One of the best things about living in the Lake Travis area is the food — there are plenty of great spots to book for a weekend date or a weekday meet up with friends. And when you’re in the mood for a more exotic meal, perhaps featuring expertly prepared wild game and a bottle of red wine, there’s one place you have to visit.
Welcome to Hudson’s on the Bend, one of the most renowned restaurants in the Lake Travis area. From steak to elk, from quail to scallops — there is never a dull moment for your taste buds.
Hudson’s on the Bend might be unassuming from the outside, but all of the action is taking place deep within these rock walls in the kitchen. Nestled in a beautifully restored lake house on 620 at Hudson Bend, this restaurant blends the best in lake life and Texas cooking, one dish at a time.
At the center of this great hub of food creation are culinary visionaries, Jeff Blank and Kelly Casey. Blank’s background in food preparation has spanned multiple decades, taking him from Oklahoma to Colorado, and then to Texas before he landed at Hudson’s as the owner and proprietor in 1984.
Together with executive chef Casey, the duo create some of Austin and Texas’ greatest meals, like Coca Cola baby back ribs, wild boar quesadillas and their signature dish — smoked elk back strap.
Schedule a date night or enjoy their stellar Happy Hour — it’s so perfect that one of Austin’s most acclaimed restaurants is literally in our own backyard. Savor the buttery diver scallops wrapped in venison and covered in caviar or a pecan-smoked rib eye piled high on whipped golden mashed potatoes and green snap peas.
Another reason to get excited are the extensive wine options for all of your food pairings, which really brings the whole meal up a level or two. If you like to be surprised by your food, try the 3-course tasting menu for a very well-rounded experience of what dishes Hudson’s has to offer.
In between courses you’ll be able to share your opinions, which usually start with complete culinary awe and eventually settle into hungry anticipation for your next plate. Clearly, they’re doing something right here.
The Lake Travis institution is currently celebrating 30 years in operation, so stop by for their newest collection of food offerings to entertain your palate, Lake Travis-style.
Hudson’s on the Bend (map)
3509 Ranch Rd 620 N
Austin, TX 78734
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