10/15/2025: We stopped in for a late lunch when leaving Round Top. We were trying to avoid the RT art festival, so we opted for JW's in Carmine. The inside decor is all wood paneling. It's very country looking, so that was appealing. We started with the fried pickles for an appetizer to share. Our group was a party of 3. The pickles were a perfect split for us. The ranch served with the pickles had a tartar sauce undertone taste. It was pretty good. We all had the sweet tea and lemonade mix. It was refreshing. I ordered the regular JW's burger on a classic white bun. The burger was okay. There was no special seasoning to it. I wasn't able to order it medium. From the looks of it, it was "done", so that is a little too done for me. I like mine a little pink. They use leaf lettuce. I prefer shredded. The pickles on my burger were cut lengthwise, and 2 of the strips still had the outer skin on them. Not a fan of that. The fries were good. They had a nice crunch to them. The service was great at JW's. Our drinks were never empty, the food came out fast, and our waitress was very nice. You can't get better than country service. It was a nice change from Houston where everything is hustle and bustle. We all three split a piece of coconut pie. It was okay, but to be fair, I am not a pie person. My coworkers thought it was terrific. If I am out that way again and decide to stop in, I will order something different. Maybe the chicken fried steak. The neighboring table ordered it and it looked good! Our bill for the 3 of us was $71 and some change before tip. That seems on point for 1 appetizer, 3 drinks, 3 entrees, and 1 piece of pie. It was crowded, especially for a weekday after the lunch rush in the country, so they must be doing something right. read more

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My family and I drove over here for dinner once evening during our stay in Burton. There is a small town feel to this restaurant. Nothing fancy, but the food is delicious and the service is courteous and attentive. We came in on a Tuesday evening and it was packed. Fortunately we got there earlier and were able to get seated immediately. Very family friendly as evidenced by the fact that they pulled an infant carrier stand out for our baby. I will say that the prices are on a steeper side; however, the portions are also generous. We had a pleasant meal here and definitely recommend it to anyone looking for good, southern comfort food. read more

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Able to come by this week and a great meal service. First of all to Kevin L who rather have a steak in Houston. That is fine Kevin just eat steak in Houston. I just had a 6 ounce filet that was exceptional and prepared correctly. I eat a filet regularly in great restaurants and familiar with this cut. I usually get Chicken Fried steak hamburgers but have wanted to try the steak. My husband had the same. Salads here are simple but fresh and blue cheese dressing home made. This place is consistent and great including the chocolate pie and I look for reasons to stop here when in the area. read more

JW's Steakhouse - Salad large side - Steakhouses Near Me - Carmine, Texas

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Great food, service, atmosphere! Family owned and well worth a try. A mainstay for us when we get close and sometimes we even go there on purpose! Homemade recipes! Fried okra is wonderful! Steaks of any description are always delicious! Full bar. Generous pours! Enjoy! read more

Excellent food and service. It's always exciting when you go and you see the locals are there and recognized by the staff. Our server was exceptional and I wish I would have gotten his name. He was very busy but extremely attentive. This place was recommended by multiple people and it did not disappoint. We started off by having the onion rings which were delicious. I had the chicken fried chicken with mashed potatoes and green beans and my friend had chicken fried steak mashed potatoes and cucumber salad. The food was over the top and the portions were huge that we took the rest of ours home and had it for breakfast the next morning. All homemade and I wish we would've saved room to have a homemade dessert but we were completely stuffed. I can't wait to go back as we were visiting for the round top antique show, but it will definitely be on my list to go back next year. read more

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My husband had been standing and waiting for someone to come seat us. There were people who came in after us. The server took that group of people ahead of us and didn't even ask who was next. Rude! When they serve the dinner rolls with your meal they don't even give you any butte for the rolls. The cheesy squash I wasn't a fan of maybe someone else might be. our server was good. read more

If you traverse Highway 290 between Austin and Houston, you have passed this place a million times and probably didn't even know it. Situated in the little town of Carmine, which is one of those towns that makes you slow down to 55 miles an hour, this place is absolutely incredible. The Burger? One of the best in Texas. The onion rings? They are famous for a reason. The chicken fried steak? The best I have ever had. The place is upscale but casual, so check your pretension at the door. Nice folks, good food, fair prices. read more

JW's Steakhouse - Chicken fried ribeye special - Steakhouses Near Me - Carmine, Texas

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Our group was very hungry looking for good food in an unfamiliar city. We found Friendly, clean. authentic steakhouse.

Excellent food. Best cfs and rolls, crisp salad. Quick, courteous, professikn professional staff. read more

The food here is excellent. We enjoyed everything that we got. We will definitely come back when we are in town great ambience, and service as well! read more

We were in the area for Antique week on 3/25 and 3/26 and ate here both days. Love to shop but it is great knowing we are going to have a good meal when we are done. The chicken fried steak is absolutely awesome. And the onion rings are a must have starter. The service was quick, the food hot and everyone was nice. The first night both of us had chicken fried steak, the next day at lunch I got chicken fried steak and my shopping partner got chicken fried chicken. She loved it too. The cucumber salad and fried okra rounded out my meals as great sides. read more

Food, atmosphere and service were outstanding. Great place to rest after a day at Round Top. read more

JW steakhouse, steaks are nothing to brag about, and as far as I'm concerned they are just overrated. Have just moved from Katy, Texas to Giddings, we heard about JW Steakhouse, you know this place could be a fantastic place to go and eat a steak, but there steaks are nothing to brag over at all? My suggestion, is the owner go to Houston, meet with the owner of Taste of Texas as question on how to make a delicious steak, or even go to Saltgrass and ask the same question, and then come back, and restart your JW Steakhouse brand! In my opinion there steaks are not worth stopping for! read more

Friendly service, open decor, delicious dishes, good menu, local hangout, family friendly.

I stopped here while visiting my brother and his wife. My brother and his wife ordered the 6oz filet with a loaded baked potato, and those potatoes were definitely loaded. My SIL also ordered a side of three fried shrimp. The shrimp were delicious. I normally wouldn't order seafood this far away from the gulf but they were definitely fresh so no worries. I ordered the classic burger with Swiss cheese and a side of French fries and it too was delicious. The bun was super fresh and the beef patty was perfectly seasoned. JW's has a classic steakhouse vibe and it should, it is a steakhouse after all. Our server was great and very attentive. Everything that came out of the kitchen looked delicious. They also have a full bar. I think if you're in the area this place is worth a stop. I would definitely come again. read more

I stopped in here for lunch because it was in the area. It's self seating but I got my order taken right away and the portion sizes were generous. I had constant drink refills, a good thing, and the food was good. Though if you're gluten free be sure to say you don't want a roll with your meal. I had no idea they had them til my plate came out. Parking is along the curb and goes pretty quickly at peak times. read more

First time here. Ambience- nice, clean, quiet. Service- seated quickly, took our order quick and server kept asking if we needed anything else. Food- ordered cfs with fried okra and side salad. salad was huge, made with fresh veggies and homemade ranch dressing. CFS was hand battered and fried well. I could cut it with my knife. the fried okra was good. Gravy served on the side which I liked but the gravy itself was a little thin. My niece said the fried shrimp were out of this world. They were huge. read more

Great food and excellent friendly service that makes you feel like family in a comfortable classic country setting.

A very good small town restaurant with authentic Texas home cooking. Everything was fresh, hot and the portions were generous.

Best food within a 30 mile radius. This has been our new "spot" since we moved to Brenham, a year ago. Nothing else comes close. Service is fine, ambiance is humble. Food is fantastic. Try the pork chop. read more

This steakhouse is my new favorite restaurant. Delicious Angus steaks, baked potato and homemade salad dressings. Homemade pies and desserts too. My steak was perfectly cooked and flavored on a mesquite grill. If you're on your way between Bastrop and Houston it's in the little town of Carmine TX, 40 miles east of Bastrop. Plenty of seating. Right behind the Weikiels Bakery. Can't wait to go back. read more

JW's Steakhouse - Mesquite grilled ribeye - Steakhouses Near Me - Carmine, Texas

Food was delicious and the waitress was very good! Although we were there early in the evening the restaurant was fairly empty but the service was great! Would recommend this restaurant. read more

I really do like JW's. I've never had a bad steak and always good service. I love their onion rings too. My only recommendation or suggestions is their baked potatoes could be cooked longer. Other than that the food is really great. read more

While visiting my buddy's ranch in Round Top, he intentionally didn't bring dinner items so we could go to the local "steakhouse." I went to an Ag college so, small Texas town "steakhouse" gets " " because they are usually some dump that has either the most amazing, but fatty steak or it is a steak worthy of Golden Corral or Sizzlers. This is truly a steakhouse. First, the ambiance is not a Fleming's or Capital Grille, but more like Taste of Texas in Houston. Pretentious is not a word at this place. Clean and welcoming would be. The service, awesome! She was super attentive to our 7-top of all dudes that were getting progressively over served through the evening. From the beginning to the end our wine bottles were full and so were our wine glasses. She felt bad that we had to get to 5 oz filets, since they ran out of the 10 oz filet. In reality it was no big deal, but solidified their restaurant as a 5 star. The wine list? Amazing for a small town. Also the markup was nothing. They had a cab we ended up really liking. The Vivino rating was 4.2 and was average price of $35. It was only $35/bottle!!! The food? From the spread of appetizers we got (I know we had the pickles, onion rings, and mushrooms) to the filet with loaded baked potato to the chocolate cake dessert, all amazing! Believe the filet was $34 with a side and a salad) My bar was set low, but this place really knocked it out of the park. Will I be back? Without a doubt!!! If I am even not too near to Carmine, I will definitely come back. For 7 guys who had the higher end of their steaks, appetizers, and lots of wine our bill was about $70/person. Not bad, that would have been a $120-$150 night in Houston. read more

JW's Steakhouse - Had to give me 2 5oz steaks since the 10oz was out. So good! - Steakhouses Near Me - Carmine, Texas

Amazing service and food ! The portions are huge ! Best fried chicken I've ever had on Tuesday Nights ! read more

Just a block off of hwy 290, is a great little restaurant in Carmine TX. Passing through we are always looking for a midway stop and this place was perfect. Great iced tea, salads, sandwiches and meat platters. I am trying to eat right and the waitress accommodated my lettuce instead of bread hamburger request. The burger was flavored well and cooked perfectly with seasoned crispy edges and juicy inside. My husband ordered a starter of onion rings which I had to try and the batter was perfect- crunchy, tasty and a little bit sweet. Our waitress was textbook in service- timing of food, adjusting the room temp per request, offering a to go cup of tea, nice but not overdone. Easy parking and quick service. I couldn't wait to rate this little sweet spot a five so others could check out this spacious but small town food stop. read more

JW's Steakhouse - Store front. - Steakhouses Near Me - Carmine, Texas

Excellent food, excellent service. 8 oz Top Sirloin - tasty and cooked to perfection (medium) - excellent Carrots, okra and tomatoes were the sides - excellent If you like onion rings - you will not be disappointed. Service was attentive, timely, and accurate. Never felt rushed. Arrived 5:15 (Saturday) - not crowded at all. Left around 6:45 - folks were waiting for tables. Prices are reasonable for the excellent food and service. read more

JW's Steakhouse - 8 oz sirloin steak with sides - Steakhouses Near Me - Carmine, Texas

We stopped here on the way to Brenham. It was busy because it was a Friday during Lent. The wait was 15-20 minutes, which isn't too bad in my opinion for a Friday night in a small town. Our waitress was really nice, even though she was very busy with all her tables. She even took the time to ask us where we were from and if we were there for the big antiques show in the area. So why dock a star? Well, the hostess wasn't very pleasant. You could tell that cracking a smile at customers was as much effort as she was willing to give. I did not see any customers being rude to her, but who knows what put her in a foul mood. The catfish was a little dry as well, but their salad was solid, which is why I did not deduct another star. Would I give this place another try? Maybe. I saw some other items on the menu that looked interesting, and if we go through here again during dinner, we might give this place another try. Hopefully the hostess finds her joy next time we try this place again, so her attitude doesn't sour the meal. read more

Carmine isn't usually a stop on my map but it sure will be after experiencing JW's. This place is SO delicious. The menu has great variety and everything we ordered seemed to be "made to order" and not frozen or kept under heat lamps. You can definitely taste the love put into each meal. You get that cozy small hometown feel at JW's and everyone is so friendly. I was chatting with a few people while waiting on our table and so many people drive in from an hour+ away to eat here. I can't recommend this place enough. Delicious food with super sweet staff. Also the fried pickles are some of the best I've ever had in my life. read more

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As I was driving back from Houston to Austin, I got a hankering for a steak. So I did a little search and found this place with great reviews. I pulled up at about 530 on a Friday night and it was hopping. I asked to be seated at the bar since I was alone. The hostess wasn't especially friendly or anything, but, she wasn't rude. The bartender took good care of me. I felt very impressed with the sirloin I got. I also got green beans and a really neat acorn squash side. When I'm passing through, I will definitely come back. read more

My wife and I frequently travel 290 and we always try to stop here for lunch. We usually order the daily special and it is always good. True Texas hospitality, friendly and helpful. Local ranchers, oil field workers and fellow travelers all eat here. Large portions at a fair price. read more

The best chicken fried chicken you will have. We love this place and go every time we're in town. You will be craving it the next day. Go!

Food was amazing. 6 huge tenders and fries toooo many. Coconut cream pie was very good. Chocolate not so much. read more

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We were in town shopping at Paul Michael and wanted to eat before drive back to Austin, so we did a Yelp search and this place was highly rated. When we entered, I was a little unsure, but by the time we left, I understood why the ratings are so high. While it seemed empty when we arrived around 4:15, by the time we left, almost every seat was taken and I know it is not just because the food is really, really good, but the customer service from the hostess to the waitstaff is genuine and so friendly. Michelle was our waitress and she was fantastic and definitely deserved her 25% tip. She was very friendly, very attentive, offered great suggestions and was able to wait on several tables at once without being stressed and her smile never waivered. The food was so good, we took home leftovers! We had the fried pickles, surf and turf with grilled shrimp, the catfish platter, side salads, loaded baked potatoes, chicken fried chicken with brown gravy, chocolate meringue pie, Italian cream cake and the chocolate eruption cake. Everything was fried to order, hot and fresh, the steak was perfectly prepared medium rare and the salads were fresh. I highly recommend their house made bleu cheese dressing. The rolls that accompanied each dish was fresh, warm and had a light taste of honey butter, so no additional butter was needed. The desserts....wow! All three were amazing, but the Italian cream cake was one of the best I have ever had. We threw the leftovers in our air fryer the next day and savored each bite. I highly recommend JW and when we come back to do more shopping, we will definitely be coming back and I hope to see Michelle again and I hope they have Crystal's hot sauce! read more

AMAZING!!! Hands down one of the best meals I've ever eaten . We started with Caesar side salads and fried mushrooms for our appetizers. Both were delicious and full of flavor. Then we had our main course; I had salmon and a baked potato and my husband enjoyed a steak and baked potato. The baked potatoes were generous, as was the meat portion of the meal. The rolls were this good: I haven't had any that good since my mom made bread when I was about 8 years old. Everything was delicious and I send my compliments to the chef/cook. 10/10 for them. read more

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The food was amazing, best appetizers we've had in a long time, the onion rings, oh my goodness, and the fried cheese and mushrooms amazing! So the chicken fried steak, absolutely one of the best I've had from anywhere! Fresh, hand cut, hand battered, and the portions are huge! The burgers don't disappoint either!! The staff was amazing too, our waitress didn't miss a beat serving a huge table! The only reason I didn't give them a five star rating is because we were a bit disappointed that they wouldn't allow our whole party to sit together because it was so big, so they sat four from our party of twenty at a separate booth... because of the waitress assignment, so our waitress had 16 and another only had four, overworked ours, and the other table was under worked. Good place and we will be back, just not a party or birthday celebration. And sorry for the photos, was focused on eating before I remembered to "Yelp!" lol read more

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We ordered the chicken fried steak with mashed potatoes & fried okra, plus an appetizer of fried pickles, to go while enjoying a night in a cabin at Busted Oak Cellars. It was delicious! The steak was pounded to the perfect thickness & covered with a very well seasoned batter. It was still very hot & crispy when my husband got back with it. The potatoes & okra were also excellent. The pickles were crispy & had great flavor. We split the 8oz because we had been snacking at the winery. There was plenty for both of us & the price was great. read more

First time visitor from Boston: hands down the best sandwich I've ever had in my life and the RANCH THOUGH *chef's kiss* I honestly never leave reviews but this place is some next level flavor - thanks for the awesome vaca experience! read more

The onion rings are fabulous! We ordered a medium and for sure should've gotten a small. They are huge! Flavor is so so good! I had the classic 1/3 pound burger and my husband had the 1/2 pound. Nice flavor and e probably could've split on burger. Nice people, good service. read more

Great service. Clean western atmosphere Great chicken fried steak We've visited lots of times. And they have a drive through window read more