TennPaGa wrote:Hey, I'm in Austin next week on a work-related trip. Based on the recommendation of a good friend who went to UT for grad school (and who still ventures down there periodically), I persuaded my colleagues to try
Franklin Barbeque for lunch (it is pretty close to the hotel we're staying at). Will it be worth the hassle?
Franklin is delicious, no doubt, and might be the best, but you have to be up for the experience, which consists of waiting in line for several hours. We were there a little after 8 one time, and it was touch and go whether they'd have brisket for us for lunch. (I think that was a Saturday, though, which will be worse of course.) It's a tailgate atmosphere: everybody's there for the same reason, you get to know your line neighbors, you're outside, you've got coolers with drinks and umbrellas and folding chairs. This time of year it's likely to be pretty hot.
There's another option for more of an experience: The Salt Lick. It's out in Driftwood, probably a half hour from downtown. That's where you and your buddies go "family style", and they bring out heaping plates of brisket, sausage, and ribs, all-you-can-eat. Be hungry. You walk right past the pit as you go in (well, depending which building they seat you, but while you're waiting you should wander past the pit). It's a stone circle about 12 feet in diameter chock full of deliciousness. This is the place for a big group: one time I was there and four huge buses pulled up. They contained, we found out, the UT football team. The guys all went into the event building and the restaurant didn't miss a beat. I shudder to think how many cows they went through that night!
Salt Lick is BYOB which is part of the schtick. If you go during a meal time, particularly on a weekend or holiday, you'll be waiting a while, and the beer helps. Otherwise you should be able to sit right down. Another Salt Lick option is their other location in the parking lot of the Round Rock Express up north. It's not quite the same (not BYOB) but it's very convenient if you're going to a game.
But overall, you might fare best with Rudy's. There are three locations in town, and they all make just about the most delicious brisket in the world. Right up there with Franklin, but no waiting in line for hours. There might be a line when it's busy, but it'll be indoors, and not crazy long. MAKE SURE TO GET THE EXTRA MOIST BRISKET. That's the real brisket. They sell the "lean" and "normal" to get rid of the dregs from when they make the real brisket, which is the extra moist. It melts in your mouth and is just about the most wonderful thing in the world. The leftovers go into scrambled eggs the next morning and are a dream.
Rudy's isn't walking distance like Franklin is, but since the restaurant itself isn't a requisite part of the experience, you can send one guy to go pick up the food. (Just don't let it get cold!) And they make a big deal of their sauce, but you don't need it with the extra moist.
https://www.google.com/maps/?q=rudy%27s ... -q,+austin
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) when visiting a while back. Has been several years, but I remember Rudy's in Leon Valley, absolutely the best barbeque I've ever had. I used to have my friend ship me bottles of Rudy's sauce. Now I just buy Stubbs at the local grocery store; it is reasonably close to Rudy's.