A five star restaurant at a gas station? Yes, you can find that in my neck of the woods. Chef Point Cafe is nestled inside this Conoco Station located on Watauga Road in the Texas community of Watauga … population: 24,005, SAA-LUTE! Oops, my Hee Haw roots are showing.
Chef Point. Don't let the exterior fool you.
Nowadays, most gasoline stations are attached to convenience stores (and vicee-versee, as my Papaw would say). This is quite handy if you want to buy yourself a Slim Jim and a soda pop, but is not so good if you need a mechanic in a hurry. Americans are always in a hurry, and sharp entrepreneurs are just waiting to take advantage of that fact. We like to eat “on-the-go.” But, that’s not the point at Chef Point Cafe … it’s a destination.
Along the highways, many convenience stores have teamed with fast food restaurants. Occasionally the “Mom & Pop” establishments offer more enticing fare like kolaches (the Czech Stop in West, Texas) or mouth watering barbecue (County Line BBQ, in Waller). In my book, those are destinations, too. But, Chef Point takes the cake, or in this case — the bread pudding.
Bread pudding swimming in hot cognac sauce.
But, I’m getting ahead of myself. Let me back up.
I confess I have passed this Conoco station dozens of times over the years, but was never tempted to stop because I didn’t need a Slim Jim. Then a friend told me about the restaurant inside it. The story goes that two chefs (Franson and Paula Nwaeze) went to the bank to get a loan to open a restaurant back in 2001. The banker told them that it was difficult to get a loan for a restaurant (since about 75% of them fail in the first year). He said it would be easier to get a loan for a filling station. So, Chef Franson said, “Gimme money for a gas station.” Or, something like that. The Chef Point Cafe enterprise began.
I will readily admit that it doesn’t have a lot of “ambiance” but, trust me, you will be so busy eating you won’t notice.
Short on charm.
Maybe.
We started our meal with an appetizer called What Nots (mushrooms caps stuffed with three cheeses & baked in garlic butter). If I could have gotten Mr. Tucker to back away, I could have made a meal just on those mushrooms. They were outstanding; cooked to perfection.
I stuffed MYSELF on these mushrooms!
For our entrees, Mr. Tucker ordered Chicken Scampi because he could pronounce it … and he pronounced it “mouth-watering.”
This Chicken Scampi did not lay an egg.
I ordered Pasta Con Gamberean Di Mare (because I like to mangle words I don’t know with my Texas accent). The fancy title described sauteed shrimp, fresh garlic, shallots & mushrooms on bowtie pasta, topped with basil and olive oil. Why didn’t they just say that in the first place? I don’t care what they call it, I called it “heavenly.”
You can't see them in the picture, but they didn't skimp on the shrimp.
We finished with the bread pudding I showed you above. Friends had told us that it was not to be missed, and it was pretty darned good. I’m still partial to the bread pudding served at The Bronx cafe,. However, if you want anything “alcoholic” served with your meal, you’d better try it. It is in a cognac sauce, and that is the closest you can get to consuming alcohol at Chef Point Cafe. Because it is in a gas station, they can’t serve beer or wine. You can look at it, or take a six pack home for later.
You can look at the beer, but you can't drink on the premises.
If you’ve been here before, you probably expect me to make some reference to that old joke about “eat and get gas.” The restaurant beat me to the punch. They had these signs in the men’s restroom but not in the women’s restroom. Did they think I don’t appreciate “potty humor?”
There had to be potty humor.
We didn’t get gas or gasoline on our visit to Chef Point Cafe. It was a delightful experience, and we can’t wait until out-of-town guests visit so we can take them for a meal they won’t forget. If y’all are in my neck of the woods, I’ll be happy to take you there.
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{ 9 comments }
That does it! I’m moving to Texas!!!! Bread pudding is simply the single best thing ever created on the face of the planet, and I am addicted to the concoction.
Bread pudding is one of the best things. I’m not sure it’s worth picking up and moving over. Do you want me to ship some of this to you? I could probably do that
Shelly, OMG, I am laughing because we just saw this exact place featured on Food TV’s Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives with Guy Fieri! My husband I were drooling over the sight of his bread pudding through the TV. It looked amazing and how much fun would it be to eat food like this in a gas station!!! You guys have all the good stuff in Texas! I need to get down there one day so you can give me the tour
.-= Jessica The Rock Chick´s last blog ..That’s My Goal =-.
Yeah, there was a picture of Guy Fieri there … but I didn’t know who he was.
We do indeed have some “good stuff” in Texas, and if you come on down here I’ll be more than happy to squire you around. Gas up the car and come on!
I’ll take you to find better bread pudding than that, though.
Gee, and I thought it strange to get gourmet coffee at a gas station outside of Seattle!
.-= Bev´s last blog ..Blue Skies =-.
Girl, “gourmet coffee at a gas station” is an oxymoron! Or, is there a Seattle’s Best or something at the gas station?
Wanted to THANK YOU for writing a blog and review about our 5* restaurant inside the Conoco gas station.
Glad you enjoyed your meal!
P.S. I host and help with Public Relations at Chef Point and enjoy every moment of it. It’s great place to work!
I’ll look for you the next time I visit, Chelle. And, there will be a next time! It’s one of my favorite places in this neck of the woods. Thanks for stopping in to read.
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