– Claudia Alarcón
Shoal Creek Saloon
909 N. Lamar, 474-0805
Monday-Saturday, 11am-1am; Sunday, 11am-7pm
Shoal Creek Saloon is a bit of an anomaly: From Lamar it looks for all the world like just another neighborhood bar, but when you get inside, you find a complete Cajun menu, a large selection of beers, five televisions, and a first-rate tree-shaded deck on the banks of Shoal Creek that is a cool respite on a steamy summer afternoon. It’s also the most family-oriented sports bar in town, with crowds that can range in age from sprouts to elders, and they all feel right at home.
SCS’s ambience is warm and funky with a friendly patina; you come here and slip into a comfortable groove that is long-established. It’s more like a small-town roadhouse than a bar smack in the middle of a big city. It’s also the de facto home of the New Orleans Saints faithful, and those five tubes are generally tuned to sports channels.
Bud George, the chef, brought some bona fide Cajun influence to the menu when he arrived in ’96. Our last visit started with a huge basket of succulent Fried Crawdad Tails With Spicy Hushpuppies ($7.95). Bud’s batter has substance, but doesn’t overwhelm. It’s a given that you’ll order the cheese fries ($4), a large portion of crisp fries swaddled in gooey cheddar. The authentic Cajun gumbo is chock-full of smoked duck, chicken, and spicy sausage and made with an aromatic dark roux. We’d like a few more veggies to round it out, but the gumbo here is the real deal.
The 6-Piece Fried Catfish Plate ($8.50) is a delight: moist and meaty fresh catfish in a nicely spiced batter, accompanied by some truly delectable beans (so hard to find these days) and slaw that manages to be crisp, lightly dressed, and full of flavor. The Muffaletta ($4.95 for a quarter) is a gut-busting portion, layered with corned beef, ham, salami, provolone, and Swiss with olive salad (which we thought needed a bit more salty tang). Other past visits have yielded a superlative étoufée, oysters, shrimp, po’boys, and a first-rate chicken-fried steak.
SCS is an ideal spot for watching any sports event, sipping some ice-cold beers (koozies supplied on the deck), and munching some excellent Cajun cuisine. Whether you’re young or old, you’ll feel right at home with the regulars. Shoal Creek Saloon fits perfectly.
– Mick Vann
Ringers Sports Lounge
415 Colorado, 495-1558
Daily, 11am-2am
From outside, I could already hear the sounds of the action from two speakers posted above Ringers’ outdoor sign. After entering, I actually caught myself gasping out loud at the sight of the spacious room, the huge projection screen and the many well-placed plasma TVs, the sleek yet comfortable tables and chairs, the long granite bar, and the low and atmospheric lighting. Everything here is clean and modern. The owners of Ringers didn’t leave out a single detail in creating this sports fan’s paradise. They even have TVs in the bathrooms, behind the mirrors over the sink! I was blown away, and I hadn’t even had the food. Chef Andrew Bell, formerly of Wink and Uchi, is in charge of this kitchen. His menu consists of many classic bar-food items, but prepared with little touches of distinction that separate his fare from any other sports-bar food. Everything we tried was outstanding. The six tempura-battered jumbo shrimp ($9.95) were wonderful with the soy-ginger dipping sauce, as were the tender fried Salt and Pepper Calamari ($8.95) served with a side of marinara sauce and an awesome serrano ranch dip. The wings come in three varieties: barbecue, salt-and-pepper, and traditional Buffalo ($7.95), which were savory and spicy without burning the taste buds. They came served with a cooling homemade blue cheese sauce and fresh carrots and celery sticks. We loved the Fried Pickle Spears ($4.95), which were tangy and still crisp inside a light tempura batter. The Spicy Pulled Pork Sandwich ($6.95) with onions and pickles was delicious and filling, and the seasoned and battered fries get my current vote for best in town. Not to leave the bartenders unheralded, the Ruby Red Martini Shaker ($9.95), made with premium vodka and grapefruit and cranberry juices, was very good, as was the peppery, garlicky Bloody Mary ($6), although it could be a bit spicier. The waitstaff is efficient and very nice. In my opinion, this is probably the best all-around sports bar in town.
– C.A.
The Tavern
912 W. 12th, 320-8377
Daily, 7am-2am
Built in 1916, the green chalet building at Lamar and 12th had previous lives as a grocery store and a steak house (with upstairs brothel). It opened as the Tavern in 1933 with the end of Prohibition. The city tried to close it down in ’38 when they started paving Lamar Boulevard, but the patrons raised such a ruckus that it survived. The cost of updating to meet new city codes closed it briefly in 2002, but a group led by Bob Cole took it over, did the required remodel, and reopened with greatly improved food. It’s here to stay and is the most popular home for sports fanatics in Austin.
Inside, it’s larger than it seems, with an upstairs bar and game room, and decks front and back. There are 40-plus televisions scattered throughout, so a game is never far from view. The ambience oozes with old Austin charm, with dark wood, a wall of photos of bar and restaurant employees from Austin’s past, and a graffiti-filled bar. Clients run the gamut from students to octogenarians, all coexisting peacefully.
Recently we dined on the scrumptious Mexican White Wings ($7.59), a take on hot wings, made with strips of chicken breast with serrano slices (more, please), wrapped in bacon, and tossed in hot sauce. The burgers are top notch; our Tex Mex (7.99) was made with a yeasty kolache bun, roasted jalapeños (more, please), bacon, and two cheeses. The thick, crunchy, homemade potato chips are divine (as a side, $1.99). And, speaking of sides, there are 20 from which to choose for the nonmeat eaters.
The Tavern Club Sandwich ($7.29) is one of the best we’ve had in town, amply layered with ham, turkey, bacon, and fajita chicken. The Southern Chicken Salad ($7.99) is huge and fabulous: tossed with diced pickles, pecans, cheese, greens, and tortilla whiskers. The Bread Pudding ($3.59, small) is moist and sensual, topped with ice cream and chocolate.
Any time there’s a sports event of any kind, no matter what it is, there will be supporters of both sides cheering on their respective teams good-naturedly. This is Austin’s place to be when the sports bug bites, accompanied by good food, great drinks, cold beer, and old-time comfort.
– M.V.
Texas Chili Parlor
1409 Lavaca, 472-2828
Kitchen: Monday-Saturday, 11am-12mid; Sunday, 11am-11pm
Bar: daily, 11am-2am
Even though the Texas Chili Parlor has only three TVs, it is nevertheless a staple of Austin’s sports-watching and drinking, and it makes up for its lack of TVs with atmosphere, perfect for Super Bowl- or people-watching. This venerable establishment on Lavaca serves good burgers, sandwiches, Tex-Mex dishes, and, of course, chili in many varieties to satisfy all tastes, even vegetarian. The Texas Sampler Grande ($6.95) is a good starter, with sampler-sized portions of queso, fresh guacamole, and your choice of chili. The chili choices range from mild, spicy, and xxx to black bean and Elgin sausage and five-bean vegetable chili. Any of these spicy concoctions can also be had as a Frito Pie ($5.75, small; $6.75, large) with chopped onions and pickled jalapeño slices on the side, atop a huge baked potato ($5.95), on a cheeseburger, or on enchiladas. The burgers are very good, cooked to temperature, and they come in many varieties. The Bacon Cheeseburger ($5.95) comes loaded with bacon, lettuce, tomato, and pickles, and the Gringo Burger ($5.95) with Swiss cheese and grilled onions is probably my favorite. For the carb-conscious, the Cheeseburger Salad ($4.95) features a patty with melted cheddar and a side of fresh salad with choice of dressing. Even though it is a boneless, skinless chicken breast, the Chicken Chipotle ($6.95) is pretty good among the Tex-Mex specialties. But the best deals are the nightly dinner specials. On our last visit, the 12-oz. New York Strip with a baked potato and side salad ($9.50) was excellent. The meat was flavorful, tender, and cooked to temperature, and the baked potato came loaded with toppings. The special Bloody Marys, screwdrivers, and mimosas for $2.25 are the perfect way to start a weekend of sports watching.
– C.A.
This article appears in January 28 • 2005.
