OK people, I want reports on three places, stat. 1. Snow's BBQ, Lexington (ranked #1) - open four hours a week. Anyone been? 2. Lambert's Downtown BBQ, Austin (ranked top 50) - looks pretty fancy pants. Hell, fourteen bucks for a two meat lunch plate better be good. And it's one of only two BBQ joints in Austin proper that made the list. 3. Mann's Smokehouse, Austin (ranked top 50) - the other one, also never been. Linky Linky
Mann's Smokehouse on Research also made the list w/ a higher rating than Lambert's. Lambert's = bbq cooked in a gas-burning rotisserie and jicama-and-carrot slaw is not Texas bbq Nice to see Harold's in Abilene listed. Good q and hot water cornbread, live entertainment during slow hours with Harold's wife talking back to the soaps on the little portable tv above the cokes.
I really like the food at Lambert's (I work 2 blocks away), but it's not BBQ (though I like the sauce). The dinner menu is particularly good. SIdes are good, the bread is good, the meat is good -- it's just not true BBQ. Enjoy it for what it is.
They just opened a Lambert's here in Fort Worth. Every time I read about it, they reference the "famed Austin location". I lived in Austin for 6 years...and I had never even heard of Lambert's.
Thanks for the link! Wow, Black's completely fell off the list? I went last fall and thought it would at least make the Honorable Mention list.
The Ft. Worth Lamberts has different owners/chefs. One of the same guys is involved, but there is little relation between the two restaurants.
I grew up in Giddings (15 minutes from Lexington) and can't say I've ever heard of Snow's. I am ashamed. edit: ah, I see it's only been open for 5 years...which is after my time. Good to see City Meat Market in Giddings made the list...surprised neither Meyer's or Southside in Elgin is on the list.
Agree on Black's, I sometimes hit it up on a college football Saturday before heading in for a night game. Last time it was as good as ever.
Re: Fort Worth: Austin Lambert's just opened last year, so that's why you haven't heard about it. The Fort Worth location IS owned by the same Lou Lambert. He has just partnered that location with Grady Spears
I go to Mann's about once a week. It is good, but I don't know if I would rate it ahead of the famed legendary BBQ joints of Taylor, Elgin, Lockhart or Llano. The beef can be like roast beef instead of BBQ beef, or too dry, but maybe you can say that about any place. They have a daily trivia question where you can win a free lunch, good selection of sides, good chicken, good sausage (jalepeno and regular), good ribs, pork and beef. The BBQ brisket can be perfect, with a nice smoke ring, just not always. The owners are really nice folks, I like to patronize the place. The Iron Works may be better in Austin, but I like Mann's, Artz Rib House, and House Park. Went to Lambert's once, it is a higher-priced place, it was good. Maybe more a special occasion place, than a traditional BBQ joint.
BBall Jones - Lou Lambert is involved in both, to varying degrees, but the two restaurants are not related and have different management and ownership. The Austin one opened first, in 12/06. My brother opened the Austin Lamberts. I'd like to try Mann's. Can't beat free ice cream.
Texas Monthly is so kitschy it is almost beyond belief. They have actually listed Van's in Oakville, which has an interesting ambience----call it rural unimaginative, the bathroom for both sexes has one toilet and a claw foot bathtub and no deodorant---but mediocre food. It has always been mediocre and the quality of the meat they use is minimal. The old lady in the pink plastic cowboy hat and the incredibly nuanced rural south Texas women's accent is worth the trip and when driving to SA from Corpus I will stop there (it is the only restaurant on the way) but it is hardly better than a Bill Miller's.
I have been to all in their top 5 except the one in Lexington. The other 4 in their top 5 were also in their top 5 like 5 years ago. The one that dropped out of their top 5 is Coopers. And I don't blame them. The past few times I have been to Coopers I have not been impressed. My top 2 are Kreutz (#1) and City Market in Luling (#2). And then likely Louie Muellers.
I still don't get the fascination with Kreuz's. Every time I go there the brisket is ridiculously fatty and the shoulder is very unimpressive.
I've eaten Mann's. Not impressed. Not much flavor to the brisket. I usually like beef ribs, but theirs were inedible. Sides unremarkable.
What were they thinking? Lambert's? Mann's? Hard Eight (Brady)? Tx Monthly needs to quit hiring staff from foreign states. Save he obvious, easy choices (Luling, Sequin, et.al.) they are clueless.
Several notable omissions: Sonny Bryan's, Dallas Sammy's, Dallas Main Street BBQ, Euless Bodacious BBQ, several East Texas locations Clem Mikeska's, Temple
I can see the old-timers in Lexington grumbling already...."can't even get any bbq now with all the city folk here all the time"
Both of my parents, and all of my family for several generations, were from Lexington. I've never been to "Snows" but I been eating Tootsie's bbq my whole life. First it was the Meat Market on the corner of the square across from the bank. It was a regular old fashioned meat market Monday through Friday and that's why they only have bbq on Saturday. They had two long brick pits out back. When that closed, Tootsie opened "Tootsie's" in that same location. I knew that had closed, but I didn't know they had reopened at a different location, (according to the map link), as "Snow's". I would stop in there on my way to afternoon games at DKR. I've hauled many a friend through there on a Saturday morning. We would call ahead and have an order waiting to go. At that location there were no sides, just a few slices of bread and that lovely thin vinegary "mopping sauce" as the article calls it. It is indeed some incredibly awesome stuff. (If they are still making sausage, grab a link of that too!).
I am not surprised to see how Coopers has fallen and how Joe Cotton's has fallen. Coopers has been completely unimpressive the last few times I have been and Cotton's has REALLY fallen. I was there about three weeks ago and I was very disappointed to see what has become of this legendary place.
I'm going right now to one of the 50, Opie's in Spicewood. I've been there several times before and reading the list made me hundry to go again. Just got back, the ribs were good. This place is worth a visit.
i've been to all of the central texas places mann's is ok, but ruby's on guadalupe and house park are both much better in austin
Gak...I have to agree with you on Ruby's and House Park. Both are consistent and top notch. Another local I like a lot is Sam's on East 12th street. The brisket is always outstanding, as is the chicken. Also, Sam's is open until 2:00am Sun-Thur and until 3:00am Fri-Sat.
Ruby's on Guadalupe is the best overall BBQ in Austin proper. And I wouldn't eat county line if I was on food stamps.
