Deviled eggs turn pink from beet brine and get a little kick from curry powder at this Texas restaurant. The cheddar tuna melt is made with dill pickle relish and freshly baked brioche.
Even the key lime pie has a buttery graham cracker crust.
The inspiration is a grandmother who made room for family and neighbors at her table. Her leg of lamb helped shape a menu built around the comforting meals she loved to serve.
The owners have carried that same generous spirit into their cozy dining room.
I’d be curious about the tuna melt first, especially knowing the story behind it. You can settle in near the horseshoe-shaped counter, share a few dishes, and finish with pie.
For a place named after one grandmother, the welcome is meant for everyone.
Grandma Margaret Is the Reason Your Chair Is Waiting
Every good restaurant has an origin story, and this one starts with a grandmother from Ontario. Margaret’s in Marfa is named after Marielle La Rue’s late grandmother, Margaret.
Margaret was known for her wildly loving nature. Her cooking pulled family and neighbors together around one table.
The family motto practically wrote itself. She always had a place and a plate for everyone at her table.
La Rue and her husband, Brandon Messer, turned that idea into a full restaurant mission. The goal is comfort food that brings back the suppers Margaret used to serve.
I love that the whole concept hangs on generosity rather than a trendy gimmick. Plenty of places chase the newest food fad, but this one chases a feeling of home.
That feeling shows up in small choices. The menu leans on familiar dishes that many folks grew up eating at a relative’s house.
You don’t need to know Margaret to understand her style of hospitality. Most of us had someone like her, the person who always pulled up an extra chair.
Honoring her this way is pretty sweet. It also gives every dinner here a little backstory worth sharing at the table.
A Love Story Started in This Very Room
Brandon Messer and Marielle La Rue didn’t just pick a random storefront. They first met in this same space back in 2016.
At the time, Messer co-owned Stellina, the restaurant that lived here before. Messer is a Georgetown native, so his Texas roots run deep.
When Stellina closed, it left a real gap in Marfa’s small food scene. Small towns feel that kind of loss quickly.
The couple returned to Marfa in late 2021 with a fresh plan. They opened Margaret’s in the same spot where their own story began.
That’s a pretty romantic twist for a restaurant. Most couples frame a photo from their first meeting, and these two reopened the whole room.
Chef de cuisine Lee Ouellette later joined the team in the kitchen. He has supported the comfort-focused menu while adding a strong eye on sustainability.
Sustainability isn’t just a buzzword out here. Marfa sits far from big cities, so sourcing ingredients takes real planning and creativity.
Knowing the backstory makes dinner feel more personal. You’re eating inside a place that already meant something to the people running it.
Grab a Stool at the Horseshoe Bar and Feel Like a Regular
Twenty-one seats wrap around one curved counter, and it might be the friendliest furniture in town. The horseshoe bar is the centerpiece of Margaret’s in Marfa.
This bar has history. It served as a community hub back when the space was Stellina, and it still pulls people together today.
The shape matters more than you’d guess. A horseshoe lets diners see each other across the curve, so conversation feels natural.
Grandma Margaret would probably approve. It’s basically a giant dinner table with extra elbow room.
Here’s a practical tip for your visit. Margaret’s doesn’t take reservations, so the bar can be a smart move when tables fill up.
Solo travelers should love this option too. Eating alone feels a lot less lonely when you’re part of a big, curved crowd.
The bar also gives you a front-row view of the room’s energy. You’ll notice who’s ordering what, which can be dangerous for your willpower.
Spotting a slice of key lime pie heading down the counter? Good luck ignoring that.
Your Spot Is Right on the Main Drag
Finding dinner in a small desert town can feel like a scavenger hunt. Thankfully, this one is impossible to miss.
Margaret’s in Marfa sits at 103 N Highland Ave, Marfa, TX 79843. It’s inside the historic Brite Building, right on the town’s main drag.
That location puts you in the middle of the action. Highland is the street most visitors wander anyway, so dinner fits easily into a day of exploring.
The building adds some old-school character too. A historic shell paired with a modern dining room is a very Marfa combination.
Marfa itself has a fun backstory. It began as a railroad water stop in 1883, deep in the northern Chihuahuan Desert.
Later, artist Donald Judd moved here in the 1970s and set up permanent art installations. That turned the ranching town into a world-famous art destination.
Today, ranching roots, minimalist art, and wide desert views all share the same streets. Margaret’s fits right into that mix.
So park, stroll, and look up at the old building before you head inside. Texas history and dinner are only a few steps apart.
Start With Cheese Toast and Pink Deviled Eggs
Deviled eggs that are pink? Yep, and they’re one of the most talked-about starters at Margaret’s in Marfa.
The eggs are brined in beet juice, which gives them that bold color. A dash of curry powder adds a warm, unexpected kick.
It’s a playful twist on a classic party snack. Grandma’s potluck tray, meet the art town.
Then there’s the cheese toast. It’s often served with creamy burrata and roasted tomatoes piled on top.
That combo hits every comfort button at once. Warm bread, soft cheese, and juicy tomatoes are hard to argue with.
The toast is a great pick for sharing with your table. Splitting it also leaves more room for a main course and dessert.
Keep in mind that menus here can change. Some dishes rotate, so be ready to spot something new on any given night.
My advice is simple. Order a starter or two for the middle of the table and let everyone grab a bite.
It’s exactly how a big family supper would begin. Margaret’s whole philosophy fits on one shared plate.
Bolognese, a Tuna Melt, and Steak Walk Into a Supper
Some mains try to impress you. These ones would rather give you a hug.
Spaghetti bolognese is a dependable favorite here and shows up on lots of tables. It’s the kind of meal that feels like Sunday dinner any night of the week.
Then comes the cheddar tuna melt. The tuna is spiked with dill pickle relish and piled onto freshly baked brioche.
That sounds like a school-lunch memory wearing its best outfit. Comforting, cheesy, and a little bit fancy.
Steak fans have options too. One version features a teres major steak with crispy Yukon potatoes and a tallow aioli.
That aioli has a clever backstory. It uses steak trim, so less goes to waste in the kitchen.
Other dishes have included salmon, grilled carrots, and eggplant parmesan. The eggplant parm leans proudly into its Italian-American roots.
Variety is the real win here. A meat lover and a pasta fan can share one table and both leave happy.
Just don’t be surprised if the menu shifts a bit between visits. Seasonal changes keep things interesting.
Plant-Based Guests Get a Seat at the Table Too
A place and a plate for everyone. That family motto stretches to diners with different eating needs, too.
The menu at Margaret’s in Marfa includes choices for vegetarian, gluten-free, and meat-focused guests. That makes group dinners a lot less stressful.
Vegan diners have some interesting options. Past dishes have included a summer squash salad and pickled cremini mushrooms.
Baked yam and warm Castelvetrano olives have also appeared on the menu. Some plates can be customized, while others may already fit a vegan diet.
Warm olives deserve a special shout-out. They’re buttery, briny, and feel like a small luxury.
Here’s a helpful tip if you eat plant-based. Ask your server which dishes can be adjusted that night, since the menu changes.
The staff is known for being warm and helpful with menu questions. That guidance makes ordering much easier.
I can’t imagine Grandma Margaret turning anyone away from supper over what they eat. This menu seems to follow her lead.
Everyone at the table deserves something delicious. Here, that’s part of the plan.
Save Room for Key Lime Pie and Plan Your Night Smart
Dessert here comes with a bright, tangy punch. The key lime pie is a crowd favorite and a fitting end to dinner.
It features a silky, luscious custard and a buttery graham cracker crust. After a hearty meal, that citrus snap feels refreshing.
Grandmas everywhere know a meal isn’t finished without pie. Margaret’s in Marfa clearly agrees.
Now for some planning tips. Dinner runs Wednesday through Saturday, from 5 PM to 9 PM.
The restaurant is closed Sunday through Tuesday. Double-check your travel dates so you don’t arrive hungry on a dark night.
Remember, reservations aren’t accepted. Arriving early or snagging bar seats can help on busy evenings.
This spot is popular with people who live in the area. Locals, ranchers, and travelers often share the same room, which adds to the fun.
That mix captures what makes far West Texas so charming. Everyone ends up at one big table, more or less.
So plan ahead, show up hungry, and leave space for that pie. Margaret would want you to have seconds.
