Marfa is not just the tiny town where Giant was filmed.
This small town of 2,200 has some pretty amazing dining options as well!
At Miniature Rooster, you can sample a little Indian & Southern fusion in a building that was once a gas station. (they may be just catering now...?)
At Miniature Rooster, you can sample a little Indian & Southern fusion in a building that was once a gas station. (they may be just catering now...?)
Mando's is too busy to fix the sign.
Not too long ago, you could still be served in your car at Mando's. But now you can soften the hard seats in the booth with a pillow and enjoy breakfast with the locals. Lots of chatter amongst a few nuns, some border patrol and some retired men wearing cowboy and trucker hats.
Angel served us breakfast tacos and chatted with us when the crowd thinned. She's used to rising at 3 am for work, but Wednesdays are the hardest, with laundromat and getting kids to evening church.
Angel served us breakfast tacos and chatted with us when the crowd thinned. She's used to rising at 3 am for work, but Wednesdays are the hardest, with laundromat and getting kids to evening church.
Food and Drink in a 150 Year old Building!
This old building has served many purposes. It was a funeral home at some point. 3 years ago it was bought by a Priest and now offers a full bar, food and live music!
Cool Interior
Chandeliers and old church pews add a little fun to this bar. But we had to work pretty hard to make ourselves feel welcome. Our bartender was a young woman with no chit chat abilities and some of the quirkier Marfa locals offered no help when I claimed I couldn't figure out the complicated juke box. I have no pics of the quirksters (don't think I can consider them hipsters) but they are mostly artists and musicians who have left bigger cities like Austin and NY, to open galleries, studios and restaurants in this small dusty town. They often have a few children in tow, with perfectly faded overalls and cute peasant dresses with striped tights...adorable, free spirit kiddos! These slightly older, carefree, quirkster parents would be sad to know that what I observed was really no different than watching Country Club Kids...running around like they own the place while the parents socialize. Amusing!
People Encounter
I did strike up a conversation with Rod Ponton, who was eating a bowl of gumbo at the bar. He was much friendlier than other folks...but maybe that's because he was running for 83rd District Attorney. He was actually a pretty decent guy...maybe I'd vote for him if I lived in the area!
A place that hardly looks friendly...
We found ourselves the most comfortable at Borunda's bar and pool hall. Pancho Borunda warmed up after we ordered beers at the bar. He proudly showed us some of his recipes, which are featured in Robb Walsh's Tex Mex Cook Book. This burley guy with gray beard and tattoos won us over with stories of his grandma's restaurant next door. (now a shop called Fancy Pony Land) It was the oldest restaurant in Marfa.
Pancho still uses the old family recipes...
...and even the china (striped) from Grandma's old restaurant!
The chicken taquitos and brisket tacos were amazingly good!
The chicken taquitos and brisket tacos were amazingly good!
The most unique dining and actually the best food...
What a great food experience at the town pavilion! We ordered our food from the Food Shark truck, then took a seat inside the old Blue Bird bus while our food was cooked.
Worth the wait!
It took about 20 minutes till my name was called over a speaker in the bus. I didn't mind killing time, staring out the windows. I watched the line grow longer at the food truck, and I gazed at the nearby train tracks, hoping a train would rumble by. The twinkly lights and a nice mixture of blue grass and static on the radio, added some warmth to the cozy wait.
The food was excellent, but incredibly messy! We orderd BLT with avocado, a Greek salad, plus the Marfalafel sandwich. Crispy and oozing with fresh toppings! Nothing better than munching away while eavesdropping on conversing locals. Mostly newcomer locals talking about their galleries and film festivals. I think the longtime locals like Pancho and Angel were too busy or tired to stop for lunch at the Food Shark!
The food was excellent, but incredibly messy! We orderd BLT with avocado, a Greek salad, plus the Marfalafel sandwich. Crispy and oozing with fresh toppings! Nothing better than munching away while eavesdropping on conversing locals. Mostly newcomer locals talking about their galleries and film festivals. I think the longtime locals like Pancho and Angel were too busy or tired to stop for lunch at the Food Shark!
I rate 50 points for the overall food experience in Marfa!
Unusual people encounters and great food variety, in a curious small town in West Texas!
Unusual people encounters and great food variety, in a curious small town in West Texas!
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