As a native Austinite, I have grown up eating fantastic BBQ....the best ever was made by my grandfather and it included ribs, brisket and cabrito (SP??) or, young goat. My greatest regret is that I never paid attention to how he made is BBQ (mainly the sauce he made and used during the cooking/smoking). Sad, since I learned loads from a great grandmother, grandmother and mom...

I may start a firestorm, but I am going to poop on Salt Lick...great atmosphere but every time I and friends eat there we get sick....to me, some of the best BBQ in Austin (prior to Franklin's opening) is on your right on Hwy 290 (just past the Y in Oak Hill) as you drive towards Salt Lick...a small place called Donn's Texas BBQ and is behind a large big box store and is easy to miss....Iron Works used to be fine (maybe it still is) but I have not been there in years...Austin has become too bloody hot in recent years to make me want to try Iron Works again except in the "coldest" months (oxymoron??)

Black's in Lockhart is still very good but as far as Kreuz's goes, I ate there with a small group once and not one of us has ever returned...except for Black's...

Finally,County Line is pretty decent BBQ (great bread and sauteed mushrooms), but pricey and I use that place to take visiting friends as the lake location has great ambiance...the hill location is also tasty but trying to get back onto Bee Cave Rd can sometimes be like a near death experience

Cheers,