Chess Club Cafe

This place did not look like anything from the road. It was absolutely amazing! Blanco is over 2 hours from where we live and we will be driving bk just to eat here. It was the best chicken fried chicken my husband and I have ever had. They were very very busy but we got wonderful customer service, hot food, desert and wines. This place is truly a gem. I was even impressed with the green beans! How do you impress with green beans??? They were as good as green beans at a 5 star Dallas or Austin steakhouse such as Nick and Sams or Eddie V’s. We wanted to try everything on the menu after getting our food. We saw some people next to us that ordered crab cakes… They looked heavenly.
You will not be let down! Prices are great too!

Very cute and quaint place. We were in town for a wedding and wanted something other than chain restaurants. An old home redone to fit café needs… Very cute atmosphere. We ate breakfast and had pancakes and the egg combo plate. The potatoes were to die for! Amazing! Pancakes were a little dry as one side was browned a little too much but they were huge! Decent price for a hometown feel. I’d love to try lunch next time!

Very popular breakfast place, beautiful setting, outdoor tables are very comfortable. Classic breakfast was done perfectly. Home fries and home bread were exceptional.

I think this is one of the best breakfast and lunch places around and at the best price.
I’ll be coming back for the 5 different kinds of Eggs Benedict (or at least 4 — not sure about the variant with Crab Cake but it sounds UNIQUE!)

Here’s the deal. We usually like to eat pretty healthy. However, I have heard about the chicken fried steak here, and now I know why. My wife and I both ordered it, and it rocked. I thought it covered the whole plate, but that was the camouflaged mashed potatoes which also made us moan with each soulful fork full. The service came with smiles, and was as prompt as any reasonable person could expect. We’re both in. Tilapia next time!

I have been aeveral times always great food. From the chicken fried steak, fish, salads or breakfast all great.

The wife’s parents visit two or three times a year usually choosing to stay in Blanco, Texas. From the 281 corridor… Ease of access to Austin, San Antonio, and the Hill Country for anything car related. Junk yards, classic car shops, and our ranch for visiting grandson Rooster. In the wife’s family, junk yards are referred to as «candy stores» for picking car parts in Colorado where they live for family projects or for resale.
With the exception of the tenure of The Bowling Alley, I’ve never found anything better for breakfast in Blanco. Had a few other options over the years; yet none have never stayed in business more than a year or so. So, looks like I’ve been passing the Chess Club on my way to San Antonio for about 7 years now. Tucked right next to the Sonic Drive In on the south side of the river stands a hidden breakfast and lunch treasure.
You enter to be immediately enticed by amazing looking pastries. Just to the right, daily specials are written on an old multi pane window. I wasted no time ordering one of the specials. The Cowboy breakfast was a huge portion of Chicken Fried Steak, eggs, hash browns, and home made toast. OMG the crunchy batter on the CFS; eat your heart out KFC. Pancake delivered for the kiddo with a small bottle of syrup, and covered in powered sugar.
In-​laws also had nothing but praise for our initial visit. They even went back the next morning for to-​go pastries. Thanks to the food and excellent service the Chess Club Café is now on my Hill Country breakfast radar. The converted house isn’t too big; I’d expect this place to be popular among locals and travelers alike. Can’t wait to venture in and try the lunch fare on my next adventure.

Oh my!
So I was raised in blanco and moved not too long ago far enough away that I can’t just journey on over to chess club for breakfast or lunch! Which is slightly on the depressing side!
When I get the chance to head back into town, my first priority is arranging that I’m at least able to get one meal there, but usually more! Everyone is so friendly and everything tastes so delicious, I had never had eggs Benedict before having it here a little over a year ago, and holy moly!!! Soooooo darn good!
Also, all of the specials are always so good, and the breakfast tacos =) yummy!
If you are in the town of blanco, and want Delicious food, go there! For real, goshhh I should Not be writing this right now, my cravings for that California wrap are crazy right now! Soo darn good! May be forced to take a 5 hr trip home this weekend to save my tummy from missing out on all the great things chess club has to offer! Soooo good!

The French toast is made with homemade bread, the omelete, potatos everything is delicious! This is the place to go, ignore the rest! Great food and good pricing!

My husband and I have a tradition of going to a restaurant in Fredericksburg. Until this year. We showed up and they were closed. Nothing posted on website or Facebook page. I made some calls and found The Chess Club Café was doing Thanksgiving dinners in a take out only basis. BEST CHOICE EVER! The staff was AMAZING and I honestly think it was the best turkey and sweet potatoes I have ever had! HIGHLY recommend! Hubby and I can’t wait to try their food on a normal day! THANK YOU CHESS CLUB you saved our Thanksgiving!

Chess Club is a cozy friendly little joint. I tried the chicken fried steak of course, and the wife had chicken fried chicken.
I must say that this was one of the best CFS I have ever had, and I have consumed hundreds, maybe thousands over the years.
There were a couple of shortfalls. First, the service was a bit slow, but it was lunchtime rush, an acceptable explanation. Secondly, there were no side choices. Order the CFS and you get mashed potatoes and vegetables, in this case sauteed squash (not on my hit parade).
This being said, the Queen of the Hop was the CFS, and it was superb.

This is a GREAT place. Friendly people, attentive service, and great food! I usually stop in for late breakfast on Sat or Sun with between 4 and 8 of my moto riding friends, and they always find a good table or two for us and bring on the coffee asap. They take your order quick, and the food comes out good, hot, and nicely plated. It’s like a gourmet breakfast and lunch that is still down to earth and nicely priced. Never had a bad meal there. Today was amazing, I had the «King’s Choice» breakfast — Eggs Benedict over a perfectly crisped crab cake and English muffin, with nice home fry potatoes and chopped green onions. My new fave.
Thank you Chess Club…

My friend Sandi and I both ordered the blackened salmon salad for lunch today.
It was pretty darned adequate!
Just kidding —- it was most excellent, scrumptious, yummy, etc! Salmon was cooked
perfectly, salad was huge and green, filled with all the good stuff a salad should be filled with. Loved the chunky blue cheese dressing! Brandie provided wonderful service and we got to meet the owners —- sorry I forgot their names right now, but I’ll be back for sure till I do learn them. I got a chocolate and cheesecake brownie to go which I’m munching on right now and let me tell you, it’s ORGASMIC. Even though the parking lot was full when we got there, we ordered right away and the wait wasn’t long. Prices are VERY affordable! Just go. You won’t regret it!!!
C.P. Vaughn

This is the Best Café EVER!!! Home style cooking that is beyond delicious. The portions are very generous. The atmosphere is well kept and cute décor with local artists work available for purchase on the walls. The Owners are so on top of their game. Cannot say enough about this place. Oh yes, There prices are far too reasonable (i would pay more)
We drive 50 Miles to eat at the Chess Club!
My favorites, Eggs Benedict, Chicken Fried Steak, mashed potatoes, oh yes… the homemade cream cheese brownies, and the rum pudding thing, cheesecake… soooo good!!!

After my third consecutive visit I thought I would go ahead and write a review. Killer hollandaise and perhaps the best meatloaf I’ve ever had. The waffle isn’t too sweet and the chicken is fried to delicate crispy perfection. The star here is the fresh baked bread. It doesn’t matter what delicious dish you order as long as there’s bread involved. Friendly local service with a smile.

This is a super place and went for breakfast and lunch on the same day. I convinced them to let me bring a bottle of Texas wine in to have with the meatloaf special lunch.
Great food, healthy portions and fair prices. This is much better than any of the restaurants I’ve been to in Austin.

Delicious!
From the sign on the side of the road, you would not expect much. I don’t really understand where the name comes from, as it has a homey, little house on the prairie feel to it.
I ordered the «BLTA» sandwich which consisted of thick, applewood smoked bacon, real cheddar, tomatoes, and slices of avocado. It was fantastic. The prices at this place are outstanding — for my sandwich (which came with chips and salsa) and freshly brewed coffee, the total was only $ 8.12.
So glad to have come here, if you pass by you should definitely try it!

Quaint, clean, comfortable. My wife and I stopped here while returning from a trip to the Texas Hill Country.
The server was polite, informative, and upbeat. The food completely hit the spot and was unique. I had Greek Salad; my wife had the Santa Fe sandwich.

My partner and I were looking for breakfast after camping out at Canyon Lake and found this place on Unilocal.We are SO glad we gave it a shot.
Located in a charming near-​100 year old farmhouse, this place serves up a home-​cooked breakfast that will keep you coming back time and again.
Our hostess-​with-​the-​mostest, Emily and her husband, the Chef-​Extraordinaire– are running a great place here! Go check it out.
And get to waffle. You’ll not regret it.
O, and the Hollandaise on the eggs florentine was to die for.

The atmosphere was friendly and relaxed and the service was great. I ordered the Eggs Benedict with a side of toast and I was not disappointed. The coffee was great and the food was delicious. Not to mention the side of toast was more like what you would use for French toast so it was fluffy and amazing.
I can’t wait to come back and try the rest of the menu!