This post really goes out to our blog audience outside of the UT and Austin realm because hopefully most locals know about the wonder that is… The Salt Lick. If you don’t, you’re missing out and should immediately get yourself in the car, drive to Driftwood, Texas, ask for a heapin’ plate of barbecue and experience this legendary barbecue restaurant.
Let me set the scene: you drive through the Hill Country for about 25 minutes, after leaving the Austin city limits, and pull up to a compound of long wood and stone buildings and a dusty parking lot. If you’re arriving at night, white Christmas lights line the old wood fence and the perimeter of the restaurant. If it’s a Friday or Saturday evening, you will see masses of people waiting outside, mingling in the parking lot, lining the wooden fences and listening to live music – not concerned about the long wait. You can smell the wood-burning fire pit, with scents of smoky brisket and sausage wafting through the air.
A special perk of this finger-licking restaurant is it’s B.Y.O.B., so you can buy your favorite beer, ice it down and sip on cold beer while waiting for your table and enjoying your meal!
And for all you leaf eaters out there – their cole slaw is to die for (and I don’t even like cole slaw – it’s really unique), so munch away on that, their homemade bread, pickles and potato salad! Don’t get left out because you’re a non-meateater – this can be fun for anyone.
The restaurant’s history goes back more than 30 years and this eatery has been featured around the country as a premiere and renown barbecue joint.
The best way to enjoy The Salt Lick:
– come hungry because you will eat a lot!
– take a cooler of beer
– go in the early evening because you might miss some of the crowds, you can enjoy the sun set and the best time of the day in the Hill Country
– order “family style” – which means you will get brisket, ribs, sausage, potato salad, cole slaw, bread, beans, sauce, pickles & cobbler – it’s a really good price for the amount of food you get and they will keep bringing you more of whatever you want until you’re stuffed to the brim
– drown all your meat with the bbq sauce – it’s amazing
– go with a big group of friends or family – it’s best to enjoy with a lot of pals!
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Salt Lick for the win! The bread on their chopped beef sandwiches is orange within seconds of it getting to your table. Mmmmmm! Texas Student Media do their annual awards banquet here and the buffet is incredible. There’s a Facebook pic circulating out there in which the food on my plate is completely masked by the sauce I put over it. WORD OF CAUTION: Cash only. Nothing else accepted (primitive- my one con about the place).
Salt Lick has since expanded to the Red Rock Casino in Las Vegas. First one to try it needs to get back with me on how authentic the barbecue is!
This place seems so fun! Any vegetarian options? haha! We have a place like this in Houston called The Swinging Door (http://www.swingingdoor.com/). It’s a well-kept secret, but my dad swears by their barbeque sauce! I usually order a big ‘ol baked potato 🙂
-Bri
Briana- I just added a tidbit about what to enjoy there if you’re a vegetarian because I meant to do that when I posted this yesterday, but forgot, so thanks for the reminder!
Nothing better than Salt Lick bread and Salt Lick BBQ Sauce…mmmmhmmm….
ooohhh my gooooodnesss…salt lick….so good. I don’t think I’ve been there in like a year or so. Anyone else as hungry as I am now?
You know I’ve never been to the Salt Lick, despite living in Austin for 3 years! Maybe the fiancé and I will make a trip this weekend!