Drinks were sloppy, weak and not worth the high price- very disappointing after waiting eight years to get them. I get it is an airport bar but bartender seemed like she couldn't be bothered to take anyone's order or make decent drinks. I'd understand if they were slammed, but this was a slow travel day. Only two others were trying to *patiently* get her attention around the same time as me.
Skip this bar and go to the ones on either end of the airport. Or wait and get your bev in flight. Better yet, put yer booze in 3oz shampoo bottles in the carry on and sneak it in that way. You'll feel like a ghetto alcoholic but will save yourself the rude headache, painful wait and nasty drinks at Ray's.
I give three stars as a compromise to these two competing feelings:
OMGosh I had a great time sitting here, first to do some schoolwork while listening to a large live band play, then chatting with some friendly strangers waiting for a delayed flight who were buying drinks.
YUCK too crowded, where's the server, why isn't there any vegetarian food in this overpriced trainwreck?
closing hours are a little arbitrary. apparently theyre based on the last flight to depart. which sucks if youre the last flight to arrive and really want a bloody mary after a long day of travel
the food is sorta decent and the bloody marys are not very big. maybe 12 oz max with ice included.
Live music in an airport? Â How cool! Â Only in Austin. Â Had a couple hours to kill before my flight, so shared a table with another traveler, got some tacos from the Salt Lick in this little "compound," (try the Cabo Brisket one) and enjoyed a couple margaritas (the "Ultimate Margarita" w/ Patron, and the "Route 66 Margarita" w/ Herradura) - liked the second one better. But maybe that's because it was the second one. Â A very unique experience - a circular bar, a stage w/ live music on one side; lots of tables, and around it a "Chuck Wagon" stand w/ hot dogs, brisket sandwiches, breakfast tacos and nachos, an "Austin Java" coffee bar, and Salt Lick taco stand. Â A great way to pass some time while waiting for your flight.
Review Source:BBQ and fried stuff.
Ray Benson's roadhouse is conveniently located right around gate 10 in the Austin-Bergstrom airport, which worked out perfectly for me as I had an hour to kill for a plane that would be departing from; you guessed it, gate 10.
So, with some time to kill and not having much else to do, I swung into Ray Benson's, grabbed a cold beer and some nachos. Â The bartender was seemingly familiar with many of the other patrons, I was left wondering if people actually commute by air a lot in Texas.
In any case, the food came out jiffy fast, and everything was perfect. Â I had them toss some jalapenos on the nachos and they may have hit it a little too hard, but overall, it was a good mix of chili, cheese, chips and jalapenos - and went perfectly with my beer - so good in fact, I had myself another.
Prices were pretty good considering it was located in an airport so I would definitely hit it again as they had a lot of interesting looking stuff there to eat.
Try it!
Stuck in Austin Bergstrom? Â This is a great spot to kill off some time with beer/wine/cocktails, a quick bite, sports on the flat screen, and live music! Â I had to go local and had a Lone Star Beer with my Salt Lick tacos: pulled-pork with poblanos (my fav - nice hunks of juicy pork), and Carne Guisado (ok)... Not to mention live music from the Asleep at the Wheel stage! Â Can't ask for more at an airport...
Review Source:The bartender told multiple people that he "was not a dog" when they tried to flag him down to get a drink. Â Normally, a good bartender would have scanned the bar and noticed the new from the old patrons, but not this epic failure of a bar keep. Â He just focused in on the service bar and never looked back. Â Hey guy, you're in an airport bar during the holidays... it's going to be busy and you have to work the bar. Â At least, you are making some money while the rest of us are stressed out from travel, in-laws, family, or all of the above. Â Cut the patrons some slack.
Austin airport is so nice that I'd skip this joint and keep on moving elsewhere within the airport.
Should be sooo ashamed. Yesterday I stopped here to have a drink before a flight and was joined by 5 tables or so of Army Rangers who just returned from the Mid East. I watched as the restaurant manager came in, shook their hands and thanked them for their service. The guys told him they had been there quite some time and the waitress had not addressed them or offered service. The manager said he would "take care of it". 15 minutes later they come up beside me to order a drink because after 35 minutes of being at the restaurant the waitress STILL had not come to the table. Â
Smarten up Ray Benson, that waitress should be fired. This men fought for us, protect us and keep us safe.They arrived in full uniform and take up 5 tables and you don't jump? Â Â I would GLADLY have waited an hour to be waited on if it met them getting what they needed. Never make that mistake again and I hope noone else will either.