Recommend – YES
Return – YES
Upon Arrival - A
After seeing several television shows showcasing The Salt Lick, including Man Vs Food, we knew we had to take the 45 minute trip out to the beautiful Hill Country of Driftwood, TX to taste for ourselves if The Salt Lick is as good as advertised. So we traveled through the Hill Country patiently waiting for the site of The Salt Lick to come into view. Not knowing what to expect, we finally happened on the restaurant sitting by itself surrounded by a sea of cars.
Parking was a breeze as there is plenty of room available along with several Law Enforcement Officers helping out directing traffic and providing security. After a short walk to the reception area, we stood in line which moved fast and added our name to the waiting list. The Hostess informed us that we would have a wait of 45 minutes to 1 hour, not that bad for the amount of people there. We chose to visit on a Saturday night so on weekdays, the wait could possibly be less.
The restaurant has plenty of outdoor sitting and accommodations to entertain a crowd while they wait. It doesn't hurt either that this particular location is BYOB. So needless to say, there were numerous individuals rolling and carrying in their coolers packed with their favorite beverages. With two large dining halls and picnic table seating, our actual wait time was somewhere around 40 minutes.
The Experience - A
When our buzzer flashed, we headed to the front to meet the Hostess. We were properly greeted by a smiling young lady who welcomed us and lead us to our table. As we walked toward our awaiting table, we passed the indoor smoke pits that held all the delicious meats that we were about to consume. The aroma of the BBQ filled the air and the atmosphere in the place was warm and pleasant. We were now very anxious to eat.
The menu is straight forward and simple - all your traditional BBQ meats along with side items and desserts are available. Beverages include soda, tea and water. As mentioned before, the Driftwood location is BYOB, so don't forget to bring along your favorite adult beverages.
The Meal - A+
After reviewing the menu, I settled on the All You Can Eat. You get a continuous serving of ribs, sausage, and brisket along with side items which include coleslaw, baked beans, potatoes and bread. All this goodness for under $20.00; and if an adult gets the All You Can Eat, a child can be added on for $5.99.
My wife, since she doesn't eat as much as I, selected the 3 Meat Plate for $11.99. You are able to select three tasty meats of your choice along with the same sides as mentioned above.
For the meal itself, starting with the meats - everything is delicious, especially the brisket. I have never had any BBQ like this; it quickly put other BBQ joints I had frequented in the past to rest. When ordering your meal, if you select brisket, be sure to request some burnt ends as that is where all the flavor is. It is tender, juicy and truly melts in your mouth. The ribs are great as well, lightly charred on the outside but with a wonderful taste and fall off the bone touch. The sausage is a treat; it comes sliced on every plate and is great tasting when dipped into BBQ sauce.
The side items will not be the highlight of your experience here. Although they are all great as well and go wonderfully with the meal, they come in a very distant second place to the meat. The coleslaw is crisp and fresh and not overly done with dressing. The beans and potatoes are also on the average side but provide a good taste and addition to the complete meal.
If you have any room left for dessert, you can’t go wrong with any of the choices. One may choose between Pecan Pie and Cobbler (Peach or Black Berry); make sure to add ice cream to any which one you choose. As a favorite, I am not a huge fan of Pecan Pie, but have to say that this was the best Pecan Pie I have ever eaten in my life.
Customer Service - A
Excellent - our server was great and on top of things at all times. Our drinks were always full, plates kept coming with heaping piles of BBQ, side items full to the brim, and dessert never lagged. She continuously checked up on us through the night while managing several other large tables and parties.
Cleanliness - A
Excellent – floors clean of food scraps, trash, and whatever else makes its way on the ground. Once a party finished their meals and left, a team of bus boys immediately cleaned up all the dirty dishware and cleaned the tables. The grill areas were clean and all the food prep areas were neat and orderly. The bathrooms were clean and didn’t lack paper towels, soap, or toilet paper – it was clear that they were checked and cleaned on a regular basis.
Departure - A
Once our magnificent meal came to an end, we paid and departed. Along the way we were thanked for coming in and asked to come back soon. From start to finish it was definitely a pleasant experience and we will strongly recommend The Salt Lick as a Texas favorite. Where ever you are, it is worth the drive to get there.
