DVIDS – News – Dead Fish Grill: Come for the food, stay for the view

BELTON, Texas — There’s nothing better than enjoying a meal with a breathtaking view, and in my opinion, no restaurant does outdoor dining better than Dead Fish Grill.

Located less than a half hour from The Great Place, the restaurant’s long-standing location is considered the best lakeside restaurant in Central Texas, specializing in seafood and Southern comfort food for lunch, dinner or brunch, and offering stunning views of Lake Belton.

The popular venue began with the vision of Frank Smith, who saw an opportunity to capitalize on the beauty of the site and opened Frank’s Lakeview Inn in 1954.

More than 50 years later, Smith’s legacy endured through the decades when Dead Fish Grill opened in 2008, and the eatery has captivated patrons ever since.

As we entered, my good friend Shewana and I were greeted by a hostess and invited to relax at the bar while we waited for a table outside on the patio.

On the way to the bar, we noticed the huge metal fish sculpture decorated with metal gills, which indicated the house specialty.

The bar is located in the center of the restaurant and can be seen from every angle. We settled into our bar stools and browsed the drinks menu for something refreshing and fruity.

There was a choice of various margaritas and cocktails with catchy names, such as the Lake Sipper made from cucumber vodka, elderflower, lime juice, sugar syrup and ginger beer or the Slippery Minnow, a combination of Deep Eddy Lemon Vodka, lemon juice, pomegranate liqueur and soda water.

Although it was tempting, we opted for traditional margaritas, frozen or on ice.

We sipped our drinks as the waitress led us to the lakefront patio and seated us at a table with a panoramic view of the water as far as the eye could see.

After a few selfies with Lake Belton in the background, we devoured hearty beef empanadas before digging into our main course, catfish with corn on the cob.

Even after enjoying a delicious meal, we enjoyed the atmosphere and stayed to enjoy the scenic views.

Whether you dine indoors while admiring the scenic lake views or enjoy a meal in the tranquility of the water, the experience is second to none.

Dead Fish Grill has become one of my favorite restaurants. I may go for the food, but I stay for the view.

Visit https://deadfishgrill.com for menus, hours and more information.