Cold beers and great conversations! Came inside and met some nice people and the owners. read more

Castell General Store - Burgers Near Me - Llano, Texas

They had the best burger I've ever had! I'm over 73 years old. They make it fresh the old fashion way with everything you need.

The menu is small but the flavors are fantastic Jennifer is the brains and the beauty of this off the highway oasis on the outskirts of Llano and Mason. Cold beer and good stories on the porch too read more

After a day of off roading enjoying the hill country, we were hungry! Stopped at Castell General Store and we will be back. We parked off of the side of the road, and walked across into the store where there was already everyone watching College Football. The menu was simple but perfect. It was all burgers. We ordered a 1/2 pound bacon burger with pepper Jack cheese and a Patty Melt. They both came with a side of chips. We ordered two shiners and waited for our order. We were lucky enough to meet the owner, Randy Leifeste. He was so kind and funny! His family has had land in the area for years and opened up that store. It's so nice and relaxing. They have a stage that they more than likely use at night! We got our burgers and my goodness. The best burgers I think I've ever had. They were so nice and juicy. The Patty Melt onions were cooked perfectly! The burger Pattie's had a nice char on it and juicy on the inside. The buns were well kept and didn't get soggy! It was so delicious! We will be back for sure! read more

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Nice, quiet, locals place. I snuck in here just before close at 7:15pm on a lazy Friday night. I meandered to the counter and ordered the burger with bacon and pepper jack cheese. Big, perfectly cooked medium patty with decent flavor. Would've preferred a bit more seasoning but it was tasty enough. The bacon had good flavor and an impressive crunch. Friendly service. I sat outside and and listened to some good Texas C&W playing from a little bar across the street where some of the locals were having a good time. If you are into small town Texas, they have some cutesy T-shirts, hats, and souvenirs. Prob 3.5/5... read more

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One of my fellow car club members had been gushing about visiting the Castell General Store for a couple of month. So, we formed a group on a recent weekend and headed west to check it out. Never even heard of this place despite it's proximity to Llano and that famous BBQ place about 12 miles east. Turns out my mom's best friend used to vacation in the area as it was short drive from Fredericksburg back in the 60's. Great roads leading up to the small town just steps away from the river. Didn't know what to expect. Lots of locals sitting around with cold beers watching the Longhorn game on the multiple televisions. Ample seating that seems to be added onto the old store. BBQ was on the menu for Saturday; steaks can be had on Sunday as it's a fairly limited menu. Our group went thru the line and paid and piled into a tall table with no chairs to check out the cuisine. Brisket was superb paired with the provided BBQ sauce. Local sausage was also good bites. One issue with the entire group was the pork ribs with everyone commenting the rub had way to much salt. Sides were included as you could visit a small kitchen near the main space with beans, pickles, onions...Well, near all the usual BBQ fixins. Cole slaw was interesting with a pasta component to it. Owners seemed genuine and concerned with our opinions and comfort. Eager to welcome a new group of hungry travelers. Cute country apparel also brought smiles and chuckles from us. See the pics read more

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Great Burger and i've been to Meers! What an awesome place, great burger, great staff. Big thanks and we will be back! read more

Castell General Store - Another reason to love them beyond the burger! - Burgers Near Me - Llano, Texas

A fun and unique place to get a great steak and baked potato along with coleslaw. Castel is so far out in the country that it is generally not worth the drive. But once there, one might rethink the drive worthiness. The grill is outdoors as is the seating, what seating is available. Would have been five stars if I could go more often. read more

Stopped in today for a beer. Love this place. Cold beer and good food. A big plus is the Llano River. And the people who own it!

Love this out of the way place. The bar Bbq on Saturday is good along with whatever else they serve. All the extras r inside & they r also good. We stopped in the day before & visited f a hour . Had a blast . You need to go there @ least once in ur lifetime. read more

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Great food!!! Friendly people. I've heard good things about the burgers. When we went, it was chicken fried steak day. Cute atmosphere too! read more

Great, great hamburger as well as patty melt. It's worth the effort to do lunch here.

On the way to Mason TX my wife had never been to Castell store just 3 miles south off highway 29. They only serve hamburgers on Thursday but they were great. Will be going back for bar-b-q on Saturday and Sunday soon. read more

Castell General Store - North side Llano River. - Burgers Near Me - Llano, Texas

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No. This was not good brisket for us. Meat like rubber. I never saw brisket cut off like huge slabs before- instead of sliced. Meat needed another 2-3 hours cooking. Lil' had to spit hers in a napkin because she chewed and chewed and it would NOT give up. The sausage was much better. After you get your meat outside you go to the "kitchen", they call it, to get your self serve sides from crock pots. It reminded me of a church potluck. Fantastic beans I mean really, really good. The bread is in loafs in a bag and everyone and their uncle just reaches right into the bag like it's home? Place was clean, service was very good. read more

We were in Castell for a bachelor party. Why Castell? I asked that myself. The person planning the bachelor party uncle's ranch is nearby, so that is how he knew of this place and told us how awesome the General Store is. So we rented the cabins across the street (which back up to the river) and for each meal, we would just walk across the street to the General Store. This place is old-school to say the least. It has a bar with cash tabs only (they do have an ATM) and the place definitely has a very rustic, laid-back atmosphere. With most of the items on the shelves (a smorgasbord of food and supplies) gathering dist the emphasis for going to this place is definitely the food. Our dinner on Friday consisted of seasoned, hand formed burgers with a choice of cheddar or monterrey-jack cheese, but I think the best thing about the burgers were the fresh baked buns. Square in shape and doughy in feel, the bun sufficiently grasped the burger, further adding to its greatness (I do hate going to places where the buns fall apart, or are stale, or are just too thin). Definitely one of the best burgers I have ever had. The thing I was most excited was the BBQ. Here in Fort Worth we have a Cooper's, so initially I wanted to stroll into Llano for my BBQ fix to try the original Cooper's. However, after watching them set up the pits and cook the meat, I found that it wasn't needed. Castell General Store does their BBQ as most other places in Texas, small pits (not encapsulated smokers like we have up here in North Texas) where the meat is cooked by the coals underneath it, not in an offset firebox. They use the local wood, mesquite, and I must say the BBQ is great. As soon as I tasted a sample I found that this stuff was just as good as the Cooper's in Fort Worth, if not better...because of the pork steak. Pork Steak?! I too was perplexed with that term but found that the pork steaks are sliced pieces of pork shoulder. Definitely the best thing they have and a must try since it is so unique (and delicious). Their pork loin was also a favorite, followed by the sausage, then their ribs, then their brisket). The sauce too, was representative of Central-Texas style, runny with vinegar and made not to overpower the flavor of the meat, but for dipping. We wrapped up our trip by having more burgers on Saturday night then paying our tabs (they do have a pretty decent beer selection and you pay by the pound for the BBQ $12 flat). Definitely glad we chose Castell for the trip and I will be going back, if not solely for the burgers and BBQ at the General Store. read more

Castell was recommended to me by a fishing friend from Corpus Christi that has been going there for several years. The General Store is a no frills gathering place for what few locals there are and those, like us, looking to hang out and fish the Llano River. Randy ( owner) is a great host and local historian of the area. He took great pains to be sure that we had a good time eventhough we didn't actually stay in one of his cabins. They were already reserved when we booked out trip. The bar is very biker friendly I noticed. Here is how the food works, and it works. Friday is hamburger day. Hand formed, cooked on a grill with your choice of pepper jack or American cheese. The buns are butter toasted to perfection. Served with chips. Saturday is BBQ day. Cooked over mesquite coals by guys that have cooked, and ate, their share of BBQ. They know what they are doing. There are no culinary institute graduates in the group but when it comes to BBQ these guys are good. Several cuts of pork, beef and chicken. They have beans as a side. Sauce is perfect. The conversation with the local guys is worth the trip and the BBQ is as good as mine and that's a compliment. Sunday is steak and potato day. We had to leave before lunch time but I saw the prep work and the steaks looked good. Randy rents kayaks for 40.00 a day and that includes drop off of pick up. Remember that the river is almost entirely granite. Granite gets slippery when algae covered. The store is about 300 yards from the launch point. Randy sells some basic fishing tackle but if you are a serious angler you will have your own gear, if not, Randy has what you need to get started. This place is a little hidden jewel. read more

Burgers. All the basic fixins'. Generous portion. Seasoned well. Cooked perfectly. Delicious bun. Can't get much better then a grilled burger. Do it. read more

If you are in the hill country this place is a must to visit. My husband and I spent a day here and enjoyed every minute. Very few places you can visit that has great food and a wonderful place to hang out and meet all the wonderful people that live in the area. Saturday they smoke barbecue. Best brisket I've ever eaten and I'm from Texas. Hubby said the hamburger was the best he has had in a long time. Since hamburgers are a major food group for him that is high praise. read more

Ribeye sunday !! We went there with friends, it was their recommendation. OMG that steak was amazing. It was a full pound and an inch thick and I think you could cut it with a butter knife. You pick up the sides from the "sides room".. that's included and you get what you want. I had the green beans, which gave me family reunion flashbacks. read more

Best food and hamburgers and great owner. you'll have a great time in the Castell general store you can also rent kayaks. Overall a great experience read more

The best ribs we have ever had, ever!!!!! Awesome cold slaw, beans and sauce!!! Not just your average rib , 2 to3 inches thick, smoked to perfection fall off the bone! We definitely will be driving bAck for Sunday steaks!!!! Well worth the drive!! The Boyd's from Kerrville!! read more

Had heard they had the best burger in Texas ... And it was pretty dang good. Not only was the burger superb but the atmosphere was totally hill country. Randy Leifeste was entertaining and informative on his store's character. Definitely worth the drive. read more

Castell General Store - Burgers Near Me - Llano, Texas

Working for a hill country school district, my boss and I like to search for the best burger in the hill country during the summers. Well we have a new front runner. Made the drive to The Castell General store for their burger today. It was fantastic. Thick and juicy meat on a sourdough bun. Worth the drive I promise. Call ahead because they only have burgers on certain days of the week. read more

Castell General Store - Burgers Near Me - Llano, Texas

They got what they got and when they got it it's great. If you like old school relaxed bikers, cowboys, yuppies, kids, roosters, etc then this is your place read more

I'm a fly fisherman from Austin, TX. Today I decided to hit the Llano river because everything east is flooded. I went to Castell to give it a go. Fishing this river was recommended by one of the fly shops in Austin. So why not. Went down to the water got a couple of bites and then caught a little bluegill. It was about 130pm and I hadn't eaten since 530am drove in to town and stopped at the Castell General Store. Ordered a burger. Wow!!! One of the best I ever had. Met Randy the owner. Really Friendly guy. We started talking fishing and he took me out to a really nice spot up the river. Ended up catching 3 bass and 2 more sunfish. I stopped by the store on my way back to Austin to thank Randy. This is how life should be. Friendly people, no frills-simple and chilled out. I highly recommend going out there. read more

The food here is ridiculously amazing. Jennifer is not only the most amazing bartender, but her hamburgers are absolutely wonderful. Small town vibe with tons of character you will find locals and out of towners on the weekend. They just rennovated the back area that is perfect for a dinner, concert or party. This is an amazing place and I can only say good things about it. If you are looking for a great Hill Country experience and good food this is it! read more

One of the best burgers I ever have!!!!! This place is a bit odd but always fun.

Today we just rode the bike out to Castell to get some wind therapy. We got the BBQ Brisket sandwiches. They were great but most of all we met Mr. Randy Leifester owner of the Castell General Store. We heard his story and he heard ours. I'm thankful for this day because you never know where God's going to take you but I tell ya we met a good friend today. Amen! Will definitely get back often. read more

Quaint little country store. Great steaks on Friday night's along with some ice cold beer, make for a great evening. Don't be surprised to hear an old timer telling a tall tale, or some youngster talking about his fishing adventure. It's close yo the water, and on a hot summer day or afternoon you can grab your tube and float on the river. This truly is a little piece of heaven on earth!! People are friendly, service at the store is goid, and you can find all kinds of knick knacks. We try to get out there as often as we possibly can. read more

I live in Austin where there is no shortage of interesting places for great food and atmosphere but Castell has a vibe you can't create. If you stop in on day nothing is going on just grab a beer and visit with your friends. You'll feel feel the charm and history of a true Texas small town, nothing fake about it. If you are there on a day when they are having a big feed you'll get to experience great food and fun. This place is a jewel either way. read more

Karen makes the BEST hamburgers on Thursday and Friday. Great BBQ on Saturday. Come early as food goes fast!

If you like small towns, BBQ and an experience, Castell General Store is just for you. Ask for Randy, who will give you the run down of the place! It is a baby Luckenbach and the BBQ and hamburgers are amazing. Washers, guitars and the river are all you need here. If you are ready to relax and enjoy some great company this is the place. The beer selection is great and the atmosphere as well. Enjoy the experience and take it all in. read more

This place could hardly be more underwhelming and unfriendly, vs. the reviews that persuaded us to drive out (from Fredericksburg). It's basically a rundown bunch of ramshackle buildings and an outdoor bbq pit. The 'general store' makes Dollar General look like Nieman Marcus, with poorly stocked shelves and lack of inventory. Park in the dirt out front, or in the dirt across the street. It's not clear where you're supposed to order, or what the drill is for getting food, and it's all just disconnected despite being a small place. Why anybody thinks this place is a destination is a puzzle. Seems like it would be better than a gas station to grab a bite if you were cruising past on a motorcycle, but otherwise just head into sleepy little Llano and treat yourself. Castell General Store is a dud, and the sullen gal working behind the bar should stay home if she can't smile and at least say hi. read more

I am a burger connoisseur . If you happen to be one too, look no further. This place has the best burgers around. The ambiance is very "Texas" and the people are friendly and make you feel right at home. Will return. Great place for friends to meet. read more

My son and I stayed in Castell for 3 nights last week and had the chance to try the CGS pepper jack cheeseburgers for lunch on Friday. They did not disappoint. Large, juicy burger on a delicious bun, with all the condiments available to dress it up however you like it. Nothing to go with it but chips and cold beer, which suited us just fine. The proprietors could not have been nicer or more accommodating. The General Store side of the house had an interesting assortment of goods, and most of the odds and ends we needed, but I would not show up expecting to be able to buy all your supplies for the weekend (although we suspected they have a larger range of inventory during the summer). I will also note that they were already working on the Saturday BBQ while we were enjoying our burgers, and what we saw made us sorry we were leaving way to early Saturday morning to partake in that fare. read more