I promise this is the last of my Austin posts. I realize it took me a week to getting around to writing about The Salt Lick too. But this place is so popular, that while in my opinion Franklin Barbecue is better, I figured I ought to post some photos and say a thing or two about my experience here.
It seems to be out in the middle of nowhere, which kind of adds to its appeal as a sort of barbecue oasis in the boonies. My group and I packed up plenty of beer and wine in the car (the Driftwood location is in a dry county, therefore B.Y.O.B.), and upon arrival we brought our drinks in and proceeded to wait about 45 minutes for our table – and we had around 20 people, probably more, so I was surprised that we got seated in less than an hour. But I loved how there’s plenty to do while you wait, which is all part of the experience at Salt Lick. You can drink your beers, listen to live music, mingle with other folks waiting around, check out the grounds (there’s a garden) and there’s a kids area if you have little ones. The wait pretty much flies by.
And the food? Yes, I did mention that I liked Franklin Barbecue more. But I still enjoyed the meat and sides at Salt Lick. Franklin has more of a unique seasoning and crust on its brisket, and it’s very, very tender. Salt Lick’s brisket was flavorful, albeit a more traditional barbecue flavor, and the meat was tougher. You have to chew a bit more with the meat here. I enjoyed the ribs, especially with an extra helping of barbecue sauce on top. The sauce was thick with a good mix of sweet, tangy and spicy flavors. And the sausages were fantastic – peppery, tender, easy to pop in your mouth. My table shared a family style meal, which came with potato salad (much like mashed potatoes), beans, coleslaw and bread. The sides were solid, and I particularly liked the barbecue flavor in the beans and the vinegary slaw.
Overall, The Salt Lick is a fun place, and there was so much food that I left feeling more than stuffed. Even though it wasn’t my favorite barbecue joint in town, I’d still definitely suggest going for the experience. It was a fantastic end to my last evening in Austin, and it kind of encompasses a lot of the great atmosphere of the city – live music, good food, laid back atmosphere.
