Deep in East Texas, a little restaurant in Jasper has folks driving over an hour just to fill their plates. Cedar Tree Restaurant is known for its buffet, and on weekends the seafood spread steals the show. Think crispy fish, shrimp, snow crab, and pies made from scratch.
Here are eight things that make this spot worth the trip.
1. The Weekend Seafood Buffet Is the Main Event
Friday and Saturday are when Cedar Tree flips the switch. The regular buffet gets a seafood upgrade, and locals plan their weekends around it. Reviewers say it runs around the mid-thirties to about forty dollars, depending on the day and the season.
That price buys you all-you-can-eat plates, so pace yourself. One diner called it the best food on a buffet within a hundred miles. Another said the drive of an hour and twenty minutes was worth every mile.
The spread includes boiled shrimp, fried shrimp, fried fish, and snow crab. Not every tray is overflowing with crab, and one guest noted the big-ticket items can be few and far between. So if crab legs are your only goal, go early while the trays are fresh and full.
Here is a simple game plan. Take a small first plate and sample a bit of everything. Then circle back for your favorites on round two.
That way you do not fill up on sides before you reach the good stuff.
Hours run from 11 AM to 9 PM every day, but the seafood nights are the ones to mark on your calendar. Call ahead at 409-384-8832 to confirm what is on the line that weekend, since menus can shift.
Bring a big appetite and a loose belt. You will need both.
2. Fried Catfish That Stays Crisp
Ask around Jasper about the fish, and you will hear the same word again and again: crisp. Diners say the catfish arrives dry on the outside, not oily, with a crunch that holds up through the whole plate.
One regular calls the fried fish the best in town. A traveler who stopped by on a Sunday said the catfish was excellent, even when other items let him down a bit.
Here is a tip from the buffet line. Grab fish when a fresh tray rolls out. The staff keeps refilling right up to closing, so a little patience pays off with hotter, crunchier pieces.
Pair it with tartar sauce, a squeeze of lemon, and a spoonful of coleslaw from the salad bar. The cool, tangy crunch plays nicely against the warm cornmeal coating.
Not everything gets a perfect score. A couple of guests found the hushpuppies a little dry or bland. Dunk them in sauce and move on, because the fish is the real hero.
If you like grilled fish instead, that shows up on the line too. One late Sunday visitor tried both and walked away happy, which says a lot for a buffet in the last hour of service.
3. Shrimp Three Ways, Mostly Fried
Shrimp fans, this one is for you. Reviewers mention fried shrimp and boiled shrimp on the seafood buffet, and one happy diner said both were cooked just right.
The fried version gets compliments for being light and crunchy rather than greasy. That matters when you plan to go back for seconds, or thirds.
Boiled shrimp offers a different kind of fun. You peel, you dip, and you slow down a little, which is not a bad thing at an all-you-can-eat spread. Cocktail sauce and lemon are your best friends here.
Try mixing the two styles on one plate. Start with boiled shrimp for a clean, snappy bite. Then switch to fried when you want something crunchy and comforting.
A smart trick is to keep a napkin pile and a spare plate for shells. Your server will clear it quickly, since people say the staff stays on top of empty plates and drink refills.
Fried shrimp tends to disappear fast on busy nights. If you spot a fresh tray, move quickly. Otherwise, wait a few minutes and watch the kitchen crew bring out more.
4. Snow Crab and Fried Claws
Crab is the glamour item on the seafood line, and guests have opinions. One happy visitor got snow crab for a bargain price. Another said crab was fewer and farther between, but loved the fried claws.
So here is the honest scoop. Treat crab as a bonus, not a promise. When it hits the tray, it goes quickly, and the line moves.
The fried claws earned the word amazing from one reviewer. They are easy to eat, with a crunchy coating and a sweet bite inside. Add a dab of sauce and you are set.
If you want snow crab, stand near the buffet when a new pan comes out. A little timing goes a long way. Grab a cluster, a cup of melted butter, and a seat close to extra napkins.
Crab mentions are lower than shrimp or catfish in reviews, so set your expectations to match. Go for the full table of food, and let crab be the happy surprise on top.
Wear something you do not mind splashing. Cracking legs is part of the fun, and butter finds a way to travel.
5. Chicken Fried Steak and Country Comfort
Even a seafood buffet has to make room for Texas classics. At Cedar Tree, chicken fried steak is a regular star, and one diner proudly noted it was real beef.
Others rave about chicken fried pork tenderloin and a chicken fried chicken with cream gravy that one guest called perfect. The coating stays crunchy, and the gravy is peppery and smooth.
Mashed potatoes get plenty of love. One fan begged the restaurant to always keep them on the menu. Green beans, cabbage, black-eyed peas, and cornbread rolls round out the comfort food lineup.
Here is how to build a plate. Put the steak in the middle, mashed potatoes on one side, and green beans on the other. Pour gravy over the potatoes first, then add a little on the meat so nothing goes soggy.
A fair heads-up: the menu changes with the day. One Sunday guest was surprised to find buffet only, so check ahead if you have your heart set on ordering something specific.
Fried chicken and spaghetti also pop up on the line. It feels like Sunday after church, any day of the week.
6. Homemade Pies Worth Saving Room For
Save space. Seriously. Every reviewer who mentions dessert says the same thing, and pies come up more than fifty times in the feedback.
Coconut cream pie is a big winner. One visitor called the coconut cake the best they had ever tasted. Another praised the chocolate and coconut pies for being made from scratch, not from canned pudding.
Then there is the biscuit bread pudding. One diner said they could have eaten ten and was sad to grab the last one. Raisin haters, take note, since a guest said the raisins were not for them.
Pecan pie and soft serve vanilla ice cream sit nearby too. Try a small slice of two pies instead of one big one. That way you can compare and still walk out under your own power.
Not everyone agrees on the hype. One guest felt dessert was not as dazzling as friends promised. Taste is personal, and the best answer is to try a slice yourself.
Plan it like this: eat your main plate, rest for ten minutes, and then go back for dessert. Your future self will thank you.
7. A Salad Bar and Sides That Do Real Work
Some buffets treat vegetables like an afterthought. Cedar Tree does not. Guests mention a salad bar with lots of options, plus two kinds of soup on a Sunday evening visit.
The hot sides read like a Southern grandmother wrote the list. Think mashed potatoes, green beans, peas, okra, carrots, cabbage, candied sweet potatoes, and a broccoli cheese rice casserole.
Candied sweet potatoes and cranberry sauce add a sweet note that pairs nicely with pork chops. Okra gets a mention too, though one group said their order of sides got mixed up. They were easygoing about it, and the food was still tasty.
Use the salad bar as your warmup lap. A small bowl of soup and a few greens wake up your appetite without filling you up. Then head for the hot trays with a clear plan.
One mid-afternoon weekday visitor said the buffet was fresh and plentiful, with many kinds of meats and vegetables. That is a good sign if you prefer a calmer time to eat.
Variety is the point here. Even picky eaters in a group can find a happy plate.
8. Service, Salt Shakers, and Smart Timing
Look up at the shelves and you will spot it: a giant collection of salt and pepper shakers. One diner called it the most extensive they had ever seen. It gives you something to study while you wait.
And you might wait. A reviewer warned that peak dinner hours can bring a crowd, with people standing by the door. Lunch can fill up too.
Aim for mid-afternoon, or arrive early for the seafood nights.
The staff wins lots of praise. Names like Halee, JoAnn, and Harley pop up in reviews for quick humor, full drink glasses, and cleared plates. One server even offered a takeaway bag for a service dog waiting in the truck.
The room is big enough for groups, and people celebrate birthdays and family gatherings there. It can get loud, but that is the happy kind of noise.
Be fair to yourself and check the details. The place runs 11 AM to 9 PM daily, and the buffet was still being refreshed late on a Sunday. Not every visit is perfect, and one guest reported feeling sick after a Sunday meal, so use your own judgment.
Overall, ratings sit at 4.5 stars across more than two thousand reviews. That says plenty.
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