I live in LA and it is impossible to get real BBQ because of the laws here. I am seriously thinking about making the trip to Las Vegas just for some good bbq next time I have a day off.
We definitely need to go there again sometime soon. And you need to go to Rudy's sometime too. MMMMM.
I was reading some reviews of this place. They used to be good, but the later reviews are definitely less than stellar. Of course they could be from people who don't know good bbq. Anyway I will be in Vegas over the weekend, and I was curious if anyone had been there lately. Is it any good? I'm sure it will be better than the bbq I can get in LA, but since I will be with folks that have never had Texas bbq, I wanted to know if the place would be a good representation. I'd love to hear some reviews if anyone has been to the Salt Lick in Vegas.
The Salt Lick has incredibly mediocre bbq, especially for how much love they get, mostly from austinites.
So Buck, would you describe it as turgid? I cannot agree. The Salt Lick may not be for every taste, but what BBQ is?
Buck is right. The food is average at best the atmosphere is what sells it and I've been going the for 25+ years. There's better BBQ in central TX
I agree that there is better BBQ in Central Texas, but I don't agree that the Salt Lick is average. Some people love their sides. I sure do, with the obvious German influence. Some people hate their sauce. The sauce I make at home is far different, but I love Salt Lick's. They have killer ribs. Their sausage is excellent. I think they really lose points with their brisket, though. Sure... Cooper's, Kreuz, Southside, Mueller's (and on and on) are all better, but I love me some Salt Lick BBQ when the mood strikes.
Good BBQ? I cooked at the Salt Lick when I was, uh, "in college" back in the early 90's. In the past 24 months, I've cooked at Cooper's; Opie's; Inman's; the Blanco Cnty Fair and Rodeo; Blanco Cnty Wild Game Dinner; the San Antonio Fair and Rodeo (3rd place ribs 2007); Red McCombs's 80th and 81st birthday parties - god forgive me I know he's a Spur, but the man brings it strong at his shindigs. We cooked half a 500 lb. steer (split down the middle) last year, flipped it over halfway through (7 hours) using a forklift & some redneck engineering.... My brother, like the others have mentioned, had his wedding reception at the Salt Lick a couple of years ago. The blueberry cobbler always kicks serious arse. In short...if you need a bunch of sauce to make your bbq good, then your bbq ain't good!
I've been to the one in Vegas. It was different, they do have different sauces etc at the one in Vegas. The original Dripping Springs is the best. Go try it out.
Muellers and Kreuz are the best to me. I still like the original salt lick. I heard Coopers is overrated. The Iron Works is overrated. Deck, you should try Lambert's. Its a fancy restaurant downtown, they do 'fancy bbq' but it's freaking good!!
I need to go there again, that place is always jam packed with fat people (no joke). I thought the sauce was similar to the salt lick. I was too stuffed to remember how good it was.
I wasn't impressed with Kreuz's. I know you and John suggested it to the group I went with last year (Steve, Ken, Dave, couple other friends). Basically every one of us thought it was overrated except for one person. Eating without plates or forks was also annoying as hell. I don't need white tablecloths, but can't a brother get some freakin utensils at least.
It really depends on what you're into. The salt lick brisket is definitely mediocre, but their sauce, cobbler and sides are awesome. I like their sausage also. Its definitely the place to go to have a good time with friends from out of town. Mueller's brisket is exellent but their sauce, if you call that, is different. Cooper's is definitely overrated. I've never been to Kreuz's but who the hell would want to go to Lockhart. To be honest, outside of Muellers I think Rudy's has consistently the best brisket. Too bad their sides are just gross. Pok-e-Joes has terrible meat but I love their sides. What's amazing is the County Line at both locations are always packed. Their BBQ is just gross. The only thing good there is their butter.
