7 Monks Cafe
When Rashmi Bhat opened 7 Monks Cafe in October 2019, it was not her first foray into the restaurant industry. Bhat opened her first business, Bonjour Texas, in New Braunfels in 2014 after graduating from college. The business offers catering and wholesale sandwiches, pastries and salads delivered throughout Central Texas.
Inferno’s Wood Fired Oven & Spirits
The bite. That is what Cary Hamer, owner of Inferno’s Wood Fired Oven & Spirits, said most aptly defines the proprietary flavor at his restaurant. In this case, the bite is brought to patrons by the signature Trinidad scorpion pepper, which is several times hotter than a habañero pepper and positioned at the forefront of the restaurant’s marketing.
Krause’s Cafe
When Ron Snider bought New Braunfels restaurant Krause's Cafe in 2000, with it came a long history of feeding generations of locals and visitors. The New Braunfels landmark has evolved to serve a growing community since opening in 1938 as Gene’s Place.
Comal Crawfish Company
Brad Aucoin opened Comal Crawfish Company in 2015 and has run it for four years at its current location at 311 FM 306, Ste. 1B, New Braunfels. He said that while Comal Crawfish Company’s namesake is its specialty, people will drive long distances for other menu items as well, including the boiled shrimp.
Spud Ranch
J.R. Gallegos opened Spud Ranch in San Marcos in 2003. The menu was simple, and included five different types of potato and a burger with Texas Toast.
By 2011, Gallegos, who was born and raised in New Braunfels, had parlayed the success of his San Marcos location into a second Spud Ranch in his hometown on Common Street.
New Braunfels Tortilleria
When Johnny Aguirre took ownership of New Braunfels Tortilleria in 2020 he inherited a business that has served the community for more than 50 years.
The tortilleria opened in 1970 but did not serve meals until 1984, when it moved into its current location at 1681 Spur St.
Naturally Cafe
Naturally Cafe, nestled in the back of Gruene Lake Village, produces healthful meals for a lunch meeting or an hourlong reunion.
Husband and wife Mike and Destin Singleton said the restaurant’s laid-back ambience was one of the biggest reasons they purchased it in December 2020.
Phoenix Saloon
In 2007, Ross and Debbie Fortune purchased the building located on the corner of West San Antonio Street and Castell Avenue, and set to work restoring the New Braunfels landmark into a restaurant and bar.
Originally built in 1871, the building operated as a saloon under several names before eventually becoming the Phoenix Saloon in 1895, according to Ross Fortune.
Black Whale Pub
In the weeks preceding March 2020 stay-at-home orders and bar closures, the owners and managers of The Black Whale Pub were getting ready to renovate and install a kitchen.
Shiloh Garnier and Vance Hinton purchased the pub at the end of 2019 and began working on ways to improve what they already liked.
Herbert’s
When the Rizk family began looking for a new location to expand Herbert’s Taco Hut in San Marcos, New Braunfels became the logical step forward, Herbert’s New Braunfels owner Bobby Rizk said.
After a few years in the Oaks shopping mall on the other side of the road, the location at 1440 N. Walnut Ave., New Braunfels presented the opportunity to have what the San Marcos location lacked—a large outdoor dining area and playground.
Thai Racha
In April 2020, Kanjana Clark; her husband, John “Pat” Clark; and their business partner Suphawadee Ladzinski purchased Thai Racha and upgraded the interior while continuing to serve traditional Thai cuisine.
Kanjana and Ladzinski worked at the restaurant before taking ownership, Pat said, fulfilling Kanjana’s goal of owning her own business.
The River House
When Ross Wilkinson decided to get out of his career in the marketing world in Houston and back into the kitchen, he and his wife, Cristina, started looking for places they enjoyed while dating.
It so happened that an unassuming house that had been converted into The River House Tearoom—tucked in a quiet corner of Gruene—was up for sale. In August 2015, they purchased the restaurant from Carol Irwin, owner of the Buttermilk Cafe in New Braunfels, and began the work of opening it up as a different concept.
