The Culinary Room

A sweet little outing to The Culinary Room with friends, and wow—this place is an absolute gem. We stopped in to browse the gift shop and, of course, to sample the world-famous banana pudding (worth every bite). 🍌✨ The shop itself is incredibly photogenic—thoughtfully styled, cozy, and full of charm. And stepping outside, downtown Lockhart is just as inspiring. Art everywhere, historic textures, and that quintessential country-quaint atmosphere that makes you want to slow down and look around. Every angle felt like a photo opportunity. It’s the kind of place that feels both special and welcoming, and such a lovely stop just outside of Austin. Highly recommend a visit—especially if you love good food, beautiful spaces, and small-town magic.

Across from the beautiful courthouse. Ice cream is awesome. The Banana pudding top notch. The store was disappointing in my opinion since I expected it too be family friendly. There are a lot of adult products meaning the descriptions are full of profanity. Why? Is it necessary? It is condescending to your customers. A big fail in my book. I guess I am too traditional.

Alana, Aliyah, Jillian, Jerika, and Vanessa are so very nice and polite. Every time I come into The Culinary Room they always greet me politely right away, and go out of their way to see if I need anything in particular, and to answer any and all questions I have about their products. Vanessa makes some very good homemade puddings, and meals that can be for lunch or dinner. Highly recommend the meals and the puddings she makes, they are excellent! They offer Amy's Ice Cream if you like ice cream, and free samples to see which flavor of ice cream and or pudding you would like to buy. Over all I have had very pleasant experiences with these ladies every time I have visited, and I have seen them treat other customers with the same courtesy they have extended to me. A+!

The cute seating outside caught my eye, and they ended up having some amazing banana pudding! The little Pomeranian definitely added to the atmosphere of the place! The customer service was fine, very straightforward. I do recommend giving the pudding a shot!

Great place. Their banana pudding is out of this world! Clean and well maintained. Friendly and professional staff. A bit congested but easy to navigate. Great selection of jams and olive oils. Highly recommend trying out their pudding and cookies.

A definite must visit! After a walk around the very cute town of Lockhart we ventured into this store. From the moment we walked in we were welcomed by the staff with smiles and warm greetings. The store itself has a great variety of items but is most known for its banana pudding (unfortunately we were saving room for BBQ so we skipped it). We chatted to the staff during our visit and truly wished we had more time to ‘stay awhile’ but we will definitely revisit next time we’re in Lockhart to say hi!

The Culinary Room is such a cute store in downtown Lockhart. I recommend going there to shop local and support local businesses and artists. They have Amy’s Ice Cream and homemade pudding and pastas. My favorite was the puppacino which is just whipped cream with nilla wafers. Our pup loved it!! Samantha was super sweet and so helpful! This is definitely the place to go to get a special gift for someone. I will be back!! Thank you!!

The cookies are a must try! Lemon Poppy seed is a top flavor as well as Cowboy. The woman working the front was very nice, I look forward to returning here!

We stopped by the Culinary Room during Lockhart's First Friday and Loktoberfest. What a delightful store - full of delicious treats and wonderful gift ideas! My dog had the best time being pampered by the friendliest staff and I enjoyed two scoops of Amy's ice cream on a freshly made chocolate waffle cone! Oh and their famous banana pudding was scrumptious.

We friend and I went on a Lockhart tour and hit up all the BBQs. Honestly, the culinary room was the highlight of my trip!!! I am a savory girl through and through. But the pudding desserts were to die for! They have keto pudding too! They will welcome you into their shop with many knick-knacks and trinkets. You will want to buy everything in the store. Then they will offer you a sample. This is a trick on two levels because 1. you will love their banana pudding 2. you will want to try their other puddings. You will want to like the other ones, but don't be bothered, the banana one is the BEST. We got medium (WHICH IS HUGE), and got two flavors: the key lime and banana. Four bites in, I wished all of it was banana. But their world-famous banana pudding is DELICIOUS! I can't get over it, thinking about it now makes me want to go get more.

I am reviewing purely for the puddings. We tried the banana pudding (because everyone seemed to be mentioning it), and the key lime pudding (because my bf is obsessed with key like pie). I've never really sought out pudding, but I'm so glad I tried this because now I realize how tasty it can be!! If you're anywhere near Lockhart, don't pass on the opportunity to try it out!

We saw a sign advertising something about the best banana pudding. No one in my party really cares for banana pudding, but someone wanted pecan pie, so we went in hoping to find some pecan pie. We did find pecan pie, and it's made by the same people that supply for Franklin barbecue. When we went in though, we were offered samples of banana pudding and some key lime pudding-like dessert. The lady behind the counter was so kind. The pudding actually blew my mind. I didn't know that banana pudding could taste like that. It was clearly homemade. I normally associate banana pudding with artificial flavors and aggressive sweeteners. This stuff really tasted natural. I couldn't help myself and ordered a small container of it. The key lime dessert was good too, but I couldn't stop thinking about that banana pudding. They scoop the banana pudding from a tub using an ice cream scooper, which didn't seem very appealing to me, but the flavor and texture is dessert perfection.

A really nice shop down from Blacks BBQ and right across the street from the courthouse in the square. This place has a little of everything: cookies of various flavors, banana pudding, fudge, assorted small gifts. Also small Dutch apple, peach, cherry, blueberry pies. Enough for two people to have a nice slice. Husband had the banana pudding. I bought a Dutch apple pie and a snickerdoodle cookie. The cookie was delicious! Buttery and soft. Must have been recently baked. Oh yeah. Our purchases totaled about $14. The pie was $6.99. Maybe a little more than some places (think the Walmart pies for $0.50 ha, ha), but worth it I think. Go there when in Lockhart.

I spent a week in Lockhart and stopped by The Culinary Room for some goodies. Located in downtown Lockhart, The Culinary Room is a specialty food store. Mostly grocery food items along with some fresh desserts including gelato. We're talking drinks, beer, sauces, honeys, seasoning, and much, much more. I got an assortment of things including pimento cheese, a six pack of Texan beer, and a pesto aioli. The Culinary Room is a nice place to get some goodies you wouldn't typically find at a grocery store and it's also a nice place to buy gifts.

the banana pudding is 100% up to the hype. I moved to Houston about three months ago and have been wanting to get some of that southern banana pudding in celebration, as it was something I used to love as a child and is trademark Texas, but kept putting it off until this random excursion. Having landed in this little town so my mother and her friend could get the famous blacks bbq (and i could pick up a salad because that is just not my thing), I saw the reviews for the banana pudding and decided to be uncharacteristically spontaneous, and man did the stars align. it is worth every penny, do NOT miss out. i'm already planning to come again (something also uncharacteristic), it's That Good.

I walked in, looked around, and saw banana pudding. It is very good, maybe the best I've had, give them a try, they also have other things they make as well as products from locals and other small vendors.

Disappointing from what I expected. A small shop on the square in Lockhart. A huge amount of merchandise in a tiny space. Now been there...done that!

This is hands down the best banana pudding I have ever had. I wish I had a picture to attach but it's so delicious I can't help but dig in as soon as I get it. They have other options that are equally delicious, such as the key lime pie and lemon pudding/mousse. They have several Keto options if one is looking for a dessert that fits a specific diet. The shop also has others specialty goods and gifts that one wouldn't find in an average grocery store. Anytime I'm in the area, I make sure to stop here and pick myself up a treat.

Funny enough the staff at Smitty's told me to skip their dessert offerings and come here for the best banana pudding. They were totally right! I was blown away by their "pudding's" light, silky & mousse-like consistency. After a hot day of eating BBQ it was the perfect way to end a meal on a sweet but light note. Plus it had plenty of Nilla wafers & REAL banana slices for that classic flavor. The crazy thing is that I don't normally eat banana pudding because it reeks of artificial flavoring that reminds me of grade school cafeteria food. I'm a big kid now that deserves better. They also carry a few pastry and ready made meal options. Plus a good variety of local food items (olive oil, hot sauces, etc).

Staff is super friendly, atmosphere is great and the banana pudding is awesome. Definitely a 10/10 maybe even a 100/10. Go here!

Stopped in after seeing a famous banana pudding sign. This was the cutest store with amazing food and gift selections. We had a sample of the pudding, which thank good for samples in a world of covid. We got a banana pudding and could not believe our taste buds. It was light, simple and amazing. That coming from a total non pie or pudding lady.

If you are looking for specialty items, this is the store for you. They have all kinds of fun Lockhart-themed tourist items including tea towels, mugs, candles, magnets and stickers. They also carry a variety of specialty spices, oils and wines. However, the real goods are their chef prepared "grab and go" meals and their cookies, pies and pudding. Every day there are 1-2 delicious, healthy, homemade offerings for lunch and dinner. I recently purchased the chicken pot pie and the beef Shepard' pie and OMGOSH they were both sooo good. The chicken pot pie was how I always dreamed it could be but never could find in a Marie Calendar's or Swanson's. Finally I can eat a REAL pot pie with REAL chicken. Thank you Culinary Room! In addition, I must mention the pudding. They say they are famous for their banana pudding and one taste will definitely knock your taste buds into the banana hall of fame. However, it's the key lime pudding that has my mouth screaming for more. Oh yeah, it's an M.O. worth savoring and experiencing again and again. By the way, the owners are also responsible the greatest queso EVER! So there's that bonus too. When you are in Lockhart, make sure The Culinary Room is on your list of stops to shop.

Happy Birthday to me! The very expensive cheese cake was undercooked, the middle was not set and raw. The cupcakes were super dry and the chocolate ones were very bitter and far from sweet.. the icing was good. Photo won't upload... I do not recommend the cheese cakes or cup cakes, especially for a special occasion! A future compensation was offered, it was declined.

Really cute specialty food store in the heart of downtown Lockhart. They carry specialty wines, sauces, spreads, pickles, cured meats, and much more. They also have freshly made fudge and banana pudding. Their banana pudding is to die for! It's soooo good. The pudding was super light and fluffy, almost like whipped cream and it had plenty of fresh banana slices and soft Nilla wafers. Truly a treat! I would highly recommend checking the shop out, if not just for the banana pudding!

What an amazing gem in downtown Lockhart! The Culinary Room has something to satiate what you crave. This charming building is the home of Culinary Cowgirls Queso's commercial kitchen as well as a small batch tasting room of local items like Basia's Pickles, as well as hard to find items from around the state the US. There is a fabulous selection of wine, and some great grab and go prepared food options. They offer classes too. Tastings, pairings, build your own charcuterie board, and whatever else the imagination of the proprietor, Alana C, can come up with. Make a day trip to Lockhart, enjoy the small-town charm that is also home to an art gallery, some local BBQ and The Culinary Room.

The Culinary Room is 100000% worth the hype. The banana pudding is out of this world. They have so many other treats that I need to try but every time I go I always get the banana pudding. And a large size just to myself to specify. Every time I come to Lockhart I come here.

Ordered a custom cake from here and it was phenomenal. Exactly what I had envisioned. I have yet to try something from the culinary room that wasn't amazing!

We went to Black's Barbecue for lunch and had their Banana Pudding, it was disappointing. Luckily, we shopped around for a bit and stopped in for the BEST BANANA PUDDING ever. With three sizes to choose from. Worth every penny.

Great place! They have so many unique salsas and spreads. They also serve fudge and have cute little gifts. It's a perfect place for gift shopping, especially for loved ones that love to cook or if they're just foodies! Also, supporting our local Lockhart businesses is awesome!

I paid them to ruin my surprise. Birthday girl saw her cake posted to social media before I even picked it up. After messaging them my details and calling in the order with the same details they still got everything wrong. The cake was 2 hrs late for pickup. It wasn't a coconut cream cake. It had 1 truffle and 1 twix which were both to be the main decoration requested. It had many things I didn't request such as nutter butters, cup cakes and kit kats. The cake was beautiful but just entirely not what was ordered. I felt like they ignored what I wanted and did what they wanted. After Culinary Room posted my gift before I could give it and had messed up the cake from beginning to end. I requested a refund and was offered a 20 dollar gift card only. I declined. Absolutely disappointed in them. They failed me as the customer on many fronts.

Lockhart is growing up! This fantastic BBQ community only about 45 minutes south of Austin now has a gourmet shop. Alexandra Worthington and Chef Alana Chandler, co-owners of Lockhart's newest retail store. They have not only been making their own gourmet foods for the store, but also sourcing some of the finest small-batch hard-to-find gourmet products from around the world to stock the shelves. The Culinary Room offers celebration foods to make any meal feel more special, such as small batch farmstead cheeses and handmade charcuterie, gifts for the food lover, and wine and beer selections. There is a nice selection of beer, wine, cheese, crackers, the creamiest HOMEMADE (to die for) FUDGE you will ever find, and every thing to make a picnic. The store is in the the front, in the back is a manufacturing and bottling facitily where a variety of salsas, sauces, queso and more are made and packaged. Next time you are sampling the BBQ in Lockhart try this place out! It's a beautiful store!

The Scones are wonderful, I bought 6 on Thursday, Blueberry and Raspberry and those are extremely tasty, I will be buying them every other day to have with my coffee.

super dog friendly store serving up amazing banana pudding. very friendly girl managing the store we will be back!