Hilltop's funky cajun meets greek merging of flavors makes this place truly a one-of-a-kind.  Owner, Johnny Nicholas, former band member of Asleep at the Wheel, gives this place such a fun vibe that you can feel it even before you walk in the door.  The two first appetizers on the menu will give you a taste of what this fun and oh so delicioso food is all about...the Oysters Bruton - lightly dusted, pan seared, and served with a rich pepper sauce....and the Kefalotiri Saganak - tangy greek cheese baked and served flaming with roasted garlic and crostinis.  YUMMMMM!!!  I can't say it enough you won't find another spot like this...anywhere!  I cannot mention the other awesome component of this restaurant and that is it's live music.  Sometimes Johnny himself will be there rocking out on the piano singing the best bluesy songs you've ever heard and many of his friends are there playing solo or along side Mr. Nicholas himself.  Check his site for more info on what live music will be there on the night that you go:)  

Oh yes...and we HAVE to talk about dessert.  The pies at this place are bangarang.  Made from scratch, hand rolled, and made with love for 30 years...need I say more?!  Come visit Hilltop and feel the love:)

OPEN: DINNER  Tuesday-Thursday 5-9pm         Friday and Saturday 5-10pm     Sunday 5-8pm

             LUNCH  Tuesday-Sunday 11-2pm (SUNDAY BRUNCH)

SEATING: indoor

RESOS: sometimes...is it a weekend probably just in case or just call ahead or just pop on in...is there an awesome singer/band going to be there then YES 

I bet if you have been to Fred before you have heard of Hondo's.  It is on the West side of Main St. in one of the neatest old spots in town.  They have an AWESOME patio for live music and they even close it in and heat it up in the winter so you still get that outdoor feel.  

To me when I think Hondo's my mouth starts watering for three things: 1. margarita 2. blue ribbon bbq bacon burger 3. queso.  Yep...mouth watering!

The food there is great, the ambience is spectacular...and on a nice evening with some live music you just can't beat it.  

I almost have a hard time telling y'all about Sunday brunch because I want to keep it a secret...BUT on Sunday's there is the best rootin' tootin' Sunday band playing AWESOME gospel tunes...starts at 12:30...ok secrets out...you will be shocked that you haven't ever been there after going once!

OPEN: Wednesday-Sunday 11am-9pm                       SUNDAY BRUNCH BAND: starts- 12:30

           bar: weekdays until 10:30

                  weekends until midnight

Gourmet German bistro...what more could you ask for when coming to Fredericksburg?  From flat breads with an array of cheeses melted on top, the flammkuchen, to the mouth watering famous duck schnitzel...this place will blow you away.  Their menu changes weekly so if you are coming back at another time they will have a whole new set of delicious items inspired by what is in season...so don't miss out!  Chef Adam Yoho puts passion into the food that you can almost taste...he smokes and cures his own meats and I order the Wurst Plate of handmade sausages every time I go without even looking at what kind they are that week.  

I can't write about Otto's without mentioning the owner and bartender, John Washburn, whose creative genius behind Otto's makes me want to go back every night...literally.  Delicious creative cocktails, hand picked wines, and studied beer selection make this bistro a full dining experience.  Oh and did I mention that their eastern European inspired pastries are so good I dream about them...the Cambazola Cheesecake is literally one of the best desserts I have ever had.    

OPEN: every night from 4-11pm

SEATING: indoor and patio (weather permitting)

RESOS: YES *but only for larger parties of 6-10 at their Stammtisch table

Pecan Grove has my favorite burger in town. It’s simple but it’s delicious and juicy and I love sitting under the pecan trees at that wonderfully unique establishment enjoying their Dino Burgers. They serve them on Thurs-Sunday 12-8.

Caribbean fare, bocce ball, and a playscape for the kiddos makes for a pretty seriously awesome combo especially when you have little ones in tow.  We head over to Tubby's at least once a week with the kids and we just love the atmosphere and the food.  The seating is all outdoor and the food is mouth watering good.  My fave is the loaded fries with chickpea curry and David is a Taco Tuesday guy (which they have every Tuesday evening from 4 until they sell out).  There are a handful of interesting beers on tap, the wine list is wonderful, and you can get a delicious popsicle for dessert...what more could you ask for?! 

Vaudeville's venison reuben with brussel sprout kraut or the french dip on a homemade roll is one of the hardest decisions to make when eating out at this artful spot.  Sometimes I feel like I am in a gourmet big city bistro not in little ol Fred...but alas this is what makes Fred so very special.  Chef Jordan Muraglia's amazing talent in the kitchen and artist Richard Boprae's eye for interiors, art, and bubbly charm create a place you just don't want to leave.  When Sally was a newborn I couldn't help but call a friend almost every day and have coffee with a warm mini flaky quiche for a little bit of morning wonderfulness.  

The Monday night supper club will literally blow your mind.  Chef Jordan puts out a delectable dinner with a reasonable fixed price menu that changes weekly.  A piece of advice...get your reservations in advance these dinners sell out fast! I love Chef Jordan's culinary skills so much that I follow Vaudeville on instagram and get a delicious peak at all of the tasty dishes he is creating. 

They are also open Friday and Saturday night for pizzas from their wood burning oven and a small selection of other delectable little plates.  Makes for a great date night and has a more casual feel than the Monday night supper club.  Any night at Vaudeville would be a great night!!!

OPEN: DINNER  Monday 6:30-9:30pm   Friday and Saturday 5-9pm

             LUNCH  Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday 11-4pm     Friday, Saturday, and Sunday 11-5                          

SEATING: indoor and outdoor (sometimes...call for confirmation)

RESOS: YES for Monday night supper club *on their website or call - recommended for Friday and Saturday

August E's takes you to another place...you are not in Fredericksburg anymore.  It feels like you are in a city's modern restaurant but with much quieter music and the feeling of space to breath (thank goodness).  A great city like quality is their star quality sushi.  Having fish flown in daily from all over the world to make deilcious super fresh sushi is something I don't think many small towns can say they have.  Man I am thankful for August E's.  I love being able to get sushi...living in a small town would be really tough without sushi...yes indeedey.  But enough about the "sush"- there is so much more...the owners at August E's also strive to use local meats and produce as often as they can  and have a menu of wonderful salads, texas inspired entrees including some game meats, and classic desserts.  My go to order is some yummy sushi and the citrus truffle salad with goat cheese, organic butter lettuce, strawberries, and their to die for citrus truffle dressing. 

The Peach Tree has such a special place in my heart.  To me it represents old Fredericksburg.  It is a place where memories are truly made.  I know sounds cheesy...but it is true!

Open for over 30 years, the Peach Tree has served Fredericksburg in so many ways.  The creativity behind this special spot, Cynthia Pedregon, was a woman that I loved so very dearly and look up to in SO many ways.  She was creative, she was a foodie, she was soft spoken, she had a sense of humor, everything she touched became beautiful!  Her cookbooks are famous all over Texas and there is a reason for that...the recipes are delightful and literally cheerful.  When you eat one of Cynthia's recipes it really is like eating a lovely plate of cheer.  At the restaurant the freshly baked bread is perfectly accompanied by two yummy morsels of heart shaped butter and yes there is a heart on the delicious chilled avocado soup too.  Cynthia was a pioneer when it came to farm to table cooking as well.  When I worked there for her I remember her driving to local farms and picking up fresh produce to use for her blackberry cobblers, her straight off the vine tomatoes in the house salad, and the local peaches she used to make cobbler and ice cream.  She cooked everything from scratch and believed in supporting the local agriculture right outside her door.  She even had her very own garden at her home, which is right next door to the Peach Tree, where she grabbed herbs or edible flowers to make a dish even more special.   

After Cynthia's passing from cancer, her sweet daughter, my aunt Tina Sawtelle, and Cynthia's husband, Hector, run it together.  They do a great job continuing Cynthia's dreams and creating an environment that is cheerful...just the way Cynthia would have liked it.  

When I go I can't help but get the special quiche, the soup, or the special entree...I know it's a tough decision because they are always SO good.  I can't say no to a refreshing glass of iced lemon orange tea, and the house salad...with the secret recipe dressing...yep...I can't go to the peach tree without it.  Oh...not to mention the COOKIES...famous around town...these cookies will knock your socks off.

Don't forget to get a cookbook or take a peak at one when you go!!  This spot is truly special and I know it will be so very special for you too!

OPEN: Monday-Friday 11:00am-2:30pm                       Saturday 11:00am-3:00pm

SEATING: indoor

Sandwiches, a daily soup, delicious cookies. You can’t go wrong at Vaudeville.

Emma and Ollie is Rebecca Rather, the pastry queen’s, newest venture and boy is it amazing! Freshly baked morning treats like cinnamon rolls and bacon cheddar scones…they even have homemade poptarts are available all day and the lunch menu will knock your socks off. My personal go to is the Pimento Cheese Burger with onion jam without the bun and on a bed of lettuce. YUM!

OPEN Tues-Sat 7:30-3 Sunday 10-2

Tubby's for lunch is just like Tubby's for dinner but without Taco Tuesday.  There's still bocce ball, a playscape for kiddos, outdoor seating, and delicioso Caribbean fare.  AND yes popsicles too!

This is our sweet little neighborhood organic grocer. They have natural lunchable options as well as kombucha and other drinks for a quick snack. Sometimes we go in for crackers, a couple of almond butter packets, and a topo chico or two and have the fixings for a simple little picnic.

Hondo's has the same menu for lunch as it has for dinner and it's a great assortment of burgers, salads, and bar foodish apps.  It's a great casual quick lunch spot.

Hilltop's lunch menu is delightful.  It's full of delicious sandwiches and lunch plates that stick to their merging of greek and cajun flavors...yum!

Pecan Grove has my favorite burger in town. It’s simple but it’s delicious and juicy and I love sitting under the pecan trees at that wonderfully unique establishment enjoying their Dino Burgers. They serve them on Thurs-Sunday 12-8.

Woerner's used to be my favorite feed store...now it is my favorite feed store with a cafe...double bonus!!  The food here is delicious AND is made using lots of fresh local organic ingredients.  Not only do the sweet owners strongly support local farms, they do a great job putting together some awesome sandwiches and salads with all of that yummy produce...plus the special soups...yum!  I go there and EVERY TIME can't help but get the Turkey Bird sandwich...it's so good I have to order it and something else when I want to try something new...I just can't pass up the "bird".

They sell local, Josh Rymer's, delicious homemade bread and do a great job making some crazy good pastries.  I also have to mention the "country market" that fills the shelves...imported olive oils and vinegars, specialty crackers, and local grass fed beef in the freezer...now I call that a pretty sweet country market!  Breakfast consists of homemade croissant popovers with egg and ham or homade granola and even some pipin' hot oatmeal to fill up the tum tum.  

Word on the street is that they may even be opening for weekend dinners...I think I might have heard something about pizza too?!  I'll keep you posted!  But for now enjoy lunch and if you need some feed...yep, they still carry it!

OPEN: Monday-Friday 8am-5pm

           Saturday 8am-2pm

NOW OPEN Friday and Saturday nights 5-9 

           There will be pizza, live music, and beer for all!!

SEATING: indoor and patio

All hail the establishment that created the burger that was on the cover of Texas Monthly.  This is a great dive burger spot that is a long but beautiful drive from town.  Don't expect any organics or local ingredients but do get ready for a delicious juicy burger.  I recommend the Texas Monthly burger...of course.  Just a little FYI...Alamo Springs Cafe is right next to the bat cave...so there's that too!