If you had to choose one... Franklin BBQ or Salt Lick?

[Sid Post]

Originally Posted by Coat

Snow's. Unless you're not in town on a Saturday. Just get there real early.

Snow's and Mueller's are two I haven't tried yet that are on a "must taste" wish list. I need to figure out how to pick them both up on a single trip to the Austin area.

[Richard_]

http://www.gristmillrestaurant.com/ or http://clearspringsrestaurant.com/new-braunfels/ way better than The Salt Lick , they're not Texas BBQ , but neither is the Salt Lick

[Czarbecue]

I’ll stay true to this thread and answer the question straight.. if the in-laws are not serious about BBQ, the Salt Lick will be great for them.

Some people just can’t taste the difference so you need to decide if your company is in that group. If my in-laws were coming to visit me, Salt Lick is where I would take them.

[gtr]

Franklin's might be hard for dragging other folks to if they're not that into eating mind blowing BBQ, and Salt Lick is more like a fun place with just OK food.

As stated, Stiles Switch is a fantastic option - you can walk right in and get top notch BBQ. Also worth considering John Meuller's Black Box BBQ. He's on par with the best around there IMO. Anything Mueller is a win - Louie Mueller's and La Barbecue (I've only heard about LB - never been but it is universally praised).

Personally I think Kreuz is really good (love the pork chop and shoulder clod, along with the classics) and Smitty's is just OK (what we got was kinda dried out). Black's is great - meats are fantastic and if you like sides, they got 'em & the peach cobbler is a must.

My favorite is Snow's, but that might be tricky with a crew since you gotta be there around 8am on a Saturday and wait an hour or 2. But - as my son said after his first bite: "I'd do this again tomorrow."

Originally Posted by Sid Post

Snow's and Mueller's are two I haven't tried yet that are on a "must taste" wish list. I need to figure out how to pick them both up on a single trip to the Austin area.

Start out at Snow's and then drive 20 minutes to Mueller's. We did that a couple months ago and it worked out great.

[Rockinar]

Originally Posted by Sid Post

Snow's and Mueller's are two I haven't tried yet that are on a "must taste" wish list. I need to figure out how to pick them both up on a single trip to the Austin area.

I did not think Snows was that great. Everything they had was good, but nothing "WOW". Where Franklin is brisket specialist and everything else is "meh". I do like Snow's sausage more than anyone else I have tried. Also they open at 8AM. Its hard for me to get excited about eating greasy BBQ at 8AM. I may try them again to see if my opinion changes.

[mbrass]

I lived in Austin for a while.

Franklin's is leaps and bounds better BBQ. But, of course there's a long wait. And, aside from the BBQ there isn't much else (it's a restaurant so that's expected).

Salt Lick isn't nearly as good BBQ. But, it's an experience. Assuming they didn't change the rules, Driftwood (where the Original Salt Lick is) is a dry county and Salt Lick can't sell beer. As a result, they let you bring your own beer/wine. You can also order Family Style, eat until you feel sick, then get a to-go plate (letting people BYOB is genius as it helps make them full)

If I was looking for great Central Texas BBQ, I'd go to Franklin's. If I was looking for a cool experience (and didn't care as much for the quality), I'd go to Salt Lick. As somebody else mentioned, Salt Lick is a great tourist destination. It's also quite a ways outside of Downtown Austin.

Hope that helps...

[Czarbecue]

Wife and I frequent the Salt Lick in Round Rock... they sell beer at that location.

[IamMadMan]

I agree;
Franklin's for high quality food and Salt Lick for the ambiance with the open circular pit in the middle.

Keep in mind at Salt Lick, your food has been cooked in the back and they just finish it / bring to temperature over the fire for the awe factor.

[TheSmoke]

Once you tell your wife and family how early you have to leave San Antonio to get in line at Franklin and get a chance at that brisket before the "Sold Out" sign goes up, that decision will be made for you. If you don't get there early in the morning, it won't be lunch; it will be mid-afternoon "here's what we have left to eat" time.

But you don't have to drive all the way up to Austin for barbecue greatness. San Antonio barbecue is starting to experience the same renaissance that Austin did a few years ago. 2M has amazing brisket, awesome tacos and interesting sausages. The Granary is great, get some pork belly if you go there. There are other places as well.

[GLOCKer]

So it sounds like we're going to do Franklin's. I talked to my parents about it, and they are driving to San Antonio for this wedding and said they'd throw a bunch of tailgate chairs in their minivan, and they'd also be bringing a cooler (so we'll have cold beer). My wife is going to bring Cards Against Humanity. We'll make a fun time out of it!

[Rockinar]

Originally Posted by GLOCKer

So it sounds like we're going to do Franklin's. I talked to my parents about it, and they are driving to San Antonio for this wedding and said they'd throw a bunch of tailgate chairs in their minivan, and they'd also be bringing a cooler (so we'll have cold beer). My wife is going to bring Cards Against Humanity. We'll make a fun time out of it!

Get there early. By early I don't mean 11. I mean by 7-8 AM.

[GLOCKer]

Originally Posted by Rockinar

Get there early. By early I don't mean 11. I mean by 7-8 AM.

That's the plan!!!! We're going on a Thursday, and I emailed them asking for recommendations on what time would be best to get there. I was surprised that they responded with 9am on a Thursday. I'm thinking about leaving San Antonio no later than 6:00AM to get there at 7:15AM!

[Rockinar]

Originally Posted by GLOCKer

That's the plan!!!! We're going on a Thursday, and I emailed them asking for recommendations on what time would be best to get there. I was surprised that they responded with 9am on a Thursday. I'm thinking about leaving San Antonio no later than 6:00AM to get there at 7:15AM!

When I went it was on a Tuesday. I got there at 4AM to be first in line. A trickle of people arrived between 4:30 and 6. About 6 is when a steady stream of people started to arrive. Arriving at 7 would be good. They open the doors at about 9 so people can look around inside, buy tshirts, beer, use the bathroom, etc.

Your milage may vary.

[GLOCKer]

Originally Posted by Rockinar

When I went it was on a Tuesday. I got there at 4AM to be first in line. A trickle of people arrived between 4:30 and 6. About 6 is when a steady stream of people started to arrive. Arriving at 7 would be good. They open the doors at about 9 so people can look around inside, buy tshirts, beer, use the bathroom, etc.

Your milage may vary.

Thank you!
My family is going to hate me for this, but I'll adjust our time to leave from San Antonio down to 0545 to put us in at 0700.

[Gore]

Originally Posted by GLOCKer

Thank you!
My family is going to hate me for this, but I'll adjust our time to leave from San Antonio down to 0545 to put us in at 0700.

They may hate you for it at the moment, but it will be a memory that you have the rest of your lives. When I look back on the special times, these are what stand out. Yeah, the line was long, but I will always treasure the time I spent with gtr and his sister. Yeah, I had some great BBQ, even rivaling Franklin's, but that was a special memory. Yeah, I was at LABBQ not long before, didn't have to wait, and the brisket I had there actually haunts me more than what I had at Franklin's, but sometimes it is the journey itself that makes it worthwhile. Enjoy the Franklin's experience... and thanks Greg!