Family-Friendly Restaurants

in Austin County

Family-friendly dining is plentiful in Austin County but finding an atmosphere and menu that pleases everyone in the fam is available at precious few. Read my best choices to fill hungry mouths of all ages including a couple of places that welcome the family pooch. The following list might surprise some, thanks to unexpected locales.

NEWMAN’S BAKERY

Baked goods, pastries, country-style breakfast, hot lunch entrees, soups, salads, and sandwiches 504 E. Main St., Bellville, at the intersection of Texas highways 36 & 159 Mon.-Fri. 4 a.m.-5:30 p.m., Sat. & Sun. 4 a.m.-5 p.m.

NewmansCastle.com

If you were to walk into Newman’s Bakery in Bellville without knowing its secret, you might wonder why it is at the very top of this list of family-friendly restaurants.

It could be solely due to its simple, classic small-town bakery charm. It could be based on its delicious food, and the nostalgic smell of fresh baked goods, displayed in pristinely clean glass cases at the perfect eye level for small humans. However, the real reason is that this unassuming Austin County eatery is the launching point for one of the coolest adventures that a kid, of any age, can have in Texas. After you pay for the ticket at the bakery cashier, you are on your way to experience a tour of Newman’s Castle.

One man’s vision, years of dedication, and hard physical work culminated in him sharing his private residence - an actual castle complete with a tower, dungeon, chapel, and moat with a working drawbridge - with many new groups of medieval enthusiasts each week. The tour not only includes free time to explore the fortress but also a sack lunch, including a tasty sandwich prepared on freshly baked bread from his bakery.

For over 15 years, Mike Newman donned a crown and happily shared his kingdom with those who made reservations and began their journey from the bakery at 10:30 a.m. 6 days per week. Sadly, the beloved local businessman and visionary passed away in early March of this year. However, tours of the castle are still being held Monday through Saturday as always, a fitting way to honor his legacy.

Newman built the castle himself, with the help of one assistant, over more than 10 years before opening it to the public in 2008, but he continued to add to the structure after that time.

KATHY’S KORNER

Breakfast tacos, sandwiches, and plates, hamburgers, po’ boys, baskets, and salads

KathysKornerTX.com 9027 SE I-10 Frontage Road, Sealy near the Chew Road exit Mon.-Fri. 6 a.m.-2 p.m.

Kids can enjoy an actual playground at this family- friendly cafe, which is somewhat oddly located in a gas station on the eastbound access road of Interstate 10 in Sealy.

The main dining room is inside the gas station complex, however, this unique establishment also boasts a large outdoor event area behind the main building, which is where special events, such as crawfish boils and live music, are held seasonally.

Adjacent to the outdoor event space is a fenced-in area for children, complete with swings and spring riders, perfect for kids to enjoy while the grown-ups relax.

PRASEK’S FAMILY SMOKEHOUSE BBQ brisket, sausage, chicken, and more with sides as well as a kids’ menu Praseks.com 2949 I-10 Frontage Road, Sealy, near exit 718 Mon-Thurs. 6 a.m.-8 p.m., Fri.-Sun. 6 a.m.-9 p.m. A huge indoor aquarium in the dining area is only one of the many eye-catching features to engage kids at Sealy’s renowned BBQ joint and smokehouse, which even has the word “family” for a middle name. Prasek’s is another foodie’s gem found in the unsuspecting location of a gas station on Interstate 10.

This family-owned establishment serves its brisket, sausage, and all the other traditional Texas BBQ meats and sides found on its mouth-watering menu as meal choices on its kids’ menu as well but also has selections that are appealing to even the most finicky of youngsters, like a grilled cheese sandwich.

Fresh-made jerky and roasted pecans, a whole southern- style meat market, a taxidermy bear, and an elaborate gift shop are among the many other attractions making this location an excellent choice for a memorable Austin County experience with your littles and out-of-town guests.

THE HILL

Specialty burgers, shakes & malts, sandwiches, baskets & platters, kids’ menu TheHillRestaurant.com

TheHillRestaurant.com 758 W. Main St., Bellville

Mon.-Sat. 10:30 a.m.- 8 p.m., closed Sun.

Looking for a place where the most important member of your family can join the rest of your pack for a meal out? Of course, I am referring to your beloved fur baby. The Hill has been serving up old-fashioned burgers and malts in Bellville since 1952, and the patio at this classic diner is dog-friendly.

Two-legged children will also enjoy this establishment’s fun vibe. There is an adorable Betty Boop Statue out front for family photo opportunities, the parking lot here is a frequent stop for colorful classic cars and trucks, and they serve ice cream in a cone, a cup, or a float, to help your whole brood cool off when the mercury rises.

Kids’ meal options include a junior burger, hot dog, corn dog, chicken nuggets, or grilled cheese, each served with fries or tater tots and a drink for less than five dollars.

The menu suggests that patrons who are counting carbs should just order their burger with no bun. The specialty burgers – with names like The Ranch, The Cowboy, The Fiesta, and The Mac Daddy – are a treat for the palette either way.

Also featured on the menu are hand-breaded onion rings, sandwiches, baskets and platters, salads, wraps, burritos and even Frito pie.

BELLVILLE MEAT MARKET

Pecan-smoked brisket, pork, sausage, turkey, chicken, hot dogs and sides BellvilleMeatMarket.com 36 S. Front St., Bellville Mon.-Sat. 7 a.m.-7 p.m., Sun. 10 a.m.-7 p.m. This kid and dog-friendly option is a retail shop that serves a limited menu featuring its pecan-smoked BBQ out of its downtown Bellville Meat Market storefront with outdoor picnic table seating. In addition to BBQ sandwiches and plates and giant BBQ-loaded baked potatoes, menu options include four flavors of smoked sausages, brisket and chicken.

Save room for pie in either a single serving or a whole pie for the family to share. Feast on buttermilk, German chocolate, pecan, and coconut flavors. Pies are delivered from Oma’s out of Schulenberg.

Kiddo-pleasing homemade hot dogs come in regular and cheddar varieties. Pairing that with a half or whole pint of mac and cheese is also a winner for little tykes while they watch the trains roll by across the road on Highway 36.

TONY’S FAMILY RESTAURANT

Southern comfort food, hamburgers, breakfast plates, chicken fried steak

TonysFamilyRestaurant.com 1629 Meyer St., Sealy Open daily 6 a.m.-9 p.m.

No list of family-friendly restaurants in Austin County would be complete without mentioning Tony’s Family Restaurant, founded in 1936, serving breakfast, lunch and dinner.

This is the place where longtime locals once ate burgers with their parents and now dine there with their children and grandchildren. The restaurant features heaping portions on the lunch buffet. The menu features Mexican food, steaks, burgers, fresh vegetables, homemade hand-breaded chicken fried steak and okra and homemade desserts.

GOLDEN PAGODA

Chinese, with a kids’ menu Yelp>Golden Pagoda 201 E. Main St., Bellville Tues.-Sat. 11 a.m.-9 p.m., Sun. 11 a.m.-8:30 p.m., closed Mon.

Golden Pagoda is the go-to family-friendly Chinese restaurant in Bellville for dining in our takeout. The menu includes a child’s plate, for those age 12 and under, which includes fried chicken, shrimp, or pork, served with french fries or fried rice and a drink. Traditional Chinese décor graces the interior with the usual American-Chinese cuisine comfort dishes served such as steaming bowls of wonton soup and eggrolls to beef and pork dishes and affordable house special combination plates.

MESQUITE MEXICAN GRILL Mexican, with a kids’ menu

Facebook>Mesquite Mexican Grill 217 W. Front St., Sealy Mon.-Thurs. 11 a.m.-9 p.m., Fri.-Sat. 11 a.m.-9:30 p.m., closed Sun. Traditional Mexican food served in a casual and charming atmosphere makes Mesquite Mexican Grill one of the well-liked Austin County choices for families. Young diners can order Mexican and American dishes from the kids’ menu. Adults can enjoy shrimp queso flameados while kids munch on burgers. Affordable lunch plate options are served daily from 1:00-3:00 and the budget-friendly a la carte menu is good for petite appetites of all ages. This type of menu shows the owners are thinking of ways to make meals easier for Moms and Dads. A happy kid equals a good dining out experience.

Family-friendly dining is plentiful in Austin County but finding an atmosphere and menu that pleases everyone in the fam is available at precious few.