36 Best Restaurants in The Hill Country, Texas

In the heart of downtown Fredericksburg, August E's features a sleek Zen-like atmosphere thanks to its contemporary Asian decor. Chef-owner Leu Savanh adds a subtle hint of his Thai background to such dishes as the New Zealand lamb with balsamic honey-glaze and a cloudlike fillet of Hawaiian escolar pan-seared and served with a tempura-fried lobster tail, baby bok choy, and mascarpone whipped potatoes. In addition to the constantly evolving seasonal menu, a sushi menu and a fairly extensive selection of sake are also on offer. 

Locals and visitors alike flock to Brick's for country cooking with a view. The restaurant itself has a humble interior, but it's the patio overlooking the river that wins everyone's heart. It's a great spot to start with a mason-jar drink while you wait for a table to sample the simple but well-done menu, with comforting classics like a light and crispy chicken-fried steak, homemade meatballs, and smashed potatoes.

If you want a Texas-size meal in the heart of the Hill Country, the Cabernet Grill has just what you're looking for. Chef-owner Ross Burtwell uses a smattering of local ingredients to inspire a menu that reflects the bold flavors of the Lone Star State. Menu items range from Black Diamond buffalo enchiladas with green chili crema to sesame-seared Gulf red snapper with ginger-basil vinaigrette. The grilled jalapeño-stuffed quail is a fan favorite, as are the myriad special dinners with wine pairings that Burtwell hosts throughout the year. It should also be noted that this is the only restaurant in the state devoted exclusively to an all-Texas wine menu, giving diners a chance to truly taste Texas terroir.

Dining at the Gristmill is as mandatory as shuffling your boots along the floors of Gruene Hall when visiting Gruene. On a sunny day, request a seat on the multitiered deck that climbs the side of the cliff overlooking the Guadalupe River. Though you can find fabulous soups and salads, there's nothing quite like the Gristburger. The secret to this burger's success is the spicy chili con queso that oozes from the sides.

This is the gathering spot in the morning for locals looking to savor a rich cup of coffee or a fully cooked breakfast. But lunch is just as popular, with a daily menu of flavorful soups, salads, and sandwiches, including the "salad trio," which is a scoop of homemade chicken salad and a scoop of homemade tuna salad on a fresh field-greens salad. The creamy pimiento-cheese sandwich on nine-grain bread is easy on the mayonnaise and spicy with black pepper, while thick and garlicky hummus with crispy pita chips makes a great appetizer for sharing. Save room for a sweet treat from the dessert case of fresh baked goods, including fudge-walnut brownies, lemon cupcakes, and chewy chocolate-chip Cowboy cookies.

Named for the longleaf pine lining the interior of the dining room, this craft kitchen and bar lets local and seasonal ingredients drive the menu, so the offerings may change, but they are always incredibly fresh and flavorful. Offerings might include dishes like Hill Country quail stuffed with mushroom and apples and served with caramelized brussels sprouts, paired perfectly with local Hye-fig cider. The wine and beer list are robust, but the cocktails, which also utilize fresh and seasonal ingredients whenever possible, are some of the best in town. Enjoying one in their garden courtyard is a must when in Wimberley.

Locals will tell you Pecan Street Brewing is one of the area's best-kept secrets—not only for the house brews, but for the food, too. Try their refreshingly light-bodied No Conviction Stout (poured through a nitro tap) alongside the crispy-crusted flammkuchen topped with crème fraîche, house-smoked bacon, mushrooms, and Swiss cheese. The brewery also serves as the tiny town's neighborhood hub. 

Set in a restored 19th-century dining room, this charming spot showcases elevated Southern cuisine created by chef Mark Bohanan (of San Antonio's Bohanan's steak house fame). Decadent dishes like eggnog-battered sweet-roll French toast and a bourbon-battered ham Monte Cristo with huckleberry jam make this a perfect special-occasion brunch spot, and the creamy-but-light milk punch shouldn't be missed either. In fact, the cocktails are some of the best in town, with a focus on the "classics with a twist" Bohanan's is known for. A seasonal fresh fruit Tom Collins is perfect alongside the jumbo crab cake served on a fried green tomato, or let your server guide you through the extensive whiskey and wine lists for a pairing to match your cheeseburger topped with fire-roasted pimiento cheese. All the perfectly grilled steaks come with a flaky buttermilk biscuit, but be sure to save room for dessert, too: the sweet potato crème brûlée with pecan shortbread and orange segments is a dream with a glass of port.

Dining alongside Cibolo Creek in this historic house while listening to the rhythmic turn of a water mill is a treat. The upscale restaurant offers a nice array of steaks, fresh seafood, and wild game. Highlights are the blue-crab fingers lightly sautéed with lemon and wine and the soul-warming and hearty beef-potato soup.

Colorful, quilt-draped walls and a cool ceiling-fanned patio make this a comfortable spot no matter the weather. The menu changes with the season, but you might find an entrée such as a juicy grilled New York strip steak in a balsamic reduction or sautéed rainbow trout. The 814 Burger is a half-pound of grilled bliss.

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Ten miles north of town, this hilltop dive set in a 1930s gas station truly feels like it's in the middle of nowhere, but it's luckily a beautiful trip to nowhere. All menu conventions are thrown out the window to create the Athens-meets–New Orleans dishes. On weekends your best bet is to grab a few appetizers and a bottle of wine and then sit back for a little live music. (The place is owned by bluesman Johnny Nicholas, who also curates the programming.) The kefalotiri saganaki (a flavorful Greek cheese flambé) and a Cajun-style avocado stuffed with blue crab are fantastic starts, and the snapper ponchartrain (in a white-wine sauce with mushroom and crab) is a decadent adventure.

Named for John Russell "Hondo" Crouch, self-proclaimed mayor of Luckenbach, this local dive is somewhat of a legend of its own. If the live music and Texas country decor aren't entertaining enough, the menu certainly is: from the "What's David Smokin' Plate" of finger-lickin' fabulous barbecue to the "Supa Chalupa Salad," everything about this place radiates good old-fashioned fun. The doughnut-shape half-pound burgers are excellent, especially the Blue Ribbon Barbecue Bacon Burger.

Hidden near the train tracks off San Antonio Street, the Huisache (pronounced wee-satch) is a must-stop. Consistently delivering fantastic soups, salads, sandwiches, and main dishes, there's a lot to love about this place, and the beautiful 1920s building only adds to the experience. For lunch the ham and gouda sandwich with sweet caramelized onions offers a nice adult version of a grilled cheese. Pecan-crusted pork chops soar with a rich bourbon-butter sauce.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.