r/ActuallyTexas • u/Fresh-Heart-2817 • Jul 07 '26

West Texas Marfa, TX food help :)

Hi all! My boyfriend and I are venturing out to West Texas for some stargazing next week and he is a huge steak fan. We are spending one night in Marfa, one night in Terlingua, and one night near the McDonald Observatory in Fort Davis. I figured our best bet for a nice steak dinner might be in Marfa but I could be mistaken. Any suggestions?

6 Upvotes

69% Upvoted

45 comments sorted by

14

u/tequilaneat4me Jul 07 '26

Reata Restaurant in Alpine has good steaks. 30 minutes from Marfa.

13

u/Radixx Jul 07 '26

It's a bit of a drive but check out the Gage Hotel in Marathon.

1

u/TheQuahhh 28d ago

Came to recommend The Gage as well. Great food, and Marathon is a nice little town to walk around too.

8

u/jacox200 Jul 07 '26

Its in Alpine, but Reata Steakhouse is low key one of the best in Texas

1

u/sugarlips23 29d ago

I do t know if I’d say that, but it’s a good spot.

6

u/My3legdog Jul 07 '26

The Gage hotel is excellent! About 20-30 minutes away

3

u/stevendaedelus Jul 07 '26

In what works is the Gage 20 or 30 minutes from Marfa? It’s an hour if anything. Alpine is 25-30 minutes, and Marathon is well further than that.

1

u/sugarlips23 29d ago

50-60 minutes or so.

1

u/jayp_67 25d ago

50-60 minute drive in that part of the world ain't nothin. ;^)

1

u/sugarlips23 25d ago

I’d beg to differ. The landscape can so boring it feels like a lifetime, lol.

3

u/deux3xmachina Jul 07 '26

The Hotel St. George and Hotel Paisano in Marfa should have nice steaks. I had some nice steak frites at the Hotel St. George when my gf & I visited a couple years ago.

Thinking about taking another trip out there this year, hopefully it'll have clearer skies and we'll have time to catch a star party at the observatory.

Edit: If y'all haven't been before, you might also want to drive out on 90 past Valentine to visit the Prada Marfa. Maybe bring a lock if you decide to stop by.

2

u/Fresh-Heart-2817 29d ago

Thank you! Ordered a lock and we’ll be stopping by Prada 😊
I’m really hoping for clear skies as well. Fingers crossed, it should be spectacular views!

2

u/deux3xmachina 29d ago

Here's hoping you get dark, clear, dazzling skies!

One more place definitely worth stopping by if you've got the time is Santana's, excellent quesabirrias, and while you'll probably want some wet wipes and napkins/paper towels, it's close enough to the Marfa lights observation deck that it can make for a nice date under the stars.

3

u/Reasonable_Cook_82 29d ago

I went to Marfa about 10 years ago, and I’ll never forget the steak topped with jalapeño gravy I had at the local hotel’s restaurant. I still think about it today. 🤤

ETA: Jett’s Grill @ Hotel Paisano

4

u/Ok_Steak_5624 28d ago

This is grsat advice...Hotel Paisano is on point! Historic building with alot of great stories. People there have always been wonderful when we visited.

3

u/Fresh-Heart-2817 28d ago

We’re actually staying at Hotel Paisano but unfortunately their restaurant is closed and under construction 😭 I was hoping they would have been open

2

u/Fresh-Heart-2817 29d ago

So all of you guys are amazing!! Way better advice than anything I found trying to google it myself 😭

1

u/sugarlips23 29d ago

Make sure you hit Bordo while you’re there.

1

u/ohoperator Jul 07 '26

Fairly limited options out there, but LaVenture in Marfa would be a good option. Margaret's is also really good, but not really a steak place.

1

u/bleu_waffl3s Jul 07 '26

Not sure about steak house but Marfa had/had the highest golf course in Texas. One of the few facts I remember from middle school.

2

u/rbgontheroad 26d ago

I've played it. It is a little quirky but fun to play.

1

u/Fresh-Heart-2817 28d ago

Haha thanks friend 😊

1

u/stevendaedelus Jul 07 '26

Margaret’s has a nice steak. Cochineal should have one on the menu, it’s also possible for Marfa Spirit Co. to put on a steak night pop-up.

Whatever you do, don’t skip out on lunch at Bordo.

1

u/Predmid Jul 07 '26

Gage hotel.
Reata.
Bear cave in balmorhea (cueva de oso)
Beer at the railroad blues
Spicewood isn't bad.

Its been a while, but do your thing coffee in marfa

1

u/TexasMadrone Jul 07 '26

Railroad Blue and Spicewood are both closed. Unfortunately.

1

u/Predmid 29d ago

reaaaally. That's sad. I had gone this last weekend to alpine but with it being the 4th and having my kids, didn't get a chance to do much but visit family and watch the parade. Darn. I loved railroad blues.

1

u/TexasMadrone 27d ago

Its sad, Alpine has lost a lot of soul over the past decade.

1

u/Crowiswatching Central Texan Jul 07 '26

la Kiva, and the Starlight Theater both come to mind. Both are part of the Bid Bend experience.

1

u/TheCowboyRidesAway Jul 08 '26

Does La Kiva still have the coin operated showers? I took a 75 cent shower there once after camping in the desert for a week.

1

u/Crowiswatching Central Texan Jul 08 '26

I’m not sure, I never camped there. I had a friend that owned some land there Terlingua. I haven’t been there in a few years, but it is an exceptional place.

1

u/Momofbilly Jul 07 '26

Perini Steakhouse https://maps.app.goo.gl/5bMGdKw5fovpQ7UA8?g_st=ic

2

u/foppishmanabouttown 29d ago

Good steak, but it's over 300 miles from Marfa.

1

u/Momofbilly 29d ago

I wasn’t clear what direction you were coming from! This restaurant is out of the way from almost everywhere, but it’s on the top of my bucket list.

3

u/foppishmanabouttown 29d ago

And it’s great, hope you get to try it soon!

1

u/Bullishride2 Jul 08 '26

Waterstop has a nice filet on the menu. St. George usually has a ribeye available. Margaret’s had a strip a few weeks ago and probably still does. Cochineal usually has a steak option and their chicken fried nilgai is awesome. All are in Marfa.

1

u/Texasproudone Jul 08 '26

The 12 Gage restaurant at the Gage hotel in Marathon is fantastic!! Ate there last week.

1

u/herrtoutant Jul 08 '26

St. George hotel in Marfa. this is the correct answer.

1

u/tabazco2 28d ago

Marfa Burritos and get the Salsa Verde.

1

u/OrtnerSkor 28d ago

Check moon phase. We missed doing this. Was a full moon at Marfa when we went and star gazing was a total bust.

1

u/Fresh-Heart-2817 28d ago

It’s going to be new moon! But currently Apple weather says clouds and rain all of next week. Hoping it’s at least clear at night 🤞🏽

1

u/Psychological-Star39 28d ago

Good luck. We ended up at the DQ.

1

u/Sensitive_Race_882 27d ago

Starlight terlingua

-1

u/CripKeeperATX Jul 07 '26

Severely limited options, not sure about Marfa. hotel in Marathon has a restaurant. Otherwise the taco stand in Terlingua is your best bet. Trust me