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The Hill Country is an extension of the great eating opportunities—the amazing Tex-Mex and barbecue—of San Antonio and Austin, with the addition of heavy German influences. Fredericksburg certainly corners the market for relatively authentic German fare, but Boerne, Comfort, New Braunfels, and everywhere in between serve decent
The Hill Country is an extension of the great eating opportunities—the amazing Tex-Mex and barbecue—of San Antonio and Austin, with the addition of heavy German influences. Fredericksburg certainly corners the market for relatively authentic German fare, but Boerne, Com
The Hill Country is an extension of the great eating opportunities—the amazing Tex-Mex and barbecue—of San Antonio and A
The Hill Country is an extension of the great eating opportunities—the amazing Tex-Mex and barbecue—of San Antonio and Austin, with the addition of heavy German influences. Fredericksburg certainly corners the market for relatively authentic German fare, but Boerne, Comfort, New Braunfels, and everywhere in between serve decent schnitzel and wurst. Barbecue bests are spread all over: the Salt Lick in Driftwood, Cooper's in Llano, and Cooper's in Mason (it's not a chain; they just happen to have the same name), and Rudy's Country Store in a number of locations between Austin and San Antonio, and in Leon Springs.
On the Hill Country backroads you're not going to get a whole lot of haute cuisine delivered by celebrity chefs, but you'd be surprised at some of the fine dining experiences you can have here. Two upscale restaurants to try in Fredericksburg are August E's and Rebecca's Table.
Most places are casual in the Hill Country. You may want to don your Sunday best for a few places, but you really don't need to. Boots and jeans are formal enough for the average restaurant, especially for men. You'll see plenty of local women wearing "country-chic" clothing, such as embroidered, tailored blazers, or swishy broomstick skirts—with boots, of course. In the summer heat you'll see many patrons wearing just about anything that keeps them cool.
Don't expect to dine too late into the evenings. With the exception of a few live-music bars and venues, most restaurants and cafés are finished serving by 9 or 10, especially during the week.
Although Black's now has locations in Austin, New Braunfels, and San Marcos, there's nothing like a visit to the original location in Lockhart, where pitmaster Ken Black still smokes the meat just like his grandfather did in 1932. The brisket here is thick and juicy and the 9-inch beef ribs are memorable, but the sides also stand out, with less-common offerings like Mexican street corn, green beans, black-eyed peas, and extra-cheddar mac 'n' cheese.
This sprawling landmark barbecue spot is another must when touring Lockhart for barbecue. Like Smitty's, this one has pits, so you can watch while you wait, but unlike Smitty's, they have more rules here: no sauce and no forks (so don't try asking for any!).
If you're coming to Lockhart to experience its barbecue, a stop at Smitty's is an absolute must: it's still housed in the original 1948 Kreuz Market, which Edgar A. "Smitty" Schmidt started (it's a long story), and you can scope out a good look at the historic building while you queue for your 'cue. The line moves quickly here as you watch their team in action cutting meat and tending the live fire, which is said to have been burning for more than a hundred years. The brisket, sausage, and turkey are not to be missed, but they also offer a decadent smoked prime rib if you're feeling fancy.
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.
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.
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