Austin: Kreuz Market (July 2013)

My spouse and I dined at Kreuz (pronounced "Krites") Market for lunch in early July 2013. What a unique space! The pit room is unlike anywhere else we have seen, and was well worth the detour we took in driving from San Antonio to Austin to visit. The heat in that room (on an already hot day), combined with that wonderful smoky smell is something that we will not soon forget. From the outside, we had not expected the whole warehouse-looking building to house the restaurant, but it did! And they surely need all the seating - we visited shortly after they opened (we arrived around 11:00 am), and the place was half-full by the time we left. We can imagine long, long lines later in the day. Half of the seating is air-conditioned, and the other half is not (although it is not outdoor seating).

You first order and pay for your meats in the smoke room, where they wrap your meat in a brown butcher paper "basket", then you go inside to an air-conditioned counter where you can order your sides and drinks. With your meat order, you can request either complimentary white bread or saltine crackers. Sides included macaroni and cheese, cole slaw, beans, and the like, but the star here is the meat. We ordered one sausage link and ¼ pound of brisket, plus one side and two drinks, and our bill did not even total $10 - what a bargain! (They accept cash only.) Keep in mind that although items are priced by the pound, you do not need to order a whole pound. You will need plenty of paper towels, which are conveniently placed on each table. (Although Kreuz does not serve sauce, they also don't offer forks, so expect to get deliciously messy!)

If you have just one chance at a BBQ meal, make it Kreuz Market!