A friend recommended Bandera to me. First, point in their favor - they take reservations. We arrived on time and they seated us right away.
I had heard that their appetizer cornbread was not to be missed and so we ordered it to start. Delicious in flavor and unique in presentation, I loved the fact that the cornbread tasted like corn *emphasis-on-the-corn* bread and not corn flavored cake. The green chilies were a fabulous compliment.
The prompt service and delivery of our food was the second point in their favor. I ordered the roasted chicken and the barbeque beef rib with coleslaw and my dinner companion ordered the carnitas sandwich with braised pork and rio grande glaze with a side of the shoestring fries.
My chicken was moist and extremely flavorful - real flavorful, not the "we-added-fake-smoke-flavoring-to-the-store-bought-barbeque-sauce-we-slopped-all-over-your-chicken" flavor. One of the three ribs on my plate was a little over done. I'm all for cooking the ribs until the meat falls off the bone, but please stop when it starts to turn to charcoal.
The best part of the dinner was the coleslaw and that's saying something, because I hate coleslaw. It was unlike any coleslaw I've ever tried. It wasn't a mayo based coleslaw rather it was shredded cabbage with a touch of cilantro and what looked to be fresh spinach mixed with an oil based dressing that had a touch of chili powder. It was then topped with crushed peanuts. A savory and unique dish.
Bandera's food was deliciously memorable. Its service was prompt and thorough. I'll be visiting Bandera's again in the very near future.