DINING DIVAS
EDITOR’S NOTE: Each month, the Boerne Star sends its crack team of anonymous reviewers to an area restaurant for an impartial review. They dine under the assumed names of Pam, Erin, Nellie and Kelly from TV’s “The Office.” This month: O’Brien’s Restaurant in Bergheim.
BERGHEIM — The cozy environment, kind service and nostalgic decor at O’Brien’s Restaurant reminds one of a rustic lodge.
The eatery is at 848 Texas 46 East. Erin decided to start her dinner with a house salad, which was dressed with a tangerine balsamic dressing recommended by the server.
“The salad greens were crisp and fresh, and the dressing was tangy and delicious,” Erin said.
For her entrée, Erin again took the server’s advice and ordered the pasta special of the day: angel hair in a creamy Parmesan sauce with chicken and broccoli.
Erin’s culinary opinion? “The pasta was a little doughy, and the chicken was scant for $25, but the overall taste and portion size were excellent,” she said.
Her favorite dish of the night was O’Brien’s bread and oil, accented by a balsamic and Parmesan dip. “The bread was perfectly baked with a seasoned crust, and the dip was superb,” she said.
Kelly, a longtime Boerne resident, said “I never think about this restaurant when we’re deciding what to eat, because it seems so far out of the way. But it’s actually an easy drive from Boerne. I was also really pleased with our sweet and attentive wait staff.” Her only regret was choosing the fried shrimp and catfish plate when the shellfish would have sufficed.
The pasta with chicken was enjoyable at O’Brien’s, during a recent Dining Divas outing. Courtesy Photo
The catfish was perfectly cooked, but the coating had way too much pepper for her liking.
“Now, the shrimp was incredible,” Kelly said. “Their batter was light, airy, crispy and delicious. Add their yummy tartar sauce, and I definitely could have eaten an entire plate of them.”
Since her main course was fried, she chose a healthy side.
“The sautéed veggies were amazing. Tender and flavorful summer squash, zucchini, carrot, green beans, red onion and bell pepper paired wonderfully with my dish,” she said. “This is something I’ll return to O’Brien’s for.”
Nellie opted for a cup of duck- and- sausage gumbo, followed by traditional fish and chips, both of which the wait staff recommended as specials.
Here is Nellie’s report: “The gumbo was hearty, with a touch of heat; the duck and the sausage were tender and flavorful. The fish and chips were outstanding.”
The dish used the traditional cod, but Nellie said, “It is structurally robust and also flavorful. The ratio of batter to fish was excellent.”
Too many places skimp on the fish and drown it in batter, but not here; the chips were fried to a turn and were thinly sliced, just the way Nellie likes them.
Visitors, however, should be aware that some of the prices are higher than they might expect from a diner on a country road, so come prepared with a little extra cash.
The menu ranges from soups and steaks to burgers, desserts and even “German-style Chicken & Dumplings.”
• Price range of this visit: $15 to $30
• Hours are 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and 5-8 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday, closed Sunday, Monday and Tuesday.
• For more, call 830229-5600 or visit https:// obriensinbergheim.com/.
• Discover card not accepted.
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