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The Local Bull

5.0 (1 review)
Closed • 11:00 am - 7:00 pm
Updated 2 weeks ago

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5 months ago

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Ronnies Ice House - Doesn't that make you drool?

Ronnies Ice House

3.7(127 reviews)
0.6 mi
•$

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.

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Ronnies Ice House - Serving it up.... he gave us little tastes and it was SO hard to choose because it was all fantastic.

Serving it up.... he gave us little tastes and it was SO hard to choose because it was all fantastic.

Ronnies Ice House - Smoked on site.

Smoked on site.

Ronnies Ice House - My choice - brisket sandwich that was OUT OF THIS WORLD!

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My choice - brisket sandwich that was OUT OF THIS WORLD!

Proof and Cooper's at the Lumberyard - Brisket stuffed jalapeño

Proof and Cooper's at the Lumberyard

3.5(185 reviews)
0.1 mi

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.

Photos
Proof and Cooper's at the Lumberyard
Proof and Cooper's at the Lumberyard
Proof and Cooper's at the Lumberyard - Craft Cocktails

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Craft Cocktails

The Local Bull - meats - Updated May 2026

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