Lockhart Part II - Kreuz Market and Black's Barbecue

Kreuz Market

We continue our tour of Lockhart at Kreuz Market.  Pronounced "Krites", Kreuz Market is the rival of Smitty's Market and it located across the highway and is easily accessible if you are coming from Austin it will be on your right, before you enter Lockhart.

Smokehouse or "pit" room where you order you meat

The facility is divided into two different dining rooms.  The pit dining room which is the one you walk into from the outside and the "market" dining room where you get your side items and beverages. If you choose to get "smoked" yourself then sit in the pit dining room.  That's what we did, but if not hit the other dining room. In the same tradition of Smitty's, Kreuz has no forks and no sauce (I mean no sauce at all).

Windows to the "market" dining room

Alright so you order your meat at the pit counter and then go into the market side to order your sides and beverages.  I ordered ribs, jalapeno cheese sausage, and brisket.  They give you bread or crackers or both when you order your meat.  The sides offered: beans, slaw, mac and cheese, green beans, cheddar, pepper jack cheese, jalapenos (fresh or canned), (here is where it gets unique), German potatoes, and sauerkraut.
OK...the sauerkraut, they make it on site and it is ridiculously good.  It could be my German heritage but this stuff is the best I've ever had and it goes great with the barbecue, it's sour with a hit of sweet.

The line in the pit dining room

The barbecue is fantastic, ribs cooked just right as well as the brisket and both with just a simple salt and pepper rub.  The jalapeno cheese sausage is great, a bit greasy but very flavorful with a snappy natural casing. If you're in Lockhart you have to pay them a visit.

Mom, Dad, and the aftermath

Our pile 'o meat

Wood supply at Kreuz

Hours and Location:

619 N. Colorado St.
Lockhart, TX 78644
Phone: 512-398-2361
Mon-Sat 10:30 AM - 8:30 PM
Closed on Sunday

http://kreuzmarket.com/




Black's Barbecue

Line outside

As their motto goes: "Take Me Back to Blacks" and I have been back.  Black's was my first place to go to in Lockhart about four years ago and it's the most recent place I've been to in Lockhart so about a three year spread between visits.
Black's is the longest running barbecue restaurant owned by the same family.You will find Black's just off the town square but they have multiple billboards off of the highway so it isn't hard to find.
Before going the first time my Uncle Ron who lives in Austin says it's hit favorite place in Lockhart so my aunt, cousin, and cousin's daughter hopped in the SUV and headed to Lockhart. As you walk in you grab a tray and grab your sides.  They have a steam table for the hot sides and a cold table for the cold sides.  You order your meat as you come to the register and then go find a table. Black's does serve sauce and has forks.

Some of the group

Now we got there early so I figured the BBQ should be "on".  I ordered ribs, brisket, and sausage.  The ribs were good and sausage was OK but I was disappointed in the brisket, it was a bit dry. So I wasn't that impressed. However, I went back three years later after already hitting City Market in Luling, TX and Gonzales Meat Market in Gonzales, TX that day to give Black's another try and I'm glad I did. So ribs, brisket, and sausage again and a little mac and cheese. I'm just going to talk about the brisket.  It was crazy good! Moist with fat caramelized between the smoke ring and bark. It was meat candy and it goes to show barbecue can be fickle so give a BBQ joint more than just one chance.

Amazing brisket

Open 7 days a week 10 AM - 8 PM
Pit Tours available
Phone 512-398-2712

http://www.blacksbbq.com/








I haven't forgotten about Chisholm Trail BBQ, the fourth BBQ restaurant in Lockhart, just haven't been there yet but plan to hit it up next month when I'm in the Austin area.  I'm also going to Opie's BBQ in Spicewood, TX as well as going back to Franklin Barbecue in Austin.

Next week: Cooper's in Llano