I am remiss on putting this review up . I went with some friends and we all ordered different items pork chops / quail / steak / etc ... we all left satisfied and wanting to come back ! read more

I tried: --a New Zealand Red Deer Burger --a Jalapeno & Cheese Sausage Wrap --French Fries with Tartar Sauce The food was piping hot & really reasonably priced, especially for gourmet food. My burger was good, but my french fries were AMAZING. So was the sausage wrap! The tartar sauce was different--very dilly but not pickley. (In fact, they don't have pickles!! That's pretty much the only bad thing I can say about this place.) It wasn't bad though--just different--and I bet it's awesome on the catfish! Oh, and that the lunch menu is kind of small. But the dinner menu was huge & had a number of gourmet choices. The waitress told me that they change their menu weekly and post it online so I'll definitely be returning! The service was great!! The girl who waited on us was really sweet, clean, and enthusiastic! Also really attentive, especially considering she was the only waitress there. She was great about making recommendations and explaining everything to us (ingredients, menu, etc). Great experience! read more

The quest for Mac & Ernie's has loomed in my mind like the Holy Grail. Some friends have a ranch near Centerpoint, and when you're talking ranch distances, the 45 minutes to Tarpley is a quick jaunt to the corner store. But circumstances always seemed to thwart my quest. Finally, some friends and I were heading to a ranch near Bandera, and when I saw Tarpley was a mere 26 minutes away (as the Google flies), I made an impassioned plea that we stop at Mac & Ernie's for lunch. The original humble shack now serves as the entrance to Mac & Ernie's larger expansion. A couple of chalkboard menus are displayed near the counter where you place your order, with the large open kitchen sprawling behind. A number of tables fill out the dining room, and plenty of picnic tables are spread around the property out back. We sat outside to get the proper experience, at least my preconceived notion of the proper experience. There were two things in my mind's Mac & Ernie's Holy Grail: the cabrito burger and the chicken-fried lamb chops. Unfortunately, only the former is available at lunch time. Most of our group went for the cabrito, while a few ordered normal hamburgers. The cabrito was formed into thin patties replete with parsley and garlic which really made it flavorful. The buns are not your standard buns, they're artisanal, and while good, they resulted in too large a bun to patty ratio in my opinion - a little too bready, particularly in the thicker middle part. And I don't normally like mayo on my burgers, but I let the kitchen dress the cabrito as they saw fit, and it made for a good compliment to the meat. I took a bite of one of the standard burgers that some of my companions ordered, and these were thicker, a juicy pink medium in the center. The fries were crispy and potatoey, if unremarkable, and we also sampled a jalapeño cheese sausage wrap, which was juicy and delicious with bits of cheese and jalapeño stuffed right into the sausage - excellent when dipped into some stoneground mustard. In the end, the cabrito burger just didn't blow my hair back the way I thought they would, but perhaps I had just built them up impossibly high in my head. But the lamb chops still remain elusive. A friend who left Houston much later than us decided to hit Mac & Ernie's as well, and at dinner time he was able to try the lamb chops, which he raved about. So the quest is still incomplete, but I eagerly await my return to try the lamb and likely add at least another star to this Roadside Eatery. read more

Ever go to a restaurant you wanted to hate, but couldn't. This would be one of those. After driving to the middle of nowhere (15 minutes outside Bandera) for lunch, you are bombarded with limitations. Some make no sense at all and some don't exactly endear this place. * Okay, we knew the interesting dinner menu does not even closely resemble the limited lunch menu. * They don't make the Margarita Mixer to mix with your BYOT as noted on their website (and still noted). * Pie? Pie is only for dinner. Huh? After settling on ordering beer, we ordered the Goat (Cabrito) burger and Antelope burger. They were cooked perfectly and the taste really reflected the true taste of the meat. This is why you would go there for lunch. As everyone discusses, the dinner menu is more expanded than lunch. I would probably not go back for lunch, but perhaps if I was in the area at dinnertime, however unlikely, I would drop in. read more

Soooo worth the drive from San Antonio! Cabrito burger is the bomb and fries were cooked to perfection! Top it off with an ice cold Fireman's 4 and you'll be in heaven......or Tarpley, TX. Great friendly service. read more

Came this way for their Cabrito burger and they were out. Glad I didn't travel far. Opted for a plain cheeseburger instead. They didn't ask how I wanted it cooked. I guess they assumed medium rare...they assumed wrong. The cheeseburger was "meh", the fries were a separate charge and they were better than average. Overall this was ok but I won't go out of my way again. If I'm in the area I'll stop by if they have the Cabrito burger. But this was a trip for nothing great. read more

This is a must try if you're in the area biking or site seeing! I had the Blue cheese Axis burger and MAN! That IS a tasty burger! :) What a cool place and right in the middle of some of the best riding roads in the Texas Hill Country! read more

The Axis burger with FETA cheese, NOT blue cheese, was AMAZING!!! I will eat there every chance I get, but not TOO often as I may have to change my wardrobe sizes - LOVE the atmosphere as well, very laid back and casual. read more

My family and I have been coming here for years. The concept is top notch- gourmet food in a casual atmosphere while enjoying the great outdoors. Everything is delicious. My favorites are the catfish and lamb. The salad that comes with the meal is wonderful as well! read more

We went out of our way, WAY out of our way, on a friend's recommendation, to have dinner, and I'm really glad we did. Don't judge this place by the exterior. It looks like your standard short order burger barn from the outside, but inside, the menu, which changes daily, will shock and amaze you in the best possible way. The night we were there, it featured pork kebabs, mahi mahi with a scallion glaze, chicken breast with roasted red bell pepper sauce, lamb, and crab cakes. Prices are reasonable and the best seats are outside, but they have a limited amount of each dish, so show up early! read more

I really wanted to love dinner here. It was my Mothers Day dinner. We ordered several items from the menu. Our complete meal was being served in about 6 minutes! I'm thinking it was pre cooked! The pork chop tasted old and was tough. My daughter cut her finger when trying to cut the pork chop with plastic utensils. Carb cake was extremely fishy tasting. Salmon really had no flavor at all. I remember when this was a great place to eat. I was so looking forward to having a special meal out with my daughter. $80 later....just never again. Mac & Ernie's has lost the charm. Sad to say, but true!! read more

mac and ernies have definitely moved, they are no longer in the shack as in the video on their web site. there are now plenty of seats inside, though the day we went it was all smoky like kitchen exhaust all around the inside seating. we ate outside. the lamb chops were the best i have ever had from anywhere. so good so good. Gfriend had pork chop that was huge and came with this horseradish mayo that was all good. they sell beer and wine, i think you can still bring your own with you. as for the sides, i had green beans which were nothing that special new location for all you gps users is right at the intersection of 470 and 462. read more

One of the best burgers!! I also love that they use local grass-fed beef. I don't feel like I have a brick in my stomach after downing one of their burgers, which is rare. The meat tastes clean and I like that. I've also had their cabrito burgers and YUM-O!! read more

Very pleasant experience stopping at Mac & Ernie's while driving through the hill country. We had a cabrito burger and a regular hamburger and fries. All very good and our very first cabrito burger. Staff were very courteous and welcoming. read more

I've been using Yelp for awhile but never felt the need to review before, until now. Stopped here on our way to the Frio. So glad we did. I had Cabrito and fries, seasoned and cooked perfectly. The wife had the Axis, also very delish. The kids, not feeling adventurous had plain old cow, certainly nothing plain about it. Some of the best burgers I've tasted in a long while. Well worth the diversion off of our original route from Corpus. What a Funky little place in the middle of the hill country. A true gem. Can't wait to go back and try some items from the other side of the menu. read more

Went to dinner on Friday with friends. The restaurant and outdoor seating area were packed. We ordered a crab cake appetizer, lamb chops and catfish with salad and potato. Everything was delicious and the service was excellent. Highly recommend this restaurant. read more

This is our favorite hill country cafe. We visit each week and enjoy a great meal. Tonight we had the grilled ribeye and grilled chicken breast. All meals come with a baked potato and either a salad or mixed grilled veggies. Beer, wine and soft drinks. Great desserts each week. Pies, Catfish & lamb chops are the best you'll ever eat! read more

Mac & Ernie's Roadside Eatery - Burgers Near Me - Tarpley, Texas

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Expensive for throwaway settings. And you have to purchase bottled water if you want water ... At $17 to $24 for dinner I expected more. We did see people who'd brought their own wine and wine glasses. Will look into that if we go back. read more

Stopped for a ribeye steak after hiking in Garner. It was a great cut and perfectly cooked. We enjoyed the crab cake with spicy aioli too.

We love to eat here. Just a cool country atmosphere, very casual with great food. Our favorite dish is the quail. Great service, great food, frequent visits back for more. read more

Great burger and golden crispy fries! The sesame bun is one of the fluffiest I have ever had. I asked for medium rare and they abliged, most will not. The burger almost fell apart in melted in my mouth! The staff was very polite and checked on me the times. Great quality, service, and price! I will be coming here again, even if of the beaten path. Did I mention it's a great country ride on a motorcycle also? read more

One of my favorites. No complaints. My only advice is for Naylene to put in an A/C split system which would make a huge difference and it's relatively inexpensive. read more

Omg did not expect such amazing food. The food here is 5 star. I am so excited that we will be traveling through this area two more times this summer. We will be sure to stop. The only down side to this resturant is that everything is served on plastic wear. read more

Nothing wrong with the food, but the two workers that handled the food were filthy. Appropriate for gardening, but not for food service.

SO glad we drove the 15 miles from Utopia to give Mac & Ernie's a try! Very unassuming place on the outside, but surprising upscale food twists with a Greek / Mediterranean flair. Husband had an expertly-prepared ribeye and I tried chicken kabob with tangerine aioli sauce (at least 8 oz of large marinated & grilled chicken breast pieces.). Our sides were baked potato with a choice of salad (spring greens with a delightful vinaigrette and feta) or grilled fresh green beans with pecans. I requested beans instead of potato and was upcharged $2 which was 'okay', but a slight negative, though the beans themselves were wonderful. Only bottle water is available, and sodas/bottles of wine/beer are self-serve from a cooler. You order & pay at the counter (menu posted on a whiteboard) and someone brings your plate when ready, but no real "service" unless you wish to order another beer. You get a real steak knife, but the plates are foam and the other cutlery is standard plastic in a packet. Many other diners were having heaped plates of fried fish which looked great. We were very happy with our meal, but we opted for pie & coffee back in Utopia instead of trying M&E's red velvet tres leches cake or chocolate pie. read more

Like other reviewers said, I heard about this little gem from a friend's biker uncle, described as a little shack with an outdoor kitchen and some picnic tables, and a convenience store next door where you bought your drinks. Such a fitting description, but it totally betrays the quality of food that's in store. We stopped here to meet up with some friends on the way to Garner State Park for some camping. It was only a 30 minute detour on the way to Garner from San Antonio or Austin, and nearby Lost Maples as well. The place was bustling when we arrived, and stayed that way most of the night. We grabbed some tallboys from the convenience store and sat at a table near the open air kitchen to wait for the rest of our friends. The smells wafting from the kitchen through the cool air were pure torture, like dogs with a treat on our nose, salivating and waiting for the "ok" command. Shuttled past us from the kitchen were hearty thick "big daddy pork chops", ancho honey basted quail (small, but so incredibly juicy), fried shrimp and catfish, rosemary salmon, and lamb chops, served on paper plates with plastic utensils. I ordered the big chop with an extra side of quail. As luck would have it, they weren't out of pork chops (popular items have a way of disappearing off the menu), but it would take an extra 30 minutes and our waitress, knowing we had to check in by a certain time, upgraded me to a 12 oz. Ribeye, no extra charge. Score. Also, the dinner menu changes every week, so check before you go, and the place is CASH ONLY, definitely something to know before you go. The food was pretty incredible. As mentioned, the quail were incredibly juicy. Though I had expected a little more spice from the ancho peppers, it was more of a smokey sweet flavor with the honey. The steak, cooked rare, was close-your-eyes, put-your-fork-down, I-need-a-moment good. Best steak I've had in a long long while, not over seasoned, juicy and buttery, perfectly red and without a trace of gristle...in a word, perfect. I found out afterward that Guy Fieri profiled the place for Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives, there's a video on youtube that would have sold me if I hadn't already been converted myself. If you're passing through the hill country or just looking for a beautiful drive with some delicious food at the end, make Mac and Ernies your destination. read more

I have to agree with Tara on this place. What a sweet quirky Little find literally in the middle of nowhere. Took my mom there while we were staying in Utopia (which, by the way, is gorgeous in the fall and also close to Lost Maples). Have to say driving there in the dark, along windy, hilly roads is a little intimidating, esp when you just aren't sure where it's at. But persistence pays off! This literally is a fine-dining shack that is set up in the parking lot of a convenience store. After ordering your gourmet quail, steak, or pork tenderloin dinner at the walk-up window, you are instructed to cross the lot and buy your beverages at the store, then have a seat at the picnic benches and your food will be brought to you. I went a few years ago and I remember being impressed by the eats, but what made me fall in love with the place was the atmosphere and the uniqueness of it. Truly off the beaten path! read more

OMG this place is Fantastic! Regardless of what you order you will not be disappointed. My favorites are the Fried Shrimp (Friday Night), Steak, Salmon, Chicken, Quail, and Catfish! Only open Friday, Saturday for lunch and dinner. Desserts can vary but are usually Chocolate Pie and Coconut Creme Pie. Her burgers are the best I've ever tasted. Sunday she is open for breakfast and lunch. The Eggs Bennedict are to die for! Thankful I live close by because there's 3 days a week that I let Naylene do the cooking. read more

went several years ago after seeing it on food network. did not like the cabrito burger and service was terrible, she was not friendly at all. will not return. read more

After waiting a long time I finally made it!! I'm going to keep this brief...the food was great...only the lobster gyozas were so so..... I had lamp chops, not the chicken fried I had hoped for,( there are "rules", the chicken fried is only served on the third Saturday of the month or some such, cabrito burgers only for lunch), and husband had sirloin. I wasn't so bad off, can pick up lamb chop. I mean truly 50-60 dollars for a meal on syro and plastic fork????? We will return as the food was good,service was good and fun...didn't mind the wait they were slamed!! But will order finger food, and you can be darn sure it won't be a steak or anything you have to "cut"....plastic plates would even be accetable but styro???? Not happeneing...but still give it 4 star, would have been 5...so steak lovers be ware, or bring your own plate. read more

We always stop here after a great hike in lost maples. Love the atmosphere and uniqueness of this place. The food and service is always top notch! read more

My husband and I drove from Dallas to eat the cabrito burger that we had seen on Bizarre Foods. We arrived at dinner and asked if they served cabrito burgers since it was not on the menu. They informed us that it was only served during lunch. After we told them we came because we saw it on tv and would pay extra, they still refused to serve the burger. They stated that they would have to thaw the meat out and if they did it for one person they would have to do it for all. I disagree with their policy. This is not a 5 star restaurant and the only reason most people have heard of the place is because of the recognition on tv. We left there extremely disappointed with their policy. We looked at the dinner menu but everything was overpriced, considering that you have to eat outside with numerous flies flying around your food. We will not recommend this place to anyone. read more

Oh, the lamb chops--they're so good they'll make you want to cry. Plus, I heard Nalene and the crew are moving down the street, so they won't have to swelter/freeze in the little cook shack. Woot! read more

After giving this establishment a generous advance notice, we rode in with our 30 member bike club for our annual Veterans Day ride. Nearly every hamburger served was 70% raw/undercooked. A couple folks returned theirs to the grill. Most of us grew tired of waiting for our food, and simply ate what we got. There was some confusion with a vocally combative female server over a couple incomplete orders (involving french fries) that literally broke into a full blown quarrel; very stupid and poor customer service; over fries. Despite the recent expansion, this establishment is just not able or equipped to feed midsized bike club's. Seat them; YES, serve them; NO. read more