Buc-ee’s: Refuel Your Car— and Your Snack Supply!

Although it may seem strange to get excited about a gas station, Buc-ee’s is a much different type of gas station than anything you’ve seen before. This combination gas station and convenience store is much larger than most similar establishments, and its interior resembles a grocery store more than a convenience store. Large aisles dedicated to beef jerky, pulled pork, seasoned nuts, and other Texan favorites offer an almost endless assortment of road trip snacks, and there are ICEE machines on the end caps of every aisle.

Just about everything at Buc-ee’s is made by the store’s own in-house brand, including the wide variety of candies that includes the Beaver Hut and multi-flavored taffies. If you’re looking for a more filling meal, Buc-ee’s also offers a hot food bar filled with sausage kolaches, barbecue brisket sandwiches, and even New York-style Reubens. Outside, Buc-ee’s offers some of the most affordable gas in the state!

Buc-ee’s
2760 IH 35 North
New Braunfels, TX 78130
(979) 238-6390
www.buc-ees.com
www.yelp.com/biz/buc-ees-new-braunfels-2

Have You Tried the Grilled Banana Bread at Buttermilk Cafe?

Buttermilk Cafe is a country-style kitchen specializing in comfort foods just like Mom used to make, from smothered biscuits and gravy for breakfast to fried green tomatoes, chicken and dumplings, and country pot roast for dinner. The dessert menu is filled with cream pies made entirely from scratch, and the unique grilled banana bread is one of the restaurant’s most famous dishes.

Inside, Buttermilk Cafe is much more modern than the usual country restaurant, with stark white walls, comfortable booths and wooden tables throughout the dining area and the occasional rustic decor element to give it a homey feel. While you may have to wait a bit for its beloved weekend breakfast, it certainly pays to slow things down at Buttermilk Cafe.

Buttermilk Cafe is open 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily.

Buttermilk Cafe
1324 East Common Street
New Braunfels, TX 78130
(830) 625-8700
www.thebuttermilkcafe.com
www.yelp.com/biz/the-buttermilk-cafe-new-braunfels

River House Tea Room: Enjoy Tea for Two and a Wooded View

Whether you’re looking for a great, gourmet-quality dinner that will leave you feeling full or an afternoon tea just like the ones that are customary in Britain, you’ll find both at the River House Tea Room. This stylish yet traditional eatery is often voted on the best restaurants in the New Braunfels area, and its numerous regular customers wholeheartedly agree. It is tucked away in a shady, wooded area in Gruene, Texas, and it features a large wooden patio outside and a classic, upscale dining room inside.

For lunch, the River House Tea Room serves country-style salads and rustic sandwiches topped with top round beef, specialty chicken salad, or fresh, grilled vegetables for vegetarian guests. The dinner menu switches to entrée-style dishes like grilled salmon and the quiche du jour. Guests can also enjoy a unique afternoon tea consisting of various hot teas, fresh baked scones, and delicate finger sandwiches true to British tradition.

River House Tea Room
1617 New Braunfels Street
New Braunfels, TX 78130
(830) 608-0690
www.riverhousetearoom.com
www.yelp.com/biz/river-house-tea-room-new-braunfels

Naturally: Feel Good About Food

Whether you want to lose weight or eat healthier, Naturally is a great lunch choice in New Braunfels. This all-natural eatery specializes in freshly squeezed juices made to order, and you can even watch as each carrot or whole orange enters Naturally's high-quality juicers.

If you stop by for lunch, you’ll find a colorful menu filled with hearty yet healthy salads, veggie-filled meal platters, and housemade soups made without the usual heavy creams or other fattening ingredients. (Pair your meal with a real fruit smoothie.) Everything on the menu is tasty and good for you, and the dining area is so relaxing that it will make your meal even more enjoyable.

Naturally has a spacious ordering counter, cozy dining tables inside, and a sunny outdoor patio filled with umbrella-covered tables and scenic greenery.

Naturally
494 N. Seguin Avenue
New Braunfels, TX 78130
(830) 214-6300
www.naturallynb.com
www.yelp.com/biz/naturally-new-braunfels

Alpine Haus Restaurant: Schnitzel, Strudel and Spaten Galore

Although Texas isn’t exactly synonymous with German cuisine, Alpine Haus Restaurant brings a taste of Bavarian-style cooking to the New Braunfels area. This restaurant offers influences from Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, and its menu lists more types of sausages than you can even imagine. German beers and wine pair perfectly with Alpine Haus Restaurant’s schnitzels, rinder rouladen, and goulash, and other German fare delicacies.

Alpine Haus is located in a renovated 160-year-old house that will make you feel like you’re eating in an authentic German family home. Cozy tables covered in red tablecloths fill the multiple dining rooms, while rustic decor and antique paintings hang from every wall. All of the restaurant’s employees also dress in traditional German garb, which only adds to the fun and lively experience.

Note that Alpine Haus is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.

Alpine Haus Restaurant
251 S. Seguin Avenue
New Braunfels, TX 78130
(830) 214-0205
www.alpinehausnb.com
www.yelp.com/biz/alpine-haus-restaurant-new-braunfels

Cravings: Satisfy Your Craving for Tasty Sandwiches

Cravings began as a unique sandwich shop on the outskirts of New Braunfels, but since 2008, it has expanded to include a wide variety of different lunch items made entirely from scratch. The locally-owned eatery is now located in a spacious building downtown that features both indoor and outdoor seating and a convenient drive-through. The interior features a few wooden tables and quirky chalkboard menus hanging on the walls, and although seating is fairly limited, a large portion of Cravings’ business consists of to-go orders.

The menu includes truly creative takes on the classic lunch sandwich, including combinations like ham, peanut butter, jelly, and fried egg. If some of these combinations are too odd for your taste, Cravings also offers tried-and-true favorites like the chicken salad or Reuben. Salads and wraps are great options for those with lighter appetites, and there is also a seasonal soup list that changes from day to day.

Cravings
712 W. San Antonio Street
New Braunfels, TX 78130
(830) 626-2728
http://www.cravingsnb.com
www.yelp.com/biz/cravings-new-braunfels

Friesenhaus: Enjoy a Weisswurst and the Accordion at This Authentic German Restaurant

Owned and operated by the Dirks family, who relocated to New Braunfels from Germany in 2009, Friesenhaus is a true taste of Germany in the heart of Texas. The restaurant is large and decorated in an authentic style, with heavy wooden tables, German flags hanging from the ceiling, and a staff dressed in traditional German clothing. There’s also a large outdoor biergarten and live German accordion music every Friday and Saturday night, which adds even more to the experience.

Popular menu items include schnitzel, fish specialties such as rollmops, and German sausages like weisswurst and bratwurst. No good German restaurant is complete without an expansive beer list, and Friesenhaus has that part covered. From the Hacker-Pschorr dark lager to the Bitburger blonde pilsner, there’s nothing quite like a traditional German beer in such a unique atmosphere.

Friesenhaus is open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sundays.

Friesenhaus
148 S. Castell Avenue
New Braunfels, TX 78130
(830) 625-1040
www.friesenhausnb.com
www.yelp.com/biz/friesenhaus-new-braunfels

McAdoo’s Seafood Company: A Stylish Restaurant With a Rich History

Located in the century-old former New Braunfels Post Office building, McAdoo’s Seafood Company is an upscale seafood restaurant with the same community-centered feeling as the building’s former establishment.

Even though the building was closed for 25 years, the new owners worked to preserve just about every bit of its original charm and history, including some of the pieces of equipment. The interior features gleaming hardwood floors, crown molding lining every wall, and comfortable wooden tables that provide a cozy setting for dinner with friends. McAdoo’s Seafood Company also offers a New Orleans-style courtyard for dining al fresco, a private banquet room in the former Postmaster’s office, and an old-fashioned bar filled with wines and spirits. With a large seafood menu featuring a heavy dose of Cajun flair, McAdoo’s Seafood Company is unlike any other restaurant in the New Braunfels area.

McAdoo’s Seafood Company is open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays and 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays.

McAdoo’s Seafood Company
196 North Castell Avenue
New Braunfels, TX
(830) 629-3474
www.mcadoos.com
www.yelp.com/biz/mcadoos-seafood-company-new-braunfels

Oregano’s: Grab a Slice at This Hip Pizza Shop

Just about everyone loves a good slice of pizza, and locals say that Oregano’s offers some of the best pies on the New Braunfels area. This pizzeria is housed in a small brown building with a spacious front porch, and its interior is furnished with a large wooden ordering counter, modern light fixtures, and exposed brick walls to create a stylish, rustic look. Traditional red and white-checkered pizzeria-style tablecloths line every table, and there’s also a casual patio area with more tables and free Wi-Fi throughout.

Oregano’s makes every pizza fresh using high quality ingredients, and the fired stone hearth oven gives them their distinct flavor. The Aloha pizza features sweet pineapple and Canadian bacon, while the Plant Eater is a veggie pizza that vegetarians will love. Oregano’s also offers its beloved Nana’s pies and homemade cupcakes, which are almost as good as its pizzas!

Oregano’s is open 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.

Oregano’s
636 S. State Highway 46
New Braunfels, TX 78130
(830) 214-0306
www.oreganostx.com/
www.yelp.com/biz/oreganos-new-braunfels

Gristmill River Restaurant: Rustic Elegance Meets Traditional Texas Dining

Housed in a barn-style building made of rustic limestone and surrounded by the area's native landscape, Gristmill River Restaurant is a truly authentic Texas dining experience. This stunning, upscale steakhouse features both indoor and outdoor dining rooms, a spacious bar, and a shaded beer garden that can accommodate any party.

Once you finally get over how beautiful the setting is, you'll likely be equally amazed at Gristmill River’s expansive menu. Appetizers like homemade queso dip and fried onion rings are ideal for sharing, while soups and salads whet your appetite for what's to come. The menu includes sandwiches and burgers for lunchtime dining, while expertly prepared entrees like steaks, fried chicken, and fresh fish with your choice of sides are perfect for dinner. From the rustic ambiance to the traditionally Texas food options, Gristmill River Restaurant is a beloved area tradition.

Gristmill River Restaurant is open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. The eatery offers extended hours during the summer months.

Gristmill River Restaurant
1287 Gruene Rd
New Braunfels, TX 78130
(830) 625-0684
www.gristmillrestaurant.com
www.yelp.com/biz/gristmill-river-restaurant-new-braunfels

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