Ward's West Side Cafe

Wow this place is extremely smokey.  The smoking section of the place is not separated by anything and the place smells terrible.  The staff is also smoking which is disgusting since they are handling food.   We did not get a chance to eat as once we saw the staff smoking, we paid our $8.00 for three teas and a tip and we left.

Like many folks from the Big City I enjoy stopping in a local restaurant to see just what's cooking! My daughter and I were passing through the Paris are when we came across this little place.

Yes, very dated and getting over the smoking area was a bit difficult to get past. However, the food and service was quite good. I had two eggs over easy, bacon and what else but biscuits and gravy (which were delicious). My darter had the pancakes, which by the way were as large as her head and stacked high.

The service was adequate and the staff very friendly. So friendly that we learned that our waitresses neighbors kill goats while videotaping their demise, but I digress.

So, if you want a little interesting local flavor stop by here and grab yourself some grub.

We loaded Into the family truckster and headed out for the last family fling before school starts. Once we left Dallas and headed toward southeastern Oklahoma, the town size shrunk dramatically.  I always love it when I head back to small towns for a break from big city life. It is always an opportunity to try local dining favorites and discover some real gems along the way. Not to mention the interesting locals you are sure to meet.

Our stop at West Side Cafe in Paris was no exception. Located right along the highway, this spot attracts locals and passers-thru. We arrived a little early, but by the time we left it was hopping with the local Friday night crowd. It was well kept and clean, but the building is absent any decor updates for a couple of decades. Non-smokers that can't abide smoke, keep on driving. Like so many small town restaurants, the West Side Cafe's smoking section is just one half of a single room. The smoking rules from DFW are long from adoption here.

If you can overlook the smokers, you are in for a great cafe meal on the cheap. Being from a town in Texas much smaller than Dallas, it always feels familiar at these cafes. That feeling always has me return to the favorites I grew up eating at local eateries. So I had to try the chicken fried steak. I made a wise choice with my selection. The breading on the steak wasn't overly thick and was perfectly crisp clinging to the steak nicely. It also had a hint of sweetness which for me is a real bonus in a breading. The gravy had the right amount of pepper and was a nice creamy consistency but would have been aided by a few pan drippings. (I didn't say your arteries would be helped.)

My wife and kids decided to go with breakfast for dinner. I had to sample a few of those things, too. There were a couple of items that warrant mentioning. Foremost, the pancake was a real standout. They have a good recipe for their mix. The pancake had all the elements I desire in mine - light and fluffy, a gentle sweetness, and golden brown color from the griddle. I ate one of Mickey's ears while researching this review. My son was not pleased.

The O'brien potatoes get an honorable mention. The home fries mixed with green bell pepper and grilled onions are a nice side to any breakfast. I like my onions grilled a little more than the kitchen did that evening, but they were still decent.

We may have to stop again on the way back to Big D. I didn't have enough room to sample the pies on our last visit. I'm researching the pie only for the edification of my fellow Yelpers of course.