Where to Eat in Palestine, Texas

Palestine has a deep barbecue bench. Country P's BBQ & Catering is a local favorite, praised by some as among the best barbecue in East Texas, with friendly service and smoked meats done right. Happy Trails BBQ puts a pitmaster's heart into its brisket and ribs, and longtime spots like Shep's Bar-B-Q and Big Dud's Bar-B-Que round out a strong roster.

As in most of East Texas, the move is to go early before the brisket runs out and to order whatever the smoker's known for. For a town of 18,500, the quality and choice of barbecue is impressive.

The jewel of Palestine's downtown dining is Queen St. Grille, set in a building with an original 1914 interior and led by chef Ira Mittelman. It serves modern cuisine — steaks to seafood — in a historic setting, and locals consider it the heartbeat of the downtown dining scene. It's the spot for a special occasion or a date night.

For wood-fired Italian, Switch specializes in Neapolitan-style pizzas and regional Italian dishes with a deep wine list, set on a terraced hill with a standout atmosphere. Between Queen St. Grille and Switch, Palestine offers more upscale options than most East Texas towns its size.

For Texas classics, Home Grill Steakhouse earns praise for its steaks (and, some say, barbecue as good as any in the region), and Hambone's is a reliable local pick for steaks, catfish, and hamburgers — the kind of hearty comfort food East Texas does best.

Beyond the standouts, Palestine has the usual range of diners, cafes, Tex-Mex spots, and chains along its main corridors. With the steady flow of railroad tourists and a notable retiree population, the town supports a more varied dining scene than its size alone would suggest.