This is kind of old(to most Austinites), but it should give you some insight. ;-)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qaZx6k...

I heartily agree with you about Salt Lick. IMO, it's a tourist trap. The meats are pretty good, but you really go there for the vibe....Sitting outside, byob, etc. In fact, given the choice between Salt Lick and Rudy's, I'd prolly go with Rudy's.

The corn cassarole and the Thorndale sausage are outstanding as well.

If you live in Austin, and you don't have time to stand in line. Any of the afore mentioned BBQ places are good.

However, since you are visiting, it would be worth you're time to go to Franklin. Show up at 8:30 am, wear some sunscreen, and bring a smaller cooler. People don't line up for hours waiting because they are bored, or because it is a "hip" thing to do. The brisket is just that amazing.

If it were me, I would also order an extra couple of pounds of brisket to go. (I think they can vacuum seal it for you.)

Just got back from Stiles Switch with my wife. It was my second time there and her first. Much like my first visit there, everything was excellent..........Except the brisket. The brisket had a great bark, tender and juicy on the inside. Don't get me wrong, it was good brisket, but the flavor just wasn't even in the same playground as Franklin. My wife felt the same way. She also remarked that the BBQ sauce reminded here of the watery tomato sauce Bill Miller's puts their green beans in.

I'll go back to Stiles Switch because of the conviences and good food over all. However, I have friends coming to visit from Barbados in a few weeks and I'll definitely be taking them to Franklin instead.

Whatever, man. I'm sure Bill Miller and Pokey Jo's appreciates the business.

My group of 6 co-workers went to Stiles Switch for lunch today and it was
excellent. Great ribs, brisket, & sausage. The sides were good, but nothing to write home about. We'll definitely be going back , especially since there is no line to contend with.

However....

The brisket was not on the same level as Franklins's brisket, and that is one thing all 6 of us agreed on.

I may wind up going to Stiles more than Franklin, just for the convenience and overall great meal. However, there's no question who has the better brisket, IMO.

"....coming from people not accostomed to central TX bbq."

Patronizing is so cute.

Please.....Keep going to Rudy's. One less person in line.

Zing!

Wow.....I totally missed this comment! Just goes to show that even people with only two comments on this board aren't stupid. :P

Just a heads up, hounds. This will definitely be an issue worth picking up.

http://www.texasmonthly.com/2012-02-0...

I'm gonna try and be objective about this as much as I can. Kitchen Nightmares is a television show that's main goal is to package and produce a winning product. This is one of three (?) shows that Ramsay currently does with Fox and, since it's in it's 3rd season, people are watching it. To make the show a success, I have no doubt some of the drama that goes on has been "sexed up" somewhat because agreeable, cooperative, open-minded people don't make for interesting television.

With that in mind.......regardless of what has been sexed-up and over produced, there were some undeniable truths from what I saw. Some of what happened in the episode can't be manufactured by Hollywood without opening up libelous lawsuits. If anything was manufactured, then the folks at EL Greco would have had to sign off on it as well. (Which is not unthinkable to believe, if the carrot of being on national televisionwere waved in front of them.)

In summary, to say Gordon Ramsay ruined EL Greco is still inaccurate. Obviously, EL Greco was already in dire trouble of folding before hand. So although Ramsey couldn't save it, doesn't mean that he ruined it either.

Thanks for all the suggestions, folks!

This Friday is the episode.

http://www.fox.com/kitchennightmares/...

Don't feel bad about a bad review.

.......especially for a place that is selling itself as fine dining, but pre-cooks their meat entrees.

If you're in the campus area Frank, try Kismet Cafe too. Outstanding gyros and Chicken Schwarma that rivals some of the schwarma I had while living in Bahrain some years ago.

Speaking of Flying Falafel, have you tried their Po-boys? Outstanding too!

Hounds, what would you folks rec. for good breakfast tacos south of Ben White? I moved to the the area of Slaughter & Manchaca recently, and I'm not really sure where good breakfast tacos are close by. I've been making the trek on the weekends to Taco Deli off Mopac & Spyglass, but I'm looking for something closer.

Was it supposed to air in Oct? If memory serves me, they did the show in late August, and the new season started just a couple of weeks after that. Which would mean EL Greco was one of the last episodes for the season.

I would have to say, Hit the Trailer Park Eatery on South 1st. Torchy's followed by Cakeballs ay Holy Cacao.

Uchi is an amazing experience, but you're gonna dole out some major cabbage.

Do not miss Franklin BBQ. The Brisket & Espresso sauce is worth lying, cheating, and stealing over.

Franklin doesn't sell their sauce, but they will give you extra when you sak for it as you check out.

The wife and I have an Espresso sauce jar we keep in the fridge.

No, they haven't Showed the episode yet, I've been waiting to see it. However, I'm sure they didn't put a "permanent hiatus" on the episode because they usually give an epilogue at the end, even if the restaurant fails.

And BTW, the reason most restaurants fail after Ramsey visits them is probably because they were going to fail anyway because of bad business practices. Every restaurant I've seen of KN was on it's last leg, usually weeks away from closing already. Ramsey has saved a couple of them, but them man isn't a miricle worker by any stretch.

UPDATE: The Primetime is now a fulltime menu item at Hopdoddy> I went last night with the wife and friends and, after several months since the last time I had it, I maintain this morning that it is the best hambuger I have ever eaten.

PRIMETIME - Amreican Kobe Beef, Brie Cheese, Truffle Aioli, Arugula, Caramelized Onions, Steak Sauce

Normal, I always add bacon to a burger. However, in this rare situation, I think the bacon would actually over power the other flavors.

If you haven't had them yet, and you like peppermint bark, you should definitely try them! The wife and I had them about 3 weeks ago and they were outstanding. I was afriad they might be sickly sweet , but they weren't. They were just sweet enough that we didn't need syrup.

The Kerbey Lane on William Cannon currently has them as their special.

Yeah, I also did notice that it was a little pricey as well. That grilled cheese better be worth writing home over.

We shall see......

Would be interested in thying this out........

http://austin.eater.com/archives/2011...

Completely agree.Sitting in the Belmont always seemed like I was at the Regal Beagle from "Three's Company". Very dark and 70's feeling.The only thing missing was Jack Tripper cooking and "Midnight at the Oasis" playing.

"I think some Austin people are taken in by the rustic ambiance of some places instead of focusing on the actual food."

----------
Honestly, that is just ignorant.

This place opened as a food trailer in 2009, and took off from the get-go. There are literally dozens of reviews about how good Franklin is, thousands of fans, they sell out everyday (most days within hours) and you believe people are focusing on the ambiance and not really tasting the food?

Well, I dunno what to say, bro. Maybe you caught them on a bad day. However, to say their brisket is on par with Rudy's is quite a stretch.

Don't get me wrong, I like Rudy's. They are consistant of nothing else. (And the cream corn is heavenly) However, EVERYONE I know who has tried both Franklin and Rudy's brisket would say there is no comparison.

However, if you think Franklin is "meh"......then that's what it is to you. Personally, I've never seen the big deal with Hut's. I think their burgers are good, but not nearly as spectacular is thousands of other Austinites think they are.

Honestly though, if you consider the accolades they have racked up after being in business for less than 2 years, you have to admit there is something going on there. After all, if Franklin brisket was actual no better than Rudy's, people wouldn't be wasting their weekend standing at line at Franklin.

I would have to ask the same question.....What did you get while you were there?

LOL, I heard the same thing yesterday from someone else. Aggies are so petty.