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Cele's Store
- Hours:
Thu-Fri. 6:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Sat. 10:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Sat. 5:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
3 reviews for Cele's Store
To the BBQ purists, this place is a slice of Heaven:
If Shakespeare ever wrote a tragedy about BBQ, then Cele's Store would definitely be the protagonist of the play. While hubris is always the downfall of the protagonist, in Shakespeare's BBQ tragedy, however, the antithesis of hubris - humility - would take center stage. How can one of the better BBQ joints I have ever eaten at not be on anyone's radar screen? Despite the fact this joint is a stone throw away from where I live and has been in business since the 50's, I'm stilled stumped as to why I didn't know this place existed. The greatest tragedy about this story is that hardly anyone knows about this hidden gem.
From the outside, the place looks like a crack house one would find in an episode of "Little House on the Prairie". In the inside, well let's just say it's a combination of a Honky Tonk and the Liberty Bar in San Antonio, with uneven floors that make you think you already have had one too many beers to drink. We sat down, got the kids situated and I went outside to take pictures of the building. A few seconds later, when I went inside my wife tells me she went ahead and ordered for us. "They don't have sides here, so I went ahead and ordered ribs, brisket and sausage for two," she said, with a slightly disappointed tone in her voice. I immediately knew this place was special and was somewhat relieved to find out that they did in fact, serve sides - sliced cheese and jalapenos. Yes, you can get cheese and/or whole jalapenos as sides! Wow, what a place! This place reminded me of the time when my wife asked for BBQ sauce when we ordered brisket from Kreutz Market in Lockhart - can someone please get a rope! To this day, my wife cannot comprehend the words I told her when she requested the sauce. "Honey," I told her, "you have just insulted the pit master."
The food was served on butcher paper. I quickly took a picture, took a deep breathe and hoped I wouldn't be disappointed. The brisket was tender, moist and perfectly smoked. The sausage was as authentic as you can get. Many people do not appreciate authentic sausage, but for the BBQ purist, this sausage was damned good. The ribs were somewhat of a disappointment. The ribs were dry, probably attributed to being overcooked or as often is the case, have been sitting around for a long time, thus, allowing the moisture to evaporate on a low heat grill or drip in a pan. It pains me to complain about the ribs when the other two meats clearly overcompensated for any shortcomings. I can't wait to go back and try the ribs again. I'm sure they will be as moist and tasty as the brisket. Although the food was awesome the prices were just as awesome. $15 bucks for family style portions - 2 ribs, about 1/2 pd of brisket and 1/2 pd of sausage, sides of cheese and jalapenos and drinks. You can't beat these prices.
The aura of this place is incredible and I was surprised to find out "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre" was filmed at this location. A movie I have never heard about starring Michael Caine, Robert Duvall, and the creepy kid that sees dead people was also shot on location here. Country videos and even a Sports Illustrated cover featuring Lance Armstrong also used Cele's Store as the backdrop.
The only drawback to Cele's Store is BBQ being served on Saturday's only. They also only accept cash or checks.
Too bad Texas didn't exist when Shakespeare was alive, otherwise, school-aged children today would be reading about how Romeo took Juliet to Cele's and they lived happily ever after.
This place is definitely cool ...
If you want authentic Texas barbecue, this is the place. It was the best barbecue I have ever eaten! The sausage was flavorful, the ribs were yummy and salty, and the brisket was so tender. This is a no-frills joint, and you eat your meat on butcher paper, with pickles and onions and peppers on the side. The barbecue is served inside an old country store, and it's been part of the set of many movies, from Texas Chainsaw Massacre to Secondhand Lions. The other reviewer is correct that the hours are limited and I would call first. Also the waitresses were very friendly. It was a low-key and wonderful meal.
First to review this landmark image etched into the mind of every teenage boy from the Eighties that wanted to find a lonely place to make out! HAH! What a treat!
When you pull up to this dilapidated old country store your brain is going to start walking backwards. It's OK, go on in. Later, it would have hit you (if I hadn't just spilt the beans) - THIS is the place where the Texas Chainsaw Massacre was filmed!!! Holy Crap! I didn't know before someone drug us out there and it was a total mind fhump-and-a-half when the images snapped together in my head.
The inside is rustic, and slightly dilapidated. The bathroom is freaking scary - but clean-ish. The hours are very short - open Friday or Saturday. Call to confirm hours.
The BBQ is awesome and plentiful. Seriously, I ate a ton - 2000#. The cold beers just keep coming. The food - by food I mean meat - is best served group-style on large squares of meat-paper.
(Yes, I said it : meat-paper).
For vegetarians, they serve jalapenos.
Get some!
5/5 based on good food (meat) and being that iconic.
PS - if the freaking middle of nowhere (Hutto-hang a right and drive) is a private lot, Then my parking categorization stands (private lot).