Best Food in Central Texas
I have traveled quite a bit and thie is a real jewel. Chef Garry Botbyl is CIA trained. His restaurant has genuine flavors provided by the herb garden behind this carefully restored 1920s building. You feel like you are in New York while your taste buds confirm the sensation. The menu changes with the seasons.    [02 Apr 2005 06:08:11]

Food:    Service:    Ambiance:    Overall: 
Recommended Dishes: blueberry porkchops, orange grilled salmon with black rice and asparagus

     ­Anonymous   

Soo Glad You're Here La Tortue
From the moment you enter the door, you know you've entered someplace special. The "restored building" is a story unto itself. The salads are great. The soups are equally satisfying. Not to be outdone, the entrees will amaze you. I suggest the tenderloin or grilled salmon. The Gourmet Burger will blow you away too! Don't be surprised at the outstanding Caesar salad.

Most likely the finest location in Central Texas for an incredible and memorable evening meal. After a long day in "the business", we appreciate the attention to the "details"! Bon appetit.    [11 Apr 2003 20:23:12]

Food:    Service:    Ambiance:    Overall: 

     ­The Steves   

Slow Fresh Food
The menu varies with the seasons. Dishes are liberally seasoned using fresh herbs from the garden behind the restaurant. The last time I was there a bewildered chubby couple sat down, reviewed the menu, then exclaimed "there is nothing here for us to eat" and left. They wanted BBQ or a hamburger and left. This restaurant is not for that kind of diner. It is so sad that people like this miss out on some of the best things in life. Usually there are three kinds of fish, fresh vegetables, a risotto, perhaps a vegetarian dish, and a filet mignon.

Lunches are a spectacular bargain serving smaller portions of dinner at under $10.00 a person. Garry and his wife Kim give you a folksy welcome to this small restaurant in historic downtown Brownwood. They do not have a liquor lisence. You may bring your own wine, there is no corking fee.

They also make all of their own desserts including some amazing ice creams and sorbets. My favorite flavor is fresh peppermint chocolate chip.

Reservations are a good idea and help the staff prepare you the freshest food and best service.

Called The Turtle because the slow shall inherit the earth.    [16 Jul 2005 19:49:38]

Food:    Service:    Ambiance:    Overall: 
Recommended Dishes: pork chops with fresh blueberry sauce

     ­Amanda Dimova   dimova at mail dot utexas dot edu

Outstanding
On a good night the entrees will rival the best of Chicago, New York or San Francisco as far as overall quality and taste. I have not been on a bad night.

It is a blessing to have a restaurant of this quality in Central Texas.    [02 Dec 2005 13:04:36]

Food:    Service:    Ambiance:    Overall: 
Recommended Dishes: ribeye

     ­Anonymous   

La Tortue Assimilated by the Americans
Yes, once again, the U.S. of our A.s has successfully assimilated (read:liberated?) another geographical entity. This time, the hidden agenda was to own an amazing selection of gourmet cuisine (instead of oil), but the general idea remains the same. Given our recent struggle with doing the same in Iraq, overpowering a small Central Texas restaurant must have seemed a more reasonable and attainable goal for the Powers That Be. Or--that's the only reason I can imagine that the quaint "La Tortue" has become plainly "The Turtle", effectively losing all its initial intrigue and mystique. All this with a minimal human and hardware cost, so we got that going for us.

Once I got over the confusion, of which I was quickly set right by the perky and appropriately informed server, I began perusing the menu. Extraordinary! I couldn't decide. So, my new and steadfast goal is to try everything...not in one night, of course. I shall return until I've sampled the entire menu's offerings and will even order desserts with every meal, rotating through the exquisite choice of benedictions for as long as my survey takes. (Yes, as a martyr, I'll take one in "the name of science and the glory of experimentation"!)

This place is great. Enjoy! Go back...again, and again, and again. Who would have thought that Brownwood could sustain something like this? But I'm glad they have...so far. It's up to US to make sure T.T. continues to add culture, enjoyment and culinary stimulation to our area. One more thing, along those lines: Forsake Starbucks---hang out here for coffee and Danish and conversation. The coffee is as good as I've ever tasted, and the desserts, well, let's just say that being a martyr has never tasted this good.

Go, Turtle! The slow shall enherit the earth, indeed!

Oh, yeah--tip your servers well. They work for peanuts.    [30 Mar 2006 00:53:35]

Food:    Service:    Ambiance:    Overall: 
Recommended Dishes: chicken alfredo with broccoli, salmon

     ­CAL   

Super Duper!
It's amazing everytime we show up for dinner, with the extended hours, and now the massive expansion about to open up with a gelateria! Who woudda thunk this thing would have been possible in Brownwood Texas... of all places. It's so exciting to tell my friends about how wonderful the service, and especially the food is at The Turtle. Get the SALMON, or the tenderloin... just had the parmesan pork last night,,, it was soooo yummmy for my tummy!    [31 Oct 2006 18:54:02]

Food: -   Service:    Ambiance:    Overall: 

     ­Anonymous   

Bad day? Sure hope so.
At the risk of editorializing, I'll just list some of our experiences from Saturday, Dec. 16, 2006:
1) We were met by a rude, insolent host.
2) We were seated at the table closest to the kitchen in the back room, while several tables were open in the front room.
3) The table next to us had dirty breakfast dishes left by the staff (we had lunch at noon).
4) There was noisy, dusty, smelly construction going on in the front room, although five parties were dining in the restaurant.
5) Construction workers trekked in and out throughout the meal, directly by our table and one other party.
6) My husband's ham & cheese panini tasted of salmon, quite distinctly. Perhaps that is because the other couple in our room was having salmon, hmmmm.
7) My salad was served completely without dressing, which was added by the same host in an insolent manner only after going into the main room to find him.
8) Water was not refilled throughout the meal (minor, minor, minor).

We're from Austin. We're not inexperienced diners. We understand the concept of slow food and find dining. We also understand overrated food and bad service.    [26 Dec 2006 15:06:36]

Food:    Service:    Ambiance:    Overall: 

     ­Anonymous   

Now they have Gelato
Oh be still my beating heart. Now they have gelato and scones. I can't believe Brownwood has a Gelateria.    [28 May 2007 18:37:49]

Food:    Service: -   Ambiance:    Overall: 
Recommended Dishes: dark chocolate gelato and strawberry sorbetto in the same dish!!!!!

     ­anonymous   

Most incredible food in the world!
I have been all over the world and The Turtle has become my absolute favorite restaurant and it is such a blessing to have it right here in Brownwood! No need to travel to the big city or another country for that matter to get incredible food. We dine at the Turtle at least once a week. Their food is original, freshly made & tastes incredible and the portions are perfect. As a heath nut, it is difficult for me to find healthy, yet tasty places to eat and The Turtle provides both! No one should pass through Brownwood without experiencing it! There newest Gelatoria where you can experience true Italian Gelato is just as esquisite!    [15 Jun 2007 18:33:32]

Food:    Service:    Ambiance:    Overall: 
Recommended Dishes: The Pecan Crusted Chicken is out of this world & Chocolate Seduction cake, their flourless cake with a nut crust is appropriately named. Most fabulous dessert I have ever had and I get it everytime my husband goes out of town!

     ­Krista Johnson   krista at fitbyfaith dot net

Don't Go to the Turtle
Overpriced. Rude people. I don't think I need to say anything else.    [29 Oct 2007 10:15:23]

Food:    Service:    Ambiance:    Overall: 
Recommended Dishes: NONE

     ­Anonymous