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Food Network features The Salt Lick on "The Best Thing I Ever Ate" June 23rd, 8:30 CDT. Bobby Flay and Duff Hoffman tout it as the best BBQ!
Mon-Sun. 11:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
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My dad came into town a few years ago. The first thing he asked while I was helping him book his upcoming trip was: are we going to that place far away where they cook the meat in the ground all day?! Yes dad, yes we are.
It's probably best to put this review in perspective: my Hispanic family does not eat out. Ever. When I go visit home, there's not a scratch of outside-prepared food in sight. However, when my parents visit Austin individually, their personalities change. My accented dad wants to know where we're GOING, not what we're EATING. He becomes a ramblin' man, with no place to call home, needing to be out and about. Well alright.
Out we go. We'd all reached the I'm-getting-pretty-hungry level about 6pm one evening, the day we'd planned on the Salt Lick. We warn my dad it's a ways away, and he was up for the adventure.
"Is far? 40 minute? Tha's okay to me! What else an gonna do?"
We told him it's BYOB, and he immediately knows what to bring. "Is good Dej!" he proclaims about his beloved Manischewitz. Ok dad :)
About 30 minutes into the drive, I believe my dad's status changed to I'm-hungry-and-this-better-be-good. The car got quiet, and I could sense his desperation when we reached the end of Mopac and he asked how far we were. This part's my fault: I always think it's just down the road once you T at Mopac. It is not just down the road.
By the time we rolled in, my dad was looking nervous, and his eyes were bugging out. I was worried. When they told us the wait was 40 minutes, we had to catch my dad as he became faint.
"Oh Dej, what we gonna do now?" he pleaded. Except there really aren't any options around. So he miserably paced, maniacally giggling every now and then. "Wow, I can(t) believe we drive so far to suffer in a restaurant." I'm sorry dad, I said, and I assured him it was pretty good - right? isn't it good? I asked SO. Yes yes, it's really good.
We're finally seated. We ordered our meals. The food came out 3 minutes later. I couldn't find my father in the flurry of bones and food that flew from his general direction. In 5 minutes, nothing remained on his plate, and his Manischewitz bottle was down by half. The beans, prepared unlike what we eat at home, and the coleslaw were gone. He looked delirious. We ordered dessert to go.
In the car, dad was verklempt. "WOW Dej! Tha(t) place is COOL! The ribs were good like WOW! Man I like the old wood. Wow. An gonna tell your mom about this place. WOW! You getta bring her here when she visit. Wow. Oh man. Tha(t) was good. They don't getta place like this in New Jersey. Wow." I could already tell he was going to get himself in a world of hurt telling mom (who's ribs are perfection) about how great the the food was.
I whipped around and handed him a spoon with blackberry cobbler. He gobbled it up and said "Dej, they leave the bone in this one." I don't think my dad had ever had blackberry dessert. We all laughed so hard we nearly puked.
Incredible barbecue. Everything I ate was great. The brisket and ribs were smoked through and through--it was like eating a delicious, meaty campfire. The ribs weren't all slathered in ketchup-based sauce, and the slaw wasn't all mayonnaisey; if that's just the "Texas style," then kudos to you, Texas. Even the turkey was great, and I don't think I've ever said that about turkey before.
They have a BYOBeer cooler policy, a great smokehouse atmosphere, live music played outside in the picnic area, great service, and the slice of pecan pie I ordered for dessert was both delicious and 3 times the size of a normal slice of pie. An easy 5 stars.
This is one of my fave BBQ places! I never miss an opportunity to come here whether it be I'm in the area, I've got out-of-town guests to welcome, or...to celebrate a Sunday...? Okay, so sometimes I'll even make up an occasion just to convince others to come here because I LOVE this place!
Though you'll face a bit of a drive out of Austin and sometimes a long weekend crowd wait, the BBQ is definitely worth it. Their potato side is also unique & delicious.The RIBS here are always juicy. The brisket is a toss-up depending on which cut you end up with...but just order the family-style and if Round 1 is too lean or fatty for your likes, I'm sure you'll have tasted something you love by Round 5!
After living in BBQ country for four years, you pick up your preferences - Dreamland (Wet), Rendezvous (Dry Rub), and now Salt Lick (everything else, chicken, ribs, pork, sausages, etc). Salt Lick is awesome. Notice the address......Salt Lick is located in the STICKS! Just to reitarate, way out there! But....well worth the trip. They do have a website with some images that will draw you in. While everything is great, the feel of the restaruant is really what pushes it over the top. Be sure to bring a cooler or your favorite wine - BYOB.
Some of my favorite BBQ in Texas. Personally I stick to the ribs and brisket with sides of bread and pickles.
Service is always good and there can be a wait but since it is BYOB you just chill outside with a beer.
Make sure to bring beer if you want to drink as this is a dry county.
Went here yesterday with a couple of other people from the office. Overall, Ive been to the Salt Lick perhaps a dozen times and always found it overrated. This time was an exception.
Love the new spicy sauce they had. The brisket was exceptionally good. Our 2nd order of ribs was pretty darn tasty (the first was a fatty cut of meat). The potato salad is out of this world. And, of course the spoonful of cobbler (berry) with ice cream I sampled was absolutely to die for.
Overall, its worth the drive... ts a beautiful property, and pretty soon each and every visit will dump more money in sales tax revenue to the "section" of land the owner has.
The conformist in me says, rave.
The rebel in me says, rant.
My mother's son says, find the truth in between and be nice.
The service was good. No wait to contend with on a rainy Wednesday night. The brisket was good. The ribs were weak. The sausage was good. I so wanted to try this place. Maybe I wanted it too bad.
Salt Lick has a good thing going....at the airport location. It tasted better there. I kinda wish I'd repaid the kindness at Trattoria Lisina by eating there.
So I was down in Austin for an actuary seminar (math nerd for insurance company). I have a friend who moved to Austin in high school and then college in Austin. So when I was heading down she told me I need to find a way out to Drift Wood.
I'm talking with some people at the conference, and theres one person from Dallas. She agrees that its more fun to go exploring the city than to just order food at the hotel. So a group of us start hitting different places.
We do this place one night and when we get about 2 miles from the restaurant I swear I could start smelling a smokey aroma. As we get closer it got stronger.
It was a Tuesday, I believe, and there was a 45 minute wait. We are finally seated, after we walk by the smoke pit where sausages were hanging over the briskets and ribs.
There is something pretty amazing about a place that ordering a meal consists of asking if you want one plate full or all you can eat (you could order it by the pound and everything ala carte, but thats just confusing since I don't know what I want until its on my plate).
After eating way too much we order dessert.... I mean it was going to be comped by the company so might as well try everything. I swear I put on 10 pounds that meal, and it was totally worth it. Its been like 3 years since I ate here but I think about its awesomeness every time bbq comes up.
I just don't get it. The Salt Licked, that is for sure....
I went here because people pretty much held a cow hoof to my head when I moved here and told me I HAD to go.
Everything was just simple.
We got okay service, but nothing specific to yelp about!
I do not understand why all of these people just go on and on about this place when I found it boring and too simple. Run of the mill. Whatever. So what if the former President liked it?
Just my opinion.
I still don't get it.......
4.5
Ohhh Lord it's been awhile! My first visit was about 2 years ago with the folks. I remember the pickanic bench tables, cool staffworkers [probably the whole teenage population of Driftwood, no?], delicious pecan pie, and kickass meats. On my recent return visit with Dallas peeps in town for the weekend, all of the above still holds true! The tangy sauce and a few slices of onions make the smoky chopped beef brisket perfect -- the charred parts are soul stealing. Pork ribs are always a plus.
Plus, our friend the peacock was in the garden. Next time, he will be mine.
It's not a surprise that the closest "real" 'cue to Austin is by the far the most touristy 'cue shop in all of Texas. The Salt Lick in Driftwood has been featured on so many Food Network shows they might as well build Kitchen Stadium in the parking lot. There is, of course, a good reason for this. If you're in Austin and don't have a lot of time, you can get one helluva Texas experience here. In true fashion, everything they do here they do big. Big parking lot. Big restaurant. Big tables. Big meat. (yes, really). Even a big firepit where they keep all the big meat warm.
We came in on a Sunday night after visiting the nearby vineyards (yes, there are vineyards nearby...not quality vineyards, but vineyards). Sunday is supposed to be the only night of the week where they serve their famous beef ribs house special. After four days of purely brisket and sausage across hill country, I can't tell you how badly I wanted to try the beef ribs instead. But...they were of course sold out. So, I settled for...everything else. Brisket, sausage, pork ribs, turkey, chicken. You name it they 'cued it. And I ate it. And almost passed out. I even saw one poor kid, probably about 12 years, passed out on his daddy's lap from a food coma right next to us. It happens here.
All that said, the food is good. It's really good. But it isn't great. I loved the experience, but unless I can make it early enough on a Sunday for those beef ribs, or I'm with wine-snob friends, I'm not feeling the need to run back here given the other options in hill country.
Yeah. This is what I am talkin' about. There's a reason that the Food Network, Bobby Flay and at present over 300 other Yelpers have taken time to document this meat lovers fantasy land with such high regards.
We took some family from Japan last night (Friday at 7PM) to show them why Texas is cool and what we really love to eat. The drive out through hill country was beautiful and when we initially laid eyes on the Salt Lick, at first it looked like a county fair or something, with if not 1000 cars in the parking lot, pretty darn close to it. When pulling in to be directed by an Austin Sheriff in between the two main buildings and outdoor dining area with live music, thousands of people (some dancing with the live band) we were a little surprised at all the activity to say the least. BYOB can't be understated, bring a whole cooler on wheels if you want. Wish we had brought some red wine and glasses. Will do that next time.
Wait was almost exactly 45 minutes as they stated at the check in area. If you want to eat in the main restaurant itself ask them to put the "R" by your name. When we entered and I took a few photos of the legendary smoke pit that we have all seen on TV, they invited me into the kitchen to get some better photos.
The food? It kicks some serious ass, period. Order the family style all you can eat, order more when you are stuffed full, as they will let you take all the leftovers home. I ordered burnt ends (as part of my all you can eat) which were wicked awful succulent and sinful. The potatoes were great, brisket 5 stars with a smoke ring that could start a world war over what BBQ is best, sausage was like meat candy, beans incredible (I think with orange juice in them), salad totally excellent, ribs like a masterpiece and service top notch. This is in fact 5 star Texas BBQ and ranks easily within the top 10 BB-Q's I have ever had in my life. They got it down.
Please do enjoy our photos. I am enjoying leftovers right now as I upload photos and am getting meat grease and BBQ sauce all over the keyboard. Amen!
You know, I would give this place four stars, but gosh with all the hype as the "it" place to go, my expectations were just way too high. I like their cole slaw, and the mustard sauce, but the smoked meat was mostly pretty average. The Turkey was different and really good.
Cash only places suck too.
OMGSH. SOME OF THE BEST BBQ IN THE WORLD. IF YOU LIVE HERE, YOU MUST CHECK IT OUT! YOU LIVE HERE AND YOU HAVE THIS AT YOUR FINGERTIPS! IF YOU'RE VISITING AUSTIN YOU NEED TO COME HERE!
First of all, when you come in here, you know that you are going to get great food because everyone who comes here looks genuinely happy and looks like they are enjoying their food. Not to mention that you can see them BBQing the food right there. I came here with some of my classmates for a trip and I'm glad that we did. Get anything that you want, it will be great. We thankfully got to choose anything from the menu and we all enjoyed their food. My favorite was the brisket. But seriously people, you need to go here and come hungry! Oh, and don't forget to get a bottle of their BBQ sauce! I got some when I left and I wish I would have bought more than one bottle because this stuff is amazing!
Rented a car to go here for lunch and to visit the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, and it was worth it. More so for the BBQ than the flowers. The road is isolated and beautiful in the sense that you never know what you'll find (hello Hindu temple). It reminds me of driving around Napa on the Silverado Trail.
But the BBQ is delicious. The only other BBQ place I went to in Austin was Iron Works, and Salt Lick is miles better. Their habanero BBQ sauce is terrific, as is the original, which is a bit sweet and tart. The BF got the unlimited brisket, ribs, sausage for $14.95, which is a terrific deal if you can pack away that much food. I stuck with a plate of brisket and ribs, which was already too much for me that I had leftovers. Sadly, I stuck it in our hotel fridge and forgot to take it with me to the airport. So there's a surprise for the next occupants.
The food matches the décor and you can't help but feel like you're intruding on someone's home when you're there. Service was friendly, but not the quickest, which is fine since it's a place where you want to kick back, enjoy the food and scenery.
So I gave the place another shot. Though the service was an improvement from last time, mainly because of going on a very off day, I still feel the same about the food.
I don't like the sides and the meat is bland with an expectation that you should just magically make it better with their sauce.
The sausage is not special, the ribs are average at best and the same goes for the brisket.
I'll give them an extra star for not serving dried out ribs like some of the other places I've been to in Austin.
Welcome to central Texas, where being the "the world's best BBQ" only takes throwing meat on a… Read more »
I've been to Salt Lick on numerous occasions- Valentines (no wait for those who plan things last minute!!!), Graduation (VERY accomodating to my reservations), and just regular dinner time. It is PERFECT for ANY occasion at all! BYOB? Yes please! Although I hear the other locations don't have BYOB. And each time I've driven here I have gotten lost.... so really watch out for that (especially for those who aren't good w/ directions).
I am a girl and I DEFINITELY think that the all you can eat is worth your money. I don't believe this at other buffets....... they let you keep what you don't finish. I try to take home as much as you can! It tastes just as delicious reheated. The sauce really makes the barbeque. I would have to admit that spicy sauce (they have a nonhot version also), I don't think the BBQ would be the same.
I am a huge fan of Rudy's. Some people say Rudy's is better but I would realllyyy disagree. Salt Lick is good for enjoying company and entertaining. If you have the time, why not drive the extra 15-20 minutes for food that is 5x better?
This place is the essence of what Texas BBQ is all about. There is a reason why The Salt Lick has been shown on a number of television programs including the Travel Channel and Food Network. There is a reason why you'll always find this place packed regardless of when you go. There is a reason why people travel to the middle of nowhere (sorry Driftwood) to eat. Everything about this place screams Texas BBQ...the ranch like setting, the open fire pit, and cabin like environment and the food won't disappoint either.
The BBQ here is amazing, especially the ribs! When I come here, my friends/family and I generally do "family style" (~$19/adult, $5/kids 11 and under) where they will bring you plates of sausage, brisket, and ribs until you throw in the towel. Sides of coleslaw, potato salad, bread, pinto beans, and pickles & onions will also be served. I can't even begin to describe how delicious the food is, it's something you simply must experience. I generally don't care much for coleslaw but the one they make here is not bad at all. They use a vinaigrette instead of mayo and it's pretty good. Potato salad is awesome as well, it has a bit of a smoky, peppery flavor and no mayo again so it's different yet still delicious. Driftwood is also a dry county so feel free to bring a cooler with your favorite libations into the restaurant since it's BYOB, this is especially useful when there's a longer wait list.
Finally, if you manage to have room left then definitely get the peach cobbler. They make their desserts fresh on a daily basis and this is to die for. I'm not a sweets kind of person but I do love this cobbler. OMG I wanna go back now after writing this review...
Cheers
LOOOOOONG line and not worth the wait and a mud parking lot. Cops are very rude as well. I would suspect lots of MSG in the sauce.
I can only imagine what this place would be like and how amazing the grub would be in person. Since I don't plan on visiting Driftwood, TX any time soon, I had The SL come to me. Thus, this review is for their online store.
So, the UPS man and I are now on a first name basis. Mike delivered a package last Friday from the oh, so famous Salt Lick. I had a bunch of goofy people swing by the crib this past weekend and we bbq'd, Salt Lick style. I ordered the Salt Lick special which came with two racks of pork ribs, sausage and brisket. Definitely enough for a small squad of yelling USC fans cheering them on over the Buckeyes. btw, shipping wasn't cheap as it was $93 for overnight and almost cost the same price as the bbq.
Anyhow, the meat came packaged in ice and vacuum sealed. I threw the meat over some lump coals on the grill and in 20-30 minutes was ready for eating. The brisket was off the chain and was really tender and juicy. The ribs were very good and I'm so jealous that I can't come here in person to try their 'q hot off the pit. Their sausage was also tasty and had a good peppery flavor. Lastly, the bbq sauce was very different than what I've had in the past as it had a very mustardy taste and flavor. It was something to get use to but was pretty good.
Overall, the Salt Lick online was a success and I will definitely order from them again.
Quite simply, one of the best brisket, ribs, and sausage meals you will sit down to in your entire life. This place is full of memories for me:
I witnessed one of the greatest contests known to man when behemoth law student David C. went head-to-head against a 5'7 professional body builder hailing from Pennsylvania. The situation? Can anyone on the planet eat more food than our book crunching friend. Our visitor was definitely giving up some pounds, but the resulting performance remains the single largest amount of food I have seen eaten by an individual in my life. While David C. took down what was the equivalent of about 40 pieces of sausage, a couple of racks of ribs, and maybe 4 servings of brisket, Mr. Body Builder pretty much ate SIX TIMES as much food. I didn't even realize the stomach had the capacity to hold that much solid at a time. I lost my appetite watching the performance, and at the time, this was the best brisket I had ever eaten in my life.
While that might be the most memorable moment, I do remember my introduction to this place was carried forth by none other than courtroom legend "Bulletproof" Reposa (prior to alleged mastubatory gestures). I brashly noted that I could take down a family style plate on my own, and while I almost succeeded, I was eventually done in by the excessive sausage remaining on the plate.
Over the years, I introduced a number of individuals to the Salt Lick. I have two favorite traditions here. The first is to order their delicious rendition of blackberry cobbler at the end of an AYCE meal here. The cobbler is a nice, sweet refreshing treat that is the diametrical opposite to the divinely soft brisket, hearty ribs, and perfectly spiced sausage. The second tradition involves leftovers. The Salt Lick allows you to take a plate of leftovers with you after your AYCE meal. If you are in my group and you are a newbie, you are getting the leftovers. And you will be the happiest person on the planet that day.
The Salt Lick has expanded to other locations (including an egregious location out in Las Vegas), but you aren't going here unless you head to the original in the heart of Driftwood, TX. No trip to Austin is complete without a visit to one of the greatest BBQ spots in the entire nation. Along with Black's BBQ in Lockhart, TX, I give the Salt Lick my highest recommendation.
I am a meatatarian. I don't eat fish. The Atkins diet is pretty much my life. I really don't like carbs, and certainly never sit at home and devour a loaf of bread. A wedge of cheese, on the other hand, is a different story. In addition to that, I'm the type of eater that Thanksgiving dinner is completely lost on.
I had heard about the Salt Lick long before I came to Austin, and was excited that this would be the scene of my dear friend's birthday celebrations. What I did not know was that a) it was a dry county and therefore BYOB, and b) that they take cash only. No matter, as the birthday boy did inform me when he ordered me to pick up his beer and told me to get cash back on that purchase (I didn't, because I don't follow orders very well, but they do have an ATM there.)
They also won't seat you at all until your entire party is there. This is even if you're missing one or two people. I understand that this is necessary in order to turn the tables over faster, but when you're sitting outside at the picnic tables, enjoying your brewskis, watching the peacocks(!) walk by, and having all the delicious meat smells waft under your nose...well, you don't want to wait.
What you do want to do is make sure your entire party orders the family style meal because it is a LOT OF FOOD. And when they say family style, they mean the Octomom's family, if the babies had teeth and enjoyed delicious brisket. And beans. And sausage. And potato salad.
Our server was attentive, bringing us plenty of water and immediately refilled our brisket-bare plates when beckoned. All the sides were good as well, and frankly for what amounts to all-you-can eat (and take home), the price isn't bad.
Had a couple of bites of the birthday boy's sometypeofberry cobbler, which was just adding insult to my already full belly injury.
If you want a dinner AND a show- get everyone to take a bit of the jalapeno peppers. It's good fun for you...although not so much for them.
For Californians, getting a taste of Texas BBQ means some diluted interpretation of the real deal. Yeah, there are some places in So. Cal. that are pretty....eh, ok...but few and far between. Recently I had the opportunity to drive 20 Minutes outside of Austin to farmland, where the fences are made of old tree branches and some of the buildings made of old stone. This is the rest of Texas (Austin is more like San Francisco) and it's freaking me out....in a good way. We pull into Salt Lick and there are a lot of people hanging out with ice chests and drinking beer waiting to be seated. Oh shit...that's right....there are BYOB places in Texas and sadly, I am ill prepared. Water it is. Oh well. The wait is long but the wafting scent of mesquite (or whatever wood they are using.....don't scoff, I'm from Cali....I don't know) quells my anxious pangs of hunger induced by the lore of this wonderful culinary delight! Upon entering this mecca of meat, this monument of all things piggly (ribs), wiggly (sausage) and, well....briskety...you see the pit to the right. Oh the glorious BBQ pit in all it's splendor and glory. Hanging snarsages, racks o' riblets and charred hunks of brisket. This BBQ pit is what legends are made of. I am starting to drool. The smell is intense and mesmerizing.
My buddy ordered family style, I didn't know what that meant, but I found out that you can pretty much just sit there and eat and when the plate is finished they will refill it for you. Our order came, ribs, brisket, sausage, spicy Salt Lick sauce and sides. The ribs were so delicious it was like pork candy. Sausage juicy and brisket is tender and smoky and cooked perfect. I hate cole slaw and even that was scrumptious!! Since we are seated in what used to be a barn I don't even mind the enormous cockroach walking across the floor...in fact, in some weird way because of the atmosphere, the unbelievable BBQ and all around great vibe, I enjoy the cockroach's company. He somehow completes this experience on a high note. Rats could have carried of a cat corpse under my feet in this restaurant and it would have been perfectly acceptable to me. I love this place! This is what you can't replicate on a mass level. This is what every BBQ joint in California aspires to be.
I will be counting the days until I return here and oh, by the way...I got caught trying to smuggle bottles of their sauce on my carry-on baggage trying to board the plane.
Ahhh, the epitome of the Texas BBQ experience.
so, I have to admit that I was skeptical after experiencing the likes of Rudy's in Texas. I like Rudy's - a lot - but didn't feel like it was life changing. However, Salt Lick was life changing.
I went twice, just to make sure. I went on a Sunday, had the beef ribs and some habanero chicken, with brisket and the other necessities. It was, simply, amazing. I've never eaten a beef rib quite like it. Huge, charred, and falling off the bone. Soaked in flavor. It was incredible.
The atmosphere was great, the big meat cooking contraption right near the entrance. The service was fast and very friendly. And the food came out quick and surprisingly hot and fresh.
The second time, got the nice plate of BBQ and Chicken with two types of sauce. It didn't let me down. My wife ate it with me and was blown away at the thickness of the brisket cut. Brisket isn't a high quality cut of meat, and normally thin. But here, the BBQ is so good that the cut is thick, juicy and incredible.
I'm sorry, but Rudy's tastes like fast food BBQ after Salt Lick.
I found nothing that compared. Eat here. Duff, Bobby Flay and the gang at Food Network aren't lying.
And the prices: super reasonable for your massive portions.
I've been there twice, and enjoyed it immensely both times.
Meat:
The ribs & turkey are by far the best meats on the menu. The brisket is very good, but if I had to choose theirs or Rudy's as my last meal, it'd be Rudy's. Just a personal preference. The sausage is also good, but who can screw up sausage?
Sides:
Beans - Good
Slaw - Good and very fresh
Potato Salad - So-so. I rarely finish it
Atmosphere - Excellent!
Sundays aren't as jammed as Saturdays. This past weekend was the absolute best weather for a drive and this superb barbecue!
Let me start off by saying, this place comes so highly regarded that I felt it was a no brainer for a visit. Let me also say, that I love BBQ, but generally find restaurant 'que lacking. Having said that...
I cant figure out what the hell happened here!
We asked for sweet tea, and got insulted by the waitress saying we must not be from around here. That maybe they serve that at McDonalds but we don't do it like that in Texas. Oh freaking really?! I bleed Texas, don't tell me that crap woman. Just tell me no, and bring me some tea.
I had the all you can eat, and my fiance had just a regular 'ol plate of foods. As I am eating my food I was thinking it was good, I am watching her face of horrible disgust. I think she is crazy and we start to discuss the food.
"potatoes" -- I cant figure out what it was, how it was made, or why I thought it was amazing. Cool and different. Gimmie more and tell me how to make it.
Beans, OK, run of the mill but thanks.
Bread- Is it a pound cake? It was cold, dense and different. I didn't want to eat it but found myself eating it, though am I not happy about this turn of events.
Brisket - It was good. It was better than your average restaurant brisket I have had. But here's where it got a little interesting. My first round was good. My ladies was raunchy, and my second round was acceptable. I wound up giving her most of my second helping because I felt so horrible about her inedible food. Consistency is key, especially on the same table. My food needs to match her food.
Sausage - It was good. It wasn't special, I love BBQ sausage, smoked sausage, any kind of sausage. This stuff was edible, nothing fancy but I have had worse at Blacks BBQ. Run of the mill standard. Disappointing for the reputation that preceded the place.
Ribs - Something easy to screw up, and something hard to get right. I think the salt lick got somewhere in between. Maybe I expected too much, but I have had better ribs at lesser places.
Did I mention our server was terrible? I wasn't even given a chance to throw my less than stellar food back at them because she wasn't around.
Don't forget also, its BYOB. We were pressed for time to make a concert at Nutty Brown so we weren't able to bring the beer with us. It might have made for a better time, and even more had we had some friends with us.
All in all, it was an experience, one that I wouldn't trade. Its a beautiful place in a beautiful area and makes for a stellar drive. I would like to try them again next time I am headed to Nutty Brown or something like that. But only because next time, Ill plan better, have beer and know more of what to expect.
I wish I had been more wowed.
Grab some friends, pack a cooler of cold beers and head out to the sticks. Hopefully you won't get lost looking for the well-hidden and infamous Salt Lick. Pulling up, I love that the sheriff usually directs traffic. Some nights there is a band playing on the outside patio for the mass of people waiting for the best BBQ in Texas. The sausage, brisket and ribs are fantastic. I skip the sides only to make room for the stellar blackberry cobbler with ice cream. I had to beg for the server to find the last little piece of blackberry cobbler one night when they said they were all out...he rocked and brought me out a piece!
I love that Salt Lick is BYOB! Gotta plan the right beer/meat pairing :)
Have you ever been on a blind date? Maybe you've heard about this girl for a while and the friend who set you up has been hyping her up for weeks or for months or even for years to the point where you're certain she won't live up to the expectations. But you continue to believe that somehow she will live up to the hype, yet just beyond that hope you still wonder if such a person really could exist.
Then after you get your first look at her, you think, "Okay, that's a good start!" But even then, you STILL have your doubts because, come on, you weren't born yesterday; if it seems too good to be true...
Well... Salt Lick was the girl, and I have waited years to meet her. Many thoughts and expectations have come and gone in that span of time. So when I finally decided to man-up and make my way through the countryside to Driftwood, you could say I was nervous. And even when I walked in and saw the rare open pit that I had seen on TV, that doubt still lingered in the back of my mind. "Yes, it does look as good as it did on TV. But does it actually taste THAT good? Is it really possible?"
The answer, my dear friends, is yes. Yes it does. I reached for a rib first because, well, I love ribs. The flavor and texture of that rib was incredible. Then I added some of the habanero sauce (which is a little sweet and a little spicy) and I couldn't have wanted anything else. But of course I did have something else. I reached for the brisket. Now I wasn't as excited about this as I was about the ribs because I usually don't order brisket. Why? Because it tends to be dry. Not so with this bad boy. You can squeeze it and see the juices flowing. And per other Yelpers' recommendations, we requested the burnt ends. Now this does not mean they're actually burnt - they're just caramelized in all of its goodness. And what did it taste like? Candy, oddly enough, was the word I thought of as I ate it, but you are more than welcome to use 'heaven' or 'all-that-is-good-and-great-in-this-world.' If given the opportunity, I may request this as my final meal and/or bite. It is phenomenal. I wish they could deliver all of the burnt ends they ever make to me.
The sausages, while good, pale in comparison to the ribs and brisket. Order the AYCE Family Style option (lunch: $15, dinner: $19) and somehow minimize the amount of sides you consume. Then just enjoy the Salt Lick in all its glory.
And even though we were full beyond belief, we couldn't resist the peach cobbler recommended by our waitress. I'm not really a dessert person, but this cobbler was on par for desserts as the ribs and brisket were for BBQ. Outstanding.
In conclusion, I am ecstatic to announce that this blind date experience was a huge success. Brisket and I will wed when the state of Texas legalizes that sort of thing. And guess who will be catering that wedding?
I really can't say anything that has not been said on the over 270 Yelp reviews that The Salt Lick has. I don't go out for barbecue I prefer to make it myself. Too many places now a days make barbecue too corporate and cookie cutter. Just the fact that Salt Lick is hard to find is what makes it better than those cookie cutter places. Pulling up into the parking lot I felt that I was about to have a one greatest meals of my lifetime. I could smell the Barbecue all over the parking lot, and it really made me hungry. The place reminded me of one of those country places that the big city forgot about. You know the ones your grandpa used to go to almost everyday. If your a native Texan you know what I mean.
I went to Salt Lick for one reason and one reason only; all you can eat barbecue. Oh that life size smoker/grill with ahhh the carne. Makes me want to go back tomorrow. Of course top it off with the BYOB, and you can't go wrong. I ate so much I didn't have room for dessert. The pies looked so good they were like art you can eat.
Eating at The Salt Lick was a experience like no other the food was good, and the service was great. I would have to say that The Salt Lick is for everyone that is on the quest for the best in barbecue that is not from your own backyard.
This place made me renounce vegetarianism. I ate a sliced beef sandwich the size of my head and never looked back.
I think that pretty much sums it up.
I actually tried their brisket at the 360 location, but since that closed I'll post my review here. Their brisket is the best I've tasted in Austin. It's thicker sliced than rudys and so juicy and flavorful. Their sides, cole slaw and potato salad, were just average. I'd go here again and again just for the brisket.
Oh yea Baby! This is what dreams are made of! Don't let the long wait discourage you from eating there, just bring a 12 pack or box of wine and people watch with your friends. One of the Best BBQ place in Texas!
Can't... move... ate... too much... The Salt Lick... has... killed me... *roll credits*
I wouldn't have tried to consume so much but... the sausage was crispy on the outside.... the rib meat was falling off of the bone... the brisket was like beef-flavored smoke... It's actually the very best I've ever had. I had to wait an hour and a half but it was well worth the wait. You can bring your own alcoholic beverages, get a mountain of great food and have fantastic homemade peach cobbler to top it off.
There's actually nothing to detract from the meal... How could it be improved... perhaps, change the sauce to a tomato-based BBQ sauce... perhaps add dairy-based coleslaw... maybe fresh butter... but I can't complain about anything... But I think I might have really hurt myself this time.
The Salt Lick. Go. Now. Go!
I should start off this review by saying I don't like bbq, I despise cobbler and I was a vegetarian for over 3 years. Now that that's out of the way, this was some of the most amazing food I've ever had in my life. The brisket was so delicious I had to physically stop myself from chowing down on the leftover fat once I'd finished the meat. Despite my dislike of all fruity desserts, I took a chance on the peach cobbler with vanilla ice cream and it was out of this world. The crust was like an amazing gift from the gastro-gods, and there was just enough ice cream to enjoy with every bite.
I am changed.
You will drive out to literally no where, don't be afraid.. as you will enter the realm of great bbq.
Once they sit you down and you see all the delicious food, you will be tempted to order the all-you-can-eat.. DO NOT!!! Just order the regular plates and you will be fine , plus you will leave with a good taste in your mouth and not in an ambulance because of a self-induced hernia from bbq.
The sausage is the best thing on the menu - very tender and sweet yet the skin is perfectly crunchy.
Hands down my favorite BBQ place EVER. It's well worth the long, windy drive out there - especially the inevitable "oh my god did we miss it?!" feeling I always get about 1 minute before it appears.
The only way to go at Salt Lick is family style. There's just something about the communal style of passing around heaping plates of gooey ribs, tender brisket, spicy sausage, bread, beans, and all kinds of other goodness. Everything is so good you just want more. And the always friendly staff is eager to bring more out to you.
Bonus points that it's BYOB (a rarity in Austin), usually have live music in the courtyard while you wait, and that all the seating is picnic tables.
Only negatives is that it's a serious drive south of town (but so worth it) and cash only (don't worry if you forget, they have an ATM).
God I miss Salt Lick. Thank goodness you can at least bring the sauce home to tide you over til you can come back home!
This is really one of the best BBQ places:) My husband doesn't eat red meat, so we ordered the turkey. We were so not disappointed! Totally yummy! The BBQ sauce is really tasty-- it has a lot of mustard taste. It is usually pretty busy (a good sign). Oh--try the peach cobbler. It is the BEST!!:)
I have also ordered from them-- I sent my dad a brisket for father's day. They had awesome customer service and my dad was thrilled with the BBQ.
This place has everything you want in a Cue joint.
- The ambiance is spectacular - an old stone building with a big dirt parking lot outside and a huge barbecue pit near the door that greets you with sizzling meat. Its just the kind of place where you want to eat.
- Its BYOB at this place, so we trucked in a 12-pack of Shiner Bock Mesquite Smokehouse beer. They brought us a big ice bucket and the waiter put all our beers in it to stay cold. Nice.
- I had the Brisket and the Turkey. The Brisket was good. I can't say it was the best I have ever had as some people claim. It was good, but not off the charts amazing. The turkey really surprised me. It was super moist and had a great smoke flavor. I ordered it on a whim and I was pleasantly surprised.
- The coleslaw was a perfect compliment to the heavy meat and beer. It was basically thin-shaved cabbage with what I think was a light vinegar dressing on top. It was simple but excellent.
We finally made it to the legendary Salt Lick. With 3000+ reviews for this place, I guess there is not much I can add, but here is my opinion. The hype around this place makes it difficult to not expect perfection, and the drive to get here will make you think, "This has got to be some amazing BBQ, because no one in their right mind would ever want to drive out here otherwise." Personally, I feel it's a bit overhyped, but it is still solid BBQ. Here is my breakdown:
Ribs: 5 stars- Great frickin'' ribs. Big, smoky, porky, succulent pig. Only problem is you only get one on their 3 meat combo plate, which is not nearly enough.
Sausage: 4 stars- Nice bite on the outer casing, great flavor. Nicely seasoned, great sausage.
Brisket: 3 stars- I am really picky about my brisket, and this was really a mixed bag. Some bites were tender, moist, smoky with a great beef flavor. But a lot of it was tough and bland. I don't know why there was such variation but it was definitely a low point for me. Lockhart has spoiled me forever when it comes to brisket.
Sauce: 3 stars. This is probably just a matter of preference. This sauce is completely unique, and not the traditional tomato based spicy Texas BBQ sauce I am used to. It is more of a thin, yellow honey mustard sauce. It is really pretty decent but it is not my favorite and because it is such a distinct taste it can overwhelm the flavor of the meats.
There you have it: Averaged out this place gets a 3.75 so I'm willing to bump it up to a 4 because it was a good time overall.
Some final notes- I would order your sauce on the side to appreciate the meats on their own. I would also be sure to get the Habenero sauce, as I thought it was tastier. I personally don't feel like the sides should be taken into account when judging BBQ, but these were really awful. Dry potato salad, horrible beans, and mediocre slaw. The homemade bread was a nice treat though. In the end, this place is worth a stop at least once in your life.
For those whiners who complain about the "mandatory sauce", it's not. It says right on the menu that you can ask for your meat "dry", and I did.
I have my wife on this biz trip, which is a first. She knows about my obsession with BBQ and understood why we had to eat at a different joint each day of our trip to Austin. She was a little mad at me for being so whiny about how bad the Green Mesquite was. However, after eating at the SL, she now understands.
We ordered 1/2 pound of both brisket and sausage, UNSAUCED. We also ordered the slaw, potato salad and beans.
The Brisket:
Unlike the Green Mesquite the brisked arrived sliced thin (as it should be) and glistening. If you ever get brisket that is matte or shows no surface oil/juice, send it back. The smoke ring was massive, about a quarter inch. The first bite was smoky, tender, juicy and wonderful. I was now a happy boy. Even my BBQ ignorant wife (God love her) said this brisket was far better than the one we ate the day before at GM. I still think Southside Market is slightly better, but it was very good. 9 out of 10.
The Sausage:
Spicy, smoky, tender, juicy; what more do you want? Great sausage only enhanced by dipping it in the Habanero BBQ sauce. 9 out of 10
Tater Salad, Slaw and Beans:
Beans are just OK. They are much, much improved by adding some of the Habanero BBQ sauce, then they are great. The slaw is very different that what you are probably used to. It has no mayo and seems to be vinegar based with celery seeds. I really liked it as did my wife. The tater salad was of the German variety in that it was heavy on the mustard and light on the relish and egg. My wife loved it, I thought it was merely good.
Overall, it lived up to the hype. Despite the unorthodox pit, the results are fantastic. Worth the drive.
DON'T FORGET IT'S CASH ONLY!
Holy crap, totally forgot to tell you to order some "burnt ends" when you get the brisket. This is the most fatty, juicy, heavily smoked part of the brisket; usually right off the deckel. It's heavenly. Ask for some, you'll see.
Austin, TX
Category: Barbeque
Austin, TX
Category: Barbeque
Lockhart, TX
Category: Barbeque
Neighborhood: Downtown
Category: Barbeque
Lockhart, TX
Category: Barbeque
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