Historic Downtown Beer Garden Revamps With Former Frank Owner

Scholz Beer Garten, the oldest restaurant and bar in Texas, is getting a revamp from Daniel Northcutt, the former owner of shuttered Frank. Northcutt is helming the operations team at Scholz, which means a new menu and changes to the space.

The new menu highlights the Texas-German focus, with dishes like a giant pretzel with beer cheese, sauerkraut, and wursts. There’s also a new catering program run by Rene Stokes, former bar manager of the Mohawk, which focuses more on German-influenced barbecue. The restaurant now has a full bar, which means the addition of cocktails like a Red-Headed Stranger, a take on a Bloody Mary made with bacon-infused Tito’s.

Scholz opened in 1866 and has undergone many changes throughout the years. Hot dog restaurant Frank, owned by Northcutt, took over operations in 2017 before closing due to unpaid taxes last year. Before that, barbecue restaurant Green Mesquite took over the food menu in 2015 after a call for new food vendors.

Scholz Garten is located at 1607 San Jacinto Boulevard and is open Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday 12 to 8 p.m.