Should you need an excuse to take the lovely drive out to Spicewood (wildflower season is really its own impetus), we suggest RO’s Outpost for the chicken-fried steak time of your life. In its old wooden building, the place oozes genuine Texas charm. The patio seats have a beautiful view of the hills, and the walls are covered with photos from famous visitors, like Lyle Lovett and The Dixie Chicks.

They all come for the chicken-fried steak (or CFS, to connoisseurs), and it’s the best we’ve ever had. RO’s hand-tenderizes cube steak to order—you can hear them pounding on it in the kitchen—then dip it in an egg wash and flour batter before pan-frying it. All this handwork takes time; about 30 minutes, really. While you’re waiting for your exemplary CFS, have an appetizer of barbecued rib ends (beyond that, don’t expect Lockhart-level perfection from the barbecue here). Also don’t miss deep-fried corn on the cob, and wonderful jalapeño apple pie. As for that CFS, it’s so tender you don’t even need a knife. The breading is light and the peppery gravy’s thick. If you weren’t a fan of chicken-fried steak, you will be after your first bite—in fact, you might even start calling it CFS.