2 Best Restaurants in Austin, Texas

Smack in the middle of Second Street, Lamberts draws a broad range of downtown business crowds, local foodies, and tourists, all for its stylish take on Texas barbecue. You know this isn't your father's barbecue joint when you hear Belle & Sebastian coming from the speakers instead of Willie or Waylon; for further evidence, there's Chimay beer on tap and a $23 "breakfast Frito pie" on the Sunday brunch menu. Appetizers range from Asian-style crispy wild boar ribs to broiled Gulf oysters with apple-smoked bacon. The restaurant, housed in a historic two-story 1873 brick building, features a lovely whitewashed brick interior, leather booths, and an upstairs bar with adjacent seating area and a stage where bands perform weekly.

A relatively recent addition to Austin’s barbecue scene, its newcomer status is bolstered by generations of pitmasters hailing from the famed BBQ epicenter of nearby Lockhart. The laid-back Barton Springs location and cafeteria-style service keep things casual, with diners picking out their sides (all the classics, from mac 'n' cheese to potato salad) before selecting their cut of meat. The brisket is impeccably juicy and tender, ribs (pork and beef) are colossal, and the jalapeño sausage is a crowd favorite. Prices are higher than the average barbecue joint, but the merit is there. Don’t expect a Franklin-type line, but they do occasionally sell out of meat, so call ahead if you’re hungry for anything in particular near closing time.