Stephen Montoya
Throughout my life I’ve learned the distinct lesson of never judging a book by its cover. The most poignant example of one of these lessons happened to me in the late 80s when a shabbily dressed farmer walked into my dad’s car lot almost like he had just rolled out of a hay barn. I didn’t think much about this encounter at first, given we’ve had our share of tire kickers over the years, but my father took the time to engage the man in conversation and show him respect. In a little over an hour, the man pulled out a wad of hundred dollar bills and paid outright for one of the trucks we had for sale.
This thought crossed my mind again when I noticed a new sign go up at an old restaurant located at 1014 W Highway 67, in the Johnson County town of Alvarado. The outside of this establishment still looked like it did when it was Benny’s Restaurant & Bar. The combination of the pandemic and the restaurant’s locale seemed like it was destined to stay stagnant no matter who took it over. However, much like a curious cat, I made a plan to check it out even if it was a one time meal. Given the July holiday break in the middle of the week, I jumped at the opportunity to go inside and see what the new Crossroads Café had on the menu.
As soon as I walked through the doors, I was pleasantly surprised to see a brand-new chic atmosphere in the main dining area. Although the outside of this eatery was still very much the same as before, the interior was new. Subway tiles lined freshly painted walls. New tables and chairs glistened in the natural light, which made the ambiance in the Crossroads Café pop. New tongue and groove flooring added a modern vibe that matched the new lights and dining room layout. It was like walking into Magnolia Table in Waco but on a much smaller scale.
The menu, which consists of breakfast and lunch favorites, had something for everyone. Breakfast staples like pancakes and omelets appeared next to lighter options like the Crossroads Protein Breakfast, which consists of three egg whites, turkey bacon, avocado, sliced tomato, and fruit.
Stephen Montoya
The lunch menu had everything from salads to a giant chicken fried steak. I stopped in at lunch and found the Crossroads’ mushroom swiss burger was just right for my appetite. To switch things up a bit I got a side of fried okra and a sweet tea. My plus one for the day got the turkey club. The dining room was busy, much like the parking lot resembled since this new eatery opened its doors in March.
The east wall had a selfie enticing mural that read Alvarado, Texas, established 1854. This is where many patrons would stop and take family photos to mark the occasion afgter they were done with their meals. Yeah, the interior rocks! So how about the food?
Although this quaint eatery was bustling, me and my lunch guest got our order quickly. My mushroom burger was cooked perfectly to my temperature specifications and the fried okra was fresh. The food here doesn’t taste processed or premade. It’s all freshly made-to-order and the proof is in the flavor. The wait staff, who also include the owner, were very friendly and accommodating. If you’re ever in the Alvarado area during breakfast or lunch, the Crossroads Café will not disappoint, just don’t forget to take a selfie in front of the east wall when your done.
