Excellent | Worth a Detour
Shady Grove
Review by: Bruce Bilmes and Susan Boyle
***PERMANENTLY CLOSED***
Of the string of casual and kitschy restaurants that line Barton Springs Road, we recommend Shady Grove, a supremely laid-back Austin institution. You dine outside, on a patio under the shade of a grove of pecan trees, and maybe listen to some live music or catch an old flick (there’s inside dining too, but that would seem to defeat most of the point of The Grove).
Food is a Southwest version of what has come to be known “comfort food.” There are drippy hot dogs and burgers buried under chili and cheese, Frito pie with chili, and if you like, just a straight bowl of that Airstream chili made with 10 kinds of peppers and topped with cheese, onions, and jalapenos. You can get a very good chicken fried steak here, and some fine-looking catfish. Perhaps the Grove’s signature dish is the Hippie Sandwich (and Hippie Chick): an assortment of grilled vegetables and cheese garnished with pesto mayo and served on whole-grain bread (the Chick adds a Thai grilled chicken breast). It’s really quite good!
The food is mostly very satisfying, but this is not the place to be searching for the best examples of this or that dish, or to expect snappy, correct service. You are here for the entire Austin package; if you’re visiting Austin and are seeking to pick up some of that unique Austin mellow vibe, the Shady Grove would be a good place to start.
Directions & Hours
Information
Price | $$ |
Seasons | All |
Meals Served | Lunch, Dinner, Dessert |
Credit Cards Accepted | Yes |
Alcohol Served | Yes |
Outdoor Seating | Yes |
What To Eat
Shady Grove Recipes
Discuss
What do you think of Shady Grove?
3 Responses to “Shady Grove”
Scott Wyatt
November 12th, 2022
Shady Grove closed back in 2020: https://austin.eater.com/2020/5/11/21255063/shady-grove-zilker-permanent-closing
Branden Shortt
December 8th, 2022
Thank you we have updated this information.
Branden Shortt
December 9th, 2022
Thank you for the information. This has been updated.