Delicious Dining in Hico, Texas
The Chop House, located in the historic Midland Hotel, has become an essential dining destination in Hico.
Texas Monthly had this to say about the restaurant:
“Chef Eric Hunter has transformed this steakhouse at the Midland Hotel into a surprising dining destination. Smoked turkey necks with hot sauce–braised collard greens redefine luxurious soul food. And assorted grilled wild mushrooms—with crisp asparagus spears and a garnish of a perfect poached egg—left a lasting impression, as did juicy fried chicken with a crunchy, red chile–spiked crust. The bed of handmade cavatelli pasta, crowned with the creamy house ricotta, was bite-for-bite worthy of the braised beef short rib.”
We couldn’t have said it better ourselves.
Many people come to the Chop House for the steak, and for good reason, you’d be hard pressed to find a better steak in the state of Texas, as Chef Eric sources the highest quality beef from Texas’ own Beeman Ranch. But at Chop House, you’ll find more than steak on the menu, and Eric’s Louisiana-Texas roots are a big influence on the menu items at the Chop House. He takes traditional French & Creole dishes to the next level with a bit of Texas flare. On top of that, all menu items are made from scratch and to order, ensuring you’ll receive a dining experience to remember.
Texas Highways had this to say about the Chop House and Chef Eric:
“It’s more than chef Eric Hunter’s menu that inspires return visits to the Chop House, found within the Midland Hotel. It’s the inspired craftsmanship he employs with every item. He makes the cavatelli pasta from semolina fresh each morning. He smokes brisket and queso as well as molasses-cured salmon. The charcuterie presentation involves meats he cured, grainy mustard he made from scratch, vegetables and fruits he pickled, and even a wooden board he milled, cut, stained, and finished. You taste the passion in every bite.”
Delightful Drinks in Hico, Texas
Not to be outdone, Jen Hunter, on top of managing the hotel and running the front of house in the restaurant, is a fantastic mixologist. Cocktails at the Chop House are made from house-infused spirits, like the Peach Pie Moonshine Sweet Tea, one of their newest Signature Drinks. To make the cocktail, they infuse the home made peach pie moonshine for almost 4 months, and pour it over a large ice rock of Ceylon brewed tea, and finish it off with a splash of house made cinnamon syrup.
Past Signature Drinks include their riff on the French 75. They’ve found the perfect mix of Empress Gin, house made butterfly pea flower syrup, fresh squeezed lemon juice, shaken and served in a sugar rim coupe glass, and topped with champagne for a refreshingly delicious drink.
Whether you pull up a chair at the bar to grab a bite to eat and watch the bartenders work, or you prefer the intimate dining room, there is sure to be good food to eat, and a good drink to go with it at the Chop House.
Lovely Lodging in Hico, Texas
The Midland Hotel is a two-story brick landmark in the center of the charming, vintage Historic Downtown Hico, Texas. In 2017, the circa-1896 Midland Hotel, which had been empty for decades, was lovingly restored as a charming inn with a bright, airy lobby and a stylish mix of contemporary and Old West decor. The fourteen unique rooms, mostly above the Chop House, include small nods to Hico history.
Beneath the Surface News called The Midland Hotel “a shining gem, decked out with that old-time feel …”
The town of Hico, an easy back-roads drive from Austin or Dallas/Fort Worth, is both quiet and brimming with worthy new shops and eateries. Located on Pecan Street, which is pedestrian-friendly and features a tree-shaded esplanade—the hotel offers a little oasis off of the main highway. For anyone traveling between the metroplex and the Hill Country knows, the grind of traffic can be grueling, and Hico offers a welcome sense of calm and unexpectedly unique and wonderful shopping, dining, and history.
To make a reservation for dining, or to book a stay, call the restaurant at 254-796-4426.
