The Classic American Diner Lives in this Tiny West Texas Town
In the interest of full disclosure, let's get my biases out of the way from the very tip-top: I was raised in Roscoe, and the Dairy Fluff was one of first restaurants I ever ate at. I would estimate that roughly 40% of all the restaurant meals I ate before the age of 19 were eaten at the Dairy Fluff. For those familiar with the Dairy Queen chain of hamburger diners strewn across the South and Midwest, you will find the Dairy Fluff a slightly greasier, but more lived-in facsimile.

Gordon's Dairy Fluff opened in 1962 in Roscoe on Business Highway 84. Before the opening of Interstate 20, which went around town, folks traveling between Dallas and El Paso or Austin and Lubbock pretty much had to go through Roscoe, and past the Dairy Fluff. It wasn't long before Gordon's reputation for all-beef hamburgers, top-quality Tex-Mex, and generous chicken fried steaks made The Dairy Fluff a must-stop for these tired travelers.

As time went on, Gordon learned to accomodate other diner demographics. It turns out that virtually all the churches in Roscoe let out at the same time on Sunday morning: 12:00 noon. Gordon created for them the finest Sunday lunch buffet anyone had ever seen: choice of one of three meat entrees, four vegetables, salad, dessert, and iced tea for less than $5.00 per plate in the 1980s. That was a heck of a deal. Gordon packed in more Baptists than a tent revival.

As a Catholic, we had to work hard to "beat the Baptists" to the buffet. But on Friday nights, we would often go and indulge another one of Gordon's marketing schemes: the Lent fried catfish special. I don't know if they still do this, but it sure was a special treat when I was a kid.

There was a bit of turmoil during the mid 90s as the Dairy Fluff went through some ownership and management changes, but now it is back in the steady hands of Gordon's wife, Irene. Like David Lee Roth returning to Van Halen, she has guided the diner back to its original place of glory, quality, and satisfaction.

Every time I get a chance to go home, I try to go to the Dairy Fluff. Not only is the food unwaveringly awesome, it clings to my soul and takes me back to wonderful memories of being with my family, talking with farmers over a cup of black coffee, and waiting for the Friday night football game.

The Dairy Fluff stands as one of the last great independent roadside diners in Texas. It has left an indelible mark, some might say a grease stain, on the psyche of generations of Texans. For that it deserves not only our patronage, but our respect.    [14 Mar 2004 20:57:39]

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Recommended Dishes: Set of twins, double cheeseburger, burrito, mexican plate, vanilla milkshake

     ­Chris Pieper   pieper at grandecom dot com

home
I always stop at the Dairy Fluff when my travels take me back home to Roscoe. It is always a good place for me to relax and see exactly how good life can realy be. I tell you there is no better coffee in the world after you have returned from combat than that at the Dairy Fluff with old friends.    [24 Jan 2005 20:53:11]

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Recommended Dishes: Chicken Fried Steak

     ­SSG Robert R. McBride   

Right On Brother
It is a classic for old fashion hamburger, home made french fries and the best Chicken Fried Steak !    [17 Jan 2007 18:47:44]

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Recommended Dishes: HB, Chicken Fried Steak or TexMex

     ­Sandra Ann Ritchey Vernon, Vernon`s Antiques