For over 60 years, Ski Shores Cafe has been a landmark lakefront destination known for its laid-back vibe, family-friendly fun, griddled burgers and fried catfish. Ski Shores Cafe on Lake Austin was founded in 1954 by the Fowler Family as a hamburger joint and watering hole on the “beach” with 25 cent beers for water skiers who ventured far up the lake.
Marion Fowler opened the original Ski Shores Waterfront Cafe in 1954 at the Green Shores area around Lake Austin. 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.
The Early Years
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". The no-frills restaurant - beloved among both locals and visitors to the nearby lake cabins - served up classics like hot dogs, hamburgers, and cold beer until the winter of 2009.
Revival and Modernization
Rick Engel, founder and CEO of business management consulting group Restaurant Freedom, was a longtime fan of the restaurant, so he put his industry expertise to use and reopened the neighborhood joint in the spring of 2010. Under MML Hospitality, the revamped destination cafe celebrates the history, spirit, and charm of the legendary lakeside spot while introducing property-wide design updates and a new, refreshed menu. The service is casual, the food is classic and the drinks are always cold.
Adam Campbell started in the MML family as a busser and has worked his way all the way up to Ski Shores General manager. "We are proud of all the menu changes," said Campbell, " We have the chili, we have enchiladas. We have the Mexican chicken tortilla soup. So if you're here in the summer, too, it's a completely different vibe. We've changed so much, but we've still kept some of that old Austin to it. So it's lovely to see families and friends that come all the time that have for years. No matter what generation comes, they'll still see parts of Ski Shores from when they were kids, and then now they have their kids here."
The Menu: Classic with a Twist
The revamped Ski Shores menu is American diner food with a Lake Austin twist. 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. From quintessential country meals like fried catfish or chicken tender baskets with hush puppies, coleslaw, and fries to more modern takes on favorites like breakfast tacos, Greek salad, shrimp tacos, and Mexican martinis, they’ve got something for everyone.
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!
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. 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.
Cooking with Ski Shores Cafe
Summer Fun and Specials
And no Summer menu is complete without a plethora of cocktails and frozen drinks. Is there a better way to double down on all that lakeside fun than with tequila shots? Of course not. Soak up the boozy signature cocktails with a juicy burger - always a solid bet with big 1/3 -lb. patties and hearty topping options like mushroom and Swiss, guacamole, or bleu cheese.
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!
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.
A Destination for All
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?