Franklin's BBQ

Opens at 11am, closes when they sell out. Everyday people come at 7:30, 8am, with their coolers of beer or mimosas and chairs, to wait for the doors to open. Some people wake at 6am and drive from San Antonio, an hour and change away.

Waiting. This process of obtaining the most moist and meaty brisket on the planet often brings people together. Spending that much time next to each other; it is a moment in this busy world to engage in human, social interaction. A real break from our lives. A shake of something different than the norm.

Why is Franklin's different from other BBQ joints? (After all, it's been featured on a number of food shows.) I'm fairly certain the bad-ass BBQ is just an excuse to delve into a real experience. But really it is a place people come together, gathering and sharing in something. You often leave saying bye to the stranger you just spent several hours in line with, a pat on the back, a handshake. You'll likely never see them again, yet you feel oddly connected to them through this experience. In some ways, it's about the BBQ, but in other ways there is much more residing in the experience of Franklins. It is a real Texas oasis.