There is no shortage – thankfully – of mouth-watering barbecue in Austin. Stiles Switch stands out in my mind as some of the best barbecue this city has to offer.
Austin’s culinary boom brought many talented individuals to this city and encouraged them to share their craft. Pitmaster Lance Kirkpatrick spent many years at Louie Mueller Barbecue in Taylor. In 2011, entrepreneur Shane Stiles brought him on to open Stiles Switch and the rest is delicious history.
Stiles Switch is one of those restaurants where you lose count of how many times you’ve been but you’re excited to eat there every time. The food is consistent, the barbecue sauce is flavorful, and the food is easily accessible. I’m not above waiting in lines for hours, especially when it’s worth it, but when you simply want to meet up a friend for lunch or pop in for dinner, the lack of extreme planning and waiting is refreshing. The counter service makes the experience quicker.
Of course, it’s all about the meat. Ask for the moist/fatty brisket and you will get meat that melts in your mouth. Ask for beef ribs and the tenderness will fall off the bone. They also do pork spare ribs, turkey breast, pork loin and sausage. I usually order the two meat plate that also includes your choice of two sides. You can also do it a la carte by ordering by the half pound or a sandwich.
While meat is the star of the plate, its supporting sides deserve some love also. My go-to is the potato salad, and I’ve also enjoyed the cucumber tomato salad, mac and cheese and green bean salad. And yes, brew goes well with barbecue. If you think you can make it to dessert, you’ll have to try the peach cobbler with vanilla ice cream or banana pudding.
Party people – you should know that Stiles Switch has a private room and does catering for all your entertaining needs.
For those new to Stiles Switch, it may be worth mentioning that the shopping center Stiles Switch is in is the origin of actor Matthew McConaughey’s Hollywood debut, the pool hall in ‘Dazed and Confused.’ Alright, alright, alright.
For visitors wanting a taste of Austin barbecue, for a person wanting to impress a date, or friends wanting to enjoy a tasty barbecue get-together, Stiles Switch is my recommendation!
6610 N Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX, 78757
Hours:
Mon: Closed
Tue-Thur: 11am–9pm
Fri-Sat: 11am–10pm
Sun: 11am–9pm
http://www.stilesswitchbbq.com
Want more information about Austin’s restaurants? Check out this guide of my favorite Austin restaurants.
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