Gruene River Grill - (Near New Braunfels, TX)

4 /5 Terry Bowler: Christmas Eve lunch and a great choice overall. The restaurant had a warm, festive holiday atmosphere, and our server, Avery, was wonderful—friendly, attentive, and on top of everything throughout our visit. We started with the calamari, which was excellent. The portion was solid, and the dipping sauce was so good we ended up asking for extra because it went fast. I ordered the lunch schnitzel, and it was outstanding. It covered the entire plate and was cooked perfectly—crispy on the outside and tender inside. My wife chose the chicken fried steak. While the steak itself was good, she wasn’t a fan of the gravy, which seemed a bit off or possibly too spicy for her taste. We took a slice of carrot cake to go, but unfortunately it didn’t impress and was the only real miss of the meal. Overall, we really enjoyed our experience, especially the Christmas ambiance. If we’re in the area again, this is a place we’d gladly return to.

5 /5 Kelley McBride: My wife and I came here for dinner before seeing Junior Brown next door at the Gruene Dance Hall. We have both been in the service and hospitality industry for decades. This was one of our favorite dining experiences ever. The building is beautiful and very cozy for such a big space. The place was hopping but the staff was on top of everything. We got there around 7pm on a Friday and we only waited 20 minutes for our table. We were seated on the back patio overlooking a stunning Texas sunset over the Guadalupe River. Our server Renee took our drink and salad orders immediately. We ordered our entrees when she dropped the drinks and salads and the food arrived before we finished! Both our dinners were absolutely perfect but my chicken fried steak plate was the hit of the evening. I dont say this lightly, but this was the best chicken fried steak Ive ever had. Tender, juicy, no gristle at all, and above all the breading was golden brown and even the last bite covered in gravy was still crunchy! I had to fight my wife off several times from invading my plate! Renee provided exceptional service, the food was spot on and the atmosphere was top notch. We cant wait to come back, this is our #1 spot in Gruene!

5 /5 Mel Johnson: Such a beautiful restaurant!! Inside and outside had gorgeous views. We sat outside and enjoyed the sunshine and views of the river. Food was delicious and reasonably priced. Our server was so friendly and attentive.

5 /5 Calypso Carlile: This restaurant was simply phenomenal. After visiting the Snake Farm, my husband, mother-in-law, niece, and I wanted to grab a bite to eat. I’m gluten-free, so I looked around for some restaurants in the area that had options for me. The menu on the website had some dishes that we designated gluten-free, so we decided to head there. When we got to the restaurant, there was a short wait. Luckily, though, shortly after we sat down for the twenty-five minute wait, I received a text saying our table was ready. We were seated right next to the large window overlooking the river, and it was a stunning view. Our waitress came to take our order and clarified which dishes were gluten-free for me. I ended up getting the Smoked Pork Tenderloin dish with Garlic Mashed Potatoes and Green Beans, and it was divine! My husband got the same dish, but switched out the garlic mashed potatoes with the Roasted Red Potatoes due to his dairy allergy, and he thought it was fantastic as well! The price for the four of us with tip was around $100, so it was very reasonable for the amount and quality of the food. The experience was wonderful, from the ambience and the service all the way to the food. I would heavily recommend this spot to anyone wanting a good meal, even if they have dietary restrictions.