Springhill Restaurant — Restaurant in Texas

After driving past it unseen for years, a dear friend and colleague recently noticed the Springhill Restaurant and suggested we expand our lunch time culinary options. We ventured forth with eager anticipation, only to find ourselves ensnared in a web of disappointment, dust, and grease- an absolute masterclass in culinary disappointment. From start to finish, it was a disheartening affair that left a bitter taste in our mouths, and not just because of the food. In the heart of this country-themed purgatory, dusty artifacts, once brimming with rustic charm, were imprisoned by cobwebs and loomed directly over the cheap plastic plateware we had been provided. This was the setting in which we found ourselves, a bleak enough tableau, yet I have not yet even begin to explain their "buffet", wherein the true horror lied.

Amidst this melancholic landscape, a tiny buffet, more a mockery than a feast, lay in quiet misery. The few greasy offerings, like weary specters of cuisine, delivered nothing but heartache. The fried foods, parched and lacking vitality, served as a cruel reminder of the inexorable passage of time and bore the heavy weight of mediocrity. In the shadowed realm of culinary despair, where gastronomic contradictions conspire, there emerged a dismal creation – the dry, yet greasy food, a grotesque symphony of flavor and texture, a lament to the senses. Imagine a plate, upon which misery resides, where each morsel is a testament to culinary apathy and a deep seated hatred for all mankind. These parched, unsightly morsels mocks the palate, with an oily residue that clings like a curse, a wretched reminder of culinary indifference. It's an abomination, a mockery of the senses, where dryness and grease collide in a grotesque ballet, a cacophony of displeasure that dares you to question the very essence of sustenance and despair with each revolting mouthful.

The waitstaff at that establishment were truly in a league of their own when it came to indifference. If apathy were an Olympic event, they would not win because they couldn't be bothered to show up. It was as if they had been schooled in the art of disinterest, their faces rarely betraying any hint of emotion. They moved through the restaurant like uninspired specters through purgatory, responding to requests with a languid and apathetic demeanor that left diners feeling more like an inconvenience than valued guests.

The one glimmer of hope that lured us into this establishment - the promise of an affordable meal, prominently advertised on their website, turned out to be an outright deception, a mendacious ploy to lure unsuspecting diners into their web of culinary mediocrity with a false beacon of affordability that turned into a cruel mirage. Imagine the shock, the disbelief, when the check arrived at our table, and we were met with a bill that could only be described as an exorbitant insult to reason itself. The website's claims of reasonable prices were nothing but a cunning ruse, concealed until the very moment they handed us the check, like a cruel magic trick that revealed itself only when it was too late to escape.

We quickly paid the toll and fled this desolate enclave, into the sunlight once more but I couldn't help but feel a profound sadness for the poor souls who remained trapped with the country-themed facade that had crumbled, revealing a void where nostalgia's once-vibrant colors had bled away. In this tiny kingdom of disillusionment and grease, dreams went to die, and hope, it seemed, had long departed. My palate, which had hoped for the warmth of comfort, was met with the cold embrace of indifference. In the shadow of such desolation, I departed with a heavy heart, knowing that this place, once brimming with the promise of rustic reverie, had devolved into a lamentable dust-covered tomb, a greasy mirage, and a bitter echo of what it...

We called and reserved the big room for a surprise private birthday party that they allowed another family to use in our time slot. I was upset, I had family coming, this had been planned out already. After airing my grievance to staff we agreed to just share half the room and make do with what we had. It took 1.5 hours to get our food, mine sat cold on the kitchen window as the waitress told us it was done but she had to take care of other customers tickets first. Half of our group was finished eating before the other half even got their food. We had to keep getting up and finding the staff for tea refills, tartar sauce, etc. Next, the womens bathroom had an overflowing toilet with feces on the floor. When I told my 70 year old disabled mother to be careful so she wouldn’t fall, Marina, the waitress, rolled her eyes, slammed 2 red baskets down on the table and said that somebody from my family was telling people that there was poop on the floor and that it wasn’t true it was only water. Fact is, there was poop on the floor, it was disgusting and I have pics. We put tissue in the floor over top of it as my mother couldn’t physically wait. As we were gathering our things to go, my seven-year-old niece came up to give me a hug and said she loved me. The same waitress commented that the other waiters two kids loved her too. These comments were out of line and rude. I made a request to speak to the manager and stated I would not be returning to the restaurant. Then Marina commented that she hopes we don’t come back either. I continued to ask to speak to a manager and told one of my family members what Marina said. Then she started to scream and shout loudly at me in the restaurant and literally got in my face because she was upset. I had to raise my voice over her’s to respond. The entire restaurant, and all of its customers, then got to hear about everything from the poor service to the feces in the womens bathroom. Staff had to literally drag her away screaming, she was so out of line. A manager never did come, but I did speak to Shawna, who apologized for Marina’s behavior and took care of my ticket. Apparently, Marina was offended that I was disappointed about them allowing another family to use the room we reserved. Never mind that we had already moved past that. This may have been the reason for the crappy service altogether. No doubt Marina is a liability for this...

There is so much to share about this restaurant. I almost drove past this gem. Everything about it screams nostalgia! Don't let the large dirt parking lot with potholes deter you. The outside is rustic and rural looking, but just wait till you get inside. The service is great. I was greeted with a big friendly smile and seated right away. They told me about the buffet and when I found out it was all you can eat for $17.99, it was a no brainer. The also have a full menu with plenty of options like hamburgers, onion rings, Mac n cheese and corn for those in your group who aren't fish fry lovers. The buffet is popular because while I was eating two guys showed up for lunch and asked if they had their buffet today. When they found out it was available they both responded with a loud mmm, mmm! I also asked a married couple about the food as they were leaving and they said they have been eating here for over 30 years! The nostalgia and historicity of this restaurant is a wonder to behold. Since it was a buffet, I had two servings that took me about an hour to eat. It is 100% possible to eat healthy here. I had green beans and lightly pan fried catfish with a salad, fresh tomatoes, yellow peppers and cucumbers with at least 6 choices of dressing. The catfish reminded me of my grandmother, Eula's Texas style catfish. Deliciously seasoned and lightly crisp. If you want the heavy batter, fried catfish, they have that too. I also sampled the hush puppies, fried green tomatoes and fried mushrooms! Superb! It should be noted that there was not a drop of grease anywhere. Even when eating the fried food it all tasted fresh. The banana pudding and chocolate pudding were both on the sweet side just the way most people prefer it. I only ate one teaspoon, but trust me, I wanted a bowl of each. The men's bathroom was squeaky clean and smelled fresh during the lunch hour. They offered to refill my ice tea for the road and I gladly accepted. I strongly recommend Springhill to all the fish fry lovers in the greater Austin area. Great place...