Brown’s Bar-B-Que Reviewed.
Carlos Montoya:
A barbecue trailer is nothing new. A barbecue trailer that operates smack dab in front of a car wash…..yeah, I suppose that’s new, and that’s exactly where Brown’s Bar-B-Que does business on South Lamar. It was freezing cold and rainy on this particular lunch outing, but Brown’s doesn’t have anywhere to sit at so the plan was to take our food to-go back to my office. The menu was pretty standard, advertising mostly plate options and combo’s. We weren’t exactly thrilled that meat by the pound wasn’t advertised, but a quick question confirmed that they indeed did. So out of the car and to the window counter, I put in an order of ½ lb. of fatty brisket and a sausage link. We waited towards the back of the trailer in front of the firebox for warmth while our orders were put together, and I only ended up spending roughly $10. The guy putting our orders together and ringing us up was really nice and even threw in a free pork rib and a free piece of chicken.
We drove back to my office with our food wrapped in aluminum foil and a brown paper bag, and once settled in, I started with the brisket. I won’t lie, it was a little overcooked but it was moist with an impressive smoke ring and an even more impressive crust. The sausage had a crispy snappy casing but the inside was wholesomely filling and lightly peppered. The pork rib was so tender and succulent, with a sweet BBQ sauce mop that gave the exterior a caramelized crust nicely contrasting with the fall off the bone pork. The chicken, like the rib, was treated with a BBQ sauce mop and was insanely juicy and tender with not a dry piece to be found. I generally refrain from poultry at BBQ joints just because it’s such an easy meat to dry out, but these guys really have their craft down. I didn’t have any other trimmings with my meal or sauce, and it really wasn’t necessary given the quality of all the meats. From the 4 meats that I had from here though, I really have to champion their ribs and chicken. The brisket and sausage was pretty good, but the menu items that will have me coming back are definitely the ribs and chicken.
So, here is my summary. The location was a little odd but not out of the ordinary in Austin, TX. The facility was definitely not “dine-in” friendly as there really isn’t anywhere to eat, but if the idea is wholly take-out, then you really can’t complain. I just hope that these dudes get a more established location down the line, whether it be a bigger lot setup or even a small brick & mortar place. The service was exceptional, with one guy running the whole operation when I went but still friendly given the weather conditions and even giving me a free rib and piece of chicken. The food was seriously good, and I got a good taste of most of their meats. The brisket was a little overcooked but still juicy with a nice crust; the sausage was thick and filling with a snappy casing; the pork rib was king with a sweet exterior and a tender interior; and finally, the chicken was easily the best BBQ chicken I have ever had before. I had my own drink at my office so I can’t really offer much here in terms of soft drinks, but overall, Brown’s Bar-B-Que gets my praise for an overall enjoyable meal consisting of well smoked meats.
Score ranked from 1 (Poor) – 5 (Best) Location/Facility – 2.5
Service/Staff – 4.5
Food – 4
Drink – N/A
Jayce Beasley: A short time ago, I vowed to never go to another new BBQ place that I didn't already know was excellent. I got burnt one too many times with subpar food and I didn't ever want that to happen again. Then I joined this blog. I can't very well write reviews of the same places over and over again, can I?
This might help explain why my first reaction to eating at Brown's Bar-B-Que was apprehension. I was afraid to be let down again. I mean, this trailer is in the parking lot of a car wash, right next to a Jiffy Lube. I prepared myself for the worst. It was frightfully cold day when we ventured out to Brown's. We parked our car directly in front of the trailer because we literally didn't know where we should park. No one else was at the trailer, so it seemed like an okay thing to do. I was quite dismayed that there was no 'by-the-pound' option on the menu outside the trailer. The friendly dude running the place that day told us they do, indeed, sell all their meat by the pound. I'd venture to say the menu should be changed to reflect that, instead of only advertising sandwiches and plates.
When we approached the window ready to order, our man in the trailer handed us each a hunk of an end of brisket, Mueller family style, and at that point my apprehension faded away. This is brisket that can hang with the big boys. I ordered half a pound of moist brisket and a link of sausage.
The brisket, wrapped in butcher paper and foil for a to-go order, was dense and flavorful. The fat held up the tasty crust well, but the fat line wasn't quite as well rendered as I prefer. The lean section of my portion was a little thin, but it still tasted fantastic. It was a little overdone and fell apart into chunks very easily but it still slid down my throat and satisfied my hungry little belly.
The sausage was peppery, but a little squishy. It had a snap, but not a clean neck-breaking kind of a snap that I like. It was a good little sausage though and a nice complement to the brisket.
We also snagged a pork rib and chicken thigh for free, which was nice. In my opinion, these items are what the pitmaster grew up eating and/or cooking. He's really got his craft down on these. The rib was tender, and while it slid off the bone perhaps a little too easily, it was easily the best part of the meal. It was slathered with a sweet sauce and exploded with juicy flavor. The chicken was covered in the same sauce and was deliciously moist throughout. I don't usually mess with anything but the Texas Trinity when I hit up BBQ joints, but this chicken might change things.
I quite enjoyed Brown's and I am forever grateful to not be let down by what they offer. I've got a new place I can refer visiting friends to, and that's always nice. The facilities need to be improved though. This guy is too good to be stuffed next to a car wash. Dedicated parking would be nice. A place to sit and eat at the establishment itself is non-existent and should be corrected. The location in the city itself, in the middle of a bustling South Lamar, is fantastic but the facility could use the freedom of a different, more viable location.
Score ranked from 1 (Poor) – 5 (Best) Location/Facility – 2
Service/Staff – 4.5
Food – 3.5
Drink – N/A