Eve’s Café On the Square – Lampasas, Texas

Every so often you stumble on a restaurant where the food is so unexpectedly good that you have to wonder why doesn’t everyone know this place? Why am I just discovering it? Eve’s Café On the Square, in Lampasas, Texas is that place. Lampasas is not exactly a tourist destination, nor is it known for great restaurants. It is the seat of Lampasas County, in Central Texas, about 30 miles west of Killeen – and as it turns out, there is at least one great eatery in town.

 

We were out driving around one recent Saturday, and we drove into Lampasas to visit an antique store. We knew were going to eat lunch at some point, and our plan was to stop at a German restaurant in nearby Kempner on the way home. As I was roaming around the antique store on the square across from the Lampasas County courthouse, my wife was talking about restaurants with the owner.

She mentioned that we were thinking of the German restaurant in Kempner, and he pointed outside to the adjacent side of the square and told her there was a German café right over there. Since we were all hungry, none of us wanted to drive to Kempner to eat, so we decided to give it a try.

It is often the case that you find hidden treasures when you least expect it, and that is exactly what happened. Eve’s is a cozy little restaurant with eleven tables; a comfortable atmosphere, good prompt service, reasonable prices, and oh yes – outstanding food.

If Eve’s Café was in Manhattan, or some other culinary mecca, you would never be able to get in the place – it would be packed from the instant they opened until they closed. Fortunately for those of us who live in Central Texas, Eve’s happens to be close by in Lampasas – far off the beaten path.

Two of our party, including me, ordered The Westphalian sandwich – Westphalian ham and Swiss cheese with tomato, lettuce, and a touch of horseradish, on German Rye bread. Westphalian Ham, famous from Northern Germany, is noted for its smoky, distinctive flavor. If you’re thinking ‘ham is ham’, then you have never tasted Westpahlian ham. It was the first time I had ever heard of it, and it was tasty – overall, an outstanding meal.

If you are anywhere near Lampasas, you owe it to yourself to try Eve’s Café on the Square – you won’t be disappointed. While you’re there, say hello to our old friend Chad.

Larry Manch is an author, teacher, guitar player, freelance writer, and columnist. His books include: 'Twisted Logic: 50 Edgy Flash Fiction Stories', 'The Toughest Hundred Dollars & Other Rock & Roll Stories', 'A Sports Junkie', 'The Avery Appointment', 'Between the Fuzzy Parts'. His books are available in paperback and e-book.

He also writes about sports for Season Tickets, food and travel on Miles & Meals, and music/guitars on The Backbeat.

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