I have always been a believer in the adage that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. I’m also a strident believer that chicken-fried steak can be eaten at any time of day. When I find a spot that serves my favorite dish for my favorite meal well, I add it to my rotation of restaurants posthaste.
Bobbie’s Southern Kitchen has long been a place I’ve been a fan of. Relatively recently, the owners opened up a location in my old stomping grounds on the southeast side of our fair berg. So, I grabbed my dining partner and headed over to see if the new Bobbie’s is still as good as the old.
Located at 1922 Goliad Road in the former home of a long-standing seafood restaurant, Bobbie’s second location opened up last fall and has been an immediate hit. They’re open from 8 a.m. until 2:30 p.m., still making them one of the best breakfast/lunch places in the Alamo City.
On my recent visit, we came bright and early, not too long after opening. The recent spate saw the skies open up on us, and I think it kept the early rush at home. This gave us easy access to a table; once the rain slacked off about an hour later, there wasn’t an open seat in the house.
Before we took our seats, our hostess walked us past Bobbie’s dessert cabinet, and I harbored the thought of maybe sneaking a piece of pie home after my meal. Alas, that was not to be, as more food was the last thing I was thinking of after I ate this masterpiece of a meal.
Fully ready to order their fantastic chicken-fried steak and eggs meal, as I normally do, I noticed something else caught my eye. They call it the “Morning Wrecker.”
A biscuit sandwich topped with hash browns, chicken-fried steak, an egg any style and topped with sausage gravy and cheddar cheese. My mind whirled. Normally, I wouldn’t dare attempt something like that, but the voice on my shoulder – I don’t know if it was devil or angel – urged me on.
For my daring, I was rewarded with a meal that I won’t ever forget. Each bite was better than the last. Each element complemented the other.
The silky sumptuousness of the gravy melded perfectly with the runny savoriness of my egg. The steak – fork tender, just like I like it – was perfect on its own, but paired with the hash browns, it was a flavor combo I had rarely tasted. And that biscuit? If I weren’t bursting at the seams, I would’ve ordered one on its own. The cheddar cheese did more than add a pop of eye-pleasing color. It brought the whole dish together.
Be forewarned, this is not a meal for the fainthearted or the weak-willed. This is one that will challenge you, but you will come away a better human being for it.
Bobbie’s does southern cooking the way few can in our part of the world. I’m thrilled that they opened up a spot in my old neighborhood, as that gives me one more reason to head back for a visit. I encourage you to do the same as quickly as you can.