When the Crane family moved back to Texas, they imagined a place with “cold beer, boots, country music and barbecue.” Today, that vision has come to life in Crane’s Craft BBQ at the Wagon Wheel—a place now proudly nominated for a 2025 James Beard Award, a food industry honor. The historic square dance hall has been transformed into a lively barbecue restaurant that has kept … [Read more...]
Mexico Viejo
When Esmael Perez drove from San Angelo to Georgia to visit family back in 2021, he noticed an abandoned restaurant on the side of I-20. It sparked his interest, and he thought about that place for the rest of his visit. On his way back through Texas, he stopped to take a look. Perez is in a family of restauranteurs. His relatives own restaurants in Texas, Georgia, and … [Read more...]
Dad’s Ice Cream
Riddle me this, Batman: “What would you get if a snow cone and an ice cream cone had a baby?” No need to chase down the caped crusader, just ask Dad’s Ice Cream owner, Jason Tarbares. “We find that question is a fun and memorable way to quickly give people a sense of what exactly we’re making,” Jason said. And when Jason says “we’re making,” he means that literally … [Read more...]
Moose Mountain Coffee and Roastery
A new face on the SoDA District’s landscape, Moose Mountain Coffee and Roastery, is more than a place to get a great cup of coffee – although patrons can definitely get a great cup of coffee. “We want our guests to have a different experience than they would going to a regular coffee chain,” said Lindsey Cotton, who along with her husband Ben, celebrated their grand opening … [Read more...]
Spill the Tea
Tea shops are popping up all over Abilene, and they’re serving more than your typical Texas sweet tea. From tropical fruits to bittersweet chais, the flavors are wide-ranging and the options are nearly limitless. And you can either drive through for a quick sip or stop in for a long talk with a friend. According to Dictionary.com, “tea” is slang for “gossip or other personal … [Read more...]