Austin has grown substantially in recent years, but not too long ago was it a small, rural city. Even as far back as the late 1940's, parts of Austin didn't even have electricity yet! This included the Green Shores area around Lake Austin. In 1947, Marion Fowler moved his family into the desolate area and set up 20 rental cabins for weekend and Summer visitors to come enjoy the lake. Needing a place to relax and grab a bite, Marion opened Ski Shores Cafe in 1954 and it has been operating ever since!
First simply known as a "glorified hot dog stand" by the locals, Ski Shores grew into what columnists dubbed "one of the few icons of Austin eatery establishments". Serving great food in a laid back atmosphere under the sun and beside the water, Ski Shores became a perfect recipe for the chill Austin culture and continues to do so today.
Boasting a menu that is both classic and delicious, Ski Shores serves up some of the best Summer comfort food in town from spicy buffalo wings and tacos to mouth watering burgers and classic sandwiches, all made fresh from scratch each day. And no Summer menu is complete without a plethora of cocktails and frozen drinks. Ski Shores offers a wide variety of Tequilas By The Shot (served with or without the "wheels") including Tequila 512 Blanco, Don Julio Anejo and Patron Silver; frozen drinks like the Blue Lagoon (Pina Colada and DeKuyper Blue Curacao); and a variety of other tantalizing specialty concoctions like the Irish Buck (Jameson ’s Irish Whiskey, freshly squeezed lime juice, topped off with Ginger Ale and garnished with a cherry) that are sure to refresh and soothe.
A great way to kick off a visit to Ski Shores, and a straight up classic, is the combination Fried Catfish and Shrimp Basket. Served with coleslaw, a hushpuppy and fries, these tenders pair very well with a Frozen Margarita. Perfect for lounging by the water on a sunny day. And they've been using the same recipe since 1954!
Combination Fried Catfish and Shrimp Basket
Moving through the menu, you'll find other delicious classics, especially the Fish Tacos. A freshly grilled fish fillet, these tacos are served in flour tortillas with red cabbage, tomatoes, cheese and fresh remoulade sauce. And of course no trip to Ski Shores is complete without their classic burgers. The Border Burger, a Ski Shores original, boasts a 1/3 lb fresh cut hamburger patty to perfection plus cheese, mayo, grilled onions, jalapenos and fresh guacamole while the Spicy Black Bean Burger offers a haven for the veggie eaters out there -- one of Austin's finest garden burgers served on a toasted bun with mayo, cheese and veggies. Take note that these burgers can be made with gluten-free buns if that is your thing.
The standout for us though is the Big Kahuna Burger, a short rib burger with pineapple/jalapeño chutney and goat cheese spread served on a toasted bun. The burger is cooked to perfection and the juices flow lovingly into the goat cheese making for a delicious spread throughout the entire burger.
Fish Tacos
Big Kahuna Burger
Perhaps the most thrilling thing happening this Summer with Ski Shores is their Summer Of Fun contest. By simply joining their BELLY rewards program, you are entered to win one amazing grand prize valued at $1500 -- a private party for up to 25 of your pals including free burger bar, free non-alcoholic drinks, 3 adult drinks tickets per person, up to 4 paddleboards and 2 kayaks (depending upon availability) and access to Ski Shores floating fun areas. The greatest part? There is no purchase necessary! Just download the BELLY app or obtain a BELLY card at any participating location and you are good to go. Full details here!
Whether you are looking for high quality American fare, top notch cocktails or just a good time with family and friends, Ski Shores is a terrific destination spot on Lake Austin. Chilling out on the lake for the day? Pull the boat up for a bite to eat! No boat but still want to get in the water? They also rent paddleboards directly from the restaurant -- work off that burger!
The restaurant also has great weekly specials during the off-season (after Labor Day to the first day of Summer) -- Mondays are $5 margaritas, Tuesdays $5 Texas Craft Beers, Wednesdays $14 buckets, Thursdays $5 Cruzan Rum drinks, and Fridays Family Movie Night at Dusk where kids eat s'mores for free. And don't miss their live music series on Saturdays and Sundays from 5 - 8pm!
Pay a visit to Do512 for your chance to win a $30 gift card and head on our to Ski Shores for a laid back meal in the sun.
