10 Best Restaurants in The Hill Country, Texas

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.

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 and sculpture garden is a must when in Wimberley.

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.

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 Chicken and Waffles and a bourbon-inflected Ham Benedict make this a perfect special-occasion brunch spot, and the white or red house-made sangria 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. 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.

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.

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.

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 from a cheese plate while watching the passersby. Wood-fired proteins have their own dedicated section of the menu here, from Organic Smoked Rotisserie Chicken with garlic gremolata to Beef Tenderloin Medallions with buttered leeks, 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 Cypress Caesar delights with both Stilton and Grana Padano cheeses. Sunday brunch is lauded, too.

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.

Even if the food here wasn't so good, McAdoo's would be worth a visit for the beautiful interior alone. Set inside a converted post office from 1915, the restaurant features upscale Creole and Cajun-style dishes, with a focus on seafood and cocktails. Sunday brunch specials include a seafood fondue omelet, shrimp and grits, seafood gumbo, and bananas Foster French toast—plus a Bloody Mary bar with more than 30 items to add to your drink.