Marginal Revolution: Barbecue Heaven

November
S	M	T	W	Th	F	St
1	2	3	4	5	6	7
8	9	10	11	12	13	14
15	16	17	18	19	20	21
22	23	24	25	26	27	28
29	30

« Abolishing the middleman won't make health care a free lunch | Main | $$$$: The David Teece story »

Barbecue Heaven

Check out the photos. My vote goes to Schmitty's, in Lockhart, Texas. Lexington Barbecue wins "most overrated." Thanks to Arnold Kling for the pointer.

Posted by Tyler Cowen on March 22, 2007 at 07:43 AM in Food and Drink | Permalink

Comments

Nowhere in Memphis makes the cut? Perhaps Interstate BBQ or Rendevouz.

Posted by: Will Perkins at Mar 22, 2007 8:25:03 AM

Have you ever been to Kreuz? Good stuff but arrogant with the whole "you won't need BBQ sauce, so we won't serve it" thing (I hate that!). Anyway, last time I had Lockhart BBQ was when I went to see Radiohead in Houston....AHHHH. Thanks for bringing back good memories.

Oh yeah, when in Austin go check out the Salt Lick (assuming you have not already). It’s the bomb, as they say.

Posted by: steveintheknow at Mar 22, 2007 9:17:17 AM

Regarding Memphis BBQ. Interstate: No. Jim Neely does a masterful job of marketing, but, man, that BBQ been lackluster whenever I have tried it. Last time it had the texture of crock pot cooking.

Rendezvous: Yes. The dry rub is distinctive, the ribs are always flavorful (although they could be more tender, IMHO), and I love the mustard vinegar slaw.

So, the list didn't contain any Arkansas BBQ. Let me suggest 3 places in Central Arkansas: Whole Hog Cafe (which is almost too clean, in a strip mall, but the pulled pork is transcedant). Craig's in DeValls Bluff, which has a slight mustard flavor to its sauce (but not sweet like in SC) and has a pie shop across the street of some reknown. McClard's in Hot Springs, where the fries and ribs are served together in a heap of sauce. Order a cajun tamale if you go.

Posted by: Willie Abrams at Mar 22, 2007 9:57:25 AM

I was just at Smitty's, Black's (both in Lockhart), and the Salt Lick last week. I think I'd give the nod to Smitty's, but it was all great. Even when it's great without sauce though, I'd still like to have the option to put a little on. Just a little. And BTW, BBQ and SXSW go together very well.

Posted by: bjartur at Mar 22, 2007 10:01:26 AM

BBQ and SXSW go together very well.

Very true indeed. And mexican food, of course. Did you perform?

Posted by: steveintheknow at Mar 22, 2007 10:18:16 AM

BBQ and SXSW go together very well.

Very true indeed. And mexican food, of course. Did you perform?

Posted by: steveintheknow at Mar 22, 2007 10:18:50 AM

No, I was just there as a fan (both of the music and the 'Cue). Good times. Iggy Pop is nuts. Also free beer competing against $1 pop and $2 water is nuts (and interesting economics). In both cases it's a good kind of nuts.

Posted by: bjartur at Mar 22, 2007 10:50:19 AM

I'm from Mississippi, and have never had better ribs than those at Virgil's, West 44th St., NYC - just off Times Square. Go figure.

And don't miss the maple butter on the biscuits, either.

Posted by: Anderson at Mar 22, 2007 10:55:56 AM

When Bryant's of KC is on form it's excellent, but it suffers from an over-the-top reputation, but the meat and the sides [except the beans] can be inconsistent. For more consistent KC try Oklahoma Joe's or Gates.

Posted by: JPC at Mar 22, 2007 10:58:41 AM

Schmitty's has great brisket that's a touch better than Kreuze's, but I'd give the nod to Kreuze's for the prime rib and sausage. I've also been to Mueller's in Taylor and that place is fine with very good sauce, but it's no Schmitty's. And I've never been to Cooper's in Mason (and I see a road trip in the near future to resolve this) but I have been to the Luling joint, City Market, and that place is every bit as good as Schmittys. Maybe a little better.

Posted by: tony at Mar 22, 2007 11:14:12 AM

Folks, when in San Francisco (San Francisco? ...Yes!), be sure to check out Memphis Minnie's Barbecue Joint. The brisket and the pulled pork are especially amazing. Bob Kantor, the owner-operator, spent many years traveling through the barbecue regions researching the best barbecue and how it was prepared. His dedication really shows. I can't compare it to anything due to my own lack of experience, but it is so good, I know it can't be (relatively) bad. The meats are dry rubbed, but four of Bob's house made sauces served table side (Texas red, N. Carolina vinegar, S. Carolina mustard, and some kind of habanero hybrid sauce.)

I don't know if it's common, but Memphis Minnie's offers a selection of imported sake to enjoy with the barbecue. (Although, my personal tastes would have me sipping Del Maguey mezcal, but that option only exists at home, so far. It is the most amazing food/beverage pairing ever--if you don't mind calling a an 80+ proof liquor a "beverage".)

Cheers.

Posted by: Michael Giesbrecht at Mar 22, 2007 12:28:31 PM

Nothing in West Tennessee, with both whole-hop and ribs to choose from?

My pick in the whole-hog category would be Scott's BBQ, in Lexington.

Posted by: SamChevre at Mar 22, 2007 12:43:50 PM

I've eaten (multiple times) at every single joint in the article and most of the ones mentioned here. First a disclaimer ... BBQ is a pretty personal thing; That said, Cooper's (Llano) is the best with Cooper's(Mason) coming in a close second. The Salt Lick is good fun (I've been eating there 1/month for 20 years), but I've never understood why people rate the food so highly. Same for Stubb's, go for the music, not the BBQ. Lockhart BBQ (in general) is good, but frankly I like sauce and sides.

I also REALLY like the southern-style BBQ with dry rubs and vinegar-based sauce. I wish I got to that area more often.

Posted by: mike at Mar 22, 2007 1:19:17 PM

There used to be a small place in Port Royal VA that was really good. Don't know if it's still there, though.

Posted by: jp at Mar 22, 2007 5:39:31 PM

Lexington BBQ isn't the most overrated. It is overrated, but the most overrated by far is Rendezvous in Memphis.

Make sure to eat at Sweatman's in South Carolina for the best of Carolina BBQ.

Posted by: Daniel at Mar 22, 2007 7:21:42 PM

I'm a Salt Lick lover. I've tried a bunch of places around Austin and elsewhere, and so far, it's what I like best. It's clearly been left to BBQ a while. Their best job, as you expect in Texas, is with the brisket. Unbelievable. The sausage and ribs are merely great.

For me, the Salt Lick is the only place I'll dare touch BBQ sausage. Everywhere else, it's just too greasy.

The Salt Lick's line is a problem, though. Plenty of people agree with me.

For those of you who've never been there, the waiting area is interesting. It's in a dry county, so there's a big tradition of bringing your own brew in.

Posted by: Jon Kay at Mar 22, 2007 11:26:25 PM

I've occasionally wondered when the next bbq post would be...

Posted by: agm at Mar 24, 2007 3:44:51 AM

I dont know I come from the midwest, and the bbq is much different from the bbq down here in North Carolina. I have to say I like the saucy better than the vinegar, thats why I miss the midwest bbq.

Posted by: liz at Mar 26, 2007 11:20:46 AM

I think the Salt Lick has a very high variance on the quality, some times it can be same league as "more serious" BBQ, but not usually, and sometimes its downright below average. Ribs and Brisket Quality seem to be non-correlated though (and its all you can eat family style so P of one being above average on any given visit is pretty good), As long as you get some positive utilitons out of atmosphere, and you BYOB and actually enjoy hanging out before eating I highly recommend it.

I haven't been to any of the Dreamlands, but hear all the ones that aren't the original in T-town are prettty crappy.

Man. I'm salivating. I might work a half day tommorow and go to Lockhart. I'm doing my own brisket and ribs this weekend for my little girls b-day party. Or maybe tri-tip and ribs if I don't feel like getting up early.

Posted by: chanceH at Mar 27, 2007 5:15:17 PM

TC I give you props in almost every ethnicity of hor'devours and entre, however barbeque is religious fanaticism territory and I must add my 2 cents.

I have been to the Bryant's of KC,
Maurice's of SC,
Big D's in S'port LA,
and Dreamland in AL.
On Day One I had Rendevouz,
and Interstate on day two....

And I have not tried every pork shoulder in the land,
or every Texas brisket to be had,
but when the ribs of the Cozy Corner in Memphis hit my tooth
I knew, like Lolis Eric Elie in "Smokestack Lightening", that I had tasted the Truth.

With multi-colored fluorescent lights,
and multi-generational family members calling the shots,
Ray Robinson's Colorado dreams
live on as: Three bones, hot sauce, side of slaw and beans

745 N Parkway

Posted by: r_abele at Mar 27, 2007 11:04:17 PM

I have to back up that Maurice's in SC is amazing, BUT there's a huge issue in my mind. Mr. Bessinger, who is the proprietor, is an unabashed racist who has a tendency to spout out things like "the blacks were lucky to come to America as slaves," and other such nonsense. While I'm more than happy to say he has the right to say stupid things, I certainly have the right not to give him money to support it.

It's a shame though, it was the best BBQ on a 4 state road trip.

Posted by: petrilli at Mar 31, 2007 4:52:04 PM

Oh yeah. Taking a little mini-vacation next week in Wimberley TX on the Blanco river. My whole trip is based around taking the time to stop at Schmitty's on the way into Wimberley. Good times ahead for Daddy.
Salt Lick is good but I'd only go there if I was with a crowd. The food is good but the family style serving makes ordering and sharing a lot better.

Posted by: Corner Stone at Jun 13, 2007 10:00:44 PM

写字楼
 玻璃瓶
 类风湿
 风湿
 嵌入式
 嵌入式培训
 嵌入式开发
 Embedded Linux
嵌入式Linux
条码扫描器
 条码打印机
 数据采集器
 マンスリーマンション
 TOEFL
巨乳
 転職
 別れさせ屋
 光盘印刷
 光盘刻录
 光盘制作
 租房