Hill Top Cafe

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Hill Top Cafe Inconveniently located in the middle of nowhere… Johnny brought a successful music career and Brenda brought her recipes and culinary wizardry.
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It all started in September of 1980 in an old Texas roadhouse and gas station on the Mason Highway 10 miles north of Fredericksburg when Johnny Nicholas and his new bride Brenda packed all their belongings in Johnny’s 1950 Buick and left their home in South Austin for the Texas Hills. With lots of hard work, love and intense dedication to excellence (and help of their carpenter friend Leroy ‘Pretty Billy’ Petrie), they created a restaurant and gathering spot of iconic, almost mythical proportions! The Hilltop Café continues to be a place where food and music-lovers gather to enjoy the sumptuous fare, the unique Hill Country ambiance and great Texas music. From the two-burner hot plate on which Brenda prepared succulent pots of Port Arthur style Gumbo and Texas Chile (no beans allowed Pauli), the menu evolved. Soon after, Johnny got a call from his friends, the Fabulous Thunderbirds, who asked him to come and lay down some piano tracks on their new album. On the way back from Dallas, they pulled the old Buick into a restaurant equipment store and bought a used grill and broiler with the proceeds from the recording session. Now the menu expanded to include fresh stuffed, whole Gulf flounder, hamburgers and steaks. And this is how Hill Top Café evolved, piece-by-piece, board-by-board, song-by-song and recipe-by-recipe. And just as the food and building quickly grew and gained recognition, so did its character! Once inside, you are surrounded by it’s fun, endearing and eclectic décor; a result of horse-trading, collecting and any and everything left behind by happy customers showing appreciation. Always available: lots and lots of fresh garden vegetables, native fruits and meats, fresh gulf blue crabs, flounder, red snapper, Louisiana crawfish and more! Not to mention (OMG), the desserts — Brenda’s amazing pies and cakes! All were painstakingly prepared from scratch by her and then when business grew, by the amazing Miss Gladys. For thirty years, every piecrust has been mixed and rolled out by hand. This is what Hill Top is all about — tradition and continuity. It’s about Uncle Medie holding court at the Juke Box table. It’s about Aunt Alice’s Greek delicacies. It’s about Aunt Betty keeping the kitchen staff in line (she ought to know how, having worked there for 25 years). It’s about RaRa’s salsa and juevos rancheros at Sunday Brunch (he’s been working there for 20 years). It’s about Oysters Bruton and so many other Hill Top creations. Most of all it’s about love: love of food, music, family and friends.

Austin singer-songwriter Bill Cody brings his Texas-rooted Americana to Hill Top Cafe Saturday, October 17. Music begins...
10/13/2026

Austin singer-songwriter Bill Cody brings his Texas-rooted Americana to Hill Top Cafe Saturday, October 17. Music begins at 5 PM. Call 830-997-8922 to reserve your table.

Your Tuesday dinner plans are handled. 🌮🍻$2 Tuesday is coming to Hill Top Café with $2 tacos and Lonestar longnecks, dri...
10/11/2026

Your Tuesday dinner plans are handled. 🌮🍻

$2 Tuesday is coming to Hill Top Café with $2 tacos and Lonestar longnecks, drink specials, and our Blues Plate Special.

Calling our locals and restaurant and hospitality friends: come unwind with us. Everyone’s welcome, so grab your crew and pull up a chair!

Tuesdays • 5 to 9 PM
October 13 through December 29

Tag your Tuesday night company below.

The Cool Drivers return to Hill Top Cafe Friday, October 16. Join us for dinner and live music beginning at 5 PM. Call 8...
10/10/2026

The Cool Drivers return to Hill Top Cafe Friday, October 16. Join us for dinner and live music beginning at 5 PM. Call 830-997-8922 to reserve your table.

10/07/2026

Mark Hummel & Johnny tonight!

Are you coming out for $2 Tuesday?! Mark Hummel, Grammy nominated harmonica player, joins us tonight alongside authentic...
10/06/2026

Are you coming out for $2 Tuesday?! Mark Hummel, Grammy nominated harmonica player, joins us tonight alongside authentic Monclova Cohuila street tacos and chicken mole made by Martha

Tomorrow night, Mark Hummel takes the stage at Hill Top Cafe. If you love real deal blues harmonica, don’t miss this one...
10/05/2026

Tomorrow night, Mark Hummel takes the stage at Hill Top Cafe. If you love real deal blues harmonica, don’t miss this one. Tuesday, October 6. $15 cover. Doors at 5 PM. Call 830-997-8922 to reserve your table.

10/03/2026

This Tuesday, October 6, Grammy nominated harmonica master Mark Hummel joins Johnny Nicholas at Hill Top Café for a night of blues.

Come out for dinner, drinks and some damn good music.

Tuesday, October 6
Hill Top Café
Fredericksburg, Texas

10/03/2026

Bovine returns to Hill Top Cafe Saturday, October 10. Join us for dinner and live music beginning at 5 PM. Call 830-997-8922 to reserve your table.

Inconveniently located in the middle of nowhere…

Katie Shore joins us for Sunday Gospel Brunch on October 4. Come spend the morning with us over brunch and live music fr...
09/30/2026

Katie Shore joins us for Sunday Gospel Brunch on October 4. Come spend the morning with us over brunch and live music from 11 AM to 2 PM. Call 830-997-8922 to reserve your table.

NEW $10 COVER for Mark Hummel!Our first $2 Tuesday is October 6, and Grammy nominee Mark Hummel is bringing the blues to...
09/30/2026

NEW $10 COVER for Mark Hummel!

Our first $2 Tuesday is October 6, and Grammy nominee Mark Hummel is bringing the blues to Hill Top Café. Come for $2 street tacos, $2 Lone Star longnecks, and Blues Plate menu specials.

Doors open at 5 PM. Call (830) 997-8922 for a table.

Address

10661 N. Highway 87
Cherry Spring, TX
78618

Opening Hours

Wednesday 11am - 2pm
5pm - 9pm
Thursday 11am - 2pm
5pm - 9pm
Friday 11am - 2pm
5pm - 9pm
Saturday 11am - 2pm
5pm - 9pm
Sunday 11am - 2pm
5pm - 8pm

Telephone

+18309978922

Website

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