blacken salmon, lemon pepper cod, fried chicken, baked chicken, mac n cheese, broccoli and cheese, mashed potatoes, corn, spinach just to name a few! Don't skip dessert! Well you can't help but see the giant display before you hit the register! The slices of cake are giant and don't disappoint. I'm basic so strawberry and chocolate cake are my favorite. A plus is they now serve wine! The Lange Twins Sauv Blanc And Sand Point Cab are my favorite! This is a thanksgiving hot spot. They serve all of the classic dishes! No need to cook, and you can get it all to go! I know eating out during this pandemic is hard but this is one place I feel safe dining in. The portions are large, the food is fresh and the staff is wonderful. My friend doesn't eat meat so she opted for the fried shrimp. They were crispy and succulent! I got chicken fried steak which is a southern comfort staple food item. They know how to do it best! The food never disappoints and I always leave satisfied. read more

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Cleburne's is an icon. Wonderful place to eat. Large portions. All organic. Great salads. The Chicken fried chicken is fabulous. They serve wonderful chicken & dumplings, but not every day. Desserts are super size. Their turkey & dressing is the best. read more

This place has totally withstand the test of time The food is good but the portions are AWESOME. If anything, we come for the huge portions and the southern comfort food. Go early because it does get crowded read more

Cleburne Cafeteria - American Near Me - Houston, Texas

TL;DR (Too long; didn't read) Service staff look like they want to die(don't blame them), they were out of a few things, a lot of things are overpriced, and I think I got mild food poisoning from the turkey. I came in-- I liked some of the decor but I really like the ambiance with the historical images. Despised how it smelled like a middle school cafeteria, though. Not gonna complain much because it's just not worth it, but here's my experience: Come in. Stand in line. Think I'll order chicken tenders: "Nope, we're out." Sirloin as well. Prime Rib is $30(needs a price tag). No hush puppies. Fried Chicken looked like it was made out of bones with gristle and not much meat. Had an annoying old guy who has no sense of personal space giving me a look because I'm holding up the like for 15 seconds trying to decide what to order when the three options I thought to order were not there. I ordered the Turkey and they piled it with more liquids than should be allowed on a plate-- caused a mess on the table when I finally got to the table. Grabbed two sides-- fried okra and mashed potatoes, and decided to get some custard(never tried it.) Sit down and eat-- Turkey tastes dry and awful, even with the really gross stuffing(tastes like unseasoned chicken pot pie) and tasteless gravy. I feel sick eating it but out of desperation due to hunger I choked it down. Tried the mash potatoes-- tasteless. Tried the fried okra-- grease. Hardly any okra taste. Custard? It was alright-- but very distinct eggy taste. It wasn't half as bad as the others, though. But all of it cost me $30. Tasteless, low quality meat(that made me feel sick the whole day), bland mashed potatoes(just add butter, salt, pepper, and milk, please), fried okra (grease nuggets), and a custard. I do not like this place at all. I hate cafeterias anyway but was really hoping to enjoy it. This is why you don't take suggestions from 50+ y/o Boomers/Milennials who are friends with Boomers. They have no idea what flavor is. Maybe I'm being an anuswipe-- perhaps I am and just got unlucky, but I refuse to eat here again. read more

Hands down, Cleburne is the place I go when I want fresh home-style food in a very welcoming atmosphere complemented by exceptional service. I've had large gatherings there and have even stopped by for lunch during the week, and the food is always very fresh, regardless of what I choose. The blackened salmon is my go-to dish, and the pecan pie is unrivaled. Even my sons love the food, and they're in the picky-eater stage. They used to choose the kids plates with fried chicken and double macaroni or double mashed potatoes, but they've now graduated to the large entrees like ham or chicken fried chicken. The line seems long every now and then, but it moves fast, and the food is worth the wait. read more

Cleburne Cafeteria - American Near Me - Houston, Texas

I once dined here several years ago and last Saturday, I decided to return for lunch. This Houston institution suffered a devastating fire and then rebuilt. The new restaurant is very nice inside. Walking into the foyer, there are several pictures on the wall depicting the long history of this place giving it an almost museum feel. It was very slow when I arrived at noon and I know that during the week it's much busier. After looking at all of the entree options, I decided on the lasagna that was the special of the day. I received a large square cut that was also very high. I also chose lima beans for a veggie and added a wheat roll along with ice tea. With tax my bill was $14.77. I will admit that the lasagna was large in size. It was chocked full of ground beef. Unfortunately, I thought it needed more pasta and definitely more cheese. The lack of cheese especially made this a somewhat dry entree to eat. It was plenty of food but I wouldn't order this lasagna again. About the only cheese was on the top and with all that beef the ratio was way off. The lima beans were ok but I did like that the serving bowl was filled to almost overflowing. The wheat roll was massive and I enjoyed it. All of my serving sizes were large which was nice. Honestly, I have to give this meal a 2. The dry lasagna along with above average prices warrant the score. However, I will give an overall score of 3 because I believe Cleburne's is better than that. The new restaurant has an attractive interior and the staff were friendly and accommodating. I would return. read more

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Was recently in town and knew this was the place to meet some friends to catch up. If you're ever worried about seeing a line of people at the door, don't fret, the line moves fast. Waiting in line gives guests the opportunity to enjoy the art in the lobby and learn more about the history of Cleburne Cafeteria. Make sure to take some time to read about the rich history of this family owned and operated establishment. The food: I always stick with my tried and true, chicken fried chicken, green beans and mashed potatoes. Don't forget the cornbread! My family has tried just about everything on the menu and nothing disappoints! There is something for everyone so come hungry. We crave these home style meals and when in town we always place an online order to have some of their great desserts on hand for our hotel stay. The service: When dining in, nothing beats their customer service. Your glass is always filled and the courteous staff goes out of their way to make sure the guests are happy. It doesn't take long to realize many of the guests are loyal customers who seem to feel at home. This place is run like a well oiled machine, top notch customer service, consistent meal quality with expansive menu options, and comfortable atmosphere. Any pictures I have wouldn't do justice to the meals we've had at Cleburne's. Just know that whenever we're in town, this place is always on the top of our list of places to dine. Enjoy! read more

I have been going to Cleburne Cafeteria for years and it never disappoints. The staff is always welcoming and the food is fantastic

I first heard about Cleburne about 4 years ago when I moved to West U area. A friend of mine bought his thanksgiving turkeys there every year. Supposedly they're amazing. I don't know. Anyway not too long after that they had a fire and the place was closed down for a while. Well they reopened. And supposedly bigger and now accepts credit cards. Okay so I compare this place to Luby's. Overall it's better than Luby's, but not with everything. Luby's has them beat on the fried fish. But that's about it. The deserts are amazing and the food is pretty decent for a cafeteria. I mean you have to add a little salt to the dishes. But to me that's expected when going to any cafeteria, because the food isn't made to order. Okay so they claim the turkey and dressing is the best. No shade, it wasn't bad, but I was expecting to be blown away. And I totally wasn't. They have valet. And the place is really big, modern, and very clean. The service is great as well. I've been back several times. read more

Cleburne Cafeteria - American Near Me - Houston, Texas

I had turkey for a catered company lunch. It was the juiciest and best turkey ever!!! Yum!! Their catering is off the charts! I'll be ordering and/or eating there next Thanksgiving! read more

Love eating here. Everyone can get something they like. Weekends can be busy and longer wait times. Service has always been good. No value plates with protein and sides like competitors. Pricing is on the higher end of cafeterias. If your eyes are bigger than your stomach. You'll literally pay for it. read more

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Worst food ever. Run do not walk away. The chicken fried steak was grilled with a crust. We will were told you have to special order it if you wanted it fried. The fish was cold and we asked to heat it up or get some that was freshly fried. The wait staff said she put in back in the oven. The fish was dried out at that point. The sides were a gummy paste. I could have used them as a wall paper glue. We were done and wanted our money returned but was told there was no refunds and it said so on the ticket. We will never return. read more