Twenty-five miles due north of Austin, on the I-35 highway, lies the Most Beautiful Town Square in Texas. Here, centered around the Williamson County Courthouse, you'll find several of the best restaurants in Georgetown, TX.
Georgetown is the second city I visited in Texas after Austin. I hired a photographer to take headshots of me near the main square.
During the photoshoot, I was struck by the buildings' various textures and materials. This part of the city is on the National Registry of Historic Places. However, it wasn't until a few years later that I began exploring the dining scene.
Georgetown is a relatively small, yet rapidly growing city, with approximately 75,000 residents as of 2021. Here are some of the best places to eat in Georgetown.
Table of Contents
Top Georgetown Restaurants
1. City Post Chophouse
Based on the recommendations of friends who live in Georgetown, a meal at the City Post Chophouse was a high priority. Georgetown's newest fine dining establishment occupies the building that was formerly used as a U.S. Post Office, starting in 1931, and later served as City Hall. It's located half a block east of the main square.
There, I met a friend for lunch on a weekday afternoon. We were seated at a table in front of the open kitchen in the main dining room. The lunch menu offers fewer steaks than the dinner menu, but it was sufficient to get a feel for the place.
Drinks
The cocktail menu had several appealing options, including three zero-proof drinks. Curious, I ordered Dry County with Spiritless Kentucky 74, egg white, lemon juice, and simple syrup.
The mixed drink looked and tasted excellent. Spiritless Kentucky 74 is a distilled, non-alcoholic spirit that offers caramel, oak, and vanilla flavors without the burn of bourbon.
The wine list had about 20 options, primarily from Italy, France, and California. I would've liked to have seen at least one local Fredericksburg winery.
Food
I went overboard ordering a three-course meal for lunch, beginning with the rich four-onion soup, which featured brandy, sherry, Gruyère, and mozzarella. Other appetizers include fresh oysters on the half shell, a Gulf Coast shrimp cocktail, and a cheese and charcuterie board. They also have salads.
I was tempted to order the lobster roll or wagyu burger, but opted for the excellent 10-ounce tomahawk pork chop with whiskey and mustard veal demi-glace instead. Dinner menu items include filet mignon, a 14-ounce NY strip, a 22-ounce bone-in ribeye, and Chilean seabass.
The desserts I tried were made in-house, including a terrific lemon cake and apple pie à la mode. City Post is currently my pick for the best restaurant in Georgetown, TX. 113 E 8th St, Georgetown, TX, citypostchop.house
Related: Jack Daniel's Distillery Tour
2. Monument Cafe
Opened in 1995, Monument Cafe is a block and a half north of Georgetown's square. It is an ode to the rural, family-owned Texas cafes of the 1920s and '30s.
The restaurant has a dedicated fan base and fills up quickly. I arrived by 8:15 a.m. on a chilly Saturday morning, only to find it almost full. Since I was eating alone, I got a seat at the counter without having to wait.
Despite the appearance, this isn't your typical greasy spoon. There's an emphasis on fresh, local, and seasonal foods. Everything on the main menu, including the biscuits and salad dressings, is made in-house. This is classic American comfort food you can feel good about.
Delicious options like migas, chicken and grits, biscuits and gravy, and eggs with chicken-fried steak are all on the menu. Additionally, there are more deluxe options, such as the eggs Benedict, which is what I chose.
The eggs were perfectly poached, the hollandaise sauce was on point, and the glazed ham was flavorful. I also tried a fluffy blueberry buttermilk pancake with maple syrup the size of a plate.
Guy Fieri Was Here
Monument Cafe was featured on an old episode of The Food Network's Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives, which featured Guy Fieri and a young Matthew McConaughey. In the video clip above, one of the chefs prepares King Ranch Casserole, a Tex-Mex recipe that I'm not sure is still available.
As a side note, McConaughey's black T-shirt is from Mean Eyed Cat, a Johnny Cash-themed dive bar in downtown Austin. 500 S Austin Ave, Georgetown, TX, themonumentcafe.com
3. Sweet Lemon Kitchen
If you're looking for coffee and pastries in a cute cottage, head to Sweet Lemon Kitchen, a block and a half southeast of the town square, near Founder's Park.
There are numerous coffee, espresso, and tea options, including a signature cream latte with honey, lavender, or maple. Rich hot chocolate is made by combining organic milk with Ghirardelli Chocolate.
Housemade desserts use organic flour and include:
- Lemon bar
- Lemon bundt cake
- Key lime pie
- Mississippi mud bar
- Assorted cookies
Breakfast pastries include cinnamon rolls, scones, kolaches, and a chocolate Nutella croissant. The menu also has gluten-free items.
Greek yogurt parfait, avocado toast, and heavier fare, such as the steak and egg croissant sandwich, are available, as well as scratch-made quiche Lorraine.
While a great place for breakfast and brunch, Sweet Lemon Kitchen also serves lunch from Tuesday through Sunday and dinner on Friday and Saturday nights.
Hot and cold gourmet sandwiches and salads, featuring the freshest ingredients, are available, including a turkey and brie panini. Dinner entrees include Mediterranean salmon, lasagna, and orange citrus chicken.
As one of the top restaurants in Georgetown, TX, seating fills up quickly on weekends. Go early to sit inside; otherwise, there are tables on the lawn and a counter to order items for take-away.
Sweet Lemon Kitchen's coffee, pastries, and sandwiches are available at the Georgetown Public Library. 812 S Church St, Georgetown, TX, sweetlemonkitchen.com
Related: Best Brunch in Austin
4. Jimmy Vega's Smokehouse
Despite the city's proximity to award-winning BBQ in Austin, there are surprisingly few barbecue restaurants in Georgetown, TX. So far, I'm happy to recommend Jimmy Vega's Smokehouse, which opened at a new location in mid-2022, a half-mile south of the town square.
You'll find all the usual suspects, including the Texas Trinity (brisket, pork ribs, and sausage), smoked-roasted bacon, and pulled pork. For $15.75, I got the comically named "I Don't Know" sampler plate, with three types of meat and two sides. Whether on purpose or by mistake, I received four portions of meat: brisket, baby-back ribs, sausage, and tender turkey breast.
I picked Crack Corn (similar to Mexican street corn) and rum-braised apples for the sides. The ribs, turkey, and corn were my favorites, while the brisket was average. The slices were tiny compared to the thick pieces I'm used to when ordering brisket by the pound at places like Franklin Barbecue or Truth.
Instead of a more traditional cobbler or apple crisp, I opted for the "Hobo" milkshake, which came with ice cream and pieces of Texas sheet cake. It was fantastic. Other enticing shake flavors include s'mores, campfire, mocha, and chocolate strawberry banana.
My visit to Jimmy Vega's was a good experience and an excellent value. 408 W University Ave, Georgetown, TX, jimmyvegas.biz
5. Goodfolks
On the north side of Georgetown Square, you'll find Goodfolks, a Southern-style restaurant in the M.B. Lockett Building, a Texas Historic Landmark. The red-brick building with cast iron columns, metal parapet, and corner turret dates back to the late 1800s.
The split-level restaurant offers tables on the ground floor and smaller ones on a second-floor wrap-around balcony. The upper level also features a bar.
The menu offers mouthwatering meals, including fried pickles, cornmeal-crusted catfish, fried chicken salad, and chicken and waffles. Honey butter biscuits, served with cane syrup honey butter, can be ordered independently or as part of some dishes.
For my first visit, a late lunch with my friend Laura, I ordered the two-tenders basket with a biscuit, dipping sauce, and truffle mac 'n cheese. The meal reminded me of my childhood, when mac and cheese and chicken tenders were two of my favorite foods.
Not content to stop there, I consumed the peanut butter mousse pie with cinnamon vanilla whipped cream in record time. The milkshakes (strawberry shortcake and cookies and cream) also sound incredible. For an extra $5, you can add whipped cream vodka to any of them.
Goodfolks may be the new kid on the block, but they're easily one of the best restaurants in Georgetown overall. 119 W 7th St, Georgetown, TX, goodfolksgtx.com
6. 600 Degrees Pizzeria
Across the street from City Post is the best pizza restaurant in Georgetown, TX. 600 Degrees Pizzeria serves enormous slices of pizza with traditional and unique flavors. There are three seating areas: booths, communal tables, and a bar with TVs and craft beer on tap, perfect for happy hour.
They offer an extensive menu, featuring pizza available by the slice or by the pie. I ordered two pieces, not realizing that a single portion at 600 Degrees is equivalent to two at most other places.
The first slice, Queen Margherita, was made with Roma tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, Parmigiano-Reggiano, and basil. The second slice was more adventurous - a Royale with Cheese topped with seasoned hamburger, bacon, Tillamook cheddar cheese, and red onions.
I managed to eat about half of each and took the rest home. I couldn't even fathom dessert, a choice of NY-style cheesecake, tiramisu (my favorite), and a triple chocolate cake.
There's more to this Italian restaurant than pizza, though. They also offer handmade meatballs in marinara sauce, gourmet cheese bread, pork shanks with Thai chili, and wings.
If you're looking for casual dining with friendly service downtown, head for 600 Degrees. 124 E 8th St, Georgetown, TX, 600degreespizzeria.com
7. Wildfire
The family-owned Wildfire steakhouse and saloon bar are housed in adjacent buildings on Georgetown Square, dating back to 1910. The restaurant has been serving the community for more than 25 years.
Moreover, they have extensive lunch, dinner, and Sunday brunch menus that offer good value to diners. For example, burgers and sandwiches are great value, between $14 and $16. The NY Strip Steak Po Boy is $22.
For my first lunch, I ordered the 5-ounce cast-iron skillet chicken-fried steak, accompanied by Anaheim-bacon-cheddar red bliss mashed potatoes and Texas pecan green beans, for $15. It was more than enough to fill me up.
While a few steaks are available on the lunch menu, such as a 20-ounce bone-in cowboy ribeye, the dinner menu offers more options for meat lovers. There's a Jamaican jerk Berkshire 14-ounce pork chop, an Australian rack of lamb, and an oak-fired elk tenderloin with blackberry port reduction, to name a few.
Dessert fans will appreciate the variety available at this Georgetown restaurant, from Bananas Wildfire (their take on Bananas Foster) and blackout cake to Hill Country peach cobbler. 812 S Austin Ave, Georgetown, TX, wildfiretexas.com
8. Blue Corn Harvest Bar & Grill
A half block west of the main town square, Blue Corn Harvest serves a solid menu of Southwestern staples, such as chili shrimp quesadillas, beef enchiladas, and fish tacos. For a more substantial meal, try one of their specialties: blue crab-stuffed chicken, pan-fried catfish, or a 12-ounce ribeye with chipotle cream.
I was so full from the pork verde breakfast enchiladas I ordered off the brunch menu that I didn't have room for dessert. Peanut butter pie, key lime pie, and coconut pie are available.
Blue Corn Harvest has three additional locations in Round Rock, Cedar Park, and Leander. 212 W 7th St #105, Georgetown, TX, bluecornharvest.com
9. La Riv Wood Fired Italian
In November 2024, chef-owner Vira Chudasma expanded her Italian restaurant concept, La Riv, from Temple to downtown Georgetown. Located across the street from 600 Degrees and catty-cornered to City Post, it's an easy spot to find, as I learned while meeting up with a friend for dinner on a Saturday night.
Ingredients are sourced from local farmers' markets, pastas are made fresh in-house daily, and steaks are grilled over wood fires. I ordered the rich Akaushi short rib pappardelle and ricotta in a red wine demi-glace with Parmigiano. Meanwhile, my friend enjoyed the prosciutto and fig pizza, which was large enough to serve as a main course.
Entrees include an Ora King salmon, whole Mediterranean sea bass, osso bucco, and wood-grilled steaks from an 8-ounce filet to a 28-ounce Bistecca alla Fiorentina. An extensive wine list focuses on Italian, French, and California wines. 200 E 8th St #101, Georgetown, TX, larivkitchen.com
Conclusion
Thanks to its title as the Most Beautiful Town Square in Texas, Georgetown attracts visitors from throughout the Austin area, including neighboring cities such as Cedar Park and Round Rock. Finding good food at the best restaurants in Georgetown, TX, is as simple as parking in the main square and picking which direction to walk.
