The Broken Spoke - a Chicken Fried Steak & Honky Tonk Kind O'Night

Are you lookin' for a real Chicken Fried Steak so big that the leftovers won't fit in the doggie bag? Are you lookin' for the best of the true Texas Honky Tonks for some after-dinner, toe-kickin', heel-stompin' two-steppin'? Well then, anybody who knows Austin, Texas will point you straight to the Broken Spoke! It is so good, even my redneck brother from Oklahoma couldn't get enough when he came to visit and saw Gary P. Nunn sing "London Homesick Blues" which was the original theme song for the famous PBS show, Austin City Limits. My brother insistently said, "I want to come back here and do some sh...kickin' every time I'm in Austin." Of course, he also walked out with an autographed copy of Gary P. Nunn's latest CD.

There is no typical evening at The Broken Spoke. You never know who is going to walk through the saloon-style swinging doors between the restaurant and the last of the true Texas dance halls. If you don't believe me, ask owner James White about the time the Queen of England's entourage stopped in to get a feel for what a true Texas Honky Tonk was like. On other occasions, James can tell you about visits from Clint Eastwood, Lonnie Anderson, Robert Duvall, Dolly Parton, Troy Aikman, and Willie Nelson. I should mention that James has autographed pictures of all these visitors hanging in his museum hallway on the way to the bathrooms.

We usually arrive at the Spoke around 6:00 p.m. and sit at a big round table with an old-time lazy-susan server smack dab in the middle. When we order the plate of Super Nachos ($6.00), or get the fixin's for the juicy burgers ($3.25), we can just roll that baby around and grab - no passing the food needed at our favorite dining table. The Broken Spoke is famous for their Chicken Fried Steak ($8.25) that comes with mashed potatoes and white cream gravy. The service is country-friendly and fast. The reason we get there so early is because you need an hour or so in between devouring this treasure and hitting the dance floor. Don't worry about being bored while you digest. There are several hallways and rooms like The Tourist Trap Room that you can wander, full of memorabilia, news articles, award plaques, and stories by James that will use up your spare time.

If you can't make it at night, the Broken Spoke also has Luncheon Blueplate Specials with choices of BBQ or other meats, vegetables, and a salad for $5.25. They serve ice-cold Longneck beers, Margaritas, and Bloody Marys also. You can schedule private parties Sunday through Thursday with food and entertainment for up to 600 people! You can have your party on Friday or Saturday, too, if you invite the rest of us who plan on weekend partying at the Spoke.

There are so many memories of nights at The Broken Spoke, but the best is that of James White as he recalls how it all started in 1964. James needed something to do after the Army, liked the radio show "Broken Arrow", and loved wagon wheels, country music, and the old Dessau Dance Hall. So, on November 10, 1964, the Broken Spoke opened with 300 people there to help celebrate. James White also sings and his memories include jams with Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson, and Alvin Crowe. Among White's most memorable times is 1966, when he booked his childhood hero, Bob Wills, to perform at his very own Broken Spoke.

Ray Price and George Strait performed at the Spoke, as well as Ernest Tubbs, Tex Ritter, and Hank Thompson. The Geezinslaw Brothers are regular local artists at the Broken Spoke. Sammy Allred of The Geezinslaws is also a well-known radio show personality in Austin. The lyrics to some of their songs will definitely keep you rolling on the floor, but always dancing. They also like to incorporate slap-stick humor into their show. For a sample, click here. Now, if Sammy is not in a good mood while he's on the radio, watch out - he'll hang up on ya. If you're nice while you are dining, one of these celebs might just come up to the table and join you for a beer. Anytime is an O.K. time to get an autograph and a picture at the Broken Spoke, so bring your camera.

The Broken Spoke is something like you see in the old western movies or on T.V. It's like being in the old restaurant-saloon-dance hall filmed in Gunsmoke or a John Wayne movie. I am so glad I grew up in West Texas, loving country music, learning how to two-step, swing, and waltz, and making sure the Broken Spoke was on my social events calendar. It is a true treasure of Texas and of America.

The Broken Spoke is located at 3201 S. Lamar, Austin, Texas. (512) 442-6189