Dale's Essenhaus

Excellent cheeseburgers with great German twists on old favorites. Or old German receipies with classics like Chicken Fried steak sandwiches. So all of the food is fantastic. When I say save room for dessert, I'm not joking. Force yourself to put some of the burger or homemade onion rings down early. Push away and take two breathes and a gasp as homemade bread pudding with ice cream. German apple cake., what? Yup.

This is an absolutely fantastic place for a great home cooked meal. Plenty of room to eat by yourself all the way up to the entire extended family - they are ready for you! Food was truly delicious and brought back some fond memories of eating with family. The service was outstanding and we were quickly made to feel like regulars (which we will become).

We stopped in on Memorial Day after looking for another place down the street to find they were closed. Thankful that they were! This place was delicious, our server Alyssia did a great job. The food came out in a reasonable time frame for our large group, sodas are in cans and served with a glass of ice. I don't normally eat slaw of any kind. However they have a smoked slaw there that was delicious. My wife thoroughly enjoyed her meal as well as the kids. No complaints from any of the kids. Pricing g was reasonable as well. Will definitely need to stop back by and try more of it. Don't mind the photos we were hungry and didn't think to take photos till we started chowing down on it. One side note, waitresses and waiters don't forget to clear the table of plates that are empty. Empty appetizer plates along with dinner plates make it very crowded for the guests.

Best burgers in Texas!! And the greatest atmosphere and service in the Austin area. I waited tables at this place back in 2007, Dale is an amazing human being. Music events in the biergartnen feel like a family gathering every time. I absolutely love and recommend this place to anyone!

My wife and I have been going to Dale's every 2-3 months for the past couple of years. It's a real treat for us to get away and enjoy the small town atmosphere. Great food and prompt service from an always friendly staff. Gives us that small hometown feeling we grew up with and is truly a breath of fresh air from all the big city eateries. (and I highly recommend the peach cobbler with ice cream for dessert!)

Great little roadhouse. Stopped for a late supper. Enjoyed the homemade flavors of meatloaf, chicken, and appetizer Jalapeño strips deep fried with fries. All the dishes were very good and the service as great. It gets a little loud in the main room, but we had a great meal.

Great place out in the country to get a burger, bbq or drink a beer. Haven't ever been here to hear music but I'm sure it's a fun time based on the size and layout of the outdoor garden area. They have weekday specials in addition to regular menu items. Lots of seating indoors and out for small or large parties.

We haven't been in years and the lady wanted some catfish. We arrived with plenty of seating available, but that filled up. There are large tables and large parties accordingly. Outside seating is available also. I hoped the TV was on to play some college football but it wasn't. I ordered a side salad and it was tiny and mostly lettuce. I had the fried shrimp and a bag potatoes. The shrimp were good but firm. The potato was perfect. It took asking three servers to get tartar sauce. The lady had fried catfish, fried okra and potato salad. She liked them all. We shared the shrimp and catfish. The catfish has a breading of flower and cornmeal and the fish was cooked stiff. I am used to Louisiana catfish that is cornmeal and the fish still has movement. Maybe the fish was previously frozen. Our bill was $41. I gave the sever $100. She brought back $9 and walked away. I almost just put it in the wallet. I had to go find her by the kitchen to remind her I gave are $100. She handed me new change and as I walked back to the table, it was $41. Um, she was gone. I had to find her again to tell her the change is $59. She brought the correct amount, and I have her $10 tip. Sheesh. Not a great experience.

The food was good, but there is a credit card processing fee that was not disclosed. I only saw it in the bathroom(!!) after my meal. Visa states that: Businesses that impose credit card surcharges must display clear signage informing customers of the surcharge fees before a transaction takes place. These notices must be posted at all store entrances and points of sale, ensuring visibility. I did not see any such signage anywhere except the bathroom! This is a violation of Visa's merchant agreement, as well as the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act (DTPA). The PoS also defaults to a 25% tip.

Off the beaten path and full of locals, it was obvious that we were ur driving through lol. Food was good, but expensive. An extra $1.50 to add bacon to our cheese fries and an extra $2.00 to add jalapeños. The sides were also extra $4 to add to burger. There were several signs that stated the restaurant was charging 3% for a credit card surcharge. I get it, we're in the middle of a recession and things are more expensive, this just seemed excessive. And I don't mind paying for good food. My favorite.. was the homemade ranch. The bacon in my BLT was a little too crispy. The mashed potatoes were delish. It's a middle-America kind of restaurant.

I need to grab some food for some clients in Georgetown, Texas and I checked on yelp and I found this place. I sure am glad I found this place. When I walk in it's like walking into a time capsule. You'll see a bunch of local folks just sitting down and enjoying a nice meal. This is America. This is the USA. I love it. I had the pleasure to meet the man, the myth, the legend of Mr. Dale himself. What a kind nice man we talked for about five minutes and he was just simply a delight to talk with. He's someone who I could sit there and talk to for three or four hours. He reminded me a lot of my uncle Tony just a real good storyteller . What a great man. We talked about how it was from Houston and when he was a youngster, he took a job in Houston, but his truck broke down in Elgin Texas. He didn't make it. He has been in business for 27 years. If you understand the restaurant business, you understand that's quite the accomplishment. He must be doing something right because 27 years is a long time to stay in the restaurant business. Congratulations to Dale and his staff. His staff was just top-notch. I've never seen someone go out of the way like they have. They poured every single drink and a glass of ice and bag it up for me. I've gone to many restaurants all over the United States, all over Texas. I've never seen anyone do that. Talk about just going the extra mile I really appreciated that. Food: here's the best part. The food that's one of the best bacon cheeseburgers I've had in a long time. He told me they ground the beef there every day. Talk about fresh wow I was thoroughly impressed with their burger. I will definitely come back over and over again. Their fried pickles were simply amazing. Everything they serve today was top-notch. I cannot wait to go back and try more things off their menu. I really I'm glad I stopped in. Also, I like the decor. Like I said earlier, it's like stepping into a time capsule. Top-notch customer service. Dale was just the best ever. His staff was the best ever. It felt like walking into a family home or something. I cannot wait to go back ASAP. If you have not been here do yourself a favor stop in and give them a try. You will be glad you did.

this place is always awesome. They have daily specials, but also consistently have dishes that taste like homemade food.

Dales Essenhaus in Walburg is a local favorites in this area. This restaurant offer much to support the German history of central Texas. This location has indoor and outdoor seating, live music and of course dancing. They offer table service and a drive thru. Daily specials throughout the week are always appealing. The service is top notch, and excellent for large groups. We love to stop by whenever we nearby, yet I do enjoy the trip over. The scenery is beautiful with a small town feel. All I can say is check them out. Michael C. Georgetown, Tx.

I wanted to try a restaurant with real Texas and was delighted to find Dale's Essenhaus in Walburg, TX -- just a short drive from Georgetown. This cute restaurant and Biergarten was an absolute treat. Service was great and the menu was a thoughtful mix of German and Texas fare. I opted for a combination -- grilled cabbage, fried okra and 3-meats. Portions are more than generous and the grilled cabbage was some of the best ever! Loved everything and even had the pleasure of meeting Dale on my way out. He was a delight, this Kentucky gal was charmed by him. Definitely stop in if you're hungry and wanting an authentic Texas experience. You won't regret this little detour.

We have ate here before, and the service and food was really good. Stopped by this evening to enjoy a hot burger, which I have not had here yet. I must say they did not disappoint, in my opinion and 8 out of 10. The beef was heavy and meaty and a whole lotta flavor! Also, the burger had lots different options and as ons. There are lots of other great options here if you like country home cooking, chicken fried whatever, etc. AND there's also a good selection of beer. Great small town spot with a real laid-back casual vibe and a really awesome outdoor beer garden! I recommend giving them a shot!

I absolutely love Dale's so much. It is my favorite restaurant for a good comfort meal. The only this is the LOUD chairs that scrape across the floor and pierce your ears. Service, food, and music are always great, but it's those chairs! Dale, please put something under the chairs :)

I just love everything about Dales Essenhaus! It's one of my go-to places. I can always count on a good burger! Their German dishes are good too. Service with a smile & very accommodating! I've made reservations for groups of 15+ several times & never been disappointed. I like the rustic decor and general vibe too. Give it a try.. you won't be sorry!

Those burgers were seriously tasty and totally hit the spot. We were just cruising around for the weekend, trying to find the best burger places nearby, and Dale's was at the top of the list. We took a chance, and it totally worked out. We're definitely going back.

Dale's Essenhaus is the perfect blend of Central Texas diner and German influenced food history. Essenhaus, if I'm correct, roughly translated means Food House or Cooking House. It looks and feels like the places we used to find around Central Texas -- even Austin back in the day. There is also a stage, biergarten and rentable dance hall. Technically, the compound is in Walburg very close to Georgetown. Their beer selection is great, by the way, and worth spending time sampling the varieties. Their hamburgers are really, really good (The Walburger and variations). They have usual Texas fair done well: Nachos, Fried Chicken, Chicken Fried Steak, lots of fried fish. But they also have sausages, Schnitzel, German Apple Cake. And the Biergarten has its own menu of BBQ, burgers etc. There are daily specials (The Wednesday chicken and dumplings gets high praise). And what's on no menu but you get a huge dose of Texas-friendly service. It's a great stop because you never know who might be playing on stage. TIP: It may look crowded from the parking lot but the restaurant is large and you'll be served quickly. Just order that beer as you're seated :) PROST!!

Great food; great ol country cafe. Outside reminds me of the ol Hills Cafe. The occasional live music makes a great atmosphere.

Great food. They are our go to for Chicken and Dumplings every Wednesday. Friendly service and the sides are to die for.

Dale's never fails to deliver. I usually stop by this place with motorcycling buddies as we're riding through and they have always been pleasant and the food awesome!

Good food is all I remember. Pleasant experience. Not much ambiance but ok with friends.

Ordered mushroom Swiss burger, husband's burger had bacon & avocado. Mine didn't have much taste. Looked like canned mushrooms. Needed a lot of salt & pepper. It was like they just took plain meat & threw it on the grill. Husband said his was so-so. Onion rings were good.

NOBODY COME HERE I ordered a dish that was advertised as catfish, but what I received was clearly not catfish -- it tasted and looked like a different kind of fish entirely (possibly swai or tilapia). When you're paying for a specific item, especially seafood, you expect accuracy and transparency. Mislabeling food isn't just disappointing -- it's dishonest, and potentially dangerous for people with dietary restrictions or allergies.

The food is always great. Entertaining with live music on weekends, and the servers are always polite and professional. Highly recommended to give it a try.

First time probably last Everything on menu kinda high Settled for hamburger in was $13 total with tax It was a real good $8 burger

Nice country cafe and bar. The outside seating is only open for a few months out of the year. When we went, the outdoor seating was closed and we ate inside. I would like to go back and hang out outside.

Great lunch! Neat little spot off the beaten path with quick and delicious food. Will come back

Drive 22 miles here on recommendation of a friend. Ordered fried chicken (a breast & wing) with country potatoes and pinto beans. Chicken was very good, but the sides were a big disappointment. Pinto beans were hard. Country potatoes were yesterday's leftover baked potatoes cut into chunks and sautéed with onions. Only took a couple of bites of each. The sides were inedible. It included some toasted Texas toast that was cold. Service was poor even though there were only us and three other tables there. Never came back to check on us and I might have been able to eat some of the stale potatoes if ketchup had been offered. The bill was $22 for two of us (water to drink) and I had to stop for some doughnuts on the way home because I was still hungry. Sorry Dale, we won't be coming back.

This burger place is located a few miles east of I35 just on the outskirts of Georgetown. We stopped in on an off day well after the lunch rush, so we got great service and there was just a few other patrons. The three of us had three different types of burgers, a basket of rings and some blackberry cobbler to go. The Burgers them selves were very good especially for the price. They do offer a few beer choices along with some wine, but we opted just for water. It all came to $54 without tip and it was worth it.

The burgers here are messy and a tad expensive but they are probably some of the best around here. I totally recommend eating here.

Saw several people post in a local Georgetown group about this place having some of the best burgers, and it truly did not disappoint. Loved the mushroom Swiss burger and the onion rings. It was made in the type of batter I enjoy. I will recommend and definitely come back.

Service was prompt and friendly. Ordered onion rings as an appetizer. I had a burger which was very good. Bottled beers were iced cold

Love the vibe!! Family owned and always a fun experience with friends and family. Outdoor with a life band is always my go to!

We eat here at least once a week. The food is fresh and good and the service is always top notch and friendly! The hamburger steak, and hamburgers are our favorites. The daily specials are delicious too!

Great local place! We have gone to Dales multiple times and have never been disappointed. Food is always great and service is always accommodating. They have a drive through with a limited menu and a sit down option. You can sit inside or outside. Love the variety of food they have available. Definitely a must see local restaurant.

First time at Dales! Thursday evening, weren't too many people. Outdoor seating at picnic tables was perfect. Got there just in time to hear Dale's daughter sing cover tunes to many country songs. Great voice and entertainment. We each had a cheeseburger. They were good. They make their own mustard which the put on burgers and provide for dipping fries in. Good mustard, but I am not a mustard fan. It was on my burger too, but was not too strong. Hint, if you aren't a mustard eater, make sure they know not to put it on our burger. Good meat, grilled onions on burger, fresh tomatoes. Fries were good, but not killer. We will be back and next time try their catfish. Fridays and Saturdays they have other various bands.

Great food and atmosphere, employees are very nice and helpful. A little bit of a driver but we'll worth it.

Looks like a nice little joint with lots of outside tables. Inside is very nice, spacious but cozy. The staff is friendly and helpful. The menu is versatile and prices are reasonable; AND, the food is so good. I had the pork schnitzel with gravy, collard greens and grilled squash. The portions were large so needless to say, we took home what we couldn't eat. We will go back. Can't believe we've been here for 10 years and hadn't gone there. It's a keeper.

Decided to get dinner for my sister and niece and had not been here in years. It had menu items that we all wanted, so I drove up to pick it up. This was like going to the twilight zone in 2020. No one in the place was wearing a mask, but that is common with many places outside the city here in Texas. Don't believe their website that they are adhering to country rules and I sure as hell hope to not get Covid from Walburg TX!! I ordered the food by phone and drove up there. It wasn't ready when I got there, but the cashier was sweet though looking at me sideways due to my mask. Went outside to wait for my food that was brought out to me by the cashier. I got the German Pork Schnitzel that was a large pork loin that was breaded perfectly. I got the greens and fried okra that went well with this meal. Greens were my favorite of the sides. My niece got the chicken tenders that came with white gravy that I enjoyed more than the brown gravy, so I would recommend going that route. For dessert, we got German Apple Cake and Peach cobbler. Both were a perfect ending to a perfect to-go order with vanilla ice cream. The apple cake was a little different and had the caramelized sugar, but really worth trying.

Great burger and onion rings. Mouthwatering and generous. Diverse and broad menu. Friendly staff. Rugged parking lot-beware of close proximity trees.

This is one of the rare restaurants where where, when I leave, I say "I can't wait to come back." My wife and I were first-time visitors last night. We were surprised by how busy the restaurant was given its location in Walburg. Live music was playing in the beer garden. Everything seems homemade and prepared when ordered. The chicken-fried steak is good. It would be great if it wasn't a bit chewy. Cream gravy is served on the side showcasing the crispy crust. The butter beans are the best we've ever had. The dinner roll has a hint of sweetness which we like. The mashed potatoes are soft (not whipped) while the french fries were bland and too soft for our liking (surely not how they are normally served); regardless, the other sides are so good I can't imagine choosing the fries over the other sides. Tea and water are served in large, restaurant-style plastic cups which I like because my glass doesn't have to be refilled every few minutes. My only regret................not getting the beer-battered onion rings; oh well, next week!

Wonderful service and great atmosphere. The food was tasty and not overpriced. It has a warm family feeling, so you can come relax and enjoy.

super flavorful hamburger. best I've had in. long long long time. service was great too.

Food was good. Service was great. Didn't wait at all during lunch rush on a monday. Will be back.

Very rude staff. Food was terrible. Overpriced and nasty. Don't waste your time or money.

Great place to have a meal and drinks, the service was outstanding to the point that the servers remember your name, now that is Great in this day in age !! Also, love this location because of very low traffic flow and this place is somewhat of a secret from the rest of the Central Texas rat race.

Came back a few days later after our wonderful experience. Everything was absolutely delicious again. I stopped to take pictures this time and ordered something different this time around. Pictured below is one of the best burgers you might ever have. Hats off to the chef as this will be one of the restaurants we go to.

YAAAASSS!!! That is all. Yelp is making me write more.... Just go, live music, picnic style BBQ. Love!

Great hamburgers and catfish. Love the green beans and Cole slaw, too. Really good ribs.

This place is like going to a backyard bbq. There's picnic tables and lots of friendly people. Pros: excellent customer service; excellent food quality and variety; excellent beverage options; ample seating and parking; accommodates huge groups; outdoor dance area with live music; chalk and outdoor drawing spaces and playground for kids; basketballs and hoops; fire pit; lots of restrooms; cheap Cons: a bit far

Went with friends at lunch. The food was delicious and the service was excellent. We got there when it opened and it filled up fast. I had the pork chop special and it was one of the best pork chops I've ever eaten. We will definitely go again

The food is good home cooking! Fried fish , shrimp, hamburgers, onion rings. Love it all. Service is excellent. No matter how full the restaurant is!

Always a fan of Dale's. It's a cool hangout spot and I like the ability to support local businesses. This one's so local I can see Dale's house from my place. His burgers are great and the Texas Toothpicks are a must. My only critique is they make an incredible Reuben, but it isn't on the daily menu. Although it's scarcity makes it special when it is the... well, special.

Good food comes out hot and taste good, and employees friendly. Great for hamburgers so go see for yourself.

My wife earmarked this place to try on a Wednesday. Why Wednesday? She loves chicken and dumplings and that's the only day they have them. She loved them, I tried them and liked them too. I saw reviews about the Walburger and had to try one of those, and some onion rings, and some bread pudding, i'm happy to report that everything we tasted lived up to their billing. The burger was large, juicy and full of flavor, the rings were tasty, and the chicken and dumplings were so good that we finished them off....our very nice waitress told us they go fast so you need to get here early on Wednesdays. We'll be back for more goodies and soon, we may need to try some German food next time.