by cary j. on Things I love about Player's: -they're open til 3 am. with a drive-thru, as well. -they have veggie burgers! good ones! -the player's combo (burger, fries, drink) is under $7. -the food will be ready before you're done getting your drink. (seriously, they're insanely fast.) -that drink has free refills by the way, with the best ice in town (ice pebbles). get a refill on your way out, seeing as it's a to-go cup... -fresh-brewed iced tea. -lone star on tap, in a giant stemware goblet. -awesome milkshakes, also in the giant goblet. -they have a menagerie of fried foods, my favorite being the somewhat ironic "veggie basket" (shrooms, zucchini, onion rings, mozzarella sticks). -truly giant screen tv's for game-watching. -beer garden out back, complete with horseshoe pits. -they took on UT (who wanted to buy them out and bulldoze the building) and WON. (that puts them over the top, in my book.) Player's is an Austin institution, having fed generations of UT students and watching the city grow and change over the years. They never forgot who they were, where they came from, and don't pretend to be anything they're not. Not all things to all people, but very good at what they do, and damn if I don't love 'em. And definitely one of the best calls you can make at 2:30 am, having just gotten booted from the bar...
