Phil's Ice House — Restaurant in Austin

5 stars, that's a pretty bold statement Gary! Why yes...yes it is.

Here's the thing, I looked at the menu (items all named after Austin neighborhoods), chose a sandwich, sat down and ate the sandwich, and really REALLY enjoyed it.

Their burgers are tasty! And if you're not feeling for a burger, I recommend the Hot and Crunchy Fish Sandwich. The toasted sourdough bun is seriously something to dream about. Usually it's awkward when you're eating with a friend and don't say much, but the sourdough bun will give you an excuse not to say anything. Overall very PHILing too (ha...ha).

Now let's talk about those fries. First off I don't know any place that automatically serves mixed traditional french fries with sweet potato fries. Secondly those fries are a crispy hot pile of deliciousness! And thirdly, if you're not a french fries type of person, Phil's fries will surely change your mind. Seriously, the fries are legit.

I love the restaurant space which is shared with Amy's. The photo booth that I sat next to was a kid's magnet. I was sitting there eating for 10 minutes when a kid ran out of it. I don't recall seeing a kid walk in, and I sure don't know why they were in there for so long. Minutes later another kid ran into the booth and just sat on the seat.

Phil's Ice House isn't a place to hype about to your friends; instead just take them there and let the food and the atmosphere speak for themselves. My review may not have convinced you that this place is 5 star material, but it's a 5 star to me...and that's all...

Our family LOVES Phils. One of the best burgers in town, local beers on tap, and an enclosed playground for the kiddos.

There's a great selection of burgers. They make amazing bacon cheeseburgers- the bacon is always perfectly crispy. They give you a mix of regular and sweet potato fries unless you specify otherwise. The service is always excellent. When they aren't busy they've even brought our food to our table when they noticed we had our hands full with our kids. There's a few different choices on the kids menu. Maine root sodas on tap plus "pink drink" aka prickly pear lemonade.

And if you still have room in your belly after devouring a big as your face burger you can always grab Amy's ice cream for dessert since they share the building.

As for the playground- it is very tall. Meant for 5-12 year olds but we go during slower hours (weekdays at lunch) with my 2 year old and he can handle it but he's always been very physically able for his age. I worry about him more when there are too many other kids running past him because it's definitely not the safest playground. It is completely fenced in though so as long as the gates are closed (you have to keep an eye out because some dopes always end up leaving it open) then your kid...

Met up with old friends here for dinner. Phil's was easy to find and presented ample parking. We were immediately greeted upon entry and easily found a clean table. After traveling all day l immediately visited the restroom which was in fine working order and extremely clean. The menu was really easy to navigate. Yummy burgers with a wide selection sure to please any and everyone. Toughest decision of the day was in picking the sides, thankfully everyone ordered different sides so we were all able to try some of the French fries, the sweet potato fries and the onion rings as well as the fried green beans. While all were great, no one agreed on which ruled supreme, I personally loved the sweet potato fries the best. I ordered the The Crestview Burger which was cooked to order. l found it extremely flavorful and very satisfying not only meeting my expectations but superceding them. To top the meal, Amy's is right there for delicious ice cream treats. Overall we had a wonderful time visiting in a relaxing fun-filled atmosphere while partaking in tasty food and experiencing fantastic customer service. I'd highly recommend visiting this establishment. Phil's is indeed a local treasure to be enjoyed and...