My bad on that, but folks really should be only using the official Do web site to keep up with what is going on. We never really intended to use this thread to do that from the git-go.

Franklin BBQ
 

If you haven't had the opportunity to read this month's feature story in Texas Monthly on Aaron Franklin and John Mueller, I highly recommend it. It will add a bit of background to our visit that I think you'll come to appreciate. Not the least of which is how "the line" has developed its own mores and its own ethics. It is now considered to be "an experience" separate from actually being able to get fed at Franklin BBQ.

So, I'd like to take this opportunity to point out that while 33 of us are going to tour the Amy's Ice Cream factory after breakfast on Thursday morning, there are an additional 19 of you who've registered who have not signed up for it, but said you were going to meet us at Franklin BBQ. If you are one of these 19, I strongly recommend that you queue up at Franklin BBQ no later than 9:30 AM (if not earlier). Bring a folding chair, coffee, a newspaper/book/Kindle/iPod, and whatever else you think you might need for the approximately 3-hour wait. There are still no guarantees that you'll get fed, but the earlier you get there, the better your position will be.

For those of us who will be arriving around 10:45 or so, we're going to have to take our chances. It is likely that we will experience the disappointment of not being able to get fed at Franklin BBQ, but we're going to give it a go because...well, you need to experience "the line" like us locals do 6 days a week.

Should the late crew get turned away, we'll motor down to The Iron Works as an alternative for lunch. It isn't Franklin BBQ by a long-shot, but it isn't the worst BBQ place by far and away and it's close-by.

From August:

I guess things have gotten worse and not better since last summer, line wise? :(

I'm one of the 19, planning to drive down from the north side of Dallas that Thursday. I can't say the prospect of being on the road by 5:30 am pleases me...

Well, let's put into perspective. In August, there were fewer folks willing to stand in 100 degree weather at 1 PM than there will be in April when the weather is probably not going to be an issue unless it rains.

Also, the new pit Aaron built that I had hoped would alleviate the line problem did not cook up to his standards, so he's going sell it to try and build yet another one. But, he has less than one day a week to devote to building it and it took him what seemed like months on the last one, so I'm not hopeful it will be resolved by the time we roll in.

In my humble opinion there are two schools of thought when it comes to getting fed at Franklin BBQ. 1) get there early enough on a good weather day to assure yourself of getting in or 2) take your chances and arrive between 12:45 - 1 PM when the line is shorter and the weather is bad, but so is the poundage of meat.

If you opt for #1, I recommend no later than 9:30 AM. I drove by on Sunday at 10:30 and the line stretched to the 2.5 hour mark. Do the math...if he regularly sells out by 1 PM on a good weather day, I probably would have been SOL, so I let it pass. If you opt for #2, make sure it's a bad weather day and you might be fairly successful, but you may be limited to having a chopped beef sandwich. Note: Those are amazing as well.

Your call. I'm just trying to get as much information in folks' hands so they can make the decision on whether it is worth the effort.

Oh, I appreciate that, and all the efforts put in by the organizers here. If my post seemed like I was complaining about that, my apologies.

No worries. I didn't take it as a complaint. ;)

By the way, I did a drive-by to Franklin BBQ this morning at 10:10 AM and there were only 40 people in line fifty minutes before they opened, so that is encouraging. On a weekday, it seems likely that anyone arriving at 9:30 AM will be among the first in line, but won't be shut out entirely if they arrive later, but I'll continue making these drive-bys off and on as spring gets closer.

Registration is now closed and all registrations are non-refundable. We look forward to seeing everyone in April. :)

Is it blasphamy that I signed up for the IAH micro-do a few weeks prior? :eek: :cool:

and why do I gain weight everytime I visit this site?:D

http://www.ausmegado.com/events.cfm

:cool:

Just gessin' that no one cxld... on the WL for a few things...but can't wait to compare to the BBQ of the Carolinas (experienced a month ago) :cool:

There have been a couple, but unfortunately nothing to change your waitlist status so far.

No, I'll be there too. :)

The Daily Meal's picks for Best Restaurants in America.
http://shine.yahoo.com/shine-food/20...231000002.html

Franklin BBQ clocks in at #15, just ahead of Peter Luger's and Jean Georges. :)

LOL. Somehow that doesn't surprise me. I anticipate that a time will come when I'll never be able to eat there again and what a sad panda I will be when that happens.

It looks like our visitors from out of town will get to enjoy BBQ in 2 of the top 5 BBQ cities, according to USNews. Lockhart is ranked #2 and Austin #5. I don't understand why Black's didn't earn a mention in the article for Lockhart.