I really hate to do this, but it just has to be done. We live in the area and have been burned one too many times here. The first time being over 3 years ago the last being 3 days ago.
The first time we swore we would never return because the bartender charged us for 4 buckets instead of 2. Which would have been a fine, honest mistake if he hadn't been completely rude about it. Almost like it was our problem he overcharged us. We were super upset and promised we would never return. We held true to that for about a year. Which we really hated because the place has so much potential and the philly cheesesteak is pretty awesome.
Last epic fail happened last Saturday. My family was in town and after a great day at the lake we went to Poodie's for dinner. My husband and I raved and raved about the sandwiches so everyone ordered one. No one had eaten since breakfast and we were all starving. When we ordered we were one of two tables in the entire place. It was around 5:30 pm. When 6:30 rolled around they were getting quite a bit busier and we still hadn't received our food so we asked our waitress about it. She said very nonchalantly said "Oh, it's just hitting the grill". What? Just hitting the grill? We've been here for an hour already. We had plans starting at 9:00 and still had to go home and get ready. We had been at the lake all day after all. So, we asked how long it might be and let her know we were a little upset we hadn't been served yet. Her answer was something like "Well however long it takes to cook". Ok...... we told her of our 9:00 plans and kept waiting.
Once the 2 hour mark hit, we were not only STARVING but also pretty upset. When we went to the bar to ask once again (because the waitress NEVER came back to our table), we were simply told "We're doing our best". We're short staffed". That's all fine and good but we were one of two tables 2 hours ago???? Once again "We're doing our best".
So at that point it was already after 8:00 pm and we had to leave to get ready for our 9:00 pick up. We explained we would not be paying and started to walk out the door. They yelled after us "Your order is ready". Seriously by this point we had been waiting for over 2 hours. We grabbed our food and hit the door. When we got home (honestly a little afraid to eat our meals), the buns on all of the sandwiches were burned.
So long story short, we're saddened we won't be returning. Completely ridiculous!
Poodies is awesome.. Don't know of a better way to say it. They have great Texas Country acts every night... except Wed which is open mic night and usually you get great performers then also.
There is a rumor that since Willie Nelson lives in Spicewood he sometimes comes here. I don't know if that's true or not but more than half of the patrons and bar workers insist it is. Â I do know he has played here before.
They have a nice out back patio over looking HWY 71, the patio is complete with misters so you don't over heat and a cadre of a lawyer/bikers sitting around enjoying cold drinks.
Inside Poodies everything is as eclectic as it should be in a proper roadhouse dive bar. The drinks are cheap and reasonable strong. I cant complain about the selection or quality as they had everything you would think a dive bar would have.
I had some food here and its nothing special just your typical frozen fried bar food. You can get chopped hatch chilles on everything " this is called Poodie style" Â as apparently the Poodie himself was a big fan of this.
I would say you cant go wrong by taking a quick trip to Poodies especially if you live in or happen to be staying in Spicewood for any reason.
We have heard enough lore about Poodie's that we needed to check it out, and a friend's band playing here gave us the perfect excuse. Here's what would have saved us some time and effort: reading other Yelp reviews instead of calling the place. Â
The woman who answered the phone said, "Sure, it's fine to bring your kids." I had my doubts. It's a restaurant, after all, my husband reminded me. Â Yes, but it's also a bar. And from the moment we walked in the door from the gravel parking lot, we knew we had screwed up.
Poodie's is one of those historical Texas honky-tonks that must be preserved, so folks will know what a Texas honky-tonk is. The music is country Texas rock and it's freaking loud for a little space (earplugs required). The waitstaff are friendly (everyone smiles and is super helpful). The place is filled with locals and curious tourists and the occasional soon-to-be-deaf dog, and some of these people are smoking with abandon. I had forgotten how much I appreciate the indoor smoking ban in Austin; it's good to be reminded occasionally.
Our teenage companions immediately knew they were out of their element. Â As we waited for our eyes to adjust to the dark, my daughter turned around and exited through the front door. "A gross old fisherman was checking me out," she told us later. Our teen boys pronounced Poodie's "a distressed old pedo bar full of fishermen and boxers."
There's a really nice wooden deck out back, from which we could hear the band perfectly through the walls, but our kids were already at the car waiting to leave. My husband and I plan to come back without them on a different night to check the place out properly, and then I'll get back to you with a full review. Â I'll be sure to bring my inhaler.
**Happy update: I heard from a reliable source that after July 4th, Poodie's will join the Austin trend to officially be smoke-free indoors.
Man, this place is like an oasis out past Bee Cave. Â My buddy had told me about this watering hole years ago and by the first trip I LOVED IT. Â He told me about the Poodie burger and the bartender Brooks. Â Both didn't disappoint. Â I have been out here about 4-5 times in the past 2-3 years. Â I recently took a buddy out after playing disc golf in Bee Cave and he LOVED it. Â It's just so chill and comforting.
Review Source:This is one of the best, authentic and traditional Texas music venues. I'm there often and I don't know about seeing Willie, or about Chicken Fried Steaks...... LoL Â Poodie's is a place of legend...... You gotta check it out a few times to separate fact from fiction.
Yes, the parking lot is dusty gravel, and people smoke.... But what the hell do you expect in a place where urban legend about some of Texas music heroes hangout? Â
There are plenty of slick, overpriced, paved lot, purified, Beemer parking, dress coded, non-smoking, bland places to go just a few miles east in Austin. On the other hand, if you want to see a beautiful Pedernales, Hill Country sunset, and relax on the deck under the live oaks or pitch washers, you've found your pickup parking, real person attending, music fan loving, burger munching, cold beer drinking, "musically inclined," kind of place.
If you want a great burger, and other "fast food," cold beer, friendly, talented, staff and a very cool place to listen to music, play pool, or table shuffle board, or watch a game, Â here is the place. In fact, the Austin Chronicle named "Poodies" best burger not too long ago.
You'll find a colorful clientele, and plenty of interesting conversations and decoration. And when you leave, you'll find that it's been an adventure that you want to return to experience again.
I like Poodie's and usually go to support my friends in bands. There's definitely a regular crowd which can be as entertaining as some of the acts.
I really love their green chile burgers too.
Sometimes, especially later in the evening, it can get pretty smokey.
I don't remember it too much in the "old" days so I can't compare it to what "it used to be."
Definitely a dive bar, but an Austin classic! For those who don't know Poodie was Willie Nelson's band manager. This is his bar. They have great live music. The food is normal bar food, burgers, fries, beer. I think it's one of those must go places in Austin. Â They also have a great Patio out back that is usually quiet and empty, great for sitting around with friends after a day out on the lake!
Review Source:Used to be a local. Â Liked it better not only before Poodie died, but before he more or less sold out or whatever you want to call it and the new management/part owners came in. Â Heck, I liked it better way back when before the remodeling when you had to walk through the kitchen to get to the bathroom.
It's sort of what it used to be, kinda, but if you are looking to relive memories of when it was in it's prime, that ship has passed and it will never be that again.
Bigger menu, lots more yuppies, sometimes more "name acts" for shows, liqour by the drink instead of your own bottle, and most of the cool people to play moon, shuffleboard, and poker with are long dead or moved away.
Mostly just reminds me that you can't go back in time anywhere near Austin anymore. Â If I didn't used to live there and have some friends that were locals, I wouldn't bother. Â May as well be the other side of the moon from what it once was.
Lots of good memories from what it used to be and I can't see ever creating those again. Â Would be nice if it actually HAD been frozen in time as a roadhouse/honky tonk, but they tinkered with it.
Ah Poodie's. Â I was worried that you wouldn't be the same without your namesake in physical attendance and I was right. Â The vibe is not quite the same without Poodie sitting at a table ready to talk shop or take a pull off a jug with me. Â I've also moved, so haven't been back there in a while...
However, on the way back from a great ranch experience in Concho county, after a beautiful Sunday Hill Country drive, a Poodie's burger was definitely in order, so we stopped in. Â Just after ordering the obligatory Lone Star, the girl had a regular cheeseburger with onion rings and I had a Poodie Burger with Bacon. Â The Poodie comes with Green Chile, onion, lettuce, tomatoes, etc, but the flavor of those phenominal burgers makes me think that flat top in the kitchen hasn't been cleaned since the place opened. Â Not a bad remark, by the way. Â Think of the same theory as seasoning a cast iron skillet. Â All those flavors combining to create an unassailable wall of "Poodie's flavor" on everything that leaves that kitchen. That is truly one of the VERY best burgers in "Austin" and should be on every burger list made. Â Great Music, Cold Beer, Great Food, Old Texas roadhouse atmosphere, Legendary History and thank God we still have it!
This is one of the best, authentic and traditional Texas music venues. I'm there often and I don't know about seeing Willie, or about Chicken Fried Steaks...... LoL Â Poodie's is a place of legend...... You gotta check it out a few times to separate fact from fiction.
Yes, the parking lot is dusty gravel, and people smoke.... But what the hell do you expect in a place where urban legend about some of Texas music heroes hangout? Â
There are plenty of slick, overpriced, paved lot, purified, Beemer parking, dress coded, non-smoking, bland places to go just a few miles east in Austin. On the other hand, if you want to see a beautiful Pedernales, Hill Country sunset, and relax on the deck under the live oaks or pitch washers, you've found your pickup parking, real person attending, music fan loving, burger munching, cold beer drinking, "musically inclined," kind of place.
If you want a great burger, and other "fast food," cold beer, friendly, talented, staff and a very cool place to listen to music, play pool, or table shuffle board, or watch a game, Â here is the place. In fact, the Austin Chronicle named "Poodies" best burger not too long ago.
You'll find a colorful clientele, and plenty of interesting conversations and decoration. And when you leave, you'll find that it's been an adventure that you want to return to experience again.
Live in the area and go to Poodie's fairly regular. It's a honky tonk, dive bar that allows smoking which is a problem unless you're a nicotine addict. I can't say that Willie doesn't or hasn't shown up but I think most of that is urban legend especially now that Poodie is gone.  Pool tables haven't been re-felted in years and the shuffleboard table is a POS. Food is a crap shoot but the burgers are good. Beer is reasonably priced and the service is normally fair.  In general the place is dumpy but  I've caught some really great artists here which is the only real reason to go.   If you go not expecting much you won't be disappointed.
Review Source:This is a really neat place. Â I admit to being one of the dreaded 'suburban clientele" being mentioned in at least one other review. Â In fact I suppose we looked like the Griswold's, a fact alluded to by one of the very friendly waitstaff. Â "Come on in, we let regular people eat here too!" Â I assured them that with my teenage son in tow we had weird to spare. Â He loves it when I do stuff like that.....
Anyway, yes it smells like smoke, someting I ordinarily have a problem with. Â In this place, given that the doors were open and a breeze was passing through, it wasn't bad. Â The burgers were as good as the other folks said, the staff is terrific. Â We had beer #2 outside on the deck overlooking Hwy 71 and the hills. Â A very cool place and it is great to see places like this still exist.
Pleasant enough, but (at least the night we were there) the clientele was closer to a suburban bar in Anytown USA than a Texas honky tonk .The staff was friendly,, the sound system was fine, and the band (TwoTons of Steel) was great, but the dance floor was largely unused.. The opening act went on way too long.
On the positive side, there were only a couple of smokers in the entire crowd . Worth stopping into if you're in the Spicewood area, but I can't see ever making the drive out from Austin again.
If you are looking for the best burger-beer combo in Austin, Poodies is one of those places. Â The poodiesburger is the stuff of legends; visions of tender patties, dollops of mayo and mustard, fresh sesame seed buns all topped with that savory jalapeno spread that crowns the top of the burger.
With nostalgic pictures of country and musical legends covering the walls, Poodies drips with authenticity in a town gone berserk with trendiness. Â The staff is great. Â Stay around for the nightly music and the impromptu jam sessions with a revolving door of legendary players.
Yes, the locals will all turn and look at you when you come in. Â (Don't worry, they do that to everybody).
Yes, there is smoking allowed in the bar. Â Apologies in advance if you are allergic or just flat out can't handle life outside of yourself and/or Austin proper.
And Yes, you never know who might walk in the back door. Â
Poodie, you will be missed.
Poodie is a family friend of my Mom & Dad and I grew up with these guys! go out to Poodie's if you want the true TX music experience, great food and friendly service. Smoke will be there !! so if you don't smoke and that might offend you then please don't bother. I love this place and always have a really great time ! very laid back and casual...
Review Source:You will find good live music here. Â It might be hard to see the band through the cloud of smoke. Â Poodies is one of those places that if you arent a smoker, you have to strip down naked before going into your home and leave your clothes outside otherwise you will wake up to your house smelling of thick smoke. Â The smoke just permeates deep into your clothes. Leave your coat in the car.
The bear prices are ok. RT behind the bar is friendly. Do yourself a favor. Order the Green Chili Cheese Burger. Best burger west of Mopac.
I loved the entire Poodie's experience. I didn't like the yuppies that kept coming in and out with their eyeballs frozen wide open, but hey, what did I expect? It draws all sorts of crowds. I did appreciate the hometown crowd, the waitress was super-cool and efficient, and I loved the live music.
We had fried okra, hamburgers, and sodas. All were fine and went well with beer. Lots and lots of beer.
The dance floor is really small, so be prepared to minimize those twirls on the dance floor!
If you ever tire of the European-car drivin', Domain-shoppin', Qua-goin', nosh-eatin' scene that it sometimes feels that Austin is becoming, head on down to Poodie's for a little reminder that yes, you are still in Texas.
Poodie's is a small honky tonk dive bar perched on a hilltop out on Highway 71 in Spicewood. Â From the outside, it looks like a bunch of plywood all nailed together, and maybe or maybe not covered with a coat of plywood-colored paint. Â The parking lot is all dust and gravel. Â Walk in and you'll find a few tables, a stage nestled in the corner with an area that could be used for dancing, a jukebox, a couple of TV's, a couple of pool tables, a shuffleboard table, and a bar. Â I noticed all of these things second. Â The first thing I noticed is that the smoking ban apparently does not apply to Spicewood (or, at least, it doesn't apply to Poodie's). Â
Poodie's has a full bar and a menu of casual bar-type food - burgers, sandwiches, and an assortment of fried stuff (chicken fingers, shrimp, mushrooms, steak fingers - you know, from the cow's hand). Â I tried the fried shrimp ($7.25) and they were pretty decent. Â I got six medium-sized shrimp, some Texas toast, and a mess of medium-thick fries. Â I like my fries skinny and crispy, so I wasn't enamored with these (not that it stopped me from eating them). Â The shrimp were fresh and hot, and I loved the cocktail sauce they served with them - it was extra horseradish-y. Â I planned to leave the Texas toast behind since it was such a carb-loaded meal, but I tasted a bite and it was so perfectly butterylicious that I ended up having to take a couple-few more nibbles of it.
The bartender was also waiting tables, and he was great. Â He's the kind of bartender who's got your back.
From their calendar, it looks like Poodie's has live music every evening except Thursday (which is "ladies' night" - perhaps they have live music, then, too, but none is advertised). Â Just a word to the wise, Wednesday is open mic night. Â Your mileage will definitely vary.
So, if you're hankerin' for a place to kick back and enjoy a little honky-tonk (and a smoke with your beer), mosey on down to Poodie's.
Service: Â 5 stars
Cool dive bar atmosphere: Â 5 stars
Food: Â 3 stars
Music: Â YMMV
Smoking: Â minus 3 stars
Overall rating: Â 3 stars - 4 stars if smoking doesn't bother you
If you are a Willie fan you need to visit Poodie's since Poodie Locke happens to be Willie's roadie/manager. Â And guess who just might stop by and sit in with the band that happens to be playing - when he is not "on the road"?
Poodies has a full liquor license now so no more bringing your own booze and they serve up some decent food along with live music most nights. Â I have seen Leon Russell and Ray Wylie Hubbard as well as Willie's daughter Paula there. Â The acoustics aren't great but who cares after a few beers - its all about the down-home Honky-Tonk experience. Â And guess who might show up and sit in?
I can't drink on an empty stomach and Poodie's just happens to serve some pretty good bar food - your basic baskets of fried foods and burgers. Â I have something special I order here - a grilled cheese sandwich with mushrooms and and green chilies that goes down great with a Jack and Coke...
So, how do you find this place. Head west on 71 towards Marble Falls past 620, past Hamilton Pool Rd., past Bee Creek Rd. light then start looking for Poodie's on the right. Its about 10 minutes past 620 and worth the drive for the experience and possibly getting to see Willie play in front as few as 5 other guests..
And for all of you Super Bowl nuts they have a big screen and there will be a party Sunday Feb 3rd.
And Poodie himself is usually there when not on the road or on the golf course. Â Be sure to stop in and say "hi" you will be glad you did.
The 5 best restaurants in the 2015 Denver Restaurant Week
3,611 Views | Category: Denver
The complete list of 2015 Denver Restaurant Week businesses
1,972 Views | Category: Denver
The tourists' guide to Portillos: 5 must have dishes
3,318 Views | Category: Chicago
Pho = Pronounced "fuh" not "foe" for pho-king sake
2,915 Views | Category: Denver
Indulgery selected to exhibit at Collision Conference
2,987 Views | Category: Press Releases
Not Logged In
BUSINESSES
Local Businesses
Near Me
My Favorites
SOCIAL
Blog & News
MY ACCOUNT
Login
Register
Contact Us
Add Your Business
