Franklin's named "best barbeque" in America (Austin, Taylor: appointed, how much)

[Macallan12]

It's pretty clear that anyone making the claim of best BBQ or best anything is simply relaying their opinion on the best that they have ever experienced. Stating that you have never been to Franklin and then offering your skepticism about the validity of the author's statement is doing nothing more than declaring yourself a fool.

[ImOnFiya]

Originally Posted by Macallan12

It's pretty clear that anyone making the claim of best BBQ or best anything is simply relaying their opinion on the best that they have ever experienced. Stating that you have never been to Franklin and then offering your skepticism about the validity of the author's statement is doing nothing more than declaring yourself a fool.

What? That doesn't make any sense. People have a right to their opinion whether you agree it or not. The author has (admittedly) limited experience with BBQ, so naturally himself, in a national publication such as Bon Appetit magazine, declaring that it's "the best barbeque in America" is an honorable distinction, but dubious for the obvious reason: the reviewer has limited experience with barbeque!

Such a national distinction should come from a barbeque expert or panel of experts. Much more believable (but an Austinite, I still love it either way!).


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You see. I did it WITHOUT name-calling!!

[BitViper]

Louie Mullers inTaylor.. trust me.. I fly out from San Diego once a year just to get a taste... its worth it!

[ScoPro]

Originally Posted by BitViper

Louie Mullers inTaylor.. trust me.. I fly out from San Diego once a year just to get a taste... its worth it!

LM's has gone downhill in recent years.

Trust me, I've been going there since the early '60s and my wife is a friend & classmate of the owner.

[Cookiemeister]

I also have to agree that Franklin's is the best bbq to date that I have ever had in my life! And I have had alot of bbq.

[tfresca]

Originally Posted by TexasHorseLady

I have to disagree. For the best brisket, it's City Market in Luling or a little place in Bartlett where you can only get it on weekends. Franklin's brisket (which I tried because I was hearing all these wonderful things about it and was all excited about a new place) was average. Sauce was very nice, though.

The BBQ in Luling is awful and a big disappointment. Only famous BBQ place we went to where the food was actually bad. The BBQ is good at all these the places and somehow they manage to actually run their business in a sensible way. It's a very NYC/LA thing to stand in line and have places run out but really it's just dumb. Those places are never worth the wait. Until someone tells me they get it Together I'll never go back to Franklins.

[BitViper]

Originally Posted by ScoPro

LM's has gone downhill in recent years.

Trust me, I've been going there since the early '60s and my wife is a friend & classmate of the owner.

Wow... we're comming out this August we pland to try "Green Mesquite" and the Salt lick.. this trip out..

[10scoachrick]

Originally Posted by ScoPro;19660863[COLOR=DarkRed

]LM's has gone downhill in recent years.[/color]

Trust me, I've been going there since the early '60s and my wife is a friend & classmate of the owner.

Dang! We stopped by for Christmas Eve lunch a couple of years ago and every time they gave us a sample, we exclaimed..."THAT'S what I want!" I needed a nap after that meal! Haven't driven out there since, but it sure was tasty that day!

Originally Posted by BitViper

Wow... we're comming out this August we pland to try "Green Mesquite" and the Salt lick.. this trip out..

We've tried both and found enough negatives not to make a return trip to either. On balance, we thought both places were just OK...without the hype, we wouldn't have known we were supposed to be impressed.

[TexasHorseLady]

Salt Lick used to be better than it is now. As so often happens, I think fame was its downfall. Green Mesquite (in the original location) is pretty good if you've got a Jones for BBQ in a hurry. (Jerry Jacobs that was there back in the day was awesome, but Jerry retired. That was a place where you had to get there early, because Jerry cooked just as much meat as he needed to sell that day, they'd close when the meat was gone, and his plan was evidently to be able to shut down and go home - or fishing - by 1:00 or so every day, and everybody knew it. Worked for him!)

There's really lots of good BBQ in Austin, even in the city limits. Some of the best, however, is found in little unknown pits on country roads, places that most city folks wouldn't go in if you paid them because they look sort of scary, like you might get germs in there! But fine, FINE eating!

[ScoPro]

We stopped by the Salt Lick next to Dell Diamond last year for lunch. The brisket was edible, but any joint that pours sauce on it has a problem, IMO. Also tried their pecan pie. It was the worst pastry I ever put in my mouth. A Bruce's fried pie is gourmet fare in comparison.

The Salt Lick (now closed) on 360 was abysmal.

County Line is passable.

Rudy's is fair, but not outstanding.

Cooper's in Llano was very disappointing, except for their pork loin.

Never have cared for Kruez's in Lockhart - Black's has been consistently better over the past 50 years, IMO.

Taylor Cafe (Vencil's place) is much better than Louie Mueller's at this point. They used to be pretty equal.

Mikeska's was terrible 'que, and not missed by anybody I know.

City Market in Luling is very good and always has been.

As TexasHorselady said, some of the best BBQ can be found at small roadside pits scattered around almost anywhere. I remember a beer joint on 79 in Hutto used to smoke up some fine sausage years ago in a homemade smoker on the side of the road.

Plus a few self-employed caterers (my nephew, for one) can be surprisingly good.