Freddie's Place is closing (Austin, Howe: condos, home, theater)

[CarnivalGal]

Closing at the end of the month. I know a lot of people love this place, but I never got the appeal. They try to make it kid-friendly by putting in a playscape...right next to a bunch of folks chain smoking. It also seems like every time we've gone, the service has been really bad.

South Austin fave Freddie's Place to close, new restaurant moving in - CultureMap Austin

[10scoachrick]

Interesting...ate there for the first time last week. Burger was good...flies were obnoxious. Service was fine, took our new pup and the waitress made sure we knew about the water dishes and fresh water. Couldn't pick up any sort of iconic vibe at lunch; but it was worth the trip, I reckon.

[ImOnFiya]

Wow, Freddie's always seemed packed. However, I always thought the food was bland. Wouldn't be surprised if the landlord sold for some potential high-end restaurant pad or condos...

[centralaustinite]

Fresca's is coming to that spot! Freddie's had a fine vibe and we could walk to it but the food was never anything much. Hopefully the new owners will keep the vibe and dog-friendliness but with improved food. Austin Eater has a piece on the change.

[ImOnFiya]

Originally Posted by centralaustinite

Fresca's is coming to that spot! Freddie's had a fine vibe and we could walk to it but the food was never anything much. Hopefully the new owners will keep the vibe and dog-friendliness but with improved food. Austin Eater has a piece on the change.

Thanks, centralaustinite!

[cBach]

Wow, another great Austin institution bites the dust.

For newbies here, Freddie's was what the "old Austin" was like, burgers (either beef or veggie burgers) on the patio, kids playing on the playscape, and dog-friendly to boot. There were even performances in the theater.

I used to like going there and playing horseshoes or even borrowing their chess set and playing a round.

I recommend that anyone that hasn't ever been should go before they close on June 28. Just so you understand what old Austin was like. There were tons of places like this in the "old days" and I can now count on my hand the remaining places.

I liked some of the unique burger combinations they had as well. I better plan to get over there before it's gone.

[Don in Austin]

Well Freddie's is directly across the street from my shop, but I have only gone there occasionally. Nice enough folks, OK service and totally mundane mediocre food.
It has hardly been there long enough to be an "institution" as I saw it referred to somewhere.
I thick the high end chicken place might be a lot better.

Don

[cBach]

Originally Posted by Don in Austin

Well Freddie's is directly across the street from my shop, but I have only gone there occasionally. Nice enough folks, OK service and totally mundane mediocre food.
It has hardly been there long enough to be an "institution" as I saw it referred to somewhere.
I thick the high end chicken place might be a lot better.

Don

I don't get all the new chicken places cropping up. Dark meat has more flavor than breast meat but most of them serve same ole same ole grilled chicken breast meat. Or the others serve crispy fried chicken but there are tons of places like that. If I want fried chicken then I get Popeye's, because I can get it nice and spicy as well as with something besides fries. What I wouldn't do for a rice and gravy place with chicken giblets, now that is some good stuff. I'll have to make a trip back to Louisiana I guess.

Now burgers, you can never have enough of them places IMHO. I do like that many of the burger joints now offer sweet potato fries as an option, they are more healthy and better tasting if done right, nice and crispy (awful if soggy though)

[CptnRn]

Originally Posted by cBach

Wow, another great Austin institution bites the dust.

LMAO, I have been here since 1977 and never heard of Freddies. From what everyone else says about the poor quality of the food I'm not surprised.

Another great Austin institution???? LMAO.... not hardly...

[cBach]

Originally Posted by CptnRn

LMAO, I have been here since 1977 and never heard of Freddies. From what everyone else says about the poor quality of the food I'm not surprised.

Another great Austin institution???? LMAO.... not hardly...

The food was nothing to write home about, but it was a great spot to meet up with other parents with kids. You could be drinking beer and your kids would be playing, all in a safe atmosphere. Also, the games like horseshoes, checker, chess, and even backgammon were fun.

To me it symbolized what was good about Austin: family friendly, plenty of alcohol available, fun activities and games for adults and kids, outdoorsy restaurant (set back from the street not on the street, streetside cafes are a European and Northeastern US institution, in TX we like more of a backyard setting).

There were a couple of burgers that were decent, like the BBQ burger. The fries were never that good, the beer was great (hey if they got Shiner I'm all in).

Oh well, as each icon is being destroyed, like Fran's and Freddie's, everybody here is passe' about it. All of these places are being replaced by hipster joints. It's only a matter of time before Austin has lost its unique character.