Hondo's
Expansive, rib-sticking menu including Tex-Mex and BBQ, with live music on the weekends and a good patio. The best burgers in town!
August E's
Here you'll find seasonal "nouveau Texan" cuisine with a subtle Asian twist and sometimes not so subtle - witness the sushi selection and "Thai Thursdays", in honor of executive chef Leu Savanh. Good service and wine selection, all in a very modern dining space. Significant savings can be had at lunch and on Thursdays.
Auslander
A German biergarten with outdoor seating, live music, and a restaurant that also happens to offer steak, seafood, and Tex-Mex. It is undeniably popular with tourists.
Bejas Grill & Cantina
Southwestern grill with nice gourmet touches and a bar. Pleasant patio seating and a good Sunday brunch.
Der Lindenbaum
Homemade German food in a cozy historic restaurant with a nice stock of apropos bar beverages; the atmosphere is more mellow than some of the other rowdy tourist joints and the food is about what you'd expect.
Altdorf Biergarten
The highlight is the nice outdoor seating, which indeed is most like what you would see in Germany. The kitchen serves up German, of course, along with steaks and Tex-Mex. There is also occasionally live music.
Navajo Grill
Modern, seasonal cuisine with inspirations from the South including the zingy West and down-homey East. Good service and wine, plus a nice patio has been recently added.
The Peach Tree
Homey cafe-style cooking by local personality Cynthia Pedregon, served in a pleasant old house. Expect sandwiches, soup, quiches and the like. A small bakery with homemade cookies and bread and a gift shop are attached. Popular with the locals.
Rather Sweet Bakery & Cafe
Delectable baked goods from renowned pastry chef Rebecca Rather are what's on display here; try the incredible kolaches and pastries. The cozy cafe offers up soup, salads, and sandwiches.
Rathskeller Cellar Bistro
Cozy atmosphere, attentive waitstaff, and serves bistro and local german food. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner, live music Saturday nights.
You can stay a week and probably not have time to see all the local restaurants. German cuisine with a hill country flair is what you'll most often see. Most local places close at 9PM unless otherwise noted. A surprising number of places do not take credit cards, so check for a logo or a sign, or carry some cash.
Silver Creek Beer Garden & Grille
Grill serving up steaks, pasta, and seafood and the mandatory German fare, with a brunch on Sundays. Food is okay but the bar is particularly well-stocked, there's nice outdoor seating, and they host live music throughout the week. Service can be frazzled on the weekends when the seats fill up.
Nearby
Alamo Springs Cafe
Known for their outstanding hamburgers preferably with the jalapeno-cheese bun and nightly dinner specials, they advertise that they are "inconveniently located", but worth the trip. And they're right! Getting there really is half the adventure - plus its situated right next to a bat cave cool, eh?. Kick back, grab a beer, and check out the live music on Saturdays.
Cabernet Grill
Upscale but casual wining and dining with attentive service in a nouveau-rustic dining room. Also offers a spiffy lunch buffet during the week. Located at the Cotton Gin bed & breakfast.
Hilltop Cafe
An intriguing mix of Texan, Cajun, and Greek food offered in an offbeat dining room filled with doo-dads hanging from the ceiling and music memorabilia not to mention the occasional live music. Friendly faces, good food, and can be very popular on weekends, where reservations are recommended. A bed-and-breakfast and meeting hall are also on the premises.