13) 2 Mamas Cafe & Bakery
206 N. Main St, Buda, 512/295-4748
Monday-Saturday, 9am-4pm
www.2mamascafe.comBuda used to have a run-down Laundromat that I frequented, and almost three years ago, it became 2 Mamas Cafe & Bakery. Owners Elizabeth McMillin (also known through her Cafe 290 in Manor), Eugene McMillin, and Teresa Garza have transformed the space into a bright, warm cafe opening onto Buda's Main Street. When they opened, there were nine restaurants in the Buda area; now, there are 22. With the solid, fresh flavors coming from their kitchen, I know that 2 Mamas is in Buda to stay.
The food is centered on fresh-baked desserts and breads, sandwiches, salads, and home-style daily specials, with recipes handed down from all of the respective grannies. Pastries and coffee provide the morning fare, and the place starts to fill around lunch: Monday through Saturday, there are substantial blue plate specials for $7.25 (call for offerings). Monday's meat loaf with mashed potatoes and corn was as delicious as Mom's (and that speaks volumes) and could have fed two. Creamy and rich homemade chicken and dumplings is available daily ($2.95/3.95).
With sandwiches, you can create your own combo on house-baked bread from the 20-plus offered components ($5.95), or choose from the cafe's menu subs; our muffuletta ($6.95) was overstuffed and pleasantly filling (the Meatball and the Thanksgiving are next in line). There is a salad bar: broccoli salad, slaw, pasta salad, and the makings for a deluxe green salad fill it to the brim. You have the option of a single trip or multiple ($2.95/5.25) and can opt to include it with many of the combos.
The bakery counter groans with an assortment of tempting jumbo cookies, pies, cakes, and various pastries (for morning or afternoon tea). A megaslab of sinfully rich carrot cake almost did me in before a recent meeting. – M.V.
