11 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.