Review: B. B. Rovers International Cafe & Pub

B. B. Rovers has been open seemingly forever, so long that it has become an Austin icon. I've been going to it for close to 20 years, with only a five year or so gap prior to the Austin smoking ban. It's probably one of the few places that the Austin smoking ban has actually helped, as prior to the ban I had quit frequenting the place as your date's hair would smell like a week old ashtray just from eating dinner there. Which is seriously not conducive to a warm snuggling session later.

They're well know for their 100s of beers and their 101-club (drink 101 beers and get your name on a plaque). With roughly 300 beers to chose from, there is something for everyone, and as long as you don't abuse the privilege, they are very happy to let you try a sample. That said, the beer has always been overpriced. At four dollars a pint and three to five dollars a bottle this isn't the place to get a cheap buzz. And, unfortunately, the food has seriously gone downhill as well over the last ten years.

The menu is fairly standard pub grub; burgers, sandwiches, salads, and surprisingly good pizza when cooked right. I could forgive them for now using Cheez Whiz / Velveta for their chips and queso and nacho toping, if they could ever figure out how to cook the pizza consistently. Two out of three times they make it, their "Super Mongo" pizza is arguably the absolute best pizza in town. But that third time, it's a soggy mess of wet dough and lukewarm toppings. I've never figured out if it's an oven that has a faulty thermostat or if they change out cooks so frequently the cook finally learns the proper cooking time just as they are leaving.

The one thing they do best is hire wait staff. The servers are invariably young, friendly, and cute.

Summary: The beer is plentiful and cold, the food is adequate. B-

Restaurant Reviewed:
B. B. Rovers International Cafe & Pub
12101 Jollyville Rd.
Austin, TX 78759
Website: http://www.bbrovers.com/
Phone: 512-335-9504
Open: Sun.-Fri. 11 a.m. to midnight,. Sat. 11 a.m. to 1 a.m.
Other Info: Live Music Sat & Sun nights. Weekend Brunch, Free Wireless Internet, ~300 beers