Ridin' Around

The Turnrow

The Mr. and I made a little trip out to Rowena this week and found quite a surprise. We did not see the ghost of Bonnie Parker, but we did stumble upon The Turnrow Bar & Grill.

We were driving around Runnels County seeing the sights when we realized we were very hungry and in the middle of nowhere. Driving a little farther down the road brought us into Rowena, where there was a fancy church, a closed hardware store and what looked to be another Texas countryside steak house. There is nothing wrong with these steak houses, but sometimes they can be overpriced and they basically all have the same spurs and cowboy hats ambiance. Which is also okay, but nothing special or different or inspiring, ya know?

I stiffened and straightened up, preparing myself for the $7.50 hamburgers and highly skeptical looks from hardcore cowmen. We walked up, pushed open the door, and found ourselves in an appealing warehouse-style, rustic-yet-modern building with so many different directions to look that I'm surprised we didn't stumble over our own feet and fall down. I have to say, because sometimes it's very confusing, I was pleased when a waitress came and led us to a table immediately. I hate to go into a restaurant and not know what to do while the staff looks at you like "Who's this jack-ass that just walked in?". There was also a sign that read "Wait to be Seated" in case the waitress was not immediately available.

There was a fantastic vintage blinking arrow sign with regular light bulbs in it that pointed to the bar area in the corner. Flat screen tvs were interspersed in the main dining and pool-table (yes!) area, with a quieter back dining room where the waitresses picked up their orders. A separate room with doors (the others are all in open space) is used for events such a Lion's Club meetings, retirement parties and small conferences.

Our waitress was attentive and cute. We got to talking a little bit and she said she had just moved there from Dallas and was wondering how she would make a living in this small town when someone told her about this bar & grill. I think it was a windfall for both sides.

The food was good (burgers) and the tea glass was kept full. The jeans pocket coasters were clever and useful. Good, low-volume music played in the background while soaps played on the televisions. There was a steady stream of customers, and this was on a Monday afternoon. We're gonna have to go check it out on a Friday or Saturday night, sometime when I bet it's hoppin'. You stop by and check it out for yourself, you won't be sorry.