local dining

Friday, August 18, 2000

Hear ye! Hear ye! Breakfast buffet is a weekend treat at Towne Crier

By Glenn Dromgoole
Special to the Reporter-News

When I’m hungry for a hearty breakfast, I head over to Towne Crier Steakhouse for the weekend breakfast buffet.

Towne Crier is a popular eastside eatery known for its chicken-fried steak, Monday night shrimpfests and daily soup specials. But it’s also a great place for breakfast.

The restaurant offers a breakfast menu Monday through Thursday and is a favorite early morning meeting place for college, church and civic groups.

The buffet ($5.49) is available only on Friday and Saturday, 6:30-10:30 a.m. Owner Dwight Aston and his crew put on quite a feast that is both delicious and filling.

I like to start with a platter of “basics” — bacon, sausage, three types of soft scrambled eggs, home fries, grits and biscuits (with gravy). That should be enough to satisfy any appetite, but there’s more ... much more.

On my second trip to the breakfast bar, I fill up a fresh platter with a selection of “sweet stuff” — including French toast, pancakes, pecan or blueberry waffles, and blueberry muffins.

After a breakfast like that, one is advised to skip lunch altogether.

But if lunch is more to your liking, Towne Crier’s most popular entrée is the hand-breaded chicken-fried steak special for $5.89, which includes a trip to the soup and salad bar. At night the chicken-fried is $6.59. I also recommend the chopped sirloin with mushrooms and gravy ($6.59).

The soup and salad bar, $5.29, consistently offers some of the best homemade soup in town, with a different soup spotlighted every day along with what Aston calls a “backup soup.” The featured soups are: Monday, chicken vegetable stew; Tuesday, shrimp creole gumbo; Wednesday, vegetable soup; Thursday, cream of broccoli; Friday and Saturday, Wisconsin cheese soup. One of the more popular “backups” is the taco soup, usually served on Thursday and Friday but available by request on Tuesday and Wednesday as well. The chicken and rice soup, a personal favorite, is also served on weekends.

A long-standing feature at Towne Crier is its Monday night shrimp peel. Aston introduced the all-you-can-eat shrimp dinner back in 1979, and it still packs ’em in. At $14.95, the dinner includes all the boiled or fried shrimp you want, the soup and salad bar, baked potato or fries, Towne Crier’s delicious homemade rolls, a homemade cinnamon roll and drink. If that’s not enough, for an extra five bucks you can add a steak cooked to your liking.

Towne Crier was established in 1966. For several years former Mayor Gary McCaleb was the managing partner, and his artwork still graces the restaurant’s walls. Aston joined the restaurant as managing partner in 1977 and became principal owner in 1979. General manager David Hollon signed on in 1979 and has been with him ever since.

Glenn Dromgoole is an Abilene author. For previous restaurant reviews and a complete directory of Abilene restaurants, visit www.bigcountrydining.com.

IF YOU GO ...

Towne Crier Steakhouse

818 E. Highway 80

Towne Crier is open from 6:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Closed Sunday.

Features include breakfast buffet ($5.49) on Friday and Saturday (6:30-10:30 a.m.), the plentiful soup and salad bar ($5.29) at lunch and dinner, and Monday night shrimp peel ($14.95). Chicken-fried steak and chopped sirloin are popular entrees. The homemade rolls are outstanding.

The children’s menu offers hamburger steak, fish, sausage, or chicken strips for $3.59, including fries and Jello.

Checks and most credit cards accepted. No need for reservations since lunch and dinner is line service, but groups can arrange for special early morning seating. Call 673-4551.