Astra: Where Community Is Always on the Menu
Walk into Astra in Buda, and you'll immediately notice that nothing feels rushed. The scent of oak-fired pizza drifts through the dining room, fresh sourdough cools nearby, and every detail reflects an intentional commitment to craftsmanship. For founder Matti Bills, that's exactly the point.
Astra isn't just another neighborhood restaurant—it's the next chapter in a journey that began over a decade ago, supporting Central Texas farmers and ranchers through locally sourced, scratch-made food.
Everything on the menu starts with quality ingredients. Naturally fermented sourdough and handmade pasta are crafted using grains from Barton Springs Mill. Meats, including pepperoni, mortadella, ham, and turkey, are prepared in-house through Bills' butcher shop, while seasonal shared plates, wood-fired pizzas, thoughtfully crafted cocktails, non-alcoholic beverages, and espresso round out an experience designed to bring people together.
Though Astra is Bills' first full-service restaurant, hospitality isn't new territory. After founding Mum Foods in 2014, he expanded from farmers markets to a butcher shop in San Marcos and a deli inside San Antonio's Pearl food hall. Each venture built toward the vision that finally found its home in Buda.
"I've always had my eye on Buda," Bills says. "It's a small family town that's close to our butcher shop and already part of our orbit through the farmers markets."
That sense of community continues to drive every decision. Bills says his motivation has always been simple: support local agriculture while making healthier, delicious food more accessible. It's a philosophy that shows up not only on the plate but in the atmosphere Astra has created.
One of the most meaningful moments came long before the first guests were seated. After years of slowly growing his business through farmers market earnings, Bills took the leap of investing in a permanent space. Working alongside his partner, Nicolas of Glass Mtn Construction, he helped design the restaurant from the ground up—a dream many years in the making.
Looking ahead, Astra isn't standing still. The restaurant recently expanded into early-morning coffee and breakfast service, hopes to launch catering, and plans to host gatherings beneath the property's beautiful oak trees. While another location may eventually be in the future, Bills is focused on making Astra everything it can be first.
In a rapidly growing community like Buda, Astra feels like exactly the kind of place every town hopes for—a restaurant rooted in local partnerships, genuine hospitality, and food made with care. It's proof that when community comes first, everything else has room to grow.
For more information, follow Astra on Instagram at @ASTRA.BTX.
