Maxey’s Steakhouse

There are two things that the state of Texas is known for in the food world. Of course, one is Texas barbeque, but the other is the country favorite, Chicken Fried Steak. On a recent trip across Texas on Texas 287, heading towards Amarillo and I-40, I knew I needed to find a good CFS. By the time I reached Childress, it was windy and hard to drive, so I stopped. The local place that was suggested to me was Maxey’s Steakhouse, a relatively new location (2010) of a popular restaurant in Wheeler, TX. Walking in, it was easy to see by all the families that not only was it a popular place, but a place where the waitresses knew everybody.

Sure enough, there was Texas BBQ, but I was focused on just one thing, the Chicken Fried Steak. I ordered it with a side of mashed potatoes and the house salad. It also came with a nice roll. After the long drive, I was parched, so by the time the food came I’d already had three glasses of an excellent lemonade. Funny, I had been attracted by the full bar, but the lemonade sounded perfect!

When the plate came, the first thing I noticed was that there was no country gravy on top. What? Bazinga! The white, Texas cream gravy was instead underneath the steak, with the steak gently propped up on the steak knife. It was a perfect idea—–this way, the steak was not soggy but still crisp when I cut into it. The gravy was creamy and slightly peppery, perfect for the freshly made mashed potatoes on the side.

One of the ways that Maxey’s makes an absolutely delicious Chicken Fried Steak is their cooking method. It is first hand battered, dipped and then cooked on the flattop griddle, yielding a perfectly cooked crust. `Part of the technique to achieving a perfect crust is that they only flip it once, finishing the first side completely before it is turned. The meat was tender and still juicy, cutting easily and not chewy like so many other CFS’.

For dessert, I had an excellent peach cobbler topped with ice cream. It was a great way to end the meal, with a walk right across Avenue F, better known as Texas State Highway 287. And one more thing—-even though I was dining by myself at a table, I still felt like the waitress treated me as a regular. It was an excellent dinner and a nice place to enjoy one of the best Chicken Fried Steaks, Texas size and Texas style, that you will ever have.