Westward Ho!

The Salt Lick BBQ is a Central Texas institution. The original location in Driftwood, about an hours drive from anywhere, is extremely popular, and is a place where Austinites take out of town visitors for a complete BBQ experience. They tried another restaurant in tony Barton Springs, with cloth tablecloths and everything, that didn't do too well. This third location, located in Round Rock in the corner of the Dell Diamond parking lot, seems off to a good start. It opened several months late in 2008, and was eagerly anticipated by many (including me - I live about a mile from here.) The location is good - on busy Highway 79/Palm Valley Blvd., at Dell Diamond, and at the entrance to Old Settlers Park, a very large multi-use park where on any given day you can find people fishing in the lake, playing soccer, playing American football, numerous baseball or Little League games, flying radio controlled aircraft, flying kites, landing powered parachutes, or even playing cricket. Salt Lick's best deal is family style, where you can "sample" brisket, sausage, and ribs, along with beans, very good cole slaw, and excellent German-style potato salad (which isn't quite German potato salad). What you don't eat - and they'll keep bringing more as long as you keep trying - you take home. Gluttony at its best.

They have these two replica covered wagons at either side of the building. The restaurant and its outbuilding are made of native Texas limestone, with green metal roofs. They've left many large live oaks standing, and it makes for a great setting. Picking up "to go" food from here and tailgating before Round Rock Express games at adjacent Dell Diamond is a popular activity.