Hill Country Food & Wine Guide

Marble Falls

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Bluebonnet Cafe (7)

211 Hwy. 281, 830/693-2344 Mon-Thu, 6am-8pm; Fri-Sat, 6am-9pm; Sun, 6am-1:45pm

The venerable Bluebonnet has been a fact of life in Marble Falls for nearly 70 years, and it's truly one of those places where "everybody knows your name" if you're a local. Due to years of good service, it's standing-room-only three meals a day in this friendly small-town cafe. Breakfast is served all day, and it's a very good bet. The Bluebonnet is also known for a respectable chicken fried steak with mashed potatoes, gravy, and big, yeasty homemade rolls. However, the cafe's true claim to fame has to be the impressive list of homemade pies made fresh every day. Choose from lemon, chocolate, coconut, or banana cream; lemon, chocolate, or coconut meringue; pecan, apple, cherry, or fudge. Order them by the slice ($2.50) or whole to take home ($8.95). Either way, it's mighty fine pie.

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Jammin House Cafe (8)

700 First St., 830/693-3979

Mon-Thu, 11am-9pm; Fri, 11am-10pm; Sat, 8am-10pm; Sun, 8am-9pm

The love affair Jammin House proprietors Jane and Bill Allen have with island foods and beverages is still going strong. On our last visit to Marble Falls, we were pleased to note the popular restaurant's new location overlooking Lake Buchanan. With sunwashed colors on the walls, plenty of thatching, and silk tropical flowers decorating the interior and a wraparound deck outside, it's easy to slip into a festive tropical drink and escape to the islands, mon. The expanded menu offers steaks, seafood, jerk barbecue specialties, salads, pastas, individual pizzas, burgers, chicken fried steak, and some tasty new po'boy sandwiches called Cabana Boys.

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Peete Mesquite Barbecue (9)

2407 Hwy. 281 N., 830/693-6531

Tue-Sat, 10:30am-7pm

Barbecue lovers who read our Smokin' Hall of Fame story on the Web last spring alerted us to the fact that this joint was voted the best barbeque in Burnet County. Lake-bound travelers and picnicgoers will appreciate the handy takeout menu, where mouth-watering brisket, ribs, pork steak, turkey breast, chicken, and sausage are all available by the pound with plenty of the house sauce. Traditional sides of pinto beans, cole slaw, and potato salad are packed in handy individual containers (pints, quarts, and gallons), plus they've also got corn-on-the-cob and baked potatoes. Whole pecan pies and fruit cobblers are available if ordered a day in advance. Pick it all up in the convenient drive-through and be on your way to the lake!

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Sister's Gifts & Antiques (10)

216 Main, 915/693-2734

Mon-Sat, 10am-5pm

After more than 100 years and three locations, the Michel family finally sold their downtown drugstore and the new owners have turned the old store into a gift and antique boutique. The delightful soda fountain lives on, however, and you can still get a soda, thick, creamy malts and shakes, or a banana split made with Blue Bell ice cream. The ladies also make wonderful sandwiches and serve a rotating daily blue plate special. If you've never experienced a real, old-time soda fountain, this place is definitely worth a stop.

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Sweet Berry Farm (11)

on Tobeyville Road (FM 1980), 1.2 miles past the intersection with Hwy. 1431, 830/798-1462

Mon-Sat, 8:30am-5:30pm; Sun, 1-5pm

This "pick-your-own" strawberry patch is a huge hit with Central Texans. The first few weeks of April should offer prime berry picking, but check out their friendly Web site before you get on the road. The site offers directions from most Central Texas locations and keeps strawberry lovers updated on the condition of the crop and the availability of berries. Though they're only growing strawberries this year, the farmers promise more berry varieties in the years to come.