Standing outside Scholz Garten, it is easy to forget you are anywhere near a busy campus. The wooden exterior and old signage look like they have been there forever, and in many ways, they have.
Open since 1866, this place carries more than a century of Austin history without making a big show of it. Walking in, I caught the smell of something savory coming from the kitchen while laughter drifted in from the shaded patio out back.
It does not feel like a restaurant trying to imitate European charm. It feels lived in, steady, and comfortable, like it has been doing things its own way for generations…