5 Best Restaurants in Fredericksburg, The Hill Country

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.

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.

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.