The Gristmill: New Braunfels’ Home for Great Home Cooking

The Gristmill Restaurant, in the historic Gruene district of New Braunfels, has it all. Great food, picturesque views of the Guadalupe River, an intriguing history, casual atmosphere and a friendly and professional staff.  New Braunfels is widely known for its summer water activities, German festivals, great food, shopping, and Gruene Hall, the oldest dancehall in [amazon_textlink asin=’1742201997′ text=’Texas’ template=’ProductLink’ store=’theyums-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’6d598f3a-de08-11e7-a9ce-fb2d38c35b12′]. While the city has been growing rapidly over the years, it still maintains its small-town charm and friendliness.

Location: 1287 Gruene Road, New Braunfels, Texas

Menu: The menu at The Gristmill is extensive and includes many Hill Country favorites.

For meat lovers, diners are offered a tempting selection, ranging from Top Sirloin, Pepper Filet, Ribeye, Texas T-Bone, hearty burgers, and, of course, their famous Chicken Fried Steak with cream gravy. The delicious barbequed ribs are melt in your mouth tender with just the right amount of tangy sauce.

For seafood lovers, choices include Fresh Trout, Ahi Tuna, Fried Shrimp, and farm-raised catfish, grilled or fried.

Chicken dishes like Chicken Acapulco, marinated chicken breast topped with homemade pico de gallo and sour cream, Chicken Fried Chicken, and Tomatillo Chicken are all delicious alternatives to red meat.

Sandwiches include Beef Tenderloin with cheddar cheese, avocado, lettuce, tomato and a special prime sauce, Grilled Chicken, Turkey and a hearty Chicken Salad Sandwich. The Gruene ‘Country Club’ is also a favorite, featuring sliced honey maple turkey, peppered bacon, avocado, lettuce, tomato and a special prime sauce.

Appetizers include Texas Torpedoes – hand battered, deep fried bacon wrapped jalapenos stuffed with cheddar, jack and cream cheese, served with chipotle ranch dressing. Another sure winner is the giant hand breaded, double dipped Onion Rings fried to a golden brown.

Don’t leave without trying one of their mouthwatering desserts, like the soon to be famous Jack Daniel’s Pecan Pie a la mode, made with a trace of Jack Daniel’s, a generous portion of chocolate chips, and topped with vanilla ice cream.

Thoughts: You haven’t really experienced New Braunfels if you haven’t visited The Gristmill. An institution in New Braunfels since 1977, along with great food The Gristmill offers visitors river views, live music, Gruene Dance Hall next door, nearby antique shops and more. The food is tasty, service is fast and friendly, and the views are tremendous.

The Gristmill is housed in an old three-story brick boiler room, all that remains after a fire destroyed the water-powered cotton mill on the banks of the Guadalupe River in 1922. Sitting beneath the famous Gruene water tower, it was restored in 1977. Starting with burgers and steaks cooked in a tiny kitchen, The Gristmill has grown into a wildly popular destination restaurant, serving thousands of satisfied diners every year.

Because of its popularity, the area does get crowded. However, there is ample seating, especially during nice weather when diners can eat outside under towering oaks.

One thing that really struck me was how friendly and accommodating the staff was. From the time we were warmly welcomed at the front receiving area, while we were ordering and asking a hundred questions, and throughout our meal, the staff was wonderful.  The young men and women seemed to take a genuine interest in their patrons and were patient and professional during the entire visit.

It is fascinating to see the list of famous entertainers, politicians, and athletes who have been hosted by The Gristmill. Guests have included country musicians like [amazon_textlink asin=’B006034PGG’ text=’George Strait’ template=’ProductLink’ store=’theyums-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’ee13d08e-de08-11e7-967d-a1cd42109ccb’], [amazon_textlink asin=’B000V698TM’ text=’Pat Green’ template=’ProductLink’ store=’theyums-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’f668b00b-de08-11e7-a7fb-398081cf8680′], and [amazon_textlink asin=’B06ZYVBMTQ’ text=’Lyle Lovett’ template=’ProductLink’ store=’theyums-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’00327cf4-de09-11e7-818d-55ed8d89a79a’] – as well as [amazon_textlink asin=’B000TERBV8′ text=’The Smashing Pumpkins’ template=’ProductLink’ store=’theyums-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’09a01ef7-de09-11e7-aa4c-9bd2cc50581f’] and [amazon_textlink asin=’B00KX1KMPE’ text=’Evanescence’ template=’ProductLink’ store=’theyums-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’16150e6d-de09-11e7-abd5-05df3b70168f’]! Other notable visitors include [amazon_textlink asin=’B002BX578E’ text=’Robert Duvall’ template=’ProductLink’ store=’theyums-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’263a3420-de09-11e7-b45b-157eb80912f2′], [amazon_textlink asin=’B002WBTRBI’ text=’John Travolta’ template=’ProductLink’ store=’theyums-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’328d1d03-de09-11e7-80fa-15bd2086acc6′], [amazon_textlink asin=’1938438388′ text=’Mary Lou Retton’ template=’ProductLink’ store=’theyums-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’3f54e742-de09-11e7-82d8-a7879810dc3d’], and former Texas Governors [amazon_textlink asin=’0671680730′ text=’Ann Richards’ template=’ProductLink’ store=’theyums-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’bbfdbdf9-de09-11e7-af8f-e7c7d1b26965′] and [amazon_textlink asin=’B005F72INK’ text=’Rick Perry’ template=’ProductLink’ store=’theyums-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’c6877fb0-de09-11e7-9c6d-bb14635498ba’].

Prices:  $10 – $24, with most in the $12 – $15 range.

Come on out to historic Gruene in New Braunfels. Float the Guadalupe River, splash around at Schlitterbahn, or dance the night away at Gruene Hall. And when you’re done, The Gristmill will have a table waiting for you. Just be sure you bring your appetite!

Disclosure: The author received a complimentary meal to facilitate this review. The post contains affiliate links. Clicking through for additional information or to make a purchase may result in a small commission being paid to us, at no additional expense to you. This helps support this site and its authors, and we thank you.