Bad Larry's opens in East Austin.

Bad Larry Burger Club Gets a Permanent Home on Cesar Chavez

“I like to say that we’re all Larry.”
– Matthew Bolick, founder of Bad Larry Burger Club

After six years of popping up around Austin, Bad Larry's is settling down in the old Quickie Pickie space on E. Cesar Chavez St. The smashburger joint, born from founder Matthew Bolick's backyard burger parties, has built a cult following with its flat meat sandwiches and viral marketing stunts.

The new bar/restaurant is a collaboration between Bolick (Brew & Brew, Better Half) and Open Road Hospitality, a group that includes Austin nightlife veterans Nathan Hill (White Horse, Frazier’s Long & Low), Jeremy Murray (Kitty Cohen’s) and KKDW design studios.

Bad Larry has gained a reputation not just for its burgers, but also for its acerbic sociopolitical commentary and cheeky trolling, taking aim at everyone from Greg Abbott to Elon Musk. Bolick embraces the irreverent tone, which has spurred both cheers and jeers:

“It just kind of morphed into this want to troll. I don’t know where that came from… I’d definitely never been that way on the internet until I opened the Bad Larry Instagram feed.”
– Matthew Bolick

Nathan Hill, a veteran of Austin's nightlife scene, was drawn to Bad Larry's mischievous and rowdy persona:

"We’re still selling a party in the end. We’re kind of pre-loading the party with this irreverent persona... When (Bolick) started doing donuts in a go-kart in the parking lot at the White Horse, I thought, ‘We’re gonna be fast friends.'”
– Nathan Hill

The permanent Bad Larry's will feature breakfast items like the Breakfast Larry (smashed sausage and egg patties), dinner specials like steak night and sandwiches on homemade Texas toast. And of course, loads of booze, including "fun, trashy, cheeky cocktails and frozens."

As Bolick puts it: "Just another burger on the Internet."