Lucy’s Retired Surfers Bar & Restaurant

REQUIEM FOR LUCY’S RETIRED SURFERS BAR:
Lucy’s Retired Surfers Bar,
You gave us one of the coolest Unilocal events by far.
Was that not enough to keep you afloat?
Or were you taking on water like a leaky boat?
It saddens me that you’re no more.
I’d have liked one last round of drinks on your shore.
But I guess it won’t be, my fallen star;
Now that you’re a retired retired surfers bar.

Apparently, my former favorite bar that closed and reopened to become once again my favorite bar is closing again tomorrow!
Heartbroken. We had such good times I will never forget. :(

So I did not care for this place, the vibe was just off.
This bar reminded me of what would happen if all of the douche bags that hang out on 6^th never grew up but made more money.
The staff was friendly and the prices were OK. Clientele seemed like the crowd that considers Joe’s Crab Shack quality seafood.

So many better places in a 2 block radius to go. Why avoid? Service and food. When it comes to a restaurant, these two strikes makes you OUT in my book.
First the food… We ordered the shrimp po’ boy, and you know when seafood is NOT fresh and you can literally taste the fishy-​ness/​unfreshness? Yep, that’s what this was. Even with copious amounts of fried batter and sauce over the shrimp… you could tell it was NOT fresh in any way. We had two bites, to make sure it wasn’t just the one shrimp (it wasn’t) and the rest of the sandwich was abandoned. Sweet potato fries were decent, not amazing, but decent.
Now the service… The service though was particularly horrible, even for a place like this where you don’t expect that much to begin with. We got there and said there would be 8 of us (our volleyball team) and asked for 8 waters and menus. The waitress returned with 3 waters, and 4 menus, and then disappeared for the next 20 minutes. She forgot food items, screwed up orders, and when the check came, charged two people for the same order. When this was pointed out to her, she returned only to have mischarged the wrong card for another order (all of this after we said we were in a rush because the meter was about to expire). The whole mess took over 15 minutes to sort out (clearly she was horribly inexperienced) and we were lucky to have not gotten a ticket. Just not worth the headache.

I really don’t like posting reviews like this, especially after a fantastic Unilocal Elite event held at Lucy’s but Lucy… you need to come out of retirement or go back to it.
We showed up on a Friday night and stood at the hostess stand for a while. No one greeted us or seated us, so we seated ourselves. We then waited and waited and waited after multiple waitresses noticed us and ducked their heads, obviously because we weren’t in their sections.
Finally the waitress showed up and asked if anyone had helped us yet. With nothing in front of us but some silverware in a bag, we said «no». She then came back with two menus in hand. We didn’t order any alcohol, just iced tea and water. After more unbearable waiting she came back and delivered our drinks and we ordered. I inquired about the fried shrimp and wasabi sauce that we had sampled at a recent event. She blankly stared at me, like I had two heads and mullet. She then asked «so, you want just a basket of a shrimp?» and I replied that I only wanted shrimp if it came with the wasabi sauce that was the greatest thing ever in the entire world andpleaseIcameherejusttohaveitagainmayIjusthaveali­ttle? «We don’t have that, sorry.» Sadness. So sad. I was so sad!
Went with a chicken quesadilla «extra spicy» and the mister got a chicken club sandwich thing.
We then watched our waitress head over to the bar area, in plain sight, and skim her FB feed. And then type a few texts, check the weather, check the FB feed and then, disappear.
Our drinks sat empty and my lone quesadilla sat longingly in the window. It waved and cried and wondered why all of the staff would just pass it by? Thankfully, an adorable guy with a buzzcut lovingly delivered it to our table. He then asked if we needed refills! «Yes, please!» we begged. He arrived with water and tea and I asked if he could please bring some salsa. He obliged.
Meanwhile, the chicken sandwich was nowhere to be found. I can only assume they went in search of their free-​range chickens to find the very special one to make the sandwich while the cows were making milk for fresh cheese and the bread was rising. Obviously they were also out back hand picking the lettuce and onions to go on the side salad, extremely time consuming.
As I’m on my third tasty triangle, the sandwich magically appears, thanks to the adorable guy with the buzzcut. He’s all smiles and friendly and I really like him. He comes back to check on us after I am done with my food and the mister is starting his carefully crafted sandwich.
He finishes and we push the plates to the edge of the table… sort of the universal signal for «we’re done here, please come back lady waitress». She comes back, I kid you not, 20 minutes later, smelling of cigarettes and asking if we want anything else. «No, just the check» we mumble uncomfortably. She then heads to the computer and proceeds to print out 7 checks, 6 all divided for the table next to us. This is fine, except it was interrupted by some waitressing gossip which took another 10 minutes.
These 10 minutes were enough to realize exactly how loud the music was, and how the owner was literally two tables over, behind the bar talking to the staff, up in the front, but never noticed the fact that we had been waiting and waiting and waiting and then waiting MORE. I really wanted to tell her that we were the ones she sang the chicken song to, and we were the ones who LOVED the wasabi sauce and were so happy with the friendly, attentive faces and staff the night of our event.
Finally, lady waitress shows back up and giggles about how hard it was for her to divide up those individual checks and smiles and giggles some more about having a great night.
I left grumpy, sticky and agitated after a day in the sun with a burn and sand in my bathing suit. Lucy’s, you were pretty disappointing.

I love lucy’s! For a chill night out or even a little crazy pre-​gaming before DT, this is the place to be! I had my graduation party here out on the patio and oh man did we have a great time! The baja rolls are to die for and their margaritas will get you up and going (trust me).

My wife and I attended the Unilocal event here recently, and it looks like a fun place. I have to admit: We’re in our 40s and kind of boring old fuddy-​duddies. Definitely not the kind of people you run into on 6^th street on a Saturday night. ;)
Even so — the place has a great atmosphere and is surprising large, especially when taking the outside patio into account. The waitstaff and bartenders all work very hard and are still friendly. The food is surprisingly good with a neat flair on some old favorites like tempura shrimp.
My one complaint is that the inside is very long and narrow; there isn’t much room to move around people if they’re clogging up the thoroughfare. Minor quibbles I’m sure…
[ETA] I should mention that the tempura shrimp had a real neat wasabi & sour cream based sauce that perfectly complimented the shrimp. The chicken wings, not usually one of my favorites, were perfectly spiced; the seasoning complimented the chicken extremely well.

TIPS:
1]Try their tempura shrimp appetizer.one.delicious.dish! If left to my own devices I would eat those shrimp treats till my belly ached. The wasabi sause sealed the deal. Not too spicy, not to heavy-​just the right amount of zest-​complementing the shrimp so nicely.
2] ‘Like’ them on Facebook & stay updated on new menu changes & specials.
3] They offer brunch!
4] Don’t leave without checking out the patio-​especially at night.

This place is pretty kitchy, the bartenders and wait staff are friendly.
but WHERE ARE THE BATHROOMS!!!
Take a turn to the left. oh wait thats wrong.
It takes about two seconds of walking around with a completely confused face before someone pointing you in the right direction.

I was expecting an experience similar to Wahoo’s but the food here is much better. I had the Cali burger and for once I don’t have to ask for a healthy side dish! It automatically comes with a salad! Take that, fry lovers! It is a turkey burger loaded with a lot of delicious and healthy toppings. When they brought it out, though, somehow it only had caramelized onions. I asked the waitress to correct this and she did. The burger was great and the salad was also tasty and mixed with spinach and other vegetables: not your poser iceberg lettuce salad here.
The weather was nice outside on a spring night so we set outside. There was a band playing inside and it was a nice vibe overall. There is even a separate menu for dogs! This place feels very laid back and is in a peaceful and pleasant location in downtown Austin on West Sixth Street. The parking is easy to find in the early night so that is another plus. The prices are fair and for the type of food that it is, it is health-​conscious. I will definitely be back.

Go for the burger! It’s delish. The tacos are good too.
Amid the hustle and bustle of downtown, Lucy’s is a nice place to kick back and relax during the lunch rush. The food is really good low-​key fare — think Opals in a more chipper atmosphere — and they get it out quick!
I liked Lucy’s back in the day on 6^th street and I like it now. It’s all grown up!

We came here at the end of a Friday night on 6^th. We were exhausted from walking around and we were trying to find a place that wasn’t too «dirty 6^th» ish.
We went to Lucy’s and were immediately happy to see Ping Pong tables and no line at the bar. There were enough people there to say it wasn’t dead, but not too many people that it was obnoxious.
The prices were really great. I was thrilled. We also met some cool people while playing Ping Pong and it was a ton of fun. The outside patio is nice and we got to hang out under strung lights and listen to some great music.
Definitely a more unique bar amongst a bunch of horrible bars.

Went today for lunch because it was HAAM Benefit day. I was only there an hour, but it was loads of fun! Taco Tuesday means you can get either chicken, beef, or bean tacos for $ 2 each. 2 of those and I was stuffed. It was loaded with chicken and then packed with lettuce and tomato. Not too shabby for $ 2. I also had the $ 2 Titos lemonades that were on special today. The first one was ok, but the second one the bartender put an extra shot and it was damn tasty! Plus I got to see Reckless Kelly for free and then donate to a great cause!

This review is just for day drinking, I have no idea what their food is like or if it gets sketch when the sun goes down.
Lucy’s was an excellent stop on a Saturday afternoon pub crawl. The whole surfer vibe was relaxing and I loved that they had ping pong tables and bocce ball (whatever the hell that is).

One of the many exciting offerings of Spring is crawfish. And where there’s crawfish there are plenty of beer-​drinking crawfish-​lovers awaiting their annual fix. Well, this year rather than wait for someone to buy a bunch of live crawfish, boil it, and give it to me to eat, I took matters into my own hands. Because this in no way means that I was planning on boiling the critters myself, I found Lucy’s.
Initially I went there with a friend for Mardi Gras grub ($ 5/lb…not too bad). I was so impressed with the price and the crawfish themselves (spicy, juicy, and cooked perfectly…+potatoes, corn and ‘shrooms) that I suggested to my friend that we return for one of their weekly crawfish boils.
As it turns out, every Friday after 5pm during the season they’re turning out heaping trays full of boiled crawfish. However, to my GREAT disappointment, they charge $ 7/​lb for these little guys. Boo.
Lucky for them, crawfish or not, this bar is a cool spot. It isn’t much to look at from the street (even looks a little cheesy), but inside it’s got soul. They’ve got Abita beer (bottled only), a ping pong table, and some killer queso (with taco meat… amazing!). They’ve also got live music some nights and a crazy playlist otherwise.
The service is pretty solid, even when they’re packed full of people. The manager there is super friendly and accommodating. And she’s always on the floor.
It’s a cool place to hang and an even cooler place to grub on some mudbugs when ya can.

I’d like to begin by stating that the fact that I am reviewing the unofficial gathering spot for Austin’s many New Orlean’s expats on Fat Tuesday 2012 is simply sheer coincidence. I’d also like to state that if you know me at all, you also know I’m lying, and I totally held off on purpose because I thought a «themed» review sounded cool. Yes, I have this much time to spare.
My adventures at Lucy’s began many months ago on the invitation of Dr. Ann, who along with her boyfriend Ashford, are both of New Orleans stock. Not being retired or a surfer, I had no earthly idea what to expect. However, upon arrival, all the Saints and LSU themed flags and signage rapidly clued me into the theme of the venue. I can not recall if I was there to watch a Saints game or an LSU one, but it’s safe to say it was one or the other. Fate and circumstance has brought many NOLA citizens into my circle of friends, so even having not been to N’awlins itself (I know, I know), I feel as if I know a few key buzz words and phrases (Muffuletta; It don madda; Who dat!) to pass as an unofficial member of the club. In Austin, at least.
My first experience was totally centered on the patio, where Dr, Ann and our friend Steven watched the game and played with the plethora of dogs other patrons had brought to the bar. Keep in mind, Lucy’s is so pet friendly, they go so far as to have a doggie menu. We also sat with an interesting couple, where the girlfriend said next to nothing and the talkative boyfriend appeared not to have an «off» switch. After a lot of blatant flirting with Steven, and probing questions addressed to me on «what it’s like to be gay», he handed me a business card with his contact info… that wasn’t actually attached to a business. He and his «girlfriend» sped away on a moped before all three of us, without any previous consultation, all blurted out «He’s gay». Then we laughed for 10 minutes, before moving on.
The service is excellent, and I never waited too long for a drink. The owner herself even stopped by to say hi to Ann, as they obviously had a previous relationship. She was so warm and inviting, and made sure that when I asked for more than one plastic colored monkey around the rim of my next drink, I received thirteen of them and the distinction of knowing I was now holding the queerest looking drink in the bar.
I was intrigued by the «scorpion shot» that was offered, not for the pickled scorpion I’d have to shoot in a shot glass of liquor, but for the free T-​shirt that came with it. I wanted the T-​shirt just so I could appear like a badass when I wore it, without actually having to swallow a revolting scorpion. I thought my dream had come true when my friend Mark – another NOLA born and bred boy – actually took the shot for me, but I somehow still didn’t get the damn T-​shirt. (Sidenote: His slightly drunken boldness was kinda hot. I never thought «shooting scorpions» would be one of my B-​list turn-​ons, but, well, there ya go).
My second time around, I was watching a football game with Ann while talking to a bartender named Cru, who – if he would cut his hair – would be mind-​blowingly gorgeous. My status update from that day simply read «Geaux LSU! I say this because the number of LSU touchdowns is directly proportional to number of free shots. Don’t judge me, breaux).
Most recently, Lucy’s was a midway stop between brunch and OCH on Sunday Funday for Ann and Ashford and me. We sat at the bar, where several ridiculously friendly bartenders were at our service and even conducted an impromptu bartending class in front of us. I was crestfallen they were using water, and even more so that I wouldn’t get to judge the (alcoholic) fruits of their in-​class assignments. We saw the owner again, and again she was just as sweet as can be as she discussed her Mardi Gras plans. Also, if you check in on Unilocal,you can redeem a coupon for a free breakfast taco. Just FYI.
Whether it’s a laid back Sunday Funday, catching a live band, or a riotous good time watching the game, Lucy’s is like a little slice of Louisiana right here in Austin. As they say: Laissez le Bön temp rouler: Let the good times roll!
4 Stars.

If you’ve spend some time in New Orleans or Baton Rouge you will feel at home at Lucy’s. The décor is fun, the layout is neat and the front and back patios are an excellent place to hang out with friends. We met on of the owners during our visit and she was super friendly and made sure that we were having a good time. We were specifically at Lucy’s for a Saints football game and one wish I have is that there were more TVs inside. That being said we still had a great time.
The chicken wings were good but the ranch dressing that was served with it was despicable. So watered down that it looked more like soup than dressing. Others in our party enjoyed the turkey burger, stating it was delicious, and the fries — both regular and sweet potato got rave reviews.
Looking forward to spending some more time at Lucy’s.

Order the Loaded Fries & Bloody Mary shots… definitely Worth Trying!
Unfortunately, I haven’t had anything else here to eat/​drink except the beer which was Ice Cold! But the two things above are Top Notch and really Hit the Spot!!!

So, I’m not a big fan of sports bars with loud televisions, which Lucy’s is. BUT the restaurant was a lot better than I expected — well-​prepared food, delicious drinks, and attentive service. I’d say it’s similar to Hula Hut, with cocktails around $ 6-​$ 8 normally.
I was really surprised when our dishes came out looking like they were styled for a magazine, and tasted as good as they looked. I do wish the hollandaise sauce were a little richer, though… it was thin, and I couldn’t really taste the butter, and isn’t that the point with eggs benedict? But the enormous slabs of ham won me over.
Overall, I’d definitely go back.

+ a half star
The salsa: Garlic and comino-​yesss!!!
The totopos (chips): Nice and thick. That’s what ChiQuiBaby said!
The acts: They actually book pretty good/​known bands here.
Service: Tied. Depends who you get. Ask for server Chris.
Food: Small salad w shrimp was filling 4 me. I tried my bf’s garlic sauce wings & they were a nice surprise. :)
****Not a fan of their ritas!****