Dozier's

Dozier's is located in Fulshear, about 40 miles outside of Houston. The drive is totally worth it. The space is classic Texas -- taxidermy on the walls, picnic tables with striped tablecloths, etc. The best part is that there is nothing ironic or intentional about it; it's real Texas, before the hipsters got here. The only strange thing is the grocery section in the front of the store. Some of the items make sense (Texas jellies, jars of homemade BBQ sauce) and some do not (overpriced, seemingly old hygiene and pet care products). It's kind of like the "emergency grocery" section in a gas station, but I can't imagine anyone is really buying this stuff out here in the middle of nowhere.

I had the homemade sausage platter with two sides (mac and cheese and potato salad). The sausage was perfection. Spicy, hearty and served with their amazing homemade sauce. My husband's chop beef sandwich was likewise delicious. It was ready at warp speed too -- we barely had enough time to grab drinks and find a table before our food was done. Clearly the staff knows what they are doing.

As you might imagine, prices were very reasonable. Service was basic -- you order at a counter, get your own drinks and condiments, and bus your own tables -- but it was fast. The only person who made us feel unwelcome the whole time was the man at the checkout counter (you pay as you leave), who stared at us intensely for no apparent reason. I don't think he meant to be rude; maybe they're not used to seeing customers who aren't regulars. I guess the solution to that is to become one.