The husband and I went on a Monday night when their burgers were half off. At least I think that's the day and the special - it's been a while since we went and obviously this place is forgettable. We walked in and had no idea if we were to sit down or order at the bar or what. So we sat and waited. And waited. We even texted a friend who is a manager at a local restaurant and asked him what the acceptable wait time is for a seat-yourself bar/restaurant. He said 3 minutes, which we had surpassed by 7 minutes. We were just about to leave when the ONE employee came over from the bar to take our order. ONE employee to service the bar and the seating area. That set the tone for the whole experience because it took an eternity to get our food, get our check, and I finally had to walk my check and payment method to the bar so I could get out of there. The burgers were alright - I've certainly had better elsewhere. The fried pickles were pretty good, but not worth the hassle of going there again. I imagine the karaoke and live music is to distract you from the poor service. read more

1) This is a dive bar 2) Not a hipster dive bar that tries too hard Okay, now that that is out of the way, this place is decent. We go in groups so I never have gotten "unwanted attention" or anything weird. The food is average bar food, drink a bit more and it goes up in quality. There is a couple good beers there that I enjoy, bartenders are nice enough and service is fine. they have a pool table and some games, plenty of places to sit. Bathroom is small but not gross or anything. Basically, it is what it is and I like it. It doesn't try to be a dive bar or try to keep up with the Jones's. I have always had a great time here, the beer is cold and the people are friendly. read more

This is a great dive bar with awesome karaoke, good drink prices, friendly bartenders, and ample seating. There's something about a dark, divey atmosphere that really makes me feel at home, and Water Tank achieved this. My friend and I went for Tuesday night karaoke and there were only three people singing, me being one of them. The three of us basically were on a constant rotation for 4 hours which was both sad and a blast at the same time. Tuesday is also $1 taco night, and the tacos were pretty tasty. We'll definitely be back. read more

I celebrated my 25th birthday here and had a blast. its a fun bar in north austin, and has cheap drinks. pros: has great bar games (GIANT jenga, shuffle boards etc), cheap beer on wed, and also good cheap steak, not a lot of YUPPIES or frat kids. cons: parking was hard to find, bartender was kind of rude, not a whole lot of beer selection over all i did enjoy the food and drinks! i would recommend for a fun night with friends read more

Its just a whole in the wall bar and grill. Not a clean place. Staff prefers to wait on locals. I've been several times over the last two years. The salad bar looks more like a compost heap. At times the music is so loud it hurts, and folks I'm from the Keys of florida, I love my music loud. But it should never be cranked that loud when its that bad! The beer is fairly cheap. As with anywhere in austin the staff has a "I dont care attitude" and it appears they never wash they're hands or anything else. So I'm sure you are asking, if the place is so bad why have you gone several time. Well late nights lead to strange places. And if you are a true alcoholic then this place aint to bad! Otherwise, avoid it until you are well past the legal .08 limit for alcoholic in texas, and call a cab. PLEASE CALL A CAB! read more

I went to the Water Tank for a Drink & Click event for photographers and models. They had plenty of parking, cheaply priced drinks and lots of outdoor space for mingling! Great bar. Awesome location! read more

Why is everyone so hard on this place? Johnny Sunshine was our karaoke DJ for the evening and he was delightful. Very funny, encouraging, and he even sang us a few songs! He came up to each and every participant and told them something nice and offered advice. He had a ton of songs to choose from and seemed to really know each and every one of them! The drinks are tasty. There isn't much on tap... Zigenbook, Budweiser and Bud Light as I recall. The bathrooms were very clean and the staff was nice and attentive. The clientelle is a wide array of characters but we had a great time, there is some serious talent at The Water Tank. read more

Pleasantly surprised by taco Tuesday specials They were all delicious, had 1 of each, can't wait to go back.

Water Tank Bar & Grille is located in North Austin, right off of North 183 on McNeil Drive. Known as being one of the friendliest neighborhood bars and grills around Austin, this unique and rustic atmosphere is a haven for great local talent, with karaoke players competing for a top slot in Austin's local talent pool. Here, you just never know who may be the upcoming Stevie Nicks on the mic tonight. This well-known watering hole is frequented by a large nightly crowd seven days a week. In business now for over 20 years, the management at Water Tank is both friendly and down-to-earth, serving the neighborhood clientele with the best beers, wines, and liquors. Equipped with a stage, dance floor, and a super game room with plenty of pool tables, karaoke supplies the crowd with some of the best music in town. Pool tables are always hot and available for parties, small gatherings, and holidays. It's one of the best places in town to gather for weekly football games and is touted in the North Austin area as being one of the hottest sports bars in town. read more

Great dive bar with the perfect mix of service and friendly patrons. The food truck out front has excellent tacos! Bartenders are friendly and thekcal crowd will always welcome a newcomer. read more

The Water Tank - Bars Near Me - Austin, Texas

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I went there again this past weekend with another meetup group and this time I didn't get the same feeling - the staff is still really friendly but last time I didn't realize that the bathroom is not fit for those in a wheelchair - one of our members is in a wheelchair and she couldn't get in there and she had to leave the event....really sad. Don't get me wrong, I love some country music but not every freakin' song - Yes, I sang one this time around but back it up with some other ones. read more

Great dive bar with a food truck outside! Sometimes they have special events-live music, crawfish boil, etc. it's dark inside, like a dive bar should be with ample patio space outside. Everyone was friendly and welcoming, especially their beautiful bartender Kate! Great place for a cocktail or an ice cold beer! Plan to stop by next time I'm in the area read more

First off, let me say that the female bartenders at this joint are very hot ! ..., but from there it's all downhill. I didn't realize when I went here with a group that this is a redneck karaoke bar. So, the playlist is heavy on country songs, hence most of the people getting up to sing have been practicing their 'twang' at home. They only offer three beers on tap, and two of those are light beers. Yuck ! Sorry, I'm used to the Gingerman or Flying Saucer. Food is pretty generic pub/bar food. I do have to say though that they have some of the best fries in town. Really. Don't think I'll be goin back anytime soon, since this is really not my crowd ... tooooo country , and ... I'm a fool for the city ( cue the Foghat music ! ). I much prefer the Highball/Alamo for my karaoke needs. I just hope the Highball is washing that Flock of Seagulls wig every now and again. read more

The Water Tank is one of the few places I can think of that still does karaoke and open mic night without getting flooded by fools looking for record contracts. The singers and performers (and live bands that play on occasion) are almost always talented but never take themselves so seriously as to be a bore. In other words, the Water Tank can be a pretty good time. The food is pretty good (burgers and such) and the beer is reasonably priced, all things considered. While there are other, newer, and probably cleaner places not far away (Curra's, Lil' Woodrows), the Water Tank is every bit as fun if your taste is good people in an old fashioned dimly lit bar. read more

Came in for a quick stop and it's a cool bar. Lots of great people. Sarah gave my girlfriend and I excellent service. Cruise in for a beer. read more

The Water Tank - Bars Near Me - Austin, Texas

I went to play poker here and it was not a good spot. If you are not a regular the service is poor. The food is typical of a bar so nothing special. read more

The Water Tank - Bars Near Me - Austin, Texas

The staff is very rude. They refuse to let me speak to the manager and hung up in my face twice

I went for the first time tonight and thoroughly enjoyed it! There were wide range of singers, some extremely talented. But everyone was accepting and friendly. Blake, the bartender was a really nice guy. It's a fun place, and the wait isn't unreasonable if you want to sing. The one suggestion I have is a better selection of beer on tap (at least Shiner bock). Bill read more

Love the local scene and love the steak night karaoke night. Try it out you won't be disappointed. Neighborhood bar atmosphere read more

The Water Tank - What a suprised. Thanks for the awesome suprised wifey. #oneluvoneheart - Bars Near Me - Austin, Texas

The first time my friend took me to the tank [as we regulars (i just realized I probably qualify as a regular. not sure what that says about me) --like to call it], I thought we might get shanked walking in. We weren't, but we did meet some of the more... interesting characters in North Austin. We also heard some awesome, and awesomely bad, karaoke. We saw a pseudo-fight -- I say that because when drunk dude numbah one tried to headbutt drunk dude numbah two, he stumbled/fell into the plastic chair in which drunk dude numbah one was parking his tookus in and broke the chair. I'm not sure if the alcohol was a contributing factor (not that I drink, y'all. Not that I drink...), but I hadn't laughed that hard in a very long time. Beware of the odd-tasting tonic. It's not flat, but it's not quite right, either. read more

I love this place. It is an absolute hole in the wall. It's dingy, dark and the pool tables are old. Oh well, I still have fun. I by no means look like the typical patron here, but I still have a good time. If you come here with a group of friends, it's a good time. On certain nights, there is karaoke. The singers suck. Usually they all suck. But who cares? It's supposed to suck. I've also tried the food. I have to say, the chicken fried steak is GOOOOOOOD. It's about 8 dollars or something and the portions are huge. I'm prob the opposite type of client this place attracts, but I have fun each time. OH, it does close earlier than most bars on Fri and Sat though. read more

Looking for a place to sip congnac and talk to your friends about your investment portfolio and the rising cost of pork bellies? Then this may not be your cup of tea. However, with that said, if you are looking for a friendly, down to earth neighborhood bar...then look no further. Every day people, reasonable drink prices, an owner that is always there drinking and talking with the patrons are just some of the things you can expect. In addition, a very tasty burger and fries can be found at this fine establishment. Most people believe the bar got its name from it's proximity to the nearby water tower. However, legend has it that the owner copyrighted the name after trying to develop a low cost military assault vehicle during the cold war era made entirely of H2O. When this proved to be a disaster, the owner then opened a bar. This is that bar. read more

We're not from Austin but we visit often because it's awesome! And we have friends there. This particular bar happens to be four minutes from their home so while waiting on them we decided to grab a drink close by. This place doesn't look as big as it is from the outside. It's split in two, one side is lit up with pool tables and the other side is a little darker with karaoke! The bar wraps all the way around for your convenience. There were four bartenders the Friday night we dropped in and we never had to wait for service. They were all great. We had such a great time here that we came back that Sunday too and will be back within the next couple of months on our next visit. read more

it's a nice place to spend with the family ... music, karaoke ... bar in the courtyard ... Movie Mondays, taco tuesday, steak nigth wednesday read more

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lyin' pieces of shit. Open mic my ass. I brought all my equipment out and the no talent on stage cowards wouldn't let me on.

So there is literally a scientific study out "there" that says "being a regular at a bar is good for you. This is my "good for you" place. From the regulars to the bartenders, it's always wonderful walking in. This place is not pretentious AT ALL and has a very "everyone welcome" vibe....even if your new. I love dive spots and this one hits the bill. Top it off with great HH prices and it's a winner. And the food, while not five star, is pretty darn good. Especially on steak night. :-) read more

The Water Tank - Bars Near Me - Austin, Texas

I just gave The Water Tank another chance and I'm happy to say the service has been a lot more stable than what it was in the past. Three weeks ago, I was tempted to walk out before ordering because it took so long, but since then, everything has been better. I've only had alcohol there, but I hear good things about the food so I'm going to give that a try next time. read more

Karaoke is spotty at best. The older woman ( like 65 who thinks she's 30) who does it on Sat should be fired. Rude. Clueless, and sings more than customers. Ashame. This place could have been good dive bar. Times changing. Shut it down before FBI does. Domain is where to go. read more

Been to dive bars all across Austin, Chicago, and NYC and this is not a dive bar as described by others. It's a shitty bar filled with shitty karaoke and shitty people that don't understand personal space. The regulars seemed to crowd around the outdoor bar, making crude comments to the bartender about wanting a hug or a smile. It was repulsive and sad, just like everything about this bar. The inside is dark, dingy, and not much better than the back area. Dive bars have some charm but water tank has the charm of a toilet. Also, they served everything in plastic which was odd for inside but I kinda get it for the outside. read more

I was there on a Wednesday night for karaoke and the music was so loud it hurt my ears. My ears were ringing for over a day. I ask the DJ to lower the volume and he would not do it. read more

Divorce, your dog died, you've wrecked your car. All of these feelings and more AT THE WATER TANK! The food tastes like the they scraped the gristle from the edges of a flat grill and put it in moldy, soggy, bread, farted into it and drug through garbage water. The service, what service? Do you people speak english? Parle usted ingles? They are not foreign, they ignore you completely. Perferring to look at their 1998 Nokia cellphones or chatting with the resident Water Tank Drunks. This place must be a front for a money laundering business because seriously, HOW IS THIS PLACE IN BUSINESS? read more

I have seen the Wednesday steak night advert outside this place for a couple of months and always wanted to try it out. Me and my two sons finally could make it today. The steaks we're very decent and the one of my sons ordered a burger which was also good. This seems like good watering hole for the regulars with a no frills casual atmosphere. Our server was very polite and paid attention to our table. Will definitely come again. read more

The only reason to go here is if you can't go anywhere else. The service is horrible and the only 3 beers on tap are Lite, Bud and one other crap tap. The barmaids are miserable and have no interest in customer service. read more

I like this place most of the staff is really nice except for one lady she has a sour face all the time ignores customer and is super rude. I usually give people the benefit of the doubt but it's been the same every time I come in. She has yet to serve me she just looks and keeps walking. Sad to hear they have to share their tips. read more

Come prepared to wait for a drink. The "ladies" at the bar did not even acknowledge my friend and I for ten minutes. No smile, I'll be right with you, or anything. We felt very unwelcome. Parking is awful. The bathroom smell is aggressive. If you're invited tell you're friends you'll meet them at the place they decide to go to after they leave. Two stars for lots of space and the beer was cold. read more

I like this bar...most of the time. I would give more stars if it weren't for one bartender in particular. The chubby blonde that works on Saturday nights. Horrible service! She is unaware that being a bartender means taking drink orders and has a really unpleasant demeanor. It can take anywhere from 5 to 15 minutes to get a drink from her. I've gotten so frustrated I've left and I have seen others do the same. I only go on the nights she isn't working. She also will over charge your card. This has happened several times to myself and my friends. Always look over your tab very carefully. The best option is to pay her in cash only. CASH ONLY. Not sure if she does it on purpose or just drinks so much that she becomes a complete idiot. The bar has several games and karaoke. The other bartenders are good. Nikki in particular is awesome. Always happy and nice. The food is pretty good and the drinks are strong. I enjoy this place when I can get a drink and not worry about being robbed. read more

This is cool dive bar to go. I had fun time at Karaoke. Bartenders were fun too. Met amazing people. There are very few places you could go and enjoy the night outside of downtown and domain area. This is now in my favorite list and I will return. read more

Decent bar. Definitely a dive, which is actually my preference. The bathroom situation needs massive improvements. It's clean, but one single serve for women? I hope you like holding it because you will. Striker and his karaoke are a fantastic time, a boozy mix of Grammy winning wannabes and drunken shenanigans. And he's a doll to them all. Veronica serves on the main floor on certain nights and this lady IS THE SHIT!!!!! I've met nice people before but she could teach them a thing or two about how it's done. Amazing lady and I'll love the tank forever for letting me meet her. You'll get what you expect out of this place. I recommend it for the drunk people watching aspect alone. Just beware on Saturdays. There's one bartender who will not hesitate to throw anyone she gets her pms on with under the APD paddy wagon bus. You've been warned. read more

the food is not the great. It was a nice quiet bat with a lot of karaoke which I enjoyed. I liked my mozzarella sticks, but hubby did not like his sides. The drinks were good and cheap. Two twenty five for Malibu and OJ. You can't beat that price. The company was great. read more

I went in for dinner last night at about 8PM and to my surprise, the steak was no longer on the menu. Neither were any of the entrees, just burgers, sandwiches, wings, nachos and such. The menu was one page laminated, front and back. I was by myself, so I sat at the bar. The website made no mention about the change, and still showed Wednesday to be steak night with $10 steak. The link to the Facebook page was relatively current, and the Google menu still showed the dinners, which included the steak. I have enjoyed the steaks for many years and there is nothing on the brief menu that comes close to that for me. I was really hungry when I arrived and hoping for the steak, but disappointed when I left. I even skipped lunch so I would be able to finish it. I live nearby and can walk, which is huge, but I guess I'll have to stop by the HEB and make my own steak before I come, if I decide to come back. That was what I got every time I came to the Tank, usually on Wednesdays for the special. I'm not sure how you could convince me to come back when your online menu differs so greatly from your actual menu. I wonder if any of the other regulars have noticed this? Like many things in Austin, something happens that changes a little part of it and it's gone forever. I'll miss the Tank, but will cherish the memories. I think the first time I went there was in 1992, when they first opened. I think the guy in charge was named Bob. Very humble, yet proud of his creation. I can't imagine why they'd make such a huge change. read more