19 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 great, 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. 

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.

Though it's also open for lunch, most locals flock to this family-owned restaurant for a delicious and hearty breakfast. Lacy German pancakes come with butter pats, orange slices, and powdered sugar for sprinkling. Order schnitzel with eggs 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 sleek but cozy bistro, chef Henry Gutkin focuses on some of Germany’s lesser-known dishes, reimagined with creative, refreshing twists. Bavarian Frittatensuppe (crepe soup) is brightened with herbs and rainbow carrots, while the Düsseldorfer Senfrostbraten (Dusseldorf mustard roast) is elevated with Akaushi steak and an onion-mustard-cheese crust. 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. 

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 Tex-Mex ranchero sauce and melted Monterey Jack cheese.

This hip, modern interpretation of a European bistro also includes a retail showroom, art gallery, supper club, and wine club. The restaurant features rotating specials, such as lump crab curry, duck confit, and herb-roasted 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. For dinnertime prix-fixe menus and the Monday night supper club, expect a more elevated menu with dishes like beef carpaccio, venison tenderloin, and grilled rack of lamb.

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.

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.

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 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.

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 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.

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.

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. All menu items are served with a side of sweet and vinegary German potato salad.

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.