Tip Top Cafe Reviews

I have been going to this place for 55 years. It's very small and sometimes you have to wait to be seated. The food is always the same, good every time. They must be good to their employees because for the longest time I would see the same ones. They surve down home comfort food and great pies.

Not going to even try and sugar-coat it, when I first walked in I was a bit put off by the atmosphere. But then I remembered how long this restaurant has been in business and thought well they must be doing something right. When you first walk in and look to the right, you are greeted by Guy and the DDD poster proudly displayed on the wall and about the time you see that you're hit with the smell of good food. Then you're told to sit where you'd like. Had a very pleasant young lady waiting on us, and we decided to start with an onion ring appetizer, and while I wasn't expecting much because onion rings are onion rings right? Wrong, probably the best I've eaten. Then decided to order a chicken fried steak and all I have to say is wow, it came out of the kitchen fresh fried and hanging off the plate. No I am not exaggerating, it really was hanging off the plate. Most of the time huge food like that isn't good but in this case it was delicious. Made from scratch real cream gravy is served underneath the chicken fry instead of the usual over the top and that did not disappoint either. For less than $13.00 I must have had easily a pound and a half if not two pounds of food, and good food at that. Would definitely recommend if you want just regular southern style home cooking at a fair price. Don't expect fancy, but do expect to walk away stuffed and satisfied.

My family and I had heard rave reviews about this place. So, after 9 months living in SA, we went. First, the restaurant was dirty. The blinds were covered in dust, just hovering over our food. Then, my wife took a bite of her chicken and it was bloody, almost uncooked. They did take that meal off our ticket, but a manager never came to speak to us. No one apologized. We will never go back. A btw, the chicken fried steak is mediocre at best.

Old home style cooking. Everything very well done. My hamburger patty has very good flavor, but was over cooked. My husband enjoyed his meatloaf with creole sauce. The vegetables were all over cooked. The cornbread was dry. The crust on the cherry pie was hard, not flakey. Our wait time was very long. Maybe if our food was delivered sooner, it wouldn’t have been so over done.

I went there twice this week since it was so good ! I had the fried cod the first time . it came with a nice side salad and a generous side of French fries . Their tartar sauce seems freshly made as it has a nice lemony zest to it . Later this week , I had the meatloaf lunch special with an half order of onion rings . You gotta try the onion rings ....they are the bomb ! The meatloaf was a good size portion and it came covered in a creole sauce with a side of mashed potatoes . I forgot to mention that they brought out a cold macaroni salad with the meatloaf special . It was made with chunks of ham and cheese with a mayo type dressing ....weird but good and tasty .

We like to try diners especially featured on Diners, Drive-Ins, & Dives and this seemed like a good idea for us. My husband got the chicken fried steak with fried yellow squash and a salad. I ordered the chicken fried chicken with broccoli and cheese and a salad. We also ordered a half order of onion rings for an appetizer. The onion rings were good and fresh and a perfect amount for 2 of us. The salads were nothing special but the ranch dressing tasted homemade. Our entrees were fresh hot and delicious. We took a slice of lemon meringue pie home with us, it was by far the best pie we had eaten!! Clean and friendly service. Will definitely return.

Great Diner style restaurant, with authentic seats at the bar! Also a cant miss if you can get some of the home made pies this restaurant specializes in. Burgers, chicken and vegetables are all consistent and tasty.

I brought the girls here for dinner during our mini summer vacation and they absolutely loved it. My nieces had the kids chicken tender plate, which they both rated a 9 on a scale from 1 to 10. My daughter had the kids shrimp plate, which she rated an 8. My wife had the chefs salad with grilled chicken, which she rated a 9. And I had the chicken friend steak, which I rated a 10. The 30 minute wait was well worth it. This was the first of many visits to one of our newly acquired hot spots in San Antonio. PS, be sure to try their onion rings. They are to die for!

A step back in time, dark paneling, deer heads on the wall. This is not a light bright place when you go in but dang fine eats. Had the Thursday special meatloaf and a great piece of pie for dessert. Don't expect much ambiance but you will have a good meal. Blue Plate Diner in spades, I'll be back. Below I'll say ok for wheelchairs but it is narrow in here, this location not the best if you are in a chair

I have gone to Tip Top Cafe since I was a child. I love the chicken fried steak and fried onion rings. I have noticed over the years that the flavors have changed, but I believe that is due to societal changes, also. IE, vegetable oil versus other fat to fry in, etc. Still a wonderful way to indulge in comfort foods!

The Tip Top Cafe has been around for years and the quality of the food and service has always been good. They have started serving breakfast and have the same good food as lunch and dinner. It's worth a step back San Antonio in eating history to stop by and try a meal.

Nice traditional cafe - good food(onion rings were excellent), good atmosphere and good service. Place was packed but with the carpeting and curtains still very quiet and relaxing.

We went on a friends recommendation. It was really good. The yeast rolls were excellent. We got French fries as our side. They were the big steak fries and were hot and good. The chicken fried steak was huge almost covering the plate. It was outstanding! The pies looked beautiful although we didn't have room for any with the tallest meringue I have ever seen on pie. Will definitely go there again.

And onion rings. The steak and gravy was very good. I scraped a lot of crunch off so I could fill up on the steak. It’s a novelty place and we were pleased and full of food from days of youth.

This little gem lies hidden in plain sight, the locals know it well, judging by the full parking lot. Walking into the restaurant was like stepping back in time, the lady at the cash register smiled at us and said please sit anywhere you like. I looked around, and on the counter saw what looked like a gallon sized mound of Chocolate Ice cream, more on that in a bit, the dining room was laid out with booths along the walls and four-seater tables in the center, we found an empty table and sat. A friendly waitress came up and took our drink orders and handed us menus, we told her it was our first time and asked her for suggestions on what to order. She pointed at a dry erase board on the wall and said they were known for the chicken fried stake and the fried catfish was “really good too.” We ordered one each and were please when the plates arrived, the catfish was a generous portion a large fillet, with a side of corn and side salad. The chicken fried steak was large, well cooked and sitting on a generous amount of white gravy a scoop of mashed potatoes and side salad with ranch dressing. The side salads although fresh could have used some more green in them they seem to be mostly the center white pieces of the iceberg lettuce, with shredded purple cabbage and carrots, the ranch dressing was thick and delicious. Both the fish and chicken fried steak were as tasty, we needed to go plates for both because there was so much food. Back to the “gallon sized mound of chocolate” I told the waitress that there was a sign that read “ask about our pies” she smiled and said we have apple pie, peach cobbler, chocolate meringue and lemon meringue pies. I asked if that was what was sitting on the counter, she smiled and said yes, our meringue is piled high! We ordered a slice of lemon meringue to share, as she brought it to us I commented to my girlfriend that it looked like a shark fin approaching us and a moment later a diner at another table started with the Jaws ( da-dum, da-dum da-dum) theme, we started laughing. The pie was amazing, the meringue was light and tasty and the lemon tasted home-made, the crust was firm and flaky it was the perfect ending to a good hearty meal.

It's been 40 years since last there and it's as good now as it was then....... You have to order the Onion Rings if nothing else. The Chicken Fried Steaks were almost falling off the plate (you better be hungry), the Fried Oysters were great, none of those dime size here. The deserts were great. You have to go there at least once but you better go hungry..................

This local favorite has been serving San Antonio since 1938!! And their southern style cooking is the best in town. So whether you live here or just visiting, be sure to stop by and bring an appetite!!

This is an old fashion diner. Hostess and Waitstaff are Great. The paneling is inviting and as warm and down home as honey. The food is fresh and homemade served with a smile and sincere joy of sharing. The serving were so big that the leftovers fed another three people at home.

I love going to out of the way local restaurants. This one has been doing it right for over 80 years. The Chicken Fried Steak was was huge and real steak. They serve it on top of a plate of gravy. A first for me, usually have the gravy on top, an extra bowl comes with it. The salad mostly lettuce but very fresh and crisp. Onion rings a must have, the half order is all we could eat. We shared the meal and have over half of the steak left. The rolls are heavy, flavorful and just wonderful. The topper, the amazingly huge slice of their mile high chocolate pie. We had to get this to go. Old fashioned diner that took me back to the 50’s and I loved it. Everyone on the staff went out of their way to be friendly and make us feel welcome.

Another Triple D stop on my tour, I wasn't as excited to go here because generally speaking, I'm not a meatloaf, chicken friend steak,etc kind of guy. I ordered the hot pork with gravy on Texas toast and I was blown away. The toast really brought everything together. I know I wouldn't have enjoyed it half as much without it. Was so stuffed when I left I had to go back to the Hotel and take a nap!

We went by after going to Botanical garden and the mexican market. Husband said chicken fried steak was good but gravy was a chicken gravy. the onion rings were not very good Sonics are better. the rest of the food was so so. They brought cornbread rather than rolls with the chicken fried steak. disappointed

We had not visited Tip Top Cafe in probably 20 years or so. It was a weekday night and although fairly busy, we didn't have to wait. Our server was outstanding! Overall the food was good and plentiful. The only thing we didn't care for was the chocolate meringue pie. It was more gelatin based and sort of tasteless with a soggy crust. Meringue was great though. Love the fact they've kept the 1940s vibe going.

This place is well known for its chicken fried steak and onion rings. It lived up to its expectations. The plate was huge, no way I could finish the dish and for only a bit over 10 bucks including a salad and side. The onion rings were great as advertised. The service was also fantastic. Our server couldn't have been more pleasant.

The last few times we went to TipTop, the food has been constantly going down in quality. The "new" owners spent money on nice shirts and badges for workers, but seems to be buying a lesser quality of food. Servings are inconsistant now. Sometimes the food is undercooked or at times burned, plus the flavor of the mainstays have changed dramatically. Food is almost always way oversalted as though the cooks are seasoning to their tastes not the recipies. The regular waitstaff is still great, but there seems to be no bussers any longer. Tables are left dirty, and customers have to request to have them cleaned. Finally, the prices have been raised way over what should be a standard cost increase, as though, the owners feel that by raising the prices, the customers will feel that the food is somehow now elevated or something. It is very sad that such a great place is slowly being destroyed by the new management with no concern for the loyal customer base or those new ones. This place as it is now would NEVER make to the food network now.

Breakfast sucks , egg were cool hash browns were over cook .bisques tasted like cardboard. Bad service an no turkey bacon. Not ever one eats pork.

It's 46° and raining in San Antonio today. My friend and I walk in for a hot meal at this TipTop. We drove 30 mins in the rain to get here just to be disappointed with terrible service and cold food. I ordered a coffee and had to ask twice for it to be warmed up. She made a new pot. We got fresh onion rings with cold gravy. My friend ordered chilli with corn bread and both were cold. Cold chilli on a cold day is not good for us Texans. The waitress warmed up the bowl but I could still check the temperature with my finger and it felt barely above room temperature. She would not reheat it up and said that is as hot as she could get it. She refused to attempt to heat up the cornbread or make it fresh. They had a weirdo waiter that kept staring at my friend. This place once was the best when it came to a warm home feeling. Now I wouldn't be surprised if they are closing down. Daniel 2108102927

The original De Wese's Tip Top Cafe on Fredericksburg Road has been there for 78 years. There's a reason for that longevity: they do S. Texas comfort food beautifully. This is not "cuisine," it's cooking. We have lived in S.A. for 53 years and had never gotten around to going here, but did so recently. When we told our waitress it was our first time, she folded her hands in front of her and said, "OK, here's what you should do. Order a half order of onion rings, share a chicken-fried steak, choose your potatoes, and do you want a salad?" We did as we were instructed, had a house salad and, after a bit, our order arrived. She was right, all the way. At our age, we don't eat like 18-year-olds. There was more than enough food, but still room for some of their home-made pie (not "house-made", that more recent uppityism). The onion rings were hot, the breading minimal, crunchy and delicious. The steak was what a chicken-fried steak should be: thin, tender, tasty, with really good gravy. We each had dessert: i had their banana ice-cream pie and my wife had the lemon chess pie. The one and only criticism I have is that they overdo the whipped cream. Perhaps others wouldn't see that as a problem, but enough is sometimes too much. We'll go back, and I'll ask them to go light on the whipped cream.

Glad to see the small town restaurant in a big town feel is still there at the Tip Top Cafe. Now with 2 locations, they have moved to being open 7 days a week. Huge chicken fried steaks and a monster stack of onion rings will satisfy anyone. I also like the fish specials they have. If you are from a small town, anywhere, this place will take you back to those old days of great and friendly service and down home cooking.

Food was Good , service was excellent, price was fair. Had Onion rings they were good. Chicken Fried Steak was no better than most. Won't go 30 miles out of my way next time, but would probably return if nearby.

I tried the onion rings, chicken fried steak, and chicken salad sandwich. All three items were bland and need more seasoning. The bread used for the chicken salad was rye and it was delicious. The tea tasted like it had baking soda which some restaurants add but you're not suppose to taste it. Great portion sizes. The blueberry pie tasted odd and was dry but the chocolate was great. Go for pie! They had many varieties. Order your pie first because when its gone its gone!!

I've lived in San Antonio 35 years and have heard of this restaurant over the years but never been there. It is not exactly in my path of travel or residence but recently went to an event close by and decided to see what all the talk was about. The parking is right off a busy street and small spaces and small area to park. It was crowded even at 3 or so in the afternoon. If you are bothered by unremodeled type place then stay clear because this place doesn't look like it has had many up dates over the years:) We were greeted upon entering but told it would be a few minutes. A table was cleared and we were told to go to back area booth but not actually taken back there so we stood in the middle of the place waiting to be seated as there were two booths in the back but neither was clean. The guy pointed us in the direction of the booth again not actually taking us over there. We sat for a bit then someone brought menus, dirty silverware and asked what we wanted to drink. Ice tea costs more than soda but you get refills with the tea and not with the soda which comes in a container and you pour it in the glass of ice. We have always heard this place is known for the chicken fried steak but saw one served and it was very large so decided to skip that. We thought the pricing was a bit high for the atmosphere and food selection but guess you are paying for the history:) The enchiladas were one of their specialties so went with that. It was two enchiladas served in a small bowl and no sides included. BUT they were covered with chunky, tender beef and just the right amount of cheese. WE thought they were tasty and filling. Most of the wait staff is older and not extremely friendly. We know some of them have been there for decades and it appears lots of locals frequent the place. Our waitress was not personable or in any hurry and the food took longer than you'd expect. The menu did indicate though that if you order a house favorite meal you will have a wait. So assuming that means they are prepared as ordered. We were able to check out fairly quickly and thanked. So now we can say we have been to the Tip Top but doubt we will go out of our way to return.

It had been several years since I visited this iconic San Antonio eatery. Our group of four arrived for an early Saturday supper. Within a few minutes there was a line of people waiting to get in. We started with an appetizer of fried onion rings. They were huge and tasty. Trying to keep my entree a little lighter, I bypassed the popular chicken fried steak and opted for the pork roast open faced sandwich. It was delicious with the meat being tender and flavorful. Nothing fancy here--an old school diner type restaurant. It's longevity says a lot for consistency.

Revisited one of my old time favorites. Glad to say that after 30 yrs this place is still great! Still one of the best chicken fried steaks in Texas. Onion rings and cream corn are excellent. One of the highlights of my recent visit to my home state. Am relocating back to Texas after being gone for over 35 yrs. and looking forward to visiting this cafe on a regular basis. Huge portions and easy on the pocketbook. Only drawback is the lines that go around the block.

We live in SA and we’re reminded of Tip Top this past weekend when watching the Food Network s we headed over for dinner. WORST decision! The restaurant was very hot, food delivery was very very slow (took about 30-40 minutes to get our very basic food), wait staff rarely checked in (4 waiters in a very small place was enuf to cover) and when the food finally arrived every meal was wrong and to be honest, not very good and cold (I’ve never seen a chicken fried steak that was 50% breading, 50% “steak”). With SO many great restaurants here, you have way too many options...select another.

From the time you walk in until the time you leave they treat you like you are their only customer. The burgers are fantastic and the chicken fried steak and pies are to die for. Wish they were national.

We visited the new location on Nacogdoches Rd and the food was great. Wait staff was very friendly. Portions are good size. The onions rings and chicken fried steak are the best. This time the dessert was so so. Will definitely be going back.

This was my first time at this local eatery and the place was covered with tradition. The waitstaff were extremely friendly that not only showed but proved what Southern hospitality was all about. Our waitress was especially a sweetheart. As soon as you walk in, it's very diner-esque and brings the comfortable feeling of home. Menus state that this place opened in 1938. I now understand why it feels so home-y and traditional. Food had extremely huge portions (like how your grandmother would feed you when you visit). It's literally TEXAS sized. And I loved it because I had enough for a whole meal the next day. So if you think of portions, price really isn't that bad. It seems pretty average to me. The seasoning is a bit on the bland side but I think it's just so you can enjoy the traditional seasoning of the flour/breadcrumbs they use for all their fried foods. And to enjoy their gravy too. For something chunky, try their Chicken Fried Tenders; I hear it's a local favorite. If you want something savory and tender, shoot for the Chicken Fried Steak. It's my personal favorite. As for dessert, you don't want to miss any of their homemade pies. It tastes just like how memaw used to make it! Try the Buttermilk Cream! Delicious!! NOTE: Since the place is very traditional, so is the atmosphere. You'll see a sign but just in case you miss it, it's highly valued here of what a classic, family-styled meal means. That means NO cell phone usage. Sneaking pictures of food like how I did was fine because I did it super fast but other than that, no texting or phone calls at the table. Enjoy! =]

It was okay... little dirty looking. I could make better breakfast at home. Bathroom was outside (I found that very odd). Service was very friendly. Easy parking.

We had dinner at the Tip Top. It's a small family owned place. Definitely not a fancy place. The wait staff was very friendly. I had the fish sandwich which was cooked well and was delicious! We both had pie to finish the meal, and the price for eveything was very nice!

This was a wonderful experience. It reminded me of how my father used to cook the chicken fried steak and the mashed potatoes were real the roll was homemade and the gravy was just the best, exactly like my dad's. Kind of emotional experience for me as it brought back great memories . Our server. Was excellent. Tip split the chicken fried mark. It is huge. Also try the onion rings. Yummy!

i have eaten here for a very long time and I have never been disappointed. The food has always been great and the Lemon Meringue Pie is to die for! I can't say enough! Bob P.

What a Classic Cafe... I made a special point to visit on our car trip to San Antonio. After viewing Guy from Drive Ins, Diners and Dives, I had to have the Chicken Fried Steak and I was not disappointed. It brought back memories of my high school years from the 60's in San Antonio. Not fancy, but good eating and plenty of food at reasonable prices.

An old staple in SA....just solid and tasty food that will please anyone who wants BBQ and related stuff. Next time we are in SA, we'll be back.

This will be a short review since my app has crashed 4 times. The chicken-fried steak was to die for along with the cream gravy it was sitting on. The mashed potatoes were real and lumpy just like I make them. Having the gravy to accompany the potatoes was another treat I got the fried pickles and they beat any fried pickle that I've had in recent memory. The breading stayed on yet they were still tart. In the mail I had the custard pie which was lightly spiced The salad was okay, it's nothing to write home about but the rest of the meal dwarfed the salad.

This old time restaurant serves homemade comfort food. The sandwiches and onion rings are delicious. They are well known for their pies. There are new owners so there may be changes coming.

This is for a recent Sunday. I was part of a party of 9 people, visiting the cafe immediately after church, about 12:30 p.m., for the first time. First thing, we were told 45 minutes for a table. When I said 'goodbye', suddenly a table came available. It was a table more suited for 6 with 9 chairs around it. VERY crowded, loud dining room, with a live singer less than 10 feet from our table. Normally, I like live music, but it needs to be in a setting suitable for this. The singer was literally next to the nearest table, and we were two tables away. His singing style and music overrode our conversation. Then, things got worse. The waitress, while friendly, was obviously overwhelmed. Very slow to take drink orders. Even slower to take food order. Food took forever to arrive, and we had a VERY CLEAR view of the open kitchen, which also seemed to be very overwhelmed. While we were sitting in this loud, crammed dining room, I noticed the nearby private dining room, called "Denise's Room," was completely empty. Having a choice of 'loud or quiet' would have been a nice choice. The salads were embarrassing; chopped lettuce, a few (VERY few) shredded carrots, no tomatoes, cucumbers or other added ingredients, in a salad bowl that reminded me of my mom's kitchen, circa 1960. When the entrees arrived, the wait staff had no idea who got which dish, so they just stood at the head of the table and called out each plate, with each person in my party raising their hand.....over the live singer, of course. The entree was good...a classic chicken-fried steak, but served in a very odd style. Chicken-fried steak is a Texas staple, and one I have enjoyed for decades. But I have NEVER had it served with the steak on top of the gravy instead of the other way around. Nothing wrong with it, just odd. Leaving was also odd. You pay up front, with a very noticeable sign that says "WE SPLIT NO CHECKS AT THE REGISTER." In other words, check your bill at the table to make sure your wait staff got it right. Oh, one last little surprise...my $11.69 steak suddenly became more than $14 at the register....it seems my bacon bits and cheese for my baked potato were 'extra'....a little item that would have been nice to have seen the upcharge noted on the menu. BOTTOM LINE: If you are a local, you already know where to get better service for about the same quality food. If you are an out-of-towner, there are better places to get the 'Texas Experience.'

Tip Top Café is an average American Restaurant. The main problem I have with this place is that it's so small. The tables are crammed in the restaurant, right next to each other. Even with all that seating, there is still a wait. The servers were courteous. I have had better chicken fried steak elsewhere. It was good but, definitely not the best in Texas or even San Antonio. To me the best chicken fried steak in Texas is in Bandera, the O.S.T. restaurant. Charlie's in Devine has better for their Friday special. In San Antonio Charlie's restaurant on Broadway near the zoo and Lulu's Jailhouse Cafe have better chicken fried steak. In D'Hanis Cowboys has better. There are others, but I don't have time to list them all. The Tip Café chicken fried steak plate come with a salad which they put on the plate unless you request otherwise. This creates a nice soggy salad and a leafy gravy. #494 is about the right ranking for them.

Best onion rings,no doubt.Just dont have same good cooks.Fried chicken so dry,extra small chicken pieces,over crusted.SO dry I almost choked on it.IT'S terrible.Salad was soggy.The cook they had,surely retired.HE made fried chicken off the CHARTS !!!Golden brown and JUICY,Large chicken pieces.NEVER will I buy it again.AM a cook.

Anybody who visits Tip Top Cafe on Fredericksburg will attest to the fact that it is just plain down-home good food. Whether you order menu standards or have a daily special, the food is tastes like home cooking. Don't forget to have a piece of fresh, housemade pie for dessert.

I drove into town to this restaurant because I had been wanting to try their food. I ordered the chicken fried steak which was heavily breaded and so large that it covered the plate. Not too much flavor to the breading or to the white gravy which was underneath the steak. There was a choice of sides but apparently only one rather than two as in similar restaurants. A side salad came with the order but the house French dressing had a non-specific flavor. The mashed potatoes were very creamy and OK. This place is known for their luscious pies and the coconut meringue I ordered did not disappoint. It had an enormous wedge on top of pretty good coconut custard filling. The dining room is small and contains as many booths, tables and chairs as can fit into it. The decor did not appear to have been updated since the place opened in 1938, with drab brown walls and dingy ceiling. The friendly and efficient servers made up for any lack of atmosphere. I believe the daughter of the original owners has retired and the future of this place might be uncertain, whether or not to update, improve and move into the future or simply close down. Still, going to eat here is a chance to absorb some of the authentic atmosphere of old-time San Antonio.

We chose Tip Top based on my children’s desire to try restaurants featured on Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives. The food was good and reminded my husband and I of restaurants we ate at as kids. My husband had the chicken fried steak and thought it was the most tender he had ever eaten. My kids all had the bacon cheeseburgers which were delicious and I had the chicken fingers. The onion rings and the chocolate icebox was a highlight! Service was excellent and friendly.

The food was a great value - huge portions and very well prepared . We were lucky on our first visit and managed to get a piece of coconut meringue pie...to die for!! I would have preferred a little more seasoning to my food, but I can understand the less is better concept. Beware...though it doesn't bother me at all, this is an old-fashioned diner and is frill-free and older...if you can look past that, you will have a fantastic meal.

Had a business meal with about 12 of us took a little time to get the takle but was the wait. We all had the chicken fry steak.. But my lovely dau. Had a nice salad.. Just the best. The service was excellent. The Atmosphere was the way a place like this should be and every one was experienced.

What can i say about this place that hasn't been said before. Its an institution in San Antonio restaurants. Great home cooked meals and awesome pies. Step back in time and enjoy. Hint: Get there just before they open at 11am or be prepared to wait a while. Such a pleasant place to eat.

I love gravy. I love fried food. I love friendly waitresses. This place is three for three!!! Yes, this place was reviewed on Diners Driveins and Dives. And yes, the chicken fried steak is outstanding. But wait, have you tried the fried pickles with jalapeño ranch dressing? I did and loved it. So order the fried pickles, chicken fried steak with extra gravy and a slice of cherry pie a la mode...then thank me after your food coma. It’s a lot of food, so bring a friend.

Used to go there as a kid. Decided to take my kids and grandkids there for dinner. I have been saying how good it was . I COULDN'T HAVE BEEN MORE WRONG!!! City famous for their CFS , IT WAS HORRIBLE . left the restraint crying, my mother would have been so disappointed !!! DONT WASTE YOUR TIME AND MONEY !!! Go to DENNYS INSTEAD !!!

My 2 business colleagues and I went to the Tip Top today at lunchtime. One had the chicken fried steak- this is their signature dish. Another colleague ordered the cheeseburger while I had the club sandwich. Even as we sat down we were asked for our drink order - these was maintained full throughout our time there. We enjoyed the rapid service and the homeliness of the place. Not outstanding decor but outstanding meal is what we found. None of us were disappointed and the price was in keeping with the meal ordered.I absolutely love coming here because they do not disappoint me! I recommend it highly for locals and tourists both!

Our son told us that this was a great place to eat and that it had been on Food Network. We had the onion rings as an appetizer and chicken fried steak. The portions are huge and everything delicious. The service was also excellent.

On a recent trip to San Antonio I had the pleasure of dining at one of the cities restaurant landmarks. Tip Top Cafe which has been in business since 1940. The exterior is styled in art decco and has retained is exterior all these years. This is were the locals go to have old fashion home cooking. The prices are inexpensive to moderate. The food is delicious and the portions are large! There's a good selection of entrees and deserts to choose from. The home style pies will put a smile on your face. This is a no frills kind of place with charm. The dining area is small, but there's counter space which adds to the ambience. The service is very good with some of the dedicated staff who's been there since the late 60's. Filled with regulars who've been dining here for years the place is always crowded usually with a line out the door. I believe this place was featured on the Food Network. Go hungry!

I grew up in Texas and have had maybe 10,000 Chicken Fried steaks. This does not make me an expert. But I know what I like - and I didn't like theirs. The breading was twice as large as the steak inside (how do they do that?). The center of the steak was about a inch thick...not good Chicken Fried Steak rules - they are suppose to be thin - pounded flat, battered then fried. The pounding tenderizes them - 1-inch thick is tough as an old shoe. Pie -they only had a few slices left when we asked - but I was worn out from chewing and chewing and chewing the steak. Pass on this one

While trying to figure out where to eat between doctor appointments in San Antonio, my wife suggested we try the Tip Top café. This was my introductory visit. The Tip Top is located inside Loop 410 in a blue collar section of San Antonio. It is a well kept place on the outside with sufficient parking. The restaurant itself is unremarkable in that it has no ferns or other extraneous crap that one finds in more trendy places. Very 60's and very comfortable. The specialty is the chicken fried steak which is available on a plate or on a sandwich. Since the sandwich size is about 1/2 the size of the plate size, I ordered that. I had seen the regular plate size on some tables as we were going to our table and could see that the portions were gigantic. You can't see the plate. It's covered by the CFS. When I got my sandwich, I had to laugh. The smaller CFS for a sandwich hung out 2 or 3 inches on either side of the bun. When I bit into the sandwich, I could see why CFS is their specialty. It was delicious. The other signature item is the onion rings. Fresh cut and fried with a simple batter, they were big, hot, and sweet. No factory prepared mush here. The waitress was pleasant and accommodating and it seemed that they were all that way. The Tip Top is about 45 miles from our home, but when we are in that area, we will be back.

We just don't get over to this part of town as much as we used to. And as a result we go without eating at the Tip Top for very long periods. The place doesn't seem to change or age at all, however. If you happened to be blind and had been a regular here long ago, you would have absolutely no trouble visiting today and finding your way around as absolutely nothing has changed since I first came here in the '70's. Well, maybe the advent of a flat screen TV over the counter. The onion rings are still hand made and a delicious appetizer as a half order for two, or get the full order for a larger group to share. The flagship entree is still the chicken fried steak. And don't forget to order it with mashed potatoes and cream gravy . . . fries are O.K. with this, but just not the level of comfort food that mash taters and gravy achieves. Actually another change is that the chicken fried used to arrive as a couple of gnarly, catch-the-wave curly looking battered and fried meat pieces with a bit of gristle every once in a while. What we had today was a nice flat version of tender steak that was served on a layer of gravy and took up 3/4 or more of the plate. The meat to batter ratio was very high and the little salad served before the meal made this a damn near perfect comfort meal. The big yeast rolls would have been great served fresh and hot. Alas, they were neither. Only half the portion of steak consumed and the rest went home for another round on a following day. Plenty good service with two or three waitresses taking care of the ordering, the drink refills and the food service. No room for a slice of homemade pie which is a must do if you can somehow find the room. Paid the bill with a smile and a "thank you honey" from the cashier! This was a meal served up with a room full of of nostalgia, a big helping of old-time down-home flavor and topped off with a dash of southern hospitality! Just gotta make it back here more often!

Family went to TipTop Cafe for National Chicken Fried Steak Day & definitely wasn’t disappointed. The Chicken Fried Steak was huge encompassing the entire plate atop creamed gravy (the entire steak was deliciously tender having no gristle with satisfying thick crispy crust unlike no others make) also had the mashed potato, house salad & their famous homemade 1/2 order onion rings & their world famous “mile high coconut cream pie” all being awesomely delicious not being able to finish the entire meal. Highly recommend TipTip Cafe as its been a local fixture in San Antonio for years.

Always a great place to eat! Lots of choices in meals that "Mom wold make". Second time I've eaten there, would do it again!

The Tip Top was on Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives. It has great food, a folksy staff, and long line if you get there at rush hour. The hot pork was great. Save room for the home made pies of all flavors. They are divine.

Definitely a mom and pop shop. Giant portions. Good meal for what you pay. Save room for dessert. The pies are amazing. Wow!

After watching this restaurant on TV I thought it must be great because the host made it sound amazing. I ordered the chicken fried steak, onion rings, tacos, and burger. The fried steak was lacking in flavor but significant in size. The fries and onion rings went well. The tacos don't bother. Over seasoned with cumin and under stuffed. Taco bell has one up on them. The burgers looked good. I didn't eat it but my son seemed to like it. The rest is left to service which we received well. Sorry to say but never again.

Party member is very sensitive to MSG. So we always ask. Assured that MSG wasn't used. Wrong! Very serious negative experience for our guest to the chicken fried steak/gravy. Liver & onions also very greasy. Needed to be dried before eating! Server was sympathetic but lady at register couldn't care less.

Tip Top has been around 80+ years and this not by accident! This small diner is a San Antonio favorite. The food, prices and service are incredible. This is not the place to visit if you are watching your calories. You can’t order anything wrong here. The most popular dishes here are the onion rings, chicken friend steak (gravy served under the steak), hamburger, and enchiladas. The pork chops and shrimp are also quite good. We recently tried the short ribs and they were delicious. You are given good sized portions here so you will probably have lunch for the next day. As if all this wasn’t enough, there are homemade pies and cakes prepared daily. Enjoy!

The waiter was in a hurry the whole time he waited on our table. He was one of several servers and didn’t appear to have more than 3-4 tables so I’m not sure why he acted this way. The restaurant is not very big so it was strange. It was attentive but if we needed something it was hard to tell him as he passed by so quickly and asked if we needed anything on the run. The food was good for those items that were homemade. The other items like mashed potatoes didn’t have any flavor. They were basically translucent, so either too much mixing or not real potatoes. The salad was basic with just lettuce and croutons. Unfortunately it was overdressed so I couldn’t eat it all or should I say drink it all.

We have been dining here for many years and it is still the same, good service and food. They recently started taking credit cards, which is something new. We try to come here when we are in San Antonio and have our favorites, onion rings and chicken fried steak. Most all of the entries are very good. Just old school diner cooking. Do not miss this when in San Antonio if you are looking for a good basic meal.

A very nice local Diner. Good food reasonable prices. Good service. Would definitely return again. A local Icon among San Antonio diners.

My Husband and I went here for lunch on July 30. First of all it was very warm in there. Now I know it is July in San Antonio so I cut them some slack. Ten minutes later someone finally came over to take our drink order. When we ordered our food my Husba d got chicken fried steak and I got the open roast beef sandwich. They came with salads. It took over forty .minutes just to get our salads. We final had to ask another waitress about our salads. Meantime I had to go to bathroom a d was told they were outside behind building! Another 45 no utes we finally got our food. My roast beef was so old and tough, I could not cut it. I sawed it. The mashed potatoes and gravy were cold. My husband said chicken fried steak was good. Then we had to get another waitress to call our waitress over to take my meal off ticket. Never apologised a d when I paid nobody asked how meal was. I live in San Antonio io and will never go back.

The food is really overratted. The lil short hispanic waiter was TERRIBLE. The dude seemed like he was very irritated with everyone he had to serve. A lady with her disabled Brother asked for a to go Container. She accidently stood up and dropped her food all over the floor. The LIL Dude gave the worst look ever. He stomped away in a very aggressive manner. The lil dude put the white broken container in the trash all pissed off. This Waiter has no business working with the general public. DUDE YOU NEED TO BE SEEN BY A Psychatrist.... NO TIP FOR YOU, BUDDY!

Off the beaten path, we were looking for something different than the chain food eateries. Got to TT around 1245PM on a weekday and went right to a booth. Yeah, it was crowded with the local lunchtime folks but almost as we sat down our server was there. We ordered and within 20 minutes, our meal was on the table. Very quick service for a small and crowded serving time. I had the lunch special: grilled fidsh, limas and the corn casserole. Everything was excellent, but the corn casserole was outstanding! A must eat! It worth a stop, off the beaten path and excellent fare.

Good comfort food in San Antonio. I had the cheeseburger, which was juicy and delicious and their famous onion rings. My wife had the pork cops and fries. Fantastic lemon cheese pie. Very good service from Anita. Bring cash for your meal. Very old neighborhood cafe.

There are so many wonderful things to choose from her, but for lunch the pimento cheese sandwiches are super. The desserts are also great. They were out of the super meringue pies for our late lunch, but the bread pudding was delicious.

I ate here with a friend last week, on a Friday "fish" day. We both had grilled tilipia, which was pretty good. However, the salad was swimming in the dressing and the side dish was soon to be forgotten. The rolls were burned. After dinner, I had to go outside to go the ladies room....it was like a hot box, because it had no air conditioning. Our waitress was nice but it will be a very long time before I go back, if ever.

We visited here for a late afternoon meal. I ordered the chicken fried steak and when they brought it out it covered almost the entire plate. I couldn't eat it all. And the price was unbelievably low. It is easy to see how this place has been in business since 1938. We tried the onion rings too - they were lightly battered and just right.

We visited Tip Top Cafe on Saturday evening, July 2nd. The restaurant came recommended by a friend of ours, who suggested their pies and the Chicken Fried Steak. There was a short wait when we first arrived, approximately 15-20 minutes maybe. When we were seated, our waitress (Tonia) immediately came to our table to take our drink order. I saw a plate of the onion rings brought to a table that was near to ours and they looked fantastic!! Our kids wanted the fried pickles, so I asked Tonia if I could just order the onion rings with my meal to which she said "yes". Tonia took our order which my wife placed ordered the chicken fried chicken, we ordered our kids (2) a Frito Pie to split, and I ordered the chicken fried chicken as well. My wife and I's order came with a salad and a side. At that point, I asked Tonia if I could get a side of onion rings to which she said "no". I had to order them as a separate appetizer item which I wasn't too happy about. We received our pickles which was served with a side of ranch. The pickles were hot and crispy, fresh out of the fryer, and the accompanying ranch dressing was very good. I received my onion rings shortly thereafter, which were crisp and flakey, hot out of the fryer. I felt they were bland so I added salt, which really had no affect on the taste. Tonia brought us our salads which were simple. lettuce and a couple of carrot strings maybe, and that was it. Same ranch dressing (my choice) that came with the pickles came with the salad. Tonia came back a while after we placed our initial order to tell us that they were out of chicken fried chicken. So, my wife ordered the chicken fried steak and I opted for the roast beef and gravy on toast. The kids frito pie came out and was pretty good!! My plate came out I was very excited to try it because it looked good on the menu; however, it was a different story when it arrived at our table. It was maybe one degree warmer than "luke warm" so I was very disappointed. I tried a piece of my wife's chicken fried steak which I thought was tough, but she enjoyed it. In my opinion, our kids frito pie was the best tasting entree at our table. We didn't have a chance to try any of their pies because they were completely out. I guess a good them for them, but not so great for the customer. Definitely one of the places that I can say I've been there, didn't buy a t-shirt, and won't be back.

Do not go to the Tip Top Cafe on Nacgdoches Rd. We had to get our own menus & waited 15 minutes before a waitress even acknowledged our presents. Then waited another 10 minutes before she came to wait on us. We were the lucky ones as there were people who were seated before us that were just getting their food as we were leaving. We ordered 3 Chicken Fried Steaks & a Club Sandwich. They brought 2 chicken fried steaks & the club sandwich then asked my wife if she had ordered anything. 8 minutes later they brought her chicken fried steak which had so much gravy that the steak was soggy & they had run out of mashed potatoes, so it was just a chicken fried steak. When I went to pay the check, the cash register froze & the cashier wanted to write my credit card number on a price of paper. I told her I'd get cash as I would not let her copy my credit card number, Do Not Eat Here!!!!!

Honestly fried food is their specialty and they do it very well. The chicken fried steak is very good...not the best I've ever had but pretty close to it. The onion rings do need salt but they are delicious. The fried okra was nothing special. The fried chicken did not disappoint. I will say that the mashed potatoes did not taste "real" and that was disappointing as I was there several years ago and I did not have this complaint. They were out o pie and I don't know what time of day you have to get there to get pie. We were there at 5:30 pm so I have no clue. The ice tea was great. Service for a large table of 18 was super and done by one waitress. I will always go back here when I come to San Antonio. Keep your eyes open because you might miss it when you pass by. Very unassuming building sitting slightly off the street!

When my siblings and cousins met here for lunch, I have to say I was not impressed from the outside. As soon as we went inside, the atmosphere was friendly, they were set up for us. I had catfish and it was really good. Everyone was happy with there food, the service was quick and happily given Nice place without annoying music that cuts down on conversation. Bathrooms are out side so be prepared.

The outside of the restaurant doesn't do it justice! The atmosphere is great. Very retro and relaxed. We had a nice waiter. I ordered the chicken tenders and fries plate, and boy it was stacked high with food! I also ordered their famous onion rings, which of course, were amazing. Not the healthiest restaurant around, but it sure was good!

Saw this on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. Voted best chicken fried steak in San Antonio. I would agree! Breaking is very light and crispy; meat is tender; good gravy. Service was very fast and friendly!

My family and I found this restaurant on diners drive ins and dives website. Well that is the only thing they have going good for them. My chicken fried steak was burnt and dry they got our drinks wrong three times. The cornbread was burnt.The table, floor, and bathrooms were filthy. I would not recommend this place to anyone it's a wast of money.

I haven't been to Tip Top Cafe I'm over 10 years but I saw this jewel driving down the street the other day & I decided to stop by . As soon as I walked in the door I was greeted by several of the staff members. Everyone is so friendly. Mindy was my server & she was awesome !! I had half an order of onion rings as an appetizer. They were as good as I remember. For the main course I had fried chicken (dark meat ), French fries & a small salad . It was all delicious. I'll definitely be back

Got there right at 11:00, which is opening time. The door was locked. Rattled the door at 5 min after and they unlocked it. Sat at the counter. Had the Tues special chopped sirloin w/ queso, spinish and green bean cassarole. Tea and cornbread very good. The chopped steak was well done. Next time I will request medium. I got the Watergate salad. It is pistachio based, with pecans, coconut, marshmallows, and probably more. It is green gooey, and tasty. The spinish is excellent. No home made pie this trip.

Went to Tip Top yesterday with my daughter and we both ordered the chicken fried steak. Very, very disappointed, the chicken fried steak literally had no steak but all breading. It was a year ago that we had the chicken fried steak and it was delicious. Very sad. I probably won’t be back.

I usually get the hamburger. It is delicious. This time I also ordered the lemon meringue pie. Oh my. It was superb. The only thing wrong with this meal was the waitress. She was not so good. That is why the rating is not excellent.

Started out will onion rings . I ordered chicken fried steak , husband ordered seafood platter . The cornbread muffins were a bit dry . Other than that the food was good . Will get the rolls next time instead of cornbread . They looked really good .

I hadn't been to the Tip Top in 30 years and thought I'd give it a go. I was a waitress in college and look for cleanliness. My husband and I were seated in a booth by the curtains that were greasy and filthy, probably the originals from the 60's. Hey, I can appreciate tradition, but in a restaurant, it comes second to 'clean'. The window sills had cobwebs and dead bugs on them. The dinner was OK. The fried chicken was over cooked. The chocolate pie looked good, with mile high meringue; however, it was soggy, tasteless and no doubt made when the restaurant opened 80 years ago. The place need a thorough cleaning, but tradition is everything here. I'll visit in another 30 years. By that time, the curtains will have disintegrated.

This spot used to really be known for their chicken fried steak. Well, the quality of the chicken fried steak has gone down tremendously. The steak has been beaten, so thin to make it bigger .when you get your food, you cannot even find the meat. Definitely the worst chicken fried steak they have ever served, the onion rings are still on point they are very good crispy and tasty but stay away from the chicken fried steak unless you'd like to eat just fried crust. The gravy has also changed. It's not good like it used to be..

Originally went to the Tip top after Guy Fiero rated the cafe and was so happy with the restaurant that we keep going back. It is small and limited parking, but the food is excellent Americana, especially the onion rings and burgees. And the handmade pie are a dream. The waitstaff is extremely friendly and couteous. We will keep going back whennever in San Antonio.

Stopped in for Father's Day breakfast on our Big 2015 Road Trip. Friends had recommended the place for its authentic neon, old-time ambiance, and very good food. We've eaten in hundreds of cafes and diners from coast to coast, but the food here was up with the best. And the excellent slices of meringue pie are among the biggest in the entire country. Definitely recommend it, even if you might have to wait a bit for a table.

We were looking forward to a great chicken fried steak. What we got was so Bland and tasteless that we didn't eat most of it. The accompanying french fries or frozen overcooked and hard. The service was okay and everyone was friendly enough. The food looked good when it was served. It was hot and fresh. But it just had no taste at all. We added salt salt and pepper and that helped some but I certainly would not recommend it to anyone, at least not the chicken fried steak.

It used to be a great place to eat, last couple of times I've gone; they have changed there chicken fried steak recipe or something. It was more bland and the service has always been mediocre at best. But again, the last couple of times; they are at a new low. I've been eating there for 20 years and the women that work there seem entitled or cocky, consequently, the service has never been great. They have never been very nice; but they have hit an all time low IMHO.

The New location on Nacogdoches has the same food, equal in quality and taste, very consistent. The noise level inside is MUCH louder. Conversation requires talking loudly. The pie is also equal to the Fredericksburg location. I recognize some faces that used to be at the Fredericksburg location.

I'm a local who is wondering what the hype is about this place. Old (and I mean OLD) decaying deer heads on the walls are covered in cobwebs, along with the other cacophony of junk hanging on every other square inch. Tables are crowded together, but that element actually feels cozy. The ladies room is an addition, not even climate controlled/air conditioned, which is very strange for San Antonio with over one hundred 90-degree days/year, & it's located "out back"---you must exit thru the diner's 2 back doors, then walk across blacktop to access it. Nasty. The food was just okay, not worth the yucky feel of this used-to-be-quaint diner that is popular but not aging well...at all.

Just mediocre bland food at room temp. Lousy service. Way over priced. Never going back. Mashed potatoes, cold. Rusty salad. Too expensive for seriously bad food.

We stopped by for lunch and the catfish was on special so I ordered the catfish and my husband had the Chicken Fried Steak which was outstanding. The minute we sat down we were asked for our drink order and served our silverware and napkin. The young man kept our tea glass full and it was not long before our food arrived. We arrived at 12:30 and was on our way home at 1:30 and was not rushed at all although every table was full. I cheated and brought home a piece of Chocolate Merg Pie which is incredibly good.

Olde tyme atmosphere cafe of booths and tables. Large portions of chicken fried steak, hamburger steak. Mostly fried foods on the menu. Onion rings were fantastic. The menu online is outdated as far as items not available and prices. They no longer serve fried oysters. prices are greater on site, but still very reasonable. No beer or wine. Service was very friendly and prompt. Juke box with terminals at the booths along the wall were great.

I really like this place for its never changing ambiance and comfortable cafe feel. And the chicken fried steaks and onion rings?, Well, this place already has a city-wide choir singing their praises since the 1940s. I have strayed a number of times from my usual to try their chicken tenders. fried shrimp, burger, fried chicken,and lately, the Mexican food. I am sorry to say that Mexican food is just not a dish I will ever re-order. The crispy taco is decent, but the compliments stop there. Like the rest of the menu items I have tried, it's not that anything is bad, it's just that I expected the same level of home-made flavor and goodness that I have come to appreciate in the o-rings and chicken fried and so not find it So bring me a CF steak when I visit and some o-rings on the side and I will forever be a happy camper at Tip Top.

I have to start by telling you I first went to Tip Top Cafe in 1980 on a visit to San Antonio. I lived in San Antonio twice (last time 1988) and any trip back has to include a visit to Tip Top Cafe. This is definitely not fancy but it has been around since 1938 and they know a thing or two about cooking. I had the chance to get to San Antonio last week to golf with old Air Force buddies and we were at the Tip Top within 2 hours of landing. They have a typical cafe menu but the best seller is their chicken fried steak. It is large, breaded very nicely, and served with the gravy on the bottom. I suggest you start with the onion rings as an appetizer as they are some of the best you will ever have. The portion sizes are large but believe me so good you will be able to finish. Take a glance at their pie saver as they usually have chocolate, banana, and lemon cream pies. Excellent and perhaps best shared with your party. This is a family owned business and the staff are very experienced and friendly. They are usually quite busy so expect to have to wait if you arrive during prime lunch or dinner hours.

We have been dining with Tip Top for many years, and the food and the service only improve with time. We dined there for lunch on 4/17/2017 and again left the restaurant so full and happy we could hardly move. Their new lunch offerings are very good. You will see us there many times again.

Had heard about the Tip Top for years. This is my first time to eat there. It was about 11:15 on a Tuesday. No wait at all. Sat at the counter as I was a party of one. Everybody was friendly and conversational. That covers both staff and other customers. I had a pork chop, okra, carrots, and mashed potatoes. (The lunch comes with two, but I added an extra) I learned that the pork chop takes a little longer than other meat choices. The vegetables were magnificent. The okra was as tasty and tender as I have ever eaten. The pork chop also excellent. If you are looking for something smaller than the chicken fried steak, the pork chop is a good choice. The gravy gets special mention. The tea was also excellent and I never ran low. The service was also excellent. No school kids on the wait staff here. Everybody was experienced. As a manager for many years, it is easy to spot an operation that is well managed. This one is. Normally I do not care a flip about the "atmosphere". Good food and service is what matters to me. Atmosphere is usually a bunch of expensive fluff as far as I am concerned. I have to say that the atmosphere here is excellent. The place has a comfortable feel. I was told it had been here 80 years and was operated by the 3rd generation of the same family. I can say somebody cares about the way the place looks, it is well maintained, clean, and has top notch food. ( remember what I said about well managed ) Those qualities are never an accident. After the 3rd vegetable, I skipped the pie. Several kinds including some icebox pies with 6" of meringue. The pecan looked interesting as the filling under the pecans was light in color. I would have liked to try the buttermilk or cherry. The waitresses favorite was the banana meringue. The coconut was tempting too, toasted coconut on top, no meringue. They do take debit cards now, however it did not work that day. I will be back.

Ambiance is quaint but the restaurant was built in 1923 ! Food all tasted fantastic & the service was excellent. Not in the best part of town, but the parking lot was full and restaurant looked good so we stopped for lunch & were not disappointed. Low prices and great food, I highly recommend.

Since when? I think 1930 something! Now with the third generation in charge it doesn't miss a beat and still cooks up the most and the best onion rings and pies in San Antone. This is the original Mom and Pop's style Diner with really good high quality food. Here, everyone seems to know each other and the waitresses feel like family. Even though i usually visit solo, and it's not a big place, often with a small line, there is never a rush or push to turn over tables. I love it for the service! Waitresses hustle to get their city-wide famous chicken-fried steaks out HOT and satisfying and yes, the fried chicken livers are awesome! It just makes a big difference that in utilizing a large staff of waitresses and even more bus-boys that things go swimmingly without feeling rushed and retaining that "family" magic. (And for real magic try the T-bone Steak, the best cut piece of meat anywhere around here for sure). Oh, and say hello to the redheaded waitress with the hearty laugh, Roxeanne, for me, Paul; she brings the song to life. I love the TipTop and wish it another 100 years or so.

Everyone raves about Tip Top. Have only eaten there 3 times and every time I say I am not going back. I did not care for anything that I have gotten there. Chicken fried steak was very average as well as the potatoes and gravy. One friend had the pull pork and said it was good.

After a 30 year absence, we gave the Tip Top a go last Friday, September 18. We will not go back. The food is average is best. Don't expect more. The potato salad was overloaded with mustard to the point where it was not edible. That is right, not edible. When we asked for a glass of water to go, the waitress said we do not have any. She offered a cup of water in a gravy cup. No kidding, a gravy cup. Don't waist your time here.

I’ve not been to Tip Top in years. It’s still lovely and friendly and the food is really really good! Great burgers, fresh ingredients, great fresh brewed tea, and always super friendly service!

If your looking for good old Texas grub with great service then this is the place. The onion rings are amazing and the country fried steak was just as good if not better. The service is fantastic and quick. The picture in the app is not the right one for this location as this one is older than I am. Again great place to stop and have a bit at a great price.

Over the years we had heard about the chicken fried steak at this place so we thought we would give it a try. The waitress was really nice and provided good attentive service, but the food was substandard at best, and took a long time took arrive. In San Antonio when you spend 15 bucks at lunch, you expect some really good quality which this was not. If you are a fan of a huge plate of breading and gravy, this is your place... seriously, the meat was maybe 1/8" thick, and with no flavor, deep fried to a golden brown in cheap lard. It covers and even overlaps the plate, but again, 90% breading and gravy, which are neither memorable. We also tried a club sandwich which had nasty tasting turkey and no bacon. Edible but soo many better options around town.. I did see some other plates being delivered close to us that looked good, such as chicken tenders and hamburgers. The onion rings also looked good, but again, I'm worried they would still have that "cheap" lard fryer grease taste. The owners must be banking it with the volume they do and the prices they get for such low cost/quality junk..

The service here was fine, not outstanding but good enough that the server deserved a tip. The portions of chicken fried steak and hamburger steak are huge. You can easily split each meal between two people. I was not impressed with the chocolate pie but I didn't order a dessert. Others at my table did. Not the best meal we had during our week in San Antonio.

The food wasn’t good at all. The award winning onion rings tasted like fish, so I guess they use the same oil for everything. Used to be really good.

Great little diner, old time decor, good food and service. The menu is a classic mixture, lots of choices, pie case is yummy and prices are reasonable. The parking lot is small, try it at non peak times or you might have to wait for a table too.

Great place, we went on a Sunday afternoon. No lines. The staff is incredibly attentive and the food is really to die for. They are known for their chix fried steak, so that's what I had... Wasn't disappointed. I have heard that the meatloaf was great too (that wasn't an option that day). I have heard the line goes around the bldg during lunchtime, so beware. Sunday's are a perfect time to go. Very clean and I felt like I just went back into time in the 70s. I would eat there all the time if I lived closer!!

The truth and nothing but the truth. I have been in San Antonio since 1971. My folks and I used to go to DeWeeses and the food was literally outstanding. Their Chicken Fried Steak was to die for. Did not go back for years and when I did, about 8 years ago, the food was mediocre. Bland. Tasteless. Veggies from a can feel ! Chalked that up to........me...bad day.....back to me. Did not go back until late July. Took my son and his fiancée telling them this was THE DeWeeses Tip Top Café. My son's go to is Chicken Fried Steak. He asked our waiter about the oysters and asked if he could just get the oysters, not the meal, because he had his meal on the tab already. Waiter said okay. His fiancee ordered the Seafood platter. The ordered onion rings too. I was not that hungry so I just got sweet tea. Well, the sweet tea was good ! The onion rings were okay - too much grease which cut their crunchiness. The Chicken Fried Steak and Seafood platters were just downright tasteless. My son LOVES CFS and he couldn't eat it. I tried the steak, the taters and gravy and the green beans and limp-o-mania....spell Happy with a CR on the front minus the H and you have my review. The Seafood Platter lacked any pinache, much less freshness. To TOP IT OFF, the waiter brought the Oyster meal too....remember we did not order it....my son just asked if he could just get some oysters. We told the waiter we had not ordered an oyster plate and he left the table, not seeming to know what to do. Communication breakdown. When all was said and done, the bill came and for what I paid for that meal - the waiter did NOT take the Oysters off of the bill - so when I went up to the register, I told the lady manning it about the oysters...she talked to the waiter and said she could only "comp" a portion of the meal cost....paid about $5 for some "Happy" oysters. So there you have it. Another institution that used to be great that time and changing management and staff has brought to its knees. I WILL NEVER GO BACK. Folks, I don't like to give bad reviews....I don't think man of us do. We just try to be honest about our experiences and that's what I've done. Take it or leave it...I HOPE that if you go, your experience is a lot better than mine. On to the next culinary adventure....may it not be TOPPLED !

Came in on a Saturday and was seated quickly. We ordered a half order of Onion Rings for starters and our Chicken Fried Steak came with a salad so I was already almost full before the meal but I managed to finish my meal. The point is: come with an appetite. They have always had good portions and could not tell you how good the pies are since I'm usually stuffed by the end of the meal. For the longest time they were known as a cash only establishment but they now take credit/debit cards.

This is such a classic diner- cafe. The friendly service was excellent. The waitress welcomed you as if into her home. The meal was excellent. The chicken fried steak, rib-eye, and hamburger steak were all excellent. The homemade yeasty rolls were killer. They are the do not miss. The onion rings were also really good.

Well once again I am writing about the Tip Top Café in San Antonio, the original Tip Top, Took our daughter and her husband there about a week ago. They had never eaten there before. Once again I have to say the food and service was outstanding. I nearly always get fried chicken livers with mashed poatatos and gravy. Excellent! They each ordered the large chicken fried steak and had to take half of it home with them. I added a piece of cocoanut cream pie, out of this world. We all loved it

I like this place because it has a small town feel when you walk in, and their jalapeno bacon cheese burger is really good. The only problem about this burger is that it's small like a fat juicy sausage biscuit, but if you try it you will like it.

We decided to stop by Tip Top for the first time in years. We had the opportunity to sit at the counter which gave us a clear picture of where this restaurant it at age 75. The food sat for 10 minutes or more at the pickup window and was ignored by the waitresses. The tickets were not printing in the kitchen and orders were falling behind and had to be verbally relayed. Food that fell off the plate was picked up by bare hands and put back on the plate. My wife got her food and 10 minutes later I got mine. The mashed potatoes had no flavor nor did the fried green potatoes. My chicken fried steak was good and her Tilapia was edible. I love old places but this place is going down hill. Very disappointing and I hope they just had a bad night.

I saw this place on the Food Network. It truly lived up to the show! It has been open since the 40's and has juke boxes still inside that actually work! This place is a blast from the past. We asked a local what to order were the heart attack... Country Fried Steak. It comes with potatoes and a salad. The meal was big enough for two or three people. We got a slice of homemade apple crumb pie to go. We will be back! Thanks to Tommy our waiter.

Really good chicken fried steak and the onion rings are outstanding. Can't ask for more, is a little crowded though so expect to wait.

My husband and I wanted to visit a Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives restaurant while we were in San Antonio so we went to the Tip Top. We asked what was popular and were told the onion rings, chicken fried steak, pork, enchiladas, and fried chicken. We ordered the onion rings, a chicken fried steak, and the pork. The onion rings were plentiful and lacked seasoning, but they were OK. The chicken fried steak was huge, looked good, but again, it had no seasoning. The pork was dried out and barely edible. I left most of it on the plate. The mashed potatoes looked like they were instant and the cornbread was burnt. I didn't even bother tasting it, but my husband did and he didn't finish it. Everything, except the computers used for ordering by the wait staff, looked mid-century. Based on the food we ate, I was surprised by the crowd at 4 pm. I done foresee having any future craving to be a repeat customer.

this hapened to me, during a lunch service about, 11:20 or so, I noticed the good prices on the website, BIG MISTAKE. I was told by a server, the owners had lost control of the website to a former employee and so the listed prices were way off. Sanitary conditions sorely lacking from huge dust bunnies throuth ceiling vents, to ....your imagination can tell the story, if that is the condition of the front of the house, a nightmare may lay beyond doors to kitchen

We visited the Tip Top on a Saturday night. We went early 6pm, anticipating a big crowd. Although it wasn't too crowded when we arrived we had to wait for about 20 minutes since every booth and table is geared toward a party of four. We could have sat down immediately but we would have had to sit separately. This is a very old place. The building, the décor, the furniture, etc., is very "lived in." There's even a hint of old smell if you know what I mean. After we were seated it took about 10 minutes to get our drink orders. There were plenty of employees. Almost too many for this very small dining room. But we noticed that they were all huddled around a TV. They were watching the episode of DINERS, DRIVE-INS, AND DIVES that featured their establishment. Hmm? OK. We also had to ask for drink refills. I believe restaurants should anticipate refills. I won't go play-by-play so let's just move on. The salads are fresh and crisp. It's almost all iceberg lettuce. The onion rings are excellent. The chicken fried steak is huge but lacking in flavor. My brother got the fried chicken which he said was very good. All the sides were good. The pies, of course, were very good. It seems the pies are their feature item. If your a patient person and don't mind average service and small cramped seating arrangements. Which really gets interesting if the table next to you requires a high chair for an infant. This café is old style home cooking and fun to visit. But I would not recommend for parties of 5 or more. When we left the line to be seated was out the door into the parking lot. I don't get it? It must be nostalgia and the pies. I may go back if I'm in the area but I wouldn't drive across town again.

The original location is still good quality. Yes it has new owners and they have updated a few items, but all-in-all a great old style diner experience. Large portions of almost whatever is ordered, and always arrives hot and fresh.

This is supposed to be a top notch diner, Guy Feria did a review. My meal could have been better. I got the Chicken Fried chicken, it was dry, the crust was unevenly around the chicken causing big chunks of breading, the mashed potatoes were cold. My mom got the beef short ribs, hers was great! I'd be willingly to try the place again but not the same meal. The atmosphere was good, they keep pretty busy, the pies looked great.

We were in S.A. For the weekend and looked up classic San Antonio restaurants. The Tip Top was among them. The half order of rings was enough for 3. I had the rib eye. For almost being a "road house" the steak was very good. Cooked just medium... The waitress was attentive without being overbearing and the tea was good old fashioned Texas unsweetened...awesome since the fad is sweet tea has ruined many a good restaurant drink. Overall..excellent!! Not pretentious just decent food. Try it!

Wonderful little cafe to sit and relax. Try the onion rings, I suggest a half order for two as it would take about 5 people to eat a full order. Also the Lemon pie....AMAZING.

everything is fried (except the salad). ordered onion rings to begin with, and they were lightly fried and delicious. ordered chicken fried chicken - the chicken breast seemed to be missing, as there was so much breading. same for my daughter's catfish - a lot of breading. salad comes with that, and the dressing was fantastic. dinners came with several sides, which were all okay. but the absolute best cornbread i have ever had was served at this restaurant. amazing!! and our server, kevin, was so very good, and very friendly. he was excellent.

Dewese's Tip Top Cafe has been around since 1938. Great comfort food. Plus they have great daily specials. It has great character. Look at the picture of the Chicken Fried Steak. Huge plus it's good. Have to check this place out next time you are in San Antonio.

had a gathering today, never been there before, as soon as i walked in you can smell how old this place is, like old wood smell, it has that old 1960's feeling AC and fans are used too cool place down, food was not all that, will never go there again, maybe the regulars go there, but not me , I'm no young buck myself but i would like to go to a nice looking place for lunch or dinner, this doesn't do it for me, its all hype from food network.

Lunch on a weekday. Ordered Grilled Tilapia. Tilapia very lightly breaded and very good. Greenbean casarole good. Cornbread a bit dry. Tea very good. Got pie to go.

Excellent diner experience. Tip Top has received numerous accolades for their onion rings and Chicken Fried Steak. Naturally we tried both. We ordered a half order of onion rings and they were exceptional, well battered, large, sweet and crunchy. A half order was plenty for the two of us. The Chicken Fried Steak is also large, well battered, crunchy crust and tender meat. The gravy is nicely seasoned, flavorful and served under the steak which ensures the crispness of the steak. We finished with slices of pie,the merengue was piled high and very tasty. Service was excellent. The atmosphere is old diner and could use some brightening but still comfortable.

Had the chicken fried chicken and the coating on the chicken was so thick that there was hardly any chicken once you got to it. Service sucked. Waitress were more involved doing standing around than waiting on customers.

An institution in San Antonio that fries nearly everything. Don't worry about the fat intake - order onion rings for the table and everyone should get the gigantic chicken fried steak. Their meringue pies set a new world record for height. The coconut custard under the meringue was nothing great, but the meringue made up for it. You will leave here stuffed and will need to skip a meal to work off the calories, but you will enjoy it and talk about it for a while.

My husband had the Beef dinner and I had the Chicken fried chicken. Both were good but not necessarily the best meals we ever had. However, the onion rings WERE the best we have ever had. We loved the batter they were done in and the onions were soooo sweet and tender. We were there on a Sunday night and they were very busy.

I was taken back to days of eating at Mom and Dads house when i visited Tip Top. Portion sizes are plentiful and the food was outstanding. Its a throw back to old times but as welcoming as your own house. If you leave hungry, its your own fault. I would recommend to anyone in the area.

I came here because it's been open for a long time so figured it must be good and it was on triple D (granted that was 10 years ago) and something must have changed since Guy showed up and old time regulars have to be keeping it open because it was nothing to write home about. The food lacks seasoning badly, there was no flavor at all to the chicken tenders and the onion rings were lacking something too. The beautiful homemade looking gravy I saw on the show has been replaced with that awful brown gravy you make from a mix. The friend fish was not good either. The only thing that was good was the coffee and the fried scallops. Service is so so.

I have been going to Tip Top for years,but recently the food quality has gone down,when I was there it was about 8:30p when the waitress place my order I could hear the kitchen staff complaining about how long my order was going to take. Another thing that seemed very unprofessional was the manager yelling at the employees,I go out to eat a meal and relax with family I don't want to hear the manager yelling in front of me and humiliating the employees,it was embarrassing not only for me to have to hear it,but for the poor employees. If your upset with an employee take it to the office where we the customers don't have to hear it and your not humiliating the employee in front of everyone. She was very unprofessional and what manager wears sweat pants to work,she looked like she just came from the gym,if the employees are expected to look neat and professional I would think management would also have to do the same. All in all it was a horrible time the food had no flavor to it,then having to listen to the yelling from the manager,the kitchen staff could be heard cursing and at one point a waitress ask one of the cooks how much longer for her order and he's on his cell phone and tells her don't worry it's coming. Just rude and who allows employees to use their cell phone while their working,the manager saw him and it didn't seem to bother her. Needless to say I was very disappointed and probably won't be going back or recommend it to any of my friends and it's a shame I used to love to go there.

We recently visited San Antonio in March 2018. Since we are avid fans of Guy Fieri on Food network. Going to one the locations he features on his hit show Diners,Drive in.and Dives. So we find Tip Top on Fredericksburg road. When we pulled in to parking lot we noticed very busy. Walked into the cafe and couldn't help in noticing how small the place was. Seems like there was no system use of their space. After waiting 10 mins we were seated in a nice comfortable. Our waitress Lindsay was very pleasant and helpful. She explained the specials to us. After reviewing the menu decisions were made on Catfish platter for John and for me I decided to try the BBQ brisket. Just before the meals arrived in asked to us the restroom and waitress Lindsay explained that they were outside of the bldg to the right. Ok I said and off I go find the restroom. Kind of weird to me, which was noted to be clean, but outdated. Once our meals arrived John said his catfish was very good. My BBQ brisket was ok,but had to much fat on it. However the BBQ sauce was good and the brisket that I did try was tender. French fries very good. Our waitress Lindsay was awesome and had wonderful personality. She had her name tag that little up. Kind of interesting. Since we are from New Jersey and always on look out for a good diner. Overall it was just ok in our book

Lousy Waitress Service!!! Went there 11/16/17 in late afternoon only customer at a table received our water waited approximately 10 mins another couple walk in and was waited on within 4 mins while we were there still waiting for someone to take our order! unreal service, we walked out! this is the second time this has happen! we will never return :(

I guess I was expecting too much after the review on DDD- I had the chicken fried steak and is was very bland - my husband had the enchiladas and the chili was good but again being from south Texas it still was lacking in flavor- sorry! The onion rings were good and a large serving- we shared a small order and it was big!

I am writing this review not to be judge mental but to let people know things. First, I really enjoy this restaurant. Have been there many times and always have good food. Always take my parents there when they visit me. Great food. My concern... I guess that if you aren't from the neighborhood or a regular you get put on the backseat when it comes to service. My last visit was maybe 10 min long because at a slow time we still were bypassed by two waitresses who helped other customers that came in after. It wasn't bad enough that people walked by several times; but that the cashier standing at the front noticed it all and verbally apologized to us as we walked out the door. She said oh I'm sorry that no one took care of you... Maybe if I would borrow Guys Camaro and walked in and said he was back then would of got the attention that everyone deserves.. Left there and drove to the new Tip Top location and had superb service and great food. I have seen it and heard it before that at certain places if your aren't important or a regular than you get treated like a no body. Yall need to wake up and get the customer service back in order. Will probably not be back to Fredricksburg location for good long time. Cold shoulders and lousy sense of rating clientele go a long long way. Too many other good places to eat in the city.

friendly homey great fun love abounds women surround guys hunting great location food galore ambience

We have eaten at the Tip Top a few times before it was renovated but won't be going back. I had the chicken fried steak sandwich and the wife got the fried chicken. It took almost a half hour for the food and the chicken was over cooked (very tough and over crisp). I asked for more mayo and the waitress said you already have it on the sandwich. REALLY? Just get me somemore and don't try to correct me! A coke only comes in a 8 ounce bottle (no refills). When we tried to pay..you can only use cash or a check. There is a small sign on the counter hidden by a plant that says no debit or credit.

This place was recommended by many posters here and on other forums. We (two adults, three kids) went here early to eat dinner. First off, we had to stand in line outside in the 100° heat for an hour. We talked to the people also in line and they have all been coming here for a long time, said it was wonderful. We finally got in and were seated. We were ignored. People in line after us had ordered and received food before we even saw a menu. We finally got menus and waited on drinks. More waiting, ordered, more waiting. Two kids ordered burgers and they were good. The others of us ordered fried chicken. One had mashed potatoes, one had broccoli, and I had fries. Reviewers mentioned they had "real" fries. Onion rings went by and they looked great. We ordered those too. However, they came as an appetizer . . . and were not seasoned and not good and they were pretty pricey. The chicken order was two huge breasts! I think three of us could have split since these were so large. However, they were tasteless. The crust fell off in sheets and there were no seasonings on them. My fries were limp and frozen. The gravy for the mashed potatoes was good but was too thick and not warm. We were there at least two hours. This is a small place. We noticed when we came in that there was a table for 8 and one for 6 and no one had food. When we left, they still had no food. With people waiting outside, we were surprised that management would let this family (they appeared to be together) tie up tables for that long without ordering. All-in-all, this was a very disappointing meal and service. We should have gone to Chicken Express!

We drove all the way across town to eat here for my son’s birthday. Big sign on the door, “we only accept cash, credit card machine out” Unbelievable

Our experience was terrible . We arrived at 4:30 PM . Our server was Kevin .By 5:30 PM , we still didn't have our salad . We left , in disgust , vowing never to return . We went to La Fogata on Vance Jackson Rd . for a great meal , wonderful outdoor dining , and outstanding service by Alex T, a very outgoing gentleman , who graciously allowed me to converse with him in my secondary language , which is Spanish .

New location at Nacogdoches takes cards and food still as good as original location. Save room for dessert; pies are outstanding!!!!! Must have one!!

Watched the DDD episode and had to try this place. This year was our second time. The food is always great, the country fried steak is huge, burgers are delicious and the onion ring mountain!

Busy place. Four of us arrived at 11:05 AM for lunch and glad we did otherwise there would have been a wait. The service was fast because they need the tables for others, so don't expect to linger over your lunch. They get you in and out. We ordered onion rings as an appetizer. They arrived after our dinner salads. Again it was because they needed the turn over of the tables. We felt rushed to move along because we were rushed to moved along. From walking in to be seated to walking out..., was 42 minutes. A little too fast. I see indigestion for some people at that pace. There was a 'screaming' 2 year old with a family. Neither mom nor dad tried to quiet the child. People glared at them but the parents didn't care. With little sound buffering in the restaurant, expect high noise level. Overall: With the noise level and being rushed out the door, it did not make for an enjoyable lunch today. Chicken Fried Steak was ok, but I won't order it again myself. Onion rings were cold when they arrived at our table. It wasn't Tip Top's finest food today. And if it weren't for their reputation and our past great experiences at their other location we wouldn't return. We will give this new location another try at a later date when things settle down after this new "opening period" has passed.

A friend suggested that we venture off the beaten path and try some new places for dinner. We called a cab and had him take us to the De Wese's Tip Top Cafe. If you're looking for local people and local food this is where you need to be. From chicken fried steak as big as your plate, to pies with a 6" meringue; you will find the food you expect in such a diner. Our waiter was very polite and attentive, the prices were extremely affordable and the atmosphere made eating at the Tip Top, tip top.

Food to die for. Chicken fried steak is dreamy. Seating can be difficult due to so many customers. Service is very good.

Hopefully my cardiologist is not reading this, but you have to taste the Chicken fried steak and gravy. Delicious and a large portion too. You won't leave hungry.

We saw this restaurant featured on Food Network's Diners, Drive-ins and Dives. The food was so yummy and comforting!!!

We saw this place listed on Diners Drive ins and dives. It's a cool old place. Not much has changed here in 30 years. It's not very large. Could be a wait... We had the open face roast beef. This was very tasty with brown gravy and mashed potatoes. Didn't care for the white toasted bread. The rolls looked good though. The award winning onion rings were a huge pile! Light breading really lets the onion flavor come through. Would've liked some sauce with them-forgot to order it. Skip the ice tea-was good but it's $2.85 a glass. Staff is very friendly efficient and helpful!

OK for lunch you better get there before 11 to stand in line outside till they open cause its worth the wait. They still have the same old good food folks from San Antonio remember. Even if you get there late its worth the wait.

Dined at this Texas landmark that has been serving some of the best comfort food for over 70 years. The place to go to when craving one of the best Chicken Fried Steak in Texas. You get a genuine round steak that has been pounded to a piece of great tasting steak that covers a plate the size of Texas. More than any one person can possibly eat. They are also known for their lemon meringue pies that boast a 6 inch meringue topping and one of the best pecan pies around. The lines start forming around the block hours before they open. A not to miss establishment when visiting San Antonio and well worth the wait. Prices are half of what you would expect any where else.

Chicken fried is lightly breaded, enormous & delicious. We had a party of four and were cheerfully greeted & seated. Service was prompt & friendly. We all had different entrees, but all agree they were tasty & fairly priced. Not a fancy place, but the food would bring us back time & again.

DeWeese’s TIP TOP opened in 1938! Almost 80 years. My husband is a chicken fried steak aficionado. He says Tip Top has the best CFS he has had in a long, long time. They would give Hill’s Cafe (Austin) a run for their money and he grew up eating at Hill’s! Try the onion rings. A half order should be enough for one person. They offer a senior discount on Sunday night. They also have daily specials. Be ready for a Texas sized meal and decor from the 1940’s.

We had seen this on Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives and thought it looked good. It was even better in person than on TV. All food is prepared fresh and hot. We will definitely eat here again.