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Cartwright’s BBQ in Bastrop, TX

As noted here, my wife and I took a ride out to Smithville yesterday — and, as I’m want to do most of the time, I started looking for a BBQ joint for lunch. We wanted to try Zimmerhanzel’s Bar-B-Que in Smithville, but they were closed.

So we rode back through Bastrop looking for some smoked meats. We ended up at Cartwright’s BBQ.

The actual pits where the meats are smoked were no where in site. Not a good sign. We were pleased to see that Cartwrights did at least serve their smoked meats family style (though they did offer plates as well).

We ordered a lb of moist brisket, half a link, and some potato salad (for my wife).

I wanted some beans, but they were out. My wife wanted some peach cobbler, but they were out. But she assured me the cherry cobbler would do just fine.

We had to ask for pickles and onions, as they don’t have a serve yourself condiment bar — always a minus in my book. A good joint should have the pickles and onions (at a minimum) out for self-serve.The better places will put jalapeños and beans out on the self-serve bar, too.

The brisket was well cooked and just fatty enough. Needed a little more salt though. The hot link we had was mild, greasy, but pretty damned good too.

The brisket was good, but not great. In fact, it was a fine sample of average Texas-style smoked brisket. This is not a bad thing, as an average cut of Texas-style brisket is still better than 99% of the brisket anywhere else on this planet.

We’re not sauce people — we just like to enjoy good meat un-obscured by over-powering BBQ sauces. However, we do occasionally enjoy a little homemade hot sauce on the fattier pieces of brisket (especially when there aren’t any jalapeños on the condiment bar).

The homemade hot sauce on the tables at Cartwright’s though was one of the worst I’ve ever had. It tasted more like pickle juice than hot sauce.

All in all, Cartwright’s is a good place to stop and get some good bbq if you live near by or are just passing through. It’s reasonably priced, there are lots of options and side dishes, and you won’t walk away hungry.

But I wouldn’t consider it a destination-worthy joint, such as the legendary Cooper’s in Llano, Smitty’s Market in Lockhart, Luling City Market, or Southside Market in Elgin (Southside is only 18 miles from Bastrop — so, if you’re headed north on 95, you might just want to wait).

Posted by Robbie Cooper on Monday, March 10th, 2008 | Trackback |

4 Responses to “Cartwright’s BBQ in Bastrop, TX”

Well, Roboto, first time I have actually visited your blog since I have been seeing your Post on Ala’s. Didn’t know you were so close, in Austin.

Say, you know any good bbq joints that have beef ribs? Everyone out here seems to love the pork ribs, but I got sold on beef when I lived in El Paso, and there was a small bbq joint that sold them.

I’d even drive the 100 miles or so to Austin, just to get my fix!

Left by Wendell on March 10th, 2008 at 3:35 pm

El Paso? That’s where I grew up (lived there for the first 12 years of my life).

We lived over on the east side of town, right across the street from JM Hanks High School. My grand father was a Colonel at Ft. Bliss, and I still have a lot of family there.

I don’t do beef ribs. Much prefer the pork ribs that are most often served in central Texas joints.

However, the County Line bbq has some pretty outstanding (and huge) beef ribs. Don’t know that they’re 100-mile drive good, though.

What part of Texas are you in now?

Left by Robbie Cooper on March 10th, 2008 at 4:01 pm

After spending my birthday(March 1st) at the bunker and enjoying the Cowboy poetry gathering in Alpine we drove back to Austin the long way(adds 1 mile to the trip 438 vs 437) through LLano. The beef ribs were gigantic. I’m a pork guy myself but they were out. Two ribs were 2.3lbs and not dry or tough, a pound of brisket rounded out the meal and the beans (a Coopers specialty) were perfect, with peppers floating in the juice.
As far as the blogging goes, you are tops. Don’t change a thing and you will have readers for a long time.
Neil

[Editor --- Thanks for the kind words. I need to get back out to Cooper's some time soon, too.]

Left by Neil on March 10th, 2008 at 8:59 pm

College Station. I lived most of my life in El Paso. Grew up in Cielo Vista, but for last number of years, lived near Hanks. Both my daughters graduated from there!

Thanks for the rib joint. I’ll try to find it next time I am in Austin.

BTW, keep putting Grimjack in his place over at Ala’s!

Left by Wendell on March 12th, 2008 at 6:02 am

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