380Guide Exclusive: The Secret Fork visits The Gin

Uncovering hidden flavors in our communities

Written by: Elizabeth Knox

One of the most powerful abilities that food has is to spark a memory. Who has remembered a loved one, or a loved place in time when biting into a warm chocolate chip cookie, or sipping an ice-cold bottle of soda? Food can take you back to so many good memories, and I was looking for a memory when I took a trip out to Prosper to The Gin.

I have many good memories of Prosper before the huge growth boom that has hit this small town. My first experience was almost twenty years ago when they were relativity the new kid in town and serving up wonderful homestyle food counter service style. It was a hometown favorite with the locals, and as soon as word got out about them, people were traveling from all over north Texas to eat and relax in the little laid-back café. I miss this kind of experience in the hustle and bustle that is life, so a bright spring night found me on the way to Prosper, and a visit to a memory.

The street has grown and changed, the sidewalk looked new, and the brick might have had a facelift, but when I stepped inside there was still the basic layout of the restaurant that I remembered. I was greeted by a bright faced hostess and shown to an adjoining dining area. It was open and spacious, a testament to the growth of the place and I soon had an ice-cold beverage in front of me from the full-service bar, another nod to growth. My server was pleasant and helpful, and told me that the bruschetta was a good choice, which it was, and I munched on toasted bread with fresh tomatoes, goat cheese, basil and balsamic drizzle while I perused the menu.

The menu had grown also, including pizzas and the afore mentioned bar, but one thing jumped right out at me, the Texas Wagyu Chicken Fried Steak.  Thin pounded, crispy, tender, and served with a mound of mashed potatoes with the cream gravy rolling down the sides to sit confidently on top of the steak. I went all carb and teamed it up with the mac and cheese. It was a delicious plate of memories, and I ate every bite. 

It was a wonderful night, and I know I will be back, because I was too full for dessert, and they have a sopapilla cheesecake that tugs at my memory.

See how those memories work? 

The Gin

204 W Broadway St |  Prosper, TX

Mon, Tue, Wed: 11:00 AM - 10:00 PM

Thur: 11:00 AM - 12:00 AM

Fri, Sat: 7:00 AM - 12:00 AM

Sun: 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM

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