Stubb’s Bar-B-Q

If Stubb’s Bar-B-Q founder Christopher B. “Stubb” Stubblefield were still with us today, I wonder what he would make of our nation’s current barbecue renaissance.  While our obsession over rankings and best of lists and cultish devotions to young celebrity pitmasters may have deep roots in an old culture of competition for bragging rights, the stakes could arguably be higher today as trends on social media so often help or hurt a restaurant’s business.

That being said, there are two ways you could approach Stubb’s Bar-B-Q. You can go there either as a barbecue joint that happens to have a music venue attached, or the other way around. Thinking of Stubb’s as a venue first spares it from tough judgment other barbecue joints get.  If you’re looking for the best barbecue in the area, there are many other places within a five-mile radius of Stubb’s. But we say it is the best place in Austin to watch a live show with a good chopped beef sandwich in hand.

What should I eat at Stubb’s Bar-B-Q?

Out of the six traditional barbecue meats we ordered—brisket, chopped beef, pork ribs, pulled pork, chicken, and sausage—the pork ribs were by far the best. Meaty, pull-apart tender—but, it’s important to note, not until you pulled them did they fall apart—peppery and well seasoned, the fat sweet and sticky and nicely rendered (and not too much of it), these ribs are good anywhere. And they didn’t need any help from the famous Stubb’s BBQ Sauce sitting on the table.

This is more than I can say for the lean sliced brisket.   It is  improved by the sauce and tastes a little better than other store bought sauces.

The chopped beef is a tastier derivation of its sliced counterpart. For the best value I recommend ordering a chopped beef sandwich or a Stubb’s Minor two-meat plate.  It comes with ribs and chopped beef. You can make a sandwich yourself with the “Texas sliced bread” that comes with the plate. Both options come with your choice of two sides.

As for the sides, tradition wins out. The beans and potato salad, both delicious and predictable in the best way, are not to be wavered from. A highly popular Serrano Cheese Spinach is too rich to go with barbecue.  Finally the Homemade Cornbread did not taste homemade. *original post by Devin Garza*