I think Hard Eight is a whole lot better. That's over in Stephenvill and Brady. Underwoods is too steam table for my tastes. I like a more outdoorsy BBQ.

The Turtle In Brownwood is quite a find. They hired a snotty little chef from New Orleans but he's gone now and the food is much better. They added a fabulous wine bar with amazing pizzas. I feel like I'm back in Italy, especially since they also make gelato. Unfortunately, they stopped doing Sunday brunch and have dinner only on Friday annd Saturday but this is OK because the food, while good before, is now amazing and you don't have to wait a year and a day to get it. Slow Food doesn't mean waiting forever. It means that it's grown locally and in season. The Turtle excells at this. It's one of the few places where everything isn't fried to death. They make their own breads and desserts and buy stuff from local farmers.

The wine bar serves wine by the glass and taste from this cool gadjet that keeps the wine fresh and the right temperature. I liked being able to taste everything, especially some of the unknown Texas wineries and Italian grapes I've never heard of before. One of the bar tenders grows mint and makes the best mohito I've ever had using Treaty Oak Rum. That alone is worth the trip. The are open for lunch and wine bar Tuesday - Sat and dinner Fri - Sat. more info here www.theturtlerestaurant.com

You should try The Turtle. It went a little down for awhile. They had a chef who couldn't get the food out but they have a new chef now. They also changed their hours. Lunch Tuesdays-Saturdays. Dinner only on Friday and Saturday night :( and no more Sunday brunch :(....... but now they have opened a wine bar so I guess that makes up for it. They have a totally different menu in the wine bar. I haven't tried it yet but I've heard that they have some interesting thin crust pizzas.

The very best place to eat in central Texas is in downtown Brownwood. It's called the Turtle Restaurant because they serve slow fresh food. Their motto is the slow shall inherit the earth. The architect did a wonderful job restoring the 1920s building decorating the interior sparsely but with a calm feeling. They used large prints of international stamps depecting turtles on the walls.

If you are totally sick of fried anything this is the place to go. Thier CIA trained chef, Garry Botbyl, makes everything fresh. There is even an herb garden behind the restaurant and they buy a lot of their produce and meat locally. Best of all is his wife, super waitress and good old Lousiana girl, Kim. She'll bring a smile to your face with her good humor.

The menu changes every day but there is always fish, chicken, beef, and a vegetarian dish or two plus homemade icecream and sorbets. You bring your own wine and beer. They have the glasses. There is no corking charge.

The Turtle is open for lunch and dinner Monday-Thursday 11am-9pm with little half hour break at 4:30. Friday and Saturday they are open until 10:00pm

My most favorite meal though is Sunday brunch 10:30am-2:00. They make the best Eggs Benedict I have ever had anywhere, Dalls, New York, Austin, Chicago included. I think it's because they use fresh local eggs and Garry handmakes the sauce. I have driven across Texas to eat them.

Reservations are recommended. The phone is 325-646-8200. The adress is 514 Center Avenue right across the street from City Hall. Downtown can be a little hard to find. You might have to ask around. It's worth the trip from anywhere. You will not believe your mouth. Prices are around $10.00 per person for lunch and $23.00 per person for dinner. They are expanding to accomodate parties with patio seating and a gelateria expresso bar.