Tucked into the charming Johnson City town square, Pecan Street Brewing serves up brews and chews worth writing home about. Let’s take a look.
It wasn’t the first time we’d visited this lively Johnson City restaurant in the old Blanco County Supply and Hardware Building. It won’t be our last visit, either.
Previous meals had been satisfying enough to warrant recommendations to other friends, especially those who are celiac. See, for a small town eatery, Pecan Street Brewing seems unusually sensitive to the concerns of folks with food allergies.
Of course, good hospitality is what one would expect of a self-professed “family-owned brew pub” that faces the town square and court house.
Things can be a tad noisy at peak service times, yet the staff been friendly, warm, and inviting on every visit. During our visits, we’ve seen a Hill Country mix of customers—old-time cowboys, town folk, tourists, and young families. In fact, the restaurant is near enough to the Science Mill to make it a good stop for families who’d like a pleasant sit-down meal before or after play time. It’s also convenient to Pedernales Fall State Park and the Lyndon B. Johnson National Park, particularly the late president’s boyhood home situated a few blocks away. (The famous ranch, where LBJ is buried, is about 15 minutes away.)
Pecan Street Brewing’s regular menu features an assortment of traditional pub-style entrees (fried chicken, chicken fried steak, crab cakes, meatloaf), adult beverages, and a traditional kid’s menu. Usually we gravitate toward the burgers or the pizzas (both have gluten-free options), but it was—of all things—the grilled chicken salad on our most recent visit, back in February, that surprised me most.
Frankly, I ordered a salad to make up for the fast food breakfast I’d scarfed down on the way over to Johnson City. The meal promised a lean protein and vegetables. (Ordered sans croutons, it was also gluten free.) As casual as I felt about the choice, I was also very hungry. This was lucky because the waitress showed up with a massive plate loaded with fresh veggies and delicious, juicy grilled chicken. The lettuce was crisp, and the dressing was refreshingly tangy.
“I think someone in the kitchen wanted to show off,” said our waitress, setting down a handmade heart-shaped pizza in front of my junior dining companion. It was Valentine’s Day, after all, and the gestured proved pleasing to my favorite tween. (He also gave the pizza—ordered off the kid’s menu—two thumbs up.)
Although sampling beer wasn’t an option for either of us, they do brew a craft beer on site and have a pet-friendly biergarten out back when the weather is nice. The Pecan Street Brewing is also part of the Hill Country Craft Beer Trail. If that’s something you’d like to try explore—and you’d prefer an “official” designated driver, note that the trail’s organizers keep a page listing shuttle services for hire on their website.
Pamela Price is the founder of TheTexasWildflower.com. She enjoys discovering Hill Country restaurants.
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Pecan Street Brewing
106 E. Pecan Drive
Johnson City, TX 78636-2034
Telephone: 830-868-2500
See website for current hours and menu.
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