As of Thursday, there are TWO great reasons to drive to McGregor for lunch or dinner. Actually, there might be more than two reasons, but I'm focusing on the two dining options right next door to each other just down Highway 84.
Coach's opened this week to a full parking lot and lots of customers interested to try Central Texas' newest barbecue joint. Coach's is the new next-door neighbor of The Coffee Shop, which has long been one of the area's best options for good old country cooking.
I made the trip to McGregor on Monday to visit The Coffee Shop and noticed Coach's was getting close to opening. They told me at the time it would be next week before they were ready to go, but they decided to go with a soft opening on Thursday. That's a good idea as it takes any restaurant some time to "learn the playbook." (See what I did there? I used a coaching metaphor to describe the process of training the wait staff and cooks because the barbecue joint is called Coach's. That's excellent writing).
It will likely take several visits to zero in on my favorite menu item at Coach's. It's ok, I'm up to the task. Today both my lunch companion and I chose the Coach's Gut, which for those familiar with Central Texas barbecue is their version of Vitek's famous Gut Pak. Coach's has its own twists, including chives and the option of sour cream.
Coach's also offers a full array of barbecue meat available by the half pound as well as wraps and sandwiches. So, as stated, I haven't decided yet that the Coach's Gut will be the go-to item. They have a small version of the dish called a cheerleader. If I had named them, I would've called the big one the Mark Mangino and the small one the Spike Dykes, but maybe not everybody would get those references.
Though my Coach's Gut didn't need it, I sampled some of Coach's barbecue sauce so I could relay the details. It's a thinner, vinegar-based barbecue sauce. If you like tangy sauce, which I do, you'll dig it.
I wonder what impact the proximity of Coach's and The Coffee Shop will have on the respective businesses and McGregor in general. I hope, and kind of suspect, it will be good for everyone involved.
And The Coffee Shop remains McGregor's, and maybe all of McLennan County's, best choice for breakfast.
