Best BBQ in Austin
Written: Feb 14 '00
|
Product Rating:
|
|
|
Pros: Best BBQ in Austin
Cons: Most of you aren't in Austin
|
|
|
| counsel's Full Review: Austin Restaurants |
The small, native-stone building on the corner of Red River and 8th Street in Austin doesn't look like much to the passers-by scurrying down Red River toward downtown. That's because they don't have their windows open to catch a whiff of pecan-smoked heaven. Ladies and gentlemen, I am here to tell you - Stubbs is a cook, and a darn good one.
I tried Stubbs' BBQ sauce one day when I was feeling too lazy to whip up my own marinade and saw the bottle on the grocery store shelves. The packaging was quite interesting, with Stubbs' well-known portrait and his trademark "Ladies and Gentlemen, I am a Cook" quote. That was my introduction to Stubbs - can't hardly get me to make my own sauce any more; his is that good. Last weekend, the family trekked to Austin, and they were all on notice that we were going by his restaurant for lunch to try the goods. Man, was I a popular guy that day. Stubbs produced, I took all the credit I could - but now I have to give some to him.
"Stubb" was born Christopher B. Stubblefield in Navasota, Texas, as one of nine sons. In the 1930's, the family moved to Lubbock, Texas to pick cotton, and it was during this time Stubb learned to cook by working in Lubbock's restaurants and hotels. He left Lubbock to serve in the Korean War as a staff sergeant in the 96th Field Artillery, the last all-black army infantry, where he was a gunner. Stubb also used this time to perfect his skills over the fire by overseeing the preparation of meals for as many as 10,000 soldiers.
After he returned, Stubb opened his first humble restaurant in Lubbock in 1968, across from the county fairgrounds. He made his first barbecue in the pit behind this place and filled the jukebox with vintage blues music. It was here that Stubb's Legendary Bar-B-Q was born. In the 1970's, Stubb's restaurant became the heart of an explosive music scene and was ground zero for musicians like Joe Ely and Stevie Ray Vaughn. Other famous musicians who would "play for their supper" included Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker, Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, Robert Cray, George Thorogood, Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown, Linda Ronstadt and the Fabulous Thunderbirds. Although small in size, Stubb's Restaurant was always filled with good friends, great music and plenty of Stubb's Legendary Bar-B-Q. And most of all, it had Stubbs himself - a man who was as gentle with his words and manner as he was skilled with a pecan-smoked pit. His heart was bigger than the ribs he served, which is to say it is the stuff of legend.
Stubb relocated to Austin. You can count yourself lucky; he's offering his line of legendary products to the entire country so that everyone can enjoy the best Bar-B-Q sauce and other accoutrements you can pick up from a shelf, in my opinion.
I ordered the brisket - the standard BBQ dish, and the means by which I judge a cook's skill in the BBQ category. When the food arrived, I noted that the pecan-smoked goodness permeated throughout the meat, I could cut it with a fork, and yes, it was very, very good - thanks for asking. My wife ordered the beef ribs. Oh, lordy, did she get the prize - here came a dish the size of a large pizza platter with ribs bigger than chopped railroad ties. "What am I going to do with these?" she said with an amazed grin. "I suggest you eat 'em," I proposed, and grabbed one from her plate to provide an example. These things were huge, with no frills and definitely beef as Stubbs would cook it: pecan-smoked with his sauce offered on the side. Oh, brother, with a side of potato salad and their special beans, we were in paradise.
If you're an aficionado of things Texas, or you just want something good to eat when you go to Austin, Stubbs is your place. It's BBQ done right. Brisket's $6.95 for a plate; the rib feast is $7.95 as is a half chicken - and we couldn't eat it all. Ladies and gentlemen - Stubbs is a cook.
Recommended:
Yes
|
|
|
|
Epinions.com ID:
counsel
|
 - Top 1000 |
|
Member: Dwight
Location: Houston
Reviews written: 117
Trusted by: 499 members
About Me:
If I smell flowers, I start looking around for a coffin.
|
|
|
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.