I'm surprised there's not much love for Rudy's. I don't claim to be the BBQ expert, but I sure do love them, and have been to almost all the aforementioned restaurants minimum 2x+ (exception Coopers and Louies) Done Smittys, Blacks, City Market, County Line (both loc), Rubys, Rudys (multiple loc), Stubbs, Artz, Iron Works, Green Mesquite, Salt Lick (both loc), Sams, John Mueller's Since my love is beef brisquet, I hand the crown to Rudys. They have 2 tiers of brisket -- of course, order the fatter cut... incredibly tender and the saltiness sets off sparks in my mouth Salt Lick - never liked it at the restaurant -- dry and bland -- but somehow their catering always tastes terrific Artz - okay for ribs Rubys (in Campus) - not particularly great ... but good for what it is - small in-town joint. Good cheap chopped beef 'wich County Line - haters go away. dinosaur sized beef ribs, terrific bread, and a great atmosphere to take out-of-towners. The drive there on FM2222 is also nice As far as the crowning triumvirate of central texas barbecue? yawn. they're so unremarkable that I cant recall the specifics. Perhaps the hype killed the food for me. All I remember is Kreutz is a little rubbery and unflavorful. Blacks had sausage that tasted like cardboard - personally I don't care too much for sausage, but a good bbq joint had better make a decent one -- theirs tasted like they dehydrated in the Popeil jerky machine I'm sure some purists will pull out their pitchforks and beat their drums over my irreverence for the holy trinity of Texas bbq... all I know is, when I have guests, I'll treat them to the sights of 360 or 2222 and the food of CL and Rudys