We were staying in the area and looking for a place to grab a few cold ones and some apps. Thanks to yelp we found this place and decided to check it out. Very laid back atmosphere, had everything we wanted. The drinks were reasonably priced and the bartenders were fast and friendly. We did not check out the patio since it was 102 degrees outside, we opted to sit indoors and had a great time.
Review Source:This place is just plain weird.
Too dark. Too grungy. No vibe or personality whatsoever. You can't hear yourself think. The service is slow as balls, and you have to order everything at the bar which means the staff walks around like chickens with their heads cut off trying to find your number in the darkness at a range of tables from back to front to outdoors, and sometimes they loop around and start the obstacle course all over again.
So why the three stars? The wings man. Thank the lord God in Heaven above for the wings. And I'm not even religious. I've been living in this po-dunk capital city of ours for almost three years and although I love Austin (I do I do I really really do) I had never, never been able to find good wings. Until I came here. Tuesdays are gold. 50 cent wing nights, and a special flavor every week. The spicy ranch are the best ones, get those trust me. So go with a buddy. Order. Make sure they know where you're gonna be. Grab a pitcher o' beer, head outside, sit on the wooden benches, shoot the shit, drink some cheap shitty beer and let those chicken wings fly your soul to the stars.
That is all. Goodnight Yelp. Goodnight Austin. Goodnight moon.
This is a great spot down South! We went for a friends birthday and had a great time. they have everything you woudl want in a bar: An outside area with plenty of tables and room for large parties, they have a great dive bar feel on the inside and a seperate back room (no casting couch) with darts and pool tables. They serve Anchor Steam beer and everyone provides great service.
Review Source:This might be the best bar ever.
We went here when we were visiting Austin, since we were staying nearby, and it had good reviews. Can't believe how totally unpretentious and laid back it was! No "scene" or anything - no one could feel out of place. When traveling, I've noticed most bartenders won't even look at you, let alone serve you in the first five minutes. Bender always had at least 2-3 bartenders at work, so you can get your drinks pretty immediately. And the prices are INSANELY cheap!
The back patio is pretty heavenly (that's where we sat every time we went) and the music was always 100% awesome. I didn't eat the food or experience that part of the place, but I could not find anything I didn't LOVE LOVE LOVE about this place. If there are some sort of "perfect bar" awards in existence, Bender needs to win all of them.
If we go back to Austin, I will be there with bells on!
We stopped in here for a drink after reading all of the great reviews. Bender is really close to where we live, so we were thinking maybe this would be our new favorite bar!
I want to go back really soon with a group of friends and sit out back on the patio. There are lots of picnic tables and good music was playing over the speakers... set the stage for what could be a perfect afternoon. The drinks weren't expensive, we got two shots of Patron and two Coronas. The bartender who poured our drinks was really nice despite being super busy on a Friday night.
The potential for fun times here is great! Look for Bender's head on top of the fridge.
Cheap drinks, decent food, nice patio, dark interior, no particular "scene," my kind of place.
The staff is amazing. When I walked in here for the third time EVER, the great Jonathan had my usual whiskey and Lone Star set up before I could say a word. All the other bartenders have been professional, friendly, and accommodating.
The word that comes to mind is versatile...I've sat on the end of the bar, alone in self loathing, spent hours on the patio with a friend, and watched the game with a big group. It's all good.
The bar and patio areas are great but I would suggest updating the game room in the south side of the building, all the games and tables are dated and too dirty at this point.
It's certainly worth a try if you're in the neighborhood.
They do two things here really well: burgers and beer. Â My bleu cheese burger was top notch: good quality meat, a tasty bun, pickle slices, tomato slices and tons of bleu cheese. Â The onion rings and the tater tots are just the right amount of crispy and have good flavor. Â There are several local beers on tap to choose from, everything from crowd pleasers like Fireman's 4 to the more "exotic" brews such as saisons, belgian triples and double IPAs.
There are tables to sit at but no servers. Â You have to place your food order at the crowded bar which can be a challenge. Â It's best to keep a tab open because cash transactions seem to take awhile. Â The juke box keeps the place rockin'.
On the "dive bar" scale, I'm giving it 4 stars.
This place has always been a personal favorite of mine. Â It is never to packed, but busy enough to be fun. Â They really take care of their regulars from the looks of it which is nice to see.
The bar food has always been really good; nothing fancy just properly executed food. Â
I hope people check this place out, because it never seems to disappoint.
Going against the trend here, review for the bar at night.
I have been to Bender on a number of occasions with several different groups of people. The place is over crowded and the bar is to small.
On top of that, yes they have pool, however, only 1 table???? The pool table is placed in a room to the left when you enter, it has some arcade games but honestly they should just knock down the retaining wall and open the place up.
The place gets stacked at night and not to mention the back yard patio where nobody ever leaves, half the people that are there aint even drinking.
Good luck with parking, you might be int he parking lot for about 15 minutes then give up and park down the street.
Beer prices are not bad, if you like drinking out of cans...
They have a small dance floor, good i guess?
I have been to better places like lets say....The brew exchange, Mollys Pub, Rack Daddys, The warehouse with along list of others!
Benders is like that place you see all the D-bags walking around with their expensive designer shirts and girls who are  desperately trying to be seen with their friends showing off.
Cheers.
FAVORITE south austin joint. always have good service and strong cocktails. the jukebox rules too. If  you havent been there to eat some good bar grub or play darts you need to make this your next trip south austinites! you wouldnt be able to tell by the outside physique (its real dark and in a random strip off the service road) but its aweewsssooommmeee!
Review Source:I told you I'd be back Bender. I knew it must have been a fluke, you were totally having an off night.
We did our pre-Pub Crawling here and, in good ole pub crawlin' fashion, started with some really healthy noms. Let me tell you about the fat-free Jalapeño Poppers. They make them with CREAM CHEESE. Finally, someone does a popper right. Do you know how long I have searched for poppers with cream cheese? Months, years, YEARS folks. Years and years. Finally, someone does the Popper justice. The only thing it's missing is a side of raspberry dipping sauce. You have to trust me on this one. The gluten free and vegan mozzarella sticks are pretty much my next favorite thing. I like how they give you three, so you can experience that awkward moment of one left in your basket and you're looking around the table wondering if anyone else noticed that there was only one left. And then you see your new friend, (the bees knees) has ALSO noticed there is one left. And you have a little "no, you go ahead!", "no, YOU have it, I've eaten enough rabbit food for the night!" "no! I insist!" "Oh hell, we'll split it" discussion. And you both pick up the stick and and tear it apart politely. You can even exchange friendship bracelets when you're done licking your greasy fingers.
I still can only give Bender four stars, though. Why? Because it's so incredibly dark in there. I have reasonably decent eyesight for a 21 year old, and I can't see shit in here. The menu needs to come with a reading light, or the tables need lanterns or candelabras or something.
I still love this place, even after all this money spent here. The drinks are so cheap and so strong, it almost seems unfair to the owners (but pleaseeeeee don't change that). The food is great - I guess I have some kind of hillbilly gene in me but I really love fried pickles and these guys do it just right. The wings are great as far as bar food goes. They're really flavorful but they're little baby wings and wouldn't fill anyone up. The game room is great, and I'm actually really good at darts, so since I live pretty  close to this place, if you see me here, please do challenge me to a game of cricket.
Review Source:I've been living in south austin for almost five years now and Bender as remained "my favorite bar." The atmosphere is laid back, non-threatening, good music and people aren't too good to say hi to one another. Great mixture of all kinds of people. Not to mention any beer you order...ANY BEER, is $3.50.
I need to give a shout out to Aaron. He's been there since I first started going and is always a friendly face to see. I always feel so welcome. All the bartenders are attentive, respectful and friendly.
THE FOOD IS AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I love their burgers and wings. And lets not leave out the cheese fries. Haha
Anyway, if your south, get your butt in there and have a great night.
Since I've moved to the south side of Austin, I've been looking for a decent dive bar where I can go, get a decently price beer and grub. Bender satisfies that desire and more. Â Tasty food - definitely try one of the burgers - they use a thick bun that easily stands up where lesser buns disintegrate in your hand. When the weather is nice, the patio area is definitely the place to hang. Â The only thing you have to mind is that the entrance is off the access of Ben White - miss it, and you get to loop around and try again.
Review Source:On the heels of Mugshots as my favorite bar. I come to Bender in the afternoon early evening if I get off work Downtown before the Sun starts it's final decent. It's right on the bus route I take to go home. Staff  is Awesome! Food great! Beer...$2 Lone Star pint and $3.50 a pint for some of the best local beers around. High ABV beers $5 most of the time. Â
This is a bar for everyone! Â Stay from open to close and you'll experience a variety of people Austin has in one place. If main room gets to be too much, there is the patio or the game room. I am happy they have Darts! Ask bartender for house set of dart if you don't have your own.
A great time to be had at Bender w/o the Downtown hassle.
This place is huge with a ton of potential. Â But I bet if nothing changes it will be gone within 12 months. Â We live close and are looking for a local, nothing fancy bar joint. Â You know, play pool or watch the 'horns. Â Sit outside or play Galaga, good beer on tap... etc... y'know what I mean.
The bartender was working his butt off but even on an early Saturday night (6pm?) that wasn't enough. Â Maybe someone called in sick but we waited a long time for service. Â Not his fault. Â Management?
The biggest bummer? Â Cleanliness outside. Â AKA: smoker's area. Â They turn the ashtrays upside down so you find ash on every table, or stickiness... or ants. Â Clearly these tables weren't clean (or cleaned well since Fri night). Â
Finally, avoid the stuffed jalapenos.  Jalapenos are so far gone freezer-burned  that the only thing that salvaged them was the deep fry batter.  Yeah, I was hungry and desperate.
Bender is like the Platonic ideal of a neighborhood bar, and if I lived just a few blocks closer there's a good chance I'd never leave. There's basically nothing to dislike about it: cheap drinks, a good beer selection, friendly bartenders, decent food, tons of games from darts to shuffleboard to skee-ball (!!), a nice patio, non-asshole crowd on pretty much any night, plenty of parking, and a fairly well-stocked jukebox. Go here a few times, and it's hard not to see all other bars as merely dim reflections of the pure Ideal Bar Form that is Bender. I don't remember a bartender caste in The Republic, but Plato would definitely enjoy drinking here.
Review Source:A girlfriend was having a going away party here and I stopped by on my way to another commitment.
Other than the 25 cent wings, I can't think of a reason to go back. I have noting negative to say, just can't think of anything great to point out. If you live around here, probably the perfect spot to grab a drink with your buds, but I wouldn't go out of my way to return.
I have lived within a few blocks of this place for about a year now, and I only went to it a few weeks ago for Catherine T.'s ROTDC.
Now this place is a little nondescript bar in a strip mall. There is no indication that this place is bar other than the sign that says its Bender's.
Great happy hour. Great food selection. I had the dollar Lone Star's and was happy. Along with that I fulfilled my hummus addiction, with their house made hummus. It was surprisingly unlike regular bar food. It was real food! I was happy.
I will come here again, because I live so close by.
I like this bar but I was disappointed that they turned out to NOT be dog friendly when it says they are on here...
They always have several local beers on tap and the bartenders are pretty knowledgable about them. Â The jukebox is pretty great AND the bar food is pretty tasty (any place that has fried pickles is a winner in my book). Â It's never too crowded (unless you smoke, and in that case there's never a free table outside), so it's a great place for me to go meet up with friends for a beer in a low-key atmosphere. Â Â If only they'd start to let dogs in the back patio...
Bender doesn't care about manners. That's probably why it's so dark in there. In addition to a bar, requisite giant flat screen TV, and pool tables, Bender also has 25 cent wing night on Tuesdays. 25 cent wings, you say? I'm totally there. There is a minimum order of 10 wings, but I'm sure you'll hardly be satisfied with 10. The wings are pretty small; if you didn't know better, you would think they were serving quail. Or organic, pastured, free range chicken.
The medium buffalo wings were pretty spicy, and I'm glad the bartender saved me from myself. I ordered blazing hot wings but I think he changed the order to medium. Or they taste the same. I'm not sure. You seat yourself and order at the bar, they bring the food to your table. You dig in with your hands and eat like a starving animal, and no one cares. Also no one can really see you because it's so dark. After demolishing 30 wings with my bff KK (not to be confused with my bf, K), we left feeling like champions.
There once was a smart man named Marcos.
With bars, no one else can come close.
So delicious the food,
And cheap prices, to boot.
You'll soon need a serious dose.
There once was a bar named Bender.
It ain't no half-assed pretender.
Take your girl here,
And buy her some beers.
You'll be cool, but not a big spender.
There once was a Yelper named Catherine
Who limericked time and again.
But, the flood tide
Of limericks subsides;
The ink has run clear of her pen.
Friendly, unassuming place- it's a short bike ride from my house so I like to go here when I don't want any hassle with parking, crowds, noise, combing my hair, etc.
It's always busy but I've never seen it get crowded.
Music (satellited-in middle of the road alternative rock) and TV (mix of movies and sports) are kept at  non-intrusive levels so you can hear who your talking to.
Crowd is mostly young and blue-collar- relaxed and not at all trendy. Â Â
By far the best thing Bender has going for it is the food. Â It's fresh, simple, cheap and tasty- really some of the best bar food anywhere in Austin. Â And there are actually healthy options... how many bars offer goats cheese spinach salads and veggie burgers on whole wheat buns? Â I usually bypass all those vitamins and fiber in favor of the bacon blue cheese burger and waffle fries both of which are ungodly good.
i have been coming to Bender for about 6 years or so and I thought to myself, "Why have I not given this place a review?".
My friends and I describe Bender as our version of "Cheers". Most of the bartenders have been working there for years and still remember us by name, even when we haven't been there for a few months. John (the owner) has always gone above and beyond hospitality and gives us a friendly welcome whenever we stop by. I can see from the outside perspective that he doesn't put up with bulls*it from amateur boozers. However, he was kind enough to tolerate my blundering and belligerent best friend on her birthday while making sure she had someone drive her home safely.
Bender takes in the likes of everyone; from the girls who laugh too loudly to the old man sitting with Johnny Walker. I have never brought anyone who feels out of place coming here, as it is a breath of fresh air compared to the stereotype that is the downtown crowd. The music varies with their jukebox choices ranging between old school Dr. Dre to Primus and The Sounds. If I had one suggestion, it would be to change or add more music to what they already have. Then again, this is a part of their all-around consistency that hasn't changed since I first started going here.
I haven't explored all of their food menu, but we made it a weekly event to go on Tuesdays for their 25 cent wing night. The wings are small, but still a great price compared to most other wing bars in the area. They have different food specials on weekdays and I have seen it change a few times. I am a huge advocate for fried pickles, and theirs are the satisfying fried goodness I need after a few stiff drinks.
The drink options as well as prices never disappoint. My better half is quite a beer snob, and he is always impressed with the brews they are able to get on tap. They have had a lot of the Lagunitas varieties (Gnarly wine, Lil Sumpthin' Wild) and in years passed, they were able to get Shiner Cheer on tap which is my favorite winter seasonal (and which I miss, oh so very much). The low prices have maintained as well. $2 Lone Stars and $2.50 wells, with a 50 cent discount during happy hour. They pour their liquor drinks generously, so I always have to prep myself before the first sip. This is especially in favor of my wallet weight. The same is equally true with their shots. I would describe them as "double gulpers" and not for the dainty. This has spoiled me when I find myself disappointed at the size of shots I get from other bars.
I know what to expect when I am here, whether it is for a big game or just a regular Monday afternoon. I hope for Bender to always stay the same and provide the great sociability to the regulars and newcomers and the authenticity that it's known for.
Oh, and for some reason I really hate when people call it "Benders". Don't ask me why.
I really like Bender Bar. We've been coming here now for quite some time and I enjoy the space, not too crowded usually. I think I might have mentioned this before but the games are really fun. The pool tables both work now (I think one was broken last time), and they did add a new ski-ball machine which is cool.
The food here isn't bad, it's pretty much bar food but it's good. They have fried pickles, chips & queso, chicken tenders, burgers, etc. So far, everything we've ordered food-wise is decent.
The staff is very friendly, always on top of things, brought us extra chips when we ran out, etc. Pitchers of beer are decently priced, and I like their outdoor patio because it's huge!
I think Bender maybe a bit over rated. The best part of Bender is the guys who work there wearing Barfly's t-shirts. I know bender is owned by the same folks as Barfly's but its an inferior bar in every way. The divey appeal of Barfly's is missing here and what you get is an average sports bar. The beer selection isn't bad but I found myself just drinking the 8 dollar pitchers of Lonestar.
I didn't try to the food here, but it was a very generic bar menu. I live super close to Bender so I wish it had some more class but when it comes down to it. Its just not cool enough for me.
I distinctly remember telling Mickey A. this was the best burger I ever ate. And then just chowing through it. Oh, and that  the waffle fries were so hot and fresh they burned my fingers and mouth. Everything else is a fog.
I am going to give my drunken self the benefit of the doubt and score Bender 4 stars for now. It's a placeholder until I can return and enjoy a burger while I am a little less drunk.
The god forsaken sweet bun strikes again! Â Way to ruin a perfectly decent burger guys. Â If it had been on Texas toast, or even a sesame bun, it would have been pretty good. But a sweet bun that just falls apart in your hands is just crap. I want to find the people that started this sweet bun craze and slap them in the face.
The tater tots were yummy though.
If I just went to the Bender Bar for drinks and a few games of pool or whatever, my experience would have been a lot different. They have two pool tables, a foosball table (which I beat Kat B at... I show no mercy!), a couple of dart boards, and a few video games. Â That's plenty to keep my drunk ass amused in a bar.
The other big plus for Bender is the jukebox. Damn, this thing was loaded with great stuff like The Pixies, Murder City, Nofx, Johnny Cash and various other bits of awesomeness. Â
If I ever go to Bender again, I won't get the burger, I will be the first to put my money in the Jukebox, and I will gather some folks up for some Naked Photo Hunt on the Megatouch machine. Â That would easily make the experience a whole lot better than the stupid sweet bun burger surprise I had this time. Â
Pros: Awesome Jukebox, Good Tater Tots, Plenty of Bar Games to Play
Cons: Sweet Buns!!!, It was Ludicrously Dark in There.
I used to say all my best mistakes started at Bender Bar. That's probably only partially true but somehow, no matter what antics begin, end, or find their middles at Bender Bar, I can always count on this place to be a good backdrop. Â
Previously a Serrano's, this is a great southside bar now. They have been improving over the years. I like the new decking out back and they paved up the lawn and added some new tables. I was very sad when they got rid of the smoker's "bar" (just a long elevated table running the length of the awning) but they brought it back. I'm sad no more.
There is a back room too that has pool tables, darts, pinball, and maybe a golf game or a game where you hunt animals. Their best video game, by far, of course, is the vintage sit-down Pac-Man. Never having enough quarters to play to our heart's content as kids, it is nice to get to right that wrong as tipsy adults.
Jukebox is almost exclusively nineties (read: you will hear Faith No More, Smashing Pumpkins, Radiohead, and Pearl Jam EVERY time you go to Bender Bar). They also have a smattering of older rock / indie so you may also hear Bowie, Foreigner, Tortoise. But seriously, you will hear Faith No More every time you go. I'm actually going to start timing how long it takes. Yesterday, I had had one sip of beer before "Epic" came on.
Great selection of beers and liquor at awesome prices. During happy hour, they would have to wheel you out if you hit the $10 minimum on just the well drinks ($2 each during HH I think). Lots of local brews (512, Independence, Circle to name a few). Also lots of imports on tap too, and bottles, and cans.
It is not a wine bar, but it is a whine bar if I take anyone there who demands wine not out of a box. So take your beer-drinking, liquor-swilling friends and meet the winos elsewhere.
Food is really good for bar food. Favorites include fried pickles (coins here, not spears) served with the ranch that I'm pretty sure is made in house; salads (field greens not iceberg); burgers, not the sliders (the sliders kind of remind me of grade-school cafeteria burgers, but the actual burgers are really good); the chicken quesadilla served with ample portions of salsa, sour cream, and avocado. They also have different daily specials: once they had shrimp sliders and those were awesome. Sometimes they have meatloaf (always on days where eaten before so I've never tried it, but I bet it's good). Â Long Live Bender Bar!
Before you get your unmentionables in a bunch over this 3 star rating...let me explain...
I came here after an event with some friends. One of said friends was on the fence about going out, but (without coercion) Â willingly agreed to hit Benders for a quick beer and check it out. Once arriving, said friend turned into a grumpy frumpy and refused to have a drink, opting instead to mope around, suck the fun out of the air, and basically give his best impression of a tree stump. The OTHER friends and I were having a great time! Huge patio, the same great drink selections as the other locations (Barfly's etc...) and same great prices. Unfortunately, we ended up slugging our beers, so I could get the Princess home before he turned back into a pumpkin. Â
My only negative about the bar itself was that it was so dark, I could barely see three feet in front of me.
So, for now...we remain at 3. I hope to return very soon without the fun police in tow...confident that Bender will live up to my expectations.
"It always makes me a little nervous when they don't write stuff down," I said to the other people at the table. Â I spake too soon. Although dealing with several table-fulls of hungry, thirsty, and (dare I say) obnoxious yelpers, she got all parts of my order right.
It was pretty well-lit when I got there, but after sitting several hours, the lights dimmed, which was nice. Seems like it could be a good gatehring place on weeknights.
I ordered a Veggie Burger. Nothing to write home about, but it was good. I know it was not made in-house and it was frozen, but it was crisped up just right and all the other veggies (onion, lettuce, etc.) were really good. And the bread! That Hawaiian bread stuff is so good! Â Fries were just fine. Not awesome, but fine.
I was pretty shocked when I got my bill. I had to double check that the final price was correct--it was lower than I had expected!
I didn't go into the play room, but oh how I love darts and pretending like I can play pool.
It's close to home. I know I'll come here again--there's way too much more to check out!
So yes... the location is awkward. Â We stopped in there a couple of weeks ago with my boyfriend's sister who was fresh off the airplane and slightly drunk/hungover from a 5 hour layover at the airport bar. Â She had the typical disappointed reaction when we pulled into the stripcenter and jokingly asked if we were taking her to "Restaurant" per the sign above the entrance, then doubled over when she realized that actually was the spot. Â We never filled her in, and now affectionately refer to it as Restaurant. Â
When you walk in, it doesn't smell like bleach and vomit, and it only gets better from there.  They have old school dart boards (free!)  Naked Photo Hunt (Woohoo!!)  I have NEVER been to Bender without hearing some Journey and Bon Jovi  on the jukebox (So Shoot Me!)  I haven't tried the food myself but watched my girlfriend hoover a chili-cheese dog and waffle fries that looked up to the challenge of soaking up plenty of ridiculously cheap beers.
The outdoor area is huge. Â Plenty of tables. Â Music. Â Horsheshoes (WTF). Â Smoking. Â Mmmmmm.
And I'm a total weirdo for mentioning this, but here goes...Other people have mentioned that when they walk into Bender they feel at home. Â I feel that way walking into their bathroom. Â Yes, I'm a freak. Â (Read complete germaphobe). Â But, come on, if you've been in the ladies rooms downtown, you know we are NOT the fairer sex! They have yummy soap and are never out of paper towels. Â It's ALWAYS clean. Â The toilet overflowed on New Yrs, and they had it cleaned up in 10 minutes. Â That's the kind of service that gets me all worked up! Â Plus the girls there are unusually nice...always complimenting your shoes, your sweater, your sweet technique of holding your beer in your teeth while you pee. Â Plus they seem to wash their hands 75% more than drunk girls in the general population. Â I'm just sayin'.
It's a minor point, but for a bar called Bender, there are a large contingency of straight lines here. Not that it matters. Bender Bar is a no-frills neighborhood joint dropped off of the side of the highway, and the beers are really the stars of the show: loads of choices (I was pleasantly surprised by how many I found), and served up on the cheap. Couple that with some standard issue bar food (wraps as usually healthy options, but alternately staples like fries, fried pickles, burgers, chicken strips and assorted bar-ish whatnot rule the day).
It's the kind of place that's tailor made for hanging with friends in that it won't set you back an arm and a leg, the prices are fair and the service is regular and helpful, and not overly so. Â The jukebox is decent, better than average and downright good in most towns not as jukebox rich as ours. Â But when you're hanging with friends? The conversations you have here with those make for music all its own.