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The Salt Lick

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18300 FM Rd 1826
Driftwood, TX 78619

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(512) 858-4959
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The Salt Lick - Driftwood, TX
Reviews
( 66 )
( 42 )
( 15 )
( 13 )
( 15 )

Best

A destination worth seeking out. Don't make solid plans for after because there's usually a wait. Prices keep going up but I'm still paying. Totally unique sauce and sides (try th...

Worst

The meat itself is fine, even if the ribs are undercooked. The sauce is Hawaiian, for heaven's sake. And it's sweet. And there's room for hundreds of people. This is not a bar...

Amazing Food, Great Experience 5/31/2006

Amazing barbeque - ribs and turkey were my favorite, and the atmosphere is very casual and enjoyable. I highly recommend...bring your own beer and enjoy your friends and unmatched barbeque. more
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Best Ever 4/24/2006

If you want really good BBQ, they have the best sauce and meat anywhere! The ambiance is truly Texas hill country. Service is fast, food is great. Sometimes you gotta wait, but that is because it is so good. But even if you have to wait, you have your cooler of beer or other of your favorite beverages, and you get to sit and listen to live music under the Oaks. If you don't like waiting don't go on football weekends, graduation weekends etc, because EVERYone will be there. more
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Why is this an Austin Institution??? 4/1/2006

I had heard great things of this place. Went there today. We were so disappointed. Had to wait and were sent here then go there no signs to direct you. The BBQ was ok the sauce was not. The sides, unless you like beans potoatoe salad and cole slaw don't exist. $16 per plate is pricey(family style) and $6 for a piece of pie is outrageous at a country hole in the wall place like this. The loud raunchy atmosphere is not a place that I would return to or take the family!!! Cons: Expensive, not great food more
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NOT worth the drive!! 2/11/2006

After living most of my life in the Austin area, I had never been to the Salt Lick until this weekend. I have to say, I was SUPREMELY disappointed. Terrible service, loud/obnoxious atmosphere, no side dishes other than cole slaw, potato salad and beans, very very average food, EXPENSIVE, long and scary drive out there....it was not the wonderful experience we had been told it would be. I would not go back. You are also ""herded"" around when you first get there and it is very confusing to figure out what you are supposed to do. I understand it is an ""Austin"" institution, but give me a break...Pok'E'Jo's was better than the Salt Lick... Pros: BBQ Meat is tasty Cons: Terrible Service, Expensive, Below Average food more
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Oh Yes, it's worth the drive 12/29/2005

Saw it on Food Tv, saw it on the Tx Top 20 BBQ list, recomended by a coaching friend from Texas. All 3 sources were CORRECT! A true BBQ Palace, it's looks,it's smells,it's food,it's service. Got there @ 2:30 for a late lunch, had about a 20 minute wait. Knew about BYOB and came with ice chest and cash money. The family style was great, the sandwiches mountain sized, condiments however are so-so at best. In 25+ years of coaching I've taken pride in finding the best BBQ to be found. The Salt Lick is very high on that list! If not for the 600 mile round trip,The Salt Lick would be a frequent stop for me! Pros: food, ambience, service Cons: condiments more
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Worth the scenic (but long) drive 11/23/2005

My husband and I have vised my sister in Texas twice & have gone to The Salt Lick both times (including a drive from Killeen that took about 2 hours in traffic) and both visits were excellent. Great food, great service & wonderful atmosphere. No matter where you are coming from a visit to The Salt Lick should be at the top of your list. Go to dinner early though (4:30 to 5:30) because a late arrival will guarantee a long wait (worth it though) and don't forget to bring your own beer ! Pros: BBQ, Cobbler, Atmosphere Cons: No Credit Cards more
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BBQ at it's Best! 11/13/2005

I was in Austin for a business trip and an outing to the Salt Lick was arranged. Family style servings of bbq, potato salad cole slaw kept us planted at the table all night. FYI- the establishment is BYOB so be prepared! more
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Texans and their BBQ 10/27/2005

If you've read the reviews here, you soon realize how subjective BBQ is to a Texan. First of all, it's not that far a drive, and if you're not used to driving on 2 lane highways at night...let someone else drive! It's not hard to find...US 290 West to FM1826. South on 1826 until you see the Salt Lick. The food is served quickly, and it is plentiful. Sometimes the brisket is average, sometimes it's excellent. That's the peril (or beauty) of open pit BBQ. The sausage is consistently excellent, and while I'm not a big fan of beef ribs, they're good too. It's great for a party, and you'll find yourself dipping into the leftovers for a midnight snack; guaranteed! Pros: ambience, food quantity, groups Cons: no reservations, no plastic accepted more
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Lick Your Lips at the Salt Lick 7/30/2005

We spent a week touring the Texas Hill Country in search of Texas barbeque. Go no further than the Salt Lick BBQ. If you don't like this place you might as well get on the plane and go back to where ever you came from. My only complaint was that I ate so much that I couldn't get up! It's all you can eat BBQ with a 3 1/2 hr. eating time limit. Get at it! Pros: great BBQ, moppin' sauce more
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Great BBQ - go early to beat the crowds 7/14/2005

We were staying nearby in the Hill Country for a week, and went to the Salt Lick twice. Both times the food and service were good, but lunchtime was ideal. Little to no wait, great service - our waitress was funny and really helpful - and of course, teriffic BBQ. No plastic, but there's an ATM on the premises. Dinner was more crowded, we had to wait about 1/2 hour, there was more of the frat boy element there, and our waiter was hugely busy. Still wonderful food, and we loved it. Just pop some great Texas music into the CD player and you'll be there from Austin before you know it. I still dream of this stuff - can't wait to go back. Pros: Food!, Pretty country spot Cons: wait can be long more
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Bring something to do 5/29/2005

No doubt about the food, had to roll me away from the table. If you are bringing children, bring alot for them to do. We had reservation and still had to wait for an hour, heard some say that the wait was two hours for them, children wanted to leave, parents getting grumpy or drunk. Was not a good wait. Pros: food Cons: long wait more
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A Fun Place To Go 5/13/2005

The Salt Lick in Driftwood is definitely a place I think everyone should try. The brisket is soo lean and the sausage is great. The pork ribs were a little fatty but the flavor was great. As for the side dishes- everything was excellent! The cobblers for dessert are great too.... if you have room. Definitely dine family style. The setting is very T-E-X-A-S. It is a comfy, down-home atmosphere. The staff is soooo friendly. Our waiter referred to us as ""the fam."" more
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Rustic and far 10/24/2004

It is very far from any civilization, and the drive after sunset is scary and windy with no lighting. The place is not nice inside or out--chairs, walls, floor, windows, landscape, parking lot, you name it. They don't take credit cards! The service was fairly nice. The BBQ was great, maybe the best I've ever had. I got the buffet plate and couldn't stop eating. Might be fun for a big group of hungry friends. I took over a meal's worth of leftovers. Think twice before taking a date. Pros: Food, Rustic, Leftovers Cons: , Rustic, Potato salad more
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Best In Texas 9/21/2004

That's my opinion. Get the all you can eat special and eat till you fall over. Brisket is extra lean and tender. Pork ribs fall off the bone. This sausage will stay in your mind long after you leave. \r \r And don't forget the sides. Great coleslaw, pickles, bread, cowboy beans and potato salad. The only problem is you'll probably be too busy eating the barbeque to even sample some of the sides, but do make an effort to at least taste them. Pros: Brisket, Pork Ribs, Great sides, Friendly service more
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BBQ HEAVEN 6/14/2004

THE SALT LICK IS WELL WORTH THE DRIVE TO DRIFTWOOD JUST TO EAT. EVERY THING THEY HAVE TO OFFER IS TOP RATE. SOME OF THE BEST BBQ I HAVE EVER EATEN. GREAT ATOMSPHERE AND GREAT SERVICE. I CANT SAY ENOUGH ABOUT THIS PLACE......JUST GO. YOU WILL SEE WHAT THE RAVE IS ALL ABOUT. Pros: BBQ, ATMOSPHERE, PARKING more
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What happened 3/30/2004

I live in Houston, but drive to Austin occasionally. Sometimes I'd drive to Austin with friends only to go to the Salt Lick. We were that impressed with the food. Unfortunately, the quality of the food has decreased dramatically! The brisquet is lean and dry. The ribs are not even ribs anymore. They're miscellaneous cut-up riblets that dry and inconsistent. The barbecue sauce is still their tasty signature concoction, but the meat quality has plummeted. What a shame. I'm afraid it's time to try out some other barbecue restaurants. Pros: service, sauce Cons: , dry brisquet, high prices more
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Good Setting, Weak BBQ 10/17/2003

If this place wasn't twenty miles out in the country, no one would eat here. The gimmick works, but the food is no better than average at best. It's on par with Bill Miller's and Pokejoes. Pros: Atmosphere Cons: BBQ, Price/Value more
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Never better 9/15/2003

The Salt Lick has the best BBQ I've ever had. Their lodge is the BEST place to enjoy some BBQ with a huge group. Despite the drive from the Austin area, it's well worth it. Cheers to the Salt Lick. As for romance...it was nice taking a walk in the dark on the grounds with the little lady. Pros: Food, Value, Atmosphere Cons: Location, Location, Location more
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Grape Creek is much better 8/12/2003

Not bad, but if you are driving all the way out to the Salt Lick to wait an hour or two for food, just keep going on 290 south for an hour and visit Grape Creek. Best BBQ on the planet, with a winery to boot. The Salt Lick all-you-can-eat gimmick is not worth the money. I spent 20 bucks at Grape Creek and couldn't eat half of it! Pros: atmosphere, byob, brisket Cons: wait, expense, crowded more
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Salt lick is below par 8/11/2003

The drive, sitting out in the heat and the the low quality meat make this place a stretch for best BBQ. Perhaps just a fluke, but meat was lower quality than should be for the price. Far better places in town at more reasonable cost. Ambience of heat and dirt can be easily recreated in one's backyard. As part of a country drive, make the stop, but don't get one's hope's up. more
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Menu for The Salt Lick


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Editorial

  • In Short
    The wooden tables and benches outside are lined with locals treating out-of-town guests to a real taste of Texas. The native stone and cedar building, like the food itself, is...

  • 6/15/2006 Provided by Citysearch
Additional information
  • Hours: Monday To Sunday From 11:00 AM To 10:00 PM
  • Payments: Cash
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