Wingman Brothers Smoke House

Some friends and I went camping in the Texas hill country over a beautiful spring weekend. In the midst of our hours-long drive to the campsite, we found ourselves STARVING and in need of something hearty and filling. We unanimously agreed to seek out Texas barbecue. In Marble Falls, barbecue is easy to find. But good barbecue? That can be trickier. After researching the best spots around, we knew that Wingman Brothers Smoke House was the place we needed to stop.

It is family-owned and operated, and is reminiscent of a classic barbecue roadhouse. The exterior is simple: matte black paint coats the barn-like building and the only decorations are the company’s logo, bold white letters spelling out “BBQ”, and a large hand-painted Texas flag. The vibe inside is relaxed and inviting. The wooden walls are brightened up by license plates, aluminum signs, taxidermized deer heads, beer signs, and more. Your eyes never get bored while dining. A loaf of white bread and a huge  roll of paper towels are waiting for customers at each table, and each employee speaks with a charming drawl that adds to the Texan feel of the place.

We opted for the restaurant’s go-to menu item: the Bar-B-Que Plate. Offered with either two meats or three meats, each plate is served with two sides of your choice, pickles, onions, jalapenos, bread, and savory barbecue sauce. I loaded my metal cafeteria-style tray up with strips of flavorful charred brisket and juicy pork ribs, as well as Styrofoam cups overflowing with creamy mac & cheese and refreshing potato salad. The friends I dined with added strips of moist turkey breast, smoky jalapeno cheese sausage chunks, crisp and tangy coleslaw, warm fire-roasted creamed corn, and of course, peach cobbler, still warm, made fresh that day.

Grab a seat, rip off plenty of paper towels, and savor meat smoked to perfection at this family-friendly barbecue staple.