So, back to Llano. I have a few more stories to tell, most of them regarding Cooper's Old-Time Pit Bar-B-Que and their food. The link goes to their corporate web site. We've only had the 'cue from the Llano site, so can't say whether they're all of equal quality. (Note: they ship!!)
The place is billed as an old-time pit barbecue. The mesquite is cooked down to the proper level of charcoal in an oversized chimney; there are half a dozen heavy-duty "pits" (really very large, very heavy metal cooking boxes into which the coals are shoveled at one end) and one serving pit where the finished meat is held until someone buys it. You can take the food to go, or eat inside. Here and here are some shots of the interior, as well as the serving pit. There are a lot of choices of side dishes inside: mac and cheese, various cobblers, green beans, potato salad, cole slaw, and so on. Drink offerings include beer, wine, water and various soft drinks. Pinto beans, pickles, barbecue sauce of their own devising, onions and soft white bread are all free.
As I noted a few posts ago, I didn't take as many photos as usual. I did take the trouble to photograph the menu.
Yes, it's expensive. It's gotten a lot more expensive (hasn't everything?) since we first started coming; this post shows the spring 2015 menu:
Still, we are happy to indulge when we come. We buy a lot over several evenings, then enjoy the leftovers for meals afterward. The price per meal isn't as bad as you might think.
Here's my kittywompus picture of the pit, the one time I photographed it that week.
What you do is, you choose what you want and how much, then the pit servers put it on a tray. They'll dip it in their warm sauce (see the pot at the far end of the pit) if you ask; we always do. We're told that it's their standard barbecue sauce, but I'm sure the juices and spices from all the meats dipped into it change the flavor somewhat. After it's dipped -- or not -- and put on the tray, you take it inside. They'll cut it if you want (we never do) and wrap appropriately for eating there or taking out. You add whichever sides you want, pay, and go on your way after visiting the freebies bar.
That first night, due to a bit of a miscommunication (and massive hunger) we bought beef ribs AND pork ribs. Way too much to eat in one sitting, as we knew it would be. I also brought home beans, pickles and barbecue sauce, per my plan to stock up. 😋
Oh my, it was good. And what you see on the plates was more than a gracious plenty.
The next morning, I enjoyed their pinto beans for breakfast -- doctored with their barbecue sauce and sour cream.
