Several water-front themed restaurants along beautiful Lake Austin provide locals and visitors an outdoor setting to enjoy the Colorado River’s path through the Texas State Capital.
Situated in the neighborhood of Tarrytown along Lake Austin is the Oyster Landing Marina, one of the city’s most popular restaurants. Boats and watercraft can be launched here into Lake Austin and shaded areas make for a really nice picnic.
For well over 30 years, Austin’s Hula Hut has been the “go-to” place to enjoy tropical and Tex-Mex cuisine within an islander-setting. Established by the Chuy’s brand in 1993, the Hula Hut allows diners a quick “in-town escape” via the tiki-themed restaurant and boat docks situated along the banks of the lake. New owners (2023) have continued the popular order-friendly boat docks for takeout services.
Everyone is delighted to savor the made-from-scratch food items and the fun atmosphere that promises a “little slice of paradise” right in their own backyards. Whatever the occasion, families and friends enjoy “exploring” the adventurous Hula Hut menu that offers everything from tropical luau-platters to Mexican dishes “with a surfer twist!” Plus, the Hula Hut is only minutes from downtown Austin!
Sharing the setting at Oyster Landing is the newest establishment, Quince Lakehouse, taking over the location for Abel’s on the Lake that closed in 2022. With boat docks, and indoor and outdoor seating, Quince has become another popular lakeside location for having a special evening on the town. Their website explains that the new Austin location follows one in San Miquel, Mexico, that was voted “Best Rooftop Restaurant in the World (2018 & 2022)! Wow! Another Quince location is found in Fort Worth.
Quince Lakehouse is described as “upscale” while “keeping a laid-back, al fresco dining experience!” The views from the dining pier are wonderful. Guests can enjoy casual sofas and soft comfortable chairs or have great dinner conversations at roundtables on the covered, or uncovered, decks. The menu is also “adventurous” with delicious Mexican and “global” dishes. Sharable ordering makes for a fun experience, as well. Quince’s specialty cocktails round out the dining encounter.
The matriarch of Lake Austin’s restaurants is the Ski Shores Café. Established in 1954 by the Fowler family as a burger joint on the beach, Ski Shores was famous for its five cent beers for boaters and skiers, and as a favorite picnicking location for families. Their beach-lover slogan is classic: “No Shoes, No Shirts, No Problems!” The Ski Shores Café is now owned by MML Hospitality Group of Austin, comprised of Texas-based chefs Larry McGuire and Tom Moorman along with hotelier Liz Lambert. The company creates and manages successful restaurants, hotels, retail establishments, and design projects. Ski Shores Café has undergone extensive renovations while keeping its hip image and enthusiasts proclaim Ski Shores Café is “where it is always the weekend!” The café caters to the lake crowd with traditional American cuisine-burgers, fried pickles, catfish, plus the new menu has more exotic fare such as lobster rolls along with many delicious pastries.
Another very popular, yet smaller, water-eatery located just adjacent to Lake Austin’s Deep Eddy Swimming Pool is Pool Burger. The outdoor-dining space boasts over 10 specialty burgers such as the Loco Moco, a quarter-pound patty with garlic rice, mushroom gravy, fresh jalapenos, a fried egg, plus added features of Swiss cheese and avocado, all for about $14!
Watchwords for Pool Burger, another member of MML Hospitality Group, is simply “all things burger” with tikki-cocktails, and crinkle cut fries! Popular after a dip at Deep Eddy, for lunch, or even late-night dining, fans greatly enjoy the fun-time at Pool Burger.
Finding water-side dining under the sun, or shade, has helped Austin to be a fun place to eat well AND enjoy the great outdoors.
