Good dive-y bar with great drink options, solid food, and friendly staff! It wasn't too crowded during the day on weekend and it was nice to hangout with some snacks and beer. They have quite fun paintings on hanging there as well. A huge fan! They have good selection of beers (and e had some with cherry, I think). The fried pickles super hot, fresh, and have great texture. read more

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Nice neighborhood dive bar with a large beer selection. The food here is what you expect in a bar food menu but still good. There is a fair amount of indoor space and an outdoor area in the back. You won't see a bunch of kids running around here if you are looking to get away from those breweries near by. read more

Workhorse Bar - Dive Bars Near Me - Austin, Texas

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This is an all star dive bar ! A true portal to old Austin . This place has great music very low key place . The drinks are amazing great bartenders . Also this place has an outdoor patio great for your furry friends read more

Workhorse Bar - Horseman burger with blue cheese Monterrey cheese and red onions with a side of parm fries - Dive Bars Near Me - Austin, Texas

Dark, woodsy, semi-dive bar ambiance, with fun and caring people who serve up some of the best burgers and bar food around. Big, clunky furniture and crowded barstools, with movies playing on wall-mounted TVs in case you need a conversation-starter. Then food and drinks come--a conversation-ender. It's that good. They're not afraid of fans of medium rare burgers and they cook 'em just right. The Parmesan fries are 2die4. And all the other diners will be at least as cool as you. Many will be cooler, but that's okay. Just strike up a conversation once you can drag your attention off the burger and you'll hear something interesting. read more

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The service and price are good. The vibes are *just* ok. The fries and wings are *just* ok. We probably won't be back. read more

Workhorse Bar - Loaded cheese fries & white wings - Dive Bars Near Me - Austin, Texas

I really dig this neighborhood bar in Austin's North Loop. They've got a really decent tap selection and offer N/A pours as well. Their burgers are incredible! Friendly staff. Awesome patrons. Welcoming vibe. Love the back patio. read more

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Dive? Yes Good food? Yes Great service for a dive bar? F***yea Over all a great neighborhood bar, burgers are amazing, look out for the burger special usually 10/10 Also cheap.... Thank you read more

It's been 8 years since I've lived in North Loop but I used to live at Workhorse. The charm is still there: the sticky tables, the lack of cups for water, the regulars at the bar before noon, the friendliness of the bar staff, the cigarette ash trays, the 50 taps...incredible how well this place has kept things consistent. I stumbled in kind of by accident on a Tuesday and walked up to the bar and ordered a buffalo Bastrop burger with garlic Parmesan fries (my old usual). The cooking staff was new and I will say my burger was not evenly cooked but it was cooked enough to not make me sick. I left super satisfied and was hit with a huge wave of nostalgia both entering and leaving. I love you, Workhorse. read more

Workhorse Bar - Buffalo Bastrop Burger - Dive Bars Near Me - Austin, Texas

Great neighborhood bar. Packed at 2pm on Sat. afternoon with locals. Food looked great. Bartender was fast, attentive, and friendly. Loved the atmosphere, ambiance, and vibe here--kind of like a dive bar but just a little too nice to fit that category. I came in to take a break from packing my house for a move and so a drink here really fit the bill. I love this neighborhood. Parking sux, bit hey, welcome to Austin--it's only a block to easy street parking. Thank you Workhorse for making my day! read more

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An Austin establishment for a reason! If you want affordable drinks with a chill vibe, AC or outdoor seating, and quality human contact? This is the place. I love everything about it and only hate that it took me so long to stop in. Tons of great local beers on tap and solid cocktails. I got a cucumber ranch water that was so wonderfully refreshing, perfect for a hot summer day. Definitely sessionable if you want to hang out for a bit. Don't try to park out front; there's plenty of free space on the side streets. read more

This used to be one of Austin's best kept secret with a burger second to only Blackstar Coop which is now defunct. With Blackstar out of the picture they are the obvious successor to best burger in Austin right? Unfortunately, no, because in the last 6 months or so someone has decided to 10x the amount of salt they use in their food. It would be comical if it weren't so detrimental to the health of their patrons. A truly ridiculous amount of salt, like not within the range of subjective experience. Just to be clear I am from the southern states and I sweat a lot in our hot AF summers and my body craves salt and I LOVE salt, but not at this level. It makes the food inedible. I feel sorry for the poor saps who have had a few pints and maybe decide to eat it anyway. Ick. read more

This is truly a dive bar,but you know what they say, "the best places are hole in the wall places". I loved it here. The vibe is a neighborhood bar where people come together after work, have a beer, maybe a burger, and hang with friends. I was on a first date here. We had burgers and fries, and I had a beer. The music was a little bit loud for conversation, but not too bad. The burger and fries were fabulous. The service was not exactly friendly, but timely. The prices were reasonable, and the atmosphere was on par for this type of venue. I would definitely go back. I highly recommend you try it out. Let me know what you think. Cheers! read more

Workhorse Bar - View from my table. - Dive Bars Near Me - Austin, Texas

I kinda don't want to write a review about this place because I want it to stay as divey as possible. A friend recommended this place to me. It is located on a strip and there is some limited parking in front of the establishment. There is some outdoor seating in the front and a lot more space on the back patio. As soon as you walk in, it screams quintessential dive bar. Compared to other places in Austin, the drinks are so cheap. They have really good beer specials. The margaritas stay so cold and are made with fresh lime. So delicious! We ordered the White Wings, Fried jalapenos, and the Bastrop Burger. The White Wings were good, but not my favorite thing of the night. The fried jalapenos were so good! The proportions were on point and the jalapenos still had a little crunch to them. We added bacon and cheese to the Bastrop Burger. The burger was cooked to perfection and was a nice size especially for the price. For sides, we ordered the parmesan fries and mac and cheese. They gave us a HUGE portion of fries. They were thin and a little crispy with just a hint of parmesan. Soooo good! And the mac and cheese was exactly what I wanted; super cheesy w/thick sauce. The mac still held its form (no one likes overcooked mac) which is a huge plus. The food, price, and atmosphere has made this our go-to place! read more

Workhorse Bar - Fried jalapenos, White wings, and mac and cheese (so cheesy!). - Dive Bars Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Seems a little sketchy and insular. Doesn't have an open vibe and servers seem obsessed with a provincial disposition, a discouragement for new patrons and novices trying to check it out. Over an 8 year time frame, we've dropped in half a dozen times and felt the same every time we depart. read more

Food was good, atmosphere was great. I got the veggie burger and the a beer. The veggie burger seemed to be made in house which was cool. They've got a good selection of beers and it tasted like they keep their lines clean which is rad. read more

I keep forgetting to finish this review; Workhorse deserves a shout out. I looooved this place! Every once in a while, me and my guy will go on a random dive bar tour and on this day, Workhorse ended up on the itinerary. The bartender, Ian, was the best! We ordered an app, that I probably wouldn't order again just because it felt overdone, but that didn't take away at all from the friendly vibes we were getting from Ian. He was just one of those people that has a good aura, someone that can be (and probably is) friends with just about everyone. We'll definitely be back here! read more

Workhorse Bar - Dive Bars Near Me - Austin, Texas

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This place is the epitome of a dive bar but with great bar food! The fried pickles were my favorite! There's both indoor and outdoor seating options and the bathroom was clean, so always a plus! There's a good selection of draft beers and some creative cocktails to choose from. The service was friendly and fast, so we'll be back! There are a few parking spaces in front of the building, but plan to park elsewhere and walk to the bar. Overall a nice place to grab some drinks and a bite with friends! read more

I'm always a fan of a decent burger and Workhorse delivers. I don't do fast food or even upscale burger chains because I like comparing apples to apples. Or burgers to burgers. I'd eat this one again. I had a Bastrop Burger with cheddar and a side of parmesan fries and a Lazy Pony to drink. No leftovers. Not even a crumb or an ice cube. Served fast, cooked right, at a decent price. Good dive bar ambiance during the 2.5 hours I visited. BTW- Lazy Pony is an excellent drink. read more

Came here with the coworkers on a Friday right after work. This is a great spot with an outdoor seating area in BOTH the front and the back (which I didn't know at first). Their drinks are pre-California exodus cheap, so grab a beer or two or three. They also have grub. There's plenty of burgers to choose from, a coworker said their portobello burger is bomb. I got the burger special, which was arugula and blue cheese. My burger was slightly overcooked and a coworker's was well-done, so you'll have to be mindful of that; if you like yours med-rare or medium, I would call it out. I thought they were pretty generous with the blue cheese, but the burger itself could have been slightly larger; they're thick but relatively tiny. Buns are toasted. I think next time I'd go with one of the classic burgers since I felt the burger special was really heavy, the arugula doesn't bring enough balance for the funkiness of the blue cheese. The parmesian fries were alright, a tad too salty for me. The guys behind the bar were nice, a bee got stuck in my bottle and they kindly replaced it. PARKING: there's a few spots out front, but there's plenty of parking around the corner in the residential area. Come for the drinks, stay for vibes. read more

Workhorse Bar - Dive Bars Near Me - Austin, Texas

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I'm overdue on this review...because frankly, I've been selfish. Workhorse is one of my go-to neighborhood dive bar spots in Austin and I didn't want to share. BUT...sharing is caring, right? And given the burger and fries that was just laid before me, I HAVE to (finally) officially sing their praises. Workhorse could put "home of the bestest freshest no frills margarita" on their website and I would literally fight anyone who says otherwise. Seriously. I could end this review there. But--try the white wings--bacon-wrapped, buffalo-sauced morsels of boneless chicken goodness. Or have the burger with the parm fries. But mainly just come in for Austin realness and get it. I think that's becoming more and more rare these days. The bartenders won't coddle you but they will take excellent care of you. Be patient with the jukebox. Sometimes it cooperates and sometimes not, but just use the QR code to choose some songs if the machine is feeling grumpy. See you there. read more

Workhorse Bar - Burger with jalepeno jack and bacon, well done with Parmesan fries. - Dive Bars Near Me - Austin, Texas

Second time coming here. The food is just as good as the first time I came here 3 years ago. I got the Bastrop Burger, with bleu cheese, bacon and put a dash of hot sauce when it came to my table. I also got a side of Sweet Potato Fries. For my drink, I got a Paloma. It was good, kinda sweet if you like sweet drinks. The part that really stood out was the bartenders personality and forethought. He was pretty cool! Oh! I almost forgot! The fried pickles were the best I've had anywhere and I've had a lot of fried pickles!!! read more

Workhorse Bar - Bastrop Burger - Dive Bars Near Me - Austin, Texas

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My son and I stopped by for a quick drink while we were waiting on Mrs. Texas to finish her hair appointment. It's a small place but evidently a popular place. Parking was a nightmare. Our bartender was very professional. read more

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Anytime I am in north austin I always enjoy stopping by this gem of a dive bar. They have a good size menu of low cost $6-7 inhouse cocktail specialties and they do not do a happy hour since the prices are already low. Every day they have a $3 select beer menu as well that includes local craft beers. I ordered a stone ipa and a black bean burger + sweet potato fries and total tab before tip was like $13. Can't beat that! The staff is super friendly and the crowd is a mix of older & younger crowds so you don't have to worry about standing out and feeling awkward. read more

Workhorse Bar - Dive Bars Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Great drink prices, food is fresh and amazing. Love the back patio area for a smoke or two.

A no frills neighborhood bar to grab a bite and a drink. Order at the bar. They have a chalkboard of signature drinks and beers on tap. I'm a fan of Paula's Pimm a variation of the summery British cocktail Pimm's Cup. They also have a number of taps too to quench your thirst. They have different types of bar snacks and sandwiches. There burgers are grilled so they tend to be well done. There's also a chicken sandwich as well. Portobello is an option if you are going meatless. They do give you a bunch of vege to put on your burger to balance the sandwich. The white wings are also a good option. Also they make a great Mac and cheese and the sweet potato fries are also great. There's plenty of seating inside or out in the back patio. If your in the neighborhood during lunch this place is a very chill place to go to if you want to escape the lunch rat race. read more

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Burger two nights ago was so yummy!!! Fries too. Yum yum yum. I always wanna get a chicken sandwich but the burger here is just too good. Anyway Whataburger's* grilled chicken sandwich is pretty good, and since the burgers suck there, maybe I'll stick to chicken sandwiches at Whataburger, and regular burgers at Workhorse. *It's generally bad form to mention competing businesses in a review; do as I say, not as I do. read more

I live close by so I walk here often for drinks. It is the cheapest place around! The food is absolutely incredible as well. I love the grilled chicken sandwich. The fries are some of the best fries I've ever had. read more

Workhorse Bar - Grilled Chicken Sandwich - Dive Bars Near Me - Austin, Texas

We dropped by for some food and cocktails and also got to enjoy the beautiful weather outside with some fellow Austinites, all of which contributed to our having a great afternoon. read more

I can't comment on the bar itself since I didn't get the chance to drink there, but it's decent burger at a great price. The burger itself was overcooked and dry; I don't know if this is normal, if the kitchen was having a bad series, or if the customer can request medium-rare. Something to consider for next time. And there should be a next time too, because this is still a great deal: burger + side for under $10. Sure, it'd be nice if cheese wasn't an upcharge, but that's really a minor quibble. Inside, the décor is funky and vibey, much like the other restaurants and shops in this North Loop neighborhood. What stands out most inside is the massive album art print from Stone Temple Pilots's Purple. Thanks to this, I haven't been able to get "Interstate Love Song" out of my head for the past four days. read more

Workhorse Bar - Album art from Stone Temple Pilots's Purple - Dive Bars Near Me - Austin, Texas

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The service was good even though they wanted you to download the Union app - they brought everything out promptly with no confusion. I've had way worse experiences with the Union app. My cucumber ranch water was super refreshing and our table ordered a ton of food, all of which was delicious. I especially enjoyed the fried pickles. My veggie burger was a little too crumbly but that's a million times preferable to a dry, overly dense patty. I really like the outdoor seating in the back. It's intimate in a relaxed way that is perfect for meeting a group of friends. read more

Workhorse Bar - Buffalo veggie burger with sweet potato fries - Dive Bars Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Great small Austin bar that is well known to locals. Drinks are great and food is better, awesome serving portions for bar food. We were stuffed! read more

Workhorse Bar - White Wings Parmesan Potato Fries - Dive Bars Near Me - Austin, Texas

The burgers are really good. Great service from the bartenders. The drinks are strong. The only negative is trying to find parking.

Ambiance: 4/5 A locals gem! This place is super casual and just overall a good time. There is seating outside i the front of the building as well as the back with fans. Not a ton of shade out front, but the back area is semi covered by trees. The inside also has a good amount of seating. Drinks: 4/5 I had the work pony or something like this and I was actually really surprised by how much I enjoyed it! Very refreshing in this hot weather. I also tried the drink with cucumber and lemon, was not as much of a fan of this. The best thing about this bar is the prices: actually reasonable good drinks- so hard to find these days. Each cocktail is 6/7$, an amazing deal! Overall: I think this place rocks. If I lived closer I would frequent at least once a week. GREAT SPOT! read more

Nice and friendly staff. Willing to make a drink off the menu. Good local crowd. Parking is a little hard but i can walk. Lol read more

Workhorse Bar - Surprise drink! - Dive Bars Near Me - Austin, Texas

This place is a fucking gem. Prices are cheapest in town, burger is cock solid and affordable, all the other food items are very good as well. The creamed corn is excellent. They don't have as much care put into the max and cheese that they once did (it used to be Al dente and they would bake it to get a nice crusty layer of cheese on top, now it's mushy and more like a soup), but that's the worst I can say about this place. All the bartenders and staff are friendly and competent, the music is almost always good, and there's a motley cast of neighborhood weirdos that are some of the friendliest fucking people you could ever meet. It's everything you could ever ask for in a neighborhood dive bar. read more

Food: 5/5 A bar that actually doubles as an excellent restaurant as well? Impossible? No, because Workhorse nails it. Fantastic fries and drinks. Can't wait to come back here for dinner sometime! Service: 5/5 Outstanding service despite being quite busy! Environment: 5/5 I wish we stayed longer to take in the feeling that Workhorse provides! The fantastic setup is clean, and makes you excited to drink some beers and enjoy time with friends! read more

Visiting Austin on a whim, decided to make this our first stop for a drink. The hubby and I had a couple of beers, the white wings and Mac and cheese. YUUUMMYYY! The beers are so reasonable in price. Great service and great vibe. People were consistently coming in and out for take out orders, so pretty popular place. Will visit every time we can! By the way, meant to take pics but clearly didn't. Check it out for yourself read more

North Loop secret: the burger is only $10 - don't sleep on that while we're economically getting kicked in the teeth. The only downside is they close at 12. Otherwise, there's absolutely nothing to complain about with Workhorse. read more

Great beer selection, fun atmosphere. Get off the beaten track and give it a visit. I picked it at random not disappointed. read more

Workhorse Bar - Beer drinkers - Dive Bars Near Me - Austin, Texas

Plenty of people but the AC seemed to be down or none functioning, not so great for the 98 degree weather lately.