NOTE: This review is of the Driftwood location of the Salt Lick. This review may not reflect the quality and/or GF friendliness of the other location(s).
The interesting thing regarding the Salt Lick BBQ restaurant in Driftwood, Texas (28-31 minutes from the center of Downtown Austin) is that the experience starts before you even pull up to the restaurant. As you drive past places like the bizarre "Wizard Academy" and/or the magnitude of vineyards in the area, you can usually smell the BBQ in the air. That is a perfect representation of how massive the Salt Lick restaurant is; with a vineyard, two buildings, and multiple gigantic barbecue pits, the Salt Lick differentiates itself from many other BBQ restaurants by its experience. While the lines seem like they would burden the experience at a first glance, the lines move relatively quickly, with the pain eased by the vineyard bar section's beverages, snacks, and a nice seating area. While I am underage at the time of writing this review (I can not provide any opinion on the wines or GF beers offered), the area was a nice diversion from the sometimes over-crowded waiting areas. For children, they also often have lemonade or popcorn vendors at the entrance of the restaurant. However, the lines usually move surprisingly quickly; the longest I have had to wait was 40 minutes. One important thing about the restaurant is that they only accept cash, although they have ATMs near the entrance.
If you're reading this review, however, you are probably more interested in the food. And, it's good... All of the menu, not including the bread and the desserts, is gluten-free. While the brisket and sausage are subjectively decent, the real star is the pork ribs and the sides. The pork ribs were my favorite thing on the daily menu, followed by the Cole Slaw and Potato Salad (which is different from most that I've had; the potato salad is served hot). The coleslaw juxtaposes the heavy flavor of the other foods really well, and the beans, while average, were still high quality. However, the best dish is served only on Sundays. The Baby Back Ribs are so good; they are extremely moist and bursting with flavor. I wasn't sure however if the special sides were GF, so the last time I got the usual beans, potato salad, and coleslaw (which are better sides anyways than the Au Gratin Potatoes, and the green beans). While the desserts aren't GF, a bowl of Blue Bell Vanilla ice cream was a good way to end the meal.
But the best part, again, is the setting of the restaurant. With vineyards and tasting rooms aplenty, beautiful scenery, and the Hamilton Pool preserve (a great relatively close park with trails), the Salt Lick location feels more like an excuse to explore the Texas hill country, with some great food on the side.
Overall Rating: 8.5/10
GF Rating: 10/10
- Has a GF Menu?: Yes (Everything except for bread and desserts is GF)
Non-GF Rating: 8.5/10
Cleanliness Rating: 8/10
Recommended: Yes
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