Best Restaurants in Fredericksburg for a Great Meal

Fredericksburg, Texas, is a small town with a booming restaurant scene. With great Texas wine, German specialties, and plenty of Tex-Mex and burgers thrown in, there are lots of good eats here. Whether you’re looking for a quick breakfast or an upscale Hill Country dinner experience, you’ll find it among our picks for some of the best restaurants in Fredericksburg.

We come to Fredericksburg frequently, which has given us a chance to try nearly every place in town. Here are some of the spots we go back to over and over again.

Otto’s German Bistro

Helmed by a chef from Dusseldorf, Otto’s is a great restaurant for dinner in downtown Fredericksburg. This upscale bistro offers modern German specialties like duck schnitzel and Bavarian beef soup along with other European dishes on a menu that changes regularly. Many ingredients come from nearby farms in the Hill Country, which are highlighted on the menu.

The cocktails are lovingly crafted, and the wine list features lots of choices from Germany and Austria.

Just a couple of steps off Main Street, Otto’s is open every day, which is an important find in a town where many restaurants are closed on Monday and Tuesday evenings. It’s our go-to that’s always at the top of our list for places to go in Fredericksburg.

Chase’s Place

Chase’s Place Cocktails & Kitchen is one of the best cocktail bars in Fredericksburg. They have an extensive spirit list, including local products like Balcones and Garrison Brothers whiskey as well as house-infused creations used for specialty drinks. If we lived in town, we would be here at least once a week. Probably more.

The food menu changes frequently but often features items like oysters, tacos, and shrimp & grits. There is also a selection of shareable plates like spinach and artichoke dip and chicken pot stickers. Just a block off Main Street, Chase’s Place is a great spot for a fun night out and one of our newer favorites in town.

Vaudeville

Vaudeville is a unique space that combines a bistro with a boutique and gallery. Often appearing on lists of best places to eat in Texas, it combines French flair with elements of Southern comfort food.

The restaurant offers a lunch menu featuring freshly baked pastries and a selection of soups, salads, and sandwiches along with specialties like duck confit and buttermilk fried chicken. In the evening, main courses include hearty dishes like rack of lamb and braised beef with polenta. Their Sunday night supper club based around a multi-course tasting menu is one of the most special dining experiences in town.

Granite House Lounge

The focus at Granite House Lounge is on fine food and good cocktails that keep locals and visitors coming back. The New Orleans-inspired restaurant offers delicious seafood dishes, salads, and enough fried classics to remind you that you’re still in Texas. Lance has proclaimed that the burger here (complete with bacon jam!) is life changing.

Indoor seating is available, but we particularly love the patio. 

Hondo’s on Main

Hondo’s on Main is a local favorite. This welcoming spot is owned by the daughter of Hondo Crouch, the former self-proclaimed mayor of nearby Luckenbach. His warm, fun-loving spirit lives on at this namesake restaurant.

Hondo’s has live music most days and a large patio to enjoy. The menu is full of casual, good food like burgers, enchiladas, and sandwiches. We always go for the Frito pie and the perfect margaritas.

Der Lindenbaum

One of the top German restaurants in Fredericksburg, Der Lindenbaum is located in an historic building on Main Street. It offers German specialties like goulash, schnitzel, and rheinischer sauerbraten (beef marinated in a sweet and sour sauce). They have an impressive selection of German beer and wine.

Hill & Vine

Hill & Vine has quickly become a local hotspot. This restaurant on South Adams Street has a spacious dining room, an outdoor patio, and a beer garden area designed around its centerpiece—a 1974 Volkswagen van known as Das Bar Bus. It’s a fun space to grab a drink and hang out while you wait for a table (on weekends, it can be a long wait). 

The menu at Hill & Vine focuses on the flavors of Texas ranging from black-eyed pea hummus with Texas olive oil to a wood-fired Angus ribeye. We love the blackened gulf snapper tacos and the onion rings, which are super popular. In addition to a full cocktail and beer offering, Texas wine has a prominent place on the beverage list.

Note that they only seat groups up to 8 people unless you have a reservation for private dining.

Eaker Barbecue

Lance and Boo Eaker bring a unique take on barbecue to town, combining South Texas-style barbecue with Korean flavors for an unbeatable blend. Their mesquite and post oak smoked meats at Eaker Barbecue have been recognized by Texas Monthly as among the top 50 in the state, a high honor for any BBQ spot.

Traditional prime-grade brisket, turkey, and pulled pork are among some of their top offerings. Don’t miss the Korean additions, which include delicious pork ribs marinated in a homemade gochujang sauce, kimchi fried rice, and a refreshing Korean cucumber salad. The boozy banana pudding is also incredible.

Sunset Grill

Known for serving some of the best breakfast in Fredericksburg, Sunset Grill is located just a couple of minutes from Main Street on South Adams Street. Open for breakfast, lunch and Sunday brunch, Sunset Grill serves an impressive array of omelets, salads, sandwiches, and different types of eggs Benedict. The French toast is a particular standout.

Auslander Restaurant & Biergarten

A mainstay of the city for over 30 years, Auslander specializes in the food of the Bavaria region of Germany. That means lots of schnitzel, sausage, and sauerkraut.

Though on the heavier side by its nature, the dishes we’ve sampled at Auslander have all been flavorful, fresh, and perfectly cooked. In addition to bratwurst, meatballs (klopse) over spaetzle, potato soup, and crispy schnitzel, there are non-German alternatives like hamburgers and a grilled chicken salad.

The biergarten is a perfect place to sit on a nice day. Auslander serves beer from Fredericksburg breweries and lots of German and international brews along with wine and frozen cocktails.

Cabernet Grill

The Cabernet Grill is frequently listed as one of the best restaurants in Fredericksburg, and our meals there have always been excellent. Specializing in what they call Hill Country cuisine, the menu is full of seafood, steak, and specialties like oak-smoked pork tenderloin and sous vide fried chicken.

The claim to fame of this upscale restaurant is that its wine list is exclusively Texas wine. There are over 150 selections from the nearby wineries in Fredericksburg, the High Plains, and beyond. Make a reservation if eating here is a priority on weekends. Outdoor seating is first-come, first-served.

Airport Diner

The Airport Diner is a classic 1940s diner with the food to go along with it. You’ll find traditional egg dishes, biscuits and gravy, pancakes, and breakfast tacos at breakfast. Lunch includes salads, burgers, chicken wraps, and a daily Blue Plate special. The most unique part of the experience is the environment—right on the edge of the Gillespie County airport, you can watch the planes take off right outside the window.

Sage

Velvet booths and banquets, a sleek bar, and an expansive patio combine to make Sage Restaurant and Lounge one of the chicest restaurants in town. The indulgent menu features items like linguine carbonara with local wild mushrooms, a smoked pork chop, and lobster thermidor with mustard truffle sauce.

They feature a great late-night happy hour on Friday and Saturday, which is nice in a town that tends to close a little early.

West End Pizza

For over 12 years, West End Pizza Company has welcomed visitors with brick oven pizza made from scratch. The dining room and outdoor areas are ideal for large parties and anyone looking for a relaxed time with great food. Grab a chicken parm pizza or the classic West End with the works and settle in for a nice evening.

West End Pizza offers regular live music, and several big screen TVs feature lots of sports broadcasting.

August E’s

August E’s has been one of the top fine dining Fredericksburg restaurants for nearly 20 years. The establishment focuses on local and seasonal ingredients in their dishes featuring steaks and chops along with seafood and game entrees. August E’s is also known for its sushi menu, which has a selection of maki and specialty rolls.

Burger Burger

This first time we visited Burger Burger we were astounded at the height of the sandwiches. This casual place with the repetitive name is one of our favorite restaurants in Fredericksburg.

The burgers at Burger Burger are great (with a name like that, they had better be), but they also offer salads, chicken wings, amazing milkshakes, and a handful of vegetarian options, too. The prickly pear margarita and the Texas smokehouse burger are winners every time.

Rathskeller

Located in the Historic Keidel Hospital building, Rathskeller Restaurant serves a little bit of everything for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. As the German name implies, you’ll find a selection of German sausages and schnitzels. The greater part of the menu features pastas, seafood, burgers, sandwiches, and more for lunch and dinner. Breakfast includes numerous egg dishes, breakfast tacos, and beignets.

Hill Top Cafe

The charming Hill Top Café about 10 miles north of town is worth the drive. Set in an old gas station and roadhouse, they offer some of the best seafood in Fredericksburg. During lunch, dinner, and Sunday brunch, the menu features Southern cuisine as well as Cajun dishes and a few Greek specialties thrown in. There is frequent live music.

Backwoods BBQ

Central Texas is known for barbecue, and Backwoods BBQ is some of the best in town. The family-owned establishment specializes in mesquite-cooked pit BBQ and steaks. Visitors rave about the ribs, ribeye, and macaroni and cheese. Friday night is steak night.

Fredericksburg Pie Company

Fredericksburg Pie Company is the place to go in town for pie. Homemade and made fresh daily, there is always a selection of fruit, pecan, and cream pies. There are often as many as 15-20 types to choose from. Get there before the mid-afternoon when they’re often sold out. They are generally open Thursday through Saturday, but check the website for hours and days of operation, which can vary.

Altdorf Biergarten

One of the most popular beer gardens in town, Altdorf Biergarten mixes German specialties with Southwest dishes, burgers, salads, and more. Its scratch kitchen turns out a wide variety every night from bratwurst to the Altdorf burger to Maggie’s enchiladas, named after one of the owners who has perfected them to her high standards.

Altdorf is located right on Main Street in a restored limestone building built by some of Fredericksburg’s early settlers. Grab a seat inside to see some of the historic features or relax at one of the outdoor tables.

Fredericksburg Brewing Company

The oldest brewpub in Texas, Fredericksburg Brewing Company serves German-style craft beer made on site. Their restored 1890s building is in the heart of the action in downtown, so it’s convenient from everywhere. The menu includes German fare, pizza, burgers, and salad.

Twisted Sisters Bake Shop

Twisted Sisters Bake Shop is on our list every time we visit. A full-service espresso bar with lots of fresh-made items, it’s most appropriate for breakfast or light lunch, and offerings change daily.

Well-known for their killer cinnamon rolls, they often have a selection muffins, cupcakes, and other pastries. For something a little more substantial, opt for the quiches, salads, or sandwiches. We’re in love with the fabulous breakfast tacos.

Pecan Grove Store

Five miles from downtown, Pecan Grove Store is one of the fun places to eat in Fredericksburg. Go for a burger, a beer, and some live music under the trees.

Every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, the historic ice house cooks up its famous half-pound Dino Burgers, French fries, and a few other offerings, including chili and tacos. Wednesdays feature wings, and Sundays are for BBQ.

Whatever you opt for, take it to the beer garden and enjoy the ambiance.

Fredericksburg Mini-Donut Co.

Creations from the Fredericksburg Mini-Donut Company are one of the city’s top treats. They’re made to order in the company’s food truck (parked in the Ace Hardware lot). Orders come with your choice of toppings, ranging from specials like turtle to the classic cinnamon and sugar. Drip coffee is available, too, so all your morning needs are met.

Tubby’s Ice House

Tubby’s Ice House is a casual, family-friendly restaurant with a lovely outdoor patio. The menu is predominantly burgers, tacos, sandwiches, and salads. We’ve tried several tacos and the pulled pork sandwich and have walked away happy every time. Locals rave about the margaritas and cheese curds.

Old German Bakery & Restaurant

The Old German Bakery and Restaurant has been a Fredericksburg institution for over 40 years. Serving German food using traditional German recipes, they make everything from scratch. With all-day breakfast and filling lunch items like German meatloaf and smoked pork chops, you’re guaranteed not to leave hungry. The pastries and bread alone are worth a visit here.

Campo Azul Mexican Grill & Bar

If you’re wondering where to eat in Fredericksburg that has great Tex-Mex, check out Campo Azul. One of the top restaurant choices of locals, their traditional Tex-Mex options include cheesy enchiladas, sizzling fajitas, tostadas, and more. The menu is long, so it would be hard to find a delicious option that’s not available here.   

Breakfast starts at 7am, and service continues all day, so you can get your Tex-Mex fix at any time.