Texas BBQ Do's and Don'ts for First-Timers

Everybody remembers their first time in line at a real Texas BBQ restaurant. The amazing aroma of perfectly smoked meat that made your mouth water; somebody behind the counter is slicing the meat right in front of you and placing it atop a simple piece of butcher paper. And the options, so many delicious options. It’s sensory overload in the best way. Here are some tips to help you get through the line and enjoy our delicious BBQ at Black’s BBQ. 

The Do's

• Do come hungry. This isn't the kind of meal you ease into. These types of meals are filling, for a good reason. 
• Do try a little of everything. Brisket, ribs, and sausage together are sometimes called the Texas Trinity, and it's a genuinely good way to figure out what you like best. You don't have to commit to just one meat on your first visit.
• Do taste the meat before you reach for the sauce. Central Texas brisket is built to stand on its own: salt, pepper, smoke, and time. Try a bite plain first. The sauce will still be there if you want it.
• Do eat with your hands. Nobody's bringing you a knife and fork for ribs, and nobody expects you to ask for one. Grab extra napkins and don't think twice about it.
• Do save room for sides. Norma Jean’s Beans, chunky potato salad, creamy coleslaw, mac and cheese, marshmallow sweet potatoes, and black-eyed peas are all delicious sides to add to your BBQ plate. 

The Don'ts

• Don't feel rushed at the counter. Yes, the line moves fast at Black’s BBQ, but nobody gets mad if you need an extra 10 seconds to decide between brisket or chicken.
• Don't drown the brisket in sauce before you've tried it. It's the one thing that'll make a pitmaster wince a little on the inside, and you'll actually get more out of the meat if you hold off.
• Don't panic about the wait. A long line at a BBQ joint is a good sign, not a bad one. It usually means the brisket's worth waiting for.
• Don't dress like you're headed somewhere fancy. This is a hands-on, butcher-paper kind of meal. Don’t worry about dressing to impress here. We say come as you are.
• Don't skip dessert if it's on the menu. You'll thank yourself later.

Come Give It a Try

The only real way to learn Texas BBQ is to show up and order some. Come find us at any Black's location, tell whoever's behind the counter it's your first time, and let us walk you through it. We've been welcoming first-timers since 1932, and we're pretty good at it by now.