Two Texas Hill Country Diners

Driving on I-10 going west from Houston, travelers headed toward Austin will pass through numerous small towns with home-town eateries which are worth stopping at for a tasty meal. I recently had the chance to dine at two such places, and I thought they might be worthwhile to mention here for people traveling to Austin from Houston over Thanksgiving or Christmas.. They are The Grace Miller Restaurant (Gracie's) in Bastrop and Hruska's Store and Bakery in Ellinger.

The Grace Miller Restaurant has only been open since 2006, but it has already won many dining awards in and around Bastrop. The place looks like an old, country farmhouse, with uneven wooden steps and a wide porch. Inside, the restaurant is small and cozy, with tables set at the windows and around the room. More tables are set up on the porch for outdoor dining.

For a place out in the country, they serve a surprisingly interesting menu, including mushroom and Swiss burgers and, my choice that visit, guacamole cheeseburgers. Diners should be prepared to lick their fingers and to request extra napkins. These are sizable, meaty burgers made with delicious, quality beef. They serve soups-I had the tomato basil-as well as daily specials, which are priced at $6.99. They serve chicken pot pie, chicken fried steak, seafood, meatloaf, and pasta, among salads, desserts, and other dishes. If you live in Bastrop, you're probably already aware that they cater. They are open Monday-Saturday,, from 11:00am.

I am not overly fond of their website. Internet visitors must have Adobe Shockwave installed to see the website to its best advantage, and the contrast between dark olive background and black lettering on the site's internal links is poor. The links do not function without Shockwave. Also, the site does not appear to have alt labeling for its graphics. Despite the website, the food is fantastic and very filling, and the wait staff are welcoming and helpful.

Hruska's Store and Bakery off of Highway 71 near Ellinger, Texas, is kolache heaven. The first time I went there, I had not tasted kolaches so good since my Grandma Lilli died. Kolaches are a small, Polish bread pastry made with subtly sweet dough and stuffed with anything from fruit preserves, to cream cheese, to poppy seed filling, to sausage, to spinach, to ham & cheese, to sausage & jalapeno. Their pastries are made fresh daily. Aside from kolaches, the other pastries they offer are cookies, nut clusters, brownies, and little pies. You can also buy Polish sausages there, or you can have lunch. Be warned, though, their burgers are enormous.

Hruska's is a combination Chevron station, bakery, diner, convenience store, and gift shop. You will find all sorts of little arts & crafts knick-knacks there, along with road snacks and University of Texas souvenir items. The place is quite large for a convenience store and is well worth exploring. It opens at 5:00am and closes at 9:00pm or 10:00pm, depending on which day of the week it is.

If you do drop by these restaurants, have a good time, and enjoy their wonderful food!