the Water Stop

A hidden gem in Marfa...truly a great find. A family own business that made you feel like family. ADA wheelchair accessible plus a puppy friendly shaded big patio...a restaurant side and bar side...plus ice cream. The food was amazing. The portions were impressive and delicious. The cheese cake felt like you were in New York..so big and delicious. They make a tea that used cardamom and it was good. They gave me the secret recipe and I am keeping it a secret. One of the best stops in Marfa. Photos included.

I enjoyed dinner on a Saturday night at the Water Stop in Marfa, TX. The chili con queso was delicious 😋. The 🍔 are highly recommended, including the veggie bean burger. Nice outdoor seating area. Service was fast and efficient and prices were reasonable for the area.

Nice place for a date night! Definitely a splurge for us, but the food was delicious! We split the $50 filet mignon, and it was a good choice, full of flavor. The outdoor sitting area was nice for a late September evening. Inside the restaurant looked a little too dark for dinner. Definitely has the Marfa look!

The prices are insanely high.... $26 grain bowl?? What exactly in this dish makes it that expensive? $14 chips and queso? Its literally tortilla chips and cheese. The food isn't bad but it's definitely not worth that much at all. I definitely feel like this place is some tourist trap.

This place was a great vibe. Cool music playing. Great food at a good price point, and super friendly staff that were down to earth. Kid friendly, but also the kind of place you could stop at to have a beer with a regular.

One of the best dishes I had in 2023! My boyfriend and I were in Marfa for one night before heading into Big Bend, and the Water Stop was actually our backup dinner option. Luckily, our first pick didn’t work out. We ordered the Rigatoni Alla Vodka and their seasonal soup to share. After one bite of the pasta I was no longer interested in sharing because it was so delicious. I don’t remember if the pasta came with grilled chicken or if I asked for it to be added, but it was juicy, tender and flavorful. The sauce was incredible and the cheese was a lovely texture. The soup was also tasty, but I was consumed by the pasta. This was on December 27, and with only 4 days left in the year, I can confidently say it was one of the best dishes I ate in 2023. The vibes are moody, the restaurant lit by candlelight and heated by a wood-fired stove. Super cozy and chill. They also have patio seating which I imagine would be great for brunch in the sunshine.

Appetizers were cold and came 30min late and delivered to the wrong table by a very intoxicated & slurring manager or owner. Burger was cold and came an hour after we ordered. Steak was lukewarm. Fries were good. I only recommended the salad in this review because it came to the next table 10min after they ordered it. We were asking for the check to leave when the waitress told us our food would be out in 5 more minutes. It came at the same time as the table next to us—they ordered it 30min after we did—same steak… Maybe the drunk manager or owner had our food in same refrigerator as he found our appetizer in. Queso should not be delivered in a congealed state.

Food was fine. The absolute worst pours of Guinness ive ever seen in my life. Advertised as 20oz too, lol The G is nearly already split. If you serve Guinness on draft, it deserves to be poured properly.

Bohemian restaurant with outdoor seating and a fireplace as well as a resident cat. Well, neighborhood cat who likes to come by for a visit. Love that! The food is much higher-end than you'd expect and that was a welcomed surprise. It was all well-made and locally sourced. The tortilla soup was beyond perfection. Superb service with attention to detail.

Great food and service! This was our first stop when we arrived in Marfa. We ate outdoors so flies were a small issue but not big nuisance. The outdoor patio is shaded and nice. Drinks were cold and tasty after a long drive. The food was also delicious! The fries and aoli were a great appetizer. The summer salad and the grains bowl were also fresh and yummy.

The Water Stop was delicious. We had five burgers, one Greek salad, ice cream and the most to die for cheese cake. Everyone's burger was cooked to order, they were huge and the fries were skinny, yet meaty (not potato shrapnel). Cody took great care of us!

Very cool place with delicious food! My Greek salad didn't have any lettuce, but I didn't even miss it with all of the delicious and well sliced veggies. I'd ask for a little less dressing next time. I tried the French dip and the bread was perfectly crunchy to stand up to the au jus; the beef was so incredibly tender that I was kindof sad I didn't order that for myself. I loved the old building that had a little chilly breeze running through all the cracks but the heater was doing a great job of keeping it warm enough. The whole place felt like Austin, including great music on the playlist, cool waitstaff, and high prices. Definitely a nice place to stop when you're deep in the heart of Texas.

Great spot, cool ambiance, good food and service! We love the burger, pasta, and Greek salad!

My friend and I ordered burgers and drinks. Everything was delicious and the service was great! We enjoyed having dinner together in such a unique and eclectic space.

Delicious green Chile burger and super kind staff. The ice cream is from Austin and it is delicious too!

Charming. Delicious. Stumbled in simply happy to find something open on a Monday. Was super happy with our meal. Husband had an absolutely perfect French dip with salty skinny fries. I had the Greek salad and roasted carrots. Both were awesome. Atmosphere is really charming with the exception of the super bright light over our table. Otherwise the mood is playful and fun. Loved!

There are not that many restaurant options in Marfa but the Spicy Fried Chicken Sandwich from the Water Stop is one of the best Fried Chicken Sandwich I've ever had. The tender chicken, perfectly seasoned, creates a delightful balance of spice, when paired with its jalapeno, it's spicy but just at a good balance with the meat. The antique decor and the use of firewood add a charm touch of your dining experience.

We pulled up, completely unfamiliar with this place. Walking up to the building, we could smell great food. Always a good sign, right? We walked into the building...a little confused at first since there was not a clear hostess, we were in the middle of the dining area, but next to the ice cream freezer. Yup- very nontraditional as far as layout goes. The aesthetic in this building is awesome, though, and as we soon figured out, the staff and food are equally awesome. The staff (our waiter ironically wore a Waffle House baseball cap) was genuine and efficient. Everyone on staff seemed like they were on their game. But the food...OH MY! I ordered a Greek salad. What was I expecting? A bowl with too much Romain, an overly oily dressing, with the hope that the midwinter tomatoes might have flavor. What did I get? THE BEST GREEK SALAD OF MY LIFE. They used, I believe, micro greens, but made the AMAZING tomatoes, cucumber, olives, and feta the star of the show. The dressing was homemade perfection, to boot. My husband had the pozole. Also amazing. I actually considered asking for the recipe. If you've ever had bad pozole, you know that finding a great one is like finding your lost credit card. The meat was fresh and flavorful and no slimy hominy. It was clearly small batch, homemade perfection. Finally, my son had the pasta. Fresh, homemade pasta! Roasted veggies, and high quality cheese. I cannot say enough about this place. It completely blew me away. Clearly everyone working there knows what they are doing. The kitchen staff clearly takes pride in their craft. Treat yourself, people! Go NOW.

We stopped here for dinner after a long drive from Albuquerque to Marfa where we stayed overnight before going home to Dallas. I was starving by that point and it was long day. We sat on the patio and it was a nice cool night in Marfa. We started with the chips and queso. The queso is amazing! Definitely would recommend this! My daughter ordered the kid's pasta and she said it was one of the best pastas with tomato sauce that she's ever had. I ordered the steak frites. It was amazing! I had also added their house salad and the dill dressing was light and refreshing. Now since it was a long day, I did order a cocktail. I don't usually drink often but wanted to try this one out. It was good but a smidge too much alcohol but again could be just me since I rarely drink nowadays. My daughter wanted to try some of their ice cream. She ordered the mint chocolate chip, I was stuffed so I passed. But she seemed to really enjoy her cup of ice cream so if you still have room try some out. They have several flavors! Overall, this is a great stop for dinner if you're in Marfa!

Excellent service and the Burrata was extraordinary. Never had it before - delicious - Portuguese wine / vinho verde great wine -wife had a burger which she thought was the best she'd ever had! Highly recommend .

Excellent food in Marfa! Super cool and relaxed vibe. Patio was a great choice later in the day when it cooled down.

We stopped in while on a Marfa pub crawl on a warm spring break day, and the bar quickly invited us in. Jerrem was friendly and efficient, the wine selection solid, and the atmosphere was interesting. We had some chips & salsa and soaked up the vibe, and it was a very fun place to be. We would definitely visit again.

Nice restaurant with outdoor seating to enjoy the outdoors of Marfa. While restaurants are limited in this town this is probably one of the best! I ordered the spicy chicken sandwich and it hit the spot after a long morning of strolling around the town. The bun was soft and fluffy which went well with the crunchy crispy chickens. A fair warning the jalapeño is very spicy! The French fries could have used a bit more time in the fryer to crisp them up a bit more.

I love the food here! They have the freshest produce I could find in such a rural area. They are so romantic! Very well lit, with heaters outside and a cozy atmosphere inside. I went here just about once a week when I was in that area for four months.

Best food in Brewster county! I had the grain bowl and my husband had a burger and they were phenomenal. Can't recommend this place enough. Service was great and the atmosphere is unique and cool!

Really great service, pleasant staff, warm atmosphere, good food. We ate all over Marfa and this was the best meal we had. I recommend it.

An funky cool oasis with an admirably compact menu that is very well executed. The kind of thing one doesn't expect along the highway in the Texas badlands. Burrata? Yup. You want one of those. They have some wines stocked up in there, too. Bathroom was pleasant and clean. Service was prompt and helpful. Bookmark.

Food was great. We had the spicy chicken and green chili burger. Cool building and lots of room. Service was awful. We never got a waitress. We stopped one of the inside people and ordered food and drinks from her. We never got our drinks. The waitress that was outside never spoke to us. I had to get up to get more water. It was sad really. People were leaving and waiting forever. We sat outside and the waitress was just absent. When I went inside to ask for the check she walked right by me and never even looked at me. I stopped her and asked for the check. She brought it to our table and ran. I stopped her to ask her how we pay... with her or inside. A different waitress picked it up and brought it back to us. I felt bad for all the families with little kids. It was just sad.

Eclectic little spot in Marfa. The service was good and the food was delicious. The creamy dill dressing was great on the salad.

Cute and hip place. We were able to park right up front. Multiple spaces right around the restaurant. Walking in - it reminded me of an old hole the wall bar with some antique decor and just dim and random painted walls. The waitress was super friendly. We were able to sit wherever we wanted so we chose a table that was in the front part of restaurant. There was a second side as well. I got the pasta. It was be very good and very filling. There was some good music quietly playing. Suddenly there was heavy rap coming from the kitchen which I thought was a bit odd. Lol. Definitely a unique place but the food is delicious!

During my recent visit to Marfa my friend and I were in need of a late lunch spot and The Water Stop fit the bill. Despite being winter, the desert temperatures made it a nice day so we sat out on a table outside. For our lunch, my friend and I opted to go with a half rotisserie chicken, the spicy chicken sandwich, and an extra order of fries on the side. While the the spicy chicken sandwich was quite tasty (although not spicy at all), the rotisserie chicken was a big miss for me unfortunately. The chicken was dry, lacked flavor, and despite being served with a tahini sauce and limes and pickled onions still couldn't save it. Of everything the fries were actually my favorite item we tasted and the spicy mayo that the side of order of fries comes served with was very tasty....it actually was the only thing that made the rotisserie chicken a bit better. In addition to the food that was a bit of a miss, we had a major issues with flies buzzing all around our food and our waitress was often a bit lacking in action. I did, however, step inside at one point and immediately fell in love with the boho vibe of the interior. (if you're rocking a cute outfit it'll make for some very cute pictures). All in all, the Water Stop doesn't make the top of my Marfa dining list...but given the weird hours of some of the other restaurants in town during daytime hours during the week, if you have to dine at the Water Stop it won't be a terrible experience...but maybe avoid the rotisserie chicken. :)

We sat outside with our dog for a very late dinner and the place was completely packed. Had a green chili burger and the chicken bowl. Both were outstanding and loved the fries with the burger. Would order that chicken bowl again - it looks basic but dang it was good and the chicken super tender. Friendly staff and meat place in the middle of nowhere.

Chill atmosphere. Tables inside and outside + bar. Pasta was so filling, so delicious. I don't normally like tomatoes but they elevated the dish here and I ate almost all of them. The steak frites probably would have been better if the steak hadn't been sitting waiting for the fries but still not a bad choice. Unfortunately, like most places in Marfa there were lots of flies inside but if you can get past that annoyance then a great stop to make if you live in town or just visiting on a road trip.

Great atmosphere, nice open hours for Marfa! Our favorites: Fries (insanely good, perfect) Cranberry margarita (honestly fantastic 10/10) Rigatoni

Service here is great. The staff is very nice and personable. Food is very tasty. Open every day of the week, which is rare for Marfa. Highly Recommended!!

First, we had a cockroach walk across our table while we were eating the blandest queso and chips I've had in a long time. The staff didn't try to comp anything despite the cockroach even though they saw it. We ordered a steak frites and with the steak being medium though it showed up over well done and so salty I couldn't eat it because it made my tongue burn. I would recommend going to the grocery store over eating here.

Recommended by a local and I was pleasantly surprised by this place the food was delicious! I got the butternut squash soup to start then the green chili burger and my partner got the filet mignon both were scrumptious.

Wow. When I say everything here was absolutely delicious I mean it! The burrata was absolutely amazing and I know I'll be craving it again in a week. The Caesar salad and steak frites were both so full of flavor. We also got drinks which were very tasty. They have heaters for out door dining when it's cold. It's seat yourself and it did take a while for our waitress to come. However, she was very apologetic and was a very good and nice waitress! All in all this place was amazing. The exact ambiance and food we were looking for. I definitely recommend if you're ever in Marfa,Texas.

Absolutely delicious. Get the burger, any of them, they are all yummy. The chips and guacamole were a great start and the beet salad was excellent too.

I expected better steak for the price. 3 stars is an exaggeration but I gave an extra one because it was Spring Break & they were very busy. The staff tried to be pleasant but it was clearly a struggle. I think if they weren't so busy the food probably would've been better but I'm still not sure that it would be worth the price . I'd probably give them another chance but wouldn't order the filet. Wine was great though!

We were recently traveling through west Texas and planned to spend the night in Alpine. However, when searching for a restaurant, we found our choices very limited! Few places were open...most having closed after lunch service. So we headed for Marfa and found The Water Stop. It's located right on the main highway into town so it's very easy to locate. There aren't many choices on the menu but the Champagne pasta was one of the best dishes I've ever eaten in a restaurant. Absolutely delicious with candied butternut squash, arugula, olives, capers, pappardelle pasta and a decadent champagne cream sauce. Truly magnificent! And they have some very delicious ice cream for dessert as well. Excellent choice!

Absolutely delicious! I had steak frites, husband had burger and we had Elote to start. Good cold beer, tons of glass bottle drinks and great service! Can't wait to come back when we are back in town!

Place is in the center of Marfa and I'm blown away at how amazing it is and can't believe it's here. This place in Dallas would have a line wrapped around and down the street. We had queso and chips for appetizer and I had the pasta with Chicken and wife had the Filet Mignon. Amazing meal and atmosphere! Highly recommend!!! Clarissa was awesome!!

There aren't many restaurants in Marfa that open everyday or at the times when you need it the most. If you ever vacay in Marfa, I highly recommend coming on a weekend! The Water Stop is one of those saving graces. Not much is offered here (remember, you are in a small town, refined palates pass on this), so expect the all American basics: a burger, fries, sandwiches and a few salads. I ordered the Green Chile Cheeseburger with fries, while my partner ordered the French Dip. The fries were almost unbearable, we took a bite and left the rest. The Green Chile Cheeseburger was edible... until I got back to our tent. Cocktails, a bit more on the positive end. We ordered Spicy Margaritas that hit high notes. Come for the drinks, pass on the food.

Super great intro meal to Marfa. The frozen marg was delicious ($10), and the spicy fried chicken sandwich and fries combo ($16) was super tasty. The vibe was relaxing and eclectic. Waiter was friendly. Would certainly come back and get the chicken sandwich again!

This was one of the few places open in Marfa as we passed through. I wasn't too sure about stopping with our kids because the menu online was pretty limited but we stopped here anyway and I'm glad we did. The Desert Flower drink was delicious! I had the Greek Salad and my husband had the Steak Frites and both were fantastic! The kids had the pasta and a cheeseburger and both were happy! The service was great and friendly. The outdoor seating was great- a nice breeze blowing through the patio. Highly recommend!

Terrible service. We were the only table there and it took almost 10 minutes to get a drink order. Meanwhile several employees are just walking around on there phone. The margarita was the most just ok margarita I've ever had. I got the fried chicken with elote and herb biscuit. The biscuit was very dry and bland. The elote was barely room temp and the chicken was just ok. I'm a very good tipper but I could barely go 10% on this train wreck. I'm adding that in hopes the staff read this and understand why the check boxes for tips are not automatically earned.

Well, we were warned the service sucked but there aren't a lot of good lunch options that are in a real restaurant. And, yes, the service was slow although the servers are very nice. The interior and patio are very Marfa bohemian and fun venues. Unfortunately, it's not particularly clean and when a server wiped down our table, the table crumbs were wiped off onto the floor. This made me wonder about kitchen cleanliness. It's an interesting menu, even though it was still limited when we visited. The cocktails looked great on paper and tasted just as good as they sounded. The Desert Flower Mimosa had bubbles with desert flavors like prickly pear, etc. Very light and refreshing. The pecan bourbon coffee drink was perfectly bourbony with only a slight touch of sweetness (although it could have been a little hotter), and the Bloody Mary was bomb with good spices, lots of pickly garnishment and a Tajin rim. The French Dip and fries was very flavorful and I enjoyed it despite some flaws. The meat was on the tough side and the fries (obviously made from fresh potatoes (should have been double fried to make them crisper. The flavors were spot on, though, and I would order both again. The au jus was not traditional but had something red added that was complex and delicious (red chile? Smoked Paprika?). Really good. Dip the fries in the au jus! Also had a side of slaw in a vinegar dressing . While bracing, the dressing needed to be cut with either 50% water or oil as it was just too acidic, maybe a little more salt. The jalapeño Mac and cheese was on the dull side. The cheese sauce was well made but lacked seasoning. The generous amount of jalapeños I think would have benefited from roasting or something. The dish could have been served a lot hotter temperature wise, too. I wouldn't order this again.

Worth the Stop!! So here you are driving 30mph through Marfa (do not go fast!). Look no longer! I voluntarily drive 40 minutes just to come to this specific restaurant. Yes that's how good it is. Lunch: The chicken sandwich. It's big, it's beautiful, it's flavorful. If you're vegetarian, obviously you're not ordering this but your mouth will water when you see the table next to you order it. Dinner: the menu rotates. I've never had a bad dinner here, but I've never been able to order the same thing several months in a row. But in my experience their dinner menu is small but GREAT!! If the weather is good, sit outside. Their patio is shaded and offers a great little breeze that blows through. Smoking is allowed outside, you're in West Texas now (Wild West) and they play by different rules there. So my advice: Enjoy, respect, & accept this new environment you're in.

A bit expensive but the Starr burger was very good. The homemade buns are excellent! Really liked the bacon Jalepeno jam too!

Super charming Marfa food joint for awesome shrimp cocktail, bubbles and hearty good vibes. Dog friendly patio adds even more to it

Sandwich was good in flavor but cold. I think it was the cold picketed jalapeño on top of my burger too that threw it off. I'd prefer the jalapeño be grilled and warm rather than cold but it works with the slaw just not on top making my bun cold. Mac and cheese was good like Mac and cheese should be. Service was great and friendly. 3 star food with a plus one star for convenience and hospitality

Everyone is so kind! I got there around 5:15 (they don't open till 5:30) and they let me sit outside and connect to wifi so I was able to do my class. Service was great, was checked on many times. I got the French dip and it was really yummy(: would definitely come back, I loved all of the decorations and the vibe inside.

I ate here twice and wasn't disappointed. The green chile cheeseburger with the softest bun was great. The pasta dish was also very good. Jerem and other staff couldn't have been nicer.

This was one of my favorite places to eat at in Marfa! We stopped here for lunch and had a great time. The spicy fried chicken sandwich was tender and crispy but lacked flavor. Luckily, the jalapeño on the top of the sandwich added some spice. The side Caesar salad was nice and not too creamy. The Mac n' cheese was so yummy, rich, and buttery! The black bean burger was one of the better ones I have had. The fries were rustic, crispy, and large! The grilled chicken salad was fresh and crunchy. However, the steak was a bit of a let down and chewy. The food really made our day! I recommend trying this restaurant.

Needed some lunch while passing through Marfa and stopped by thanks to yelp recommendations. Ambiance - Limited spacing inside but plenty outdoors. It was nice, because the outdoor was completely covered. They made sure there was adequate spacing and were in compliance with COVID regulations. Service - Efficient and attentive. Food came out quickly and server was very attentive to cleanliness. Food - Fried chicken sandwich was decent and the fries were very good, but interesting? Texture was almost yucca like. The grilled chicken avocado grain bowl was delicious! Nice and light, but very well put together for a balanced flavor. It was exactly what I needed and I would definitely reorder. Overall, cute little spot if you're passing by Marfa and the grain bowl was delicious! Would recommend.

Best food and service in Marfa. There isn't a ton of great options in the area, but for casual good dining and food this is the stop. Worked in area for two weeks and found ourselves here about every other day. The French dip on fresh baguette was my go to. The jalapeño Mac and cheese is absolutely incredible. Had the migas and burger here as well... both solid. Nice servers and attentive service. Enjoy