Cartwright's Ranch House

First consumers turned repeat diners! Some of the best food I've ever had. The service was phenomenal. I want to say our waitresses name was Mel. She knew everything there was to know about the menu. She was attentive, kind, funny & patient. We truly enjoyed our experience. See you again soon.

Cartright’s Home Cooking truly hit the spot! The food was absolutely delicious — full of flavor but not overly salty, which I really appreciated. There was a great variety of options, so everyone in my group found something they enjoyed. The portion sizes were generous too — we even had leftovers! On top of that, the prices were very reasonable for the quality and quantity of food. Definitely recommend if you’re looking for satisfying, home-style comfort food.

I'm sad that I didn't get pictures of the food, it did look good, but the lack of options for dietary restrictions, and lack of concern for making sure anyone who has these restrictions is safe makes it difficult for us to come back. The atmosphere is that of an old vintage chowdown like the ones we all grew up with, it's clean and inviting. The waitress was great, and the coffee was as well, it was the highlight of our visit. Our waitress was attentive and very good, I wish that they were a bit more understanding of the menu when you go to order after you tell them about the sensitivities...but again, old school place.....this is probably just not gonna happen. My daughter and wife have sensitivity to gluten and food dyes, so we have to order a certain way, and they have no real options on the menu to actually know what you're getting. So we went with common options that in most cases won't have either in them. My daughter and son split the chilaquiles, as the pancakes and toast are not an option, but corn tortillas are generally gluten free. Unfortunately, here they are multicolored which means they have food dyes. We didn't notice this initially because we thought they were tomatoes since they were red and mixed into the food, Cartwright's offered to split the plate in the kitchen so that it wouldn't have to be done at the table, this was very kind and we appreciate it.... But it also means that we aren't going to notice because the plate isn't in front of us. So both of them ate a majority of it before we figured it out. We both got an omelette, it was stuffed and looked tasty. It wasn't until I was about halfway through where I figured out it wasn't just eggs in the mixture, they use pancake batter, similar to IHOP to make it easier to cut and look more appealing. That may be fine for a majority of folks, but pancake batter is a no-no for us... So not only did it take me out of ketosis, it made my wife have hives and itch all day. Overall, I don't like that I spent 70 bucks to feed my family (5) and felt so unsatisfied. The place is cool, but the owners and managers seem to be mostly concerned with profit margin and volume instead of pure, fresh ingredients and accommodating anyone who is not part of the "normal" American diet. That's totally fine, they have a right to do so, just wanna make sure I leave this review so that others who may see the rating understand that while it's a solid establishment, it's not for everyone. If you have no restrictions and love a good biscuit and gravy, this is your place.

I REALLY wanted to like this place. It’s downtown Denton, nice view of the courthouse and courtyard with huge windows. What’s not to love? Well, that about sums it up. Nice decor, rustic, laid back. Very “Dentonesc”. But that’s it. As soon as you walk in the tables are basically on top of you, where nobody is there to greet you and you just have to weed through them to seat yourself. We were handed our menus and drink orders taken and then our waitress disappears. I guess maybe she thought we needed an abnormal amount of time to read the menu. Ordered a burger, soup salad combo and, of course, the “crown jewel”, a chicken fried steak. Maybe 6 tables in the whole place at 6:30 for dinner. I’m about to tell you why. The sandwiches were good. Chicken salad and turkey club. Two great staples and that might be all they are standing on. Burger meat so thin and bland. Bun was falling apart so you tell it had seen fresher days. Well let’s get to the good part… Well, maybe the “not good” part. The chicken fried steak. YIKES. No flavor whatsoever. No seasoning, the steak was tough and the breading; I could barely cut it with a steak knife it was so rubbery. Ordered mashed potatoes and Mac and cheese. The Mac and cheese is usually the disappointment but that turns out to be the only edible thing on the plate. The mashed potatoes were typical, just add water” and of course, there never enough added, I actually had a 1/4 stick of butter that my potatoes were sitting on top of, cool idea if the potatoes were actually hot. Then they change over $3 for a soda. Wow. That’s a bit much but I could see why. Before I took even three drinks of my Dr Pepper, the waitress had already brought me a new one. This one hurt my heart because I could see this place with such potential not being in business in a few years.

My date said his chicken fried steak was delicious. It was certainly huge! I only gave food 3 stars because there were no gluten free options. My omelet was rather thin and dry. The green beans were tasty if a little greasy. Beer offering is very limited but they do have shiner long necks.

Tonight we traveled down to the Denton square for a good ol’ home style meal at Cartwright's Ranch House. We were welcomed by the friendly staff as we looked for a place to sit (It was seat yourself). Once we found the perfect table it did not take long for Mel to start taking care of us. She was friendly and took good care of us. She even allowed Mike to make adjustments to his meal. Aimee ordered the grilled chicken with a salad (no croutons with ranch) and loaded mashed potatoes as sides. The chicken was tasty, tender, and juicy and Aimee had nothing left to bring home. Mike ordered the Cattleman’s Steak and eggs. Instead of a side and biscuit he requested bacon and sausage. The steak was a 10oz ribeye medium rare and came out just like Mike likes them. Mike got his eggs sunny side up and they paired well with the steak. The sausage was different but very tasty and then there is bacon and bacon is always great. You can always count on CartWright’s for a great meal. Make sure you add them to your list of local restaurants to support. The owner is super involved in the community and just an all around great guy.

We found ourselves in the Denton area today at lunchtime and decided to find a place to eat around Denton Square. It was an absolutely GORGEOUS day and a lot of people were out and about, enjoying the many activities that the Square provides for their community!! We decided on Cartwright's Ranch House, which we had not tried yet. The restaurant was busy which is a good sign that the food was going to be good. I picked the Chicken Fried Chicken with mac and cheese, dinner salad and a roll. Taylor picked the Fried Catfish with slaw, dinner salad and a roll. Everything was delicious. We ate outside and were entertained by a local street performer playing music. We definitely recommend this area of town for a day filled with a lot of things to see and do!!

Here’s a review based on your experience: Homey Vibes and Delicious Comfort Food in Dallas I recently visited this cozy spot in Dallas on a Sunday morning with a group of friends, and while we did have to wait a bit, the line moved faster than expected. The restaurant gives off a homey, welcoming vibe, with tables set close together, making it feel lively and bustling. One unique touch is that, as you make your way to the back, you walk right past the kitchen and can watch the chefs in action—a cool detail, though it does make you hope they’re keeping everything spotless since it’s all out in the open! Once we were seated, our server greeted us promptly, and we found ourselves faced with a large menu, which made choosing a little tough. I ended up going with the fried catfish, accompanied by mac & cheese and fried okra. It seemed like a popular choice, and I quickly saw why—the catfish was perfectly seasoned and fried to a beautiful crisp. The tartar sauce and hot sauce they provided for dipping added just the right kick. The mac & cheese was good, though not standout, and the fried okra, while decent, could use a bit more flavor. Overall, our entire group was happy with the experience. We finished every bite, which speaks volumes! I only wish I’d taken pictures of the food because the presentation was lovely, but I did capture the empty plates at the end—a testament to how much we enjoyed it. I’d love to come back and explore more of the menu.

If you find yourself in Denton, Texas, come on down to the city square, where Locust Street converges with Oak Street and on the square's east side, you will find a great country comfort food restaurant, opened by a couple of Denton High School friends who were aspiring restauranteurs. The house specialties include chicken fried steak, fajitas, and cobbler for desert. If you have extra time, please let our community welcome you to the county seat, where John B. Denton said, let us stay here, it's home. Cheers, Mark F.

Great place for a burger and I expect from the looks of other orders all the food is good!!! Open dining and sit where you want makes it easy to find a table that fits your needs and party side. Fun atmosphere with many paintings and local items on the mural. As a first timer I got the full menu tour with highlights and favorites... our server Easter gave excellent recommendations (which I took)! My go to burger is a mushroom & swiss... it was awesome (the bun was incredibly soft and fresh)!

It's not fancy, It's practical The food partitions are the fair It's like going to Grandparents house for dinner or breakfast. I do not expect it to be shiny new But if you want a fair meal at a fair $ in 2024 $ you can't ask for anything better.

Located in the heart of Denton, Cartwrights is a down home neighborhood establishment. Immediately entering you can feel the down home vibe, the unique artwork canvassing the walls let's you know your at home. As a first timer, I spent time covering the expansive menu before conversing with the staff over favorites, ultimately selecting "Wyatt Earp" essentially the classic breakfast. The meal itself was a nice portion! The pancakes were some of the fluffiest and crisp round the edges, I've ever had. My bacon was thick cut and the fruit was fresh. Cartwright's on atmosphere alone should always be breakfast option in the Denton area, add in the heavy portions and you've got yourself the go to diner/family spot!

Located on the square, I remember visiting this place in the 2012 time frame or so. The Square has changed quite a bit and quite frankly is alive and extremely busy, especially on this Labor Day visit. It has the feel of a small town square diner still, just bulging with customers inside and waiting outside for their table. Parking can be a bear in this area so beware. Very simple setting of tables and chairs. I thought their using a green memo pad to be a little outdated but falls under the quaint category. However, somehow our name was skipped over and when my wife noticed that several parties were seated before us she pointed out name out to the hostess and we were of course sat down next. Added about 20 minutes to our wait time which would only have been about 12-15 prior to that oversight. We got there right before noon so again understanding it's a busy time of day and a holiday on top of that. Waitress was very nice if not easily distracted. She handed us our menus, went to say hi to another couple that sat down behind us, then volunteered to take a family of 12s picture. We are very understanding and it's a good holiday to spend with family. However, then she went to the other couples table and took their order. Then went to wipe down the table of the family that left and then finally came back to take our order nearly 15 minutes later. I think any reasonable person would consider that annoying at best and also now we are nearly 30-40 minutes behind unnecessarily. My daughter had wanted a chicken fried steak which started our trek here in the first place, so getting back on track the menu is what you might expect of a town square restaurant that's serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. She did get her wish and thoroughly enjoyed it; while at $14.99 she felt it was worth every penny. I was thankfully given a bite and agreed with her. Gravy and mash potatoes just added and it was just home-cooking style lunch that requires a good nap afterwards. I decided to detour of my intention of joining her with a CFS of my own and instead went with the catfish. $11.99 and the breading was really great. As a side note, you can order all u can eat catfish for just another $3 after 4 o'clock. The waitress did offer to make an exception for me since it was only about 1:30 but I declined. My wife ordered the roast beef sandwich. She has vainly been in search of a good roast beef that she gets in the New Orleans area where she's from. This isn't it but I thought it did stand on it's own two legs and for $11.99 not a bad value. I think the difference is the gravy on this one which is more texas style brown gravy rather than a debris gravy.... My youngest got the bacon cheeseburger. It was pretty good and also $11.99. I thought the fries were so-so on it. Each of the entrees comes with two sides and so it's quite reasonably priced. The food held it's own, but the service, the seating time, and by the way we did wait another 20 minutes for the food to come out do not bode well if you are looking for a place to get in and out quick. I don't rank many places 3 stars but then say it's ok to go there but this one is a rare exception. Food for the most part nails it, though the tartar sauce is a little too much onions in it. But everything here is homemade and I can appreciate that. But in my opinion, the place is not worth a two-hour lunch time frame.

I was hungry so found a new place to try. I took meds that are supposed to be taken, without food, and as a result feeling quite bad (nausea which is common side effect of taking those without food), so needed something in my stomach. Because feeling nauseous, I didn't want anything greasy so just ordered some pancakes. The pancakes itself has very limited flavor, but wasn't bad with syrup. There is pineapple cooked into the pancakes as well as on top. Overall wasn't exceptional, but wasn't bad. I want to try some of the burgers on the menu or more of a full breakfast entree sometime, since leaving a review based solely on 1 stack of 3 pancakes, isn't the best to go on. But the ladies working there were nice and helped me get the other placed no prob and it was ready quickly

Yolk in Sundance Square in Ft. Worth was great, just what I needed in the morning. The drinks are wonderful and next time I'm back I'll need to try their pancakes. Go check it out.

I was looking for a brunch place in Denton with good food and cheap mimosas $4, I found one. When you walk up to the front door they have a couple of little tables out front, walking in I realized the place kind of had a strange layout. The main front room and a wide corridor of tables leading to the back of the restaurant where the kitchen and restrooms are located. We were greeted quickly and the staff was very friendly, I ordered the "Wyatt Earp" and it came out quickly. Everything was good, I really liked their sausage patties good peppery flavor but the potatoes are deep fried the menu says Skillet potatoes so I was expecting potatoes cooked on a griddle or Skillet with onions and peppers , their were barely noticeable diced peppers in these. Overall I liked this place a lot and will be back, and if you like good breakfast and cheap mimosas don't hesitate to give it a shot!

Revving through the city on my trusty 4-wheeler, I stumbled upon this hidden gem of a restaurant. Cartwrights they have the best burgers and the fries are to die for. The service is through the roof and it feels very Texan in there. The ambiance is amazing!

This is a fan favorite in Denton, and after two meals there, I can certainly see why. GF and I went there for dinner before a play, and weren't disappointed with any part of our meal. Although the fried pickles probably could've been a little bit better if they had been in spears instead of pickle chips (where the breading was falling off of most of them), it was a huge portion, and the dip was fantastic with them. They pride themselves on chicken fried steak, they are famous for them, and my GF now knows why. Huge portion, and it was delicious. My food was fantastic as well. Then I returned there with my son for brunch, and that may have been even better. Again, the portions were huge, and everything from the French toast to the eggs to the sausage patties and bacon (both very tender and moist) were fantastic. Biscuits are incredible, but as my son remarked, we probably want to try the creamed gravy next time, because the sausage gravy was a bit thin (maybe the sausage grease is to blame), and it didn't enhance the biscuit as much as we would've liked. Nevertheless, a winner all around!

They cancel your delivery orders so often they should just not advertise When they 'decide' to accept delivery it's confusing. So so many quality places that offer a seamless customer experience Cartwright's Ranch House is not one

Great service. We had a total of 11 people. This is our go to place next time we are in town .

Standard diner grub, with a Tex Mex twist. Prompt service and fast preparation allow them to turn a crowd so that there is no wait. If chicken fried steak is your think, donMt miss this enormous portion. The mashed potatoes and gravy were a little floury. The huevos rancheros were pretty dry. The setting is very casual so wear your new UNT T-shirt, cowboy hat and boots!

SUMMARY: Want to get a feel of hospitable Denton dining and get a good bang-for-the-buck return? Cartwright's is your place! BACKGROUND: When we aren't working Saturdays, we try to make a trip to Cartwright's for their good food, friendly service, and non-pretentious atmosphere. FOOD: It's simple, no-frills homestyle country kitchen food! Simple doesn't necessarily mean boring. In fact, if you get the basics right, it (for me anyways), it outshines the overly done, artsy food creations in my book. I've only been here once for lunch, so I'll talk more about the breakfasts. I like to keep my choices simple these days so I almost always get pancakes with eggs and bacon. The last three times it has been consistently delicious without great variation (e.g. bacon too undercooked or overcooked, depending on the day). I never finish because the portions are generous too. I mean I could, but I save one pancake for the next morning at home :) One small gripe is that the coffee is a bit weak for my taste. It's typical diner coffee, which to me is a very light Colombian roast. However, the refillls keep coming, so that makes up for it. ATMOSPHERE: They have a really nicely done wall mural (see pic) and the atmosphere is laid back. People from all stripes dine here. In other words, a judgement free establishment. And the tables and floor is always clean when we've visited. OTHER: Parking can be a pain in the area and given it's right across from the square (west side), parking is limited---and that's why we go on the early side around 8:00 - 8:30am so we don't have to fight for parking. RETURN VISIT? Definitely. This place I'm sure is an institution for many long time Denton-ites and I can see why.

Me and my fiancé have been eating here for breakfast and the occasional lunch for about 3 years now. It's close to where we work and it opens at 7am which is super convenient for us. The staff are always very friendly and let you chose your seat and take your drink order right away. This Wednesday we went in for breakfast and I got The Big Bend because I was craving some biscuits and gravy and all the fixins. I can't remember what my fiancé ordered but I know it had pancakes with it, his favorite breakfast item, lol. He definitely took a double take at my plate when it came out, I could tell he was second guessing his decision on breakfast, there was meat piled all over my biscuits, gravy and eggs. He already knew he'd get his fair share. Let's just say The Big Bend has it all, fluffy biscuits, warm gravy, eggs however you like them and cut up sausage, bacon, and ham. It was heavenly, I would definitely get it again. I'll keep coming back to try new things, there's so much to chose from.

Not bad. Had a nice lunch at Cartwright's. The layout is strange as it first appears to only have front (street side) seating and then the kitchen, but if you walk through the half kitchen access/ open walkthrough hallway there is a back side which allows for ample seating and can accommodate large parties. For the yummy stuff, my BLT Sammy was delish, large fluffy multigrain bread that supported crispy and thick bacon- YUM! Well done on the bacon, it was awesome. The tortilla soup was less impressive, too much cheese added for my liking and the taste was bland. I still ate it, but defiantly was missing the layers you'd expect of from a soup. I think they should put the tortilla strips on the side as well since mine were mostly soggy at delivery and under the heavy handed cheese glob. The service was nice, I had to flag the waitress for a drink refill but she was attentive otherwise and cheerful. I'd give 3.5 stars for a traditional weekday lunch.

The 10 of us had a great breakfast experience after a big game. Omelets, pancakes, steak & eggs, coffee were perfect! Our new go to over old west!

Exceptional service paired with delectable dishes make this hidden gem in Denton a must-visit. From the warm ambiance to the delightful flavors, every aspect of the dining experience exceeded expectations. The staff was attentive and friendly, ensuring a memorable visit. Whether you're a local or just passing through, this cozy spot promises a delightful culinary journey that will leave you eager to return.

On our way thru Denton, we went for breakfast. It was so good. We got seated right away but then it was after 9 on a Monday. I had the brown sugar cinnamon pancakes and would recommend them to anyone (that's not gluten-free). The syrup they put on them is so yummy. Husband got one of the eggs and meat plates (there are lots of them) and was very satisfied. He's picky about his eggs and these were the way he likes them. Our server was ready with coffee and helpful when ordering. I'd go back there if I was in the area.

I did not get a chance to take any pictures but 10/10 recommend food was fresh and they were so nice

I have been here a couple of times now but haven't posted a review. I have only been here during breakfast so my review is based solely on this part of their menu. There are a lot of choices on the menu and all large portions so bring your appetite. The coffee is delicious. The food always hot and tasty. The service is always great and the atmosphere is varied depending on the local activities goi g on. College game days are extremely busy so plan your visit accordingly.

We enjoyed our late Saturday morning breakfast at Cartwright's on the Square in Denton. The day we were there, each table was occupied and the service was very good. The bacon is thick and crisp, the pancakes are thick and fluffy, and any Way you want your eggs, will be perfect. I'm not sure if it was because they were busier than normal or what, but my coffee was never refilled and as a matter of fact, our table was never checked on. The ambience was wonderful and the food was fresh and good.

Old school country breakfast. We loved the laid back atmosphere and friendly service. Highly recommended for any self respecting southerner. Breakfast all day! Definitely felt like small town Texas.

I've been here several times but this was too good not to post. First off it's breakfast everything. Biscuits, gravy, taters, eggs, bacon, ham, sausage, and cheese. And I brought half of it home for tomorrow. Each component was spot on. Biscuits held up to the gravy but were tender. Eggs perfect. Meats delicious. A hearty, not gonna have lunch, kinda breakfast.

Excellent food as well as great service. The chicken fried steak was fabulous as were all the side. My wife had catfish & loved it.

We go here so much and I love it. The food taste so good. Is waiters are always kind and respectful. But on time I asked for a refill on my drink the waiter said yes but never came back with my drink. That is the only problem I have ever had there. The interior is so pretty.

First time here. And I will definitely come back for a second chance. But... I ordered the chilaquiles and they were awful!!! Can't even say they were chilaquiles!! My husband said his meal was really good. My daughter said nope. Service was slow but the server was very nice so we tipped her well. I want to go back and try something different. Hopefully next time it's. 4 star.

Good down home food, good service, and friendly snd at tentative. Place was packed, but we got a table!

Outstanding food and service. Will definitely return for another meal. Great atmosphere.

This was one of my on prem accounts, and I never had the pleaser of dining until a few weeks ago. All I can say is my food was excellent, just like the owner John and Little John's personality. It's always a pleasure visiting even tho it's no longer my account to services. I would recommend this spot to anyone visiting Denton.

I'm from Washington State. After admiring Denton's county building and its surrounding square, it was supper time, and I saw Cartwright's. I had their classic bacon burger, with cheese switched to Swiss, & side of broccoli. One of the best burgers in memory. Friendly staff. Fair price. Thank you.

Great grub and nice staff. Great location on the square in downtown Denton. We were there for lunch

Emily was our server and she was great. Super good service And she was there when we needed her. We had no issues at all with our experience. The food portions are huge and it tasted perfect. No complaints at all with this place and we will definitely be back if we are ever in the area! :)

Service was excellent and the food was so delicious!! Cute diner and neatly decorated, nice and clean! They give great portion for an excellent price. And it did not disappoint at all. We were visiting from California and honestly if we lived here we would definitely visit often!!

Our "got to" in Denton hands down. The CFS is in my top 3 ever. Just as good as the legendary Mary's in Strawn, Tx. Top quality beef pounded out this and fried to perfection. The gravy is just like my momma's. Homemade dinner roll to finish it off. The breakfast is just as good!

This is a great place to eat breakfast & our server, Josh, made the experience exceptional!

When the waitress realized I had neither a menu nor utensils after serving my coffee, it should have been a bad omen. Fortunately, I only needed a few minutes to decide on the Cinnamon Roll French Toast. I am not fond of sausage patties, so I chose bacon instead. Between the French toast and the bacon strips, only the latter was thoroughly cooked. One of the two slices of French toast, the left one was undercooked. Its entire backside stuck to the plate.

First time ordering from here. Ordered the Colorado omelet with pancake, tomatoes, and side of hashbrowns. Ham was over cooked, barely any veggies in it. Hashbrowns we're WAY under cooked. They still had the raw potato taste. Pancake was good. Overall I would give it a 5 out of 10.

Food was average. The meatloaf was dry and oddly cut in two slices stacked on the plate. Not sure what was happening there, other guests speculated it was used for sandwiches. Odd presentation of food and mac and cheese is yucky. They serve breakfast and that was good, thank goodness for grits.

Really good, satisfying southern comfort food is how they I would describe it. Today I got their version of a Philly cheesesteak with a side of fries and beans to-go and everyone was asking what the heck I was eating because it smelled so good. Was delicious. The steak was cooked great and the grilled mushrooms and onions and peppers topped it off perfectly. The fries were really special. The fries had a delightful crunch and seasoning on it and we're not even soggy from the delivery. I plan to be back soon!

My opinion is, go, but, Definitely don't order the taco salad. It is loaded down with meat which may be great for some people , but I was looking forward to all the ingredients. Unfortunately the meat was dry, like it had been sitting around too long that day. Also, I ordered the taco salad in the edible crunchy bowl. When it arrived it was just in the salad bowl instead of the edible one. The server did acknowledged it and asked me if I was ok with it the way it was or if I wanted a new one. I opted to just keep the one I had. I'm always a little afraid of what can happen if you send food back. In hindsight, I wish I had sent it back and gone with something completely different! In fairness I have to say , my husband enjoyed his chicken fried steak and my granddaughter enjoyed her steak and mushrooms. They both would give the food 5 Stars. One other complaint, I did not get offered a refil on my drink or an apology on getting the order wrong with the check. Bottom line it's a popular place and I will go back again when I'm not trying to get my veggies in and order the chicken fried steak. I will also give their breakfast a try. Everyone eating breakfast food seemed very happy!

Great food! I prefer the one NOT on the square because I don't like trying to find parking. The service is good. But we go there for the food! It's kind of loud.

Stopped by for lunch and of course had to try the chicken fried steak. The chicken fried steak was excellent, the mashed potatoes were ok, and the Mac and cheese was so-so. I will definitely be back to try other items.

This place offers giant portions, but the quality was not the primary focus of the food. We ordered delivery and got the chicken strips and chicken fried steak. We were initially impressed as the smell was amazing and the packing presentable, but as we dug in, we were not impressed. The chicken may have been brined or something, too, long as it was mysteriously tasteless and concerned us. The sides appeared to be quick fixes with the green beans potentially canned. The chicken fried steak was good, but gave me indigestion from the salt content. I will say that the breading was good and crispy and the roll delicious. I think maybe if you frequently eat this kind of food, you may have enjoyed it more than we did, but it just left us feeling unhealthy and unsatisfied and maybe a little sick after.

A consistent source of good food downtown. Don't miss the opportunity to stop in. My family has met there many times and never been disappointed

I had an interesting first visit. I was looking for some comfort food and came across this place. It's a very casual diner kind of atmosphere so I didn't feel out of place wearing my stretchy sweats, oversized tee and beanie. I was comfortable in my comfy clothes going to eat comfort food. l appreciated that you can seat yourself either in the front or back of the restaurant. There was plenty of space to social distance. I was all masked up due to the world pandemic thing. All of the servers were wearing masks and none of them had "peak-a-boo" nostrils. I did end up moving towards the back so I could be more secluded but the place was filling up fast. I knew what I wanted before I walked in, which drew me to this place - the ALL-YOU-CAN-EAT CATFISH! What?!? I just wasn't sure about the two side choices so I asked my server many questions. She was very patient as I made my final decisions. I let her know it was my first time hoping she could give me grace. She was very easygoing. The catfish wasn't the absolute best I'd ever had (I've had my share especially on the west coast and other states; my mom passed on to me the traits of being a catfish foodie so it's a generational thing) but it still hit the mark as far as flavor and freshness. Wait till you see my plate in my photo, the PORTION made my eyes double in size. I think I counted at least eight filets piled up next to the two sides: mash potatoes and gravy and cole slaw. I'm picky about my cold slaw, but there's was decent and not too sweet. I don't usually order mash potatoes and gravy but I was glad I did. I typically would have gone for the steamed broccoli but it was all about comfort tonight. I was pleased and satisfied. The service was a team effort so I was able to ask for hot sauce and a box from any of their helpful servers. So yes, I needed a box because half of the first round of my all-you-can eat catfish was all I could eat. You definitely get your money's worth with just one plate. And without even asking, I was given more of their delicious tarter sauce to take home. I'm picky about that too - not sure if it was homemade though. I loved being able to pay electronically via ApplePay (very pandemic-conscious). I made sure that the server that first took my order would get a portion of the tip too since I moved to a different section. She indicated that it was fine so I figured they must split the tips. SO WHAT MADE MY VISIT "INTERESTING?" Well ... Let me tell you! After heading out to my car, I was "in the zone" reflecting on my plans for the remainder of the evening when it finally registered that someone behind me was nervously shouting out to me, "Excuse me! I think you forgot to pay!" I was almost to the end of the block when I turned around and that same kind waitress that took my order had come chasing after me. She was a bit winded as she repeated, "I think you forgot to pay." Surprised and slightly embarrassed because there were other people around, I immediately let her know that I had paid with my phone. She too looked embarrassed and apologized and said something about the girl misunderstanding me (?) and headed back towards the restaurant. I stopped and checked my phone to make sure that the transaction actually fully processed. It had. Then I noticed the message on the ending page that stated to let my server know that I had paid via my phone. Then I felt bad for missing that instruction so I went back to the restaurant to let her know that it was partly my fault for not letting her or someone know that I had paid before leaving. BUT, BJs and other restaurants have the same payment system and I've never been chased down before. I'm sure there's a way to check to see if a check is paid or closed. ?? When I went back with my phone in hand. She interrupted me to let me know "Oh no, she's new!" Who's new? Clearly *you're* not new! Why was her first inclination to believe I hadn't paid? Why didn't she check the system first? Was it something about me or how I was dressed that made her think I may have "forgotten" to pay? I don't know. That was the reason for giving one less star. I understand that people make mistakes but that left a lasting first impression. I may go back but I might give it some time. I'm new to Texas. I hope this isn't an indication of how my experiences in Texas are going to be. This is my longest review ever. Thanks for reading until the end.

In the mood for southern Chicken Fried Steak with Creamy White gravy with all the trimmings. The target place Cartwright's Ranch House. As usual the place is always busy but, the service is always good. And the food is great. In the mood for Southern home cooking? You must check this place out,

We went for chicken fried steak and it was good. Gravy was delicious. Sides were subpar potatoes were lukewarm. And pinto beans way over seasoned with vinegar. Staff was very nice and efficient.

I love this place I think they have the best breakfast in town but they have a diverse selection of food

Cartwrights is the definition of southern comfort. From the hostess warm greeting to the hot rocks and gravy, this Ranch house is a Ranch home. My go to spot for an epic breakfast