Starlight Theatre

American restaurant · Brewster County

Starlight Theatre

American restaurant · Brewster County

631 Ivey Rd, Terlingua, TX 79852

Highlights

Old movie palace turned eatery offering eclectic Texas eats & live music amid funky decor.

631 Ivey Rd, Terlingua, TX 79852 Get directions

thestarlighttheatre.com

@terlinguastar

$$$$$$ · Menu

@travelleisure

"A small town in Far West Texas known for its cowboy spirit, proximity to Big Bend National Park, and unique attractions like the Original Terlingua Chili Cook Off." - Amanda Ogle Amanda Ogle Amanda Ogle is a writer and editor who specializes in travel, food and drink, sustainability, and general lifestyle topics. Her work has appeared in Travel + Leisure, National Geographic, Condé Nast T

The Essential Guide to Terlingua, Texas

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@travelleisure

"A small community near the park's west entrance, known for its spooky history, services, and famous chili cookoff." - Carrie Dennis Carrie Dennis Carrie Dennis is a New York City-based writer and editor with more than a decade of content strategy experience. Her work has appeared in Travel + Leisure, Gothamist, Time magazine, Men’s Journal, Redbook, and Thrillist.

Guide to Visiting Big Bend National Park

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@cntraveler

"At the Starlight Theatre Restaurant, you can order chicken-fried antelope, chili, or a cheeseburger."

Big Bend National Park: A Complete Guide to the Best Hiking, Camping, and Views

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@eater

"The star attraction in Terlingua is the Starlight Theatre, a lively contrast to a town filled with graves and derelict homes, both belonging to miners who succumbed to mercury poisoning or mining accidents in the early 1900s. The spacious saloon, known for its thoughtful riffs on gamey West Texas flavors, like chicken-fried wild boar strips with beer gravy and tequila-marinated quail in blueberry-balsamic sauce, is operating with dine-in and bar service at 50 percent capacity, and has added takeout as well as periodic live music performances." - Matt Kirouac

National Parks Are Reopened. Here’s Where to Go to Avoid the Crowds - Eater

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Fernanda C

Google

The Starlight theater is a nice restaurant to go during your visit to the Big Bend National Park, be prepared for a +2h wait during weekends if you arrive after 6pm. You need to go to the restaurant in person to add your name on the list, however they have a nice app for you to control your place in line. There is live music and decent food. Don’t forget to try the Pecan Pie! I would have come back, if the waiting time was shorter.

Matthew McGuire

Google

The Starlight Theater is an excellent venue to visit for anyone in the area as well as for anyone visiting Big Ben National Park. We stopped by at 6 p.m. on a Saturday during the holiday season. This is also peak season for traffic. The hostess let us know it would 2.5 hour wait. We checked out other local businesses during the wait. The hostess let us in when we checked back. It was worth the wait. They had live music and incredible food. This spot is highly recommended.

Gabriel Radford

Google

Loved this whole experience. Food generous, vibe outstanding, crowd diverse...lots of locals unwinding after work and us tourists. Service notably excellent.

Dena Rae Rand

Google

Prepare to wait for table and it's worth it. Enjoy the porch picker circle or play with hoolahoops in parking lot. The music indoors was great. Large menu and servers are very kind. We went twice in one week.

James Short

Google

The Starlight Theatre has been calling to me like the drums in Jumanji ever since I first heard about it years ago. After spending 4 days at Big Bend National Park, I finally had the chance to take a well-needed break here, and it was everything I hoped for. I was a bit nervous about how crowded it would be and heard it could get packed without a reservation system, which did feel a bit finicky at first, but I decided to just go ahead and grab a seat at the bar. The primary bartender was a super nice dude, and helpful, and the rest of the staff were equally friendly. The bar crowd was an interesting mix of locals and regulars—definitely an eclectic bunch, but everyone was nice enough. I started with a few ranch waters (Espolon & Topo Chico with lime), and they hit the spot per usual. And the Prickly Pear Margarita was elite. As for the food, I definitely over-ordered, but after days of camping, I wanted to try a bit of everything. The fried antelope was incredible—definitely the highlight of my meal. I also tried the special for the night, tacos (I think it was either chicken or pork, but I honestly can’t remember), and they were fantastic, especially paired with the sweet green sauce. Can’t wait to come back one day, hopefully with some friends or family to share in the experience!

Nadja

Google

This is a must while visiting Terlingua. Every time we visit the area we go there. There is always a long wait. Yesterday we waited close to 2 h. They have a waiting list, and you will get a text message. Letting you know when to come in. We usually don’t mind having to wait and like to stay outside or check out the little store by the restaurant. There is an outdoor open patio where they serve drinks and some food options. They usually have live music, what is also entertaining, but the place it self is very cool. I had the brisket tacos and my fiancé had a burger. Service was fast and friendly. The restrooms are outside, what is inconvenient but a small price to pay for the overall experience.

JAMES NICKELL

Google

Loved this place. Great food, authentic servers, and live music. I'll be back The view from the front porch is magical. The crowd is eclectic, every Texan owes it to themself to come here and spend an evening, and have dinner.

吴锐恒（Ruiheng Edbalt Wu）

Google

It is our first time to eat antelope. The rib eye is also really nice. They have super big burgers.

Sarah M.

Yelp

We always come to Starlight for dinner during our trips to Big Bend. They always have wonderful live music and the staff have always been attentive and friendly. I really enjoyed their holiday cocktail menu! I will suggest maybe they could increase the amount of antelope strips offered on the appetizer platter. They are delicious but unfortunately it only came with 4 small strips (I could have sworn it was more in the past). All in all a great place to visit and we look forward to it every time we are in Terlingua.

John K.

Yelp

This isn't a review, but a public service announcement - If you want to eat there, get there EARLY and be prepared to wait!!! It was the week between Christmas and the New Year, so I have no idea what it is like during "normal times". We really wanted to try this place as I had read, and heard, about it for years, but we got there an hour before opening and there was an unbelievable line! The parking lot was full, people had lawn chairs out sitting in the parking lot while waiting for the place to open. After a full day of hiking and taking in the amazing scenery, we just didn't have it in us to tolerate the crowd and wait several hours to eat, so we went somewhere else

Sicily H.

Yelp

We stopped by The Starlight Theatre for drinks and had a great experience! I have to admit, I was a bit intimidated by some of the reviews mentioning 2-3 hour waits, but it seems like those are from the heavy tourist times, like the weekend of or after Thanksgiving. We went two weekend after Thanksgiving and had no wait at all The prickly pearita was absolutely amazing--refreshing and perfectly balanced. The hostesses and bartender were super friendly and helpful, which made the visit even better. The ambience was decent with its rustic desert charm. Still, it's a great spot to relax, grab a drink, and soak in the local vibe. Definitely worth a visit!

Daniel O.

Yelp

This place took my breath away! The atmosphere is truly amazing and the food was as well. Cool live music and the drinks were fantastic. Don't miss it!

Ang F.

Yelp

Honestly, leaning towards a 5-star with this one. Sure, it's a touristy spot...Sure, it's one of few spots available in the growing area of Terlingua...But, I'll tell ya. They deliver when it comes to a post-hike meal. Imagine this: You just hiked Emory Peak (or the Window Trail), the sun is preparing to set on the Big Bend and you're appreciating the natural scene around you. It makes so much sense to order some gamey meat, chili, and a good ol' prickly pear margarita (salt on the rim). Pro Tip: Traveling in November gets chilly! Perfect hiking weather, but cold camping weather and many sites do not allow open campfires. Contained solo fires are okay. Do yourselves a favor and plan for a meal at Starlight, and plan ahead as there are often wait times. You can, however, spend some of that wait time walking around the Ghost Town or shopping at their gift shop.

Conner S.

Yelp

The Starlight Theatre has been calling to me like the drums in Jumanji ever since I first heard about it years ago. After spending 4 days at Big Bend National Park, I finally had the chance to take a well-needed break here, and it was everything I hoped for. I was a bit nervous about how crowded it would be and heard it could get packed without a reservation system, which did feel a bit finicky at first, but I decided to just go ahead and grab a seat at the bar. The primary bartender was a super nice dude, and helpful, and the rest of the staff were equally friendly. The bar crowd was an interesting mix of locals and regulars--definitely an eclectic bunch, but everyone was nice enough. I started with a few ranch waters (Espolon & Topo Chico with lime), and they hit the spot per usual. And the Prickly Pear Margarita was elite. As for the food, I definitely over-ordered, but after days of camping, I wanted to try a bit of everything. The fried antelope was incredible--definitely the highlight of my meal. I also tried the special for the night, tacos (I think it was either chicken or pork, but I honestly can't remember), and they were fantastic, especially paired with the sweet green sauce. Can't wait to come back one day, hopefully with some friends or family to share in the experience!

Elizabeth R.

Yelp

A must visit if you're at Big Bend National Park! Order the chili among other things, or make that your meal! Get there early or enjoy the view waiting outside with a drink and good company. The service is friendly, the atmosphere festive and funky small town quirky! Very welcoming. You feel like regulars even if you're not.

Emma G.

Yelp

Went here for the first time after hiking at Big Bend. Very quaint with a cozy ambiance. Long wait but enjoyed a frozen prickly pear margarita and live music while waiting for a table The food is amazing! The tequila marinated quail with blueberry balsamic was my favorite, but the antelope and the brisket were also excellent.

Donovan S.

Yelp

We LOVE this place! Quail, antelope, strong a$$ margaritas...what is not to love?? Terlingua is such a cool, artsy town near our favorite national park...Big Bend! Get there close to 5:00, there will likely be a wait, but worth it! The store next-door is also really cool for souvenirs and tchotchkes!

Mary T.

Yelp

Located in the heart of Terlingua's old town aka ghost town. But this place is busy and maintains both local favor and good vibes for visitors. I'll just go right to what we ate. Brisket plate which was priced just above the brisket tacos so a good deal and satisfying even if a bit fatty; but that's brisket. I had the shrimp tacos after finding out the veggie tacos were not available. Pretty nice with cabbage and a small side of guacamole. The guacamole and chips were great. Guacamole is rich ie smashed avocados; hey we're on the Mexico border and a huge basket of chips. Good house Margarita for $7 which I like to try versus the double the price other margaritas. Good beer selection. We order an Old Fashioned with Woodford. Ah mediocre but this isn't KY. Good service. Definitely check it out if you're in the area!

Paul S.

Yelp

Wednesday night 6pm during viva big bend music festival. Atmosphere is wonderland fun with live music. Only complaints were food. My buddies chili wasn't good and the brisket was drrryyyyy! No amount of bbq sauce could save it. Edible but ddrrrryyyyy. Our server was a little flighty not very attentive but always made it up.

Heather R.

Yelp

The Brussel sprouts are Fantastic! Caramelized to perfection! The brisket is INCREDIBLE! It's so tender and flavorful!! This is the best place to eat within 300 miles! Service is amazing too!! I just love Terlingua/Big Bend/Lajitas!!

Thomas G.

Yelp

We waited in line starting around 4:30p to get a table. They open at 5:00pm. We were seated within about ten minutes of them opening and were treated promptly by a server. Service was a tad slower but expected as all the tables were filled up within the first fifteen minutes of opening. We started off with the award winning chili and found it to be somewhat bland and average. We expected something much better. For our main meal, I ordered what we came for - The Chicken Fried Venison. The venison was delicious and nicely breaded. The breading stuck well to the meat and had a great seasoning profile. If you're a chicken fried aficionado, it's worth a try!

Jesus G.

Yelp

Nice ambiance and local flare decor. The food was good as well as the service. We consider it a must stop if you are in terlingua!

Jeremy K.

Yelp

Such an iconic place in the ghost town of Terlingua, TX. Love Starlight, always a good time with great food and drink selection. The drinks here are unnecessarily expensive, but I get it most people are tourists I would imagine that come here. $12 - $14 for a mixed drink while you wait for your table is just frustrating. Totally taking advantage of the situation. The food itself is always great. The tequila marinated quail is crazy good. Fried antelope has a bit of a sweet taste to it, which I've really enjoyed. The biscuits are always flaky and served fresh.Burgers here are massive and tasty. Be prepared to wait 45-60 minutes when you show up, but that's a bit of the allure of the place. Slower lifestyle, enjoy the pace.

Joel R.

Yelp

We had a great dinner at the Starlight Theater. So we decided to go back. This time they had "live music". We sat as far away as possible and it was still way too loud. The food and service were good. If we go back it will be on a night with none of the noise.

Ricardo J.

Yelp

This legendary Texas establishment certainly lived up to its reputation during our two times dining here. The service was consistently fast and friendly, and overall, the food was excellent. On the first night, I had the chicken fried antelope with a side salad while my woman opted for the Terlingua Burger. Both of our meals were a 4/5, but what wowed us were the chili starter and the Bourbon Pecan Pie dessert. The chili was hearty and meaty without too much spice and just the right amount of heat. The dessert was decadent - and by ordering it with a scoop of Mexican Vanilla ice cream, it went to the next level. The next night I got the large salad with Seitan added for protein, as well as a bowl of chili this time. The salad was enormous, and the homemade ranch dressing made it hard to put the brakes on in eating it. The chili was as delicious as before, and it deserves its fame. My dinner date got the Terlingua Chili Burger this time and loved it. Of course she followed up with a repeat of the dessert from before and she said it was likely the best single thing she ate on our whole weeklong West Texas trip. For great food, service, and genuine West Texas ambiance, look no further. This places is worth a visit.

Jada r.

Yelp

The place itself is a masterpiece. On the menu there is an origin story to Starlight Theatre and it helps you appreciate the environment so much more. The food was delicious! I would definitely come back! after every bite my partner and I kept saying "this is so good." Our servicer was amazing aswell. I ordered the chicken sandwich and oh my gosh, butter, my backside and call me a biscuit. It was so good!!!!!!!

Meaghan L.

Yelp

The restaurant opens at 5pm but would highly recommend getting in line for the waitlist at 4pm. My husband and I got there at 6:45pm and waited 3 hours to get seated at 9:45pm. The upside is there is an outside bar that serves drinks and some appetizers to hold you over as well as a seating area with a big screen tv. Highly recommend the chili and churros and vanilla ice cream!

Oli A.

Yelp

i wish i was at starlight right now // sit on the patio with your drink of choice. might i recommend the salsa (hold the guac wasn't our fav). everything else we had was delightful including the service from the beautiful humans that staff this marvelous place.

Mallori B.

Yelp

We went just before the kitchen closed (10pm) and they were nice enough to let us order. Frito pie was excellent! Still love the French fries too! Chicken tenders are basic but good and grilled cheese wasn't anything special but a staple. Service was much faster and the crowd on a Monday night was much more our speed.

Mallorie T.

Yelp

The starlight!!! Aka the locals hang, what a great place. It has a great view for sunset, although you cannot see the sun go down, the beautiful colors are reflected on the mountains which creates a stunning view. Ambiance: 5/5 Love this place!! It's an older building, with a very cool history! You can read about it on the menu (: stunning sunset views, a shop next door with some curious and a place to grab a beer while you wait to get in. The inside is dark with no windows and a neat bar with some cool lights. Food / drinks: 4/5 I had the best sotol drink I have ever had here. Being from Austin, I am used to having desert door which is located in dripping springs. You cannot even compare desert door sotol with hacienda which is served at the starlight in their drink called the Scorpion, a marg made with sotol. GET THIS DRINK!!! It is so smooth and I hate to admit but I'm never going back to desert door. Picked up a bottle of hacienda on the way out of town, I have officially converted. Food is good here but there are limited options for those with any dietary needs / restrictions. The mashed potato's are not worth the hype, but the quail is! Service: 5/5 We had a fantastic waiter, Andrew, who was very attentive and brought my his little pamphlet on sotol so I could read up on it. Great waiter and although the wait to get in was long, it was half the time estimates and very much worthwhile.

Satoshi N.

Yelp

This is an excellent place to eat, but you better show up an hour early to stand in line for them to open, the place fills up quickly and a local hotspot. They have an excellent burger , I would recommend coming here if your ever in Terlingua

Minnie L.

Yelp

A staple in Terlingua. I sat at the bar, bartender was very friendly. Beer was a good price and food came out fast and was a big serving. Solid choice.

John C.

Yelp

Omg. I ordered the brisket plate. It came with two THICK slices of tender brisket. I couldn't eat it all. It was so tender I cut it with my fork. The pinto beans were perfect. Spicy. The potato salad was great. Staff is wonderful. Music was great. I come to Terlingua every year and he brisket is worth returning for!

Kevin G.

Yelp

Went to the Starlight Monday and it was (predictably) swamped. (Our first visit was in August 2022 and we just waltzed in. April is a much more popular month,) We waited over 90 minutes for a table (which was very close to the estimated time.) We spent the waiting time on the patio with some margaritas and brisket queso (both highly recommended.) When our table was ready, service was good and the food was great. The chili burger was very tasty. My wife had a salad and a bowl of chili and was happy with both. We will probably be back before we leave town, and we will probably be waiting for a table with margaritas and queso. It's not really a bad way to wait.

Oliver G.

Yelp

Upon our second visit to the area, we realized the jovial nature of the desert is to blame for the "interrogation" I received 2 years ago. We learned to lighten up and move enjoy the uniqueness of this place.

Jill R.

Yelp

Food and Service amazing! I would recommend anyone visiting the Big Bend Parks! Thank your staff for their support of your business!

Kristina D.

Yelp

I found this through a Yelp search and the went as the ratings were high. This place does not disappoint. I ordered the Fried Brussels sprouts as they were recommended by a local and ordered the Ribeye as that's my favorite. Both were delicious, the Brussels sprouts have an Asian flare that make you want to eat the whole plate, and believe it is not an appetizer sized plate, my friend and I shared it and we still had some left over. I also ordered the Boquillas Margarita that has Sotol and it was amazing! Highly recommend!

Annie B.

Yelp

The starlight theatre is the place to be in Terlingua! We came on a Friday night around 8 pm and ended up having to wait about an hour for a table but it was totally worth it. Our server Ben was extremely friendly and there was a live band playing that night that was a huge hit with the entire restaurant. The food was great and both my husband and I especially loved the queso, it was creamy, a little spicy, and overall everything you'd want out of queso. I also had the BBQ sandwich with sweet potato fries and I really appreciated the amount of pickles that came on the sandwich. We will definitely be back the next time we are in town!

Susie S.

Yelp

We were so excited to try this place but the service was absolutely HORRIBLE. When we first got there our server Leslee O was great. She recommends good drink and recommended different dishes. All the sudden she flipped a switch and was acting annoyed she had serve us. First I tried to wave her down multiple times for another drink and she didn't come over. When she brought over our food I was finally able to order and drink and she genuinely acted like I was burdening her by ordering something. She then grabbed my husbands 3/4 full margarita and ignored us when we tried to stop her. I tried to flag her down multiple times and she continued to ignore us. In the meantime my $50 steak was overcooked and she didn't even come by once to ask how the food was. She finally came back over to ask if we needed a box and we told her about the margarita. She said oh no that wasn't me. Fine I'll go get you another one. We told her we did not want another one and she just walked away. She charged us for the margarita and gave a horrible attitude while she brought the check. So disappointed that the serve ruined our experience here. We would give the food 7/10 drinks 10/10 and the service 2/10 solely because everyone EXCEPT our server Leslee was great.

James H.

Yelp

Fun place good food! Hang out and watch the sun go down. Gets crowded, but you can always wait at the outside bar

Jacqueline T.

Yelp

After reading the reviews, this seemed like the must-try spot in Terlingua. We had a long day hiking and weren't up for a wait for our food, so we got takeout. My husband and I shared: - Award-Winning Terlingua Chili Bowl - Chicken-Fried Texas Antelope Strips - Smoked Brisket Tacos I thought the smoked brisket tacos were pretty good. The rest of it wasn't very good. It was kind of bland. Maybe they were having an off night, but it wasn't our favorite spot.

Hadas E.

Yelp

Honestly, very disappointing. For this type of food, there shouldn't be a line of 100 people outside the place. Food was not even average. My family and I ordered several different foods and all of the burgers we ordered tasted like fake meat. Some of the appetizers were good but again not as good as expected. The service was incredible and the waiter was so kind and fast. The singer was nice and happy and there was a good mood. Overall, not amazing.

James S.

Yelp

For being in the middle of nowhere, this is a great little restaurant. The food was good, grilled quail with veggies and mashed potatoes. Prices are little high but to be expected I suppose when in the middle of nowhere. Service was OK. If you have a large party, call ahead for reservation. This place probably holds 125 people tops.

Robb W.

Yelp

So, Terlingua/Big Bend remains one of my favorite escape and decompress locations. While the area has grown in popularity, with many more visitors, the heart of 'civilization' remains centered around the General Store and the Starlight. Unique among icehouses, here you grab a cold drink, sign the list and come sit on the porch-chat with friends (old or new) or bring your guitar, banjo or just listen and enjoy the company, peaceful surroundings and fantastic view. Then when the Starlight opens, go and enjoy some of the BEST food you have ever had. The Starlight menu has some expensive items, yes, but many less 'exotic' items are not - and all are SOOO good.

Vicky B.

Yelp

Neat place to have dinner with delicious food and great service. Historic building. Several options including antelope and quail. Burgers, tacos, entrees, and more. Full bar. Stage for performances. Easy parking. The best meal we had in Terlingua!

Gurpreet L.

Yelp

We had been recommended Starlight by everyone from our friends in Austin to our Air BnB host. Overall, I don't think it was worth the hype. We had the shrimp tacos and the veggie tacos and both were lackluster. As my partner said, "they are worse than mid". The tortillas were obviously store bought and fell apart very quickly. The shrimp was bland and used canned mango. The mushroom tacos were decent but again, fell apart so quickly. They were impossible to eat so don't order them if you're here on a first date ;)

Marivic L.

Yelp

This place is an experience. Yes, we waited for about an hour for our seats, but it's worth it. The whole vibe is quirky and super friendly and they had a musician on stage the entire time I was there. Had to get the Terlingua chili since I was in Terlingua. It was flavorful but the star was definitely the brisket tacos. They were more delicious that I could have imagined. Tender, flavorful, and in a taco. Do yourself a favor and get them. 3 tacos are in the portion and 2 were plenty.

Kae J.

Yelp

They don't take reservations, so be ready to wait. We waited over two hours for our table. We did have a nice time outside with the local band that had set up there! While we waited for the table, we walked around and took pictures of the ghost town. Then, I visited the Cantina and we got margaritas and beers to wait. We also had the smoked brisket queso which I highly recommend! For dinner we had smoked brisket and one member of our party was brave and ordered the antelope! He said he would not try again but it was "interesting" lol. They had live music playing as it was Saturday night. Would I drive back out here to go again? Probably not, but if you're in the area it's worth a visit!

Alexandra M.

Yelp

I stayed in Terlingua for a couple nights to celebrate my birthday and went in an hour before midnight to have a birthday drink. The bar luckily had seating so I snagged a seat. The waitress was nice but when she asked for my ID, she never noticed my birthday so it really lost the magic for me especially when I was on a solo trip. A young guy with 2 of his friends sat next to me and started making conversation. I was like okay a friendlier encounter that might spruce up my celebration but this guy went from 0 to 10 on the drunk meter so suddenly and started stepping on the bartenders toes even I was getting uncomfortable. He also started turning mildly belligerent twds me. Maybe this rating isn't fair as I did not have food but I tried to go outside to enjoy the rest of my night but to no avail. The people that were outside were strange and was the last straw for the evening. I would give it another try but not for a special occasion or alone.

Andrew K.

Yelp

We enjoyed a fantastic meal here while visiting Big Bend. The waitstaff was attentive and got the food out super fast for our little ones. The ambiance was fun here with the stage and old western feel. Its definitely a unique spot with some unique offerings. I would love to come back here to see a show. We tried the West Texas smoked brisket and it was amazingly tasty. Probably one of my favorite meals I had on this whole trip. The children's menu actually offers some healthy options for a change. The chicken fried Texas Antelope was also quite good and something I'd never had before. The flavour isn't as weird as I would have thought but like the old staying: "it tastes like chicken." The mashed potato's and corn and other sides were all solid. We shared some churros that came out piping hot for dessert. They were gone within minutes. I agree with others here that if you are visiting Big Bend and if you can time it right like us, and not have to wait for a table, you shouldn't miss Starlight. Prices, food, and ambiance are all spot on.

David W.

Yelp

After a 360-mile loop to Fort Davis on my motorcycle, I was looking forward to my dinner stop at The Starlight. I hit this place every time I'm in Terlingua. It's just become a "have to" stopping place. As usual for 5 PM, the wait line had started. I was doing a solo trip so I was able to skip the line at sit at the bar. I wasn't REAL hungry, just ready for a beer & a meal. I ordered the "starters" chicken fired Antalope strips. It has a dinner option that comes with 2 sides but I felt that was too much. OMG, the stripes dipped into the brown gravy was amazing ! That with an IPA on draft and it was perfect!

Jenny M.

Yelp

The place was packed during our visit and when I mean packed they have 1-2hrs wait so ensure yo go here at 5/6pm to get a place. This restaurant is one of the famous one in Terlingua, TX. While waiting you can order snack and alcohol and stay in their outside sitting area. They have band playing as well every night. The place was so cool that I feel different from other Texas city or town. The host in the front who does all the organizing of the people in line, she was acing it! Very accommodating and approaching too. I am giving 3 stars because of the food and server. We ordered Queso brisket and that was really good! While the Cheese Burger was lacking of taste and dry - the patty and bacon was overcooked too, the fries was good tho. The pork medallion was like a barbacoa taste and the only difference was the meat is sliced - the veggy was good and the rice was dry, there's a kick so it was nice (depends on your tolerance). Server was nice and approachable but charged us a drinks that we did not order. She's not organized that night as the table besides us was also have mixing check and receipts to pay and sign. We hope she's okay - but this situation must not happen luckily we were able to check through again our check before we left the restaurant. Overall, it was still a nice experience will surely go back and try other menu.

Ned L.

Yelp

Wanting something different from the usual fare, I chose the chicken fried antelope strip appetizer and the quail. Both were exceptional, although, as you know, quail isn't a large bird. Still, one serving was two birds, yum! They serve a 1/2 dozen or more specialty margaritas, including concoctions with cactus, jalapeño and aged tequilas. Apparently they're always busy, so they let folks order from the bar and hang out on the patio watching the sunset or near the gift shop or at the outdoor music venue when they're not having live music. I sat at the bar, and everyone was served expeditiously and professionally. Good, fun times! The crowd is mixed with young hikers, a river floating group, and a number of retirees all enjoying the great outdoors, the dark skies, and the quirky town of Terlingua next to Big Bend National Park.

AL L.

Yelp

Stopped by here on Monday 2/21/22, Presidents Day. We saw that it opened at 5pm. We got here at 4:30 and there was already a line of 20 people deep. By the time we got to the front, the hostess said it would be about a 45 minuet wait. We decided to wait. While waiting you can access the bar area and order drinks. There is an arear outside with tables that you can wait at. After a total of 2 hours (1 hour after the hostess estimated a 45 min wait), we finally got a table. When we first got seated my wife stated that this place had kind of a "Dusk till Dawn movie vibe". Not sure if it was the desert setting outside or the dim lighting and live music on stage, but I kind of felt where she was coming from. I did tell her that if I lady came on stage with a snake, I would be the first out the door, I'd meet her at the car. Staff was friendly and the service was great. Only downside is they were out of Onion Rings by the time we got seated. The appetizer (Chips and Queso) was great and came out in about 5 minutes. I had the Starlight cheeseburger (tasted great). My wife had the Chicken Sauté, she said to her it tasted a little dry. All in all, the prices were good, the service was great. The house margarita is a must try! If we're ever in town again we would return, but we would get here way earlier.

Leah C.

Yelp

What a lovely establishment! We got the impossible burger and veggie tacos. Clearly non-meat items are not their specialty, but hey that's okay! Just come for the live music and good times!

Dayna B.

Yelp

Weird staff vibe some of them. As a visitor I expected to be treated well, being that I am spending $20 for tacos and sitting politely not disturbing anyone. It was a bit like walking into a secret society where they know you don't belong. athe food is not bad, depending on who makes it. Sometimes you get sauce and other times nothing. Some of the employees scowl rather than communicate. And others are so outspoken and loud as to come off aggressive. Everywhere I've traveled it's different, but this seems like one of those places where the people working there consider themselves to have reached a pedestal. The music isn't bad, mostly acoustic folk, at least when I have been there.

Hope S.

Yelp

Must see at least once! Doors open at 5, we got in line at 3:50pm--there was already a line. But the outdoor bar is open, so we started drinking while we waited. Met some nice people & ended up joining another couple when they seated us . Since we were early, we were seated when they opened. After dinner, headed to the stage area to see some live music. Perfect evening in Terlingua!! Do yourself a favor & just get in line early--if you show up later, you'll end up waiting up to 2 hours just to get in/on the wait list. Food was great overall, but the brisket was awful--tough, dry, flavorless .

@travelleisure

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"At the Starlight Theatre Restaurant, you can order chicken-fried antelope, chili, or a cheeseburger."

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Fernanda C

Google

Matthew McGuire

Google

Gabriel Radford

Google

Loved this whole experience. Food generous, vibe outstanding, crowd diverse...lots of locals unwinding after work and us tourists. Service notably excellent.

Dena Rae Rand

Google

James Short

Google

Nadja

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JAMES NICKELL

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吴锐恒（Ruiheng Edbalt Wu）

Google

It is our first time to eat antelope. The rib eye is also really nice. They have super big burgers.

Sarah M.

Yelp

John K.

Yelp

Sicily H.

Yelp

Daniel O.

Yelp

This place took my breath away! The atmosphere is truly amazing and the food was as well. Cool live music and the drinks were fantastic. Don't miss it!

Ang F.

Yelp

Conner S.

Yelp

The Starlight Theatre has been calling to me like the drums in Jumanji ever since I first heard about it years ago. After spending 4 days at Big Bend National Park, I finally had the chance to take a well-needed break here, and it was everything I hoped for. I was a bit nervous about how crowded it would be and heard it could get packed without a reservation system, which did feel a bit finicky at first, but I decided to just go ahead and grab a seat at the bar. The primary bartender was a super nice dude, and helpful, and the rest of the staff were equally friendly. The bar crowd was an interesting mix of locals and regulars--definitely an eclectic bunch, but everyone was nice enough. I started with a few ranch waters (Espolon & Topo Chico with lime), and they hit the spot per usual. And the Prickly Pear Margarita was elite. As for the food, I definitely over-ordered, but after days of camping, I wanted to try a bit of everything. The fried antelope was incredible--definitely the highlight of my meal. I also tried the special for the night, tacos (I think it was either chicken or pork, but I honestly can't remember), and they were fantastic, especially paired with the sweet green sauce. Can't wait to come back one day, hopefully with some friends or family to share in the experience!

Elizabeth R.

Yelp

Emma G.

Yelp

Donovan S.

Yelp

Mary T.

Yelp

Paul S.

Yelp

Heather R.

Yelp

Thomas G.

Yelp

Jesus G.

Yelp

Nice ambiance and local flare decor. The food was good as well as the service. We consider it a must stop if you are in terlingua!

Jeremy K.

Yelp

Joel R.

Yelp

Ricardo J.

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Jada r.

Yelp

Meaghan L.

Yelp

Oli A.

Yelp

Mallori B.

Yelp

Mallorie T.

Yelp

Satoshi N.

Yelp

Minnie L.

Yelp

A staple in Terlingua. I sat at the bar, bartender was very friendly. Beer was a good price and food came out fast and was a big serving. Solid choice.

John C.

Yelp

Kevin G.

Yelp

Oliver G.

Yelp

Jill R.

Yelp

Food and Service amazing! I would recommend anyone visiting the Big Bend Parks! Thank your staff for their support of your business!

Kristina D.

Yelp

Annie B.

Yelp

Susie S.

Yelp

James H.

Yelp

Fun place good food! Hang out and watch the sun go down. Gets crowded, but you can always wait at the outside bar

Jacqueline T.

Yelp

Hadas E.

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James S.

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Robb W.

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Vicky B.

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Gurpreet L.

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Marivic L.

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Kae J.

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Alexandra M.

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Andrew K.

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David W.

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Jenny M.

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Ned L.

Yelp

AL L.

Yelp

Leah C.

Yelp

What a lovely establishment! We got the impossible burger and veggie tacos. Clearly non-meat items are not their specialty, but hey that's okay! Just come for the live music and good times!

Dayna B.

Yelp

Hope S.

Yelp

Starlight Theatre

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