Well, we left early on a little trip to see family just so I could mark this one off of the list. I FINALLY got to Mary's Cafe in Strawn and had the large Chicken Fried Steak. Honestly, I didn't eat breakfast, and I ate a light lunch so I could order this bad boy:
Yeah, that's it. Notice the mashed potatoes and gravy in separate bowls. To be honest, I have been looking forward to this dish for years, ever since I went looking for the best Chicken Fried Steak in Texas. Was this the best Chicken Fried Steak in Texas? No. Maybe I caught them on an off night, but while it was a great CFS, it wasn't the best I have ever had. There are two things this steak had going for it. First, the large order is actually 3 adult sized Chicken Fried Steaks served overlapping on 1 plate. That's a lot of food! Second, probably the best part of the meal is the bowl of gravy that is served on the side that can be slathered on to your heart's content. The gravy was amazing - not too thick, not too thin, and an amazing flavor. Overall, the dish was top notch, but it came up a bit short. I guess if I am going to pay what I paid for this, and if the cafe is going to be reasonably slow (less than 15 customers in the place) the steak has to be top notch. The steak itself was a little on the bland side, and for me the best Chicken Fried Steak in the state should be able to be the best whether or not it has gravy on it. In short, the steak should stand alone, and unfortunately it didn't. Was it good? Yes, absolutely! Would I eat it again? Maybe. Did it mark one more thing off my list? You bet your taters it did! Overall an experience I'm glad I had
