Lynette Gibbons started selling her homemade burgers at the Magnolia baseball field concession six years ago. When customers started to visit the baseball field specially for her food, she decided to open Out 2 Eat, a small walk-up restaurant next to the field, open year-round.

Out 2 Eat, with only outdoor seating, is located off FM 1774 next to the Contenders Choice Batting Cages, which Gibbons also runs.

Local Magnolia residents helped Gibbons get started, including the owner of the land who financed the restaurant, along with the contractors and electricians who donated their services to build it.

And local customers have helped her stay in business, she said. The customers who started eating her food at the ballpark concessions continue to patronize her stand and tell their friends about the restaurant as well.

"I call this the little place that faith built," Gibbons said. "I give God all the glory because he provided this for me. I have not advertised a lick. The word of mouth has been phenomenal. It's kept me here two years."

Gibbons cooks all the food fresh every day, including pico de gallo and potato salad, made from scratch. She makes guacamole fresh when it is ordered.

"This is something I have wanted to do all my life," she said. "It's just always been a dream."

Gibbons, who has eight children, has always enjoyed cooking and experimenting with recipes.

"I've always had to make things in big pots, so this wasn't a big change for me," she said.

The busiest time of the year for the restaurant is still the baseball season.

"During baseball season, we're booming," she said. "This place is packed all night."

Customer favorites:

• Pulled pork tacos—made with homemade coleslaw ($5)
• Jalapeno cheddar bacon burger—made with fresh grilled jalapenos under a fist-full of cheddar cheese and thick-cut bacon on a third-pound of angus beef, served on a sourdough, wheat or jalapeno cheddar bun ($7.25)
• Fiesta chicken sandwich—mesquite smoked chicken breast, covered in fresh pico de gallo, generously topped with cheddar cheese ($6.50)
• BBQ plates—made with either brisket, pulled pork or smoked boudin sausage, served with homemade potato salad and beans ($8.95–$10.95)
• Chicken fiesta salad—served with smoked chicken breast on a bed of lettuce, cheddar, pico, slices of lime and served with homemade honey mustard or ranch dressing ($5.50)
• Chicken tender basket—made with homemade bacon gravy ($6)
• The tacos and burgers at Out 2 Eat are all served with a special one-inch ring of fried crispy cheddar cheese that fans over the edge of the tortilla or bun
• Gibbons will often add a daily special to her menu and advertise it through the restaurant's Facebook page

Giving back

Gibbons gives back to the community any chance she can. She shut down Out 2 Eat a month after opening the restaurant to help with the relief efforts after the tri-county fires two years ago.

Seeing the need in the area through the fire relief efforts, Gibbons started a nonprofit, Intercept Ministries, in Magnolia to help local families. In March, she held an Easter party, donating 700 Easter baskets to needy children and provided food for the event.

38925 FM 1774

Magnolia 832-934-2328

www.facebook.com/Out2Eat

Hours: Tue.–Sat. 11 a.m.–8:30 p.m.