"Black Gold is something of a rarity in the Austin barbecue world. It’s open seven days a week—for lunch and dinner—with the requisite menu of classic smoked meats, plus burgers, steaks, salads, and cocktails. You’d be hard-pressed to find a place better suited to feeding carnivores, barbecue nerds, kids, and bar-goers under one roof, particularly in Crestview. photo credit: Richard Casteel photo credit: Richard Casteel photo credit: Richard Casteel The spacious dining room has giant windows that keep the place feeling bright and airy, and Black Gold even takes reservations, ensuring you never have to stand in the heat or cold to earn your brisket. The barbecue doesn’t compete with the other smoked-meat juggernauts in Austin, but thanks to a large menu that includes excellent smoked duck breast, choriqueso elk burgers, and bacon-wrapped green beans, there’s plenty of stuff worth seeking out in addition to Black Gold’s other perks. Food Rundown photo credit: Richard Casteel Smoke in the Garden Salad This isn’t a bad salad, but the price is steep for what’s essentially a small pile of arugula, oranges, and peaches (that don’t taste very smoky). Skip this unless you really need more vegetables in your diet. photo credit: Richard Casteel Barbecue We really enjoy the moist turkey, but the brisket and ribs are pretty dry. The barbecue sauce also has an oddly salsa-like consistency to it. photo credit: Richard Casteel Bacon-Wrapped Green Beans These are almost worth a visit alone. The green beans are crunchy, the bacon is slightly crispy, and the balsamic drizzle adds a bit of brightness. photo credit: Richard Casteel Choriqueso Elk Burger Elk patties often end up tasting dry because of how lean the meat is, but a thick layer of beef chorizo and Oaxacan cheese prevents that from being a problem here. This is one of the more unique burgers we’ve had in Austin." - Nicolai McCrary
