Dale's Essenhaus — Restaurant in Texas

We haven't been in years and the lady wanted some catfish. We arrived with plenty of seating available, but that filled up. There are large tables and large parties accordingly. Outside seating is available also. I hoped the TV was on to play some college football but it wasn't. I ordered a side salad and it was tiny and mostly lettuce. I had the fried shrimp and a bag potatoes. The shrimp were good but firm. The potato was perfect. It took asking three servers to get tartar sauce. The lady had fried catfish, fried okra and potato salad. She liked them all. We shared the shrimp and catfish. The catfish has a breading of flower and cornmeal and the fish was cooked stiff. I am used to Louisiana catfish that is cornmeal and the fish still has movement. Maybe the fish was previously frozen. Our bill was $41. I gave the sever $100. She brought back $9 and walked away. I almost just put it in the wallet. I had to go find her by the kitchen to remind her I gave are $100. She handed me new change and as I walked back to the table, it was $41. Um, she was gone. I had to find her again to tell her the change is $59. She brought the correct amount, and I have her $10 tip. Sheesh. Not a...

Food was pretty good! Kinda like down-home southern cooking options! (I ate only from the patio main short-order bar counter) We all loved the fried mushrooms. GREAT dance floor! The live band, Gabriel River Band (I think), was very enjoyable to listen to as well as to dance to. Place was only 1/3 full and almost every song had a few couples dancing. Oh! And the lead Female singer sounded AMAZING! Definite country talent! (And my old roommate could sing Carrie Underwood songs better than C.U. sometimes....so I know what I’m talking about on this one.)

I gave 4 stars because some staff didn’t show up to the kitchen so it took, honestly, too long to receive the food we got. (Some burgers, fries, and fried mushrooms&pickles... an hour&15 was too long) BUT! The food was satisfying, and with a pretty wide section of good drinks (including alcohol) we weren’t too grieved by the waiting.

Overall, I would go back. It was a great night and definitely FAMILY FRIENDLY. Let’s just pray for them to get some fully committed staff members! [if y’all read this, Dale’s, watch the Netflix Doc called “A Tale of Two Restaurants” because it gives a very wise, effective, restaurant management...

Extreamely excellent homemade from scratch dinner. The smell outside is enticing to lure you in but the biergarden was just as alluring and convenient with picnic tables on a breezy evening. The inside is as unpretentious as the outside, but exactly how youd want it for down home cooking. We sat down inside with our little group and before long the entire restaurant was packed inside and out, but that didn't stop the quality and timeliness of each meal. The side salad was fresh and definitely not from a premade bag, apps were hot, handmade and tasty, schnitzels were crisp and coated perfectly, the kids corn dog was made by hand and gigantic, the burgers tasty and juicy, the rolls are DIVINE, and the mashed potatoes & gravy are to die for! Every ounce was "lick your plate" delicious. I really appreciated the awesome and friendly staff, who never let a drink run dry, even when slammed on a Friday night. The plethora of options and portion sizes would leave no tummy hungry and the pricing doesnt break the bank at all. If we lived closer, this would definitely be a regular spot for...