My love of Moonshine Patio Bar & Grill began by chance …

Years ago, while thumbing through a magazine in a hotel room in Austin, I saw an ad that caught my eye with its drool-worthy photos of beautiful food. It was for a restaurant called Moonshine Patio Bar & Grill.

I was in town for a conference and had no plans for dinner that evening, so I decided to check out Moonshine. Everything on the menu sounded great, but I was drawn to the seared rainbow trout with cornbread stuffing, chile sage butter and green beans with bacon. Every single bite was wonderful.

The opportunity to return to Moonshine presented itself over the summer when we were in Austin for our daughter’s three-day orientation at The University of Texas. She had a full schedule that included meals, so it would just be the two of us. The trip happened to fall on our wedding anniversary, and I couldn’t think of a better place to celebrate the occasion than Moonshine.

I’d built it up quite a bit and was hoping that we wouldn’t be disappointed. Of course I was worried for nothing. Moonshine is one of those places where you just can’t go wrong, regardless of what you order.

I started with an iceberg wedge composed of bacon, tomato, blue cheese, candied pecans and ranch and it was delightful. The sweetness from the candied pecans was a nice counterpoint to the pungent blue cheese. For my entree, I selected the horseradish crusted salmon with lemon dill butter sauce and Brussels sprouts. Everything about it was wonderful. He chose the jalapeno hanger steak with salsa verde, demi-glace and Yukon mashers. He commented that his jalapeno hanger steak was the tenderest piece of steak he’d ever eaten. He insisted on sharing a bite of it with me and it melted in my mouth like butter. I knew that’s what I would be ordering on our next trip to Moonshine.

We were back in Austin not long ago to move our daughter into her dorm. On our last night there, we went to Moonshine. I didn’t even have to look at the menu. I knew I was getting that jalapeno hanger steak. I did and was not disappointed one bit. Every single bite was divine. Hubby selected the center cut pork chop with bourbon cherry chutney, herb salad, demi-glace and Yukon mashers. Coming in at about three inches thick, I think it may have been the thickest pork chop I’ve ever seen. He shared a bite with me, and it was moist, tender and absolutely delicious. Our daughter ordered a Sunday house club with turkey, ham, bacon, pimento cheese, red onion, house mayo, lettuce and tomato (minus the red onion). It comes with French fries, but she opted to also accompany it with a side of baked macaroni pimento cheese with a bacon gratin. We were all happily sated as we rode back to the hotel.

Located at 303 Red River, Moonshine Patio Bar & Grill is housed in a building that is a Texas Historic Landmark, having formerly served as the Hofheintz-Reissig Store. According to the Texas Historical Commission marker erected out front, the structure served as a grocery and dry goods store for nearly 100 years, having been built between 1850 and 1875 for German Emigrant Henry Hofheintz. A one-story addition was later added and was used as a saloon and a residence. Hofheintz’ eldest child, Catherine Louise, and her husband, Adolph Reissig, inherited the store, and the property remained in the family until 1966. The building is a beautiful example of the German-influenced architecture found in many 19th-century Texas buildings. It is also on the National Register of Historic Places.

Co-founders Chuck Smith and Larry Perdido opened the doors of Moonshine Patio Bar & Grill in 2003 with the desire to take you back to a simpler time. Comfortable and familiar, relaxed and easygoing, Moonshine greets guests like family, serving up great cooking with an innovative take on classic American comfort food.

As of this writing, I truly believe that Moonshine Patio Bar & Grill may be my favorite restaurant in Austin.      n