Aged-ribeye chicken-fried steak, Gulf oysters, and a porch made for sunsets
Right at the gateway to the Hill Country, Whiskey Ridge is the kind of place you take out-of-towners to show off exactly what Texas does best — big flavors, warm hospitality, and a sunset you'll want to photograph. It anchored our very first issue for good reason, and it's still one of the most reliably great tables in Driftwood.
The story. Whiskey Ridge comes from the Austin team behind the beloved Cover 3 — co-owner Doug Young and crew — who swapped stadium sightlines for Hill Country ones when they opened here in late 2024. It's their love letter to the state: coal-fire cooking, Gulf Coast seafood, locally sourced Texas meats, and a wall of hand-picked whiskeys and bourbons.
The vibe. Polished but easygoing. There's a deep bar, a wrap-around porch built for a slow evening, and two private event spaces if you're gathering a crowd. Come hungry, stay for the golden hour.
What to order. Start with the broiled Gulf oysters and something off the raw bar. The chicken-fried steak is built on a hand-cut aged ribeye, and the braised beef short rib with jalapeño cheese grits and a molasses-guajillo glaze is pure Hill Country comfort. Then let the bar steer you to a Texas whiskey you haven't met yet.
Good to know. It's an easy detour to or from the Driftwood wineries. Midweek runs dinner-forward (kitchen opens at 4 p.m. Mon–Thu), with a full lunch on Friday and a relaxed brunch on Sunday — so weekends are your best bet for a leisurely, all-day visit.
Visit Whiskey Ridge
📍 8750 W. Ranch Road 150, Bldg. 300, Driftwood, TX 78619
📞 (512) 262-0222
🌐 Website: https://www.whiskeyridgetx.com
📷 Instagram: @whiskeyridge.tx
👍 Facebook: WhiskeyRidge.TX
🕒 Hours: Mon–Wed 4–10p · Thu 4–11p · Fri 11a–11p · Sat 3–11p · Sun 10a–10p