Interstellar BBQ Review - Anderson Mill - Austin - The Infatuation
"It takes a hungry mind and a well-stocked pantry to whip together a Frito Pie. But it takes a clever brain to take all those same ingredients—beef, beans, cheese, and Fritos, to name a few—and stuff them into a sausage. This is some of the thinking that happens at Interstellar BBQ—a Central Texas-style barbecue joint that decided that getting an A in “the classics” wasn’t enough, and made up its own extra credit assignments. And while you might not always find that Frito Pie sausage on the menu, it’s almost always worth crossing town for whatever makes its way to the chalkboard of daily specials. Interstellar makes some of the in the state. And if you’re just coming here for brisket and ribs, this place won’t let you down. But then you’d be depriving yourself of peach tea-glazed pork belly burnt ends, rich and gamey pulled lamb shoulder, or a handful of other less-common items that make Interstellar worthy of a dedicated trip. Because this same “but what if we…” approach to meats makes its way to the sides, resulting in reinvented classics like smoked scalloped potatoes, pimento creamed corn, and a tomato zucchini salad dressed in a tangy citrus vinaigrette that is every bit as refreshing as it is unique. If you live in South or Central Austin, there’s a moment during the drive to Interstellar BBQ that you’ll feel like you’re heading somewhere far, far away—making the name that much more fitting. Everybody else just calls it Cedar Park (OK, Interstellar is technically still in Austin by about 200 feet). And despite the pretty nondescript, strip-mall setting, this is a popular place. If we could tell you exactly how long you’ll be waiting in line, we’d be out buying Powerball tickets instead of writing this review. There are just too many factors—weather, holidays, and the position of the moon, to name a few—but we can tell you that we’ve waited anywhere from 20 minutes to a couple of hours. And if you want to stick to the low end of that, just tell your boss you have an 11am dentist appointment on a Wednesday, and remember to floss before you show up back to work again. Maybe the next time you’re sitting down to enjoy a Frito Pie, you, too, will be inspired to grind it all up and throw it in a sausage. And if not, don’t worry—Interstellar is just a short drive away. " - Nicolai McCrary
