If you haven't already figured it
out from reading my blog, I love barbecue. When I received my most recent copy
of Texas Monthly, I was excited to try several of the newer places in Austin
that made their list of the Top 50 Barbecue Joints in Texas. Lucky for me, I
was attending a conference located in Austin. One of the joints that made the
top 50 was Stiles Switch BBQ and Brew, so I dragged some colleagues of mine
there one night after our conference.
Unlike most of the acclaimed Austin
barbecue joints, this one stays open for dinner. As soon as you walk into the
building, the cafeteria style line takes you closer to the smells of smoked meat. I
ordered the three meat plate of brisket, turkey, and pork ribs. I also added a
link of the Switch original sausage. For my sides I ordered mac and cheese and
beans. My colleagues and I sat down in anticipation of barbecue that looked and
smelled great.
 |
| Switch Original Sausage |
Now the only thing left, was the
taste test. The brisket was very good with a thin layer of
fat at the top. It was well smoked with one of the thickest smoke rings I have seen on a brisket. The
pork ribs were top notch as well. They came of the bone easily and had a flavor
that was both sweet and peppery. The Switch original sausage was fantastic and
lived up to the designation of it being "hot and spicy." It tasted
similar to a hot link, but had the consistency of sausage and looked like sausage. The one disappointing meat was
the turkey. It was very moist, but you could barely taste the smoke. The mac and
cheese was great, but the beans were average at best.
 |
| Brisket, Pork Ribs, Turkey, Beans, and Mac n' Cheese |
After this visit, I can see how
this place made the Texas Monthly Top 50. Three of the four meats were
fantastic and although I didn't use much of the sauce, it was thin and flavorful. I see the popularity of this joint increasing significantly over the next
few months. It wasn't packed while we were there, but the crowd was pretty
steady. The staff was friendly as well and even gave one of my friends a sample
of the meat before she ordered it. Friendly service and good food will have me
coming back and I recommend this place to anyone who doesn't like waiting in
lines at some of the other Austin establishments.
Stiles Switch BBQ and Brew
Livin The Good Life Rating= 3
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