From the bright yellow building to the vintage photographs inside, the colors, the atmosphere and the food at the Hippie Hut Cafe & Car Hop in Mabank just scream California. It's a great place to go to experience a little West Coast atmosphere without getting on an airplane.

All of the food is freshly prepared, and it is made of the most wholesome ingredients. To top it off, the Hippie Hut is a purveyor of local beers produced at the Cedar Creek Brewery in Seven Points.

Appetizers include fried asparagus, spicy fried green beans, onion battered green beans, cheese sticks and buffalo strips. Salads include a club salad with everything you would find on a club sandwich and a spinach salad with grilled chicken, baby spinach, craisins, walnuts and raspberry vinaigrette.

Tacos and a speciality chicken wrap are available, unless you want to try one of the spectacular sandwich baskets such as a BLT, club sandwich, Philly Cheesesteak or cheeseburger. Mushrooms, grilled onions, bacon, jalapenos, fried green tomatoes are available in addition to the traditional sandwich vegetables. Your choice of chips, fries or onion rings go with the sandwiches or you can ask for half fries and half onion rings in your basket. A children's menu for "Little Hippies" includes a grilled cheese, mini corn dogs, chicken strips, hot dogs and burger sliders.

The breads used in the sandwiches are a treat with Kaiser, sour dough, Texas Toast and jalapeno-cheddar bread on the menu. Sauces and dressings include ranch, honey mustard, Dijon mustard, Chipolte mayo, ranch, fire-roasted salsa and marinara.

For the winter the Hippie Hut is closed on Mondays and opens at 11 a.m. every other day of the week. On Tuesdays and Wednesdays it is open until 8 p.m., Thursday until 9 p.m., Friday and Saturday until 10 p.m. and Sunday until 4 p.m.

It is at 2104 S. Third Street, Mabank, TX 75147. Call 903-880-4477 for information.