Christian Stovall
My wife and I were moving from Southern Utah to central Texas, and we passed through Fort Sumner and decided to get lunch at Esther’s. I’m so glad we did!
The waitress was very nice and attentive. The dining room was small and cozy, and totally fit the small-town family diner vibe that it is.
We both got the Cheese Burger with green chillies recommended to us by the waitress. It was so good. The meat was noticeably really good quality compared to meat other burger joints that I’ve been to.
Not only was the food exceptional, but also very reasonable prices.
The staff are also friendly and carr about the customer. This was made evident as the cook asked how the food was, and as we were leaving, the owner approached us and asked how it was, and we had a really good conversation with him. He shared the history of the shop and an awesome local story about the “Mouse that burned down the house.”
Incredible service, staff, and food. Such a great experience.
… morePaul P
10/26/25- This place would have gotten 4 stars but they had no variety in meal options because they have a limited menu which differs from day to day so we had to choose from something off the “Sunday menu”, 9 whole dishes! very disappointing. Awsome young staff who treated us like royalty. All in all the food was average( cheeseburger & spaghetti) and the prices were fair.
… moreStephany Hermeling
Hidden gem! I wanted something light so I ordered the Caesar salad with chicken. I wasn’t expecting much, but, to my surprise, it was so good. The chicken was so flavorful, the greens were fresh, and I asked for their home-made ranch dressing. I chose wisely. This meal was great. I got to chat with BJ, the owner, who is really nice and friendly. Needless to say that apart from yummy, it’s also affordable. If you need food in Sumner, this is the place to stop.
… moreTeresa Allen
Holy Cow! So glad we stopped here for lunch after visiting Billy The Kid Museum and gravesite. We ordered hamburger and fries, and when it came out it was real hamburger meat patties, and real handcut fries. It was the best lunch we’ve had in a long time. Everyone was super friendly, especially our sweet waitress. The prices are very reasonable, and we loved the small diner vibes. If we are ever this way again, we would definitely eat here again!
… moreChastin Bravo
Not a huge menu, but everything they offer is truly solid. The food is homemade…full of flavor and fresh. Our waitress, a young lady, was so kind and attentive the whole time. The owner even came by to check on us and express his appreciation, which really made the experience feel personal. A great spot in Fort Sumner… we’ll definitely be back!
… moreC Stall
This cafe was conveniently placed next to our hotel, and being famished after a long drive, we didn’t ask questions and just padded on over. We found the atmosphere down home and relaxed but didn’t anticipate the amazing food quality. Okay the cheeseburger was solidly good, the fresh Caesar salad came topped with tender, moist and delightfully seasoned grilled chicken. But the star of this show was the cream of chicken with green chili soup, which could have been showcased in any upscale restaurant in a big city. The wait staff were truly hospitable and we felt very welcome there. If we ever return we hope it’s on a cream of chicken green chili soup night. We chatted with the owner briefly and told him how much we loved his soup. He told us the story of the restaurant and also mentioned Esther’s home made pot pies which we can’t even imagine what sort of artful touch he might impart to those!. The only downside is the lack of dessert offerings. As strangers to a place, we have rarely felt so welcomed. Going into Fort Sumner? Don’t pass Esther’s Family Diner!
… moreDj Antonacci
Esther’s Family Diner is a cute spot with a cozy atmosphere, and the staff were super friendly, making us feel welcome right away. My wife ordered the chicken Caesar salad, and I had the spicy chicken sandwich. The food was fresh overall, but unfortunately, the chicken on both dishes was a bit dry and tough in some bites, which took away from the experience. That said, we’d be open to returning if we’re in the area again, but we’d definitely try a different dish next time.
… moreJennifer Miller
The breakfast burrito with bacon was the star. The green sauce was my favorite. We also got the chicken tender basket. It was made fresh but the batter was a little thicker than we prefer and the fries were a little inconsistently cooked. The chicken in the tenders was very good and everything in the breakfast burrito was perfect. Everything in the burrito was cooked to perfection and seasoned perfectly. The owner and staff were very nice and we will be back.
… moreDiane Gomez
We pass through Fort Sumner often as we have a place at Sumner Lake and live in Torrance County. The hamburgers are great as are the fries. I asked for samples of their chili, both red and green had good flavor but the textures of both were not at all like our NM red and green chili sauces, I probably would not order any Mexican dishes there, it’s all about the chili. I hope they do good because places to dine out in Fort Sumner are limited. I believe if they master their green and red chili their Mexican dishes will do great. Oh and the waitress was GREAT!
… moreAnnalee McCord
We were approaching Fort Sumner after a long day of travel and called ahead to see if Esther’s could feed our three van caravan close to closing time. The kind owner and wonderful staff took our order and such great care of us. We got to sit down to delicious hot plates fresh off the grill and iced drinks as we arrived. What an unexpected treat!
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