Deep Eddy Cabaret — Restaurant in Austin

A defiantly old-school outpost of dive-ness perched on the hill above Deep Eddy Pool, across Mopac from the rapid mutations of development downtown, Deep Eddy Cabaret is where you go when you don't want to deal with the changes that are sweeping over Austin.

The first barrier they place to the outside world is that they don't take cards. I read complaints sometimes from people upset that this or that new trailer doesn't take cards. Well, Deep Eddy Cabaret was not taking cards before they were born! There's an ATM inside if you didn't think ahead.

The second barrier is the large amount of regulars, which makes it hard to break in. The old dude I was playing pool against the other night was born in the 30s, and he basically owned that table. The staff will chat up the patrons like they were old friends, because often enough, they are.

The third barrier is the interior. It might not actually be that small, but it feels small, and something about the layout always gives off a cramped, crowded vibe. Every square inch of the walls is coated in UT memorabilia, which doesn't entice outsiders. There's a patio outside, but it's not very spacious either.

But if you can get past those, it's great. Absurdly cheap beer ($9 pitchers), multiple pool tables, rad jukebox, a few TVs for sports or what have you, and you have what the 1950s considered a perfect bar. For long-term Austinites, that kind of continuing dedication is still...

Racist or what? Older lady has a heinous attitude - scanned our IDs, said there’s “something wrong” with them despite us all being 22 and every ID scanning. I went to the bar to tell my friend we had to leave, and when the bartender overheard me telling her “we have to go because they don’t want us here or they’re just racist” as the only POC in there, the bartender interrupted to tell me stop - like I can’t tell my own friend to leave? Offered to provide alternate form of ID (passport) or clarification why they wouldn’t take our IDs - stuttered with a repeated “sorry”, then the other bartender told us they wouldn’t consider our passports “with that attitude”. Hard to believe it’s not out of racism or just plain spite - everyone in here was older and white. Never gotten this sort of treatment anywhere in my life. Wouldn’t recommend this place to anyone - go to Barfly’s instead for better pool, drinks, and...

RACIST BAR!!!! Came with a group of friends (all 21/22). Woman immediately came up to us and told us she needed to see our IDs. Fine okay. Then she proceeds to only look at mine (Indian) and a friends (Mexican) and says they can’t take them. We asked her to scan them and she took them to the back, came back and said THEY SCAN, and then still said they had to ask us to leave…. We asked at like 20 times for the reasoning and she said she couldn’t tell us… (very peacefully might I add cause we were genuinely confused we are all legal). Then she took everyone else’s IDs and said they all scan but we still have to leave…. Something to note, this bar is ENTIRELY filled with white people. I mentioned to her if that was the reason why (because again giving us no reasoning 😭) and she starts yelling at me… Anyways if you’re of color do not recommend coming here because they are...