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I'm going to have to jump on the A-OK bandwagon.
It was nice to get to watch the turtles while we waited, and the wait wasn't too long. Sitting inside at night, however, makes you forget you are on the lake since all you can see is your reflection in the large window.
The bread was great. We ordered a loaf of half wheat and half white, and had plenty to take home. I ordered a combo plate, hearing that the ribs here were awesome. Guess what? They were not. They were good, but not very meaty and mostly just messy. Unfortunately, I didn't really think the sauce was all that great. By boyfriend's Memphis style ribs were awesome, and reminded me of the ribs at the Stubb's event (though still not AS good). The potato salad was pretty good. Beans were "eh." Sausage was surprisingly very good. Brisket was almost on the dry side, and again, I'm not wild about their sauce.
All in all, I'd rather spend a lot less money and time and just go to Rudy's.
I was really in the mood for some good ole fashion bbq ribs while on our way to Lake Travis so a friend suggested we stop by County Line.
I spent $19 for a combo pork and beef ribs. The pork ribs were better than the beef ribs. This is a shame because normally beef ribs are better. Both were way to lean like it was overcooked. The beef ribs I am used to eating flakes off the bones but these clung on the bone which made it hard to eat. It may have been that it was precooked the night before because usually it is the juicy fat that allows the meat to flake off the bones.
The sauce to the bbq was way too tarty, sour like too much vinegar was added and not enough sugar. Because of this, I preferred the ribs without the sauce.
My combo came with 3 sides. It came with beans, cole slaw, and potato salad. The cole slaw was made fresh with large cabbage slices. The potato salad was good too with enough mayo.
I got really good service here. The waiter allowed me to sample the new dry mesquite ribs.
The turtle frenzy in the river was a kick. My recommendation is to buy the slice of bread for $3 and save what you don't eat to the turtles.
I was really disappointed with the ribs, I would probably come back to this place with some friends to try the brisket.
Eh, this place is just okay. A little bit over rated, really....
First off, it's always jam-packed. Crazy busy. They seem to do a good job getting people to tables in a timely way, but be prepared for a wait. The outside patio in the back on the lake is very nice. It's breezy and cool back there, and the kids get a kick out of feeding the turtles. Drink service on the patio was prompt and friendly. There was live music when we went on Saturday night, but he wasn't very good.
Inside, the tables are very close together and very small for the brontosaurus-sized plates most of the entrees come on. It is also VERY noisy, not a great place for conversation, and TONS of screaming kids, so kid-o-phobics, beware.
I am not a huge fan of beef ribs, and if you don't like ribs or sausage in general, you can get brisket, chicken, prime rib or salmon, basically. I ended up ordering the brisket sliders with a side of potato salad. The sliders were terrible--all bread and almost no brisket. The brisket that was there was very dry, although they came with a side of sauce that I don't really care for, it's really sour-y, like other reviewers have said.
My husband loves their beef ribs, says they're the best he's had in Austin, and if you've got big eaters at your table, the all-you-can-eat option will fill them up. The best thing about County Line is their fresh bread with honey-butter; I was glad I filled up on bread, because the meal was very unsatisfying. Service was so-so, not bad, but not great either. Our waiter was a little slow and unenthusiastic; we never got water refills and had to ask for drinks twice.
Overall, I would say go and try it if you've never been--it's worth seeing once.
Food - 5star, service - 5star, ambiance - 5star!
The Cadillac is hands down a bomber. The beef ribs and extra moisturized brisket are indescribably delicious. I walked into this place under low blood sugar due to an intense day of conference, and I walked out of this place with a food coma.
Our waiter, Jack, was so patient to take our orders separately when one of us didn't want the buffet. And we happened to be the last guest in the restaurant at a Sunday night, and was so mean to ask for a 8-way split bill...lol Jack did it!
Will definitely come back again!
Just as others have said, the ribs are not as good as they used to be. Too bad.
OK I like to eat. And I really like BBQ. I was really looking forward to this the first time I drove past and could smell the BBQ for blocks on other side of this place. My husband and I looked at each other... "oh yeah, it's about to go down"
Totally disappointed.
Our waitress was kinda grumpy and not too friendly. She also wasn't really around all that much. I had a combo platter with brisket and turkey that was dry dry dry. The sauce is too vinegar-y. We were sitting by a window and after the first bite I was thinking "Looooooook turtles!!!" And then all I wanted to do was go outside and feed the turtles that were hanging out in the lake. That's pretty bad if a bunch of turtles can pull me away from my food.
The homemade bread is very good as is the potato salad, but I don't go to BBQ for the sides. And they charge you extra for the bread which is a little ridiculous. I gave half that bread to the turtles anyway. They seemed to like it too.
Just OK
They have made the best ribs and the brisket was awesome but, not anymore....I mean how do you mess up a recipe that you have been using forever?
I just wish that they were what they use to be 15 years ago(wow I feel old now). the location is cool and it is always fun to take the out-of-towners(they really don't know better) but, I want them to read these reviews and hopefully realize that we are BBQ connoisseurs! Heck I think there are as many BBQ joints in Austin as trailer restaurants and churches!
Texas Loves BBQ, so make it the best and we will come in droves...simple recipe for success!
Great beef ribs and sides. It's hard to find a full menu at a Texas BBQ joint. Most places concentrate on the meat and serve crappy sides. The cole slaw is some of the best Ive had. The homemade bread is exactly like my Gf makes at home. Sauce is served on the side not poured on like the Salt Lick.
I had one goal. Have high expectations, and don't be disappointed. Go in, eat my fill, and give this unique BBQ warehouse a 5. I almost didn't make it out having accomplished my mission, but it was close enough. I figure I might as well stick up for County Line with a 5 through all the lower scores. I also have a history of giving a lot of AYCE places with a nice atmosphere some boosted scores. AYCE is such a good deal...
This atmosphere is different than Salt Lick, not as rustic, more gaudy. Salt Lick has more of a country/ranch feel, whereas this one is a bit more cluttered inside with a bunch of over-the-top decorations, but it is set in the nice hills of Austin. One amazing part is their back patio that overlooks a small strip of lake. Relaxing as can be... musician too.
My friend and I ordered the middle tier AYCE, The Cadillac, which came with moist brisket, lean brisket, chicken, sausage, ham, BEEF RIBS, and we subbed in MEMPHIS ST. LOUIS RIBS. I emphasize these 2 because they made the BBQ worth it. Ended up getting the normal pork ribs anyway, which were also delicious. The sides of homemade bread, potato, coleslaw, and beans were all ok. Good, but fairly ordinary.
Brisket: Surprisingly, the moist cut had that odd cut of fat that made it tough, making it not very good. Lean brisket was not bad for a lean cut, flavorful.
Ham: Perfectly salty, moist, what you want out of a ham.
Sausage: Moist, VERY ordinary tasting. Mediocre at best.
Chicken: A bit on the dry side, without much smoke flavor.
Baby backs: Meatier than usual, really flavorful.
Mesquite style St. Louis: These had that characteristic odd number of bones spread throughout spare ribs of meat. Tons of meatiness with perfect fat running throughout. On top of tender porky flavor, the blackened dry spice rub on top was PERFECT. Tasty, tasty.
Beef ribs: Drool. That's all I can say. That's all I did.
Sauce: A tad vinegary, with a tad too much sweetness. Spicy sauce was nice. Better, but still nothing special.
So as you can see overall, there were slightly more disappointments in terms of the food at CL, but for the unlimited ribs, AYCE value, feel & view, you can't beat CL. If you're looking to take some out-of-townies to some high quality atmosphere BBQ with good food, I would choose this or Salt Lick, though your budget may be a little more stretched with these two options for just BBQ. Can't really compare the two though, sorry.
The Bread that they bring out to you is great. That is about it.
Dickey's (a fast food BBQ chain) has better BBQ. The BBQ was dry and by far the most lack-luster BBQ you'll find.
The setting is beautiful and they have an amazing patio overlooking Lake Austin. The issue that the Hostess so obnoxiously and rudely pointed out is that while it is a pretty patio, they won't sit you out there "because everybody wants to sit out there and they don't want to make the servers walk outside with the food"??? I haven't figured out what she meant and don't really care to. Food was bad enough that even if you could sit on the patio, I wouldn't go back. Try Ruby's down near campus, of course The Salt Lick is the best in Texas and pretty much any fast food BBQ will do the trick better than County Line.
I've been coming here with my parents since I was old enough to be trusted to handle ribs without choking, and now that I'm all grown n' such and pay for my own meals on occasion, County Line still has yet to fail me. They have delicious, reliable barbecue at a good price at a beautiful location.
I've been a Texas resident all of my 24 years, and I've been a fan of the 'cue for all them as well. I'd say County Line's best menu item are their hefty, meaty, fall-apart-in-your-mouth moist, lusciously seasoned beef ribs. But the brisket is also excellent, the sausage has a devilishly delish kick to it, and the sides are all done with appropriate homestyle panache. (You won't be able to stay away from the bread and butter, trust me!) As some people have mentioned, I generally like barbecue sauce a little sweeter, but this is just how they do it, it's their signature flavor, and it's certainly not bad. They have a dinner option of bringing you out never-ending plates of meat, which is generally the best option and gets you the best bang for your buck. Speaking of, considering how much high-quality meat you're getting, and how long it's been prepared and cooked, County Line is definitely affordable, and a great place for groups. It has a laid back atmosphere where you'll feel at home in jeans and sneakers, but it's also beautiful and polished enough for a date. It's set against a lake with a massive wall-length window and a large deck for easy turtle-spotting (a favorite childhood activity), or just a way to take in the inevitable gorgeous sunset.
YUCK.
The only reason they're getting two stars is that a) their beverage service doesn't suck - not only did they know what an Arnold Palmer is, they have it printed in their menu, and their cherry lime rickey is tasty, and b) the hostess is cheerful and charming, and gave great directions when I called them.
I only wish the rest of the meal had lived up to the beginning.
We ended up having a late dinner, and given the sluggish Internet connection we have at this hotel, I didn't manage to read the reviews before we went. I WISH I HAD! I absolutely agree with the negative reviews. (I started composing mine before we got the bill.)
The food was pretty uniformly horrible. The mushrooms were gross - my husband and I are big mushroom fans, but these were barely edible. I have no idea what they were really flavored with, but the promised wine and butter was nowhere to be found. They were out of their homemade bread (and what's with charging extra for bread, anyway?), and their standard bread is halfway to stale. Only the honey [i]margarine[/i] made that mess edible. If we hadn't been hungry and hopeful (after all, lots of people had said, "either County Line or Salt Lick" when asked for Austin bbq recommendations), we would have sent the meat back, as well. Dry and tasteless. Tough. The only part that was anywhere near acceptable was the sausage. The sauce mainly tastes of vinegar, and what's up with [i]that[/i] in a Texas 'que joint? What is this, one of the Carolinas?
Adding insult to injury, our waitress completely disappeared on us, and was surly when she *did* show up. Informed of our complaints, she
tried to make it our fault - "no one else has complained". o.O!
The desserts sounded appealing, but after the appalling service, we weren't inclined to give these people any more money. Too bad.
We ran off to Bone Daddy's to get the nasty taste out of our mouths.
ETA: Talked to the manager this morning, and he sounded concerned enough that I suspect things will improve in short order, especially the service. Hope that Austin Yelpers end up having a better experience than we did.
I have been to both locations and they are pretty much the same idea. There are some minor differences in the menu, but the core menu is the same.
The decor is unique and creates a certain ambiance but that's where the things that set The CL apart from other BBQ joints ends.
The ribs are decent, but nothing special.
The brisket is decent, but again, nothing extraordinary.
Their sauce and their beans are kind of run of the mill, but beans are beans I suppose.
If it sounds like I am saying the same things in different ways you are correct; everything is kind of ordinary.
Now the exceptions to the statements above:
Their homemade bread is delicious and served with honey butter.
Their bread pudding is extremely good (my vote for best in town, and I believe, made with their homemade bread.
So, in short, go light on the main course and save room for dessert!
Addendum: I have visited again recently and given it another shot. My experience was much better on the BBQ front. The ribs were better than previous and brisket also.
Very good BBQ in my opinion. Nicely cooked brisket and ribs. The brisket was juicy and tasty, and the meat just jumped off the ribs. Sauce is true Texan and nice flavor/spice to it.
Nice sides of all kinds, tons of drinks, lots of beer, and actually pretty tasty desserts also.
County Line is an Austin legend worthy of it fine reputation. The view on the patio in summer is outstanding of the lake. Very nice!
I immediately liked the location on the lake. I had the combo platter with the very moist brisket and chicken. Both were cooked to perfection, but the sauce was a little too tart for me. My boyfriend agreed. He had the sausage and ham and liked them better at the Salt Lick. But the bread was really good. I loved it with the honey butter they had. Love the huge soft drinks too. The potato salad and cole slaw were also yummy. I don't like cole slaw, but I ate every bit that was on my plate.
I'm not a BBQ aficionado by any means, but I'm pretty sure it's not a good sign when you have to use a steak knife to saw through your babyback ribs -- and that was precisely my experience at County Line.
The food here was edible, but far from being GOOD. After my friend and I placed our orders, our plates were out in under 5 minutes. Kinda weird. I had some kind of pork combo plate. You've read about the ribs. The sausage's casing had a nice crunch to it, but my plate was too drowned in a so-so sauce for me to be able to taste the essence of the meat under the casing. By the time I got to the brisket, I'd had too much of the undesirable saucy flavor to go on.
A friend and I drove all the way from downtown Austin to this particular restaurant because the guy at our hotel front desk said it was better than the one closer to town. Upon our return from the place, we felt compelled to inform him that he should think twice before referring it to people anymore. He says that our experience didn't match his previous ones at all, so it's quite possible they aren't always this way, but clearly, you can't just go in expecting greatness. Proceed with caution!
eh, it is alright. i will not be back by choice, but it was an okay meal at the time.
the best part of the experience was feeding the turtles
THIS
PLACE
SUCKS.
haha notice all the 5 star raves from people who are from San Francisco. WTF??? Let's send all of our Texans to their Chinese Restaurants and tell them what is good for them!
I have had two experiences with this terrible, miserable, horrible place. The first time was with a newborn baby, who had casts on his club feet, and had to be in a stroller at all times. They wouldn't let us bring the stroller into the restaurant. What that amounts to is a total refusal of service to a customer due to a disability. We left the place fuming mad!
We decided to give the place one more chance when my step-daughter's grandparents came to visit. We wanted to give them a taste of BBQ, and thought the overall snotty attitude would suit this couple -- a banking executive from Missouri, and his Nazi Hausfrau. Well guess what? We waited for THREE HOURS before we were seated. I mean, these idiots actually completely forgot about us until it was almost closing time. Even after two hours, when every single party that had arrived after us had been seated, and I went to complain, IT STILL TOOK THEM ANOTHER HOUR TO SEAT US.
Oh, and the food was mediocre. You can get better 'cue at Rudy's for Pete's sake.
Also, you can't believe how apologetic the management was. They comped us ONE WHOLE ENTIRE SLICE OF CHEESECAKE. it was almost as if to say -- please don't ever come back here. Which we won't so don't worry. We wouldn't want to ruin the view of the dirty creek for all of the Californians.
Very good and reliable BBQ. My favorite is their beef ribs. The sauce and beans could be a little sweeter for my taste but the potato salad is excellent. Extremely kid friendly. Don't forget to feed the turtles and if you have a boat the captain eats free.
I am not from Texas (which means all the Austin natives will immediately rule out my opinion) but here goes...
I don't really understand brisket... I've never been a big redmeat person so I also order seafood before steak, yada yada. that said, I LOVEEEEEEE ribs. They're so delectably tasty.
So I end up making the mistake of ordering the "Rib King" here... Based on the fact that I have no idea what different types of ribs are (I love them but rarely eat them and only cooked them myself once). So I thought the 1/2 and 1/2 concept was a great idea- nows the time to put my preference to the test. Well the platter I got was enough to feed 2! And I found out very shortly that while the beef ribs have good flavor, the meat was harder to remove and they were so big i felt like a cavewoman. Baby back is the winner! I will for sure come back and just order a 1/2 rack of baby backs. Also, the cole slaw chunky was very good and a nice change- and the potato salad was pretty good too. Will definitely be coming here again when I get that BBQ craving again!
My two favorite things to eat are tex-mex and BBQ. I have lived in Austin for more than 20 years, am a 4th generation Texan, and someone who is looked to when a tex-mex or bbq restaurant recommendation is needed. You'll notice the majority of 4+ star reviews for this place are from people who are NOT from Austin or even Texas, i.e. people who know nothing about what good bbq's supposed to taste like.
With that said, if you don't mind average to below-average que, and you don't mind a long wait, but you do want good atmosphere, then I can recommend County Line. If you actually want tasty bbq and you don't want to wait half your life for it, try any number of the other bbq places I've reviewed.
I'm constantly baffled by the number of cars out front of this place. We live so close we can easily smell when they have their pits fired up. In the 11yrs we've lived in our house near this location, I think we've eaten there maybe 5-7 times at the most; and those times that we did were because we were meeting somebody who suggested it.
I will say their beef ribs are pretty good. So is their potato salad. Cole slaw has almost no flavor and has huge cabbage chunks....not to my liking. The loaves of bread are really really good, but I don't go to a bbq place for bread, especially since they charge you for it! I make a stink about that to the waitstaff every time we're there. After I say something, they invariably give us the bread for free, but I hate having to get pissed, and I hate having to ask.
I don't know about all the California people who have given this place 4 and 5 star reviews, but most people that know bbq don't go to a bbq place for the view. Although every County Line I've ever been to either has a great view or is in a tranquil setting, I'd trade those things for higher quality food and a more affordable price. I always choke when I see the $14 price for a simple sliced beef plate. Oh, by the way, if you like even a little fat on your beef you better let them know. They're proud of their "lean" (aka "dry") beef.
Sliced beef, pork ribs and sausage are all average at best. I can't believe how many reviewers say their sauce is good. To me, it tastes like a ketchup-based sauce you'd buy at the grocery store. Frankly, I can't stand their sauce and don't use it.
Last thing I'll comment on is the wait. Don't go there during the typical busy times. It's best to go there on the off-hours. If you try to go during their lunch or dinner rush, you're bound to wait for at least an hour and sometimes 2 hours or longer. It is a complete mystery why someone would wait that long for below-average bbq. County Line's not bad, it's just not very good either.
Not a bad corporate bbq joint. By that I mean that it is not a bad place to entertain and take out of town guests to get a sampling of Texas BBQ. However, for a date or a family outing, it is overpriced and over-rated. The sides - bread and potato salad are good, but shouldn't be all about the meat. All of the meats here are generally good, but really need the sauce. I am of the opinion, that it is an insult to the bbq chef to ask for sauce to go over their bbq. The meat should be able to survive on its own. That is not always the case here at the County Line.
There are several outstanding places in the area - in Elgin Lockhart, etc. to name a few that do not even have bbq sauce to offer - and the best thing is you do not need it. The meat is full of flavor all by itself, but sadly not the case here.
This place is a good mix of solid bbq and good ambiance. Located right on the lake, if you can grab a table with a view, it's really nice. Not quite fine dining, but definitely a step up from the Salt Lick. You do get cloth napkins if that means anything.
The bread here is fantastic. If I could come soley for the bread I would. Brown, warm and chock full of wheaty goodness. The menu is what you would expect. BBQ with a side of BBQ and maybe some slaw. But the smokey flavor is pleasant and strong without being over-powering. My favorite is the BBQ beef sandwhich. Delish.
Now this is not outstanding BBQ. But it's a nice restaurant with great outside views.
Both times that I have been here have been just ok. Not terrible, but not oh my god delicious and exciting. I bet it would be better in the summer outside with some music or something.
My dad (probably a bbq expert) was unimpressed. Too much fat on my beef rib but my dog was happy about that when I brought it home. But I enjoyed the bbq chicken and homemade bread.
But I highly enjoy driving on 2222 to get here. And I love how they teach you how to speak country with the recording in the bathroom (like how they teach you italian at italian restaurants). I guess the dumbest things really make me happy...
Always a favorite of guests.
Positives include a great porch for drinks, strong mexican martinis for the adults and turtle feeding at the dock for the kids - careful not to take a plunge! Accesible by boat via Bull Creek from Lake Austin - shallow in parts and watch for hidden rocks.
I have now become officially disappointed with County Line's level of service. My family has been going to the various CLs for 20+ years, and I've got to say they're at a low point. I don't know if they're taking their cues from the airline industry, but the little things that make a difference are gone. The mixed plate is still a solid choice, but they don't cut sausage anymore - why this bugged me, not really sure. The bread is now served sliced instead of in a loaf - I liked the loaf. Didn't they once give hot, moist towels at the end of the meal?? The dry brisket sandwich on stale bread I had for lunch a few months back started the downhill slide in my book.
Maybe it's my twice a year craving for some Texas bbq, but part of the reason we love this place is the deck and experience when you go. Tonight we got a chance to see a kid feeding the turtles (while wearing a Superman outfit, which should have clued us in as to what was going to happen next) and he threw himself into the lake. That was fantastically funny, as nobody got hurt and he didn't seem to even notice. back to the food....
The wheat bread is great. I am the Incumbent President for the Carbo-holics Anonymous, so of course I would comment about the bread here. I also like their pork and turkey, although the waiter told me the pork is a bit dry. i didn't think so, but that's how I like my pork. Well done. Plus, isn't that why you get BBQ sauce? I also really like their thick-cut cole slaw. Yummm!
Sitting on the deck is great. I like CL on the Hill too, but just not as much.
Ooh, thanks for reminding me about this place Jill W! it's a great place to take out of town guests.… Read more »
This is one of those places I just don't get it. Lots of people love it obviously because it is super busy and packed almost all the time. I have visited this place off and on for years and every time I go it's the same dry, bland BBQ. It's not the worst, but it is far from the best. I will say they make good drinks though and of course the view is nice if you are by the water.
My advice: place a 2 drink minimum on yourself and then start eating the food!
Warning: nudity at County Line.
Yep. The huge breasts I had off the "lighter fare" lunch menu were buck nekkid. Not a lick of sauce anywhere in sight on that chicken. Beans, cole slaw AND potato salad all dancing around on the side.
A breast that's saucy is what I expect from a bbq joint. I'm willing to bet Texas has better.
I've been to this location only once and ordered the rib combo, which comes with baby back ribs, lean brisket and sausage. The ribs were my favorite part of the meal, but everything overall was very good. The brisket wasn't the best I've had, but was pretty tasty for a lean brisket. I definitely recommend getting some of their home made bread to go with your meal. With the honey butter they give you, its good stuff. Next time I come, it will hopefully be for dinner and I can go all out with the all-you-can-eat option. Very tasty, but it hasn't replaced my #1 choice for BBQ in Austin.
Yu-u-u-u-u-u-u-u-mmmmm! Went to County Line last night for the first time and totally digged it. DH (dear husband) and I got there a little bit earlier than the rest of our group. I'm glad-- we got to get some beers and go out on the back patio to listen to the music and watch the dozens of turtles in the water swim around. There are lots of chairs and plenty of friendly people to talk to.
When we finally sat down in the restaurant, we got a loaf of the awesome bread for an appetizer (I thought it looked like the one Alice in Alice in Wonderland ate). I ordered the mixed plate with the baby back ribs and the sausage and brisket. I rarely feel like I figure out the right thing to order- I usually feel like I've missed out on something- but this time I got it right. I gotta tell you, the baby back ribs were the bomb diggity. I don't like the sauce as much as Salt Lick (which is really special) but I liked the BBQ-- the actual meat-- better. It didn't seem as fatty as some places.
The prices really weren't that bad-- my plate, with the meat, potato salad, cole slaw and beans was $14.99... a bargain compared to Rudy's where you order at the counter and have to eat at picnic tables.
This is a great place to bring people from out of town and order family style... but even as a "local" I'll be back again for sure. Maybe I'll just sneak some salt lick sauce in :).
I went here this evening with four co-workers and had a wonderful meal! Three of us had the Mixed Platter. The ribs, brisket, and sausage were great. I also enjoyed the beans, - just emnough seasoning as can be said for the sauce! The potato salad and slaw were great as well!
The server, Alex (female) was attentive and friendly too. I'd recommend visiting here more or less often - not just for the food, but the whole ambience.
Yawn.
Hey look! It's BBQ that twice as much a Rudy's, Green Mesquite, and Iron Works.... and it taste half as good! Let's go.....
I had high hopes for County Line..... I had heard good things, but this place didn't live up to ANY of it's expectations. The only reason it has two stars instead of 1 is because it's "decent" (like, if I were in New York this would pass as acceptable BBQ), and it is on the lake... which is cool..... I guess. I was kind of hoping to eat some BBQ ON the lake... but instead I ate BBQ inside while staring at the lake. It seems like all the lake seating is for people waiting for their table. There was a lot of 'waiting" seating..... Yikes, that means this place gets crowded. I should come here on a Friday night and pass around good BBQ (Rudy's, Salt Lick, Iron Works, or Kris D's brisket) so these people can see what they are missing.
The BBQ is EXPENSIVE.... especially considering how crappy it is. Me and my wife SHARED a pulled pork sandwich (from the cheaper lunch menu) and my dad got sausage and a baked potato (A la carte)and two teas. Total? 27 dollars! Wait, what?
With so many good BBQ places in Austin I don't see any point in coming here.
Here's the scenario that would make me come back to this place: If I was given the choice of Bill Millers or County Line I would choose County Line..... but I would think about it for a minute.
All the 5 star reviews of this place are people from California.... that should give you a hint....
Another instance where I'd love to be able to give 3.5 stars. Damn you, yelp!
Since I'm on a reviewing kick today, and there's already a lot said here, I'll keep it short and sweet.
The Good:
delicious BBQ beef sammich!
yummy coleslaw
decadent potato salad
brisket tacos
fiance likes the brisket and sausage
The Bad:
their sauce is bland
the restaurant is COLD!!!
service is hit or miss
have to pay for bread? wtf?
The Best:
Taking a long lunch, eating BBQ, and then going outside to feed the adorable turtles in the lake on a beautiful day. Makes going back to work hard, but is much fun!
This BBQ is overpriced and average. If you want something actually near town, your better off (quality and cost) going to House Park or even Iron Works.
Ahh fate how I love thee. The parking lot was a meeting place for me to get Sam from his mom after school and lucky me he wanted to eat here. YAAY! Sam first then me, he typed his into notes on phone.
Sam:
The atmosphere of The County line is an old Texas Barbeque joint with a nice deck with country music playing 24/7. The service was good the food came out very quickly and the waiter brought out rib bones for our dog. The food was the best briscuit in town and the best bread I've ever had but I wasn't a fan of the Potato salad because I don't like chunks of potatoes in it. The cherry limade was also very good because the cherry doesn't let the lime overpower it. The sauce was my 2nd favorite under The Salt Lick. The overall rating with my moms food being 5 it was 4.6.
Kai: Oh beef ribs how I love thee! Let me count the ways, to not have pork and still not use a fork. Seriously ribs are a one of the most slovenly, neanderthal, yet satisfying things I could ever eat. I've tried to like pork ribs just cause the my inner-caveman in me says "it's on the bone eat it hilgar" but beef ribs just blow them out of the water. I actually order them with the sauce on the side, it seems to overpower and take away from the charred thing I love so much. They had a large margarita with herradura silver that was on special but too much mixer killed it for me. Not a fan of the country music but it's a bbq place what was I expecting? The boat dock with the turtles and catfish(that you pay to feed) remind me of my abuelo taking me cane-pole fishing and not much compares to that. I'll be back again and again but only for the ribs and the turtles.
I've been to both the one on the lake and by the hill and I have to say that I prefer the one on the hill! I brought some out of town guests here to experience some good TX BBQ and they were not disappointed!
Our waiter was super cool and when he heard my friends were from out of town, we got a seat right by the window with the view AND he got us a 1/2 loaf of their fresh baked bread for FREE! I was thrilled because their bread is A++. I thought that was awesome.
All 3 of us ordered a platter of meat and just shared...brisket, sausage and those huge caveman ribs. I heard later on that my friends took the leftovers to their hotel, napped and then woke up eating the rest of the BBQ in bed.
Our waiter really went above and beyond to show my friends a great time. They loved the food and even commented on the tea ("wow, it tastes so fresh...doesnt taste like Arizona"). Before leaving, they took a picture with that huge rib hanging on the wall and of the sign. I think if they ever come back, they'll FOR SURE want to return to County Line!
Blah. I've only eaten here once but that was enough to make me not want to go back. I really want to like County Line. I love their building, their service, their history, but the meat is pretty blah. Meh. Whatever. And to say their sides aren't memorable would be giving them more credit than they're due.
2 stars for the history, ambiance and because they bake their own bread which you can buy by the loaf on site and it's a fun place to knock back a few before hitting 2222 or 360 (ha-ha?). I would not under any circumstances go here or bring anyone here to experience good Texas barbecue unless they uncover a bottle of rub in their kitchen and start putting it to good use.
County Line on the Lake used to see my debit card swiped at least once a week....to be honest, I don't know why its been a while since I haven't had my debit card swiped there! Need to rectify that....
In any case, I really enjoy their bar-b-que. I've been the Salt Lick and I just wasn't impressed. But County Line has something in their smoker that keeps me coming back.
I'm a brisket girl and this place has the best. Juicy, never dry, easy to chew, falling apart its so tender, flavorful and consistently good. The sides are decent as well.
Service is always great, and the food comes out fast. The decor is fun and the view is great. Its also fun to watch the tourists order and eat their first Texas Bar-B-Que. :)
Their desserts are pretty amazing as well; the blackberry cobbler had me missing my grandmother intensely it was so good. The pecan pie is pretty good as well. The cheesecake I'd pass on...not bad, but not phenomenal.
In any case, a true Austin original...
I hit up the take out last weekend and I'm still dreaming of the baby back ribs. F-ing wonderful BBQ sauce, which I still have left over. Can't wait to try more at the restaurant. I did also have a pork sausage with my rib combo along with brisket. The brisket was good as brisket can get I guess but the sausage was great. Tasty and moist all the way thru. No part of it was over cooked and dry. The ribs were excellent as well with very little fat on them. They did run out of bread that night however the meal also came with baked beans, coleslaw and potato salad. I added BBQ sauce to the baked beans for flavor as I felt they needed it or something. The coleslaw was pretty good as well was the potato salad. Next time I go in, i'll probably grab a pull pork sandwich. Part I love the most is that they are just around the corner from me.
"Lighter combo" was a bit of a misnomer. I got the turkey and pork, and the serving was far from light, in a good way! I suppose it was "lighter" than 12 oz of meat, but not by much. I ate half of the meat and less than half of the giant pile of beans they gave me. So far, this is my favorite barbecue in Austin. The meat was really tender and well seasoned; the sauce was tasty; the bread was homemade; and the service was excellent. Even though I'm not usually a side-item eater, I actually really liked the potato salad and slaw, too
I saw the all you can eat meal (around $20) but I don't think it's a good deal for me since I couldn't even eat the entire regular meal (around $12). I still appreciated the option, and if I go with some big eaters I might try it.
I'd definitely recommend taking guests and friends to this place. The atmosphere is rustic and Texan and there are plenty of tables for big groups.
I did have a bit of a problem with the hostesses. On the phone, a hostess quoted me 1 hr. 15 min. on the phone, but I just didn't believe it, so I drove over there. I arrived about 3 min. after calling and was quoted 45-50 min. Well, 20 min later, I was seated and ordering my food. I'm not complaining about being seated quickly, but, come on--that time quote was really off! If I'd actually believed it, I'd have left. For such a neat place, I would have expected better front door hospitality, too. The girls seemed a bit ill-tempered and disinterested. The lack of eye-contact and absense of smiles made a bad first impression. Fortunately, the food made up for it. :)
Austin, TX
Category: Barbeque
Austin, TX
Category: Barbeque
Neighborhood: Downtown
Category: Barbeque
Neighborhood: Downtown
Category: Barbeque
Austin, TX
Category: Barbeque
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