TLDR: If you're in the area, this is one of Hill Country's best hidden gems. Do yourself a favor…read moreand give it a shot. I eat a lot of BBQ, and you can look through my reviews to see how many places I've reviewed. Ronnie's is up there towards the top. Some of the reviews here puzzle me. I didn't detect any notes of 'coffee' in the spice rub - it's pretty much a close approximation of the classic Texas 'smoke, salt, and pepper'. Service was fast and friendly, and we ate at the location so it was hot upon hitting the table. The crown jewel of Texas bbq is, of course, the brisket - had a mix of the lean and fatty brisket, and it had a marvelous smoke ring and flavor (see the picture below, you'll see what I mean). The fatty brisket in particular was fork tender and all sorts of delish. The regular sausage was zippy and popped in the mouth; and the pork loin (a rarity on Texas BBQ menus) was delicious, only less moist and scrumptious then the brisket. Sides were decent - the pinto beans are excellent, the coleslaw forgettable. However, average it out and I'd give it 4.5 stars, round it up and you're looking at a high score on the CTJ scale, as noted below. 5 out of 5 stars: Come-to-Jesus good. Would be OK passing away after finishing a plate here. 4 out of 5 stars: Come-to-Mary good. Would be OK having a nosh here with Mother Mary. 3 out of 5 stars: Come-to-Joseph good. Would be OK having a beer here with Jesus' Dad. 2 out of 5 stars: Come-to-the-Apostles good. Meh. Wouldn't have my last supper here. 1 out of 5 stars: Come-to-Nobody good. I wouldn't have my penultimate supper here, either.

You know you're at an authentic Texas barbecue joint when they serve you on metal trays and offer…read moreup their version(s) of barbecue sauce in squirt bottles. Ronnie's adds an unexpected twist: pizza! I didn't try the pizza, but the brisket is smoky, juicy and delicious. I enjoyed mine over a HUGE baked potato. I don't know where they get their cheddar cheese, but it was super melty and cheesy. So good! My table mates also got brisket. Tip: don't try to order healthy by getting chicken in a Texas barbecue place--get the beef. My dining partners also liked the ribs and the sausage. Macaroni-and-cheese side got rave reviews, the coleslaw was so-so. The sign out front says "Smoke and Pies." You're in the right place. Fast casual service was friendly and efficient. Tons of seating and natural light.

This was such a friendly place for dinner. The service was so good, and it felt like they cared…read moreabout everyone who walked in the door. My parents loved their chicken fried steak and talked about it for a week seriously. Ha! Also, the peach cobbler is almost like if bread pudding and cobbler had a baby, and it's to die for! I would love to see some more vegetarian (or even vegan) options on the menu, though. We didn't know they had a shortened menu during the holidays, so I was bummed that they had taken the meatless burger option off the menu. I know that it is Johnson City, but with all the tourists, a good veg option would be really appreciated. I did have a delicious tomato soup, though. They have great drinks, too, and they had a few fun ones for the holidays. I will definitely return here with the fam when we are back in town.

Let me first say I wish this establishment well, and hope they have success in their endeavors…read more I was in centex to visit daughter, and suggested a bbq tour of the small towns west of Aus. We arrived at P&C mid afternoon on a Monday. We were touring this and other towns, so only ordered the pulled pork sandwich, side of mac n cheese and side of mashed potatoes w gravy between the two of us. And some extra bbq sauce on the side. The pulled pork sandw comes premade with what looks to be homemade pickles, smoked pulled pork, coleslaw, & bbq sauce. The presentation is fairly impressive. Unfortunately, the taste did not measure up. We had bites of the sandwich as a whole, and also tasted the individual ingred by themself to get a feel for what contributed to the overall. The pulled pork was hit/miss. Some of it was generously smoked & that smokiness came through. Other bites of it the smoked flavor was not prominent. Mac n Cheese - solid. By far the best thing we tried. Super cheesy, flavorful. Nice work! Coleslaw - substandard. I'd say the C range. Pickles on the sandwich - they were thicker and appeared homemade. They didn't seem like they had been left to sit long enough on the shelf for the pickling to soak in. In appearance they were still very close to cucumbers instead of pickled cucumbers. Flavor wise they didn't taste like cukes, but nor did they add a dill-ish or sweet pickle flavor of substance. (Can see the pickles in attached pic, can see the color and texture doesn't look significantly pickled.) Sauce - extremely little flavor. The consistency was not watery, but you had to close your eyes and concentrate to taste what little flavor there was - as though it was watered down immensely. Sauce gets a D. Mashed potatoes & gravy. They served the gravy on the side. The potatoes themselves were good - a little buttery and therefore enjoyable. The consistency of the gravy was mealy - was unexpected, and odd. Lacked the common flavor of a hearty gravy begun with a roux of flour and meat drippings. (Zoom in on attached photo, you can see the mealy and almost-grainy texture of the gravy.) Overall we weren't impressed. The mac n cheese being the best thing is not what you expect at a bbq place. Like I said, we wish the establishment well. But we wouldn't come back when in Johnson City. Final note, the hostess/server was genuinely warm and friendly. She was wearing multiple hats, running around, but was pleasant and engaging.

TLDR: Was visiting my daughter, we decided to do a little road trip to some hill cntry towns. I…read morethought we would do a bbq sandwich tour/comparison. I'd earmarked Old 300 as the place in Blanco, to go up against the others. We arrived on a Monday about 1:20p. After lunch hour, and the place was packed. (that's an indicator right there. One of the slowest days for restaurants during the week, and not at peak meal time.) The line went quick. They have what's listed as a "BBQ Sandwich" - it's a blend of chopped brisket and chopped pulled pork (not in long, stringy strands) together. We were going to hit other towns & sandwiches, so for the two of us we just ordered one sandwich and a side of potato salad. We got it to-go. Sat at an empty table. Got ourselves fixins - some doctored up onions (sliced, seems like they sauté them a little in butter and then top w fresh cracked black pepper), pickles, and both their Sweet and their Spicy sauces. They brought it out quickly, less than 5 min. We opted to just eat it there instead of take it to the next town. We topped with pickles, onions, and the Sweet sauce. Oh my freakin' sweet Lord! In this small Texas town with an unassuming spot a block and a half off the main road going through town, easily one of the top 5 bbq sandwiches of all time - no joke! To break it down, we tasted all items individually. The onions are delectable - softened from the sauté, good moisture from the butter, delicious. The Sweet sauce is crazy good. A fantastic balance of sweet, tang, & slight bite. I've never said this before but it's true - told my daughter, "I could just sit here and dip these pickles in this sauce for the next 30 minutes and be completely satisfied." The sauce, yes, is that good. Daughter is not a heat/spice lover, but she did try the Spicy sauce and we both thought it was definitely tame as far as heat goes. We both thought the Spicy sauce was okay. The Sweet sauce, though, stellar! We were overwhelmed by how good it all was. When we got to the car, I said, "All the ingredients together was like a symphony." Next time I visit her, am absolutely gonna suggest another drive out to Blanco specifically, to try some other items on the menu. But I can say this, for the BBQ Sandwich, pickles, doctored onions, and Sweet sauce alone, Old 300 is worth a generous drive and you will 100 percent be happy as a lark. Thanks for fantastic meal, Old 300. Will most definitely be back.

Nice people and very flexible on ordering...they don't technically have 2 or 3 meat meals but they…read moreaccommodated. Wife got the lunch special and it was a massive sandwich with a side and drink...I got brisket, turkey, and jalapeño sausage...all outstanding. I always benchmark a Q joint by the brisket and this place could stand toe to toe with anyone in the Texas top-10. Nice beer selection, clean, fun atmosphere, and not overpriced. Will certainly go back!

Hands down the best Reuben I've ever had. I used to serve them in my restaurants years ago, and…read morepeople raved about them--but this one tops them all. Absolutely delicious. I love stopping here and trying something new every time. The flights are great, the atmosphere is relaxing and spotless, and I never leave without grabbing a bag of coffee beans--the coffee is just that good. This place never disappoints. I've been coming since 2017, and it's always been consistently excellent.

We stopped here for drinks then later lunch. Screw Loose Blonde was cold and refreshing. My wife…read morethought her Judy Bloom mimosa was good. The pecan sweet chicken fried chicken with mac & cheese and mustard dreens were great. Chicken came out perfectly cooked. Be sure to add a side of peppered gravy to enjoy the chicken fried two ways. Gravy was 8/10 per wife. The mac & cheese had a subtle jalapeno kick to it with big chunks of bacon. Rumpus rye beer was tasty.

We have been coming to Bryans for last 5-6 years. Our recent visit on a Saturday night was not…read moreindicative of most of our past experiences but is consistent with a slight decline in quality. I am so happy to have a fine dining restaurant in Johnson City but with that comes a higher expectation. We typically have a reservation but we walked in and were offered bar seating. Beautiful bar and very comfy chairs. We were happy when they added this a few years ago. Service was friendly enough but it lagged at different points during our experience. Here is a review of the food. Wedge Salad - nice iteration of this salad included bacon, onions, cherry tomatoes and blue cheese ranch dressing. Could have used more dressing but serving was big enough for 2. Lamb Osso Bucco - looked good on the plate, tender and tasty but I struggled to find enough meat on the shank. Green Beans - forgot to bring out with entree and were completely overwhelmed by dill Signature Mac & Cheese - nothing signature about it. Thin sauce, bland I have to be honest, I yearn for the days of their blue crab dip and exceptional tenderloin steak. I think Bryan's has lost a step but we'll come back and sit at a table try something else.

Just gotta get out of Blanco for dinner sometimes. Bryans on 290 was so delicious last night!…read moreRestaurant has a Speak Easy vibe that I absolutely love (although it can make it hard to read the menu when you get to a certain age ). I made reservations for 6:45 and was seated immediately. I had two glasses of Rosé and the duck breast (medium) with quail and au gratin potatoes. Everything was cooked perfectly; I would have licked that reduction off my plate, it was so good! Adequate portion size. My date had the salmon with mashed potatoes and green beans, and added the squash with pecan relish (more of a sauce). The salmon was cooked well and had a great crust. The squash was delicious. Will definitely be back (hope they have the creole red fish on special again because I've got to try it!).

TLDR The event was a family reunion. The food was…read moreexcellent. And the service -- shout-out to Mason -- was really something special. EVENT I was in town for a family reunion, in a party of 20 with a bunch of non-locals who were jacked for legit Texas BBQ. The place is loud -- if you're inside, don't expect to catch up with anyone but your immediate neighbors -- but spacious and inviting. We were prepped for an hour wait, but ended up going right in (Saturday at 3:00, before the rush that definitely did arrive). FOOD The bread was a little sweet, the coleslaw mostly savory, and both were fine. The beans and the potato salad were the lowest-rated in my group, but not awful. And the mac 'n' cheese was a big winner -- thick, smooth, delicious. But what of the main event? The sausage was divisive, but to me, thumbs-up. The pulled pork was solid. The brisket was dynamite -- not too spiced, not too lean, not too fatty, and altogether fall-apart fantastic. And my personal favorite, as well as that of several others at the table and recommended by a stuffed diner we passed in the parking lot, were the bison ribs. Sweet, smoky, tender as sin, and very much worth the trip. Goodness. Special mention for the house sauce (another clear highlight for my family) and the peach cobbler (soft top rather than crunchy raised some eyebrows, and it's very butter-forward -- but guilty-pleasure goooood). SERVICE And here's the reason for the review: the service was *exceptional.* Our server, Mason, went WAY above and beyond. He managed our battalion of screwball characters with aplomb, include two boomers ready to go to war over who got to take the check. He was readily available, but never hovering, and incredibly friendly. After chatting just a little about his own forays into smoking meat, it almost felt wrong to leave him behind at the end. He absolutely made our evening. Mason, if you're reading this: on behalf of my entire kooky family, here's to you, sir.

Barbecue was great! Enjoyed. Desserts however, were really…read moredisappointing. Pecan Pie, so-so. Blackberry Crumble (or some kind of Berry Crisp) had small amount of berries and I couldn't taste any berry flavor. We bought half a pan to go and ended up throwing most of it away. Love the atmosphere and setting. Would just skip the dessert.

First time to visit at their new location in Johnson City. We enjoyed their sangria. The Mezza…read moreBoard was a feast for the senses; the Juliette feta dip was rich and flavorful and the hummus tasted freshly made. My wife loved the citrus marinated olives. Good service without the pretentiousness of a winery tasting room.

A gem in downtown Johnson City! We stopped by their new…read morelocation and were impressed from start to finish. The hours are convenient, the space is welcoming, and the food is exceptional. Don't miss the Morty D -- served on thin, flaky focaccia, it's one of the best sandwiches we've had in the Hill Country. We also tried the Cab Franc, which was smooth, well-balanced, and a perfect pairing for a relaxed afternoon. The staff, including the owner, made us feel right at home. Friendly, passionate, and clearly committed to creating something special. This spot is a must-visit for anyone looking for a truly local wine and food experience in the Hill Country.

How in the Sam Hill have we not visited Opie's before! I swear we have driven past Opie's a…read moregazillion times without noticing this 5-star BBQ joint. Operating since 1999, they have perfected the art of pit smoking and how to quickly move you from their entrance to stuffing yourself with some of the best BBQ I've ever had, period. As you enter, their smoke pit greets you, and here is where you order your meat. Everything is à la carte, and you order by the half or by the pound. Next, you order your sides, all of which looked awesome, but I was here to go into a meat coma and have the meat sweats. Once you have your bounty in hand, there is a long table with cauldrons of pinto beans, bread, pickles, onions, peppers, and BBQ sauce. Using Franklin's brisket as the G.O.A.T., Opie's is right there with Franklin's claim to fame. Their moist brisket is so tender and moist, and finished with their subtle but savory vinegar-based sauce. Their baby back ribs are fall-off-the-bone delizioso! They have a tad sweet and spicy finish to them. Neither required extra BBQ sauce. Our dining companions raved about their smoked chicken and brisket sandwich. Do not sleep on their pinto beans. I added some BBQ sauce and jalapenos to add a kick to them, perfecto. , Opie's slogan is "Life is good in Spicewood," and it certainly is when you are dining here. We can't wait to return to further explore their menu.

I am not going to do a long review on this. Not because it isn't good. Quite the opposite. This is…read morestill arguably the best BBQ I have had. We lived in this area about 10 years ago. This is the place that is partially responsible for turning me into a barbecue snob. It did so by ruining BBQ for me. I really don't enjoy barbecue most anywhere else! Let's just say that their meat is amazing. All of it. Immaculately cooked. The only BBQ place I have been (that is still open, RIP Schmidt) that actually smokes pork ribs PERFECTLY. All others I have had are either over, under or just ain't got smoke. But their sides. Nobody even comes close to their sides. All of them. Tastes from scratch. No opened cans here - even if they do, by the time they hit your table, they are far from what came out of the can. Their desserts. Amazing. Just like everything else. And they have so much to choose from. This place is the real deal. Has been since we first went about 11 or 12 years ago. So happy to see that some of the good things you find in life stay the same. If you like bbq. This place is an absolute must. You may not be blown away by everything, you can't please everyone. But I promise you can find things you will fall in love with.

Leroy's food was fantastic!! Burger, tacos, enchiladas, and salsa were all amazing! Everything…read moremade fresh in house and superWe ate there twice and took take out home to Houston! Highly recommend and will go back on our next trip.

My husband and I went to LeRoy's Tex Mex BBQ for lunch while in the area. We parked, and walked to…read morethe restaurant. The parking lot isn't paved but we didn't have any issues. We walked around on the grounds and noticed that there is a separate patio and a bathroom with seating outside. The women's bathroom was clean. Now to the restaurant. We walked in the restaurant and it wasn't very big. You could see the menu on the wall, the ordering counter was close, the food pickup counter was next to the ordering counter, the seating was in the middle, and the bar at the other end. After walking in and checking out the menu we walked up to the ordering counter. The person that took our order was friendly and patient with me. I wanted the El Burger that was listed on the menu but I didn't notice that it's only available on Wednesdays. The person told me that so I checked the menu out again to see what burger I wanted. I decided on LeRoy's Smash Burger which comes with smashed brisket patties, pickles, bacon & onion jam. I ordered mine without cheese. It came with a choice of a side so my husband and I picked the potato salad to share. I also wanted to try the Smoked Pork Belly Menudo which substitutes the traditional tripe meat with smoked pork belly. This came with onions, cilantro, and chopped jalapenos that you could add if you wanted. My husband and I decided to share LeRoy's Nachos which has tortilla chips covered in beans, queso, avacado, pico, crema, salsa, BBQ sauce and jalapenos. These come with your choice of meat and we decided on brisket. My husband ordered one taco to try called Chancho La Panza which comes with pork belly, beans, cilantro, and queso fresco. The Food. LeRoy's Smash Burger was delicious. I liked the flavor of the meat and the jam. The potato salad had a mustard flavor to it which I didn't mind. The Nachos were tasty. The BBQ sauce in them gave them a hint of sweetness in the midst of all of the saltier ingredients. The Menudo was spicy. I wasn't expecting it to be so hot but it was tolerable. The smoked pork belly mixed in the soup was good. There was also a crunchy texture mixed in that added to the experience. I tried my husband's pork taco and it was delightful. There was so much flavor packed into a single taco. Overall the experience was positive. The restaurant was small but comfortable, the service was good and the food was fresh and delicious.

GR8!!!!!!!! is the keyword of this review lol…read more I AM NOW YOUR BIGGEST CHEERLEADER!!!! Recently I took my husband on a trip through Texas to eat some of the best rated food .... Well Cooper's ~ You are Now #1 in our BBQ BOOK !!!!! We went to Black's Original in Lockhart and neither of us felt like it held a candle to Cooper's (may have been a bad day) We made a special detour to go through Llano on the way back. Your sides are SO GR8!!! Service SO GR8!!! Added sides pickles onions beans etc an added bonus !!! Pecan Cobbler .... to die for /LOVE!!!! And all the sauces and spices and swag is GR8!!! KEEP UP THE GR8 WORK I WILL PROMOTE YOU GUYS ALWAYS!!!! Christoval Cooper's is also GR8!!!!

Food was amazing ,,, getting to choose the type of meat... our favorite was the huge pork chop!…read more Then add sauce if you want. Even choose the burnt ends! The sides to die for , liked the potato casserole or Mac n cheese! But gotta save room for the cobblers... our favorite was the blackberry!