Where to eat and drink in Johnson City, gateway to the Texas Wine Trail

Johnson City is the hometown of President Lyndon B. Johnson and the gateway to the Highway 290 Wine Trail. Visitors to Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park, Texas wineries, or Pedernales River State Park will find plenty of places to eat and drink here. Eater's guide to the city offers numerous suggestions, with information from Nadia Chaudhury.

The Hill Country Pantry is a restaurant with over 40 years of history, famous for its fried chicken fillet, which it jokingly claims to have sold "almost three dozen." It serves breakfast all day and offers takeout or table service.

Located on the main street, Bryans at 290 specializes in grilled cuisine, with a welcoming and casual atmosphere. Among their signature dishes are grilled snails, grilled shrimp with grits and gumbo sauce, and a wide variety of steaks.

Wineries play an important role. Crowson, one of Texas's most underrated, primarily serves reds, though it also offers a white and a rosé; its restaurant, Picnic'd, serves sandwiches. Lewis Wines, one of Central Texas's most prestigious wineries, works with Texas grapes from its own vineyards and others throughout the state, and offers red, white, and rosé tastings with online reservations.

For beer, Pecan Street occupies the former Blanco County Supply and Hardware building and has a pet-friendly patio. Their selection ranges from pale lagers to nitrogen-dried stouts. Reck 'Em Right, a small brewery, uses Kveik yeast for hazy, unfiltered beers and often features live music.

For casual dining, El Charro has been serving tacos, gorditas, tortas, and other Mexican dishes for over 20 years. And Old 290, at the Carter Creek Resort & Spa, pairs pub fare, such as brisket poutine and brisket tacos, with wines from the Carter Creek winery.