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Good Luck Grill • Pflugerville

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By Robert Bell Friday, 03 April 2009

Shana Whiteley was a long way from Texas when she decided she wanted to open a restaurant back home in the Lone Star State. The Pflugerville native was living in the Ukraine where she moved after college to work for the Peace Corps.

Owner Shana Whiteley sits in a corner booth at the Good Luck Grill. Photo by Robert Bell

One night, Whiteley dreamt that she and her high school friend opened a restaurant. Upon moving back to Texas, she found that her friend had already opened a restaurant. Whiteley worked there for nearly a decade, but she still longed to own her own restaurant. With her friend’s support, Whiteley opened the Good Luck Grill in November 2007.

The Good Luck Grill is just past the Pflugerville city limits in the country. It is the kind of place that is pleasantly familiar to those who grew up eating in Texas diners. The walls are covered with antiques and old signs. Vintage R&B plays in the background, and there are plenty of burgers, sandwiches, salads and deep-fried eats on hand, all served up with Whiteley’s unique touch.

Chicken-fried steak is available as a dinner ($8.50 for a single, $12 for a double), a sandwich ($7) or in a basket ($6.70). It is made in-house and is definitely not the frozen, pre-breaded variety peddled at many chain restaurants. The gravy — a vital complement to chicken-fried steak — was creamy, rich and full of flavor.

The burger ($5.50) was tender, tasty, served on a toasted bun and wrapped in paper, which made it easier to eat. It truly sets a new standard for hamburgers.

Fried green tomatoes ($3 for a small) were a real treat. They were tangy and slightly sweet, with a crunchy cornmeal batter and a side of ranch. The French fries were crispy and had a great texture. Anyone who has never dipped fries in gravy or thinks it’s too weird, needs to think again. Ketchup comes in a distant second to the Good Luck Grill’s cream gravy.

The cuisine mirrors the atmosphere at Good Luck Grill — both are familiar and comforting. Whiteley has cultivated a friendly environment. She was on a first-name basis with every diner who walked through the door. After all, this is her home turf.

“My parents live 3 miles from here,” she said. “They’d say, ‘It sure would be nice to have somewhere to eat,’ and I said, ‘Let me see what I can do about that.’”

The Good Luck Grill hosts live music and popular outdoor games like horseshoes and washers. Map showing location of Good Luck Grill - Photo by Amy Stansbury

Map showing location of Good Luck Grill - Photo by Amy Stansbury

The biggest challenge so far has been the economy, she said.

“Maybe you had people who used to eat out four times a month, and now they only eat out two times a month,” she said.

But economic turmoil notwithstanding, Whiteley’s restaurant has prospered. She enjoys owning her own business, though she said she has never worked so hard in her life.

Judging from the food, it seems that Whiteley has created her own good luck.