Dale’s Essenhaus • Walburg

Dale’s Essenhaus • Walburg

Written by Tiffany Young Friday, 11 April 2008

In the heart of Walburg, just northeast of Georgetown on FM 972, is Dale’s Essenhaus Restaurant, a biergarten home to the famous Walburger. This unpretentious restaurant is a mix of wooden tables, card tables and booths covered in matching blue tablecloths where the locals can enjoy long leisurely lunches midweek and “out-of-towners” can enjoy beer and live music on weekends.

According to manager Jeff Sharpe, owner Dale Cockerell opened Dale’s more than 10 years ago. Cockerell also owns U Wash M Coin Laundry and Mr. Laundry in Georgetown.

“We’re famous for our burgers,” Sharpe said. “We play Texas country music most of the time. It’s just a good family atmosphere where everyone can come out and have a good time, listen to music and eat good food.”

Inside, the decorations are simple with just a wooden holder adorning each table carrying dining necessities, such as paper towels, sugar packets and Sweet’N Low and tins filled with individually wrapped silverware.

Outside, the rustic atmosphere is festive with a fire pit surrounded by rows of picnic tables for outdoor dining that lead to a tin-roofed stage. White string lights, festively strewn along the roofs of buildings, glitter in the night, and a playscape and basketball court make outdoor entertainment fun for the whole family.

While a fellow diner and I expected the menu to list German food, the specialty at Dale’s is actually all-American country food. We ordered Texas toothpicks and fries while we decided on entrees.

The Texas toothpicks ($5.95) were a mix of French fries and fried strips of jalapeños and onions, all battered and served with a bottle of ranch dressing.

After we nearly finished off the large basket of appetizers, the waitress served us a hefty order of chicken fried steak ($9.95), fried okra, toast, mashed potatoes and gravy, and a Walburger with beer-battered onion rings ($5.95 with chips, $6.95 with fries and $7.95 with onion rings).

The fried okra was fresh and crispy, and the thick mashed potatoes came with a side of white gravy. After sampling the sides, I enjoyed the lightly breaded chicken fried steak, dipping each bite in white country gravy. The down-home cooking filled me up, with plenty of leftovers for the next two days.

The famous Walburger was a thick hamburger piled so high with pickles, mustard, mayonnaise, lettuce and tomatoes it was difficult to keep together, but its juicy taste made the messiness worthwhile.

For dessert, guests can choose peach or blackberry cobbler served warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream ($2.95 or $4.75 a la mode). We enjoyed heaping portions of both cobblers, each with a thick glaze and a hint of cinnamon that blended with the large portions of fruit and berries.

Dale’s Essenhaus is a laid-back restaurant for the locals and provides an evening out for those looking to hang out, listen to live music and enjoy a beer with family and friends. Its country atmosphere makes you want to get out and two-step. If you enjoy singing more than toe tapping, Dale’s has karaoke every Thursday night, so bring some friends and try your hand at “Walburg Idol.”

More than just great food

Walburg’s population of 250 gets an influx of visitors to Dale’s on Thursday nights for karaoke from 7 to 10 p.m. and live entertainment on weekends. On June 28, Dale’s will have a Fourth of July celebration with fireworks featuring live music by Kenny Orts. For special events, Dale’s rents the banquet hall, which holds about 300 people and has a stage for entertainment.

Tue-Thu 11 a.m.-9 p.m.

Fri-Sat 11 a.m.-10 p.m.