They roamed the wilds of East Texas for 40 days and 40 nights, this group known as the “Smoking for Jesus Ministry”. Blown from New Orleans homes and businesses by Hurricane Katrina, then met by Hurricane Rita, the group found no room at the Inn until they reached Marble Falls.

They came and settled, some 55 families looking for a new place to call home. The group began putting down roots, and it was only natural that a restaurant would follow. After all, two of their number were New Orleans-trained chefs.

They chose to locate their restaurant in a Highway 281 truckstop in the community of Round Mountain, about half way between Johnson City and Marble Falls. Their sensibly-named Real New Orleans Style Restaurant shares the building with a convenience store and the parking lot with an auction barn; they took over “as is,” and the rest is history.

The menu that evolved is what I would term New Orleans Home Cooking, and the variety of dishes available is outstanding. Our first trip was an eye-opener; the table next to us was filled with people who live across the cove from us, sitting in one booth were friends from San Saba, several tables were obviously traveling men and, at almost 1:30 p.m., the place was at least three quarters filled.

My lady wife stopped when she saw Po-Boy sandwiches. The waitress recommended red beans and rice to me, which I ordered not realizing what I was to get. It was absolutely outstanding! Served over rice with a couple of nice-sized pieces of properly fried chicken, the beans were obviously cooked with a generous supply of that Cajun sausage that Emeril can’t pronounce and I can’t spell. The lady wife said the Po-Boy was like the ones she always has on our trips to the Big Easy.

The menu has at least one something for every one: sandwiches, Po-Boys (nice variety of them), steaks, Cajun dishes, breakfast ALL DAY, capped with a selection of homemade desserts that were pronoun ...

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