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| Lockhart Courthouse |
Lockhart is a barbecue Mecca for "meatheads" from all over the state as well as all over the country. Four major barbecue restaurants can be found here, Smitty's Market, Kreuz Market, Black's, and Chisholm Trail. I will be splitting up covering Lockhart in a two part post. This week I will be talking about Smitty's Market and next week I will cover the other three.
Smitty's Market
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| Back entrance of Smitty's |
Most Central Texas barbecue joints started as German meat markets that later evolved into "barbecue markets". Butchers smoked the lesser cuts of meat and thus Central Texas barbecue was born. Smitty's is no different, it started as a meat market that went by the name of Kreuz Market. Kreuz was founded in 1900 by Charles Kreuz as a meat market that smoked the lesser cuts of meat and didn't offer sauce or forks. Men would use their pocket knives to cut the meat and pinch it between a slice of bread or put it on top of a cracker. In 1924 the current building which is now Smitty's was built to offer more dining space. In 1948 Edgar A. "Smitty" Schmidt who had worked at Kreuz for 12 years bought the market. In 1984 Edgar sold the business to his sons, Rick and Don Schmidt, and after Don's retirement Rick moved Kreuz in 1999 to a newer facility located off of HWY 183. This lead to Nina Schmidt Sells, daughter of Edgar Schmidt to establish Smitty's Market in the building which formerly housed Kreuz market. "IS EVERYONE GETTING THIS?" (in my Bill Murray voice from Ghost Busters)
It can be a bit confusing but all of this has lead to the Kreuz Market versus Smitty's Market "barbefeud".The feud was supposedly settled by the Travel Channel's show Food Wars where Kreuz Market won. I love 'em both so I don't believe the issue has been resolved.
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| Pit fire box as you walk in back entrance |
My buddy Reu and I made our way to Smitty's, and walked in the back entrance to find ourselves in the smokehouse next to the fire box from one of the two pits in the pit room. The line wasn't too long which is something that is nice about most barbecue places in Lockhart because they provide meat throughout the day (not just lunch), you have four places to choose from, and they all know BBQ fans come from all over, so no one is in a big hurry and you don't really have a "lunch rush".
You order you meat inside the pit room and of course I ordered ribs, a sausage ring, and brisket. Once they wrap up your meat you walk through a door to the "counter" and can choose different cold sides (slaw, potato salad, pickles, jalapenos, etc.). These are stored in glass fronted deli cases and you can also ordered pinto beans here as well. I almost forgot, in the refrigerated deli cases you will also find cheddar or pepper jack chunks of cello wrapped cheese. Don't pass it up, at least get one or the other. This keeps with the old German meat market tradition and origin of serving cheese as well as meat.. I got some cheddar, small slaw, small potato salad, pinto beans, and a whole pickled jalapeno. (all were good btw). Note: If you must have sauce you have to ask for it. But if you need sauce you're probably the kind of person who puts ketchup and not mustard on your hamburger and drinks Pepsi.
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| Dining room at Smitty's |
Ordered a beer and a Dr Pepper from the cashier and my buddy Reu and I went to go find a seat. The brisket was moist and tender and well seasoned with a salt and pepper rub as were the ribs that were cooked perfectly. The sausage was a bit greasy but went deliciously with a slice of cheddar and jalapeno pinched between a piece of soft white bread. I opted to not look like a Yankee and ask for sauce but I did use the bottled hot sauce that was on all of the tables to add to my sausage and cheddar creation. Beans and sides were good and went well with the meat. I did find myself at one point looking for something that I knew wasn't there and at that moment Reu says, "You're looking for a fork aren't you?". I laughed and yes I was looking for a fork. You get used to it and learn to use the sliced bread as a utensil similar to the use of a tortilla in "Mexican" food (not Tex-Mex). They do have spoons and knives however so it isn't a big deal to not have a fork it just adds to the experience and takes you back to the days of Texas barbecue's origin.
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| My buddy Reu with meat pierced by knife |
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| My Grub |
208 South Commerce
Lockhart, TX 78644
phone: 512-398-9344
Hours:
Mon. - Fri. 7 AM - 6 PM
Sat. 7 AM - 6:30 PM
Sun. 9 AM - 6:30 PM
So if you want to experience great Texas barbecue and one of the places that helped to originate it hit Smitty's in Lockhart. Next week Lockhart Part II.
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