Alice's Restaurant, Niederwald, Texas

Alice's Restaurant isn't actually in Buda but in the nearby community of Niederwald. There’s not a lot in Niederwald these days. Come to think of it, there never has been a lot in Niederwald. Founded by German pioneers and named “brushwood” for the mesquite that dots the area, the town was a stop on the old Austin-San Antonio road. Now it’s still a stop on today’s Austin-San Antonio road, I-35.

But there’s one good reason to make a day trip detour to Niederwald: Alice’s Restaurant. This eatery, housed in a frame house and accompanied by a small biergarten, combines good food and good music in one entree, with a healthy side serving of Austin funkiness. The menu ranges from pork chops to shrimp skewers but as much a draw is the live music. Austin talent, including many singer songwriters, headline here three nights a week.

Directions: To reach Alice’s Restaurant, in Buda turn east of I-35 on FM 2001 (Exit 220) and continue nine miles to the intersection of TX 21. Alice’s is just a quarter mile east of the intersection on TX 21 at 14100 Camino Real. (If you’d prefer to take this detour from San Marcos, continue on this day trip then head east on TX 21 in San Marcos for 14 miles.)

Music Schedule: For a schedule of performers, call (512) 376-2782 or see www.alicesrestauranttx.com. Alice’s is open Thursday from 10 A.M. to 10 P.M., Friday and Saturday 10 A.M. until midnight, and Sundays from 11 A.M. to 3 P.M.

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