The Salt Lick BBQ- Driftwood, TX

The Salt Lick BBQ
18300 Farm to Market Rd 1836
Driftwood, Texas 78619
http://saltlickbbq.com/

If you have read my previous posts you will see my diatribe regarding City BBQ vs Country BBQ.  The Salt Lick is the real deal and is Country BBQ.  They have an absolutely gorgeous location in the heart of the Hill Country down south of Austin and it's sprawling and spectacular.

A hostess meets you outside and walks you in (assuming there is not a waiting list). When it's very busy they often have a band playing outside and drinks available (sorry, it's BYO...) to make the time pass easier.

When you walk inside the first thing you pass is the warming rack.  It's chocked full of quality meats.  Ribs, sausage hanging like icicles and briskets just staked up like cord wood. It's quite a site.

There is never a reason to look at the menu here.  They have an all you can eat option that I call..."Bring it". That's all you need to know (until we get to desert...more on that later).

When the platter of meat arrives, this is what you get.

 I'm telling you that this is likely to be one of the most satisfying barbecue experiences that you will ever have.

The sausage is firm and tasty.  The brisket is lean, meaty and fresh regardless of the time of day that you arrive.  The ribs are fall of the bone good.  While they dry rub the ribs they do apply a bit of sauce late in the process which gives them a very tasty glaze.

 The sides come with beans, cole slaw and German potato salad along with fabulous pull-apart bread, pickles and fresh onion.  This may sound simple but true bbq lovers understand having lots of raw onion on the table with the meal.  The German potato salad speaks to the true heritage of South Texas settlements and the cole slaw is not too mayo-ee or too vinager-ee.  It's just right.

It's really hard to place the meats in any order as that would mean that #3 is being treated unfairly.  However if I must, I must..

Ribs.
Brisket
Sausage

Others might disagree with that order and I would have to say yes...you are right with whatever order you assign to the priority of the meats.

Now let's talk about the sauce.  Their sauce is unique and off the charts.  It's definitely got more mustard in it but it's NOT a Carolina mustard sauce.  It's also not a traditional heavily tomato based Texas sauce.  It totally works and compliments the meats without overwhelming anything it touches.

The pull apart bread is great dipped in a bit of their sauce.

And the best part is they just keep bringing more food as long as you request it.  It's absolute bbq heaven.

Now for desert.  They had pecan pie and 2 kinds of cobbler.  Blackberry and peach.  I got 1/2 and 1/2 of each cobbler.  Again just heaven.  It's truly what my Momma would have made.

If you are ever within driving range of Austin, get down to The Salt Lick in Driftwood (or Dripping Springs or Buda...whatever your map or GPS says....do yourself a favor and take the opportunity to put a smile on your face.  It's thoroughly sorenthifying.