Plot Twist: My Day Began With Changed Plans, But Ended With an Incredible Day

We got up early and dressed up for an exciting day highlighted by vintage train ride through the piney woods of Palestine Texas. After a couple roadside bathroom breaks, I looked at the navigation plan which showed we would arrive at 11:15. The train was scheduled to leave at 11:00 and the boarding pass window closed 10 minutes prior. We were not going to make it. So, now we hit the internet to find out if there was any other reason to visit Palestine or should we stop in Tyler instead. We decided to go anyway and check out this old hotel with what looked to be a really good restaurant. 

Hotel lobby

The Vibe was a mix of Old-World Charm and Modern Comfort. Stepping into The Redlands Hotel is like walking onto a beautifully preserved movie set, but with reality.  We decided to take a quick walk around the hotel before going into the restaurant for our lunch. Built way back in 1914 as a bustling railroad hotel, the owners have poured a "labor of love" into its restoration, earning statewide awards for their work. There was a vintage elevator that of course we were too scared to step into and I’m not even sure it’s still operates, but it was very well maintained for such an old feature.

Vintage Elevator

I could just imagine how magnificent this hotel was in the early 1900s. Immediately next to this visual artifact was a standard elevator for modern comfort and accessibility. There were black and white photos framed, showing what the town once look like—a neat nod to the past. The Redlands Boutique was very small and doubled as the hotel check-in desk beyond a large tribute wall to the previous owner a long time Navy sailor. The public areas of the second floor included several interesting pieces worth looking at like the old telephone switchboard and Coke machine. The building also houses little treasures like an Art Gallery and a massage parlor. The basement was also opened to the public and was turned into a little sharing library including a take a book/leave a book policy.

Small library in the basement

I thought the hotel itself was quite adorable. I was a little disappointed by the bar in the hotel. I was thrilled that they had one and the cute little room that it’s in belt like a cozy little find, but I was expecting a glorious bar back that you would expect to find in a vintage hotel instead, it was just a solid, looking wood and glass piece that didn’t stand out. There was an additional dining room that looked like it could be reserved for parties or private events and there were some memorabilia about hinting that the Lions used it as a regular meeting place.

I had a quick conversation with one of the attendants and I asked him if it was an independent boutique hotel, or if it were branded by a larger organization, such as Marriott. He explained their independence and that the owner had done the best that she could, and that the hotel was not what it once was. I wasn’t exactly sure how to take the conversation but it left me feeling like they were not thriving and I had hoped that such a gem would stay in business for another hundred years I recalled how many pages of results I had come through on the Internet in order to have found this place. I think that they are doing so much right with the hotel but the online presence just isn’t what it should be in this day and age.  

The Queen Street Grill

I’m now starving and still a bit disappointed that the days plans had not turned out exactly as they should be. Walking into the Queen Street Grill, we’re seated quickly by the window.  I remember thinking that the restaurant itself maybe looked a little more modern than I expected. The dining room itself is stunning. Tall windows let in gorgeous natural light, making it feel open yet intimate. It’s the kind of place that’s perfect for a romantic dinner, a celebratory brunch, or just a really, really good lunch. The marble floors they painstakingly uncovered (bye-bye, 70s carpet!) left us in awe. I noticed that the men’s bathroom floor was a beautiful, intricate design, while the ladies room still had the tiny white hexagons but it didn’t include the pattern. We thought it may have been an add-on or previously damaged. We both thought the floor was pretty but would be so hard to clean with all that grout. 

Antique marble floor

Let's be real—sometimes, the hotel restaurant is just... convenient. It's easily one of the best dining spots in East Texas and they proudly displayed several awards winning best breakfast or brunch spot plaques. This means fresh, locally sourced ingredients and everything made from scratch. I was pleasantly surprised to see the England style beer battered Cod served with Parmesan cheese fries and remoulade. I had been craving this fish for a few weeks. It’s so easy to find catfish (which I like), but good luck finding English cod. This meal came complete with the little crispies that you usually only see if you order a plate from LJS. I expected tartar sauce, but it came with an equally delicious cream that had a little heat. That made sense because I saw a lot of signs for a hot pepper festival in town.

Fish and chips

Joe debated the Cuban sandwich with smoked pork, black forest ham, Swiss cheese, and garlic aïoli but he decided to go with the Angel Hair Shrimp sautéed, artichoke hearts, in a lemon pepper basil cream sauce.

Angel hair and shrimp

We started with the warm sourdough bread sprinkled with Parmesan cheese. It came with a balsamic vinegar and olive oil dipping sauce that I usually love. For whatever reason I could not get the vinegar on the bread no matter how I dipped or stirred. We will chalk that up to user error. I took this opportunity to look at the other menus and the dinner offering of Sambal chili glazed Salmon served with pineapple fried rice intrigued me. There were little signs on the table encouraging you to try the handmade desserts so we splurged on a slice of tuxedo cake for dessert. Nothing was wrong with any of the dishes, but the flavor profiles were not something that you would choose to write your mom about. They were good and we felt completely satisfied. My beverage choice may have not aligned with my meal profile, but it was divine. I was pleasantly surprised to see a sunrise tequila mimosa on the menu and of course, I took the option to upgrade the tequila. I suppose this is one more sign that this is a great brunch and breakfast place.

Tequila Sunrise Mojito

It seems this place is open seven days a week with brunch on Saturday and Sunday starting at 10am. The menu showed a Buffett option that included things like Blue Corn Pancakes with Butterscotch Chips and BlueBerry Pudding Fruit Salad. Wow, I can see why they won so many awards!

The Redlands Hotel and Queen St Grille offer an authentic, high-quality, and delicious travel experience that honors the past while delivering all the comfort and culinary creativity of the present. If you are craving a blend of authentic history, boutique hotel charm, and a dining experience that's just a little bit different than the surrounding areas, then you need to visit Redlands Hotel and its on-site gem, the Queen St Grille.

Joe and I seated by the table

📍 The Redlands Hotel & Queen St Grille

400 N Queen St, Palestine, Texas