Situated on the banks of the Guadalupe River in New Braunfels, and between Austin and San Antonio, the Gruene cotton gin processed crops raised by area farmers until the wooden structure burned to the ground in 1922. All that remains of the water-powered mill today is the three story brick boiler room – now the Gristmill River Restaurant & Bar.

The Gristmill River Restaurant opened in 1977 in the shadow of the famous Gruene water tower. The restaurant began by serving steaks and hamburgers from a tiny kitchen in the corner of the building. Today, the menu still features thick steaks and large hamburgers, but the restaurant also serves up popular South Texas fare like chicken fried steak, fried catfish, grilled chicken, enormous sandwiches, fresh fish and special dishes such as tomatillo chicken and bronzed catfish. Fudge pie, an enormous strawberry shortcake and their signature Jack Daniel's Pecan Pie are among the famous desserts. A full bar, with a good wine list and fresh squeezed lime margaritas, is also noteworthy.

The Gristmill was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1975 as a part of the Gruene Historic District. These days the Gristmill is a destination restaurant serving tens of thousands of people per year in its unique, rustic, river bluff setting. The multi-level restaurant features outdoor and indoor dining with sweeping views of the river, special dining rooms with native stone fireplaces, an indoor bar with waiting area and wood burning stove, a relaxing garden bar and a merchandise store. The River Grove was added in 1998 - a refreshing open air, bricked patio nestled in a grove of trees overlooking the river.

Over the years, the Gristmill has played host to U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft, Ricardo Montalban, the San Antonio SPURS, and thousands and thousands of hungry visitors from around the globe. The Gristmill also provided food for the X Games at the Alamodome in San Antonio. For information call (830) 625-0684 or visit www.gristmillrestaurant.com.