Ranch Valley Café and Cantina opened its doors on Nov. 24, 2024, and according to owner Gracie Valenzuela, business has been booming.
Valenzuela is following in the footsteps of her mother, Bee Valenzuela, who owned Bee’s Restaurant in San Antonio for 45 years before passing away three years ago.
She said the community has been incredibly supportive.
“I spent two and a half years [after my mother’s death] thinking that I would never go back into the restaurant business,” Valenzuela said. “Then I drove by this location and knew what I wanted to do.”
The menu, which features many of Bee’s original recipes, draws customers from San Antonio and Bandera — including some who were longtime patrons of Bee’s and are glad to see Valenzuela keeping her mother’s legacy alive.
About 85% of the menu features Mexican platters, including caldo, enchiladas, gorditas, flautas, picadillo, and tacos.
The remaining 15% pays homage to American classics like chicken-fried steak, burgers, and peppered steak.
“I’ve gotten a lot of good reviews on Facebook,” Valenzuela said, adding that while she hasn’t done much marketing, word-of-mouth has been working well for her.
She also noted that her landlord has been helpful in making repairs the building needed.
“I want to bring in families, friends, kids,” Valenzuela said, gesturing toward the Blue Bell ice cream cart in the restaurant.
Valenzuela has already made plans for Valentine’s Day, including a raffle for a free dinner. Customers can enter the raffle with the purchase of a meal.
In the spring, she hopes to open the patio, secure a liquor license, and launch a margarita bar.
Wanting to be more involved in the community, she also plans to participate in Bandera’s Mardi Gras parade by setting up food booths serving turkey legs and sausage wraps.
“I’m very happy here in Bandera,” she said. “But my husband was hesitant at first. It’s a drive from San Antonio, but we couldn’t be happier with the support we’re getting.”
Jan. 31 will mark the third anniversary of her mother’s passing, and Valenzuela plans to gather her family for a special dinner featuring her mother’s favorite dish: a cheese enchilada, rice with homemade charro beans, and a puffy taco.
“This is the second chapter of my life,” Valenzuela said, “and I want to continue my mother’s legacy.”
Ranch Valley Café and Cantina is located at 120 River Bend Road and is open daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
