Hotel El Capitan Restaurant & Bar

Elizabeth Heffernan

2024-04

We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at Hotel El Capitan. It feels as though you've walked into an oasis. It is a beautiful, elegant historic building with modern amenities. The beds are comfortable and the rooms are pristine. We are dinner in the restaurant on a very busy night, but the service was still impeccable. My half chicken was delicious, and my husband enjoyed his steak. Margaritas were served up with a smile and were super delicious. Next morning our complimentary breakfast was a buffet including everything you could need. My waffle was in the shape of Texas. It must be dog friendly because I saw three of them. We recommend! The only thing that took one star away was that the remote to the television did not work. But other than that it was lovely.Rooms: Comfortable and pristine.Food & drinks: Fabulous food, served up with good cheer. Great margaritas.

Teresa Lamb

2024-04

Wonderful two queen room in a fantastically restored old style hotel. Beds very comfy with the right amount of support. Pillows were great, a variety of firm or squishy to make anyone happy. Shower was amazing and the bathroom really cute with classic black and white tiles and very clean. Excellent thick soft towels as well. Room had a microwave and a mini fridge too. We ate dinner at the restaurant and it was tasty, but a little slower service than we would have liked, but the waitress and everyone there was clearly working their butts off, so I totally understand. Van Horn is clearly a town where few live and lots of people travel through so the surrounding area is pretty depressed. The hotel El Capitan is a beacon of comfort, beauty and history.

Barbara Pierce

2024-05

We stop here four times a year with our pups coming and going from our two homes. Grass outside for dogs to relieve themselves with poop bags and disposal. The desert has few places to stop without stickers. The rooms have patios so dogs can hang outside. Their dining room food is delicious and their free breakfast is amazing. We are so thankful we found this place.

Jovanna Durazo

2024-05

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Crystal Gramm

2024-03

My husband and I were just passing through, so we only stayed one night. What a wonderful hotel! It was so nice to go down to the restaurant and have a meal and Margarita after a long day on the road. Our room was very clean, quite possibly the cleanest room we have ever stayed in and comfortable! Our room had higher end toiletries and bedding another perk after being on the road. Although we paid a little extra for our room, it had this sweet little private patio with a fountain and table & chirs. We absolutely loved it! We really wanted to stay another night or two. In the morning, we walked down to the restaurant for coffee and breakfast and were pleasantly surprised by a wonderful breakfast with eggs, potatoes, bacon, fruit, and they even had waffles in the shape of the state of Texas! Right before checking out, we took a quick look in the gift shop that had a lot of nice souvenirs and handmade products. I really hope we get the opportunity to stay at this hotel again, and hopefully, our stay won't be so short.

William Higgins

2024-04

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Elizabeth Byrnes

2024-02

We didn’t stay at the hotel, just visited for dinner. Hotel property is beautiful and an unexpected find. Restaurant is not too fancy. Interesting menu and very good wine selection. Food was good, service personable.When we left we noticed we had a flat tire. The very nice young woman at the front desk contacted a friend who came out, took the tire to her shop and plugged the leak. Great service and very good peopleFood & drinks: Chicken was nicely prepared. Fresh, flavourful and interesting selections.

Helen Howard

2024-04

Wear river about 6.30 for dinner and had a 20 minute water for a table which allowed us time to restore this restored Gem in the middle of West Texas. Loved the tile work in the lobby and decor in the lobby and restaurant. We ordered salads and a cream brulee to share and all excellent. Ambience was amazing as well. I'll definitely be back

Darlene foell

2024-05

I highly recommend the hotel. The front desk staff were exceptional. Very accommodating and friendly. The room was fabulous but the restaurant service was probably the worse we have ever had. It was downhill from the minute we were seated.   I have been putting off posting a bad review thinking that I might change my mind, but as we continued our vacation I was reminded at each restaurant how good customer service should be and it only reaffirmed how bad we were treated here.   We sat down around 845pm . The restaurant closed at 10 so we knew we were good.  After 20 minutes and no one coming to take our order or offer water etc, I went to to the hostess to ask if we could place our orders.   After another 15 minutes and 3 other customers coming in and having their orders taken did I again go back to the hostess to ask what was going on. She went to talk to a waitress and the hostess relayed to use that our waitress was not available and would be there shortly.   So we waited a few minutes more and that same waitress that told the hostess to tell us our waitress wasnt available came to take our order claiming that because we were seated behind the column in the restaurant that she couldn't see us.  But she saw us many times as she went to help the 3 other people who came in after us.   We finally placed drink and appetizer orders only to get very weak bar drinks and missing an appetizer that we had to remind the waitress that we didn't get.   After what seemed like forever, our food finally came and yes she said they are training 4 new people in the kitchen but the food was barely passable.   Ribeye was too salty. Salmon dish had no flavor. My sons hamburger was the only hit.  The waitress apologized at one point during the night and said that she would comp us desserts so we thought, well thats cool cause we were already going to get dessert anyways.   At the end of our meal we waited again patiently for her to come around and take our order and I had actually gotten up to go find her and she met me halfway and had 3 desserts in hand.  Said she was bringing them to us but they were not desserts we were planning on ordering. So we told her what we wanted and she went back to get those which we asked her to put to go since we weren't going to wait any longer.  And the kicker... while we were still eating our dinner, another female started cleaning up the restaurant. This isn't bad, I have been in restaurants many times where the table service is cleared off before the room is cleared but this female started mopping right around our table with a pinesol type cleaner and it was very pungent.   That smell is okay when you are cleaning a room, a house, a bathroom but when you are trying to eat your food but all you can smell is pinesol, its not a pleasant thing.   The waitress ended up taking 20% off the bill but this was by far the worst restaurant experience I think I have ever had.  I rarely complain but this experience was that bad. Yes, stay at the hotel but avoid the

K. Burnham

2023-12

Had a wonderful stay on a cross country drive. While we stay in some national brands on long drives, they’re not memorable. Hotel El Capitan is, and in all the right ways. It’s warm and inviting, friendly, super clean, and feels like you’re in west Texas. Our room was so comfortable and had a beautiful little patio. We had a wonderful dinner in the restaurant, where everyone seemed to care about our day’s drive. And the hotel is dog friendly…icing on the cake. Treat yourself to this special place if you’re in the area!

Amy Rahilly

2023-12

Stopped on a last minute trip from Texas to New Mexico and was so pleasantly surprised. The hotel itself is beautiful and charming with a lot of cool history. Our room was clean, updated, and had a super comfy bed! We ate dinner in the hotel restaurant and had a delicious meal. In the morning, we had a delightful time with Robert (the breakfast chef) who was so friendly and accommodating. 10/10 would stay here again!! Everyone was so super nice!!!

Michael Someone

2024-04

Did not stay at the hotel, but ate at the restaurant. What a nightmare. Not only did the food take forever to come out, but the pork chop was raw and some of the broccoli on the side was still frozen, with actual ice in the stem. We ordered pork chop and smoked 1/2 chicken. The chicken was fine, but raw pork is unacceptable.

Rachel Warren

2024-02

On a 3-day road trip from MO to CA, staying at the El Capitan Hotel was a real treat! The hotel is beautifully restored and all the staff was very welcoming. Comfortable beds and clean rooms. Had really great drinks and dinner in their restaurant and bar. Rejuvenated us to finish the final stretch of our trip!Food & drinks: The pecan encrusted salmon was very good!

Dan Barber

2023-12

The hotel is an excellent renovation of a 1930 era hotel. Updates such as the elevator make staying there a pleasant step back into time. The restaurant offers fine dinning and a good wine selection. Our room was clean and the bed was comfortable. I highly recommend staying in a room with a balcony. What truly makes the hotel a Southwest Texas oasis is the way hotel management and staff treat their guests. From check-in to check-out, hotel staff treat guests knowing that the hotel is in the hospitality business, not the lodging business.

jim nihls

2024-03

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James Gardiner

2024-01

My wife and I wanted some time away from the family after the holidays just for her and I to take a break and get back to each other and this hotel is just wonderful for that. Nice quiet place that we escaped to and the hotel is just amazing with the period of the 1930 my wife already wants to know when we are coming back. Okay the room was comfortable we chose one that looks out on to the courtyard and it is so beautiful we got here late and the people were just wonderful thanks you for everything have fun with open eyes at this hotel

David Roberts

2024-03

Excellent food and great customer service. This is the best restaurant in Van Horn. The steaks are great, but the key is the staff. They are extremely friendly and helpful. For added fun, stay after the restaurant closes (at 10 pm) the bar stays open to midnight. The staff stays and has fun. There are a lot of friendly locals there.

Sudarshan Karkada

2024-04

** This review is for the restaurant only **I visited this restaurant last week along with a bunch of my friends. We did not stay at this hotel. Our overall experience at this restaurant was unsatisfactory.The food menu is very limited. There is only one vegetarian item and they don't offer any vegan items. They cannot accommodate any changes/additions to the items.I ordered the vegetarian item - pasta. The only change they would entertain is to add mushrooms. I suspect that they have plain and mushroom Alfredo sauces in the pantry. The food was lukewarm and unappetizing. None of us wanted to go back to that restaurant again during our stay at Van Horn.For some strange reason, no other restaurant was open in that weekend except for a pizza shop. The whole weekend! So, we drove out to another neighboring town (18 miles away) to get our food.I would not recommend this restaurant to anybody.

Whit Gentry

2023-11

This was our second stay here. Beautiful hotel and exceptionally taken care of inside and outside. Restaurant was clean and maintained with great care. Wait staff is still learning what good service is all about. Very good bar drinks and exceptionally good salad. The main course pistachio breaded steak was previously cooked sometime this week making it dry, less than warm and tasteless, bad waste of $22, ate about a fourth of it. Super trains across the street run throughout the night and they get to use their warning horn as they pass through the intersection in front of the hotel.

Lori Jacobi

2024-02

What a wonderful little gem this hotel is! Authentic "Wild West" feel, but with all the modern amenities a weary traveler needs.Staff were all very friendly, room was clean, and the entire property was very well maintained.I would go back to Van Horn just for this treasure!

Bob Hacker

2023-12

Food and service were a 10. The raspberry pork chops was outstanding. Cooked and seasoned to perfection. Full bar, as well as bar seating. Decor was well done. The area needs some help in terms of attractions. The restaurant is well worth the visit.Rooms: We just had dinner on the road so no review

Rebecca Feinstein

2024-04

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Rachael Bailey

2024-03

We came in super late at like 4am but they were very helpful. The room was small but so cute and I loved the balcony. Street parking was available for our truck and trailer.

Lynn

2024-04

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Amy Bush

2024-04

This place is gorgeous. The more you look the more cool old features you find. The rooms are cozy and comfortable, and the restaurant and bar are out of this world!Noteworthy details: There is a lot of information about the history of the hotel, and all the amazing detail work in it. Also lots of little nooks and crannies with gift shops, puzzles out on tables, books for sale, etc.

Phil Van Ingen

2024-04

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Laura Gordon

2024-02

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Doug Danstrom

2024-04

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Greg Winegardner

2024-04

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Monika Estabrook

2023-11

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