Great New Spots around the Hill Country You Should Try
Zinger’s: Out at the Galleria on Highway 71 in southwest Austin, this is a Sports Bar and quintessential family restaurant. The Patty melt is an exercise in classic tastes and seriously thin and crispy fries. I have a hard time passing this sandwich up. Likewise for the tortilla soup. It has rich flavors with just a bit of bite. The Shrimp Scampi, something you don’t usually see in a Sports Bar is excellent. They have a lovely patio out front and serve good beers on tap. The place has a very relaxed and casual vibe to it. And it’s owned by a husband and wife team. zingersbar.com.
Ilsa’s Kitchen: This is a new Bavarian restaurant on Highway 71 just south of Spicewood. This family owned restaurant has an inviting ambiance and some rally neat German cuisine. Try the Bavarian Wurst Salad. For $6.95 it is one of the best and tastiest deals around. Reminds of my time in Munich. The Pork Schnitzel Wiener is another delight and reasonable at $11.95. They have also recently added Sauerbraten and have a lovely Sunday Brunch. Ask for Joel or Marisela. ilsaskitchen.net.
Dahlia Café in Liberty Hill: This is a bit of a ride for Austinites but worth every mile. I would classify Dahlia as kind of a slightly more upscale Hoover’s. They have amazing appetizers including crispy chicken livers, seriously stuffed mushrooms, and homemade kettle chips. The Chicken Fried Steak is as good as it gets, the Flat Iron steak is a blast, and the BLT will satisfy any purist (and I am one regarding BLT’s). The pies are all house made: the Buttermilk and Pecan are sinful. This is family operated and my only regret is that it’s not in Dripping Springs. dahlia-cafe.com.
Creek Road Café in Dripping Springs: Having recently moved out towards Dripping Springs (not exactly a hot bed for restaurants) you can imagine my pleasant surprise in finding the Creek Road Café on highway 290. Owned by two partners who spent a number of years in the northwest U.S., the food at Creek Road is fresh, innovative and almost invariably delicious. The Crab stuffed Artichoke bottoms are to die for as are the Pan Seared Maryland style Crab Cakes (lots of plump crab meat and very little filler).
We like the Creek Road Garden Salad as well. My two favorite entrees are the Pedernales Pork Chop (beautifully grilled with great flavor) and the Trautwein Sauteed Shrimp ($16) is a slam dunk of flavor. The shrimp are pan seared with jalapeno aioli and served with lovely cheddar and smoked sausage grits. Man I love this dish! And the Carrot Cake may will be the best that I’ve tasted in Austin. creekroadcafe.com.
The Gruene Door in Gruene, TX. The only reason I used to go to New Braunfels was for tubing or to go to Schlitterbahn. Now, with the advent of Michael Flume’s Gruene Door restaurant, I am going down there more frequently. This is a restaurant where the care in each dish is evident. I fell in love with the Duck Gumbo on my first visit (it’s off the menu for the summer but will be back in the fall). When it returns, order it. Dynamite! The Parmesan Crusted Shrimp makes for a great appetizer as does the House Smoked Salmon. And if you order only ONE entrée, you must have the Garlic Shrimp. I love this dish! The blend of orzo, garlic butter, plump shrimp and asparagus is unique and irresistible. The Angus Beef Rib eye is another blockbuster and at $29 about $20 less expensive than the downtown Austin restaurants. Say hi to Francis when you walk in: she’s the best! thegruenedoor.com.
