Babe’s Chicken Dinner House – Garland, Texas
The Babe’s Chicken Dinner House in Garland opened on May 1, 1994. The Swordfish on the wall once belonged to a good Roanoke customer.
The hanging schoolhouse lights came from the now-closed Pontchartrain Restaurant. They also have several Pontchartrain tables as well as some of their exterior doors.
The tables and chairs have all come from other restaurants and homes.
The Fire Truck out front is a 1976 International – which served the city of Sherman, Texas. Since that time it has been re-purposed for use by the TDOCC (Texas Department of Chicken Control).
They have some additional tidbits to share when you’re sittin’ in the dining room – just ask to see our Babe’s Facts while you’re finishing up your salad.
Grandma’s recipes, friendly people. Well, that’s exactly why they opened Babe’s Chicken Dinner House. They wanted a sit-down restaurant where people really feel at home. Babe’s is a casual place where you’ll feel comfortable in your blue jeans or cutoffs. Where your neighbors wait on you and your whole family.
They put their money in their food, not in a freeway location or fancy decor. Since they don’t advertise a lot, they kind of depend on their customers to get the word out.
Babe’s Chicken Dinner House is a family restaurant with a casual atmosphere where children are always welcome. They have high chairs and booster chairs available, and their wait staff is great with kids. Whether it’s their first time visiting or they’re old-timers, kids love joining the wait staff as they dance and sing along to the Hokey Pokey.
In 1981 Paul and Mary Beth Vinyard opened their first Country Cooking restaurant and named it Bubba’s, after Paul’s nickname. It’s located in Dallas, on Hillcrest near S.M.U. and is in a 1927 Texaco service station converted to an Art Deco-styled restaurant. While much of the food is similar to Babe’s, it has walk-up counter service and a drive-thru window.
On April 22, 1993, they opened their second restaurant and named it Babe’s Chicken Dinner House, located in a 1908 warehouse in Roanoke, Texas. “Babe” was Mary Beth’s nickname; she developed the recipes so they named the restaurant Babe’s. While they are all saddened by the loss of “Babe” in 2008, they are very proud of the legacy she created.
Over the years they have developed a broader menu for Babe’s, which they serve at the other locations in Garland, Sanger, Carrollton, Burleson, Granbury, Frisco, Cedar Hill, North Richland Hills, and Arlington. The menu includes a non-fried item: hickory-smoked chicken. Also, their fried catfish is served with green tomato relish that’s canned especially for them – some people call it green tomato chow-chow.
The Vinyard family’s other restaurant is Sweetie Pie’s Ribeyes located on the square in Decatur, Texas. Whenever Paul was in trouble with Mary Beth, he’d call her “Sweetie Pie,” so it only seemed appropriate. It features rib-eye steaks, but you’ll also find a filet mignon, chicken fried rib eye (a Vinyard family favorite), fried catfish, hamburgers, and more.