Casino South Side

I have a disability And I was kicked out because they thought I was drunk.i have cerbrial palsy and I was kicked out. My partner holds on to me every where we go because I have anxiety and the guy proceeded to chuckle in my face even though I told him I wouldn't drink. He said he couldn't serve me. Nice to know that because I can't hop onto a bar stool right away that I'm intoxicated.

Always a great time. Wonderful bartenders, chill vibe. This is Austin to most people.

Overheard the older guy bartender speaking badly about a guest , other than that great atmosphere

Say what you will, but this is truly one of those ''Old Austin'' places. stiff and very affordable drinks, friendly and attentive staff, but also space for you to just chill by yourself if needed. A true dive bar. The lost star is due to the fact the food truck hasn't been open/available, and the OG Casino has delicious burgers- even then, I prefer this location.

Awesome staff, chill atmosphere and great happy hour

I met this cute woman there who shot pool and danced the night away with me... it was magical. OH, and they have the best coin jukebox in town

It is a very neat atmosphere, have not been to a place as cool as this before! All the bartenders are fast and nice. They also have a small area outside to hang out just picnic tables.

I really like this place. It knows who it is and who wants to hang out here. The staff isn’t too friendly but social enough. The TVs were playing pet cemetery 2 and the punk playing throughout the bar was just too loud enough. $4.75 for a 512 IPA? Yes please. I think they have food? Probably just as acceptable as the rest of the bar. It’s dark, its brooding, and I will keep coming back.

The guys at Casino are seriously the best. We don't go in often and typically it's because we stopped at End of an Ear (the record store closeby) but we always have a great time in here. Prices are reasonable and drinks are stiff, we'll always come back for great vibes.

Was outside on the patio talking with someone and a gentleman staggered with TWO TALL vodka cranberries with barely any cranberry to sit down. We IMMEDIATELY knew this gentleman was far too intoxicated to drink another drop of alcohol. LET ALONE two tall vodka cranberries. Sad to see a bar take advantage of someone especially since he said he was a veteran. This service is unacceptable and I will no longer be attending this bar.

This is the best Dive bar in the area! $6 Jack and Diet. And myltiple local brews/ciders on tap. An excellent place to just hang out and drink. Lindsay is a great bartender as are all the bar tenders there. No food except maybe some beef jerky on the wall to purchase.

As a regular patron, the staff has always been welcoming and really care about their customers. I'm aware that not everyone has had this experience. But I can only speak praise for this establishment. Casino, when he comes in to do his weekly assessments, has been nothing but kind. Everyone is entitled to their opinions, but as someone who started coming here when they opened, I have nothing but love for the people who make a bar i call home feel like it.

A chill vibe like a dive bar should have. Come as you are. You need to know some of the local spots because it's not easy to get to. However, not terribly difficult.

Cool interior. They charged me for six pints when we only had five: my girlfriend two and I had three. Music too loud indoors to have a conversation. Fortunately, they have a patio in back. Owner is nice and bartenders are, too. But beer is expensive enough without being charged for an extra.

My favorite bar. Great jukebox selection. Fun pool table. Strong drinks. Dark interior. Good crowd. I love it here. That's all.

What a fantastic, chill bar that is nestled among an industrial stretch of Ben White amongst mechanics, vintage shops, and businesses with a lot of big trucks. Definitely biker bar vibes without the attitude of one. Wide array of drinks, spacious indoor seating, along with a shuffle board and pool table, and lots of TVs, plus outdoor seating. And dog-friendly (inside, too!), to boot. The staff was awesome. I asked the bartender to rattle off the draft beer selection since I was on the other side of the bar and couldn't quite see it and he did so, sans any tinge of eye rolling, even when I ended up going with the very first beer he mentioned! I will be frequenting this joint much more often now that it's on my radar.

One of the best, coolest (literally cool the a/c is pumping in here), most laid-back, and cheap bars in South Austin. Located right off of Ben White this spot is a great hangout with a group of friends or just one or two if you want to keep it chill. Pool tables are always busy here so get your quarters lined up to play winner next go-around. There are darts here too and a spacious patio in the back to chill under the awning and take in some fresh air. If that back patio is full there are a bunch of picnic tables in the front near the entrance as well that you are welcomed to. Local draft beers line up the bar and craft cocktails are just an ask away. Bartenders are super friendly and service is fast. I usually end up drinking shots and beers here but you really can order anything and it will be delightful. I really love all of the unique postcards or old horror movie pictures from the 1930's-1970's on top of the tables here. Tv's are usually showing some cool and old-school movies that are either horror, comedies, or random B-movies to keep you occupied and keep your eye on as you hang out. There is minimal parking behind the entrance/building but most likely you will have to park along the side street just past the building on a side street. Be careful to read signs and be mindful of the businesses that line up and down the street.

Reasonable priced drinks, authentic blue collar/counterculture South Austin vibe, great jutebox, lots of space with private smoking area outside, like a biker bar but without the unfriendly attitude of one. Recommend it!

One of my favorite dive bars to go to. Cute little outdoor area, shuffle board, pool, darts, and super cheap drinks. Love the chill friendly vibe of the other bar attendees, and the bartenders are super dope! Whats not to love?

So I had heard they were opening a day ago, but then I heard they weren't. I'll be honest I expected them to have Hamburgers, not just any burgers but Casino El Camino burgers... namely I wanted the Amarillo burger... I consider it the best of its kind in the whole town and the idea of a Casino down the road that sells those wonderful burgers.. well lets just say I was more than happy at that thought. I noticed on Facebook some friends where going over there and realized tonight is really the night they are opening .. I became a bit hungry at the thought, but alas I had to work until 11:45pm so I couldn't join my friends. My girlfriend [Amanda] gets off work at the same time as me so I called and asked if she would be interested in going to the opening of the new Casino, she was down! I called the bar to ask what time the kitchen closed only to be informed they had no kitchen. Now mind you I was shocked... Casino ... no kitchen.. no Amarillo burger... no... foood.. what ... yes I was shocked. I decided to go anyway. I love a good dive bar,I like beer, I like whiskey, how bad can it be. You know what, it wasn't bad at all, I'm a fan of 04 lounge because its dirty. The other South Austin bars are just lame, they are often filled with fools bad beer and have about as much coolness as a potato. This place has all the coolness of 04 but its clean, I hope they continue with this theme of cleanliness. The drinks were well priced.., the Guinness was properly poured. Its a great bar, I look forward to going back and seeing them get that extra star outa me

This is a cool spot. Good ambiance. Nice folks and juke box. However, the bartender that served me, some yankee with a lot of tattoos, "short shot" me and I politely called him out on it. Asked him to please use the jigger in the future which he did. He did not fill the jigger all the way. I called him out again for not filling the jigger and he caught an attitude. I told him that I want what I pay for, a full shot. The 04 on Congress is just the opposite. They over pour and their prices are a lot cheaper. I will not return. See you at the 04.

This cool little post-punk rock club seems plucked from the past somewhere in New York, cleaned up, and nestled conveniently in South Austin. Inside the funky diamond-windowed padded doors is a beautiful serpentine walnut bar, fully equipped and expertly manned. Black padded half booths and tables line the opposite wall, and a live music stage is tucked in the back corner by a large dance/standing area. A juke box, pool table, and dart board sit in between. No less than four TVs run old B movies continuously. If you get tired of the indoor entertainment, you can sit on one of the covered porches, either in front or out back. This seems like the perfect neighborhood hangout spot. The only thing missing is a food trailer, but I have a feeling one might show up eventually. It's the Austin way.

Chill bar. Not my type of place personally but it's close to where my friends live. Bartenders were nice and VERY knowledgeable about drinks and mixology. Pool table. Karaoke. Golden Tee. Plenty of seating as well as standing room. Bar is tucked behind a freeway in an industrial looking area. Worth stopping in sometime if it's in your neighborhood.

Great little dive bar. You had me at Guinness on tap!! The jukebox had some great music and the bar staff was really nice. There's a nice small patio out front and another in the back. I'm told they have food, but we didn't have any.

This is the kind of place every neighborhood should have as their local pub. Great strong drinks, the jukebox is unparalleled and the bartenders are the best!

weird place. maintained sobriety for the evening for personal reasons and they kicked me out for being too drunk. obviously was not drinking at all other than sprites and redbulls. very strange experience with zero hospitality. i understand the requirement to ensure people are not too drunk on premises, but kicking people out for no reason is just strange. especially sober people trying to enjoy a cool spot near their home. ideal goal was finding a cool, understanding place for sobriety but only found rudeness and aggression. truly bizarre spot.

As a regular patron, the staff has always been welcoming and really care about their customers. I'm aware that not everyone has had this experience. But I can only speak praise for this establishment. Casino, when he comes in to do his weekly assessments, has been nothing but kind. Everyone is entitled to their opinions but as someone who started coming here when they opened, I have nothing but love for the people who make a bar i call home feel like home.

It's like the 400 Rabbits of Casino El Camino. We walked in to the fresh smell of wood stain. This place is dark and the lighting is soft. How can you not love those padded doors? They will make your inebriated stumble out of there much more pleasant! Speaking of...$3.50 any shots all the time? And 'boom goes the dynamite', vato. They have a patio in the back, but I didn't see it because my ass was too comfy in my red padded chair. Minus one star b/c they don't have a kitchen, but I heard talk about a food truck in the works. WTF Moment: No purse hooks. :(

Dear Mr. El Camino, Making my way in the world today takes everything i've got. Taking a break from all my worries, sure would help a lot. Thank you for helping me get awaaaay. Sometimes I want to go Where nobody knows my naaaaame, and they're always semi-content I caaaame. I wanna be where I can see, My troubles are seriously not the same I wanna be where nobody knows My name. I wanna go where people know, people are seriously not the same, I wanna go where nobody knows My name. I love you. Jenny L.

Wow, first time I drove right by the entrance. Now that I've been here, I know where it is. Their parking lot is tinyyyy. I don't think this will be one of my main places. Their outdoors area is very nice. The bar is pretty small. The bartender is hot. At least the one I saw. I think this place has a very specific clientele and I'm not sure I make that cut. It was nice to see what the hype is all about but I can say that it's not my cup of tea. Overall for happy hour, it's a great little place b/c I found parking :) If I didn't, I would probably go somewhere else. I'm old, I know. :-D

Dive bar with great prices on their drinks. Can be a tad loud if juke box is on. Crowd down to earth and friendly. Parking usually not an issue.

I like Casino South Side. It is south, so close to home and it usually has a good vibe. I say usually because there can be some rough looks at times or a song out of the blue come on .... I guess this is sorta the fun in this place. I do not think the bar staff is very friendly, but that is what they are going for I think. I prefer to hang inside if I am here as their back patio and front patios are quite small and on a busy night it might be hard to get a seat outside. They do have a juke box, shuffle board and pool table. I like the idea of this place more than I actually like it, which is why I have it at 3 stars. Oh yeah and their private lot in the back is super small, but their bathrooms are pretty and always nice, so I guess that makes up for the small lot.

THERE ARE NO BURGERS HERE. NO MENU,EVEN. This is not the spot for the Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dive set. Casino Southside Lounge is bar, and almost a perfect one (yes, I wish there were burgers to be had). Those of us marooned on the south side of Ben White(Bubbaland) rejoiced at the news of Casino opening up. The lounge is the perfect place to complain about downtown while enjoying well-made cocktails in a genteel environment. The patio out back is lovely, flocked with native plants and decent speakers. Simply turn in between Austin Appliances and Two Men & A Truck to find free, ample parking right out back. Plus you could park behind the bar on Fortview, near Roadhouse Rags and Murphos. There's a golf game, pool table, and darts. Excellent (or campy, or trashy - pick two) movies play on large screens, with the closed captioning turned on. The jukebox selections are as meticulously curated as they are in the 6th St Casino El Camino - but if you come in when it's not so busy, you may get to hear the bartender's iPod instead. If you don't care for the bartender' taste in music, that is YP - your problem. Just kidding, the jukebox will come on after you've made your selections and put cash in. I look forward to the day when it becomes common knowledge that you don't come to the southside lounge for a burger. Or if you're a tourist, or anything other than a cocktail fan. I was a bit shocked at my last visit, in that there was a silver Porsche and a massive Silverado (is that the truck endorsed by Krusty?) in the parking lot. Then I heard someone order a cosmo, or as they said, "a martini with cranberry in it," and I knew - Guy Fieri fans were in the house.

Tattoos - check Close to home - check Cold beer - check Mustaches - check Great music - check Amazing bartenders - check Parking lot - check Love it! Love it! Love it! Another rocking bar that is not downtown, easy to get to, and guaranteed to have a good ol' time!

This bar is fine. I have no problems with it but it isn't my favorite bar on 71. It sorta pops out as you are approaching and you will drive past it and every single time I have ever come here (two times now) I have had to park in a sorta mud pit so be prepared to ruin your shoes if it has rained recently. The drinks are cheapish, the seating is varied, the bar is huge, and there is a shuffleboard. Turns out I am secretly good at shuffleboard so yay?? All in all, a bar that gets the job done.

The bartenders are so welcoming & fast . The Juke box is great . The layout * furniture has a cool swanky vibe . They have a good size patio out back & a nice little chill spot out front . Also they always have horror movies going . It's a really great community bar . One if the girl bartenders also helped me count down to my birthday and gave me a free birthday shot to my friend & myself to celebrate . #goodpeople&goodvibes

This place is awesome I want to say I almost like it more than the other location on 6th street. Their seating is great and comfy. Nice music selection on the jukebox. They had some slider burgers that were so juicy and delicious. I really liked how the bar area was set up it seemed to me like it's set up so it's easy to order and see what they have available at a good view from across the bar I really liked it.

I'm guessing that these guys promised everyone they'd have a kitchen... because that seems to be what they're getting dinged for. Me? I had no expectations when I pulled up to this lonely bar between Austin Appliances and Two Men & A Truck. Little did I know that beyond that sign-less door and brick fence lay a very cool, decently sized place with a long wooden curved bar, strong pours, handsome barkeeps, shuffleboard and $3.50 shots. I'm heading back in there with a pretty big group soon so we'll see how they handle it but for now, it's one of the best south siiiiiiide alternatives to my other fave Bender Bar.

So have you been to Casino South Side Lounge Bar in Austin, TX? My review: I was somewhat excited to go with some friends for the first time. I have heard good things from a few folks and it is near the crib. The inside is cool and they have a nice little deck area. With that said, I will never go back.... I bartended in college some and like to think I know enough about it to have a healthy respect for folks that do. Austin has a problem of having multiple types of Duechebag Sydrome. This was a case of Hipster Duechebag Sydrome or HDS... If you go to this bar expect to get shitty service unless you are dressed like a hipster. To be exact: Try to wear all black or maybe some grey. If your shirt has some crazy Gothic script or image even better. Skinny jeans, big beal cap(optional), and piercings you know it. You need to have an over-sized wallet with at least 3 to 5 chains hanging from it connecting to a belt loop. Now this is critical, you must figure out how to utilize a bandanna in some way. If you want to fit in; put a bandanna in other back pocket not utilized by over-sized chain connected wallet. Almost forgot, Black Converse is a must. Lastly, if you don't have at least 5 tattoos don't bother stepping foot in the bar. I tried to get a drink for at least 15 minutes at this bar when they were not even busy with 3 bartenders flat out ignoring me. Ordered some Tito's Vodka for me and my friends when I finally had to basically yell out at one of the bar tenders to get them to acknowledge me after being the only person finally standing at the bar. Later, when I tried to get another drink I had same situation. I guess Titto's isn't Hip enough? Lets just say I basically had to yell at one of the dudes to provide me service because I didn't fit the mold of the patron they are looking for. Maybe that is their marketing strategy to be Crappy Service Hipster Cheek? Either way my $ won't go to them again. I never got that second drink and closed my tab. Maybe it is the sociologist in me studying collective behavior, but damn I will take an original person over status quo every time. Plenty of people fit the outward appearance description of the average bartender and patron at this bar and are not douches, or even better great folks. It appears this bar does not value $, but instead values appearance. Don't care about fads. Care about the person.... Chase H: Thanks for proof reading and spell check homie!! Titto's would be a great name for something.

I have beaten a handicapped man at shuffleboard. I have made out in the Men's bathroom, Women's bathroom, parking lot, and a picnic table out front. All with women, whose names I don't remember. I have been the first there, and the last to leave, on multiple occasions. At least two bartenders know where I live. At least one has known me since I was a teenager. I was the first of my friend's to go here, and I'm starting to regret introducing them to the place. BOOM! I said it. This is MY local bar. My favorite line from new patrons: "Oh you mean you don't serve burgers here?" Second favorite line: "Why do you know his drink order by heart?" Love this place, love these bartenders, and love the countless hours I've spent on that patio. F the rain, I'm still gonna sit out there and smoke cigarettes with my best friend. Thank you for curing my heartache with shots from Ms. Viv, humor from Damon, and unwanted sexual advances from Lifto. Love you man.

It is with some sadness I write this one-star review, but it's more of a public service announcement than anything. I've heard it suggested that when "Yelping in anger," to wait 24 hours after the incident so that you can chill out and think things through, and I have. Hear me out. For the past few months, I've felt SUPER EXCITED AND GRATEFUL about having this awesome, affordable, well-hidden little bar located a block from my house. The rest of the neighborhood is a barren wasteland along 71, so this place is seriously like magic. The bartenders have always been professional, all shots of any liquor are the same price, and it's a great spot to come to with my friends without having to worry about who's driving home. I picked my friend up after work and headed straight there. I'd only been out for an hour, and she was stone cold sober--first drink of the night. We were quietly seated at the bar talking about work stuff. She asked our bartender if he could pre-run her debit card for a pack of Camel Blues because she thought it might be declined. She did this as a courtesy to him. She asked nicely and timidly. He ran it, it got declined, and then he asked for the cigarettes back. Hmm, what? He insisted he'd handed her her card back with a pack (but that doesn't make sense...why would he do that, if her card had just been declined?)... He IMMEDIATELY launched into frustration and rage. She dumped out her entire bag and patted herself down in front of him, and he wouldn't admit that there was a chance he may have misremembered. He then ran my CC without permission for her cigs and walked away. Now that he'd unwillingly involved me, I asked him if I could wait around til closing to watch the security tapes. If it was going to "fucking be like that," he didn't "have time for that shit," he grabbed a pack of American Spirit Yellows, and THREW them at us. Not even the right brand. Shows you how much attention he'd been paying. He was red in the face, bits of spit flying out, and shouting at us, talking trash about us to other regulars at the bar, refusing to calm down. When he started to realize he was in the wrong, he changed tack and started berating her for not having enough money on her card, trying to make her feel embarrassed. Hey man, girl's got two banks. She works hard. Making fun of people for being poor is, like, the trashiest move ever. To recap: 1. Bartender made a mistake 2. Bartender verbally abused customers 3. Bartender yelled and cursed til he was red in the face 4. Bartender ran a customer's credit card without permission 5. Bartender publicly tried to shame another customer whose card was declined 6. Bartender essentially refused to run security tape footage despite calling us thieves Does this sound appropriate or professional to you? At the risk of naming the wrong person, the name on our receipt was Dhamon Q. (he's on yelp!), my check was issued at 1:53 a.m. on 4/28/2013, the batch number was 04272013 and the check number is 234. The lady bartender apologized on his behalf and offered free drinks next time we came in, but the situation with the dude is unsalvageable. As someone who worked in service for five years (and my friend currently works in fine dining/bar and deals with asswipes with GRACE & PATIENCE 10 hours a day), we UNDERSTAND feeling cranky at drunk people's shenanigans on a busy, exhausting weekend night. I UNDERSTAND wanting to punch your idiot customers in the face. Should you release the entirety of that frustration on two polite and sober girls? Probably not.

I mostly just come here for the Jenny L., but aside from that, it's pretty all right. Decent drink prices, tons of space, pool table and darts and stuff, cool-bordering-on-cold temps inside (and dark to cover up your imperfections if you're not like me and have some), generally shady outside on the patio (and I mean shady in both senses), and if you're into west nile virus or vaginal malaria, you have a good chance of getting hooked up here, because the mosquitoes feast at dusk (bring bug spray or go with Jenny and she'll bring bug spray). Good luck turning in time to park in the back parking lot. Even when you've been here fifteen times, you'll probably miss that turn. Good thing there's plenty of street parking. Like others have said, it'd be pretty cool if there was a trailer or two, but it's not necessary. I mean, y'all Austinites are so spoiled with trailers that you expect to be able to stuff your face everywhere you go. First. World. Problems. Stuff your face with beer here and shut up.

I like this place. A lot. A lot, lot. I like it because you can tell these bartenders have Seen Life. They have tattoos, and beards, and stories being held deep within their chests that they don't even realize need to be told yet. I am listening. The floor is a bronze stained concrete. The booths are plush and there are retro-vintage 1940s-1950s Hollywood framed movie posters on the wall advertising damsels in distress and zombies. The jukebox is KILLER. Love the music selection. They have shuffleboard, darts and a pool table. And flat screens that aren't showing the latest tennis match but rather movies. Like the night our group went--it was Point Break. Rest in peace Swayze. Out back is an open air patio. Know what would sure be nice on that patio? The wafting smells of food cooking in a food trailer! Just sayin', since there is no food anywhere within safe walking distance. I won't gripe that you don't serve your famous burgers at this location but I do agree with others that food would be nice. I think they are working on this so let's hope it happens. Another big bonus is the cost of drinks--cheap! $2.75 Lone Stars the Saturday night our group was there. Well liquor is also on the affordable. This makes everything super-duper-dandy-swell. I'll be back.

I wanted to write another review since I have been going to this bar for a year now. I see some reviews of people saying that they're "too old for this bar" or that they "like bender bar better". Well, I'm glad that this bar scares certain types of people away if that's the case, because we don't want you there anyway. 1. THIS BAR MIGHT NOT BE FOR YOU! This bar is a hipster / punk / rockabilly / whatever you want to call it kinda place. It's not for sports idiots, G-Money's with basketball shirts on, or old people that don't like loud music, or some other type of jock idiot that likes fighting or talking a lot of shit. There are TV's there but you won't see sports playing. Sorry but fuck your sports games. Go somewhere else where you can stare at the TV and hoot and holler like an idiot. 2. BARTENDERS ARE PEOPLE NOT YOUR SLAVE The bartenders are people. They're not robots. When you don't have money to pay your tab they get in trouble. Drinks and cigarettes are not free. Do yourself and everyone a favor and show up with an ID and some money for f**k's sake. 3. THE TV. Another thing. Don't go in there and ask the bartender to change the channel. If you aren't happy with what's on TV then have a conversation instead or go home. Don't whine like a goddamn child when you don't get what you want and make yourself look like a dumbass. 4. NO BURGERS To you people complaining about there being no burgers: some of the bartenders here had to deal with your burgers from 6th street for so long and they hated it. The excess trash. The stinky smell. And guess what - they're glad they're gone. Frankly, so am I because when some people are drinking alcohol not everyone wants to smell your over-sized burger steaming next to them. Not to mention, the sight of you stuffing your face with 2 pounds of meat making your ass even larger isn't pretty. oh, and one more thing... 5. MAKING OUT AT THE BAR Listen very carefully. Mating rituals at the bar are disgusting. If you are one of these idiots that makes out with someone sitting at the bar, or for that matter anywhere in the bar, you should be very very ashamed of yourself. When you are sitting there sucking face and licking all over each other you are grossing everyone out around you and making yourself look like a complete fool. So, please don't do it. Go get a room and fuck off there. I believe that sums it up. Have a nice day! Oh to Mr. Benigno A.: Tito's vodka is not spelled "Titto's" FFS. Please research your spelling first or risk looking stupid.

O good. Cause I wanted to go on a f**king Easter egg hunt to find this place. Signs are overrated, anyway. Also, maybe hide behind that giant fence a little more so that I can't even see the building and just have to assume I'm walking towards a bar because of the staggering drones swarming towards, from what I can tell is a pawn shop in the dark. Oh, there it is. Google map it before you go or turn on Tom Tom to avoid violent road rage your first time trying to find it. Hey look. I like bathrooms that look like I'm at Chucky effing Cheese. With their low yellow lights and bright, flat, purple or whatever walls. Feeling like I'm peeing at a Pediatrician's office always puts me in the mood to grab a beverage and play some pool. So, nice. "Hey, sorry, yeah - It's okay if I play this game of pool? Awesome, yeah cause I had four quarters down and when the table freed up, I looked around and no one came, so I waited and no one came, so I started racking. Oooh, NOOOOW you call me a bitch. My bad!" The patrons are really sweet people, no really. But then it was time to retreat to the patio to remove my tall drink o' water from his desire to throat punch a hipster. Oooh, nice - The patio! Look at all that sweet framing. That's some quality work on this roof frame. The frame of the roof. That's just a frame and no roof. Really well done, guys. Thank god we're under a roof frame in case it rained or something. But at least there's plenty of seating. If we sit close enough to that blonde she'll give me her out-of-stater rundown of what SXSW is "really" about, cause she knows it all, with her lens-free nerd glasses and her inability to breathe between sentences or speak at a normal human volume to the person she's actually talking to. Maybe we'll move further to the corner. Light cigarette. All is right in the world. Five stars, this place. Why? Because it sucks to be this cool. Everything sucks, and you like it. The location is great (South-wise having a dive option like this is superb) but the location sucks (effing completely hidden between Bannister and Manchaca. Good damn luck getting here and better luck parking) The drink specials are good. There's tons of seating. There's plenty of entertainment - pool, shuffleboard, darts. It's not cramped. There's no excuse for only one pool table, but whatevs. The patio is plenty of seating. It's casual. It's grungy. I'm pretty sure they'll cover the patio. The stupid ugly bathrooms are clean, big plus. It's perfect. Now where's the food?

The other Casino has burgers, obviously, but there's no food here except a Whataburger and Long John Silver's down the street. The beer on tap is unimpressive (tell me again why we need a draft of Dos Equis?) and the well liquor is a half step up from rubbing alcohol. The jukebox is 75% incredible, but the other 25% is NOT my scene. With music as loud as they play it in there, it's a risky game to play when someone follows my $2 worth of baby-making classic R&B with $2 worth of Anthrax and Iron Maiden. The entire mood of the place shifts drastically depending on who just put a few bucks in the machine. I'll give it another shot before writing it off, but I'm not sure I understand the draw. There has to be something that sets the bar apart from other places, and the jukebox isn't special enough to do that yet. And that disco ball has to go.

Did you know that there is already a bar on the south side called Casino? So I'm out Saturday night with two of my peeps, and a mutual friend suggest we go meet her at this cool bar called Casino. None of us had heard of it, so I look it up on my map app on my phone. She didn't really mention an address, just said it was on the south side. Long story short, we walk into the wrong bar. So, as a heads up, this is NOT "Club Casino" on S Congress. Just ya know, if you google it... that's what comes up. They are very, very, VERY DIFFERENT bars. Moving on. After we call our homegirl and get the address to the correct Casino... it's a pretty good bar. The drinks are quite cheap, the bartenders are on point, and it's definitely a good place to party. They have everything you could want from a bar, with games, jukebox, etc etc. Yeah, they could probably use some food, because with those drink prices you are going to be intoxicated very quickly and there isn't a whole lot around. This place definitely has a bright future ahead of it though in the 78704 'hood.

You might just miss this place if you blink and, believe me, you'll be sorry you did. For just on the west side of a local appliance shop, you'll find a wonderland where a former circus performer serves drinks, where a DJ/bartender gives away Austin Comic Con tickets, and where you don't have to take out a loan to buy a drink. The prices are a tad higher than my Hideout Pub-going self is used to paying, but $3.50 for a vodka soda is a much better deal than whatever bullshit downtown bar I see some of my friends willingly patronize. I only started coming here because bartender David -- the DJ who gives away Austin Comic Con tix; the man who calls every woman he knows, including me, by the exact same "Sweetpea" nickname; a man I am proud to call a good friend -- began hosting monthly public record playing parties here. There's a legion of us who have followed him from bar to bar to do these parties. To say they're fun as hell is putting it lightly. And I come here a lot more often now because one of my good Yelp friends hangs out here, and because I've gotten to know most of the bartenders. Because, who doesn't like it when the bartenders know what you drink? The patio is just about as tiny as a dressing room, but it's almost always full of easygoing people... or sometimes just Jenny L and I, and her space heater. The jukebox won't disappoint, and you can catch episodes of "Walking Dead" here on Sundays as long as David has anything to say about it. So, to quickly recap: **Monthly record player parties **A former circus performer turned bartender **A super sexy bartender with ties to Comic Con **Killer juke **Decent prices Who needs a real casino when you can hit the jackpot here?

I live on Lamar, just north of Ben White. For many years now, I had been driving five miles north and hassling with downtown parking just to go to Casino El Camino on 6th St., my favorite bar in Austin. So when I heard Casino was opening a South Austin location just down the road from me, I had to check it out. The interior is dark with a row of tables against the wall and a pool table and a shuffleboard in the back. The bar is a wood finish. There is a tiny patio out back and a small parking lot. There's no sign out front, so if you don't know to turn right IMMEDIATELY past Affordable Appliances on the north side of Ben White just west of Banister, you will drive right by it! I don't know if they are planning on putting a sign up or not. Seems like a good idea. Then again, Casino may be going for that whole word-of-mouth thing and have chosen to keep it deliberately low-key. Who knows? Much of the bar staff were people from Casino El Camino. I was glad to see Lifto when I went. He likes working at the south location much better than working downtown, and I think I'm going to like going here more often. I'm not saying I'm done with downtown Casino. After all, they have the burgers and wings. But whenever I feel like getting out of the house for a drink, but I don't feel like going downtown, this will be my new spot.

When I moved to the Austin area in 2008, "Casino El Camino" on 6th St was one of the first dive bars I went to by myself & has always held a special place in my heart. When my wife first heard that they were adding a second location in south-ATX, it had my curiousity! We were actually able to attend their "soft opening" & we've gone back a few times since. If you're reading this & haven't been to "Casino South Side" but have been to "El Camino", be advised that the spawn is nothing like it's originator, which was the intention of the owner. "South Side" is a lot more open, cleaner, & has an overall different feel to it. It reminds me of the old "Highball" in a way. Another thing to remember is that "South Side" has no food, no kitchen like the original & will not have a kitchen anytime soon. If you want a "Casino" burger, you have to go downtown. We were told that they were planning on getting a food truck/trailer but have not seen one as of yet. The beer selection is good & the liquor & tequila selection is awesome! The only thing that remains the same between the two "Casino's" is the cult-classic B-Movies on the TV's inside. To sum it up, if you haven't been yet you need to check it out. "Casino South Side Lounge" is yet another good stop while on a south Austin pub crawl.

So Casino's South Side Lounge is the perfect neighborhood dive bar and lucky for me it is in MY neighborhood. I can sum this place up perfectly by saying if you like Casino's downtown location (minus the food) then you will like the South location. In case you aren't familiar with the downtown location this is what you will get on the edge of the 04. A dark bar area, a kick ass jukebox, a movie playing on the TV, a small back patio for smoking, and crappy parking. Like I said, just like downtown. The staff are friendly and do a great job slinging drinks and beers quickly. They have a cheap happy hour from 4-7 and $3.50 shots all the time. Would I like those famous Casino's burgers, of course I would but it is what it is. Hopefully one day they will solve this dilemma but until then I will enjoy this bar for what it is.

Love this little spot. Kickin music. Darts available. Cheap drinks. Wonderful bartender named Cracker. Let the fucking good times roll!

what's the big deal? Bender is better! Pros: awesome juke, pool tables, sweet beer selection, great venue for punk music and actually very clean for a dive bar. Cons: C'mon folks as cool as this place is the staff could be more friendly, drink pours are weak, no visible signage could easily pass it up and no burgers y'all.

Bars that are dark inside automatically get 3 stars from me, regardless of most other factors. Yeah, I may have rushed to get here, and may have put my lipstick on at a stoplight, but when it's so dark inside you can't really tell, can you? I also like bars that have darts, because somehow, I was blessed with that skill. Don't ask me how. I suck at pool, but if I ever wanted to try to play again, they've got pool tables here as well. Sometimes I want to listen to Frank Sinatra crooning from a well stocked juke box while watching the NBA finals on mute. I can do that here. I gave up smoking a year ago, but if I ever wanted to pick up that half pack of parliaments I never finished (do cigarettes go bad?), I could do it here, albeit in a tiny area. It's okay though, because even as a non-smoker now, I still identify better with smokers. I've always thought they were more down to earth. I like liquor, but I've never been a cherry vodka sour girl. I like whiskey, and they pour with a heavy hand, for $3.50. That's not bad at all. Bender is still my favorite bar in south Austin, but Casino is up there as well. P.S. If you're like me and enjoy the feeling of a dark bar, you're in for a rude awakening if you go to the bathroom. Like Beth D. said, you'll instantly feel like you're at Chuck E. Cheese.

The beer works, and that's what counts. Imagine a bar that might appear in a Quentin Tarantino movie... that's this place. If you get the bartender with lots of piercings, talk to him a bit - fascinating guy with lots of stories about his adventures around the world.

Ain't gonna ding for the lack of burgers/hot wings. Anthrax and Iron Maiden and the like drag the jukebox down from Lala's-level perfection, but in all it's a solid selection similar to what you'll find at the downtown location (aka the only place on east Sixth that isn't a total skeezefest, aside from B.D Riley's and Jackalope). The well liquors are dreck, and at $3.50, nothing to get excited about. And Fireman's #4 is the most interesting thing on tap. But the seats are super-comfy and the big screens are showing closed-captioned movies instead of boring-ass basketball/NFL/baseball/whatever. Gotta love that. I don't factor location into my rating. But I've lived on the south-central edge of 78704 for 12 of my 13 years in TX, and this is the first time a bar has been within easy walking distance of my home, so I'm pretty thrilled.

Best bartenders, best drink prices, and best place in Austin to show off your new tattoos. The jukebox has great music, but it can get repetitive at times (ain't nobody's fault but the people picking the music). Though, it'd be great if they rotated some new tunes in once in a while. Sundays are Walking Dead night, if you're into that sort of thing. Bring your dog along, because he's welcome too. This is one of my favorite spots in town to just sit at the bar and have a drink. It helps that it's close to home.