Best Campus Blackout Restaurants: Austin

There are few things more enjoyable to a fraternity member than the casual, black-out devastation of disgustingly delicious food. There are signature spots on every college campus that draw their biggest crowd after 2 AM, each with their own specialties and legendary meals. For the University of Texas, there is Big Bite, home of the “Phat Sandwich.”

So what exactly is Big Bite? Big Bite serves normal grill type food, including pizza, burgers and wings, but is most well known for their sandwiches, piled high with fried, greasy goodness and loaded with french fries. Right in the middle of West Campus, Big Bite is a close drunk stumble for any UT student, and staying open until 4 every night, receives most of its business from outrageously intoxicated Longhorns.

Big Bite serves over 30 “Phat” concoctions of sandwiches, including the Phat Buffalo (Chicken Fingers , Mozzarella Sticks, Bacon, FF, Buffalo Sauce & Ranch), Phat Gigolo (Cheesesteak, Mozzarella Sticks, Onion Rings, French Fries& BBQ Sauce), and Phat Drunk (Cheesesteak, Grilled Chicken, Mozzarella Sticks, French Fries & BBQ Sauce) and Phat Bastard (Chicken Fingers, Gyro Meat, Mozzarella Sticks, French Fries & Statziki Sauce).

Most of the time, people black in at Big Bite. After a wild Thirsty Thursday, Big Bite is a great scene of confused people wondering where they are, why are they with these people, and at the same time devouring a meal that absolutely destroys your insides worse than any prior excessive alcohol consumption.

Big Bite is also known for their “Phat Challenge,” which requires an individual to successfully eat four Phat Sandwiches in an hour. This is the equivalent to eating four massive, greasy, fried sandwiches and a full helping of french fries with each sandwich. The consolation for completing the challenge is $100 and a few days of sitting on the toilet.

Real, random reviews of Big Bite:

“I’ve honestly never been here sober. Big Bite is a West Campus staple. If you’ve been partying hard, come with friends and munch on the greatest sandwiches known to man – the Phats.”

“Everything I’ve tried is pure, greasy, fattening deliciousness”

“I have no idea what I had the other night because I was so drunk, but I remember there being perfectly cooked BBQ brisket covered in french fries”

Next time you stumble into Austin, be sure to divulge into the greasy goodness that is Big Bite. Although the sandwiches are the most popular item, the pizza, burgers and wings will all leave your drunk self satisfied.

Next Up: “Chicken on a Stick” in Oxford, Mississippi coming soon.

To see your campus’ favorite blackout restaurant appear in this series, nominate it in the commments.

Follow me on twitter @JimDugganTFM

  1. captain_frathab

    “This is the equivalent to eating four massive, greasy, fried sandwiches and a full helping of french fries with each sandwich. ”

    Nice , descriptive comparison you uneducated hillbilly. I now know that it is the equivalent of the same thing you described two paragraphs earlier.

    12 years ago at 7:22 pm
  2. Mr Burgundy

    FREEBIRDS!!! At UCSB.. Open 24 hours and home of the quesonachorito. Nachos inside a burrito all wrapped in a quesadilla. It’s an orgy of goodness in your mouth.

    12 years ago at 7:26 pm
  3. Fraterick Southgate

    In Norman, if you’re willing to (drunk) drive a little bit past the usual campus corner spots, Try Chelio’s on I-35. Sketchy looking as fuck, but 24 hours all you can eat cheese fries for 9.99 is damn near unbeatable.

    12 years ago at 7:28 pm
    1. ItJustComesFratural

      I ate at a BBQ place right by the campus in Norman. I believe it started with an R. It was pretty packed the morning before gameday and it was a cool atmosphere. I will definitely go back if I am ever in Norman again. The people there were really nice and even gave us a free tshirt

      12 years ago at 12:04 am
    2. Fraterick Southgate

      Sounds like Ray’s Smokehouse on lindsey street. While lindsey is an absolute pain in the ass on gamedays and should be avoided at all costs, Ray’s has some of the cheapest greasiest grub around, another great choice. I just wish they stayed open past 10.

      12 years ago at 1:23 am
    1. White Goodman

      Also in South Carolina, there is literally a line of taillights headed there from campus at 2:30 every Saturday and Sunday morning.

      12 years ago at 10:13 pm
    2. TheFertileTurtle

      Agreed. You can get away with a lot of shit at Cookout just because it’s expected

      12 years ago at 12:37 pm
  4. Rick Brocasek

    I’ve gladly driven/made a pledge drive the 90 minutes from College Station just to grab a Phat Blunt.

    12 years ago at 8:36 pm