Local favorite has loyal following

Customers at The Nook are so loyal, they have a name for themselves: Nookers.

"I have customers come in and say, 'I saw some Nookers yesterday at the store,'" owner Debbie Beshears said.

These faithful diners have created a community around their favorite place to eat. Beshears said there are often discussions going on between tables throughout the small restaurant on politics, the news of the day or something funny that happened in the past at the Nook. Eating at the Nook is such a part of some customer's routines that Beshears often has people waiting outside when she arrives in the morning to open the restaurant.

"They try us for the food, and return for the rude," she said.

Beshears refers to the witty, and most often sarcastic, repartee their staff has with their regular clients, who she said are more like family than customers. In fact, Beshears and employees often get invited to and attend their customers weddings, baby showers and birthday parties. When Beshears had to evacuate her house in Grimes County during the 2011 tri-county fires, she had offers to stay in peoples homes or have her hotel room paid for.

"It's really the personal relationships that sets us apart," Beshears said.

Beyond the relationships, people come for the homemade food on a menu that has remained relatively unchanged since the Nook opened in 1987. Beshears uses high quality meats and fresh food. The two recipes she has developed are the chicken and dumplings and cinnamon rolls, which she makes from scratch each morning. While Beshears has only owned the restaurant since April, she had worked for the Nook for 16 years, first as a waitress and then managing the restaurant.

"We have seven employees and everyone has been here for a long time," she said. "We know everything about our customers and they know everything about us."

Owner recommendations

• Chicken Salad Croissant—chicken salad with lettuce and tomato on a croissant or choice of bread. ($6.25)
• The Reuben—corned beef or turkey with Swiss cheese, sauerkraut and dressing on grilled rye. ($6.25)
• Avocado Bacon Burger—Sliced avocado and bacon with melted Swiss cheese. ($6.25)
• Nook Taco—egg, potato, cheese and choice of bacon and sausage. ($3.25)

Customer comments

"We love the family that runs the place. We've been coming for five years, and we come as much as we can. We like that you can get breakfast anytime and their lunch specials and soups." -Lynn P.

"I like the help and that it's locally owned. They remember you, and they know what you want when you sit down." -Mike L.

"It's a great place to eat—everything I've had here has been good." -Wally A.

"The people and the service are great. You can get eggs anywhere, but it's the people that make it special." -Tomball Mayor Gretchen Fagan

"They have a unique way of being sarcastic with their customers. People come back for that." -Mike F.

Weekly lunch specials

The Nook serves the same lunch specials every week Monday–Thursday. All lunch specials come with a vegetable, baked potato and piece of corn bread for $7.95.

• Monday: Beef Tips
• Tuesday: Chicken and Dumplings
• Wednesday: Meatloaf
• Thursday: Smothered Steak

The Nook, 1218 W. Main St., Tomball, 281-255-8406

• Hours: Mon.–Sat. 6 a.m.–2 p.m.,
• Sun. 7 a.m.–1 p.m.