Tye Phelps’ pleasures in life are great music, good food and the state of Texas. And at Love & War in Texas on the corner of US 75 and Plano Parkway, visitors receive a plate full of all three.
With its Texas-sized portions and recipes as well as homegrown musical acts and frosty 27-degree mugs of Shiner beer, anyone who walks in will leave a true Texan, Phelps said.
Everything about Love & War in Texas strives to be as unique as the state itself. Prior to opening the Plano location more than 16 years ago, Phelps said he was looking for a catchy and grandiose title to put above the door. He wanted the name to be something that you might hear actor Sam Elliott say in his resonant and easily recognizable voice.
Flipping through the Wall Street Journal one day, he read a story about the most-used words in print media at that time. Numbers two and three on the list were “love” and “war,” and the fifth most-used word was “Texas.” Phelps said he was inspired.
“All of our stuff is made here, grown here and produced here,” said Phelps, a third-generation Texan. “From the produce to the beer and even the wine. I don’t do any non-Texas wines. No French wine or California wine. We specialize in that.”
The menu highlights food from all over the state and reads much like a map of Texas. Phelps attributes this to his many travels across the state throughout his life, collecting recipes along the way and perfecting the regional flavors.
His chicken-fried steak is one of the more popular dishes. Phelps said it is about “2 miles long” and reminiscent to something one would find at restaurants in East Texas.
Having to choose a favorite dish would be like having to figure out which child he likes better, Phelps said, but one dish he is fond of is the Hunt, Texas, which is a mix of Hill Country game, including venison, smoked sausage, bacon-wrapped duck and quail.
Starting this month, Phelps will debut his new dish called the Conhunto, a named derived from the mix of Tejano and German music often said to have originated in the Hill Country. The platter consists of German habanero cheese sausage, jalapeño chicken sausage and black pepper sausage with horseradish cheese, habanero cheese and smoked cheddar cheese.
Also starting this month, customers can enjoy two new craft beers found exclusively at Love & War: The White Tail Blonde, a light and smooth honey blonde, and the darker Axis Ale.
Both recipes were developed by Phelps and brewed locally.
“Growing up and moving around Texas, I was exposed to different kinds of food. I just always enjoyed cooking,” Phelps said. “It’s just stuff that I have cooked over the years or that my brother made or my grandmother made. You’ll notice everything is homemade, and there is a lot of it. I think I lead the state in to-go packaging. You will not leave hungry.”
Phelps said he has made it his mission to treat his guests like family, and they have returned the gesture by returning to dine and enjoy the many musical acts that take the stage seven days a week. He developed friendships with his customers and watched them do the same with each other, he said.
Some have been coming to the restaurant for so long that Phelps said he has been able to watch their children grow up and eventually work for him as servers or hosts.
“Well, we won’t rush you in and rush you out, that’s for sure,” he said. “We want it to be relaxing and [for you to] just enjoy yourself. Heck, stay all night. Come in, have dinner, move outside [and] listen to great music.”
Live music scene
Most nights you will find local country and Americana acts performing on the outdoor stage. Phelps is no stranger to Texas music. His father was on the board of directors for the Kerrville Music folk festival.
“I have always been around music and always have been exposed to unique music. Our music is just like our food. It’s all Texas—it’s homegrown and it’s not produced [in] Nashville. Ninety percent of bands are from here and write their own stuff.”
