Short Mama's Bistro

European-inspired menu, full bar and a wraparound porch landing inside the historic "Short Mama's" home on College Street

Dripping Springs' most recognizable old house is getting a second act. The 1899 home known around town as Short Mama's — just off Mercer Street, across from the heart of downtown — is mid-remodel and on its way to becoming Short Mama's Bistro, a European-inspired restaurant and bar with a full kitchen and outdoor dining porch.

What's coming. The project converts the two-story residence into a restaurant and bar, with a new kitchen and an outdoor bar and dining porch added on. The historic residence at 101 College Street, fondly known as Short Mama's, is now under construction to become Short Mama's Bistro, a European-inspired dining destination that blends history, hospitality, and culinary artistry. Short Mama's Bistro will feature a menu with European flair, offering refined yet approachable dishes. Once open, the plan calls for lunch and dinner Tuesday through Saturday, a Sunday brunch, and a special Monday evening service exclusively for local residents, featuring guest chefs, wine dinners, and rotating seasonal menus, along with elegant indoor dining, more casual outdoor patios and bars, and the Carriage House and Cottage reimagined for intimate private dining.

Where and when. The bistro is taking over a genuine Dripping Springs landmark. "Built by W.G. McKellar after he purchased property in 1899, the home retains it's former resident's nickname," a brief history of the building states. The remodel is a serious undertaking — public records describe a $1,000,000 remodel of the "2736 SF 2-story residence into a restaurant/bar and addition of a 2386 SF kitchen and 1451 SF outdoor bar and dining porch." No firm opening date has gone public yet, and the owners themselves note the work is delicate: "Due to the specialized nature of historic preservation, construction timelines may vary."

Who's behind it. The house's longtime resident is the namesake. Originally constructed in 1899, the home is best remembered for its longtime resident, Beulah "Short Mama" Crumley Haydon, who during its days as a boarding house became a beloved figure in the community, offering warm hospitality, cool refreshments, and homemade treats to locals and travelers alike. She lived in the home until her passing in 1989 at the age of ninety-seven. The restaurant's owner is carrying that legacy forward: "Preserving this home's history while bringing something fresh and exciting to the community is at the heart of our vision," said Dripping resident Pat Fox, the owner of Short Mama's Bistro, whose partner Fabienne Bollom added, "We want every guest to feel the warmth, charm, and sense of connection that Short Mama herself embodied."

What we don't know yet. No opening date, specific menu items or prices have been released. It's also unclear whether the full bar, Carriage House private dining and the special Monday resident-only nights will all debut at once or roll out in phases. We'll update this post once Short Mama's confirms a timeline.