Fred Nelson gets it. It's a hard thing to put your finger on, but whatever makes Austin “Austin” or “Austin-ie” or “Austin-ish,” Fred understands it. Maybe it's the big oak trees, maybe it's the retro-kitsch décor, maybe it's because you feel like you'll be shot if you wear a tie. If you are looking for the definitive Austin experience, a place to take out-of-towners to make them green with envy over our fair city, then Freddie's Place is what you're looking for. Fred Nelson, owner of Hickory Street Bar & Grill, has transformed a spot on South First that had been vacant three years into a charming and very “Austin” eatery.

Nelson describes the cuisine at Freddie's Place as “simple American comfort food made from scratch.” He explains that his menu is not extravagant, but it covers all the bases, offering burgers along with classic Southern entrees like pork chops and chicken fried steak. Big portions of the usual home-style sides like green bean casserole, garlic mashed potatoes and gravy, hand-cut fries and hand-breaded onion rings round out the experience. Or you can go full-tilt and opt for Freddie's Heart Attack... a Texas Toast burger served open-faced with queso, and ten slices of bacon. The desserts are made from scratch, including a bowl of fresh baked apple pie with ice cream and Freddie's homemade cheesecake.

As for “ambiance,” you've got plenty of it here. Nelson has created a quaint outdoor area overlooking Bouldin Creek with a beautiful expanse of trees shading the entire area. It's cozy; you feel like you're sitting in a buddy's backyard at a cookout.

“In the middle of summer, all you have is speckles of sunlight, and if it's 100 degrees in the parking lot, it's 88 degrees underneath that canopy of trees,” Nelson confides. But if you go during peak hours, you'll have to wait your turn to pitch washers. When I was there, an informal “king-of-the-hill” type game had developed. If you don't know how to pitch washers, you may want to practice before you go. I took a fair amout of good-natured ribbing for my lack of skills.

An added bonus is that indoor patrons can view outdoor activities through the glass doors and windows that surround the entire restaurant. “What's missing in a lot of restaurants in Austin is that the outside and inside areas are completely different worlds,” explains Nelson. “What we've done is open up this entire inside area so it communes with and participates with what's happening outside.” Also, all the doors and windows open; the bar is inside/outside, and even the inside seating is raised stadium style so the outside festivities are easily visible.

Nelson has plenty of festivities lined up for the next few months. He'll have live music March through October, including theme nights such as “Brisket and Blues” on Tuesday evenings, “Catfish and Country” Wednesday evenings, and a featured band Saturday afternoons. In addition, he will host cookouts Sunday afternoons with charbroiled hamburgers and hot dogs.

Sounds pretty “Austin-ie” to me.