Towne Crier Steakhouse

Food was average. Steak was bland. My sister in law sat through everyone eating and still wasn’t served. Service was good. The manager was super nice and comped her meal that she ended up having to get to go. They still didn’t get it right. She was too frustrated to get it fixed. As for the bldg… very outdated and in desperate need of attention. Cant figure out why people were waiting in line because it wasn’t all that. UNLESS they were there for the rolls. They were GOOD.

Passing through town and read previous reviews so decided to try it. I got one egg breakfast special and it was just the right amount of food for 3.99. My husband got french toast and ate almost the whole plate. Would return if we pass through again. Service was excellent.

What an amazing find! Fantastic and attentive service. Great food!!! Best stocked and attended salad bar I have seen in years. Fresh hot rolls that are scrumptious. Just a wonderful day! Was at a steak house and paid twice the price the other night and it wasn’t half as good. Definitely will be back!!!

Great steaks, awesome service! Salad bar was adequate, but the flavor of those steaks was excellent and cooked perfectly. Will definitely be return customers!

I first started eating here in 1963 when I was 8 years old. The building has not changed much in all these years.
My grandmother would buy me the large T-​bone medium rare and I would eat it all and chew on the bone. For an 8 year old boy this was a real treat.
The salad bar here is the very best in Abilene.
The boiled shrimp are very good.
The owners are very nice people and they give jobs to lots of college students.

We had breakfast here today with 3 of our grandchildren. For such a small place I was really impressed. Lots of fruit on the buffet. The kids loved the breakfast burritos. The buffet had fresh bacon and eggs, French toast, blueberry waffles and pancakes. For 5 people it was $ 37. We will be back.

I have been to the Towne Crier three times, and I have to say, this will be my last. Last year wasn’t so bad the food was adequate, nothing fancy. I really enjoyed the cheese soup, hot yeast rolls, and the homemade bacon dressing! However, it is so, so, so hard for me to enjoy my food when the environment is so dingy and dirty. The carpet that I remembered from over a year ago was disgusting. Now, it’s even worse. The carpet is gone (Thank the Lord) but I almost wish it was still there because at-​least it hid all of the dirt, holes, and stains on the floor. After seeing this floor and how old this building really is, I began to notice other things. There is dirt, grime, oil, dust, dead bugs, old food still under the table and in the nooks and crannies. The seats are torn up. It is so sad because this could really be a more inviting and beautiful place if the owner would just update it. You can still keep its old English charm but at least make it look like it’s a safe and clean environment! What really put me off were the three roaches I saw, each in a different place. One near the salad bar, one on the wall near the kitchen area, and one under the drink station. I considered calling the health department, this place is in such bad shape.
Like I said, the food is good. It’s the overall shape of The Towne Crier that really takes away the experience of enjoying a good meal. I do not feel clean in here. So, unless the owner does something about it and give this place a little more TLC, I will NOT recommend this restaurant to friends and family, and I will NOT be returning.

I really enjoy the Town Crier. Their shrimp is so delicious. And I love the salad bar. There is a reason they have been around most of my life. Their food is always spot-​on!

Towne Crier is a personal favorite. First off I love the décor. The service is always fantastic. Even though the salad bar is relatively small, everything is always fresh and good. It’s one place in town I can put french dressing on my salad! They change up their soups everynight and they are good as well. I always order the 12 oz sirloin and it’s always been good.

My husband and I ordered the 6 oz sirloin. It was cooked correctly, tender, …with absolutely no seasoning. Neither of us finished it. Fortunately, the Tuesday Shrimp gumbo soup was so good, as always. Salad bar always has fresh salad greens with unique selections. The hot yeast rolls with butter or honey ROCK. The desserts are homemade, I’m told.
We visit her about 4 times a year as it’s on the opposite side of town.
It’s a really old building that’s not been updated in decades. My husband likes to eat in the back room with its skylights for light.

This place has exceptional food and THE BEST salad bar in a-​town. The owner has been running the show for quite some time and he is doing a great job.
The rolls are really tasty and the atmosphere has an old world charm. It really isn’t like anywhere else in Abilene.
I’d recommend the chicken friend steak or chicken fried chicken. My boyfriend had the macaroni as a side and he said its a no go, haha. But seriously he is a 25 year old eating mac and cheese at a steakhouse– what did he expect?! hahah! Everything else is wonderful.
I don’t live in Abilene anymore but when I do visit, I try to make it out to Towne Crier (like I did last time ;) It will not disappoint.

Traveling through town and found this place. Looks like it’s a local fixture that’s been here awhile. The chicken fried steak is huge and delicious and the hot yeast rolls just keep coming. Make sure to try the hot bacon dressing on the salad bar.

No, no, no. Food tastes like it came from a can from Sam’s or Costco. Not much flavor and overcooked. Didn’t taste fresh and the salad bar was fair.

Got in right at 10:30, when breakfast is supposed to close, but they said no problem.
For $ 9 I got a decent chicken-​fried steak, two large eggs, crispy hash browns, and two slices of toast. My son, wiser than me, got biscuits instead, and got two mountainous perfect biscuits with about a cup of sausage gravy. My wife had breskfast burritos for about $ 7 and they were so big and well-​filled she could only eat one.
Service was attentive, friendly, and constant. The owner came by and said hi, and for some reason knocked 10% off our bill (which i didn’t know till the bill came).
Kid friendly, very old-​fashioned, good food. The only dark spot was that after eating here, my son & his family bitterly regretted going to IHOP last week. (Food here was better in every way and just as cheap — maybe cheaper.)
Town Crier looks goofy from the outside and inside is a fossil of 60s bourgeois. But it is 60s bourgeois at its best — in its prime so to speak.
If you are in abilene and need breakfast (or, i suppose dinner) you can do a lot worse.

I can not believe the amount of stars this has on Unilocal
I guess it’s all friends and family
The salad bar was good but that’s not why I go to a steakhouse
The steaks were dry and had this funky liver taste to them as the meat they uses was about to go bad.
This was the most expensive dog food I’ve ever bought
Never again will they see me at this place or anyone I can convince to go elsewhere

Hubby and I stopped in for lunch based on the other reviews… It’s pretty shady looking on the inside. Severely outdated, but we proceeded to our table. We both ordered T-​bone steaks at the price of $ 21.99 each… Salad bar was good. The steaks came out in a decent amount of time, but were completely un edible. He ordered his medium and it was very well done. I ordered mine medium well and it was beef jerky with a bone. We voiced our concerns to the waiter who said he was sorry and asked if we wanted sauce for them. We couldn’t choke them down even with the sauce. The servers were very friendly and apologetic but no attempt was made to right the wrong.
We pretty much paid over $ 50.00 dollars for dog food… if they will even eat it. Highly do not recommend.

This place has good food. They also have a good salad bar. The salad bar has good options and is always fresh. Also, they have soup and last time I went I got the cream of potato… YUMMY! I order the chicken fried steak and it was really good. The batter didn’t fall off which to me is a big deal. I think everyone should eat here.

My family and I went for the first time because we were told that the steaks were outstanding. Never been here but driven by many times I was a little but sceptical. Low and behold I was throughly impressed. the amount of food you receive for the price is just about unbeatable. I enjoyed all aspects of the food I ordered. Of course some places make certain things better but overal we enjoyed our experience and will be returing!

My brothers and I dropped by Abilene on a cross country drive and were looking for a great local restaurant, and we couldn’t be happier with Towne Crier.
Great salad bar, soups, and steak. Plus the best rolls we’d ever had!
Thanks to the owner Dwight and the great service staff, we had a great meal and an even better experience.

I have been eating at the The Towne Crier for more than 20 years and what I love about The Towne Crier is their CONSISTENCY! I NEVER have wonder or worry if my food is going to be prepared right or if my service is going to be bad.
First, the place is family owned by the same owner all these years. (Gotta love that!)
Second, the place has character. There is something nostalgic about the Tudor-​style design – cooks wearing white and waitresses wearing blue. The owner and his managers are always great about hiring well mannered and service oriented high school and college students as cooks, servers and busers.
Third, I love their salad bar!!! Every time I’m at The Towne Crier fresh food is being replenished in their small (in size) but big (in selection) salad bar.
Fourth, it offers quality food (great chicken, kabobs, veggies, fresh dinner rolls, etc) at a great price.
Fifth, I can always find (and see) the manager on property, reassuring me that my dining experience is going to be what I expect time and time again.