Canyon Grille at Rough Hollow

Reopened this spring with a farm-to-table menu and Gulf seafood runs several times a week

Canyon Grille at Rough Hollow never left the bluff above the Rough Hollow Yacht Club, but the kitchen behind it has changed hands and changed direction. The restaurant temporarily closed April 6 ahead of a weeklong transformation into a farm-to-table dining concept under new owner Haythem Dawlett. It reopened two weeks later, and if your last visit predates this spring, it's worth a second look.

The story. Canyon Grille at Rough Hollow announced a full transformation in concept, leadership, and ownership beginning Monday, April 6, 2026, at which time the restaurant temporarily closed, then officially reopened Tuesday, April 14, 2026, with a reimagined culinary experience built on fresh, regionally sourced Central Texas ingredients from the Hill Country to the Gulf Coast. Under Dawlett's ownership, the restaurant offers a rotating seasonal menu, with ingredients regionally sourced from local farmers. Fresh Gulf Coast seafood gets sourced multiple times per week. Dawlett isn't new to the neighborhood — he has a history of working on local developments, including his work as a principal with Legend Communities on the Rough Hollow community and the upcoming Square at Lakeway, which explains why the relaunch leans so hard on "getting back to our roots," as he put it in the reopening announcement. Tony Curtis-Wellings, who spent two decades in the Lake Travis hospitality market before closing his own Bee Cave kitchen store in 2025, is running operations.

The vibe. The view hasn't changed, and that's the point — you're still perched over the Rough Hollow Yacht Club & Marina with Lake Travis stretched out below. The dining room's low-key, the patio's the draw on a nice evening, and the crowd skews neighborhood: boaters coming off the water, Rough Hollow residents, people who've been coming here under one name or another for years. It reads more "well-run lake-club kitchen" than special-occasion white tablecloth, even with some pricier plates now on the menu.

What to order. The new menu mixes Tex-Mex comfort with Gulf seafood pushes. Worth trying: the Texas Blackened Redfish with creamy creole sauce and jasmine rice ($29), the Gulf Redfish Po' Boy ($24), Grilled Pineapple Shrimp Fajitas ($23), the Akaushi Wagyu Burger with Chef AJ's signature sauce ($18), and the Creamy Cajun Pasta with Texas Gulf shrimp and andouille ($28). Sunday brunch is its own thing — brunch is served on Sundays from 11am to 2pm — with a Ribeye Benedict and bottomless-adjacent Mimosa Flight on the list.

Good to know. Tuesday through Friday from 3-6 pm, Canyon Grille offers $2 off cocktails, wine by the glass, draft beer, and all starters. Walk-ins are welcome, or call to make a reservation for parties over 12. Indoor and outdoor seating are both available, and valet parking is complimentary if you're not coming by boat.