Bryce’s Cafeteria

OMG! If you are ever in Texarkana you have to stop and this place out! We stopped here for lunch after it was recommended to us by our lawyer. I had a tossed salad, the fried fish, green beans, and a slice of Millionaires pie. It was all excellent! My husband had the fried chicken and said it was delicious, it was hot and fresh. He had the mac and cheese and jello salad both he said were very good. We used the coupon for a free dessert for my pie which was a great treat! The staff was extremly friendly and helpful and it was super clean through out. We plan to return again the future, as Texarkana is our meeting place for the kid exchange. I can’t wait to bring our son he will LOVE all the choices, lol.

If you’re looking for a quick and convenient bite off the interstate (in this case I-​30 on the east bound side), Bryce’s does the job. We were passing through and didn’t want to waste much time, and a southern style cafeteria worked as far as menu. A dinner plate (½ sized entrée, 2 vegetables, and a bread side) goes for $ 9.35. We had two dinner plates (one beef stew, and one fried chicken). Wife had a bowl of chicken noodle soup. All were ok, and it wasn’t busy at 7:30pm anyway. Staff was welcoming and friendly and a Unilocal check-​in will also get you a free dessert.

I was not very excited to come here, particularly after being blown away by my experience across the Interstate the previous night at Naaman’s BBQ. I guess that’s what happens when I see the name «cafeteria» in the title of a restaurant, such that I cannot get visions of a Ryan’s or a Sirloin Stockade out of my head. The people on those restaurants never look like they are enjoying what they are eating.
«But, that’s a stereotype,» I told myself as I parked the car, so I tried to keep an open mind as I entered the building. After all, an acquaintance of mine made it a point to recommend this place to me on several occasions, after she discovered that I was traveling to Texarkana. I knew I would be asked, «so –what did you think about Bryce’s?» So — I had better be prepared to tell her.
Unfortunately, the sight of cafeteria tray rails, heat lamps, and rolly-​wheeled chairs in a sea of cafeteria tables did little to convince me that I was not at a Ryan’s. I ordered the beef stew, which was nothing special. The meat was tough, the flavor was bland, and it had that cafeteria-​glaze that you only get when food sits under a heat lamp. I would have given this place 3 stars, but I penalize Bryce’s one star for reminding me that I cannot stand Ryan’s.

Everything a texas homestyle cafeteria should be. I was not disappointed and am glad that I let Unilocal steer my family here for lunch on our drive home to Houston from Memphis. :)
Great, fresh food. Line out the door!!!

Food was excellent but the employees were not friendly and need help with their people skills.

If you ever find yourself close to Texarkana Texas, you have to try this place out. Southern cooking at its best, and their deserts are second to none. Really worth the effort!

The food was great! My fried chicken was a little dry, but still tasty. The pie was delicious! Would definitely recommend!

Service: The folks behind the serving line were quite nice and lively. Very helpful, and one was evening signing. It was very laid back and nice. They got that right. However, those on the table floor could have been better. My drink was refilled once… but not again, and it was nearly empty. They didn’t seem very friendly. Just kinda… «there». They could use better training.
Food: Overall it was good. My fried chicken was kinda dry. It could have benefited from some brining. The breading was flavorful, just the chicken was dry and not as tasty as I would have hoped. The beets were likely out of a can, however they were good. If they are from a can, it was a good brand. The roll was nice and soft. Very tasty. The Mac n Cheese was kinda mushy, but very cheesey. Had a smokey flavor which I wasn’t as keen on, but overall it was good. Pasta was overcooked however. The sweet tea was good, but not as sweet as I would have wanted. There was not any lo-​cal sweetners on the table. Just sugar. The dream cake was good, but very very rich. Its a no bake cake, which is hard to mess up though.
Value: Drink, meat, beets, mac n cheese, roll, thick onion slice, and cake came to a little over $ 14.00 before tip. Not a bad value really.
Overall I was pleased, just wish the chicken had been juicier and more flavorful. I will be back.

Read something that said this is one of the best cafeterias in Texas, but I disagree. Green beans and broccoli were good. If you like crispy, fresh veggies, you will not enjoy these. They were really soft and buttered to an inch of their lives. Cucumber salad was small and sad. There were only thee cucumber slices. Beef stew was weird… sweet and tomato based. The beef was a bit tough. Roast beef tasted fine. Fried chicken was a bit dry. Mashed potatoes were the best item. No complaints there. This place is like a time warp. Lots of old folks and old décor. It’s actually a bit depressing to me but I’m sure some people like that.

This cafeteria is pretty darned tasty. Be sure to use the Unilocal check-​in offer for a free dessert. Hubby and I shared a slice of lemon cake that was divine.
I had roast beef, turnip greens and green beans. All were very tasty after I added some salt. The hot yeast rolls and cornbread were absolutely delicious. The mac and cheese was delish as well.
Now the down sides. Hubby ordered the fried chicken. It was tasty, but not hot. It wasn’t even warm. It was just a few degrees warmer than room temperature. And the mashed potatoes were just weird. They had a much thinner texture than you would expect, and had zero lumps. The hubby and I debated whether they were instant potatoes. And, as other reviewer have indicated, prices stack up quick. Do some mental math as you add things to your tray to avoid sticker shock.

Grew up in Texarkana and was visiting town on a Friday night.
Fried chicken was not even warm, mashed potatoes had a funky taste… they were out of several items and I saw one lady wait ten minutes for chicken spaghetti.
I’m really hoping the peach pie I got to go will make this $ 15 flop of a meal better.
Disappointed!

I had heard about the fabulous Peach Pie at Bryce’s Cafeteria so when the opportunity arose, I decided to go and enjoy lunch.
When you walk in you I was immediately taken back to my grad school days when I lived in the dorms and had to eat in the cafeteria every single day. Now I am one of those that think that cafeteria food is not usually bad, it’s just when you eat it every single dang day, it becomes intolerable.
There are several rows of wooden railings that makes it possible for the line to be like 50 yards long or so!!! But fortunately this day was easy and we went straight to where the food is. Interestingly enough the cold sides are first, then cold desserts, then sides, entrees, more sides, drinks, then condiments. This is different from most cafeterias that I’ve been to, maybe except Ikea.
I got roast beef with mac and cheese and boiled cabbage, with the peach pie and unsweet tea (the tea in glasses is unsweet, and there is sweet tea past the soda fountain). Everything was really good. I expected the peach pie to be the highlight but it wasn’t, everything was really good. I appreciated that they had whole jalapenos which took the place of hot sauce for me.
FABU!

Oh wow!!! Such yummy southern cooking with fabulous customer service! Piccadilly needs to go here and learn a thing or twenty.

My rating reflects the pie and the people. We had the peach pie and I would go out of my way to get it again.

Good, down home cooking. A little confusing as to what comes with a meal… be careful, it’ll add up if you’re not careful. Service was wonderful and very attentive.

We actually found this place almost by accident on a day trip to Texarkana. Love it! Old school cafeteria with great home cooking.
I had to get a congealed salad. You know the lime jello with pecans and pineapple? I think it had pimento in it! And it was wonderful!
Even a simple vegetable like summer squash … I don’t know what they do to it, but it was the best I’ve ever had. And their butter beans, I could eat every day.
I thought I would have to get my preach cobbler to go, because surely I couldn’t eat all the food on my tray. I did! Every bit!
It will be worth another trip to Texarkana just to go back to Bryce’s.

This place gives off a weird cotton plantation feeling do to the employee uniforms and all-​around decoration, it’s not for me but the food is descent

Yes, it’s a cafeteria, but …
The food is almost always fresh because they serve many.
The customer service is superior.
The fried chicken is almost as good as grandmother made.
The spinach and turnip greens are fresh and flavorful.
The wait staff refill your drink instantly.
Yes, it’s a cafeteria, but most restaurants could learn customer service and food prep from them.

We are a family of five and got out of Bryce’s with very full bellies and three happy children. $ 50 tab was more than I would have liked, but I was prepared per reviews. Kids meals were inexpensive but each kid picked out a few additional items which added up and everyone had their own dessert. Hubs and I both ordered the mini plate which was about $ 8.50.
Fried chicken was good but not amazing, Mac and cheese was a different texture than usual but good taste, mashed potatoes were just ok, rolls were good as was fruit salad (fruit salad had blueberries and kiwis in addition to strawberries, peaches, and pineapple). New potatoes in butter sauce were yummy. Kids declared chick strips very good, though they looked quite processed. Hubs’ roast beef was very good as well. Cheesecake, chocolate silk pie, chocolate pecan pie were all excellent.
Service was very good. Man held the door open as we walked in and also took all of our trays to the table and unloaded them. He also refilled waters throughout the meal. Very courteous people behind the counter as well.
Restaurant was clean and family friendly.
Overall I chose four stars because of price and the fact that the food was quite good but not mind blowing.

Talk about walking back in time, Bryce’s is that and more. There was a wide selection of food with lots of choices of starters and entrees and sides. Peaches in lots of things, including (surprisingly, since I didn’t see them) my cottage cheese.
I went for the fried chicken, and I was not disappointed. It was luscious, as were the sides I selected. The pie was also great, some kind of s’more pie that looked like it had meringue on top but ended up being marshmallow. This place has solid southern cooking.
It was late when we stopped here, but the service was still impeccable. If you want a time traveling experience that will leave your tummy happy, stop here if you’re in the area.