Roadhouse BBQ in Lampasas

The last "official" stop of this year's tour and one of the top places we sampled. The brisket was so tender it fell apart as he carved it in the pit. The ribs and jalapeno sausage were top notch as well. This place is on the SE corner where 190 dead ends, just west of Lampasas.



ribs 5
sliced beef 5
jalapeno sausage 4.5
tater salad 4
beans 2
sauce 2
jalapeno cornbred 3
chocolate cake 3

Rudy Mikeska's Bar B Q in Taylor, Texas

Our first stop on July 29 was Rudy Mikeska's in Taylor. We skipped the "recommended" spot just to try something different and I'd like to try here again. The ribs and beef were really tasty, but tough. The jalapeno sausage was great and the sides were pretty good. Rudy has a bunch of relatives in the BBQ biz, too. This place won the prize for most dead animals on the wall per square foot.

ribs 3 (tasty, but chewy)

sliced beef 2 (tasty, but chewy)

jalapeno sausage 4

parsely potatoes 4

tater salad 4

beans 3

sauce 2

Cross Town BBQ in Elgin, Texas

Our second stop in Elgin on July 28 and again the tater salad was the best thing I sampled. I'm in no hurry to return to Elgin, except for the tater salad and maybe the sausage.

ribs 2

sliced beef 3

sausage 3

tater salad 4

Meyers Elgin Smokehouse in Elgin, Texas

Another top rated joint according to several folks but we must have been there on a bad day. The garlic pork sausage was the only thing that rated an "attaboy" on this trip. First time in a long time I have had a rib that I couldn't even finish because it was so bad. Tater salad was the best of the trip, though.

Ribs 0 ZERO awful

sliced beef 3

sausage (garlic pork) 4

sauce 3

tater salad 5

Ruby's BBQ in Austin, Texas

Our second stop on July 27 was Ruby's BBQ in Austin. Another of my favorite old haunts from the days when Antone's was right next door. Beef, sauce, and fried potatoes were all top notch, as they always have been.


sliced beef 5
sauce 5
fried potatoes 5

Black's BBQ back in Lockhart, Texas

Our first stop on July 27 was Black's BBQ back in Lockhart, Texas. One of the top stops on this tour. The ribs and sliced beef were as good as any we had and better than most. The sausage was spicy, flavorful, and neither greasy or dry.

Ribs 5

sliced beef 5

sausage (spicy) 4

sauce 4

tater salad 4

Luling City Market in Luling, Texas

Our second stop on July 26 was the famous Luling City Market in Luling, Texas. Now here's a place that deserves its reputation. The ribs were first class, tasty and tender. The sliced beef was some of the best we sampled. I sure don't like that mustard sauce, though.




ribs 5
sliced beef 4
tater salad 2.5
sauce 2 (mustard sauce)

Smitty's in Lockhart, Texas

Our first stop on July 26 was Smitty's in Lockhart. It has been ranked tops by Texas Monthly, among others. Shows what they know. First off, no ribs except on weekends. Second, no sauce. Third, no forks! Yup, all you get is a plastic knife and you're supposed to eat with your fingers or wrap it in bread. The sliced beef was tough and chewy and the sausage was little more than grease in a casing. The porkchop was tasty and tender and an easy highlight.

no sauce, no forks, no ribs except fri sat

sliced beef 2.5

sausage 1

pork chop 3.5

tater slad 2.5

The Salt Lick in Driftwood, Texas

Our second stop on July 25 was The Salt Lick in Driftwood, Texas. This is a place I used to frequent in college, and loved. It was nice to see that little has changed even though I had not been there in more than 25 years! The food is still great and they still had folks waiting in line, even on a Monday night. This was the only BBQ joint we hit that had waitress service and the little lady who waited on us was top notch (and was tipped accordingly). The food was all fine and the sliced beef was particularly good. I got the family style (all you can eat) so I asked for a little more brisket and it was terrible. Way too much fat content. A perfect lesson on the vagaries of reviewing BBQ joints. Just a bad piece of brisket. The waitress offered to bring me a new slab, but by then I had my eye on the pecan pie ala mode. :)

ribs 5

sliced beef 4.5 (second helping was awful, real fatty)

sausage 3.5

sauce 3 (sweet)

beans 4

potatoes 4

home made bread 3.5

home made pecan pie ala mode 4

Coopers in Mason, Texas

First stop on July 25 was Coopers in Mason, Texas. Their sliced beef and chicken were excellent and the beans were as good as the Llano location.


sliced beef 4
lamb ribs 2
sausage 4
chicken 4
sauce 3.5
beans 4
tater salad 3

Coopers, Llano, Texas

Second stop on July 24 was Coopers in Llano, Texas. We got there about an hour before closing and they were out of ribs. However they are famous for their porkchop so we gave that a shot. It did not impress. However they also had some sirloin steak in the pit and that was fantastic. Also probably had the best pinto beans of the trip.

porkchop 2.5

sirloin, super tender and juicy! 5

tater salad 3.5

beans 4

Schoepf's BBQ in Belton, Texas

First stop on July 24 was Schoepf's BBQ in Belton, Texas. Jalapeno cornbred and the home made brownie were the highlights. The ribs tasted great, but were very tough and chewy. Excellent peppery rub, though.Schoepfs, Belton




Ribs tasty but tuff and chewy 2
Sliced beef 2.5
sauce average 2.5
beans average 2.5
tater salad 3
jalapeno cornbred 4
home made brownie 5