Doesn't Recommend

PaulBir

Joined 2 years ago

The Worst BBQ Experience Ever—Got Sick Afterwards—Very Arrog. My Dad and I visited Kreuz BBQ in Lockhart, TX in 4/2011. The place was difficult to find/see from the road despite the overbearing, oversize, and quite touristy new building. The first thing I noticed was the lack of people dinning. We ordered our food at 7:40pm after the cashier assured us that they still were serving and that we could stay as long as we would like even after the closing time of 8pm. It was obvious that the butchers of Hispanics with poor comprehension of English and BBQ lingo desperately wanted us to leave so they could clock out. When we asked for brisket from the fat side we were served a large chunk of charred fat trimming with no meat marbled in between. Of course this was refused. We ended up ordering a few pounds of beef ribs and brisket. We then proceeded to the next room where the sides are ordered. The staff there was angry they had to reopen the registers at 7:45pm and would not advise us on what to order on the menu. We did just drive six hours to try this place and wanted to get it right. We were served the only thing they would serve us which was a bucket of cole slaw. We finally sat down at 7:55pm to eat our BBQ.

When the only other diners left at 8:10pm (a large Hispanic family possibly friends of the employees), we were told in a very rude tone to be gone in five minutes. Three minutes later as we were trying to bag up our $50 of half-eaten BBQ, the lights were turned off, and we were told to GET OUT NOW. The only remaining employee refused to turn the lights back on and called the police. After stumbling through the BBQ house in the dark trying to wipe our hands and grab our meat, THE POLICE MET WITH US IN THE PARKING LOT. This not the typical BBQ experience.

We called the owner the following day, and he told us THAT WE SHOULD NOT NEED MORE THAN FIFTEEN MIN UTES TO EAT. Good BBQ takes time to eat. The owner defended his staff and told us never to come back and that he did not care what we thought. HE SAID HE HAS ENOUGH OTHER CUSTOMERS. HE THEN HUNG UP ON US.

In the end, I have had many better BBQ places in Lockhart, in Texas, and around the country. The brisket was flavorful and tender but had a thick, charred, dry crust. The dry rub used on the ribs was simple and very salty. I am a traditionalist and enjoy the lack of sauce, but when it comes to food like this that could use a little assistance, sauce is a must. As far as the cole slaw, we ate a few bites but could not get past its stench and the taste of spoiled cole slaw. Of course, there was no one to talk to about the expired slaw. In fact, the owner would not hear anything of it the following day and HUNG UP THE PHONE ON AT THIS MENTION. Sure enough, too, my GI system felt the effects of poorly kept slaw about 12 hours after ingestion. THIS IS ABSOLUTELY DANGEROUS.

My Dad and I have traveled all over Texas and the country in pursuit of great BBQ. This place is NOT RECOMMENDED. I have never had an experience in any BBQ place as bad as this one.

Doesn't Recommend

Den hidal

Joined 3 years ago

not worth the drive. Saw this place on the food channel and thought we needed to make the long drive from San Antonio to check it out. Yes, it's a big place and the ribs were great, but that is it for me. The brisket was tough and don't understand the sides. They put so much money into the building and they offered terrible sides served out of crock pots. Bill Miller's and Rudy's are hands down 100 times better!

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shaft28

Joined 11 years ago

Good, too much smoke flavor for my tastes. Get inside, wait in a line up to a mean old lady who takes your meat order. You pay then get to another line for drinks and sides. Get to the table and eat some pretty good BBQ. No sauce here so don't expect that. The pork chop and ribs were good, did not like the sausage much at all. Brisket was good, not great.

Like so many other places I have found in Texas the BBQ is so smokey you start to loose the flavor of the meat. Everything was cooked properly just not the best flavor I've had. An amazing sauce option would definitely help out (sneak in some Rudy's!).

Not sure I'll make the drive just to go there but would go back. Don't get me wrong, it is still pretty dang good - I'm just being picky.

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the_case

Joined 7 years ago

The Stuff Legends Are Made Of. Lockhart, Texas -- also known as the Barbecue Vatican. This place here is the Taj Mahal of Texas barbecue. So what if they only have three side dishes? It's all about the meat at Kreuz Market. They always bring out your selections on butcher paper and everything is piping hot. Their pork ribs are so large, they have their own zip code. The brisket is very well-smoked and full of flavor. They've got fantastic sausage rings with just the right amount of spices. With all the tradition in Central Texas spanning nearly 110 years, they know what they're doing. You won't want to miss this unique experience whenever you travel here. Imagine: sliced brisket (I order three-quarters of a pound), sliced tomatoes, two slices of bread, and an RC cola. That's the tradition of Lockhart.

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bastropolphart

Joined 7 years ago

One thumb down. This joint was a major disappointment for me. Maybe with all the hype I was expecting way too much, but I dont think that was the case. It was just plain and simple average BBQ at best.

First off, I dont like their policy of not offering BBQ sauce. I am a staunch believer that good Que dont need no stinkin sauce. But, the stuff I had sure needed something. The brisket was tough and not very flavorful. There was no crust on the slab, so I got the feeling the meat was rushed through to meet supply demands.

The sausage casing was very tough, and the insides too mealy and funny tasting. The ribs werent bad, but they were coated in way too much black pepper. Even when I rubbed off the excess, the pepper was still overpowering.

I know my Que, and this was not my idea of the best, or anywhere near to it. There are far too many other good Que joints in the area.

As Ahnoll might say, Ill (not) be baaak!

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Contributor

Joined 10 years ago

Take a road trip to barbecue heaven.. In Short
In 1900, Kreuz Market was born in Lockhart, about 30 miles south of Austin. Originally a grocery store, it slowly evolved into a barbecue restaurant. Open fires smoking beef, pork and sausage heat up the front room. Order at the counter and they'll cut and dish your choices up on butcher paper. There are no forks, so bread and crackers are the only tools with which to eat beef tenderloin and fall-off-the-bone pork ribs.

Doesn't Recommend

lizlovestoeat

Joined 7 years ago

the most bland BBQ I've ever had. I'm sure I'll get strung up for saying this, but Kreuz has disappointed me. Of course I had to go after hearing all the raves. The brisket was tender but off-puttingly flabby and just not flavorful enough to stand on its own - smoke was pretty much the only flavor, even extra salt and pepper would have improved the taste. The sausage casing was tough and the links squirt oil everywhere when cut (with my pocket knife!) or bitten. I really prefer a finer-ground sausage than those at Kreuz Market: these are coarse-ground so all the bits of gristle and fat pop out at you. I won't be back - more for y'all that DO love Kreuz!

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angelmanda

Joined 8 years ago

THE BEST!. Anybody can easily say that Kreuz's has, and will always have, the best barbecue EVER! Although they are not open on Sunday's you can live it up with their barbecue the rest of the week. They have upheld a reputation for having the greatest barbecue since the day I was born. I remember being four and five years old and waiting in line for 1 - 2 hours on a Saturday, just because everybody wanted to eat there. (Don't worry they don't have those kind of lines anymore). Now that they have their new building, located just outside of downtown Lockhart, you don't have to wait in lines anymore. Service is 3 times as fast as it used to be! This place is great for the whole family!

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awb6606

Joined 8 years ago

User review by awb6606. The sausage is the most unique in the world. My family has eaten Kreuz BBQ for over 90 years.

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indianicequeen

Joined 8 years ago

Awesome. Meat is lean and tender and the sausage is spicy but not too hot. flavor of real Texas BBQ. Place is clean with wonderful environment.