The Salt Lick

Recommends

CSMobileUser3

Joined 5 years ago

Pros vrs Cons. Great food, atmoshphere, and service!! Drove from Lubbock to go eat at salt licks! Very yummy and a great vaction stop!

Doesn't Recommend

jmt55

Joined 6 years ago

Not very good. After seeing this restaurant on TV and reading rave reviews, we ate there tonight. My first bite was into a pork rib, expecting it to fall off the bone. Instead, I chewed and chewed and chewed that first bite finally realizing I wasn't going to be able to swallow it, so I put it into a napkin. I took a bite of the coleslaw, and it tasted like raw cabbage. I had to look close at it to see if there was anything on it, and I think there was something, but am not really sure. The waitress didn't know what, if anything, they put on it. The potato salad tasted like German style potatoes, and not good ones. The beans were great, as was the sausage. The beef was dry without drenching it with sauce. The best thing was the peach cobbler with ice cream! When we left, the lines to get in were very long. People must like it, but we were not one of those people. We will never, ever return there.

Recommends

gormandizer

Joined 6 years ago

Don't believe the hype!. I think this place is good...average. The location is awesome and is a nice getaway with a group of friends. You need to at least try it and see for yourself.

I spent many months on a jobsite across the street and have visited SLBBQ countless times over a 3 month period; weekdays and weekends.

First of all I am a little put out that the same sandwich is $2 cheaper during the week. Am I going to get charged more because it's the weekend and MORE people are here? I don't get that. It's the same sandwich; same size!

As far as the meat goes it's ok. I don't see great smoke rings and the cuts are a little too fatty for me with their brisket. Not much of a rub on the brisket either. I like the sausage but I have had better. The ribs are also good but usually dry and same goes for the turkey. I am not picking up on much of a rub and not even the basic S & P. I’m not looking for anything fancy just some good old seasoning to bring out the flavor of the meat.

Which brings me to the sauce. I think the meats are prepared the way they are because the norm is to cover them with that awful sauce. Heavy on the mustard in a sweet and tangy mess. I am not a fan at all. I think the meats should stand on their own and a sauce should accent or supplement in flavor. I am happy and enjoy finding a place that can smoke a meat that is fine on its own. The sides are plain and I might have had better at Luby’s.

The service can vary from great to a long wait. Most are very friendly there. If you are looking for OK food with a great Texas hang SLBBQ is your place. Take your own beer and make an afternoon of it but you could save time and gas by finding a better BBQ place right here in Austin. If you are going to drive all that way I would keep driving a little bit further and spend the day with the Mandola family instead at The Mandola Estate Winery.

Recommends

cty23

Joined 3 years ago

disappointed. I used to work in Austin the Salt Lick several years ago was a favorite place, we recently took the train from Oklahoma to Austin, took friends to the Salt Lick, the sides were NOT good and the meat was cold, really disappointed

Recommends

CSMobileUser

Joined 5 years ago

Really Great BBQ!. Every one there was having a great time, except the jerks trying to cut infront of the line! Which people where doing. Inreturn the waiter was a jerk to them. Not fair we had to wait a little over an hour to be seated, and they cut! But besides that mess. They trully have the best BBQ this side of South Texas! Take the back roads to get there the drive is amazing! Even better that it had finished raining seeing the water cascading as you drive over the bridges. This place is BYOB! So even if you have to wait for a while you can enjoy your booze! In the end just go for your self. Its great all around! Just dont be those jerks who cut and in return get horrible service!

Recommends

marydavis

Joined 4 years ago

Great Sauce. Salt Lick has a distinct sauce which I love which is their biggest plus for me. I had their pork ribs (they don't offer beef) which were quite good. I went on a Saturday evening and it was CROWDED. Very long wait so if you don't like waiting 45 minutes or so you might want to avoid Salt Lick. The place is very large with 2-3 different eating areas which are all used on busy days. Attracts many students and large groups, you'll see lots of parties of 8-12 people. You also need to BYOB and many people have large ice chests with them.

Doesn't Recommend

Martyn

Joined 4 years ago

Not worth the hype!. Drove up from Houston because of the hype surrounding this place. The location, including the scenic drive are great. The building itself is pretty cool. I was having a great time until the food arrived.

Sides - Dry and in editable. The beans where hard, the colslaw had saw too much celery and the potato salad was like nothing I'd ever had.

Meat - The ribs are not baby backs so beware. Personal choice but I like my ribs saucy, tender and not fatty. Salt Lick's were none of the above. The brisket and turkey where tasty at first but very dry.

Also - no credit card ($2.50 for ATM), min charge of $5, 15% charge for parties 8+ and various other rules.

Recommends

elinaeth07

Joined 4 years ago

great place for after tubing. My friends and I always enjoy coming here after a fun day of floating the river. They let you bring in your own cooler and the food is great so you should definitely check it out

Recommends

KIDA26

Joined 5 years ago

Arguably the Best BBQ Near Austin. Best meat near Austin hands down. The ribs are huge and very tender. Ask for the spicy BBQ, it's not too hot and it's way better than their original sauce. Don't bother with the sides, just get a sampling of all the meats. Great stuff.

Doesn't Recommend

local538

Joined 4 years ago

Save time and money.. The only reason I gave it a one star, is becuase I couldn't give it a 0. Just plain it up like this not all what it's cracked up to be. NO CASH WTF? If I owned a BBQ joint I would wanna make it painless for my customers to give me money, would not be so concered with cash income and tax frad. Lots of rules like that they are at the bottom of the menu here are a few, No separate checks, Cash Only, 15% Gratuity added to parties of 8 or more, Minimum Charge: $4.95 per person. Talk about being inconvenient to the customer. Meat was good but not worth the money. Go to Rudy's or Coopers in LLano, much better and they take CC and no Minimum Charge, and no rules. I won't be back.