24 Best Restaurants in Fredericksburg, The Hill Country

This biergarten on Main Street is always buzzing, and for good reason. Choose from a wide array of craft German beer while enjoying the live music that happens nearly nightly. The hearty fare is also delicious, whether you opt for a classic schnitzel or a juicy Reuben sandwich on toasty pumpernickel.

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. 

With its authentic German architecture, the Ausländer draws quite a crowd for lunch and dinner. For more than 20 years, it has been one of the town's most popular beer gardens, and you're bound to find a few things to your liking—perhaps the Spicy Texas Schnitzel, a bold concoction featuring a hand-breaded pork loin cutlet smothered with house-made spicy sauce and topped with crème fraîche, or a wide array of German sausage including currywurst, a German street favorite that is hard to find.

If you want a Texas-sized meal in the heart of the Hill Country, the Cabernet Grill has just what you're looking for. Chef-owner Ross Burtwell uses local ingredients to inspire a menu that reflects the bold flavors of the Lone Star State. Menu items range from the popular Texas Twinkies starter—bacon-wrapped jalapeños stuffed with beer sausage and served with a jezebel dip—to the grilled Gulf shrimp with hatch chile corn grits and oven roasted tomatoes. 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 there is a wide range of Texas wines on the menu, giving diners a chance to truly taste Texas terroir.

Most locals flock to this family-owned restaurant for a delicious and hearty breakfast, even though it's also open for lunch. Lacy German pancakes come with butter pats, lemon slices, and powdered sugar for sprinkling, and Holstein breakfast schnitzel (a breaded pork chop) is served with eggs, German fried potatoes, and buttermilk biscuits. Or skip straight to lunch and enjoy homestyle plates of sausage, kraut, and potato salad. If you don’t order a pastry with your meal, be sure to visit the bakery counter on your way out to get an apple strudel, prasselkuchen, or pretzel nut twist for the road.

At his bright and charming bistro, chef Henry Gutkin focuses on some of Germany’s lesser-known dishes, reimagined with creative, refreshing twists. Sauerkraut balls are served with sausage, whole grain mustard, and a dollop of crème fraîche; crispy duck schnitzel comes with red cabbage and spaetzle; and a wurst plate features house-made bratwurst, caraway sauerkraut, and homemade mustard. And while there’s plenty of beer here to keep your stein full, as well as a focus on German and Austrian wines, the exceptional cocktail menu should not go unnoticed. A fabulous brunch is served on Sundays.

This hip, modern interpretation of a European bistro also includes a retail showroom, art gallery, gourmet market, supper club, and wine club. The restaurant features rotating specials, such as duck confit and buttermilk fried chicken, plus a daily menu with gourmet sandwiches (try the French dip, made with Angus prime beef), soups, salads, cheese, charcuterie, and wood-fired pizzas. Expect a more elevated menu with dishes like beef carpaccio, venison tenderloin, and grilled rack of lamb for Friday and Saturday night dinner and the supper club (which takes place most Thursdays in spring). Double-check the website for hours.

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. Don't miss the gossamer-light and crispy hand-battered onion rings. There's also a mean vegetable burger, with avocado, sautéed onions, roasted garlic, pepperjack cheese, lettuce, and tomato on a wheat bun. If you're here in peach season, your Alamo Springs experience isn't complete without a serving of homemade peach crisp.

The perfect place to mangia for anyone who loves rustic, authentic Italian food, with a range of pizzas, pastas, salads, and entrees that taste like they come directly out of nonna’s kitchen. The atmosphere is lively, the decor is understated but elegant, and you will want to dine there more than once—it’s that good. From the Oro Bianco buffalo mozzarella appetizer with marinated heirloom tomatoes, focaccia crostini, aged balsamic, basil, and Texas olive oil to prosciutto and arugula pizza, proceed to the hearty Lasagna Alla Campagna, with bolognese sauce, if you have room, and top it off with delectable tiramisu.

The coffee at this cozy little house on Main Street is amazing because they roast their own small-batch specialty beans. It's a popular breakfast stop with great pastries, muesli, parfait, and breakfast burritos. The small all-day menu is also a big draw. Try the avocado toast, green chili chicken and grits, or breakfast burrito. They also offer a nice selection of organic teas for non-coffee drinkers.

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 a variety of schnitzel, but the Kasseler Ripchen (smoked pork chop with sauerkraut) and Gulasch (spicy stewed beef) are among the favorite house specialties.

Lance Eaker hails from Texas, his wife Boo is Korean, and they have combined their impressive culinary talents to cook up some of the best barbecue in Texas at this award-winning, mesquite-smoking barbecue joint, which started as a food truck in Houston. The classics, from Texas dry rub pork ribs to moist prime brisket, are all excellent, but what makes it so unique are the succulent Gochujang ribs, fried kimchi rice, homemade kimchi, and other Korean-inflected dishes that reflect Boo's heritage. Leave room for Boo's BOOzy banana pudding; it's a knockout.

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.

Serving a variety of homemade German-style lagers and ales, the brewery, in a historic 1890s building with an air-conditioned biergarten, is a popular nightspot for both locals and visitors. The German food is all well prepared, but the pizza and Texas-sized chicken-fried steak are no slouches either.

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.

There's a reason you'll likely have to wait for a table at this spacious, modern, light-filled farm-to-table restaurant in the heart of town. The chef-driven menu is casual but uses top ingredients and perfected techniques that are on display at the open kitchen. The menu includes a wide range of appetizers, salads, "handhelds," and "toasts," along with bright, fresh, delicious mains, a nice wine list, and a good range of Texas craft beer. The cornbread and biscuit box are stellar; you may want to take one to go. While you wait, kick back on the patio with a cocktail from their Volkswagen bus bar. Brunch—including Chicken Schnitzel & Waffles and Carrot Cake French Toast—is available on Saturdays and Sundays.

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–meets–Texas dishes. On weekends, your best bet is to grab a few appetizers and a bottle of wine and sit back for a little live music, curated by musician/owner Johnny Nicholas, whose wife Brenda is the artist in the kitchen. The Port Arthur-style shrimp gumbo and Kefalotiri Saganaki (Greek cheese baked and served flaming with roasted garlic and crustini) are fantastic starts, and the Greek special tenderloin is a decadent adventure.

Named for John Russell "Hondo" Crouch, self-proclaimed mayor of nearby 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 Lip Burnin' Burger with green and chipotle chilies to the BBQ Pig Ribs, everything about this place radiates good old-fashioned fun. The half-pound burgers are excellent, especially the Blue Ribbon Barbecue Bacon Burger. With two bars—one indoors and one out—and generous margaritas, you will never go thirsty.

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.

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.

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.

Occupying a historic building that was formerly home to the Keidel Pharmacy, this modern coffeehouse serves great coffee and local pastries and a small menu of salads and sandwiches—it’s a perfect place to catch your breath during a whirlwind shopping tour of Fredericksburg. Beautiful tiled tables, original tin ceilings and wood floors, and an open, spacious feel create a relaxing environment, perfect for hanging out with a laptop, coffee and a pastry, or friends.

A cool, eclectic shop with new and vintage pottery, baskets, and tabletop—everything from a vintage ice cream scoop to plates emblazoned with a quirky stag imprint. There is a coffee bar up front with excellent coffee and pastries (the croissants are flaky and delicious) and a champagne bar if you need a bit of bubbly while you shop. Rockhaus is literally connected to Farmhaus Antiques, and if you continue to meander, you’ll also want to check out the Farmhaus for a beautifully curated selection of clothes, home goods, and jewelry.

It may not boast a German name, but don't overlook Silver Creek if you're seeking cuisine from the motherland. With an abundance of outdoor dining, regular live music, and an extensive beer selection, this place is a spring and summer favorite, for its "Tex-German" flavor. All menu items are served with a side of sweet and vinegary German potato salad, and the sausage platter is a crowd-pleaser.