Franklin’s BBQ December 24, 2011

I come to you today in a bit of a meat coma.  You see, we have recently returned from our first trip to Franklin’s Barbecue.  This place has quickly turned into an Austin institution, and now we know why.  It started in a trailer but now lives in a small brick-and-mortar building on the east side of downtown, not far from my office.  I first learned of it when Bon Appetit magazine named it the best bbq in the country.  Take a moment to process that.  The best bbq in the country.  Barbecue is something that people will throw down over.  You’ve got all your regional varieties and everybody believes theirs is the best, but Bon Appetit rated Franklin’s the #1.  A bold move.  Since reading the article, I’ve started hearing more and more about it.  Finally, on a whim, we decided to check it out.  To be clear, you don’t just waltz into Franklin’s and enjoy a plate of meat.  They open at 11.  My friend Scott was first in line today.  He got there at 8:30 in the morning.  We got there around 10 and had to wait about 2 hours before we made it to the front of the line.  Franklin’s isn’t a quick (or cheap) lunch, it’s an adventure.  They open at 11 and close when they run out of food.  There is no other closing time.  While you wait in line, a lady comes out and asks how much you plan to order.  When she gets to the point that they know they won’t have enough, she tells everybody else in line to go home.  This adventure took place on Christmas eve in the very chilly rain.  Cara was a tropper…mostly.  She was an angel the whole time, not screaming or throwing her little body around or trying desperately to get the lady behind us to end her 2 hour cell phone conversation.  Yep.  Perfect angel…and please don’t try to confirm that information with anybody at the restaurant today.  When we got to the counter, the guy cutting the meat said “it looks like someone is hungry and needs a nibble!”  He cut Cara a free slice of brisket and she set at it caveman style.  That’s my girl.

Sorry for the fuzz.  Cell phone picture.  That’s my plate up front, and Sean’s 1.5 lbs of ribs and brisket in the back.  Cara nibbled where she wanted but mostly just wanted the white bread.  Fine with me – more meat for us!  I couldn’t finish my plate.  While it wasn’t a ton of food, it was the richest meat I’ve ever tasted.  The ribs…well…I didn’t order any, but Sean was kind enough to share some and he’s lucky I didn’t punch him, steal the rest, and head to Mexico.  The pulled pork was wonderful.  I really get why Bordain is all pork crazy when I taste pork like that.  It was sweet – actually sugary sweet.  Not because it was cooked in sugar at all, it was cooked right and pork cooked correctly tastes sweet.  It was an amazing meal and a fun adventure on a dreary Christmas eve.

Sean gives a rib-related action shot.  The people you see in the window behind him were waiting in the line that stretches out the door and around the building.  Those people probably waited a good 2-3 hours to get food.

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