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County Seat Café • Georgetown

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By Joseph M. de Leon Friday, 12 June 2009

When Debbie Grover moved back to Texas after eight years in Michigan, she knew she wanted to make people happy with home cooking. That’s exactly what she does as the new owner of County Seat Café in Georgetown.

For more than 30 years, Grover managed several restaurants and worked in the healthcare industry where she traveled the nation to open assisted living centers.

County Seat Café’s owners bought the eatery in February. Photo by Joseph M. de Leon

“I trained many staffs and opened places where you didn’t even have a fork or spoon in the place,” Grover said. “I really love being around people and bringing them comfort.”

After opening centers in Grand Rapids, Mich., and Detroit, she managed a coffee shop for Grand Rapids Community College. As Grover kept up with hungry students and catered college banquets, she realized her passion as a restaurateur. But something was missing — family. Grover’s three adult children lived in Round Rock, where she would vacation about twice a year.

“Every time I’d come, I’d visit the Georgetown Square and liked that there is always something to do there,” she said. “I decided to come back south because my family is all here, plus the winters up north are rugged and these old bones don’t take the cold like they used to.”

Grover moved back to Texas in August 2008, then bought County Seat Café in February with her daughter Melissa Vaclavik and friend Trudy Waldron. The location was perfect, and the trio loved the atmosphere the historic building offers patrons.

While nearly unchanged from the previous owners’ menu, Grover has added her own touches to the restaurant’s offerings, including wraps and cold plates for the summer. While diners can enjoy a down-home atmosphere during the week, the restaurant is a bit more upscale on weekends.

Among the most popular appetizers are the Texas toothpicks ($4.99). The lightly battered julienne-cut jalapeño peppers are served with a side of ranch dressing. Diners may also enjoy fried pickles, crab stuffed jalapeño peppers and fried green tomatoes, which are served as a trio ($13.99).

For lunch, Grover’s version of a chicken salad sandwich ($7.99) served with one side is a popular choice. Sweet potato French fries are the perfect accompaniment, but the sandwich can also be served with french fries or homemade potato chips.

Those who like seafood will enjoy the catfish ($11.99), served fried, grilled or blackened. Two sides, hush puppies and a roll complete the dish.

For dessert, choose from hand-dipped ice cream, shakes, malts, sundaes and banana splits. The ice cream parlor used to reside on the second floor where guests often sat to enjoy the view.

“We moved it down [stairs] because our servers were running up and down the stairs to serve waiting customers, so it was hard to keep an eye on it,” Grover said. “Now that we’ve moved it down, sales have picked up tremendously and people can still sit on the mezzanine if they choose.”

On Friday and Saturday nights, visitors may enjoy live country, blues or jazz on the second floor. A banquet hall that can seat up to 80 people takes up the third floor. Grover rents the hall out for events, such as wedding rehearsals or graduation parties.