Hill Country

I can't speak to the relative merit of the Big Pig Gig, but on my first and last trip to Daisy Mays we were thoroughly unimpressed and actually left the overwhelming majority of our food uneaten.

I like hill country quite a bit - they can get crowded but its a big space - with 10-15 you may be able to make a reservation and pre-order a set menu. agree with vinouspleasure that the brisket is...+READ I can't speak to the relative merit of the Big Pig Gig, but on my first and last trip to Daisy Mays we were thoroughly unimpressed and actually left the overwhelming majority of our food uneaten.

I like hill country quite a bit - they can get crowded but its a big space - with 10-15 you may be able to make a reservation and pre-order a set menu. agree with vinouspleasure that the brisket is really good, have had ok to good ribs, and im a fan of a number of their sides. my one hill country gripe is that the beef ribs, in particular, are a terrible deal (all the meats are sold by the pound, so a single beef rib can end up being ridiculously expensive and just ok - but im not a beef rib fan in any case).-COLLAPSE / REPLY (9 Replies) (by tex.s.toast, created January 25, 2012)

»A pretty solid BBQ in NYC

Had lunch here. Got the pitmaster special so I could try a bit of everything; this was for take out. The beef rib was super-smoky and quite flavorful. Pork rib was bland. Brisket was excellent: fatty, smoky, etc. Sauce is good, but I only needed to use it sparingly. The potato salad was superb, with just enough acidity as to not be cloying with every bite. The chicken was very moist but not...+READ Had lunch here. Got the pitmaster special so I could try a bit of everything; this was for take out. The beef rib was super-smoky and quite flavorful. Pork rib was bland. Brisket was excellent: fatty, smoky, etc. Sauce is good, but I only needed to use it sparingly. The potato salad was superb, with just enough acidity as to not be cloying with every bite. The chicken was very moist but not crispy enough on the outside (I guess that's the tradeoff? Also, I ordered dark meat but got white. Whoops. I'd order the beef rib, the brisket, and sides again. It was a lot of food. Given the dearth of good BBQ in NYC, this one may be a keeper. Want to try the beef sandwich next time. Would give it 3.5 stars if allowed but its closer to 4 than 3.-COLLAPSE (by liveforever30, created August 4, 2011)

The four of us went to HC a few days ago. I love the moist brisket, the pork ribs and the chili (Texas style without many (if any) beans. For sides we all like the collard greens, mac & cheese and corn pudding. It's a real-deal place--you wait on a line then go up & order your meats which they weigh in front of you and put on paper. Then line to the sides area and get your utensils. You have to...+READ The four of us went to HC a few days ago. I love the moist brisket, the pork ribs and the chili (Texas style without many (if any) beans. For sides we all like the collard greens, mac & cheese and corn pudding. It's a real-deal place--you wait on a line then go up & order your meats which they weigh in front of you and put on paper. Then line to the sides area and get your utensils. You have to keep your meal ticket so you don't get charged extra at the end (pay at front). The music and the place can get loud but our family has never had a bad meal there. Real smoked meats--delicious.-COLLAPSE / REPLY (17 Replies) (by Lesliepbg, created May 23, 2011)

»THEY ALWAYS RUN OUT OF CHICKEN at Hill Country Chicken!!

Excellent!Delicious! The Best!
-but THEY ALWAYS RUN OUT OF CHICKEN!!
Super annoying. Have eaten here twice but have been here 5 more times (dinner and lunch) and left empty handed because all they ever have are drumsticks and wings....thighs if you're lucky! (by goodfooddood, created April 10, 2011)

»A Good Place for Groups? Maybe Not

This review is directed towards groups and how groups are treated at Hill Country Barbecue Market (HCBM)... Had a large group of friends, nearly 20, eat here. We made arrangements ahead of time, chose our meats, sides, and dessert. These are the things you should be aware of. If you've never been there the atmosphere is fun, large old-timey signs, wood framed black and white photos, pretty much...+READ This review is directed towards groups and how groups are treated at Hill Country Barbecue Market (HCBM)... Had a large group of friends, nearly 20, eat here. We made arrangements ahead of time, chose our meats, sides, and dessert. These are the things you should be aware of. If you've never been there the atmosphere is fun, large old-timey signs, wood framed black and white photos, pretty much what you'd expect from a BBQ restaurant. The staff was friendly, although not very attentive. The bar was well staffed, so drinks could be ordered and received quickly. The food and service were a bit disappointing for a few reasons. First the quality and flavor of the food was in the range of just okay to very good. The pork ribs did not stand out, just okay. Same for the chicken. The brisket was the best of the three having very good flavor and texture. The biggest disappointment was the quantity of food. The sides, Mac & Cheese and Cowboy Pinto Beans, were both very good, came in multiple large quart sized containers. There was probably two or three times more than we needed. On the other hand, the $6.95 Farmers Market salad was tiny and ordinary with a bland tomato slice and wilted lettuce. And the would be stars of the show, the meats, were delivered family style in very spare quantities. Although I don't think anyone left hungry, several in the party commented that they would have liked to have more of one of the three items. The other disappointment was the wait service. Who can blame them really? A 20% gratuity is built into the bill, so they have no incentive to provide good service. They did the bare minimum and couldn't even be bothered to refill our water glasses until the meal was nearly over. The only interaction the wait staff had with me was at the end of the meal when they asked if I was finished. So even though we had a great time, it was because of great friends, and not anything HCBM did.-COLLAPSE (by Dave H., created February 28, 2011)

»AYCE @ Hill Country on Mondays?

Has anyone been? I forgot to ask the waitstaff yesterday.

As for my take on Hill Country..

During my mispent youth as a salesman, i've been to
- City Market in Luling
- the meat market in Gonzalez (and pretty much most of the bbq off 183)
- Smitty's, Black's, Kreuz in Lockhart
- Southside Market in Elgin
- The Salt Lick in Dripping Springs
- pretty much all of bbq spots in Austin
-...+READ Has anyone been? I forgot to ask the waitstaff yesterday.

As for my take on Hill Country..

During my mispent youth as a salesman, i've been to
- City Market in Luling
- the meat market in Gonzalez (and pretty much most of the bbq off 183)
- Smitty's, Black's, Kreuz in Lockhart
- Southside Market in Elgin
- The Salt Lick in Dripping Springs
- pretty much all of bbq spots in Austin
- most of the bbq spots in Houston (which isn't really a central texas bbq hub, Williams' Smoke House and Thelma's are definitely more of a Southern/East Texas style)
- all the good ones in Dallas
- Rudy's, Dickey's, Bill Miller's, Luther's - and plenty of fast food/chain BBQ chains in Texas

I've been lucky enough to have a lot of really good Central Texas bbq. (i've yet to go to Snow's - but I haven't been in Texas in ~5 years)

Hill Country's brisket is really good. I'd still opt for Rudy's over HC, but i'm not mad at Hill Country's product. And you can't quibble with the Kreuz sausage. (I often wonder how Southside Market style sausage would go over here.)

As for the rest

Their prices?
The decor?
The music? (really, pumping country music @ a bbq spot? What is this Stubbs?)
The sides?
The "Katz" style ordering/paying system?
The fact that they have a waitstaff? (what is this, the County Line?)

no comment.

But how is the All You can Eat on Mondays @ Hill Country?

thanks,
WIA-COLLAPSE / REPLY (by WestIndianArchie, created January 7, 2011)