Restaurants in Williamson County

Gluten free eating is hard to do well. Honest Mary's does it well, serving health food in Cedar Park from a quick line that keeps things moving. Choose one of six power bowl combinations or build your own from fresh ingredients. There's plenty of seating, and the selection is strong enough that first visits tend to become return visits. One note: bring a card, not cash.

Bartlett Sports Bar pours drinks and racks pool balls in Bartlett, Texas. There is a pool table, and people use it: newcomers are welcome to talk through their shots before they take them. Visitors say the welcome feels like home, and that the service is superb. When you travel through Williamson County and want a bar that treats you well, stop here.

Some bars hide behind televisions and noise. Granger City Brewing Company does not. It is a bar in Granger, Texas, set in a cool old historic building, serving pizza and wings with your beer. The staff pay attention, napkins and boxes included. Ask a regular what to order first and you will hear two words: the wings.

The cooks here work fast and the plates come out generous. Cedar Park Cafe is a breakfast and brunch restaurant in Cedar Park, Texas, serving fresh food in a quiet room where service runs on time. The corned beef hash earns its reputation, and the spinach and feta omelette takes well to mushrooms. Families gather here, and nobody leaves hungry.

NOLA Scala serves New Orleans-influenced cooking in Taylor, Texas. The kitchen turns out starters like fried green tomatoes with goat cheese and mains such as redfish risotto, backed by a well-crafted cocktail list. The room feels comfy and cute, which makes it a good pick for date night. The menu is short but carefully curated, and the espresso is worth the trip.

The cooks here plate Mexican food built to satisfy, and they do it in Liberty Hill, Texas. Birria tacos come packed with meat. The salsas carry real heat, and the margaritas pour strong. Save room for the pineapple tres leches cake, perfectly sweet. It tastes like back home. The website has the details.

Local merchants set up shop inside the restored halls of the old Taylor high school. Classrooms became small stores; the assembly hall came back to life. You'll find a brewpub, an ice cream shop, and a secondhand store for fancy dresses. A shopping mall in Taylor, Texas, with the character of the original building kept intact. Check the website before you go.

Industrial-style, relaxed hangout serving homestyle cooking, steak & brunch, plus cocktails.

Low-key chain serving old-fashioned frozen custard shakes, cones, sundaes & splits.

When family visits from out of town and you need a table that pleases everyone, Blue Corn Harvest Bar and Grill Leander fits. This Leander, Texas restaurant serves weekend brunch alongside its full menu, and the food arrives fresh and on time. The staff stay attentive and friendly. Ask about the weekend brunch; it is the meal worth planning a Saturday morning around.

The oysters come from the East Coast, and they taste like it. Sweetwater Oyster Bar is a seafood restaurant in Cedar Park known for fresh, natural flavors and drinks to match. The staff move fast and stay friendly. Ask about the east coast oysters; locals drive across the Leander suburbs for them. The room itself feels good, warm and lively.

Families and friend groups in Georgetown need a spot where everyone eats well. Tasty Trails - Food, Fun & Brew delivers: a food court with many trucks, a children's play area, and a friendly bar on site. Try the stretchy noodle truck's dumplings, and save room for a churro loop with ice cream. Website listed for details.

Some restaurants refuse to cut corners on the bread. Liberty Hill Beer Market bakes it homemade, along with the crusts on its Italian plates. Mondays mean $3 pints from a long draft list, and the bartenders and servers are the kind worth asking for. An American restaurant in Liberty Hill, Texas, with a website for details.

Boisterous Australian-themed chain serving steaks, seafood & other hearty steakhouse fare.

Old-school steakhouse & saloon-style bar featuring meats & wild game grilled over an oak fire.

German-American fare served in an 1880s building hung with curios, plus a beer garden & live tunes.

Low-key eatery serving eclectic Southwestern & Mexican fare such as tacos & chicken fried ribeye.

La Dosis Coffee + Cocktails is a family restaurant in Cedar Park, Texas serving coffee, cocktails, breakfast tacos, and espresso drinks. The menu covers cappuccinos and espresso martinis. It has a website. The space works for eating, drinking coffee, or setting up a laptop for a stretch of computer work.

The people behind the counter at 3 Buddies Country Store & Cafe work fast and treat you like a neighbor. This country food restaurant in Florence, Texas serves club sandwiches stacked right, burgers with a gluten-free bun option, and turkey sandwiches worth the stop. The service sets the standard.

Haute Spot is a live music venue in Cedar Park, Texas. Shows run standing room, and the crowd tends to dance. Drinks are priced reasonably, and the views from the venue are good. Table seating is available for purchase, though standing guests may enter table areas once a show starts. Check the website for upcoming acts.

Down-to-earth locale featuring Nashville-style hot chicken & pickle fries, plus outdoor dining.

Downtown Round Rock has its share of places to drink, and The Brass Tap earns its spot among them. The bar pours an extensive draft selection and a beer list with tasting notes, origins, and alcohol percentages. Order an old fashioned, flights of beer, or food like fish and chips. Seating runs inside, outside, and at the bar. Check the website before you go.

Local chain with New Orleans flavor serving bayou-inspired fare in a festive setting.