J W's Steakhouse

This place is Really, Really good. The atmosphere is an amazing western theme with what I believe to be cedar flooring and walls. Definitely a nice touch. Our server was attentive, friendly, and very helpful. Our Sirloin steak was very good and the side dishes were excellent. The cucumber salad nearly stole the show for me. The onion rings were really good as well. Definitely worth checking out.

It was absolutely delicious! We love every experience we have whenever we come over from Brenham to eat at JW's. They always have the best steaks! They also have delicious salads, rolls, and sides! Update: We went again this past weekend, and their chicken fried chicken dinner is amazing! It's huge, so I had enough to leftovers!

10/15/2025: We stopped in for a late lunch when leaving Round Top. We were trying to avoid the RT art festival, so we opted for JW's in Carmine. The inside decor is all wood paneling. It's very country looking, so that was appealing. We started with the fried pickles for an appetizer to share. Our group was a party of 3. The pickles were a perfect split for us. The ranch served with the pickles had a tartar sauce undertone taste. It was pretty good. We all had the sweet tea and lemonade mix. It was refreshing. I ordered the regular JW's burger on a classic white bun. The burger was okay. There was no special seasoning to it. I wasn't able to order it medium. From the looks of it, it was "done", so that is a little too done for me. I like mine a little pink. They use leaf lettuce. I prefer shredded. The pickles on my burger were cut lengthwise, and 2 of the strips still had the outer skin on them. Not a fan of that. The fries were good. They had a nice crunch to them. The service was great at JW's. Our drinks were never empty, the food came out fast, and our waitress was very nice. You can't get better than country service. It was a nice change from Houston where everything is hustle and bustle. We all three split a piece of coconut pie. It was okay, but to be fair, I am not a pie person. My coworkers thought it was terrific. If I am out that way again and decide to stop in, I will order something different. Maybe the chicken fried steak. The neighboring table ordered it and it looked good! Our bill for the 3 of us was $71 and some change before tip. That seems on point for 1 appetizer, 3 drinks, 3 entrees, and 1 piece of pie. It was crowded, especially for a weekday after the lunch rush in the country, so they must be doing something right.

Super small town with a big steakhouse. Almost every building was is within a couple, three blocks of highway 290, this is a great place to stop if you're going between Houston and Austin or any points in between...Only 244 people at the 2020 census, and by the time we left, seemed like at least a third of them had stopped by the Steakhouse on a Thursday afternoon.. meatloaf was the special of the day and after seeing it being ordered by so many people. I kinda wish I'd had it, but I went with our Big 8 oz hamburger, served on some of the most incredible bread. That bun was awesome, absolutely amazing. And she had a Pattymelt, and even the toast was better than almost any place. Very, very happy and surprised The Onion rings. We did share. They did have cracked pepper in them, which is pretty famous in Central Texas, and I love them that way. The first time, we didn't care much at another place. But from then on, we've loved them for about, 24 years, now.... It's just fantastic.. The building itself is very cool. You get in there, and you get kind of an old wood paneled back in the day type of restaurant, and it was just fun to see all the farmers and landowners and small town people coming in. And having their little individual meetings and break from work and enjoying their meals..

Absolutely exceeded my expectations! I ordered the JW’s burger and it was one of the best I’ve ever had — perfectly cooked, juicy, and the sauces were just right. We also tried the baked potato and the homemade onion rings. The onion rings were a standout: super fresh, crispy, and not greasy at all. It was such a great surprise to find this level of quality in a roadside spot. If you’re passing by, do yourself a favor and stop here. You won’t regret it!

First time here with my son. This place shocked me aT how incredibly delicious the food was! The Salmon and filet were both done exactly as requested, Salad fresh, the onion rings were amazing! Not greasy at all. Tried something new for me which was cheesy veggie. WOW, that surprised me too, it was delicious! Let’s talk about the lava explosion and Italian cakes—-> the BEST I’ve had since I was on the east coast ! Definately going back again and highly recommend. The staff was attentive but not intrusive, we didn’t have to ask for anything, and our waitress answered questions that we had when ordering (since had never been there). Nice experience! Photos: I grabbed quick photos after we had started so excuse the bites out of food 😂. Didn’t take a picture if salad. Everything was perfect!

We drove from Houston to try this place and it was worth the trip. We had the chicken fried steak, ribeye, onion rings, and coconut cream pie. Everything was delicious. Prices are reasonable. Service was great.

The good: The establishment and service were fantastic. The chicken fried steak was great, but I needed more gravy than what came with it. The chicken tenders were fat and looked delicious. The fries were good. The bad: The fish was paper thin and a complete let down. Our hamburger steak tasted great until we got to the raw center. Waitress removed it from our bill and was very professional about it. One serving of okra was dark and over fried. Overall the place is great but had some food inconsistencies.

JW steakhouse, steaks are nothing to brag about, and as far as I'm concerned they are just overrated. Have just moved from Katy, Texas to Giddings, we heard about JW Steakhouse, you know this place could be a fantastic place to go and eat a steak, but there steaks are nothing to brag over at all? My suggestion, is the owner go to Houston, meet with the owner of Taste of Texas as question on how to make a delicious steak, or even go to Saltgrass and ask the same question, and then come back, and restart your JW Steakhouse brand! In my opinion there steaks are not worth stopping for!

First time here. Ambience- nice, clean, quiet. Service- seated quickly, took our order quick and server kept asking if we needed anything else. Food- ordered cfs with fried okra and side salad. salad was huge, made with fresh veggies and homemade ranch dressing. CFS was hand battered and fried well. I could cut it with my knife. the fried okra was good. Gravy served on the side which I liked but the gravy itself was a little thin. My niece said the fried shrimp were out of this world. They were huge.

If you traverse Highway 290 between Austin and Houston, you have passed this place a million times and probably didn't even know it. Situated in the little town of Carmine, which is one of those towns that makes you slow down to 55 miles an hour, this place is absolutely incredible. The Burger? One of the best in Texas. The onion rings? They are famous for a reason. The chicken fried steak? The best I have ever had. The place is upscale but casual, so check your pretension at the door. Nice folks, good food, fair prices.

I stopped here while visiting my brother and his wife. My brother and his wife ordered the 6oz filet with a loaded baked potato, and those potatoes were definitely loaded. My SIL also ordered a side of three fried shrimp. The shrimp were delicious. I normally wouldn't order seafood this far away from the gulf but they were definitely fresh so no worries. I ordered the classic burger with Swiss cheese and a side of French fries and it too was delicious. The bun was super fresh and the beef patty was perfectly seasoned. JW's has a classic steakhouse vibe and it should, it is a steakhouse after all. Our server was great and very attentive. Everything that came out of the kitchen looked delicious. They also have a full bar. I think if you're in the area this place is worth a stop. I would definitely come again.

Well another great meal at JWs in Carmine. This is where I picked for my Birthday meal, for chocolate pie and chicken fried steak. The salad here is simple but fresh and not bagged lettuce. The blue cheese dressing home made. Today the vegetable I got with then potatoes was squash casserole was super and not sure how they made it. The building is a part of the lumbar yard that was there a long time, and a few years ago when it was being constructed I remembered being surprised they were building a restaurant just off the road.

This steakhouse is my new favorite restaurant. Delicious Angus steaks, baked potato and homemade salad dressings. Homemade pies and desserts too. My steak was perfectly cooked and flavored on a mesquite grill. If you're on your way between Bastrop and Houston it's in the little town of Carmine TX, 40 miles east of Bastrop. Plenty of seating. Right behind the Weikiels Bakery. Can't wait to go back.

Amazing service and food ! The portions are huge ! Best fried chicken I've ever had on Tuesday Nights !

As I was driving back from Houston to Austin, I got a hankering for a steak. So I did a little search and found this place with great reviews. I pulled up at about 530 on a Friday night and it was hopping. I asked to be seated at the bar since I was alone. The hostess wasn't especially friendly or anything, but, she wasn't rude. The bartender took good care of me. I felt very impressed with the sirloin I got. I also got green beans and a really neat acorn squash side. When I'm passing through, I will definitely come back.

I really do like JW's. I've never had a bad steak and always good service. I love their onion rings too. My only recommendation or suggestions is their baked potatoes could be cooked longer. Other than that the food is really great.

The best chicken fried chicken you will have. We love this place and go every time we're in town. You will be craving it the next day. Go!

My wife and I frequently travel 290 and we always try to stop here for lunch. We usually order the daily special and it is always good. True Texas hospitality, friendly and helpful. Local ranchers, oil field workers and fellow travelers all eat here. Large portions at a fair price.

Food was amazing. 6 huge tenders and fries toooo many. Coconut cream pie was very good. Chocolate not so much.

Great service. Clean western atmosphere Great chicken fried steak We've visited lots of times. And they have a drive through window

The food was amazing, best appetizers we've had in a long time, the onion rings, oh my goodness, and the fried cheese and mushrooms amazing! So the chicken fried steak, absolutely one of the best I've had from anywhere! Fresh, hand cut, hand battered, and the portions are huge! The burgers don't disappoint either!! The staff was amazing too, our waitress didn't miss a beat serving a huge table! The only reason I didn't give them a five star rating is because we were a bit disappointed that they wouldn't allow our whole party to sit together because it was so big, so they sat four from our party of twenty at a separate booth... because of the waitress assignment, so our waitress had 16 and another only had four, overworked ours, and the other table was under worked. Good place and we will be back, just not a party or birthday celebration. And sorry for the photos, was focused on eating before I remembered to "Yelp!" lol

We ordered the chicken fried steak with mashed potatoes & fried okra, plus an appetizer of fried pickles, to go while enjoying a night in a cabin at Busted Oak Cellars. It was delicious! The steak was pounded to the perfect thickness & covered with a very well seasoned batter. It was still very hot & crispy when my husband got back with it. The potatoes & okra were also excellent. The pickles were crispy & had great flavor. We split the 8oz because we had been snacking at the winery. There was plenty for both of us & the price was great.

The onion rings are fabulous! We ordered a medium and for sure should've gotten a small. They are huge! Flavor is so so good! I had the classic 1/3 pound burger and my husband had the 1/2 pound. Nice flavor and e probably could've split on burger. Nice people, good service.

They had a clean facility, the food was good. Restaurant was big but only had a portion of it when we went. Staff was nice

Just a block off of hwy 290, is a great little restaurant in Carmine TX. Passing through we are always looking for a midway stop and this place was perfect. Great iced tea, salads, sandwiches and meat platters. I am trying to eat right and the waitress accommodated my lettuce instead of bread hamburger request. The burger was flavored well and cooked perfectly with seasoned crispy edges and juicy inside. My husband ordered a starter of onion rings which I had to try and the batter was perfect- crunchy, tasty and a little bit sweet. Our waitress was textbook in service- timing of food, adjusting the room temp per request, offering a to go cup of tea, nice but not overdone. Easy parking and quick service. I couldn't wait to rate this little sweet spot a five so others could check out this spacious but small town food stop.

Went to Roundtop Market and stayed at Lake Somerville. Craving a good, hot meal after a long drive. Food and service was great. Unexpected jewel in a small town.

While visiting my buddy's ranch in Round Top, he intentionally didn't bring dinner items so we could go to the local "steakhouse." I went to an Ag college so, small Texas town "steakhouse" gets " " because they are usually some dump that has either the most amazing, but fatty steak or it is a steak worthy of Golden Corral or Sizzlers. This is truly a steakhouse. First, the ambiance is not a Fleming's or Capital Grille, but more like Taste of Texas in Houston. Pretentious is not a word at this place. Clean and welcoming would be. The service, awesome! She was super attentive to our 7-top of all dudes that were getting progressively over served through the evening. From the beginning to the end our wine bottles were full and so were our wine glasses. She felt bad that we had to get to 5 oz filets, since they ran out of the 10 oz filet. In reality it was no big deal, but solidified their restaurant as a 5 star. The wine list? Amazing for a small town. Also the markup was nothing. They had a cab we ended up really liking. The Vivino rating was 4.2 and was average price of $35. It was only $35/bottle!!! The food? From the spread of appetizers we got (I know we had the pickles, onion rings, and mushrooms) to the filet with loaded baked potato to the chocolate cake dessert, all amazing! Believe the filet was $34 with a side and a salad) My bar was set low, but this place really knocked it out of the park. Will I be back? Without a doubt!!! If I am even not too near to Carmine, I will definitely come back. For 7 guys who had the higher end of their steaks, appetizers, and lots of wine our bill was about $70/person. Not bad, that would have been a $120-$150 night in Houston.

I love this place. Try to eat there as much as possible when traveling anywhere close. Chicken fried steak, burgers and onion rings. My favorites but I am still working on trying more on the menu.

First time visitor from Boston: hands down the best sandwich I've ever had in my life and the RANCH THOUGH *chef's kiss* I honestly never leave reviews but this place is some next level flavor - thanks for the awesome vaca experience!

Carmine isn't usually a stop on my map but it sure will be after experiencing JW's. This place is SO delicious. The menu has great variety and everything we ordered seemed to be "made to order" and not frozen or kept under heat lamps. You can definitely taste the love put into each meal. You get that cozy small hometown feel at JW's and everyone is so friendly. I was chatting with a few people while waiting on our table and so many people drive in from an hour+ away to eat here. I can't recommend this place enough. Delicious food with super sweet staff. Also the fried pickles are some of the best I've ever had in my life.

Perfect spot for a 4:30 lunch/supper after a hard day of antique shopping. Ribeye melted under the knife. Wife's chicken breast did as well. Real onion rings. Great service. Tea glass stayed full. Looks like we just beat the rush. Texas Steakhouse just like we were looking for.

We were in town shopping at Paul Michael and wanted to eat before drive back to Austin, so we did a Yelp search and this place was highly rated. When we entered, I was a little unsure, but by the time we left, I understood why the ratings are so high. While it seemed empty when we arrived around 4:15, by the time we left, almost every seat was taken and I know it is not just because the food is really, really good, but the customer service from the hostess to the waitstaff is genuine and so friendly. Michelle was our waitress and she was fantastic and definitely deserved her 25% tip. She was very friendly, very attentive, offered great suggestions and was able to wait on several tables at once without being stressed and her smile never waivered. The food was so good, we took home leftovers! We had the fried pickles, surf and turf with grilled shrimp, the catfish platter, side salads, loaded baked potatoes, chicken fried chicken with brown gravy, chocolate meringue pie, Italian cream cake and the chocolate eruption cake. Everything was fried to order, hot and fresh, the steak was perfectly prepared medium rare and the salads were fresh. I highly recommend their house made bleu cheese dressing. The rolls that accompanied each dish was fresh, warm and had a light taste of honey butter, so no additional butter was needed. The desserts....wow! All three were amazing, but the Italian cream cake was one of the best I have ever had. We threw the leftovers in our air fryer the next day and savored each bite. I highly recommend JW and when we come back to do more shopping, we will definitely be coming back and I hope to see Michelle again and I hope they have Crystal's hot sauce!

Great place to eat. Chicken fried ribeye was delicious. Have had good steaks here too. Friendly staff too. Plan on being back next time I'm in the area

We went on a little weekend trip that took us thru Carmine. We decided to check out JW's on our way home. I had a JW burger w/bacon & jalapeño plus a side of onion rings. The burger was huge & delicious! The batter on the rings was really good too. My wife had the Surf & Turf with a side salad & baked potato. She says that her steak wasn't bad, although maybe not the best cut. It was cooked as ordered and she said that it was just ok. The fried shrimp were pretty large & had a seasoned batter. She said that her potato was good. She didn't get her salad until later in the meal. It was really busy & there was plenty to eat, so we just boxed it up to go. Our service wasn't bad considering how busy it was. We still enjoyed our meal & would definitely eat there again.

Food good every time! Service friendly - the best. Best onion rings on earth. Good at lunch or dinner.

Love JW's and look forward to anytime we know we can visit! Food is scratch and so delicious and the service is always friendly and above and beyond!!

AMAZING!!! Hands down one of the best meals I've ever eaten . We started with Caesar side salads and fried mushrooms for our appetizers. Both were delicious and full of flavor. Then we had our main course; I had salmon and a baked potato and my husband enjoyed a steak and baked potato. The baked potatoes were generous, as was the meat portion of the meal. The rolls were this good: I haven't had any that good since my mom made bread when I was about 8 years old. Everything was delicious and I send my compliments to the chef/cook. 10/10 for them.

We stopped here on the way to Brenham. It was busy because it was a Friday during Lent. The wait was 15-20 minutes, which isn't too bad in my opinion for a Friday night in a small town. Our waitress was really nice, even though she was very busy with all her tables. She even took the time to ask us where we were from and if we were there for the big antiques show in the area. So why dock a star? Well, the hostess wasn't very pleasant. You could tell that cracking a smile at customers was as much effort as she was willing to give. I did not see any customers being rude to her, but who knows what put her in a foul mood. The catfish was a little dry as well, but their salad was solid, which is why I did not deduct another star. Would I give this place another try? Maybe. I saw some other items on the menu that looked interesting, and if we go through here again during dinner, we might give this place another try. Hopefully the hostess finds her joy next time we try this place again, so her attitude doesn't sour the meal.

On our way back to Houston from Austin, we searched Yelp for a place to stop and eat and choose JW's Steakhouse for its reviews. We were NOT disappointed! I had the ribeye steak because that is what a lot of reviews focused on and it it lived up to the hype. It was flavorful and tender. My husband and daughter had the catfish, which was also a big hit. We had the fried mushrooms as an appetizer. We will definitely make JW's a favorite stop when we travel between Austin and Houston. I also want to add that service was amazing. This was also mentioned in the reviews and holds true. Brynn not only greeted and served with a smile, but she was so attentive. Thank you. If you are passing through, this place is a MUST stop for great food and great service. Thank you JW's Steakhouse for a delightful meal serves with a smile.

Love JWs. A nice slice of True Texas hospitality and dining. Just in joyed a classic hamburger. 1/3 lb juicy beef with all the fixings! For sure get the onion rings. Small order is 5 HUGE nicely peppered thick onion rings! Enjoyed the native cedar floor and paneling. Atmosphere can't be beat.!

Tonight was our first night coming to JW's. It definitely won't be our last! There was a 30 minute wait but there is Village Market around the corner where you can spend time browsing the outdoor decor. We didn't mind the wait because from the moment we sat down we felt welcome and at home. The service was great and the waitress was so nice. The food was amazing! We had the cheese curd bites for an appetizer. Their homemade ranch for dipping is sooo good! My husband and I each had the filet and the steak was well flavored and cooked perfectly. I had the sides of the day: creamed spinach and glazed sweet potatoes. My husband had the mashed potatoes and okra. My daughter had a grilled cheese and fries. Honestly everything we ordered was wonderful, tasty, and filling. We took an original cheesecake and German chocolate cheesecake home for dessert. I look forward to visiting again!

The best chicken fried chicken I have ever had!! Broccoli salad was SO yummy too! Great down home country food. Deserts are awesome too!

We typically eat at JW's twice a year, during Antique Week in Round Top. This time is wasn't great. The fried catfish was muddy tasting and the slaw looked not-so-fresh.

Awesome food every time, we drive to Carmine from Paige pretty often to enjoy a nice steak here, but anything on their menu is a hit.

Steaks were less than half an inch thick. Baked potatoes were old and not even hot enough to melt the toppings that were put on it. The only reason for the one star is my daughter enjoyed the margarita. Would have said something at the restaurant but didn't want to cause a scene as we went there to celebrate my daughter's birthday. I had high hopes but was greatly disappointed.

Ummmm... WOW! Driving thru this cute little town, hungry and we found a gold mine! I had the Cowboy hamburger steak. It was seasoned to perfection and very juicy. With a side salad and baked potato... also scrumptious! My husband had the filet and baked potato and corn casserole He ordered medium rare and it was perfect! We left with two extra orders of corn casserole. So good! JW's.... Your staff were fantastic. The food, some of the best I've come across in a while. Beautiful restaurant. Plenty of parking and really sweet staff. We will be back!

Went for a birthday party dinner and was excited to try this place because I've talked to friends who have been here and OMG!!! The service was excellent and the food was beyond great!! Steak was perfect, sides were generous and don't forget to try some onion rings!! We had a outstanding experience and we are planning to go back really soon!!!

Excellent food, excellent service. 8 oz Top Sirloin - tasty and cooked to perfection (medium) - excellent Carrots, okra and tomatoes were the sides - excellent If you like onion rings - you will not be disappointed. Service was attentive, timely, and accurate. Never felt rushed. Arrived 5:15 (Saturday) - not crowded at all. Left around 6:45 - folks were waiting for tables. Prices are reasonable for the excellent food and service.

What a delightful find. We had a ribeye steak enough to feed two, two side salads, an order of fried mushrooms and a big slice of homemade German chocolate cheesecake... and the bill was 56.00... the steak melted in your mouth.. hadn't had beef that tasted that good in a while. And the service was small town friendly and attentive. Putting it on my must return one day soon list.

Stop in for the daily lunch specials or for fine dining options at dinner. All good is made fresh and the dining rooms fill up fast.

This was our first time here in Carmine. We came for a wedding and needed to find somewhere to eat for lunch. The environment was very warm and homey. Staff and servers were very friendly and attentive! We had no issues with our food. The fried okra was definitely the best part!! We ordered an extra side of fried okra because it was made perfectly! Cute place overall and would come back again.

JW's has always been a great Texas country steakhouse. And it still has flashes of excellence, but it also needs some professional help. First, the positives. The staff is friendly. The atmosphere is on point for rural Texas. And the iced tea is superb. Now, let's talk about the negatives. The kitchen is disorganized. We noticed orders coming out with no particular rhyme or reason, including our fried mushroom appetizer, which didn't make it out to us until well into the entree. Second, the fried foods had no consistency. The chicken fried steak, onion rings, and fried mushrooms all had the same batter -- which lacked much flavor. I never salt food -- and all of these needed pepper AND salt. The fries and fried okra didn't have the same batter, but both were served warm, not hot -- and had the distinct feel of prepackaged food service products. As for my steak, it was good, not great. The steak had a good sear and was cooked as requested, but was on the small side of the advertised eight ounces -- and again would've benefitted from some seasoning with the cooking. JW's used to be worth the drive, but now it's sadly comparable in quality to a lot of the chain steakhouses.

The Space was perfect for Good comfort country food! Had the fried shrimp and oysters (gulf) awesome. Waitress was tops! See ya next year at Roundtop Antiques!

Great service. Food was great. Steak was cooked perfect and prices very reasonable. Highly reccomend.

Love JW's! Friendliest service with the best comfort foods and excellent wine selection. My go to is the chicken fried chicken and the hubs enjoys the cowboy (hamburger) steak. Everything comes out fresh, hot, and delicious. Their burgers are also very tasty. Best restaurant in town!

Great food ,service always on point great staff ,heavenly deserts,Chicken Fried Steak the local fav,burgers w/onion rings my mid day favorite and of course it's all about the mouth watering steaks you can't go wrong if you love steak !!!!!!!