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If you've had your fill of German food in Fredericksburg, opt for a beautiful cheese and charcuterie board from La Bergerie, an adorable European-style wine bar and market located just off the town's main strip. Relax on the patio or choose from the well-curated selection of meats, cheeses, and small-production wines to-go if you prefer to picnic somewhere in the Hill Country.
312 E. Austin St., Fredericksburg, Texas, 78624, USA
Known For
- Picnic fare to-go
- Cheese and charcuterie boards
- Well-curated wine selection
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The vibe is just right at Lea Lou Co-Op, whether you're taking in the beautiful exposed-stone wall interior or kicking back with friends in the spacious yard of the classic 1800s hardware store and lumber yard. The braided-crust pizza is famous here, but the juicy steaks and seafood platters shouldn't be overlooked either. In the back, you'll find live music on some nights at the Cow Palace, a venue with a dance floor, and there's even an adjacent boutique hotel with seven rooms if you wish to stay the night.
114 San Antonio St., Mason, Texas, 76856, USA
Known For
- Live music and dancing
- Breaded-crust pizza
- Historic setting
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun.–Tues. No lunch weekdays
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You might rub your eyes when you first walk into this landmark country café, which boasts over 21,000 collector plates lining the walls and ceiling. When it first opened in 1929, Prohibition was still in full swing and countless bootleggers would sell moonshine in the parking lot, but now people come for the perfect fried chicken, chicken-fried steak, and onion rings. The fried frogs' legs—yes, frogs' legs—are really good, too. And by all means, save room for a warm brownie sundae for dessert.
829 FM 289, Boerne, Texas, 78006, USA
Known For
- Historic setting
- Eclectic decor
- Fried frogs' legs
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. and Tues.
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Just off the railroad tracks in Kerrville is a cheery café with cream timber siding and red trim. Built in 1915, the house once served as a train depot but has been transformed into a fantastic little restaurant offering a variety of homemade soups, salads, and hearty entrées. Daily lunch and dinner specials vary. Look for the spicy grilled-shrimp tostada with creamy chipotle sauce and the grilled venison burger.
615 E. Schreiner St., Kerrville, Texas, 78028, USA
Known For
- Historic setting
- Daily specials
- Venison burger
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun.
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Natural light floods the brick-laden interior of this renovated 1920s industrial space, setting the scene for thoughtful and elevated casual cuisine. Start with an order of pulled pork poutine for the table before moving on to one of their many diverse offerings: towering sandwiches served with house-made chips, wood-fired pizza (try the spinach, bacon, and Brie with balsamic), or entrées like Akaushi New York strip and Shrimp creole. There are even a few unexpected options for sushi. Richter Tavern is also known for their cocktails, which are listed as "regular" or "diesel," so if you're stopping in for lunch, clear the rest of the day's calendar if you can.
153 S. Main St., Boerne, Texas, 78006, USA
Known For
- Wood-fired pizzas
- Giant cocktails
- Pretty decent sushi
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon.
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Recommended Fodor’s Video
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On a nice evening, dining on the deck is the thing to do here. The views are amazing, and the food holds up its end of the bargain. The house specialty is a well-seasoned, juicy 12-ounce prime rib. Thankfully, they also serve an 8-ounce portion. The friendly waitstaff expertly coaxes people to order dessert, like the warm carrot cake.
700 1st St., Marble Falls, Texas, 78654, USA
Known For
- Huge prime rib
- River views
- Good for groups
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Originally the National Bank of Llano, built in 1891, this stately manor later served as the family home to N.J. Badu, a French immigrant who studied the mineralogy of the Llano Basin. In recent years, the Badu House has been tastefully transformed into a restaurant focusing on local cuisine. If you like wild game, don't miss the grilled Bandera quail. Beneath the skin the meat is tender, and the accompanying chipotle and honey glaze gives the dish a nice kick. The back patio has live music on weekends.
601 Bessemer Ave., Llano, Texas, 78643, USA
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun.–Mon., Credit cards accepted
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With a name like the Cowboy Steak House, you pretty much know what to expect. Western paintings and the smoke-stained limestone hearth of the wood-burning fire create a homey life-on-the-ranch feel. Grilled on an open mesquite fire, the steaks are excellent, especially the not-so-petit filet mignon wrapped with a crispy strip of bacon. Not a fan of red meat? Not to worry, the grilled salmon is exceptionally fresh and flavorful. All entrées come with the standard baked potato or a sweet potato topped with cinnamon and brown sugar.
416 Main St., Kerrville, Texas, 78028, USA
Known For
- Serious ranch vibes
- Live-fire cooking
- Excellent steaks
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch. Closed Sun.
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What started as a quaint farm-to-table restaurant inside an old house has become an institution in Wimberley. Though the look is much more farmhouse-modern these days, the menu still features the same delicious food they've been known for, like their farm-fresh soups, salads, and sandwiches. Heartier offerings, like wood-fired pizza, and an expanded menu of entrées, like market-vegetable curry or pork carnitas with watermelon curry, make for even better dinner options.
111 River Rd., Wimberley, Texas, 78676, USA
Known For
- Classic farm-to-table cuisine
- Wood-fired pizzas
- Rotating soup-and-sandwich specials
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. and Tues. No dinner Sun.
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Tucked away in a little historic house off Washington street, The Nest is a nice option for a special occasion. It's probably the best value for fine dining in town. The seasonal menu might include a perfectly prepared Black Angus fillet with a rich bordelaise sauce or plump pan-seared sea scallops served with a citrusy chipotle-lime hollandaise. Enjoy a taste of the Hill Country with a scoop of homemade lavender ice cream.
607 S. Washington St., Fredericksburg, Texas, 78624, USA
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Credit cards accepted, Closed Tues. and Wed.
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This is John Wayne country, and the patrons of The O.S.T. (Old Spanish Trail) don't let you forget it, thanks to an entire wall covered with photos and memorabilia of the Duke. Authentic Tex-Mex and hearty American plates are served, including a Texas-size chicken-fried steak that covers the whole plate.
311 Main St., Bandera, Texas, 78003, USA
Known For
- BYO-alcohol policy
- Classic Americana decor
- Family-style meals
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There are sunsets, and then there are sunsets at the Oasis. Here you can sit on one of the many wooden decks that scale the hillside of this Lake Travis hot spot with a frozen margarita and bid farewell to the day with one of the most spectacular sunsets in the state. The menu offers fairly standard American and Mexican fare, from burgers to enchiladas. Be sure to get there early; you won't be the only one with the bright idea to swing by.
6550 Comanche Tr., Austin, Texas, 78732, USA
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Credit cards accepted, Reservations not accepted
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The gift shop came first, but since 1984 Cynthia Pedregon has wowed crowds with her homemade soups, sandwiches, and daily quiches. Portions are hearty, but to get a sampling of as much as possible, opt for the Sandwich Sampler, which comes with a quarter sandwich each of tangy chicken salad, fresh tuna salad, perky jalepeño-pimento cheese, and a cup of the soup of the day. Pedregon's cookbooks are prized staples in Hill Country kitchens.
210 S. Adams St., Fredericksburg, Texas, 78624, USA
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Credit cards accepted, Closed Sun.
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This café and art gallery has earned its bragging rights as San Marcos's best restaurant throughout the years. And yet, you'll find no pretense or stuffiness here, just a cheerful staff and bright, eclectic art–filled walls that make for a very comfortable atmosphere. Try the zingy Holy Aioli sandwich of citrus-marinated chicken with cilantro aioli for lunch and the beloved bourbon-pecan chicken for dinner. Texas wine makes an appearance on the list, and local beers are always on tap, too.
215 N. LBJ Dr., New Braunfels, Texas, 78666, USA
Known For
- Farm-to-table cuisine
- Extensive wine list with local options
- Attached art gallery
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon.
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A former post office now serves appetites in the middle of nowhere. There are some unusual dishes like mahimahi (a mild, white fish) with tomatillo sauce, but also plenty of German fare. Start with potato pancakes served with apple sauce or sour cream. The schnitzel is fabulous, as is the rouladen—a tenderized beef fillet wrapped around dill pickle, ham, sauerkraut, and Swiss cheese. If it's warm outside, sit beneath the vined trellis and watch the resident goats and donkeys grazing nearby. Live music accompanies your meal on Thursdays and Sundays. Reservations are strongly recommended.
223 Waring Welfare Rd., Comfort, Texas, 78006, USA
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon.–Tues. and Aug., Credit cards accepted
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Tell anyone in Central Texas that you're heading for Wimberley and the first response you likely may hear: "Be sure to get some pie at the Wimberley Pie Company!" The dimly lit glass case along the front of the shop is filled with fresh, vacuum-sealed pies ready to be picked up and taken to some lucky home, but you can also grab a slice from pies right out of the oven. The traditional cherry pie has a perfect balance of tart and sweet.
Ranch Rd. 12, Wimberley, Texas, USA
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No credit cards
