Disclaimer: My trip was hosted by Fredericksburg Convention & Visitor Bureau during a Geiger & Associates press trip. All photos are mine.
In Fredericksburg, Texas, chefs at fine dining restaurants prepare menus using regionally sourced ingredients to create artfully plated meals that impress diners. Known for more than 60 wineries, the Hill Country town’s vineyards supply restaurants with varieties to pair with the chefs’ creations perfectly.
These reservation-worthy restaurants serve high-end cuisine with a dash of finery. If you’re interested in a cooking demonstration or hands-on cooking class, you’re also in luck.
Fredericksburg, Texas: Unforgettable Dining Experiences You Can’t Pass Up
Cabernet Grill: Texas-Inspired Fare
Indulge in a chef-prepared meal uniquely paired with a Texas wine at Cabernet Grill (2805 S. State Highway 16), where gourmet dining has generated rave reviews since 2002.
Chef and Owner Ross Burtwell’s menu includes a robust list of starters ranging from fork and knife salads to bacon-wrapped jalapeños, aka Texas Twinkies.
The dinner menu includes certified Angus beef steaks, field fowl, pork, and seafood entrees. For diners seeking a comforting meal prepared Texas-style, Bacon Wrapped Grilled Texas Quail is stuffed with pulled pork, cream cheese, and candied jalapeños with smoked strawberry glaze. It pairs exceptionally well with Ron Yates Tempranillo, one of over 30 wines served by the glass. And they know wine. Wine Enthusiast recognized Cabernet Grill as one of America’s 100 Best Wine Restaurants.
Seafood dishes using shrimp, flounder, and salmon offer heart-healthy menu options at dinnertime, while Lobster-Topped Chicken Fried Ribeye or Grilled Pork Tenderloin Medallions please indulgent eaters.
PRO TIP: Reserve a room at Cotton Gin Village, a rustic but refined on-site lodging facility – also available for reservations.
Vaudeville Bistro: Sophisticated Fine Dining
Vaudeville Bistro (230 E. Main Street) is where diners reserve a table to experience Chef Jordan Muraglia’s dinner fare that exceeds expectations. Like the definition of “vaudeville,” the menu selections are like a song and dance of flavor. And its interior complete with wood elements and leather furniture creates a comforting yet sophisticated aesthetic.
Caviar with créme fraîche, a cup of seafood-based soup, or shareable plates like charcuterie boards serve as starters. Duck confit, braised beef, grilled rack of lamb, and yellowfin tuna are featured entrees. For diners who prefer handheld pizza, their menu of artisanal pizzas includes pies made with high-end ingredients such as black truffles and spiced lamb.
PRO TIP: Lunch-goers should ask about daily specials unless they prefer to dine on one of their many gourmet sandwiches or a vegan power bowl. And if dessert is necessary, an assortment of macarons or s’mores are irresistible.
Alla Campagna: Chef-Led Italian Menu
Alla Campagna (342 W. Main Street), one of the newest reservation-worthy restaurants on the culinary scene, transports diners to Europe with cuisine characteristic of Italy led by Chef Adrian Cruz.
Guests who reserve a patio table can savor antipasti plates with a glass of sparkling wine surrounded by Tuscan-like stone walls and the sound of a hand-chiseled water fountain.
Diners can expect hearty portions of homemade pasta served under bolognese, gremolata, or ragu. Pollo con Capperi arrives at the table with a nest of bucatini pasta topped with succulent chicken breast, capers, anchovies, and pine nuts. And yes, they serve pizza, tiramisu, and gelato reminiscent of the kind you’d expect to find in Italy.
PRO TIP: Alla Campagna also serves lunch, distinguishing itself from some of the reservation-required Fredericksburg restaurants.
Otto’s: German-Inspired Farm-To-Table Meals
Another Fredericksburg restaurant, Otto’s (316 E. Austin Street) continues the tradition of fine dining using locally sourced, seasonal ingredients, but their menu focuses on interpretations of Germanic and Austrian cuisine.
Klopse, an authentic German meatball appetizer, is served with caper gravy and beet jam. Mustard, mushrooms, and root vegetables make appearances in other appetizers.
At dinnertime, Chef Adam Yoho’s entreés featuring braised short ribs, schnitzel, trout, and bratwurst dominate the menu. Chicken Paprikash, Duck Schnitzel, and Vegetable Strudel demonstrate Chef Adama Yoho’s talents. The bistro’s Cambozola Cheesecake plated with a river of crème anglaise delights.
PRO TIP: The German bistro’s intimate setting requires reservations, especially for private dining events. Sunday Brunch guests are encouraged to do the same.
Fischer & Wieser: Cooking School with Class
Perhaps you’re seeking a more immersive fine dining experience? Fischer & Wieser Culinary Adventure Cooking School (1405 US-87 South) teaches the art of crafting dishes with farm-to-table ingredients and how to entertain guests. The multi-generational, family-owned business is a brand name with condiments and sauces finding their way to dining tables everywhere.
After the meal is prepared, students indulge in elevated fare at a beautifully decorated family-style dining room table. At private cooking classes of eight people or more, you can choose the menu and pace or select from existing menus.
If a group would prefer a cooking demonstration or private dinner rather than a hands-on class, interested parties can indicate their choice using an online request form submitted three weeks in advance. Eight menu selections range from French Bistro to Spanish Tapas.
More Things to Do and See in Fredericksburg
Award-winning restaurants, an almost endless winery trail, boutiques, and picture-worthy lodging make the town visit-worthy. After a first-time visit, you may not want to leave. Use my travel advice for more things to do and see Fredericksburg, Texas: A First-Timer’s Guide to Texas Hill Country Charm.
Incorporated in 1870, Wichita was a cattle drive destination where beef was king. Immigrant workers, hoping to escape economic hardship in their home countries, migrated to Wichita, taking jobs at meatpacking plants and railroad companies. While the stockyards no longer exist, generations of families remain deeply rooted in the area, and each cultural community is well-represented throughout the city by its restaurants.
Wichitans are passionate about local cuisine. If you ask someone which restaurant serves the best hummus, tacos, or pho, prepare for energetic responses.
I was the second customer of the day after Korean Garden opened its doors for the day, and a Korean woman behind the counter was taking to-go orders by phone and hurriedly packaging styrofoam containers. The grill sizzled in the kitchen as I placed my order, and she ushered me to my appointed table.
PRO TIP: You must order from the dinner entree menu on Saturdays. Bento Boxes are available during the week. Expect a $10 minimum purchase for credit card orders.
PRO TIP: 
For 20 minutes, I watched Fast & Furious from a nearby television while sipping a sweet Jamaican bottled soda. Then, the colorful seafood dish served with pickled cabbage and rice was delivered to my table by the owner.
PRO TIP: Strike up a conversation with the owner. Her love of Junction City is infectious, and her business story is admirable.
Rather than ordering a large entree, I opted for Veg Samosas, a fried pastry stuffed with diced potatoes, seasonings, and peas served with a thin yogurt-based sauce. Each deep-fried bite was piping hot, delivering a mild flavor. Two samosas per order are a light lunch, but you’d want to order more food for a substantial meal.
PRO TIP: 
After ordering at the counter, I sat listening to soul music play from a speaker in the dining room where families and downtown workers enjoyed lunch. A buzz with activity near the door, a steady stream of locals arrived to order to-go meals.
I ate every bite of my overflowing, messy hot dog. The sausage snapped with every bite, just as one would expect from an authentic Chicago hot dog.
Known for signature pizzas like Pesto Chicken and Flint Hills Burn, Mill Pizza serves a hearty, flavorful salad. I enjoyed each bite between sips of my beer while listening to patrons at neighboring barstools discuss their work day.
I was the only customer until more people arrived around 8:00 pm. My impression was that the lounge is known for serving a late-night, adult crowd, a sentiment the staff confirmed.
I was offered tastings of any ice cream and ultimately decided on Brown Sugar Maple in a small cup. 
I devoured avocado toast between sips of Reverie Coffee Roasters drip coffee by the fireplace. I recommend the scratch-made breakfast to anyone seeking a healthier meal option.
Amongst cutting boards and kitchenware, the store displays Finch + Fennel pantry staples. The jarred condiments, seasoning blends, and bottled barbecue sauces designed to make cooking at home effortless and enjoyable.
During my second visit to the center, I paused to admire the rehabilitated birds of prey housed outside before trekking the trail. 
Once on the trail, walkers gain access to an open air pathway leading to learning stations. The information plaques detail types of wildlife and teacher onlookers what to watch for during their hike.
PRO TIP: After exploring the Tallgrass Trail, spend a few minutes inside Milford Nature Center (donations encouraged). The education center consists of live animal exhibits, such as snakes, prairie dogs, lizards, and more.
A new art installation, JC Statues, continues to tell the story of the town’s history and its residents. Each one is painted by an individual artist, unveiling a theme represented by symbols and paint colors.
Museum staff and volunteers created three floors of thematic exhibits with relics of the county’s past to convey the story of Geary County.
They designed each exhibit a full sensory experience. You hear the sound of the locomotive pulling into station. Sniff History stations make a self-guided tour an immersive experience, and flip-to-learn-more installments test one’s knowledge of pioneer life.
PRO TIP: If you want to tour 
Trio Tap House, Hays
