Benny Joe’s Italian Restaurant

What a delightful surprise to find this great restaurant in Alvarado TX on our way south from MN. Its surrounded by fast food places, but if you want a home cooked meal, take the time to stop. Extremely friendly and efficient staff, plus a charming owner who visits at your table. We would stop again.

Full bellies and under budget. It’s a win win. Travelers: take a chance, you will love this place! We were immediately greeted with «make yourself at home» and chose our own seats. The menu is a mix of Mexican, Italian, and good country cooking. The waitress was super friendly, kept our drinks filled and you could tell she was very good at her job.
My husband and son had spaghetti and cleared their plates. They went on and on about how good it was.
My daughter had the kids ravioli – one of her favorites dishes and also finished her plate.
I had the special of the day – hamburger steak with potatoes and okra. Very tasty!
Reasonable prices, as a family of 4, we normally can’t eat out without spending $ 40 + tip, this came out to $ 37 tip included.

I went for our first time to Bennys Italian restaurant and bar The staff and management and generally everyone who worked there were exceptional friendly courteous attentive unfortunately the food was less than I expected The Mexican combo was Disgusting you do not put reheated Mexican food on a plate put the sour cream on top of the enchiladas and then pop the whole thing in the microwave till it’s bubbling The pasta combo did not have the desired flavor that one would expect it was hard to distinguish one part of the combo from the other they need to add more seasoning to make it distinguishable received the ticket when food was delivered was not offered dessert a very disappointing trip unfortunately we will not be returning

I ordered the catfish dinner with 2 sides. I had fried okra and mashed potatoes and gravy. The fish was tied with another café I frequent in the taste department. It was hot and excellent. The okra was freshly fried and very hot. Large portion of okra. The mashed potatoes and gravy were just that. Normal. I was very pleased with the taste of the food. The wait staff was quick and attentive. I needed nothing and my drink was refilled without being asked. (I believe you should never be asked if you want a drink refill. If you don’t, then you stop them). I highly recommend the catfish dinner.

Decent enough food, a little heavy on the salt and a little light on on the flavor but it was all hot and service was prompt and friendly.

Service is fairly quick, and they’re usually pretty friendly. The food at Benny’s is good, although always overloaded with too much cheese, and sauce (which may be a positive thing for some). Also, the cheese they use on the pasta tastes a little… cheap. The bread rolls are a bit doughy, but they taste fine.

Italian, Mexican, Or American. Take your pick. This place has a strange variety but it is good. Alvarado doesn’t have many places to choose from so Benny’s is always packed. The Mexican is good and the pasta is yummy. Haven’t tried the burgers yet.

$ 5.99 for lunch special. Several choices. I got spaghetti and meatballs rolls and ordered salad and tea.
Good on a cold day in Alvarado.

The tomato vinaigrette salad dressing is a favorite. The Mexican is good yet predictable texmex. A good safe bet typically.

This is one of our «usual stops» for food. They have a decent selection of several types of food. Owners always come over and chat with us if they see us there, and the waitresses are all a hoot. Great friendly little small-​town joint.

Not bad for a semi-​quick restaurant. We had a chicken parm, 2 veal parms, a spaghetti and meatballs and beef enchiladas. No complaints, but nothing exciting. Server was friendly. Olive Garden is 3x better for same price.

Well it makes one wonder who exactly wrote the first review!!!
As for the second, I wonder if the Mexico food restaurant down 67 wrote the second review!
As for my review: I have eaten at more than one of this chain of Mexican/​Italian food restaurants. The one in Alvarado is def. not as good as the one in Cleburne, but not as bad as the one in Keene. Since we Alvaradians were for years restaurant deprived we eat about anything that doesn’t eat us first… esp. Mexican food! Plus with alcohol legal in this once dry community, it seems to have helped the popularity of most places. Being a vegetarian, I don’t stick to what is on the menu. I have them make me a Mexican salad minus the meat, & subbed with a helping of rice & beans. Muey Buen!

I had the Chicken Forrest. Its really the best pasta I’ve had in the USA.
It looked like a dive but the food was very good.

Mr Terry says, «this is the best eggplant Parmesan I have had in years. Even better than that sorta famous restaurant in Laguna Beach». I had the meatball sandwich. It was very good and large. I do have to concur with the previous fellow about the rolls being doughy. But-​hey, they were free. And we became members of the dry county club.

We were starving. Saw this place surrounded by a lot of cars. Filled with families after some athletic event. They advertise both Mexican and Italian. I ordered beef enchiladas that were so oversalted, both meat and chili that if I hadn’t drenched them with the close to par salsa that came with the pre-​dinner tortilla chips, I would not have eaten them. My wife got their supposed #1 seller that was so thoroughly drenched in a pink sauce that she described as tasting like a very low brand mac&cheese sauce mixed with catsup. I only tasted the rice and beans. Par at most. The chips were crispy, fresh and not over greasy. My wife said the bread was heavy and doughy. The owners balked at our complaints and said we should have said something to our waitress that was never around and only comped the cheapest of our meals. Glad we drank water!