Katy Trail Ice House Outpost

My boyfriend and I visited for the first time a couple of weeks ago on Sunday for lunch. The restaurant had a nice relaxed atmosphere and we really enjoyed ourselves. We sat at the bar and John and Amelia took care of us. They were both extremely friendly, attentive, and accommodating. They made great suggestions for both food and drinks and made sure we were happy with both. We had delicious bloody marys, draft beer, and BBQ smoked right outside the building. Because of the great service, we will definitely be returning!

Went on a Saturday 6:00, not a packed house but busy and then the crowd thinned out. We ate inside because it was so hot outside. Service was great and the burgers were the best we ever had! Brisket was good too. ½ of us liked the onion rings, ½ did not. Beer could be colder but it WAS really hot. The mixed drinks were weak and the wine pours were small.

I like hanging out at Katy Trail Ice House. They have different beers from time to time and the patio is spacious with large tables so you can get together with friends. You have to keep an eye on the weather through since you can get soaked in a hurry. The patio is dog friendly and it’s nice to see our furry friends enjoying the open air.
Still not managed to try any food hot off the smoker/​bbq they have outside. Maybe some day…

Came on a Saturday evening and it was fairly busy. They have a good size patio that is dog friendly. Open seating so wherever you can squat is your choice.
This place is good for drinks but not food. Light food menu consisting of finger foods and sandwiches that are overly priced. Gourmet hotdog is a tiny hotdog in a giant bread bun. Hamburgers are nothing special and small.

This had to be some of the worst service and food I have had in a very long time. I ordered a burger. I figured you could mess up a burger. But they managed to. First of all the waitress never asked me how I wanted my burger cooked. So it came out like shoe leather. Actually I prefer a juicy burger this was anything but juicy. Then on top of that my burger had avocados on it. And they were hard as a rock. When she asked me how my food was i said it was terrible. And she just looked at me and turned away.
The service was horrible, our waitress randomly checked on us and when she did she would just look at us and turn away.
I love the original Katy Trail but this one is terrible and I cannot say how much I do not recommend going up there. I plan to never go back.

Best French fries ever…
Appreciate this place for it’s relaxed backyard feel, happy customers, fast and efficient staff and big ice cold schooners of beverages. But what I like most are the French fries — hot and crispy on the outside, kosher salted, fresh hand cut and full of flavor. As a rule, I do not eat French fries, but I can’t stay away from these. They get eaten first, right when they are served, every time. Such a treat, be sure to try them.
Burgers are good but they are always a little soggy and the bun always seems squished. Here is a hint from Jack at Maple and Motor, if you put the lettuce in the bottom it helps to protect the bun from getting so moist. Hope that helps.

I came here on a Friday night for a spontaneous happy hour with a friend. I wasn’t aware that it was a self-​seating place as I was having trouble finding a place to sit and to save a spot for my friend.
With a gorgeous weather, I knew that outdoor seating would be an impossible feat on a Friday night happy hour. Even getting a seat at bar was brutal.
I got the $ 6 house wine, happy hour price is $ 1 off. My friend and I shared the queso with the brisket and the fries.
I would have given a 5-​star if I were to get an outdoor seating, I’m gonna have to try coming on a typical weekday (except Friday).

Came to try this place as the place we originally wanted to go to across the parking lot had such a ridiculous place. i loved the feel of this place, it was a very laidback environment, which is perfect for Sunday brunch. We tried two of their burgers, the mushroom swiss one and the man vs food one. The fries that came with these burgers were very flavorful! They were a bit soft and not crispy enough for me but tasted good. The mushroom swiss burger was pretty good. The man vs food was a bit small to be described as a challenging burger. Overall I thought this place was ok. nothing special but not bad to have either.

Best Margarita north of the border. Need I say more?
This restaurant is super cute– I loved the outdoor space with the fire pit, TVs, and heaters over the tables for chilly weather. They also let you bring your dogs, which I think is a fun touch.
Food was pretty good, not spectacular, but it’s bar food so I did not have high expectations. We ordered the brisket nachos and a grilled chicken caesar, portions are huge. I have never been able to not finish a salad.
Our server was also super sweet and attentive. Wish I remembered her name, but everyone there seemed very nice and willing to help. We will be back!

Definitely a nice place to enjoy a drink on a nice day. I **LOVE** that they are so dog friendly, and if the weather is nice, it’s not uncommon to find that the dogs on the patio outnumber the people. It’s quite popular, and at times, the service can suffer as a result (I always order two beers at a time because I know it will be a while before I’m asked if I want another).
Food is good, but the menu is rather limited — would love for some new and more exciting options.
It’s really annoying that they have valet parking — it’s completely unnecessary and the valets take half of the spaces for themselves (what right do they have to do this?). I can easily park my own car, but not when they take most of the spaces.
Anyway, other than that, it’s a great place and we love coming here with our dog!

We’ve been here before — always for the BBQ. What we didn’t know is that the BBQ is made at their Dallas store and brought here in a truck. That might explain why the brisket was cold (but still flavorful). The Ribs were quite good.

This place gets 4 stars purely for the service. We wandered in for our first time ever like a couple of confused, stray cats. A waitress, sensing our confusion, advised us that yes, we could sit inside or outside and where ever the hell we wanted (my words, not hers.)
She then passed us off to our actual waitress who killed it in every way possible. She suggested drinks and made sure ours were never empty (I should actually be cursing her for my headache the next day!)
We went on a Sunday afternoon for brunch. Every other place was nuts to butts (we tried the Whiskey Cake first and f– outta here with that mess — that was a nightmare on a Sunday morning at 11). It was pretty empty. We sat on the back deck where you can bring your dog or your kid. There’s a lane for cornhole and tv’s outside. It looks like it’d be a really fun place to party, watch football.
The food isn’t super great. We got chips and queso and I could almost see that someone in the back, with his gloved fingers, had grasped the smallest amount of brisket between two pinched fingers and sprinkled it into our queso. It may as well not be advertised with brisket, that’s how little there was in there.
I’m not sure if we’d go back but I definitely had a great time while I was here.

Well it’s February now and I had a friend come in from out of state. I took her here on a Thursday around 10pm. There was basically almost no one there.
We were waiting for someone to take our drink order for 10 minutes before anyone approached us. Once we got a waitress, she was much more interested in serving the groups of men than she was us 2 girls. Very slow service by this girl. I am guessing they have the decent waitresses work the weekends and not weekdays because– wow. What a difference from my last visit.

Average bar food, standard Texas beers, and an awesome patio is a short but sweet way of describing Katy Trail Ice House. It’s located in the heart of central and west Plano so you’re going to be around lots of suburbia folks.
The food here is standard Texas bar food. Large portions and pretty decent chips and guacamole. It’s nothing to write home about but after 2 – 3 glasses, you stop caring about what things taste like and just want grease instead.
The patio is really nice and perfect to hang out at during the spring and summer. It’s a solid place for beer and booze food.

Came here for the first time with my friends and dog and love the atmosphere and music. I ordered the Terlingua Pride Burger and it was amazing along with the chili on the burger. The service was also great. One thing was that the size of the hamburger was pretty small compared to what I expected. Definitely not a large burger.
But overall great experience here. Definitely would come back with my dog.

Unique great outdoor space. Just wish the parents would leave their kids at home.
Inside space is nice but is loud if the patio doors are closed due to weather. BBQ is great. Service is always good.

I didn’t even know there was a Katy Trail Ice House in Plano. This one is a very different atmosphere from the one in Uptown. This one has a much older crowd and the outdoor space just doesn’t compare. However, it is a fun place to come hang out and drink. I will say that Friday nights are very, very loud and you will be yelling the entire time.

I really love this place. Service is fantastic, the food ridiculous and pours very decent. Atmosphere is so much fun!

Positives: Ginormous Beer Glasses. Cute waitresses. TVs showing football games.
Negatives: Sub-​zero temperatures. Giant tasteless Onion Rings. Meh Burgers.

What an awesome place to come hangout and drink. We came here after the Red River Rivalry and waited in about a 15 min line. Not sure if this is normal in Dallas but in Austin, I don’t think any place has a bar just for people waiting in line. Having an ice cold beer while you wait to get in has to be one of the best ideas ever.
Once in, its a battle to find a table. You ended up making eye contact with every other person and hope they are about to get up so you can jump on the table. Even with the massive outdoor area, every table was taken. I will say that their servers were very attentive and helpful, even if you were not at a table, they would gladly take your order.
After getting a table, we were all able to order the huge margaritas and an appetizer of chips. Overall, this place has such an awesome atmosphere and vibe that I would definitely come back to when I visit Dallas again.

When Katy Trail does things right, it’s amazing! I absolutely love their burger, but I like it prepared a certain way. Unfortunately, their kitchen is inconsistent. A couple of times I’ve come in and asked for things to be prepared the way I like them, then been sorely disappointed. The fries are sometimes cold, we’ve had to send them back before, and, most recently, my burger wasn’t cooked all the way through. I know some people like their burgers medium rare, and with quality meat, that’s fine. But a restaurant burger needs to be well done. Mine was not. (It was on a to-​go order, so I just suffered through it.)
The wait staff are all nice. Some are more concerned with chit-​chat than service, but I have yet to meet any of them who were not willing to fix any problem we had. Wait times for service can be a bit long, but I always believed the end result was worth it. Now, I’m hesitant to go back because of the inconsistency in quality.

My friends and I had our monthly girls night out here this past week. We had the bottle caps which were very yummy. We also had the onion rings, pretty disappointed. They lacked flavor and crunch. I ordered the breakfast tacos with a side of charro beans. The beans were very yummy, the tacos were over stuffed and very greasy. My plate was «wet» from grease. My friend ordered the quesadillas and was told they came with a side, they didn’t come with the plate. When she asked for them, they were brought later and charged to her bill. She asked why if they were included (as the waitress replied earlier) she said they weren’t and she would take them of the bill since «you didn’t understand me»…
The margaritas were $ 10 a piece, happy hour price, $ 1 off the regular price. Not much of a happy hour price.

There is something quintessentially Texan about the Outpost. Go for the patio, barbecue and the game on a Sunday afternoon. The patio is family and dog friendly. There are plenty of big screens. You’ll find a great mix of Texans in a pleasant communal atmosphere.
There is an enormous barbecue/​smoker out front where they are doing some good work. Now, I will admit that I am not «Mr. Barbeque.» There are aficionados who can wax eloquent about the virtues of different pit-​masters around the town and state. I am not one of them. That said, the brisket is really good, not too greasy with a light smoke to it. Really delicious. Portions are ample so skip breakfast if you’re heading there.
They do sell out of barbecue. Just be forewarned.
Full bar with a good range. Ladies can get a mimosa at brunch. Brutes can have a decent whiskey on the rocks. Draft beers comes in fishbowl-​sized schooners and are cold enough to make your teeth hurt. Get the local Revolver Blood and Honey.
The patio at the Outpost is dog friendly. I repeat myself. They are one of the few places that are actually set up to handle dogs. Head to Norbuck Bark Park near by then stop in for lunch with your canine friend.

Right, smackdab in the middle of Plano they put this little gem. Usually when you pull up the smell of the massive smoker in front immediately makes your mouth water. (Although we were told by a server that they don’t actually cook anything it is, just smoke wood for the smell.) We frequent here when the weather is nice during fall and spring.
The patio is legit, no scenic views of anything, but hey we’re in Plano right… It is like a much smaller version of the location in Dallas. The patio is filled with stump tables, picnic tables, and heaters when it’s cooler, TV’s, corn hole, what else do you want?
The venison chili is good and the right price. So are the quesadillas $ 10 for 4. They are thickly stuffed with choice of meat, cheesy and come w/​all the necessities: guac, sour cream, salsa. Beer comes in large goblet style glasses and they offer a good selection with a few craft beers. We enjoy bringing the pooch too. Not many places in Plano still allow that these days. Usually spend around $ 60+ for 2 people to have a couple beers and food but it’s doable for Sunday Funday.

This bar is pretty cool year-​round. I typically frequent it when football season rolls around. The cold, cold beers come in big gauntlets that are perfect for cooling down on a summery afternoon. The restaurant has garage-​like doors that open to let the breeze filter through, and it serves as access to the patio as well.
The patio is my favorite.
During the sweltering days, the misting fans are frantically cooling the crowd. In the brisk winter, they have outdoor heaters to warm your fingers. TV’s are placed strategically throughout the restaurant and patio. There is a play area at the very back where little kiddos are usually running round or playing cornhole. I particularly love the stringed lights that are strewn throughout the patio. This makes nighttime a whole different feel.
For a sports bar, Katy Trail’s menu is marginally better. I’ve had the chicken salad sandwich and a bowl of chili, both of which were wonderful. They also serve BBQ until they run out, but I wasn’t super impressed with it.
I’ve been to the Katy Trails in Uptown, and it’s a significantly larger space than this location, but nothing super special to me. I pretty much come here every Sunday to catch the football game. A dog friendly patio without having to travel too far is always a plus in my book!

Great patio with lots of shade trees, misting fans, and cigar friendly. TVs everywhere make it a super place to watch your favorite team play. Great country music played over the patio speakers.

Pretty cool place with the outdoor feel of the Katy Trail in uptown — minus the trail. The patio opens to the dining and great for groups. Essentially you come here to hangout with friends and drink. After a few rounds, the food is more tolerable. Staff can be slow, but efficient about clearing glasses off tables.

I wasn’t sure how I would like this place because Unilocalers were saying it had slow service blah blah blah. Sorry. I came with a party of 6 and we had seating right when we walked in. On the patio with a server within seconds. I might add it was 530 pm on a sunny summer Saturday!
My food was really good. I had a chicken sandwich. Everyone else with me ordered brisket and they enjoyed their food also. The waitress was very nice and sweet to my kids.
The patio has misting fans, chill music, some plants outside. Very good vibes. I will be back, without the kids!

Plano ‘burbs crowd (housewives, divorcee, young Plano crowd) love this bar. Yes, it’s co they have a huge patio and all but I just can’t listen to country music all day long. It’s kinda depressing at times. Lol.
Upon entering this place. A smell of moldy, old rag will hit you in the face. I’m thinking it’s coming for rug placed by the door but don’t worry! The smell will fade away once your nostrils have gotten the hang of it.

So the food here wasn’t spectacular — probably a solid 3. But I really want to give them 4 stars because their patio is simply amazing!
Onion rings — decent, but a little hard to eat. I couldn’t fold one enough to take a bite. And had to resort to using silverware to get to it. Maybe not what I would order next time.
Chicken Tacos — just a meh. The guacamole was great. But I didn’t really like the beans they put on the side. It also has bacon in it btw. Yes I’m a weirdo. I really didn’t like the bacon at all.
As for being here right as the sun is setting, the surroundings are simply gorgeous. And it just gets prettier as the night gets later. Great spot for pictures with friends. I’d definitely come back just for the view!

You might overlook the breakfast tacos on the menu — they’re listed in a little box all by themselves at the bottom corner of the menu. DO NOT overlook them, though. They are fantastic. I had one bacon and one sausage. The bacon was probably the best bacon breakfast taco I’ve had — crispy, real, substantial pieces of perfectly cooked and flavorful bacon, with just the right amount of eggs and cheese, wrapped in a nice soft flour tortilla. The sausage breakfast taco also was yummy.
The other thing to be sure not to miss is the onion rings… mmmmm, a fabulous peppery batter and perfectly fried, with the rings cut thick enough to bite through and not fall apart when you bite into one. Served with a side of ranch dipping sauce, these babies definitely hit the spot. Big enough for two people to share (three HUGE rings) or one hungry person to devour solo.
HINT: If you want both, you can ask for onion rings to be substituted for the traditional breakfast taco sides (pico de gallo and beans). The kitchen actually made a mistake on my order and sent both, so I basically got a free side of onion rings. Love it.
Now, what’s not so great about this place?
1) SO loud. If you’re sitting inside, you can’t hear the person across from you talking unless you lean forward and yell. Even the people next to me had trouble understanding me, even when I was yelling. Don’t come with a large group — you won’t be able to have a group conversation at all. Plus, on a weekend, you’ll be lucky if you find four seats together, much less more than that. Which brings me to #2…
2) Parking is a NIGHTMARE on weekends, so you basically have to valet. It’s complimentary (not including the tip), but still… annoying.
3) If it starts raining (which it did the night I was there), everyone on the patio rushes inside, and it’s like flashbacks to a college frat party. People holding over-​full beers and margaritas and crowding into every open spot of floor possible, including circling all around your table and hovering like vultures hoping you’ll leave so that they can sit down.
Blech. I think this place would be a much better experience on a weekday, but who knows. At any rate, don’t go out of your way to come here, but if you do, get the breakfast tacos and the onion rings.
Oh, and the margarita packs very little punch… don’t spend the $ 8 on it.

The food here is just ok. I ordered two brisket tacos on a thursday evening. They were pretty large in portion and were pretty filling. The brisket tacos just come with lettuce and tomatoes on a flour tortilla. I wish the ingredients were nicer.
The best part of this experience was the crowds. It’s the only nice patio in Plano that one could sit down and think they’re enjoying the Dallas scenary in the Suburbs of Plano.
Service was great as well. Overall, 3.5 stars.

Weak mixed drinks/​margaritas. Good beer selection though. I tend to come back because it’s right off the trail and the spacious outdoor seating area is great. (I’m a sucker for decked out patio/​outdoor seating establishments! Especially when the weather is PERFECT!) I enjoy the atmosphere and love that fact they are pet friendly. My Boston, Bella-​Boo, loves meeting new friends there and seeing old friends! The food is mediocre. Nothing to get hyped about. Again, this is a cool place to drop by and have a beer and mingle with friends. And there Nothing like having a cold brew after getting your fitness on! Lol

The burger was GREAT — 5 stars!
The skinny margarita and beer — 4 stars!
The service, eh 3.5 stars.
The smoking allowed outside — 0 stars.
The prices were reasonable and the menu, although not vast, offered something for everyone. It was a beautiful evening so we seated ourselves outside on the patio. Our little guy (6 months old) was truly entertained by the kids playing outside and the lights in the trees. We were kindly greeted and told our waitress would be around shortly. It wasn’t exactly «shortly», but it was reasonable. We placed our drink order and eventually our food order.
All was well until the table in front of us lit up and smoke was wafting our direction. BUMMER! We just moved to Dallas from smoke free San Diego, so it was a little shocking. We were ready to re-​locate inside, but the wind quickly changed directions and we were out of harms way.
The burger was AWESOME! We’ve had at least 50 cheeseburgers from all over, and this one was tasty. The bun to burger ratio was just right, the gooey cheese melted right into the onions and meat, and with every bite you got a little of everything. Wonderfully delicious.
The service wasn’t bad, just absent. We were never asked if we wanted another drink and our waters were never filled, but we were fine. At least we weren’t bothered and were left to enjoy the evening.
We’d definitely come back, but will be sure to either sit in-​doors or position ourselves near non-​smokers.