Micklethwait Barbecue & Catering

"Micklethwait Craft Meats is housed in a vintage yellow Comet trailer that’s covered in illustrations of leaves and chestnuts in what looks like the home of a well-to-do squirrel. The barbecue here is some of the best in town, with a menu that covers the classics—brisket, pork ribs, and turkey—plus a few items you might not see every day like pulled lamb, pastrami, and barbacoa. The lines tend to be a little calmer here than some of the other popular spots in town, but still plan to show up early if you want to minimize your standing time." - nicolai mccrary, adele hazan, raphael brion

"When we’re playing tour guide, we bring our guests to Micklethwait, which strikes the perfect balance of excellent quality and reasonable wait times. The meats and seasonings generally lean classic, but the sides are where things really get fun. Coleslaw gets an upgrade in the form of lemon poppy slaw, and the citrus beet salad tastes like something you’d get at a restaurant with real chairs and tablecloths. Grab a couple pounds of brisket, a few slices of turkey, and some Tex-Czech sausages, then load up on sides and enjoy your meal before your friends in the Franklin line down the street have even made it to the front door. " - nicolai mccrary

"You knew this list wouldn’t be complete without a barbecue recommendation. In a city where getting BBQ often means long waits and/or hit-and-miss menus, Micklethwait strikes the right balance between quality and feasibility. The meats and seasonings lean classic, but the sides are where things get fun. Coleslaw gets an upgrade in the form of lemon poppy slaw, and the citrus beet salad tastes like something you’d find at a restaurant with real chairs and tablecloths. (This one is an East Side trailer with picnic tables.) Grab a couple pounds of brisket, a few slices of turkey, and Tex-Czech sausages, then load up on sides. You can enjoy your meal before your friends standing in the Franklin Barbecue line down the street have even made it to the front door. " - nicolai mccrary, matthew jacobs

"Pitmasters owner Tom Micklethwait and Ren Garcia serve up thoughtful smoked meats at this Central East Austin food truck parked at their beer garden and bar Saddle Up. Expect the staples (brisket, Tex-Czech sausages, ribs) and standout sides like lemon-poppy slaw and jalapeno cheese grits. Visit the space before it shutters to morph into a new physical restaurant over in the East MLK neighborhood in the winter of 2024. Service style: food truck-style service with outdoor dine-in areas; takeout orders can placed online or in person.Days and hours: Thursday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. or until everything is sold out; Sunday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. or until everything is sold out.Recommended orders: brisket, Tex-Czech sausages, beef ribs (only available Saturdays and Sundays), jalapeno-cheese grits, lemon-poppy slaw." - Nadia Chaudhury, Erin Russell

"Micklethwait is where we usually take out-of-town guests who want a fairly classic barbecue experience without a multi-hour line. The brisket is seasoned with a generous amount of salt and pepper coating each bite. On a good day, Micklethwait might take our top spot. But even on a lesser day, it’s never too far behind. Add a side of lemon poppy slaw and citrus beet salad to help balance out all that rich beef. " - nicolai mccrary