Smokey Bones came and went quickly here in Central Texas, also. Aficionados and adicts simply didn't see it's version as BBQ.

A "caveat' re Rudy's, now with a number of roadside locations in Texas. The BBQ's not bad, but comes cloaked in a bit of commercialized gimmickry aimed at the "traveling trade" which sort of takes it off of the traditionalists' dining lists. In emergency, it fits in the "You know what you're getting" category. Certainly, Austin's (make that Dripping Springs) Salt Lick is highly commercialized, packaged in no small part for folks new to the Texas, but for large parties and tourists makes a better choice than some of the "Hole in the Wall" favorites chosen by those who were brung up weaned from the nipple to the brisket.

"Ma, give Junior one of them there chewed rib bones to help him cut his baby teeth!"

"Plates? We don' need no steenkin' plates!" (The cry of the butcher paper set)