Sitting in angst, my belly filled with butterflies, hoping my lunch guests would enjoy their afternoon meal, I am consumed by nervousness. The state of nervousness did not last long due to the superb cuisine and spirits that are in abundance at Texas 28, an eatery located in the downtown Bakersfield district.
While waiting for my two guests to arrive I enjoyed a glass of cabernet sauvignon “notorious”, from Tobin James Cellars in Paso Robles, California at a competitive price of $8 dollars per glass. The cabernet sauvignon was full bodied and had a splendid finish, and was up to standard, regarding the level of strength I like my wines to be.
When my first guest arrived we exchanged hugs and it being the first time I’ve seen my friend in recent months I presented her with birthday gifts that were a few months late since her birthday fell on a day in the months we were unable to see one another. We got reacquainted while waiting for my final lunch guest to arrive; a mutual friend among us. Once my last guest arrived, our waitress, Sarah, let us know she was ready to take our orders, but my guests and I were involved in deep conversation and ordering food was still far from our minds. After half an hour of conversation we could no longer ignore our stomachs that were having a conversation themselves due to the hypnotic smells our noses were taking in.
When finally ordering, I ordered a south-western steak sandwich with chipotle sauce, grilled onions, and extra pickles, which came with a side a seasoned fries and coleslaw. The sirloin steak was cut up into mouth-sized pieces, which was also topped with coleslaw. The price was $14 dollars. I also ordered the signature burger that is known as the Texas 28. The Texas 28 is a deep fried burger, something that I have not come across in my array of dining experiences. Although the Texas 28 burger was for my guest; I could not resist the change to try this extra ordinary burger. The Texas 28 burger also comes with a side of seasoned fries and coleslaw at a price of $10 dollars. The last item in my order was the banana fosters waffle, which were two huge waffles topped with banana foster, pecans, vanilla ice cream, whip cream, and drizzled at a cost of $10 dollars.
Every item I ordered exceeded my expectation. The service was impeccable. Our server Sarah went above the normal standard in accommodating our every desire. Sarah, also knowing it was my friend’s belated birthday celebration presented the signature Texas 28 burger with a lovely pink candle on it, to help heighten the celebration. Sarah did this without being prompted to do so. This was one of the many things that the staff at Texas 28 afforded my guest and I. The atmosphere was very inviting and when leaving the staff made sure to acknowledge our departure, made sure to thank us for visiting, and wished my guests and I well.
I strongly encourage all Bakersfield College students to visit if possible. It is a great place to enjoy a meal, adult beverages, and good laughs with friends. This is something that is needed in us, the students, busy world of academia. The restaurant’s address is 1517 18th St. in the downtown area. Texas 28, hours of operation are 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday.
Five stars