Ranchman’s Cafe

Review by: Michael Stern

In a sleepy encampment by the train tracks at the northern fringe of the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex, The Ponder Steakhouse (actually named Ranchman’s Café) has been a meat-eaters’ destination since 1948. Not much has changed over the years. Indoor bathrooms have been added; but the steaks are still hand-cut, and the ambiance is Lone Star to the core.

“Welcome to Texas!” chimed one well-fed good ol’ boy at us as he pushed his way out the front door, looking like he just sold his prize bull for a million dollars. Handing his denuded T-bone to the hound that had faithfully gazed in at him through the storefront window as he dined, he strolled along the dusty Ponder main street enjoying a smoke. The dog settled in on the raised sidewalk to savor his bone.

Ponder serves cowboy-style steaks – platter-sized, sizzled on a hot griddle until they develop a wickedly tasty crust. Although tender, they are not the silver butterknife cuts of expense-account dining rooms; they are steaks of substantial density that require a sharp knife and reward a good chew with tides of flavor. French fries come on the side, but if you call before 3pm, they’ll put a one-pound baked potato in the oven and have it ready when you arrive for supper.

“Y’all did good!” exclaimed our waitress after we polished off a few pounds of beef, potatoes, and a couple of slices of buttermilk pie that granny had made just that morning.

Note that gluten-free options are available.

What To Eat

Double Cheeseburger

DISH
Chocolate Pie

DISH
Chicken Fried Steak Fingers

DISH

Ranchman’s Cafe Recipes

Discuss

What do you think of Ranchman’s Cafe?

Nearby Restaurants

Bartley’s Bar-B-Q

Grapevine, TX

Tolbert’s Restaurant

Grapevine, TX

Chef Point Bar & Restaurant

Watauga, TX

Joe T. Garcia’s

Fort Worth, TX

Angelo’s

Fort Worth, TX

Paris Coffee Shop

Fort Worth, TX

Article’s & Guides Tagged Paris Coffee Shop

Fort Worth, Texas

By Jane and Michael Stern Originally Published 1998 Gourmet Magazine The Army encampment on the fork of Texas’s Trinity River was officially named Fort Worth, but drovers on the...

×

Connect with us #Roadfood