Culinary Cafe

Worth every cent of the price to eat here ,great staff n service.very professional.u won't know till u stop by

+6

We ate at 1st City Cafe for the first time on Mother’s Day. What a wonderful experience. The staff were friendly and attentive. Our food was prepared promptly and to our specifications. We got the Trifecta (chips with three types of dips) as an appetizer. We also had the fried fish and fried shrimp and enjoyed all items. The service and atmosphere were outstanding. We look forward to going back.

Unique, midcentury dining room with a variety of breakfast and lunch options and great food and service.

Fabulous experience! The food was amazing and the atmosphere was top notch.

Wonderful atmosphere, good food. A great for a destintstion breakfast\brunch in East Texas.

They are consistently very good. Busier today than usual but everything ran very well and the food was outstanding as usual. The waitress was handling the lunch rush today very well. The pacing of the meal was excellent as well and our drinks were never empty.

Great food friendly service in a unique time dated atmosphere.

Loved the food and vibe! Our server was excellent. Who would have expected excellent fish in this little town!

Absolutely amazing! Gorgeous decor, food was sooo delicious, and service was quick and friendly. The attention to cleanliness was unbeatable.

We ate at the restaurant with a large (20+) gathering on a Sunday afternoon. We initially started by the pool, but our server saw bad weather was coming and suggested we move inside before we received our food. Glad we did as it started raining 10 minutes later. The appetizers & drinks were good. We each ordered off the normal menu. Our food was out in a reasonable amount of time and all were hot and tasty (large portions too). The servers did a great job of getting it all out and keeping our glasses full. All the employees were very friendly and efficient. Would definitely try to stay at this hotel (and eat at the restaurant) next time passing through Nacogdoches. Thanks!

Excellent lunch spot! I met friends for lunch on a Friday and enjoyed it so much I met my mom there the following Monday!

Nice downtown spot for brunch, good mimosa’s and friendly wait staff.

The cafe is inside The Fredonia hotel a 1950’s construction so you step back in time when you enter. We had the Fredonia hashbowl which is a bowl with fries, onions, bell peppers, ham and bacon with two eggs sitting on top. It was really good. For “dessert” we had the pancakes and they were really good also. Friendly staff and nice place

Excellent place to eat in Nacogdoches with everything fresh. We stop in and eat here at least once every time we visit Nac. Look at the care put into making my Cobb salad, and it tasted just as nice.

I asked what’s a good place to eat and got this recommendation. What s great recommendation!!! It’s inside the hotel, but worth the visit. The fish was fresh, cooked well, tasty with just some lemon added (no tarter sauce needed). The coleslaw was different but good; it was like an interesting mix of vinegar base and mayonnaise—with a little kick—refreshing! The cake was huge; I knew it was a to-go when I saw the size. It was fluffy and flavorful. Lastly the waitress was friendly, attentive, and very responsive. Next time I’m back, I’m looking to try the chicken and waffles.

Nestled inside the historic Hotel Fredonia, this mid-century restaurant is a gem! We had the best chicken fried steak and shrimp with grits, ever! The sauce for the cheese curds was delish, and the bread pudding topped it off perfectly. Although we didn't stay in the hotel, we plan to make a weekend trip next time.

This is a great lunch spot if you are looking for a light midday meal. I got a grilled chicken avocado club and it was delicious. It seemed like they put in effort with each of their dishes to make them unique in some way. That can be seen in their use of artisan breads and specialty sauces.

Went here yesterday and has an excellent experience. Our waitress (think Alysaa? From Newton Texas) was very friendly and new the menu very well. All of the food tasted very good. Even though the place was decently busy, the service was still quick. Lastly, the banana bread dessert is an absolute must.

We had Crab Cake Benedict and wow. Delicious. Loved that it was served on a lightly fried crab cake & no bread. Sauce was perfect. Would like slightly bigger potato pieces. Also had an espresso martini and the best. Service was very good. Big room was noisy but side room better. We asked & was allowed to move from big room.

We loved the openness and updated, funky, mid-century modern look of the restaurant and Hotel Fredonia’s atmosphere. The waitress Kayleh was courteous and helpful as well as diligent keeping our drinks full. My husband ordered the Gruene Chicken Enchiladas while I ordered the Chipotle Salmon. Both meals were very delicious and unassuming. I highly recommend this restaurant. We enjoyed it so much yesterday at lunch that we came back for breakfast. We opted for a poolside table this morning.

Everything I've tried here is VERY good. Love the side of cauliflower rice; i could eat that as my meal! Prices are very reasonable. Service is...not the caliber of the Republic steakhouse service but usually good to very good. It in no way stops us from going. Even if you don't order a salad, try the croutons!

First off, if you can get Addy/Ashley from Waco(Robinson to be technical) she's amazing, a total sweetheart, great service, we've gotten her both of our trips and she has not let us down. So my first visit I doubted my date's recommendation of Shrimp & Grits, but I did try his at one point and it was phenomenal. Needless to say, Valentine's Day, I had to get some Shrimp & Grits, they just fill my soul w/ southern joy. I did get I believe the Love Charm Martini (it didn't have any vodka though, which I liked about it) , as you can see the presentation was nice, and I admit, it was yummy. I was glad they left vodka out. The other specialty drink for the day had gin and I don't much like that either. But the atmosphere and style of the remodel is great, and I hear room service is basically from the 1st city kitchen, so feel free to order those Shrimp & Grits straight to your room.

This place is great! It's in a beautiful retro 70's hotel with a great view of the pool. I got the best Chicken and Waffles I've ever had in my life. Skylar was our server and she was the best! I highly recommend!

Charming cafe in the Historic Fredonia Hotel in Nacogdoches, the oldest town in Texas. The cafe and hotel is set in a classic late 1950's decor and vibe. Food is delicious and the service is impeccable. Make sure you ask for the real maple 🍁 syrup for you pancakes or waffles.

Paul W

Excellent place to eat in Nacogdoches with everything fresh. We stop in and eat here at least once every time we visit Nac. Look at the care put into making my Cobb salad, and it tasted just as nice.

Julio G

The cafe is inside The Fredonia hotel a 1950’s construction so you step back in time when you enter. We had the Fredonia hashbowl which is a bowl with fries, onions, bell peppers, ham and bacon with two eggs sitting on top. It was really good. For “dessert” we had the pancakes and they were really good also. Friendly staff and nice place

Carl Harvey

I asked what’s a good place to eat and got this recommendation. What s great recommendation!!! It’s inside the hotel, but worth the visit. The fish was fresh, cooked well, tasty with just some lemon added (no tarter sauce needed). The coleslaw was different but good; it was like an interesting mix of vinegar base and mayonnaise—with a little kick—refreshing! The cake was huge; I knew it was a to-go when I saw the size. It was fluffy and flavorful. Lastly the waitress was friendly, attentive, and very responsive. Next time I’m back, I’m looking to try the chicken and waffles.

Christine Kay

Nestled inside the historic Hotel Fredonia, this mid-century restaurant is a gem! We had the best chicken fried steak and shrimp with grits, ever! The sauce for the cheese curds was delish, and the bread pudding topped it off perfectly. Although we didn't stay in the hotel, we plan to make a weekend trip next time.

Clay Patrick (ClayDay)

This is a great lunch spot if you are looking for a light midday meal. I got a grilled chicken avocado club and it was delicious. It seemed like they put in effort with each of their dishes to make them unique in some way. That can be seen in their use of artisan breads and specialty sauces.

Nicholas Gangloff

Went here yesterday and has an excellent experience. Our waitress (think Alysaa? From Newton Texas) was very friendly and new the menu very well. All of the food tasted very good. Even though the place was decently busy, the service was still quick. Lastly, the banana bread dessert is an absolute must.

Cathy C

We had Crab Cake Benedict and wow. Delicious. Loved that it was served on a lightly fried crab cake & no bread. Sauce was perfect. Would like slightly bigger potato pieces. Also had an espresso martini and the best. Service was very good. Big room was noisy but side room better. We asked & was allowed to move from big room.

Elizabeth Webb

We loved the openness and updated, funky, mid-century modern look of the restaurant and Hotel Fredonia’s atmosphere. The waitress Kayleh was courteous and helpful as well as diligent keeping our drinks full. My husband ordered the Gruene Chicken Enchiladas while I ordered the Chipotle Salmon. Both meals were very delicious and unassuming. I highly recommend this restaurant. We enjoyed it so much yesterday at lunch that we came back for breakfast. We opted for a poolside table this morning.

魏森

Everything I've tried here is VERY good. Love the side of cauliflower rice; i could eat that as my meal! Prices are very reasonable. Service is...not the caliber of the Republic steakhouse service but usually good to very good. It in no way stops us from going. Even if you don't order a salad, try the croutons!

Josie W.

First off, if you can get Addy/Ashley from Waco(Robinson to be technical) she's amazing, a total sweetheart, great service, we've gotten her both of our trips and she has not let us down. So my first visit I doubted my date's recommendation of Shrimp & Grits, but I did try his at one point and it was phenomenal. Needless to say, Valentine's Day, I had to get some Shrimp & Grits, they just fill my soul w/ southern joy. I did get I believe the Love Charm Martini (it didn't have any vodka though, which I liked about it) , as you can see the presentation was nice, and I admit, it was yummy. I was glad they left vodka out. The other specialty drink for the day had gin and I don't much like that either. But the atmosphere and style of the remodel is great, and I hear room service is basically from the 1st city kitchen, so feel free to order those Shrimp & Grits straight to your room.

Larry Troy

Charming cafe in the Historic Fredonia Hotel in Nacogdoches, the oldest town in Texas. The cafe and hotel is set in a classic late 1950's decor and vibe. Food is delicious and the service is impeccable. Make sure you ask for the real maple 🍁 syrup for you pancakes or waffles.

Jeremy Hilton

This place is great! It's in a beautiful retro 70's hotel with a great view of the pool. I got the best Chicken and Waffles I've ever had in my life. Skylar was our server and she was the best! I highly recommend!

First time coming here and although we only come to Nac once or twice a year we will definitely make this place part of our visit when we come. Natalie was the sweetest server she was soo attentive and professional. The chicken fried steak was the best I have ever had in my life and the portions were huge.

We got breakfast and were so impressed. Lumberjack special and I got the chicken and waffles. We were SO delighted by the quality and taste of the food after having a few bad experiences on our trip - this was hands down the best food for the price as well! Insanely fairly priced and worth miles honestly. Very sweet, attentive, and friendly staff! I used to come here as a child in the early 2000s and I’m so glad to see not much has changed . It’s a MUST stop if you’re in nacogdoches.

Service was excellent. Very quiet and peaceful environment. This is a hotel and has several restaurants on site. We happened to sit on the patio near the pool. Weather was great. Several gluten free choices on the menu. Portions were very generous staff was attentive. Very accommodating to diet restrictions.

Regan T

We got breakfast and were so impressed. Lumberjack special and I got the chicken and waffles. We were SO delighted by the quality and taste of the food after having a few bad experiences on our trip - this was hands down the best food for the price as well! Insanely fairly priced and worth miles honestly. Very sweet, attentive, and friendly staff! I used to come here as a child in the early 2000s and I’m so glad to see not much has changed . It’s a MUST stop if you’re in nacogdoches.

M S

Had an exceptional time, service was so good. Our server Valarie was attentive and personal. We will definitely be returning. ☺️

Gregory Herrera

Service was excellent. Very quiet and peaceful environment. This is a hotel and has several restaurants on site. We happened to sit on the patio near the pool. Weather was great. Several gluten free choices on the menu. Portions were very generous staff was attentive. Very accommodating to diet restrictions.

tiffany Michelle

First time coming here and although we only come to Nac once or twice a year we will definitely make this place part of our visit when we come. Natalie was the sweetest server she was soo attentive and professional. The chicken fried steak was the best I have ever had in my life and the portions were huge.

Food is always amazing. Service can be kind of slow but most days, it’s good. The inside is beautiful for that old time charm!

I ordered the Lemon Chicken. It was very well prepared and the presentation was perfect. The Banana pudding was homemade and tasted sooo good. I will be back again.

The food here is phenomenal unfortunately the service doesn't always match. Everyone is friendly enough....if you can find someone. Seems that most employees hide in the kitchen or maybe they need more servers. Either way we have waited 10 minutes before having a drink order taken numerous times. The hostess took our drink order last time, which was nice but then our appetizer took 30 minutes and came out with our meal that we had ordered only 10 minutes prior. After all of that my wife's food was cold. We will keep going for the food but I hope the service becomes more consistent.

Food had a really good flavor and left us both full. The mimosa menu had a wide variety as well as an option to build your own. For a selective eater that isn’t the biggest fan of eggs, the actual brunch menu was slightly limiting and didn’t have much to offer. The French toast did the trick though.

The food was pretty good, but some dishes were a bit too salty. However the overall quality was fine and the atmosphere was great.

Mikayla Stringfellow

Food had a really good flavor and left us both full. The mimosa menu had a wide variety as well as an option to build your own. For a selective eater that isn’t the biggest fan of eggs, the actual brunch menu was slightly limiting and didn’t have much to offer. The French toast did the trick though.

Fernando Graham

The food was pretty good, but some dishes were a bit too salty. However the overall quality was fine and the atmosphere was great.

LuAnn Jacinda-Smith

Food is always amazing. Service can be kind of slow but most days, it’s good. The inside is beautiful for that old time charm!

We have visited before and have enjoyed our time but today was disappointing. Drake our server was outstanding as he checked in with us frequently and was accommodating. The hostess was unfriendly. The food was not good. Everybody’s food was messily thrown on the plate, the fries were old, my wife’s sandwich included pickles when it was listed without pickles, and my ‘Parmesan fries’ were regular fries with large shavings of Parmesan cheese.

This restaurant has great atmosphere and helpful staff, but if you’re vegetarian there is literally nothing on the menu for you. Grilled cheese or salad without the protein. I wish they would make an effort. It makes it a bummer to eat here.

My husband and I had eaten at 1st City Cafe last fall and were impressed with the food and waitstaff. The first visit was a week day and today's visit was Saturday. It seemed very chaotic with staff standing around and customers waiting for service. The bus boy could carry only a few dishes so it took multiple personnel to clean one table. We sat waiting for someone to take our order for almost 20 minutes and it was not crowded at all. The chicken fried steak that was excellent last year was mostly breading today. Yes, it was the size of our plate but the actual meat was half that. Don't know what has happened to this restaurant, but it is doubtful we will return. No one should have to wait that long for drinks, salad and main course to be delivered from kitchen.

It was a huge disappointment. Went for breakfast. Coffee was disgusting, didn't even drink one cup, it's that bad. My food was undercooked. Service was mediocre at best. Atmosphere is like they are trying to be upper class, but failing miserably.

The last visit was a disappointment. I ordered a cup of vegetable beef soup and the fish and chips. The cup was served after a 15 minute wait and the cup was barely half full. This clearly a third less portion compared to previous visits. The fries were dark, limp, unseasoned and over cooked. They had apparently spent too much time in the warmer. My wife had the fried shrimp. She experienced intestinal distress afterwards. Her order also came with fries which were also overcooked etc. Both orders came with slaw. The cabbage was limp and the ramen noodles lacked their characteristic crunch as compared with prior experience. First City used to be our top choice for lunch. However, we have taken it off our list. Unfortunately, one bad experience negates all the good meals we have had there.

Was not impressed with the food or service on Saturday. Asked for a certain wine only for the server to come back and not have it which is fine. Then when we asked her about what wines they have for her to leave the table again to get the wine list. She came to our table 3 times and on the third time we finally got a wine list. Also the burgers were disgusting. Definitely tasted frozen. We’re not hot. As we are leaving the restaurant we heard a couple give their salad back because of something in her food. This place is too hyped up for what it actually is. Unless it was just a bad day. I have good food there before. Either way never ordering the burger again.

* A Lunch Visit * Only a Total of 4 Tables w/ Customers at the restarant * After we were seated, we sat for over 20+ minutes with 'Zero Contact' from any Waitstaff. No greeting, no water, Zero acknowledgment. * Other Customers arrived after we were seated. They were greeted, given water, acknowledged Very Unsatisfactory Experience

My wife and I eat here monthly because we like the food and the venue. When we arrived at 0800 hours, we were immediately greeted and seated. There were three other small tables already served and 5 visible wait staff. After 15 minutes without coffee, water, or any acknowledgement we left for IHOP where we were immediately greeted, seated, and coffee and water brought to the table. Gen Z children now represents the majority of the staff at 1st City Cafe...and they are not motivated. We usually leave a 30% tip; we left 40% for the hard working Gen X mother at IHOP.

Keith Adams

* A Lunch Visit * Only a Total of 4 Tables w/ Customers at the restarant * After we were seated, we sat for over 20+ minutes with 'Zero Contact' from any Waitstaff. No greeting, no water, Zero acknowledgment. * Other Customers arrived after we were seated. They were greeted, given water, acknowledged Very Unsatisfactory Experience