Austin Sports Tavern

For a weary bar-man, a cabbie's life must seem pretty sweet, since it involves interacting with patrons only once they can barely tell you where they live, much less expound on their hopes, dreams, and wives' sisters' cans. Now open from a man just back from a cab-driving sabbatical, Austin Sports Tavern

Run by a guy who actually did sell his last spot in order to hustle fares around town, this Southwestern-tinged watering hole boasts rustic exposed wood-beams and brickwork, on-the-range touches like wagon-wheel chandeliers and faux-rattlesnake skin tablecloths, enough flatscreens to give you a bulge, and a covered smoking patio so God can't pee out your butts.

Heartier eats include a 10oz USDA choice ribeye with shrimp for only 11 bucks, bun-fillers like the Flying Philly Chicken Cheesesteak, and a chicken-fried-chicken sandwich, as well as the Tavern Burger, available in 1/4- or 1/2- lb, with cheese at no extra charge -- just like musical theater

For the thirsty at heart, they're pouring $2-every-day Lone Star pints to complement specialty cocktails like the Tavern Press (Skyy, lime, Roses Gimlet, simple syrup), the Mo-Dog (Makers, Cointreau, soda/Sprite), and the Captain Morgan/lime/pineapple juice Rumshaker ("All I wanna do is yo-a-ho-ho-ho and a row-row, just shake ya trunk...of loot!")

To shake things up further, AST's booking bands Thursdays, bringing in Elysium's crowd-pleasing '80s DJs on Fridays, hosting karaoke and cash poker tourneys on Saturdays, and, on Sundays, throwing a twin bill: "Service Industry for All" specials, plus a Gospel Brunch, so you can take a sabbatical from real church, then eat 'til you grow lust-worthy cans of your own.