Hope Floats Cafe — Restaurant in Smithville

I wanted to like this place, I really did. We were staying in Bastrop for the weekend and decided to eat here our first night. It was #1 on Yelp for dinner and everyone raved in their reviews about it, so we headed on in. On the outside window, there was a sign that said “we are not a fast food service restaurant, we make our food with time and love.” Okay, cool. I get it. It’ll take a little longer to eat. No biggie.

We walked in and filed in line behind the people who walked in in front of us. We looked for a menu and the only one we saw was on the wall behind the register on a letter board in small, jumbled up letters. I had looked online before we came, so I knew what we were going to get and after scanning the menu for a bit, I found it all on there. The lady at the counter taking our order was very sweet and helpful. She offered to get my son some fried catfish instead of chicken since that’s what he had wanted but didn’t want an adult portion. We paid and she told us she would get our glasses to us after she washed some. Okay cool.

So we look over the restaurant and there’s only a few seats empty around one table that has leftovers from another group on it. So the lady at the counter has someone come clean it off rather quickly and we’re able to sit down.

At this point, I started feeling warm. It’s a September day in Texas, so it’s going to be hot, so I just chalk it up to the A/C just not being able to catch up with the weather outside and the amount of people inside. My husband and son went to get our drinks and they were out of sweet tea. No biggie. I’ll get soda instead.

And we wait. And wait some more. And some more. We start looking around and noticing that most of the tables around us don’t have food in front of them. Uh oh. “The food will be worth it” we tell ourselves. It’ll be fine.

More waiting. My husband gets so uncomfortable with the heat that he goes to stand outside. An hour and a half (not an exaggeration) later, our name is called and we go up to the counter.

The food was okay at best. My husband got the chicken fried steak. The gravy needed salt and the brussel sprouts had pretty much no flavor to them. I got the pot roast and it was okay flavor-wise but the mashed potatoes had way too much pepper on them.

In the end, we won’t be back. Another batch of tea was never made in the 2 hours we were there, the A/C isn’t powerful enough to combat the kitchen being in the dining room, and no one ever came to our table to...

I have been to Smithville many times and have never been treated rudely by anyone working here. Unfortunately, my experience today was disappointing. I came in with my service animal and the mother running the shop told me pets were not allowed. I told her he is not a pet and I have a disability. She continued to pester me with questions in front of other customers about his role thinking he was an emotional support animal. When I informed her my disability is documented on my driver's license, she said she is allowed to ask questions. My rebuttal was the ADA website does not require a vest for service animals. Karen, I suggest you read up on ADA regulations. You can find them on ada.gov. It will help you in the future from discriminating against customers with disabilities, losing business, and getting negative reviews.

Regina,

I stand by this review. I have worked multiple jobs in the food industry and am well aware of the Health Code regulations as well as what employees are allowed to ask. You had NO REASON to continue asking questions and singling me out after I already stated I have a disability on my driver's license.

I also caught you trying to add to the total for things I did not order, presumably because you were having a bad day and wanted to take it out on me. Your daughter took that call the next day when I noticed the discrepancy in the total. I will not give any kind of business or endorsement to an establishment that operates the way yours does. Let this serve as a lesson to you with future...

Not the best score I have given in awhile. First let me lead with the positive, the Willie Nelson burger was one of the better burgers I have had in the area. Good flavor combinations and well cooked, I added egg and jalapenos. The fries had a tempura batter but honestly not much flavor, disappointed that the batter was not a vessel to carry some amazing secret spice blend developed by this young chef. Now to the negative, One Hour and Nineteen minutes. From the time I walked in the door until my meal was prepared. (Disclaimer) it was ten minutes after twelve on a Sunday. There were 16 customers ahead of us to order at the counter and 5 behind. Less than 25 customers in the building during my visit no one came in after the five folks that were behind us. I will once again say the young chef did a good job. But if you eat here order it to go, then dine in. I watched two young men order after us, their meals arrived and they left 40 minutes prior to our meal. As I led the negative portion of my comments with the disclaimer regarding the time and day. I would think there to be no excuse for one hour and nineteen minutes wait for 2 burgers and 2 fries. "But wait there's more" the explanation provided by a person who I will guess is the manager " we ran out of mashed potatoes ". Wait, What? Our burgers don't require mashed potatoes. Seems the pot roast and a few other plates available do and they needed to prepare more. This became a test ,...