Sandy’s Old Fashioned Hamburgers, Austin, Texas

After our magnificent lunch at the City Market in Luling and fulfilling Nancy’s burning desire to go to Smitty’s, we drove on to Austin. As I mentioned here, one of our goals in our trip to Texas was to complete our 10K — this one actually was 11K — state capital walk in Austin. It was state capital #42 in our quest to do all 50, which we began after we’d done 1,000K in other events. The walks are laid out by volunteers with the American Volksport Association, and there are walks all over the country, not just in capitals, but everywhere. Our first was in Custer State Park in the Black Hills. You can find a link listing every walk here.

This was a great walk. The weather started off brisk and warmed up to shirtsleeve weather. The streets were full of people, the mores as Austin is a college town and it was a Game Day (Texas vs, TCU). We started at a hotel on the south side of Ladybird Lake, walked up Congress Street to the Capitol, then through the UT campus where there were a scattering of tailgates, mostly, it seemed, commercial. There was one by a Gentleman’s Club (i.e., a club which no gentleman would enter) sporting a sign, “Keep Austin Topless.” No photos. Then back down through residential areas and along a path beside Shoal Creek. Then across the lake on the First Street Bridge, at which point we hit an obstacle: Sandy’s. (The finger is ironic. It’s art.)

Sandy’s sits on Barton Springs Road just off First, south of Lady Bird Lake, a block or two from the end of our walk. It’s a seductive place.

It opened in 1946, after owners Andy Harris and Glen Teter had spent a year constructing the building. The current owners bought Sandy’s in 1979 and added the cone sign which I, in my weariness, neglected to photo. See their website. I don’t see how the Whataburger next door stays in business in the shadow of that cone. Austin is weird.

There was no question of getting a hamburger or a cheese, chili, and onion dog, even though I hadn’t eaten since that magnificent barbecue and sausage at the City Market in Luling and what I’ll call a snack at Smitty’s, several hours before, but we had a dinner date in 90 minutes. What’s a mother to do?

Nancy observed that she wouldn’t mind a vanilla cone. Our marriage is built on togetherness, so I decided to get one, too.

It hit the spot, as ice cream so often does. You just can’t be hangry after an ice cream cone. It soothes the savage breast, puts a spring in an old gentleman’s step, and helps rejoice and be glad in the day This was a particularly good cone, with an interesting flavor. Was there a touch of almond peeking out from behind the vanilla? Whatever the cone’s twist, it was delicious.

Austin offers much to the weary traveler, but the ice cream at Sandy’s is a Pip, and I have great expectations for their burgers and dogs. You need to drop by Sandy’s and give me a report. Thanks.

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