One thing many south Austin bars lack is food. Venues have ambiance comin’ out the wazoo in the 78704 & 45, but typically we see more upscale bars hitting the scene as of late. These bars tend to be less family friendly and center more on craft cocktails than classic yummy pub fare.
Food truck times for new places often vary, and it’s hard to say where the latest tasty trailer concoctions will be on offer, so many bar foodies have to plan ahead before going out. But south Austin also has something of a best-kept secret in The Rusty Cannon Pub, a new dive bar and restaurant that says we can have our cake and drink it too.
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Named after the famed Gonzales “Come and Take It” Cannon which is credited with sparking the Texas revolution in 1835, this place seems to strive to be more than just a restaurant and bar. With museum-grade memorabilia lining the walls, such as an original draft of the Texas (“Texian”) Constitution, four of Texas’ original state flags, and a portrait of LBJ, the Rusty Cannon Pub is both Austin and Texas.
The Cannon is also home to several Austin notables from the service industry: Benny Pezzi, the affable and laid-back proprietor of both the 04 Lounge and Cannon, is often hanging out. Clare Morrisey of the much-loved Freddie’s Place on South 1st is tending bar. And to top off the list, Magnolia Cafe’s line cook and chef extraordinaire Jason Columbus keeps the Cannon’s food consistently scrumptious.
Food at the Cannon is delicious and avoids pretension. The Good Ol’ Burger tastes like BBQ on the Fourth of July, with hand-packed patties delivered fresh weekly from Austin’s own five-star Longhorn Meat Market, thick slices of tomato and onion, pickles, cheddar cheese, and thick-cut steak fries or house-made coleslaw.
“You’d have to go to Sullivan’s or Texas Land and Cattle to get steak fries like these,” one of the patrons told us. “They’re hands-down the best in Austin! Not ‘good’, I’m sayin’ the BEST!”
Here’s a bit more of what’s on offer at the Cannon…
Eight TVs line the walls and a family/pup-friendly atmosphere invites Austinites to come for the food and drinks, and stay for the games and shots of 1835 whiskey – named for the start of the Texas revolution. In addition to showtimes for college and professional sports, the Rusty Cannon has bar-games galore: pool, darts, shuffleboard, and Tuesday night trivia hosted by local pub quizzers Geeks Who Drink.
Daily specials like $.50 wings, 2-for-1 burgers, and 30% off steaks should be more than enough inspiration to get you in the door. We suspect word-of-mouth marketing will do the rest for this place.
Located at 730 West Stassney Lane, it can be hard to miss, but once you’ve been you’ll definitely remember it. Come on down to Stassney and South 1st to check it out!
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