Skip to main content

Sandy's Hamburgers ~ Austin, Texas


First visit: May 2023

The next day promised to be more relaxed and it was. Even though the crowds were larger, they were more casual buyers. So it was less intense and I had more freedom while JL worked the tables. We had a light breakfast. By the way, we stayed at the Springhill Suites in south Austin. Not a really great hotel. One of those that uses the excuse they can't find any workers so they can't clean the room each day. Yea, right. Yet, they have no problem charging extra. That they somehow manage to do. They do the "needful" though. Clean sheets, semi-hot shower, the air conditioning works. I slept no problem. The breakfast buffet blows however. It's really bad. I was lucky to get a bagel from them. Anyway...

It's lunch time, and because I have a bit more freedom, I had time to walk across the street. We had a few options, but JL was set on Sandy's. I've never been, but it looks like the ultimate RJG kind of place! They've been serving burgers since 1946, long before the hipsters remade the neighborhood. It's a throwback to a simpler time.

I like that they have a walkup. Ordered a couple of double cheeseburgers and fries and walked it back for us to chow down. Ah - the simple pleasure of eating a well made cheeseburger. If looking for chain comparisons, I'd go with Whataburger. Similar size and style. Except Whataburger probably cleans their grill. You don't get that "1946 old grill" flavor just anywhere! JL loved it and said it was his favorite burger of the trip. If you're in the area - go here.

5/10/23 (new entry)

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Five Guys Burgers and Fries ~ national chain : Colorado Springs, Colorado

Latest visit: Oct 2023 (Colorado Springs - Interquest) First visit: Jan 2007 (Reston, VA) Locations: 49 states + DC. Only Alaska is missing. There are 30 in Colorado (4 in the Springs). That's +3 from last year. Texas has 68 (our former locale of Southlake is closed, so Hurst would have been the closest). There are 123 in California which is their largest state presence. The original Reston location that I first went to is still going.  In what appears to be a recurring theme, I state each year this will be my last visit to Five Guys. Only to return anyway. This year's excuse is I wanted to try their new location, which very recently opened up close to our house. This is definitely the closest we've ever lived to a Five Guys - even the Reston location was further from my office at the time. And I thought maybe it would make a good choice for a weekday lunch while working from home, thus putting Five Guys back into the rotation. I put that idea to the test here this Saturda...
2 comments
Read more

Denver's Old School Italian Restaurants

I know, I know... I haven't posted anything in 6 months. You were checking back every week, then every month and now I've fallen completely off your radar. Sorry about that. My only lame excuse is that I've been "saving up" for a good one. I've been wanting to write about Denver's Italian restaurants since we returned part-time last year. And you all know how the RJG feels about this style of restaurant . As someone who grew up in Dallas, perhaps I've been more drawn to cities that embrace their history rather than completely demolish it. Only recently has Dallas become more acutely aware of their past. Previously, any buildings not in use have been razed as fast as possible, to make way for the next brand new shopping center - all in the latest architecture naturally. Contrarily you have cities like St. Louis that are 19th and 20th century industrial ghost towns - places frozen in time because for most everyone who could, they just up and left to ...
8 comments
Read more

Pietro's Italian ~ Dallas, Texas ***CLOSED***

Last visit: Feb 2016 First visit: Sometime in 1984 When Mr. Music told me this earlier in the year, my heart sunk. It was reason enough to stop talking and writing about restaurants. All I can say is this: We did give you advance notice. The below was published on  March 28, 2010 , so Pietro gave you a good 7 years to check it out. If you missed it, then I'm sorry to say there is no replacement. No other place like it. A part of me went with it too... January 2014 update: Pietro's is as magnificent as ever. Mrs RJG and I just had another exquisite meal here. It remains my all-time favorite restaurant even after 30 years of going here. I beg and urge you all to try it at least once if you have a hankering for Old School Italian food. I'm sure it will not be here forever. Pietro must be close to 80 now, and it's hard to imagine the restaurant without him. We try to go 3 to 4 times a year, almost always on a Saturday or Sunday because of the traffic to get to inner Dalla...
12 comments
Read more