Trish is an excellent server! She was attentive and efficient. They have live music on a regular basis from local bands that do not disappoint. My only gripe is that they don't cook thier burgers to preferred temp. It's only med-well or above. I'm not totally mad at that, I just wished they were juicy, and they're not. Other than that, it a great place!

My family lives in Terlingua and we eat out a bit too often. La Kiva is our favorite local restaurant -hands down. The food is excellent and surprisingly high quality for a restaurant in such a remote area. The atmosphere is simply unequaled. The cave like setting has been iconic since Gil Felts built it in the 70s & 80s. The owners and staff are always friendly, welcoming, and eager to wow their customers. Live music, a great bar, and fun loving crowd make it a memorable experience for travelers and locals alike. We manage dozens of local vacation rentals and highly recommend La Kiva to all of our guests. No vacation to the Big Bend is complete without spending an evening at La Kiva.

We were kinda hesitant because of the photos of the food were not great photos. But we tried it anyway. The wait wasn't terrible.... about 35 minutes to be seated( during peak spring break hours). Food was delivered fast. Service was amazing. And the food was great. The food tasted fresh and homemade. Great atmosphere. They were just starting karaoke before we left. The karaoke is in a separate part of the restaurant as to not really impose on your dining experience if you don't want to watch the show. Even tho they portray its a underground restaurant. It is super clean!. Floors are spotless. Everything about this is great. The new owners are definitely doing a great job. All there staff is amazing.

Cool cave design with excellent cuisine, we stayed up the road at Nuevo Terlingua and this restaurant in less than 2 miles. I initially mistook it for a unique looking underground cave bar, but the kitchen chef takes cooking seriously. I ordered filet mignon, medium rare and it came out perfectly and was very tender. The accompanying vegetables were fresh and sautéed to perfection. While only in town for 4 nights are we already planning to eat here tonight again, our last evening in terlingua

Great old place under new management. They had to renovate and bring up to code. Unfortunately they didn't do such a nice job on the bathrooms and exterior, but the main bar inside is just as atmospheric as I remember 20 years ago! Bartender was friendly and helpful. Made us margaritas with hommade prickly pear sirup, a beautiful purple color.

Great underground restaurant with delicious food and friendly staff! Interesting decor!

+6

Cool spot. Local recommended it. Burger was legit. The pork rinds were actually some of the best I’ve ever had. Pretty funny that they have a karaoke bar in a legit cave. Can get very busy. We grabbed some drinks and hung out for a little wait. Burger was worth it.

Had a fun time here at the la Kiva, ironic that we were here during the first ever Sotol Festival held in West Texas at the border of Terlingua and Boquillas. Caravan leaving the following morning heading to Boquillas Crossing into Mexico to celebrate peace and unity, not just about the drink!

Food and drinks were delicious. We both ended up with the fish of the day. Atmosphere was really cool and unique. Our kiddo loved the decor and playing games in the cave while we waited. Services was the best we had in the area during our visit.

I went during their soft opening and it was AMAZING. The decor was ON POINT, the drinks delicious and all the food was amazing. The place is unique and huge. The staff is VERY friendly and inviting. The owner is as kind as it gets, and you’ll leave with a full belly, an ear full of live music, and a plethora of new interesting friends, and maybe a slight buzz :) If I could rate it higher I would. It’s a “must see” for those visiting the area.

Fabulous atmosphere. Lovely place to eat as the food was delicious!!

+2

We both had good dinners. With great live music.

+4

Had a delicious meal there last night! Fresh chicharonnes, contrabando burger and chicken fried steak were all great. Our server was quick and helpful. Four cocktails, appetizer and two meals was $88.

Food was cooked just as i wanted, drinks were spot on & the staff was AWESOME.

Service was spectacular, food was great (particularly the chili, and the prickly pear margaritas), place has a really cool vibe. And the bartender was kind enough to offer to tow us out of the mud if we got stuck on the way back to our place in the pouring rain. (We made it, no mud.) awesome spot!

I got the Terlingua 2-step burger and it was the best burger I have ever had in my life. The burger patty was seasoned real good and fries were crispy. The atmosphere was great and great selection of music. The service was very friendly. A 10/10 rated restaurant, I would highly recommend this place if you want good burgers, appetizers, and drinks.

A restaurant in a cave!? I'm there! Fun yet classy atmosphere. The sauce on my fish made me want to lick the plate. I refrained. Live music and a dance floor. We didn't get to dance as we weren't prepared for the temperature drop that evening but I can't wait to go back! Maybe tonight 🤔

This place nails the atmosphere, food and friendly service perfectly. We spent the day biking at the State Park in the May heat and went to this subterranean gem after. There was an excellent live blues musician and we didn't have a long wait. The food is very good, the servers are personable. We have been there maybe 3 or 4 times now and only had a long wait one night- but we could order whatever we wanted from the bar while we waited on the patio. We chatted with some friendly locals over a beer while we waited and time flew and before we knew it, we were seated.

It's such a neat place for a restaurant... A CAVE! It isn't damp and musty like some caves you may have been inside elsewhere. I wish I had taken a ton of pictures, but I completely forgot because we were with a group on vacation. The food was delicious, and the service was very attentive. The drinks were well poured, and the beer was cold.

Cool underground restaurant and bar. Love the crazy shaped wooden tables and seating. I saw others complain about service but we were treated extremely well by all staff. The Argentina provolone appetizer was fantastic and our steaks were phenomenal. The best food we had in days. Cocktails were solid too

Love this place, it's so rare these days to find a place that is authenticly itself. They are expanding the menu soon but I hope they don't change too much. The only thing better than the food is the service!

This was a unique atmosphere. Definitely felt like we were in a cave. The food was amazing, and my two picky eaters approved! Our waitress provides excellent customer service.

Lively place with great atmosphere. Menu with many options. Trish was awesome. Food excellent. Drinks very tasty.

+6

This is a great Pizza Joint. Can't comment on the BBQ because there isn't any. The place serves burgers, pizza and steak. Kid and dog friendly. It gets busy during winter break ... so practice patience. Pizza seems to be made in a hot wood fired type grill ... thin crust like a true Sicilian pizza. Pizza is a personal/medium size... good for two smallish adults to share. The baked Potatoe was too small for one adult. Beer on draught was wonderfull surprise for being in such a remote location; margaritas were nice as well. Sit outside or in, nice place. Went back a second time. Relative to the other places in the area, this place is absolutely fabulous (yep ... intended ... owner is northern English ... from Leeds ... lovely man who has become a true Texas gentleman.) Oh yes. Chaotic. Message to owner... if you read this ... please put up a sign up on who to see to get on the wait list for a table. I realize that such a list isn't necessary most of the time ... but it would be nice for people to know to go see the bar tender (mollie I think) to get their name on the list for a table. Amusing note. The room in the far back with the big table ... treated like bar service. You can sit down and order as if you were at the bar. Patience during holiday season.... this is the best place in the area .. and well worth it when away from the big city.

+6

A true Texas treasure, friendly staff, great food. The atmosphere is truly unique, a must visit for all.

Unique atmosphère that you would only find in Terlingua. Decent happy hour prices, friendly staff and good food. The singer was doing a lot of the old CW tunes, really enjoyed it. If your in a hurry don't come here, sit back enjoy the music talk to some folks and have another cold one.

+1

Friendly staff cold drinks good food. Inside Decor is interesting I remind you of a mine inside the Earth. Outdoor patio has a good view of Dry Creek bed must see if you're in the area.

+3

What a great place! Just an awesome setting with really great food and drinks. Love it! Brian and Msg are so welcoming and have a great thing going. Go enjoy! Please.

You've got to see this place! I wanted to box up the whole experience and bring it home with me, but I left it for you to discover for yourself. I ate too much BBQ Chicken pizza and house-made-from-scratch ranch. Totally worth it.

Good beer and pizza, like the cozy atmosphere

This is the spot in Terlingua! If you’re looking for a cool place to escape the heat with even cooler atmosphere this is it. The food is fresh, fast, appealing and delicious. I swear I can put La Kivas Cajun cream sauce on anything and everything. While in the area, I ate here several times and each item I tried was top tier. The servers were fun, attentive and without condescension. The owners are some of the kindest people around and really put the Texas state motto first. I’d definitely eat here again.

La Kiva Restaurant and Bar stands as a testament to Terlingua's unexpected culinary treasures. Amidst the rugged charm of its surroundings, the establishment offers a gastronomic experience that truly delights. While every dish catered to our palates, the Contrabando burger deserves a special mention — an exquisite blend of flavors that captures the essence of the region. Beyond the cuisine, it was Ms. Mallory's exceptional hosting that elevated our experience. Her attention to detail and genuine care transformed our meal into a memorable event. In the heart of Terlingua, La Kiva surprises and impresses, reflecting the spirit of the land in every bite and every gesture. Highly recommended for those seeking an authentic and delectable encounter.

Definitely take advantage of trying La Kiva out if you are in the area! It’s worth the experience. Staff was super friendly, very efficient & food was good!

+1

This place was pretty good! We got there kinda late, around 815. We almost had the place to ourselves. Waitress was friendly and was very accommodating of my gluten and dairy intolerances. They cook everything in either butter, olive oil, coconut oil, or sesame oil according to their menu so I asked for olive oil. Steak was cooked like I asked and even the veggies were good! The side salad was fresh. My husband ordered a burger, and he ate it before I could get a halfway decent picture. He said it was good though. We were pleasantly surprised by this place. Would definitely return.

I am soooo happy La Kiva is open again and better than before! I had the chili cheese chicharones and they were out of this world. The terlingua two step (half pound burger) was top notch. If you're in Big Bend, don't miss this place. The atmosphere is a 10 all the way.

The Mundys have gone all out revamping La Kiva. The food is on point. Highly recommend the tuna, but everything we had was great!

+1

We missed La Kiva when it was closed and this was a treat to go back and see the renovations and taste the best hamburgers in Texas!

Fantastic restaurant design. Food is very tasty and quickly prepared. First time here. Would recommend to anyone looking for a great meal and friendly service. Margaritas are great also.

Such great hostesses and the best food in Terlingua! And best lemon drop martini by far!

+1

Friendly staff cold drinks good food. Try cave Burger. Unique Interior looks like a cave. Outdoor patio overlooks Creek bed

+3

We have been coming to La Kiva for decades. It’s a. Institution. The new owners have kept the charm, and greatly enhanced the experience. Great burgers, great service and fun live music. Truly wonderful evening.

Great atmosphere and some of the best pizza I've ever had

Awesome place for straightforward food and drink... La Kiva is absolutely beautiful with an interesting past and a documentary on this past called "Badlands Texas"... Staff were friendly enough and one of the owners were there and chatted us up. I hope La Kiva is exactly the same next time I get to Terlingua... it was exactly what I needed after a day at Big Bend National Park.

+6

For all who remember the ORIGINAL La Kiva -- way back -- it's getting back to that. Exceptional service, great food, great ambiance and still looks the same inside. I can't wait for warmer weather to eat on the patio by the creek.

A great place to cool off and fill up. Neat little semi subterranean atmosphere with unique decor. We had the Magic HooDoo burger and were more than satisfied.

+6

Good service and great food - specifically their burgers are fantastic...! My Contrabando burger was perfectly cooked and delicious. Side note - upgrade to the chili cheese fries, it is worth it and highly recommended..!

Update: Back in business! I'm happy we got to eat here for the first time in a few years! The jalapeno, avocado, pepperjack cheeseburger and fries were delicious, and our server was great. . . . Good food, good drinks, good people, fun ambiance, and lots of history! I sincerely hope La Kiva reopens when the pandemic is over. It is a local Terlingua treasure, and it would be sad if it were lost.

The bartenders are stellar!! The staff are just the coolest people ever!!! Go to La Kiva, you won’t be disappointed, best food and drinks and people!!

LOVED this place! We went back the next night. The ambiance and decor inside are amazing. Food is delicious (if you get the fiesta chicharrones, ask for toppings on the side; the queso made them very soggy). They perfected the “blackened” spice, we got mahi and redfish specials both nights. The cave sauce is perfect. Live music at least Fridays that we know of. Drinks are a good pour. Gem of a place in the middle of what seems like nowhere.

Great place for sandwiches pizza etc. Cold beer in tap. Cool place to hang. Sit inside or out.

Amazing venue in the middle of the desert, with a unique atmosphere, a New Orleans chef serving authentic dishes, a charming staff, great bartenders (Chantal and Mallory, who is also the owner). You gotta try the prickly pear margarita!

+1

So a friend told us about the pizza. We had the chorizo honey. And what what. It's was amazing. I will be back a few times a week. Drinks are also great.

So it doesn't look like much on the outside, but it has character on the inside. They call it a cave bar, where I am from we call this a basement. However the service was great, heard some live music and enjoyed filet mignon for $23. All in all - a great meal in a fun place. This place sums up the best of terlingua for me.

+1

Hands down the best restaurant in town! Sampled around and just started coming back here because the food is SOOO GOOD! Reading the other reviews I need to comment that the menu has expanded to include multiple options besides pizza, and all of them are fresh and creatively seasoned. Ww came mid week and on a Friday evening and had our meals in a completely normal serving time. Looks like they are past the earlier growing pains and are now setting the standard for the best restaurant/bar anywhere in the region.

Great atmosphere! Fabulous food and amazing service! The bartenders are knowledgeable and fun and can make you a drink that is just tailored for you! Find the cute redhead and get her to yodel for you!

William Tran

The Mexican Margherita pizza here is the best I’ve ever had. The crust was insanely top-tier and I don’t typically eat crust. It was thin, with a slight crisp, a slight chewiness/bite to it, wasn’t overly sweet like some places have it, and was very, very well prepared and fermented. I can’t even exaggerate how good the crust is, it’s insanely good. And that’s just the crust. The tomato sauce and cheese with herbs and a lime to cut through the savoriness of the pizza, never had lime with a pizza before, was truly amazing. The limited time menu with the banh mi pork belly and some beef sandwich, forgot the name, was alright. Nothing to write home about with those and wouldn’t get it again. But the pizza! The pizza, yes! The owner was very nice as was the bartender when they chatted with us. We sat at the bar and food took about 15-20 minutes to come out and service was friendly and educational. The owner was super passionate about the food on his menu and I could tell. I would definitely come back.

Susan Tassakis

First visited 16 years ago, was nice to see it open again

+4

Steve Hyde

We were there on Christmas day. The staff were amazing and the food and drinks were perfect! I cant think of a better way to spend Christmas!

Derek Duckworth

Went in for some late drinks, ended up getting the pico pepperoni pizza; pizza was delicious. Service was great, fast and friendly. The entire place is a great vibe!

Jason W

Their made-from-scratch pizzas and homemade salad are so delicious! Do not miss the Pica Pepperoni pizza (with the amazing pica de gallo topping) or the beautiful Mexican Margharita. After a long day in the park, La Kiva hits the spot and does not miss the mark for drinks, food, and a cool vibe!

Lance Fulmer

This is an amazing restaurant for pizza under new ownership. I can't remember another their names but the two male bartenders on Saturday night were extremely friendly and helpful! The pizza is incredible! It's in a tie with one other pizza place of our favorite pizza ever! The crust is phenomenal! The drinks were excellent and the atmosphere was incredible!

Lauren Brown

Newly reopened and small menu, but the pizza here and featured salad is unreal. So good. And an incredible atmosphere. Fun crowd. Awesome bartenders. Would NOT skip!

Belinda Myers

Be aware this is not the same La Kiva menu that is posted on Google maps. The restaurant has reopened with a limited pizza menu. With that being said we had the Pico Pepperoni. It seems like an unlikely combination but IT WORKS!!! IT WAS DELICIOUS. We ate the whole thing. Also had the cheese garlic bread, which is more like a very thin crust cheese pizza...but it was good too! If you like pickles and margaritas...try the Pickle Margarita. It won't disappoint. The atmosphere is very nice and interesting. With both inside and outside seating. The bar was hoppin' . Highly recommend!!!

Bryan Devonshire

La Kiva 5.0 is wonderful! Best pizza and only pool table in town. The Penisarus Erectus is in full glory as is the venue's amazing history. The feral dogs carry off rambunctious children, and the mountain lions eat the bad dogs. Brilliant balance. I walk here every day they're open!

Ryann Ford

We discovered this place last fall - then saw that it closed over the summer. Thought I’d check again this last week during our trip to Terlingua. Was thrilled to see their Google showing it as open! Went on a Monday night - it was hoppin’ and they were doing pizza - the pizza was absolutely incredible! I’m eating leftovers of it as I type this. The staff was excellent, you could tell they really put thought into creating a great atmosphere. I noticed so many little details that were new this year. Music was great, our big group of friends had a blast. So happy La Kiva is back!!! ❤️

Paige Yates

First time here! Atmosphere is a must see as it provides a very quaint and friendly setting. Food was good. I had redfish over mashed potatoes with Cajun cream sauce and mixed vegetables. The vegetables were cooked to mush but the redfish was good and cooked well. My husband ordered blackened chicken over mashed potatoes with Cajun cream sauce. Both were good but not spectacular. The bar area is great for sitting and enjoying friends. We would definitely come back!

Kedzie Arrington

This place was super cool and the food was amazing!! I got the Cajun-smothered catfish on mashed potatoes and every bite was the best southern food I’ve had in a long time. Took me back to my childhood! The shiner was cold and for some reason extra delicious. My friend got the fried shrimp platter which was perfect cooked. There were two adorable puppies that were well behaved and remained outside the restaurant. We sat outside and the views were gorgeous. A must-see during your Terlingua trip!

Ann Thomas

Loved this place. The service was excellent. The food was delicious. The atmosphere was different but I loved it. Like walking into a cave which I think this is what they wanted to accomplish and they did . The lighting was perfect. We did not have to wait to be seated and our food we couldn't believe how fast we received it. I definitely recommend this establishment.

brandon dengler

Came here for the different atmosphere and it did not disappoint. You forget you are in the middle of the desert. But more importantly, there were really good food selections with everything from chips and guacamole to burgers, chicken sandwiches, salads, steak, fish...and a nice drink selection also. Great service, food came out really quick, and they are always checking on you.

+6

Brian Bownds

Had dinner on a Thursday afternoon. There were many cars in the parking lot but when we went in we were immediately seated and there were other empty tables available as well. Service was good. Placed our order and food came out quickly. Our waiter forgot to put in our appetizer order but that was ok, we had plenty of food! I had the Terlingua 2 step burger. It was really good but could have used a bit more sauce. My wife had a chicken sandwich (Kiva Pollo) but she said it lacked flavor. The fries were great! La Kiva was the best dinner we had in Terlingua.

+3

Carly Dear

Excellent food and atmosphere! The chili is a must while here in Terlingua and they’ve got it down (it’s my favorite)! The whole menu is delicious and you can’t believe how amazing and unique this restaurant is. One of a kind!

+1

After reading reviews before going I was hesitant to go but finally did. We walked around from the parking lot to the patio with our dogs. My husband went inside to let a waitress know we were outside. Lindsay took our drink order in a friendly manner and brought us our drinks promptly. There were two other dogs off leash so we let our Silvia off leash or she'd bark to no end. All was well. Placed our dinner order of steaks. While we were waiting, John the owner came to our table and had a pleasant conversation with us. During this time Lindsey kept our waters refilled and let us know about how much longer it would be for our food. Once our steaks came out (not a long wait at all) John moved on to another table allowing us to eat. Other patrons at the next table and us enjoyed another great conversation over our meals and left satisfied. I would recommend asking for Lindsey as your waitress - she is all smiles, great service, and is busting her rump to be a great waitress! When we visit again in Feb'18, we will definitely come for a meal again!

If you’re in Terlingua for a visit, this really is a must-stop visit. Managed to come here twice on our trip and weren’t disappointed. Service is great and the bar itself is really cool. Everyone is very friendly and I recommend trying their Tequila Cave-aid, especially after a day being in the desert heat. Highly recommend this spot for just drinks or dinner.

Great hang out. This time was very disappointed with the BBQ. Come on man ! You can’t let the BBQ catch fire allow it to suffer 3 degree burns and serve charcoal colored dry BBQ! This is Texas, that’s a freakin crime!

With not a lot of dining options in Terlingua, La Kiva gets pretty busy. They have good burgers.

Great little place not to far from Big Bend, love the local flavor in the joint. The locals are very welcoming, make sure to ask for Fred Porter a regular and historian of the area. The food was very tasteful, and the live music and karaoke on weekends was very entertaining. Will be back as soon as I can.

It was really delicious food! We had a late night and wanted dinner at 10pm and everything was closed or only serving drinks in the "ghost town" area and then someone recommended this place. So tha nkful we came here and they were about to stop serving regular food (other than pizza) and they were accommodating to us! Thank you! We had the following: Green Chile Mac'N cheese (5🌟), Pork belly sandwich (5🌟), Prickly Pear Margarita On the rocks (5🌟) and then another one frozen (2🌟) mainly because it was really salty. My husband said to the waitress he didnt like the frozen one and was nice about it. When we paid the bill, they were super nice and took off his frozen margarita! Thank you! Only issue was the parking lot was not lit up at all so it was hard to see where to walk and park.

Junhua Chen

The Mexican Margarita Pizza was a standout choice, and the salad was equally fresh and flavorful.

Wilfred Cho

Interesting looking bar/restaurant. They have multiple dinner halls with different characteristics. Food is so-so, a typical American restaurant that serves burgers and fries. I like the drinks though. Not bad for a quick stop.

Interesting decor, hipsterish, good food. I had the carnivore pizza and a side salad on two separate nights during our stay in big bend n.p. I had multiple Kiva-Ritas the first night and they were delish! The second night I suspect they ran out of something (triple sec?) and substituted an ingredient or ingredients because it was just not good. Would be solid 4 stars otherwise.

I was really turned off... dropped in for a drink and to get a feel for the place before having dinner. The facility itself is super cool; underground restaurant with a cavernous 'back room' and a cool bar area. Problem is that the staff was just apathetic to my existence... reluctant to answer a few questions, and seemed that I was a bother to them... disappointing as I was looking forward to exploring more of the venue. Had a drink and split. There was this Cadillac out front... so points for style...

Food was okay. We ordered the Caveman burger, substituted onion rings for fresh at a +$3 upgrade, taking an 18 dollar burger to $21. My wife had the vegetable beef soup and a side salad which she said was okay as well. The server was new, second day on the job, as he described it. Which made sense, because when we first walked in and were waiting to be seated he walks another already seated customer right in front of us, without saying excuse me or pardon, and blocks the entrance so that him and the customer could read the specials of the day together. After waiting for them to finish reading the menu board, another waitress comes to seat us. And to our surprise, we get the same waiter that blocked us. We asked for waters to start. He brought them back. My wife then asks for a straw, to which he comes back, completely unwraps our straws, and with his bare hands sticks then in our drinks. We order, and then waited for our food. As we were waiting, I got up to use the restrooms, the restrooms were very clean. On the way back to my seat, I notice a waitress and some bar patrons using a tablet and surfing the net. I asked her for the wifi password, and she says they dont have wifi. She was clearly on wifi and my radio was clearly picking up a signal named after the restaurant. Our food came out, and was well prepared and tasted good as well. What would have made this better was having access to free wifi as there is poor cell phone signals throughout the town.

This place has decent food but pretty slow and inefficient service. We were made to wait 1.5 hours for a table when we could see quite a few empty ones right in front of us, but they are understaffed so servers were extremely slow in seating people and getting food to the table. The lack of too many food options in the area still makes place popular so they don’t seem to hurt from turning customers away because of their inefficiency. When the food finally came it was good, though.

TAO

I'll start with, the pizza is good! We had the chorizo hot honey one and cheesy bread. We were a little disappointed that the menu wasn't what it used to be and had no other choice but to get pizza really. Based off of previous reviews we thought there would be more options. But the place itself is awesome and has so much potential to be a very popular location again.

Eddie

Cool spot with a great vibe, but do not come here for food. We were told the wait would be 45 minutes to an hour, which lined up perfectly with a comedy show starting soon. Instead, the food took over two and a half hours to come out which is hard to justify given how simple the menu is. The bartenders were excellent and the comedy show was solid, which is honestly the only reason we stayed. The kitchen, however, clearly couldn’t keep up and didn’t seem prepared, even though locals said the days we visited are usually very busy. Definitely a unique place and worth stopping by for drinks and entertainment, especially on slower days. But if you’re hungry, eat somewhere else first. Ordering food here feels like a gamble you probably won’t win.

Our experience wasn’t positive. The margaritas tasted like a mix … I mean how hard can it be to come up with a decent recipe for a margarita, especially in Texas? Food was ok but service was unimpressive. Unless you’re ordering a beer and something simple from the menu (like a hamburger), I’d go elsewhere.

Nice place with a good vibe but service not so great. We arrived around 7 for dinner and were told 30-40 minutes for a table. We didn’t get one until 95 minutes after arrival. Once we were sat down, we got asked if we wanted any appetizer because the server recognized that we had been waiting a long time. We asked for chips and queso plus drinks. When the server returned with our drinks, we placed our order and then she disappeared for about 35 minutes until our food showed up. Needless to say, we did not get an appetizer delivered before food arrival. We asked that this be removed and the server just disappeared again not apologizing or offering us anything. The food was meh! We had a mushroom bacon burger, my son the chili burger and my daughter chicken fingers. My daughter liked her dish, the mushroom bacon burger lacked any flavor and my sons didn’t have enough chili on his burger to make it worth wild. The place had great atmosphere but will not take reservations and the wait is just ridiculous to get subpar food and service.

Terrible, no servers so have to order from bar (and still wants a tip). Extremely limited menu. Our first time here a few years ago was great, but this was terrible.

Food was ok. Sevice was not good. Order at the bar, seat yourself. Outdoor seating really run down. Food was brought out timely, but the waitress just stuck the two plates out, "who has what." Not hello, not how you doing, but who has what? I would have had a second beer, but why hassle with it. At check out, tip was 20%, 25% or 30%. I generally tip well for good service, above average, but not self service and "who has what?"

My wife and I frequent Terlingua but this was our first time here. The Kiva Rita is entirely too sour to be considered a great margarita. The queso is decent but could benefit from some spice and maybe a touch of queso fresco on top along with the pico. The chips were really oversalted and hard to eat. My wife had the fried shrimp…no doubt frozen from a Sysco bag or box and the cocktail sauce (also pre-made) was the worst I had ever had (the Sysco ketchup had more flavor…SERIOUSLY). I had the Sysco chicken fried steak along with mashed potatoes and green beans. The mashed potatoes were decent (use heavy cream and butter and you could take them to the next level) and the green beans were good…but come on, make the damn chicken fried steak from scratch. Our service was a joke. Mallory, the owner was there but what she actually does…who knows??? We were forgotten by her and our server and they weren’t that busy (I wonder why?). We finally got up and walked to the register and paid…our server was there and laughed when I told her she forgot us. If in Terlingua, skip this one because it’s another example of a mediocre restaurant at best…the ambience and history can’t make up for the poor food and service unfortunately.