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Rob's Review
Sandy’s:
Doing it right for nearly 60 years
Hello
there, restaurant fans. Your roving gourmet Rob Balon here. Traffic has
approached a big city feel in Austin these days. And traffic means less time
to do the things you like! And often, that means fast food. So here's a spot
that'll get you on your way lickety split, with an emphasis on the lickety.
My topic this week: Sandy's, at 603 Barton Springs Road.
Sandy's
is a drive-in, in the literal sense of the word. It's got a few picnic
tables out back, but it essentially caters to those in the car. And they
must be doing something right, because Sandy's has been around for almost 60
years. The menu is limited. Burgers, grilled chicken, hot dogs, fries …
you know the drill. But Sandy's is like a fine, old Bordeaux. It has aged
well. They don't do much, but what they do is absolutely first rate.
I
love their cheeseburgers. Order yours "all the way". That means
lettuce, tomato, cheese, onions, pickles, and a medium grilled burger along
with the fixings. This is a damn good burger. And at $1.89, the price is
right. Don't ignore the hot dog either. I like mine with mustard and onions.
The rolls are always fresh, and as you hot dog aficionados know, the roll
makes all the difference.
I
also like the grilled chicken sandwich. Great flavor here. And while some
preferred the fried filet of chicken, the grilled version not only tastes
better, But I can preserve that illusion that it is somehow healthier. And,
I can then, of course, chase it with a mountain of Sandy's fries which are
light, and very tasty. But the real thing that keeps bringing me back to
Sandy's aside from the burgers and dogs and chicken and fries, is the
amazing vanilla custard. This is the real deal, the way custard tasted back
East, where they know how to do it. Not Dairy Queen off-the-shelf stuff,
yuck, but thick, creamy, flavorful custard. In the shakes, the floats, or
dipped in chocolate sauce on a cone, it's a major award winner. It's easily
the best in town, and maybe in Texas.
So
the next time you're pressed for time, or when that certain, absolutely
impossible-to-resist craving gets to you, head to Sandy's near the corner of
Barton Springs and South First Street, across from Palmer Auditorium. It
ain’t much to look at from the outside, and there's no
"ambience." But it'll do your heart good to sink your teeth into
their incredible grub.
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