Hello everyone! I’m back with a “Dining À La Playground” post. If you’ve missed my previous ones, be sure to check out my reviews of Flores Mexican Restaurant, Ski Shores Cafe, and Central Market. We all LOVE getting to leave the house and visit fun restaurants that can also provide entertainment for our kiddos. So, hopefully these posts will help get you out of the house for dinner every so often! You can also check out my Four Points Resource on Restaurants with Playgrounds for other ideas.
I have to be honest with you – we love Rudy’s BBQ. We even had Rudy’s cater our rehearsal dinner when we got married back in 2007. My husband is Canadian and wanted to treat all of his family in town with some “real Texas barbecue.” Everyone loved the food and the laid-back atmosphere of the fun rehearsal dinner. Throwback … how cute (and young) were we?
When we moved back to Texas a couple years ago, we were thrilled to move within 10 minutes of Rudy’s. And, drumroll please, we were ecstatic this spring to see the construction begin on Rudy’s fabulous new playground.
| Hours | Monday - Thursday: 6 am - 9:30 pm Friday - Saturday: 6 am - 10 pm Sunday: 7 am - 9:30 pm |
| Type of Food | Barbecue |
| Play Area Description | A large wooden playscape next to outdoor patio seating |
| Kids Menu Options | Barbecue (turkey, chicken, pork, and beef options), beans, creamed corn, potato salad, coleslaw, and more! |
| Price Range | Family style servings, very reasonably-priced |
| Reservations | No |
| Live Music | No |
| Parking | Plenty of parking |
| Seating Options Near Play Area | To observe the playscape, you need to sit on the outside patio |
| Restroom Details | The bathroom is super clean and your kids will love washing their hands at the hand washing station |
There are a handful of Rudy’s BBQ locations in the Austin area, but the one near Four Points on 620 is my favorite. Not only because it’s the closest, but I cannot think of a single time we’ve had to wait more than a few minutes in line. Hello! Nothing’s better than walking into a restaurant and sitting down with your food within 10 minutes, especially with two toddlers in tow!
And, of course don’t forget that Rudy’s also can serve as your gas station and car wash. Talk about multi-tasking! 😉
But, let’s talk about the Rudy’s experience. It’s truly one-of-a-kind and a great throwback to old school Texas BBQ.
There are tons of banquet-style tables covered with red checkered tablecloths and folding chairs. You’ve got the token longhorn hanging on the wall along with the neon signs, but look at the beautiful wooden beams across the ceiling. They somehow manage to make it all come together in a quirky yet classic Texan way.
But, of course I can’t go on without gushing over the food. As I mentioned earlier, you walk up and order at the register. You can grab bottled beers and sodas (I’ve even seen some original Dublin Dr Peppers – yum). You then choose your cold sidss like potato salad or coleslaw, cheese slices, or even banana and chocolate puddings.
Then, when you walk up to the counter you can order your favorite barbecue. Check out the Rudy’s menu to see your options. We usually get the turkey, brisket, and spicy chopped. They also have hot sides like beans and creamed corn. They throw your food on a paper-covered tray and your on your way to the table. And, you’ll usually get about half a loaf of really nutrient-heavy (j/k) white bread. Hey, you’re at Rudy’s – eat a slice of white bread.
By the way the staff at Rudy’s is incredible. They are the friendliest people around. I’ve seriously never had an experience with someone who was not extremely helpful and nice.
Before you head to the table your kids will want to wash their hands in the “hand jacuzzi.” Believe me, it will be a hit!
Now you get to eat! Everyone’s happy!
When we went last week we ate inside because it was over 100 degrees outside. Yay for Texas in July. But, we usually eat on the patio.
The patio is situated close to the playground so this is the perfect place to sit with kids. Now, let’s talk about that awesome brand-new playground!
The playground is a very large wooden structure with tons of activities — rock climbing wall, tunnels, slide, etc. There are 4 steering wheels throughout so my kids have always gravitated to the various “towers” to drive their own pirate ships.
The playground area itself is fenced on two sides, but it is not completely enclosed. You can walk out of the playground into the parking lot on two different sides which is unfortunate. I wish they at least had gates up if they need it open as a fire exit.
Otherwise, the new playground is a huge hit with our family. When I say “we’re going to Rudy’s” I now hear shouts of glee and they jump up and down clapping. 🙂
