Please don’t hold an event here. The management is irresponsible and destructive. They destroyed the Balloon Columns that the Balloon People loaned us for the event, I had to pay for them I ended up losing over $ 600. in décor bought for my event, which was deliberately kept by the management, and I was left cell phone messages they were not gonna give it back and in fact were not going to let me pick it up and they were going to destroy it, because the manager was angry at me, for standing up to her, when she physically put her hands on me, because her very own daughter made a money transaction behind the bar with another patron, buying a $ 90. auction item, the transaction which i had nothing to do with, and for some reason I was blamed for this bartenders decision and attacked. Insane right! When the manager found out that I was innocent, she never even apologized, she just told me to get my bands and get them out of her bar. Not only did these things happen, but the female part time manager whom convinced me to hold my benefit there for the good of the community was only in it for the tips, kept telling me, she can’t wait to make the tips that day and she did not hold up her end of the deal creating havoc for the event. These are things that could have been prevented if she had been honest with me, when I asked if everything was done on her part. i could have helped and made the event more of a success by taking over what, .could not complete. I was lied to about the parking up until the day of the event, The day of the event as the second band arrived the Green Room promised was suddenly no longer available, after I had said I would clean out the green room in bar, but no a trailer home was offered up and when the bands arrived all of a sudden they were denied their green room promised, the food and sodas for the bands were insufficient, that also could have been handled, just one phone call to me. The 12 parking lot attendants promised not there, booze donated for the bands not given to bands and kept by the management for personal use. MC called in sick 4 hrs before event started and I was not notified, I had so many offers to MC by the time I got there and all this hit me, I had no time to call anyone because I was so busy running around fixing the managements screwups out of pure laziness there is such a long lists of things that if there had been honesty I could have handled there was no reason for any of this. Honesty and teamwork are important for an event. You won’t find this at Sam’s Town Point,. It’s a compound of Gypsy’s and Grifters living on the property and around an old Dive Bar. The part time management and her family work against the owners, i was pulled into her feud with the owners daughter and was told only her family could work event and the owners family were not allowed all the money to be made was for her family, I thought she was ungrateful, to the owners of the bar and property where they all live. Be very careful, it’s a greed and drug filled environment.
Corey R.
Place rating: 5 Austin, TX
Wow. would have never found this place if I wasn’t on a boose n cruise through the slaughter area. A real hidden gem if you’re into local cool dive bars!
Jenerik D.
Place rating: 5 Austin, TX
This place is the schizzle. You can go in the day time and get that good dive juke box bar with pleasant bartenders. Then you can take a date here at night, listen to live music and dance the night away. The two step dancers the night we went were amazing and it’s a good mix of old and young. I also love the fact that you have three generations all working together in this family owned joint. Overall this place rocks. Keep up the good work Sams, see you soon.
Margie L.
Place rating: 4 Austin, TX
It’s a great hide away. It was my first time there and staff was very friendly. I’m glad a close friend of mine showed it to me, not sure why he didn’t tell me before:) I will be going back to check out their bands.
Larry W.
Place rating: 5 Austin, TX
So, it just came to my notice that I hadn’t written a review of Sam’s Town Point yet; WTF, I’ve been hangin’ out there for what seems like forever. I’ve mentioned before that when«rating» a business on Unilocal,I feel ya gotta rate it based on what it’s «trying to be». If you rated Taqueria La Escondida, for example, against Fonda San Miguel, using the same standards, it would not be a level playing field. You MUST consider that one place is «trying» to be just a «comfort food» stop, while the other is «trying» to be upscale. You can’t use the same standards, unless you wanna look like an idiot, imho. Sam’s is just tryin’ to be yer basic local, Neighborhood BAR, and they succeed quite well at that! Sam’s is perhaps the truest example of a «Neighborhood Bar»; it’s not only FOR the Neighborhood, it’s IN the Neighborhood. I don’t mean«nearby»; it’s smack dab in the middle of a residential neighborhood! Don’t ask me how or why; I assume maybe it was there FIRST, then the rest of the ‘hood grew up around it, and it got«Grandfathered» in, as the legal term goes. Doesn’t matter now; it’s here, and it’s here to STAY. I can’t go so far as to say it’s a place where«everybody knows your name», but more importantly, everyone’s FRIENDLY. Not like those fuckin’ «trendy» places, where ya don’t even get past the Proverbial«velvet rope» unless you’ve got a ‘tude(English translation: «ASSHOLE»). There’s a sign hanging over Sam’s entryway(look at the picture); that pretty much sums up the sort of reception you’ll get at Sam’s. I started hangin’ out at Sam’s quite some time ago; they used to have a Friday night«Rock» Jam. Sadly, they discontinued that; I wish they’d bring it back, as there are enough Blues Jams around, but NO Rock ones(though there’s still live music on Fridays). Rock Jams allow a little more diversity of music than the mundane ¼/5 cadence of Blues tune-after-tune, not only for the player, but also for the AUDIENCE. Sam’s, wouldja, couldja consider bringin’ back the Friday Night Rock Jam? I, for one, would support it! They do still have a Wednesday night Blues Jam(gee, can ya tell, from my pictures? I’m stating the obvious now). It’s one of the BEST in town. Don’t let the fact that Sam’s is «off the beaten path» fool ya; some of the BEST Blues players in town frequent the Wednesday Jam. And if THEY like it, YOU will like them! Breck is usually there to run the Blues Jam, making sure everyone that wants to play, GETS to play. Mary and Cody, two of Sam’s bartenders(who seem to always be there when I’m there), will take excellent care of ya! Please remember to tip ‘em, and tip ‘em HANDSOMELY. There are pool tables and several dart boards, an outdoor patio(in back; very peaceful). An no, it’s NOT all«fifty-somethings» that hang at Sam’s(as if that’s a «negative»?); lots of younger folks there too. I had a great conversation with a 23 year old lady, after our show, last time I played there. I don’t know who was more impressed: ME, at her(extensive) knowledge of music that came out before she was born, or HER, cuz an old fart has knowledge(and can PLAY the shit out of) music of HER era. I gotta give Sam’s Town Point a full FIVESTARS. Please check ‘em out. You may have a little trouble FINDING ‘em, but it’s worth the time and trouble! larrythediner .
Tara D.
Place rating: 5 Austin, TX
Oh wow I cant believe I haven’t written a review about Ol’ Sam’s Town Point yet. I have been going here for years and I love this bar! It is definitely a neighborhood bar. The staff is friendly and there is always local music, Ramsay Midwood is one of my favorites, he plays there on a regular basis. Sams is on a residential street and is what used to be two manufactured homes that is now combined to make this rad bar. There are pool tables, darts and a stage for live music, in the back is a big deck with table and leads down to a gravel backyard with picnic tables. Sam’s regularly hosts all kinds of cookouts for fundraisers and shows and on the weekends usually has someone out back making tacos so you can get your munch on while your throwing back a few. Speaking of throwing back a few, Sam’s only offers beer and wine, you can bring your own booze and pay for set ups. Its pretty awesome watching all of the brown-bagged liquor bottles being passed back and forth, it gives it a feeling that your going to your buddy’s house to hang out for a couple of drinks so you byob’d. If you’re down South go to Sam’s Town Point and have a beer, play some pool, strike up a conversation. I will probably see you there.
Sally P.
Place rating: 5 Austin, TX
I love this dive. The music was good, my beer was cold and the pool table was empty. It’s down the street from my house making the long walks home priceless!
Emily F.
Place rating: 4 Austin, TX
You’re lookin’ at a girl who isn’t a big fan of dive bars. I’ve also put off checking out Sam’s Town Point for a while because the idea of a bar in a trailer didn’t really float my boat. I was sorely mistaken on all assumptions! First, I really dig the location – it’s all of 5 minutes from my house. Second, the place is giant. Third, the jukebox is so fun! Fourth, and most awesome of all, this bar has some really entertaining characters. We had fun talking to some of the regulars, and Sam himself, about catfish, dancing, music and more. We were there on a slow night, but I hear live music draws a crowd and local and traveling biker crews. I was a little surprised at the price of a Lone Star — $ 3 seems high. But everything else about this place was magical.
Chiqui B.
Place rating: 4 Austin, TX
This place has been open since before I was born. Dive bar fans will love this place. It reminds me of the Korner Bar in Lockhart, or Monty’s in Luling. I guess it’s a nice surprise for its location.
Lee M.
Place rating: 5 Austin, TX
Dear Honey — I am leaving you and moving in with Sam. You and the kids can come over and see me anytime — you know where to find me. I’ll be working sharpening my pool game and beer drinking skills. Love, Leemur
Erin C.
Place rating: 4 Austin, TX
I love places that give you a koozie with your beer. The fact that it’s a bring-your-own-liquor bar is also a plus. And who wouldn’t love a bartender in go-go boots that proceeds to lift up the pool table when it wouldn’t take quarters? Truly unique and fun. As others have said, it’s like a backyard party, complete with a friendly cat on the back deck. Try the open mic blues nights — definitely hit or miss. Sometimes you can see really great undiscovered talent. Other times it’s so bad it’s funny. We did happen to catch the late, great Pinetop Perkins one night.
Joseph F.
Place rating: 3 Fort Worth, TX
I have fun here. It’s a small smokey bar, which for Austin is weird, that’s primary patrons are older folks and bikers. It’s well off the beaten path so there is absolutely no way to stumble upon it. I imagine back before South Austin became South Austin it was the only bar for miles. They have several dart boards and several pool tables. The family that runs the place is really nice and the clientele are as well. it’s around a couple of back streets from where my folks live so it’s easy access on a boring Saturday night.
Shani S.
Place rating: 5 Austin, TX
I love Sam’s. It’s that hidden gem hole in the wall place you love to go and feel like you’re at a friend’s place for a backyard party. The beer selection isn’t awesome, but it’ll do. Also, you can byob and pay a small setup fee(I think it’s $ 5) and you’re set. Looked like lots of folks do that. We have been a few times and went to some SX stuff out there that was so great. I love Sam’s.
GRISELDA L.
Place rating: 5 Austin, TX
My friend and i both lived in Virginia for a couple of years and upon my arrival to Austin i went out in search for the perfect dive bar that would remind me of my favorite bar’s back in VA and lo and behold we have found it. I’m normally the youngest person in the bar, there’s no loud or rowdy people here and it really does feel like you’re sitting in somebody’s garage especially on Monday’s for dominoes night. It’s beer and wine only, but you can bring your own liquor and buy the mixer’s there. An awesome place to chill at!
Lala L.
Place rating: 5 Austin, TX
I suspect I’m in the minority, but I am a non-smoker who likes a good second-hand nicotine buzz, especially if it’s coming from a table of elderly dominoes players who are alternately taking nips out of a brown paper bag and shit-talking each other between plays. And that run-on sentence pretty much sums up what I like about Sam’s. Secondarily likable things: Friendly bartenders, cheap beer, decent blues jam on Mondays, pool tables, wood paneled walls, and the overall feeling that you’re drinking in the basement with your grandpa and a bunch of his friends.
Tara M.
Place rating: 5 Bedford, TX
Sam’s Town Point owns a part of my heart since my EXBF of 8 years parents’ shares the neighborhood with this bar and we are still friends and frequent it. Yes, it is a bar/music venue in a neighborhood off Riddle Ln. Since they are outside the city limits they allow smoking which I hate but anyone who smokes will appreciate. Visiting Sam’s is like going to a backyard party at a dear friends who allows smoking of all kinds and grills and fries up some food that is good but not good for you. Why 5 stars for such a place — you are guaranteed a good time and they allow me to bring along my 4 legged furry kid and ask what she wants to drink:)…
Sarah S.
Place rating: 5 Austin, TX
Don’t know what this says about me exactly, but every time one of my girlfriends drags me to some bar downtown(*but there are sharks in the floor, isn’t it kewl!!!*) I immediately feel the urge to remove one of my ridiculously uncomfortable high heels, mercilessly beat her to death with it, and then flee to the small town from which I came. Fortunately, there’s Sam’s where my beer comes with a koozie, and the last time I saw a woman in heels she was wearing an ankle monitor. The only downside to Sam’s is that they usually close up at midnight(presumably because people live there). But if you make friends with the locals you might score an invitation to an after hours bar [garage] for a few more drinks and a chance to armwrestle Super Scuba Dave.
Krishelle L.
Place rating: 5 Austin, TX
The smell of the fryer in back in nauseating. The smell of the smoke helps to cover it up, but it lingers to my clothes. The beer selection(and wine if you were really hard up) is very small. It’s dark and dingy. The bathroom is clean yet gross. Why the hell do I love this place? Well, maybe it’s the proximity to my house(about a mile). Maybe it’s the owner, Wally, greeting us with a friendly hello. Maybe its the koozie provided for my can beer to keep it cold. Maybe it’s the random southies that we tend to meet unexpectedly. Or the big fan blowing in my face as we try to shoot pool on a cramped table. I am not sure what is so love able about this place– but it is a great hole in the wall that I am certain defines old South Austin.
Ann D.
Place rating: 5 Austin, TX
Um, wow. Where do I begin? First of all, it’s not just a bar, it’s a compound. Seriously. The owner, Wally Sr. lives in a trailer on the property. His son, Wally Jr. lives in an apartment ATTACHED to the bar. The sliding glass doors just off the dance floor lead to Wally’s place. Classy, no? If that isn’t hardcore, I don’t know what is. The beer is cheap, the menu 100% fried, and the patrons are the real deal. This is full on South Austin, folks. This ‘ain’t no hipster bar. The trucker hats are not meant to be ironic. The people wearing them really are truckers. The average age in the bar is about 50, and there are some hard drinkers here. There are some cool old folks here, but also some scary, scary individuals. It’s a great spot for people watching, and I enjoyed every minute I spent here. There were so many priceless things in this place. I like that you get a coozie for your beer. I like it even more that they have a sign on the door that reminds you to leave your coozie. The chalkboard sign behind the bar was cute. It said that«Wally» was our bartender on duty. I thought it was even funnier when I found out that«Wally» is always the bartender on duty, because it’s Wally Sr. during the day, and Wally Jr. at night. They never change the sign. Priceless. This place is a bit of a drive, and kinda hidden. Definitely not the place to end your night, but a pretty sweet place to get a beer from Wally(Sr. or Jr.), take in the scene, and begin a fun, fun evening.
Alexandra L.
Place rating: 4 Austin, TX
The address is located in Austin, and I believe that’s because its mailbox and parking lot are within city limits. The bar itself is outside city limits, so if you want to smoke at a bar, get on down to Sam’s Town. They serve cheap beer and cheap(cheap) wine. Wednesday nights feature Ramsay Midwood, and there is a great variety of live music you can catch there most nights of the week. Tuesday nights are open mic. It’s a Reno casino meets Cheers meets your great aunt’s 1970s family room. Be warned — it’s a bit tricky to get there. If it feels like it’s planted right in the middle of a residential neighborhood, well — it is. I think of it as an unspoiled diamond in the rough, maybe what Austin was like about 20 years ago.