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You can dig into one of the best burgers in the region here. The more adventuresome eaters order theirs with the jalepeño-cheese bun—it's really not as spicy as it sounds. If you're here in peach season, your Alamo Springs experience isn't complete without a serving of homemade peach crisp.
107 Alamo Rd., Fredericksburg, Texas, USA
Known For
- Excellent burgers
- Homemade peach crisp for dessert
- Laid-back atmosphere
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon.–Wed. No dinner Thurs. and Sun.
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On weekends you may find a line out the door at this town favorite known for its extensive breakfast buffet with eggs, fruit, and fresh-baked muffins, pastries, and breads. Most patrons brave the long counter line for cinnamon rolls, which are as big as a Frisbee. The breakfast crowd arrives early for one of the few inside tables, and locals swarm here for lunch as well.
401 S. Main St., Boerne, Texas, 78006, USA
Known For
- Popular breakfast buffet
- Homemade baked goods
- Massive cinnamon rolls
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. No dinner
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Don't even think about coming to Marble Falls without taking a seat at this small-town diner. There's a sign above the hostess stand that commands you to "eat some pie," and you'd be a fool to not listen and sample one of the at least 10 different types made fresh daily. From mountainous meringue to creamy custard, the geniuses behind these sweet concoctions mean business. If you come between 2 and 5, you've made it for "Pie Happy Hour," when you can have a slice of pie and a cup of joe for $3. They also serve all the standards you'd find at an old-fashioned diner.
211 Hwy. 281, Marble Falls, Texas, 78654, USA
Known For
- Famous pies
- Classic diner dishes
- Pie happy hour
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No dinner Sun.
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Chef Bryan Gillenwater serves well-executed New American cuisine in a laid-back environment at this spot that has become a mainstay in the area. Cooking with live fire is Gillenwater’s specialty, so you can’t go wrong ordering flame-kissed dishes like grilled shrimp with Hopi blue-corn grits and andouille Creole sauce or prime Angus rib eye with buttermilk whipped potatoes. It's well-loved by locals and wine industry professionals alike, so reservations are highly recommended.
300 E. Main St., Johnson City, Texas, 78636, USA
Known For
- Elevated live-fire cooking
- Well-curated wine selection
- Tuesday night tasting menu
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon. No lunch Tues. and Wed.
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More than just a coffeeshop, Chaparral is truly a community hub. Owners Taylor and Austin Burge have developed the breakfast and lunch menu of the tiny space to fit the town's growing needs, and they throw DJ-fueled dance parties and other events here, too. But yes, the coffee is also stellar—in fact, it's worlds better than most of the coffee you can find anywhere else in small-town Texas.
106 E. Market St., Texas, 78644, USA
Known For
- Some of the best coffee in Central Texas
- Community events
- Tasty breakfast and lunch offerings
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Recommended Fodor’s Video
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At this tiny little bakery housed in an old building, the enchanting aroma of fresh-baked pies and pastries envelops you the second you walk in the door. The question of what to order then immediately overwhelms you as you scour the glass cases showcasing pies, sweet and savory kolaches, and cookies. The German-style sweet pretzel and the cream cheese–poppy seed kolach are great choices. Of course, the jalapeño, cheese, and sausage kolaches and cinnamon rolls are amazing as well, but you'll have to get there before the hunters, fishers, and early travelers do; they go fast.
501 Bessemer Ave., Llano, Texas, 78643, USA
Known For
- Excellent kolaches
- Delicous baked goods that sell out fast
- History setting
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. and Tues. No dinner
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Townies and visitors alike love this pizza joint housed in a former gas station, for both its wood-fired sourdough pies and its good selection of American and Belgian craft beer. Kick back in the colorful patio furniture and enjoy one of their signature creations, like the California Club pie, which is loaded up with mozzarella, bacon, roasted chicken, avocado, greens, and tomatoes.
802 High St., Comfort, Texas, 78013, USA
Known For
- Wood-fired sourdough pizzas
- American and Belgian craft beer
- Family-friendly atmosphere
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. and Tues.
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From Sarah Heard and Nathan Lemley, the chef-owners behind Austin's Foreign & Domestic, comes this modern interpretation of a country café. Their famous popovers can also be found on the menu here, and the golden-flaky layers are perfect balanced with the seasonal salad of the moment. The menu is on the short side, but everything on it has been truly perfected, from the cheeseburger to the roasted chicken with molasses carrots and mushroom jus. The real pièce de résistance is the chicken-fried steak, which is fried to featherweight perfection, topped with creamy redeye gravy, and served with herbed potato salad and lemony green beans.
118 S. Commerce St., Texas, 78644, USA
Known For
- Excellent chicken-fried steak
- Famous popovers
- Great cheeseburger
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. No lunch Mon. and Tues.
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This veteran-owned and -operated Tex-Mex barbecue kitchen is a favorite among locals for its heaping trays of mesquite-smoked chicken, beef fajitas, and pulled pork served in tacos or by the pound. Also not to be missed are the generous loaded nachos, massive enchiladas, and succulent birria tacos.
209 Lohmann St., Boerne, Texas, 78006, USA
Known For
- Tex-Mex/barbecue fuision
- Great group dining
- Lively atmosphere
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. No dinner Mon.–Thurs. and Sat.
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This Texas legend is serious about barbecue, and it expects no less from its clientele. The menu is literally what's on display in the open pits that greet you at the entrance: pick your meat from brisket, sausage, smoked turkey, ribs, or whatever else they have on hand for the day and step in line for the typical barbecue sides that include coleslaw, potato salad, and plenty of doughy, white bread. Park your tray where you can find a seat at one of the long picnic tables in- or outside, but not before grabbing a few pickles, onions, and a bowl of beans from the serve-yourself condiment bar.
604 W. Young St., Llano, Texas, 78643, USA
Known For
- Authentic Texas barbecue
- Picnic table seating
- Serve-yourself condiment bar
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This modern kitchen and lounge, located right on Cypress Creek, is breathing new life into downtown Wimberley. There are several different bars on the property, making it easy to grab drinks and snacks, take in the amazing views, and enjoy the live music likely playing. Try the ranch-dusted fries topped with cheese curds and glazed pork belly or the charred shishito peppers and okra with salsa macha and chili-lime ranch. The Wimberley Way, the house hibiscus margarita, is a winning cocktail.
14015 Ranch Rd., Wimberley, Texas, 78676, USA
Known For
- Beautiful creek views
- Shareable snacks
- Hibiscus margaritas
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. No lunch Tues.–Thurs.
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Come for the inventive, delicious food and stay for the extensive wine menu at the Cypress Grille on Main Street. From the small bistro tables in the front of the narrow wine bar, you can sip a glass of wine and nibble on crisp crab cakes while watching the passersby. Wood-fired proteins have their own dedicated section of the menu here, from Steak Diane (topped with a creamy mushroom-Madeira pan sauce) to smoked tandoori chicken thighs, but don't overlook the salads, which are sizable and each with its own intrigue. The Texas Cobb, for example, has spicy grilled shrimp and slices of grapefruit, while the Caesar delights with both Stilton and Grana Padano cheeses.
170 S. Main St., Boerne, Texas, 78006, USA
Known For
- Extensive wine list
- Wood-fired entrées
- Inventive dishes
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. No dinner Sun.
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Set in a historic limestone building at the end of Main Street, Der Lindenbaum started as a bakery for chef Ingrid Hohmann to showcase traditional German desserts like apple strudel and Black Forest cake, but customers quickly latched onto her savory lunch specials, and it organically grew into a full-fledged restaurant. The menu features dishes directly from the Rhineland (especially the Alsace-Lorraine region between Germany and France). Of course, they offer standard schnitzel, but the sauerbraten (a sweet-and-sour Rhineland version of roast beef) and Hühnerfrikassee (chicken fricassee with mushroom sauce) are among the favorite house specialties.
312 E. Main St., Fredericksburg, Texas, 78624, USA
Known For
- Historic setting
- Excellent German pastries
- Regional Rhineland offerings
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. and Tues.
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Local baker Rebecca Rather, well-known for her now-shuttered Rather Sweet Bakery, opened this sweet breakfast and lunch spot and bakery to much acclaim. Breakfast items span from a build-your-own biscuit bar to a croissant egg sandwich, while the lunch menu exudes farm-to-table Southern comfort, with offerings like fried oyster nachos and a pimiento cheese BLT. Details like speckled enamelware and beautiful garden flowers simply add to the charm.
607 S. Washington St., Fredericksburg, Texas, 78624, USA
Known For
- Farm-to-table Southern breakfast
- Homemade baked goods
- Adorable rustic-chic setting
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon. No dinner
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True to its name, this family-owned bistro makes food that is simultaneously simple and satisfying, from sandwiches to salads to burgers. Friday night is reserved for their famous buttery steaks, served alongside baked potatoes with the works. Be sure to save room for the addictive bread pudding.
702 High St., Comfort, Texas, 78013, USA
Known For
- Homestyle fare
- Friday night steaks
- Delicious bread pudding
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon. No dinner Tues.–Thurs. and Sat.
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Serving a variety of homemade German-style brews from the large copper beer tanks accenting the far wall, the brewery is a popular nightspot for both locals and visitors. The German food is all well prepared, but the Texas-size- chicken-fried steak is no slouch either.
245 E. Main St., Fredericksburg, Texas, 78624, USA
Known For
- Oldest operating brewpub in Texas
- German-style beer
- Cozy interior with copper tanks
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Driving to the end of town to try this Haufbraü-Haus-meets-Disneyland restaurant is certainly a trip; in more ways than one. Schnitzel is available in more ways than you can count on one hand, and the beer selection is impressive.
905 W. Main St., Fredericksburg, Texas, 78624, USA
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Credit cards accepted
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Located just up the hill from Texas State University, Grins has been a favorite among students and tubers alike since 1975. They're known for their burgers (and have 12 different kinds to choose from) and crispy onion rings, as well as heaping, sizzling fajitas and frozen margaritas in several different flavors.
802 N. LBJ Dr., San Marcos, Texas, 78666, USA
Known For
- Excellent margaritas
- Casual atmosphere
- Diverse burger menu
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Behind the Gruene Mansion Inn, this riverside grill draws quite a crowd. People seem to frequent this locale for the famed rib eye pan-seared in butter and balsamic vinegar, but a cup of the creamy jalepeño corn chowder brimming with fresh crawfish tails makes a notable impression as well.
1259 Gruene Rd., Gruene, Texas, 78130, USA
Known For
- Lovely views
- Rustic atmosphere
- Elevated homestyle cuisine
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There's a reason you'll likely have to wait for a table at this spacious, modern farm-to-table restaurant in the heart of town. The chef-driven menu is casual but uses top ingredients and perfected techniques. Be sure to order their signature smoked carnitas nachos for the table, then choose from a variety of salads, handhelds (sandwiches and tacos), and mains, like a chili-citrus brined pork chop and grilled redfish with chimichurri orzo. While you wait, kick back on the patio with a cocktail from their Volkswagen bus bar.
210 S. Adams St., Fredericksburg, Texas, 78624, USA
Known For
- Farm-to-table dining
- Great cocktails
- Spacious patio
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No dinner Sun.
