"Tucked away on a peaceful offshoot of South Congress, this bright, leafy spot attached to Hotel Magdelena is where you go to escape the swarm of nearby shoppers. The patio overlooks an attractive lawn, like you’re dining at a spa instead of right around the corner from Le Labo and Reformation. Summer House’s weekend brunches are lively, and it’s also good for a nice but unpretentious dinner with something for everyone. (Make sure to try the housemade Pop Tart during brunch.) The drinks are decent, but head next door for imaginative cocktails at Equipment Room, the basement bar spinning vinyl records." - matthew jacobs, nicolai mccrary
"Enjoy a lake weekend getaway at this restaurant inside Bunkhouse Hotels’s Magdalena. The aesthetic and the menu are laidback — this is a great spot to get a cheeseburger, a solid Caesar salad, some unfussy pasta dishes, and steak and eggs — pretty much anything you’d want to see on a Texas brunch, lunch, or dinner menu. Eat on the breezy, wood-lined patio that opens up to the hotel pool or inside the modern restaurant with an eye-catching jade green bar." - Taylor Tobin
"Tucked away on a peaceful offshoot of South Congress, this bright, leafy spot attached to Hotel Magdelena is where you go to escape the swarm of nearby shoppers. They’re offering their standard menu on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, plus a special menu with dishes like prime rib, lobster, and sticky toffee cake." - nicolai mccrary
"Summer House is offering a limited menu on Thanksgiving, with a few twists on the classics. The main entree is handmade pappardelle with turkey confit, but there’s also a collard green and kale salad, truffled bread pudding, and sweet potatoes with miso and brown sugar. Everything is available à la carte, and you can book reservations ahead of time. Price: À la carte dishes from $12-26 per plate" - nicolai mccrary
"Tucked away on a peaceful offshoot of South Congress, this bright, leafy spot attached to Hotel Magdelena is where you go to escape the swarm of nearby shoppers. The patio overlooks an attractive lawn, like you’re dining at a spa instead of right around the corner from Le Labo and Reformation. Summer House’s weekend brunches are lively despite the overall serenity, and it’s also good for a nice but unpretentious dinner with something for everyone. Both menus have crossovers, including baba ghanoush infused with curry oil and a juicy burger featuring beef-fat mayo. (Try the homemade Pop Tart of the week during brunch, too.) At night, we like the saffron cavatelli varnished with fresh pesto. The drinks are decent, but head next door for imaginative cocktails at Equipment Room, the stylish basement bar spinning vinyl records. Another perk: In a neighborhood notorious for limited parking, Music Lane has a large garage. photo credit: RICHARD CASTEEL photo credit: RICHARD CASTEEL photo credit: RICHARD CASTEEL photo credit: RICHARD CASTEEL photo credit: RICHARD CASTEEL Pause Unmute" - Matthew Jacobs