You can't write a week's worth of posts about a trip to Texas without writing about the food in Texas, even if your blog is about the birds! Beginning with last year's women's Final Four trip to St. Louis, we decided that we will look for outstanding BBQ at our Final Four location. We took it to the next level this year, developing a rating system for BBQ with categories that include Meat, Sauce, Sides, Intangibles (Atmosphere/Service/Location), and an Overall Rating.
Diane and Sue have been meeting us at women's Final Four locations since 2004's tournament in New Orleans. They like food as much as we do and are the other judges in our new
Final Four BBQ Quest.
The judges: Lois, Diane, and Sue
After entering the words "best barbecue in Texas" in a Google search, the
10Best - Trusted Advice for Travelers website came up with the "
Barbeque, Texas Style" article about the "best BBQ joints in the Lone Star State".
That's were we found out about the
Salt Lick, outside of Austin in Driftwood TX, and just about 30 miles north of where we were staying in Canyon Lake.
We went on a Monday evening and had a wait of about 30 minutes. You could order soft drinks and have them in the picnic area outside to help the time pass.
While waiting, I also checked out their round BBQ pit, which is out in the open for all to see. When I asked permission to take photos, I was graciously invited into the pit area to take as many photographs as I wished. The open pit, and watching the food being prepared just added to the great atmosphere of the Salt Lick.
Stone pit BBQ stoked with oak wood, not mesquite
You can almost smell it, can't you?
Getting your meal ready
We were seated on bench seats at a big slab table, our order taken, and our food arrived very promptly. We all ordered the $11.95 Plate with beef brisket, sausage, and pork ribs. The sides included potato salad, cole slaw, and beans as well as shared bread, pickles and onions. A bowl of their habenero sauce was also served on the side. We got down to work (and tough work it is!) and here's our reviews:
SUEMeat: A+ Smoked well, good flavor and great pork rib
Sauce: B
Side: C+ I prefer mayo-based cole slaw
Intangibles: A Nice feel, the wait was reasonable, good service
OVERALL: B+ I really enjoyed the meats, the location and the atmosphere
DIANEMeat: A Tender and not real fatty
Sauce: B+ On the sweet side which was good but could have used more
Sides: B- I'm not a German potato salad fan. Beans and slaw above average
Intangibles: A Rustic, big, good service
OVERALL: B+ Would go again and would recommend highly
LOISMeat: A+ Great smoking
Sauce: A I like vinegar BBQ sauces more than ketchupy ones
Side: B Who cares, its not the sides, its the meat
Intangibles: A+ Great atmosphere, fast service
OVERALL: A
NANCYMeat: A Beef amazingly tender, nicely done. Pork rib and sausage excellent.
Sauce: B+ Could've used more on meat and on table. Love the habenero sauce (bought some to take home!)
Sides: C Potato salad dry and clumpy. Cole slaw average. Beans good. Bread very good.
Intangibles: A Open pit amazing. Loved seeing the cooking process! Wait staff helpful. Location fitting.
OVERALL: B+ Reasonable wait. Portion (Plate) was ok - not great. BYOB but didn't know. No credit cards! - locals may know but visitors could find themselves short of cash!
So it looks like the OVERALL rating of the Salt Lick BBQ in Driftwood TX was a STRONG B+.
We'd ALL go back again so if you're ever in Austin, Canyon Lake or New Braunfels, drive over to Driftwood and check it out yourself! Next year: Indianapolis BBQ - is there such a thing?
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