Black Gold

Austin’s New Restaurant & Bar Openings

"Austin has no shortage of great barbecue spots, but Black Gold in Crestview is trying to do something a little different. In addition to Central Texas-style barbecue, you’ll also find things like a choriqueso elk burger, or smoked and seared duck breast with garlic parm fries. And if you’d rather stick to the classics, you can get all of those by the pound as well." - nicolai mccrary, matthew jacobs

Black Gold - Review - Crestview - Austin - The Infatuation

"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

Austin Restaurant Openings in November 2024 - Eater Austin

"The pitmaster behind shuttered barbecue truck Wünder Pig opened up this new smoked meats restaurant that focuses on table-service dishes on November 9. The still-casual restaurant serves meats by the pound alongside fancier dishes like smoked crispy duck and wagyu smash burgers. There are also churros, Big Red ice cream, bourbons, cocktails, and beers. Its hours are from 11 a.m. to midnight Wednesday through Sunday." - Nadia Chaudhury

New Austin Barbecue Restaurant Black Gold Opens in Crestview - Eater Austin

"Black Gold is opening in Crestview at 1521 West Anderson Lane starting on Saturday, November 9. Owner, chef, and pitmaster Mems Davila sees Black Gold as “a casual barbecue joint and a refined dinner and cocktail destination,” per the press release. This means table-service with smoked meats and plated dishes based on his upbringing in the Rio Grande Valley and Mexican heritage. The former includes the Texas classics like brisket and jalapeño-cheddar sausages. The latter spans higher-end dishes, such as candied pork belly burnt ends; smoked crispy duck served with a poblano cream sauce; brisket tacos, wagyu smash burgers; and botana plates with tortilla chips, guacamole and fajita meats. Sweets include takes on churros and ice cream made with soft drink Big Red. The full bar will include bourbons, house-infused tequilas, and other spirits. There are cocktails like the Oaxacan Old Fashioned, the Black Gold margarita made with golden sugar flakes, and the spiked hibiscus agua fresca. There’s also Texas beers." - Nadia Chaudhury

Barbara Rice

Google

We had the best time at Black Gold . We sat at the bar and we're treated like Gold. Fantastic service with a genuine smile. The atmosphere was friendly and inviting. Talked to lots of neighbors who are excited to have such a fantastic spot in Crestview. We are luckily able to walk to this fantastic restaurant. The BBQ was delicious. The brisket was smoked to perfection . The pork ribs are some of the best we have had. The Mac n cheese is scrumptious. The bacon wrapped green beans are out of control good ! Unfortunately the sausage was very dry but they comped it .We definitely want to try everything on the menu. Live music on the patio definitely makes this joint a place to be ! The craft cocktails are divine. The seasonal pumpkin spiced Old Fashion is a must try. The Lavender Bee's Knee was almost too pretty to drink ...Almost !!! The spicy margarita has just the right amount of heat. They also have a fantastic beer selection. Sundays you can get a carafe of Mimosa/ Poinsettia for $10 !! We can't wait to go back . Hours on the Website say open till midnight on Sunday. We went at 10 pm Sunday and they are closed. Hopefully they adjust the hours on the website.

Steve Roese

Google

Great BBQ in a finer setting with other options besides the go-to BBQ sides and beer—that's an idea that seems like a duh. What a great idea! I've been salivating to get to Black Gold. So a bunch of us tried it out today. The space doesn't disappoint; the wide-open elevated space still fits BBQ. However, dirty glass doors at opening time are always a bad sign. We ordered all the meats and sides but did not try the signature dishes. We wanted to see if a great space could also serve a great BBQ. Not today, dry, going to leave slices on my plate, brisket was the biggest disappointment, along with a mustard and traditional sauce that I'm still trying to figure out hours later. We ordered fritters but received some dry cornbread that, according to the waitress, "is the same thing as the fritters"..? Here is the deal: I want an elevated BBQ experience. I love the idea here, and the sausage was really good (but not worth the trip at $16/link). But an elevated experience without BBQ that comes even close to the many great options in Austin means I'll stick with really good meat places and wait for these guys to raise their game or for someone else to get it right. Oh but the fries were great.

judah

Google

Good atmosphere, friendly service, mediocre food. Started with the cornbread which was dry and served cold with pieces of butter on it. The brisket was okay, again dry and not very flavorful. Cobbler for dessert which wasn’t fully cooked, and had some warm parts but mostly cold and uncooked dense base.

Randy Walker

Google

Black Gold BBQ offers an upscale BBQ dining experience, and our first visit left a positive impression, especially given that this was the restaurant’s opening week. We went with a large group and ordered nearly everything on the menu. Having visited Interstellar BBQ earlier in the day, we were ready to compare—and Black Gold held its own in several areas. The Meats: The brisket was solid, with a nice smoke ring and good flavor. However, make sure to ask for the wet/moist cut (the fatty portion), as they tend to serve a mix of moist and lean cuts, and the lean can be disappointing. The pork ribs sparked some debate at our table. One friend declared them better than Interstellar’s, while my wife felt they didn’t quite measure up. This might come down to personal preference. We ordered two beef ribs, and the quality was inconsistent. One was moist and flavorful, while the other was much drier. This lack of consistency was a bit of a letdown for such a signature item. The turkey had decent flavor but lacked the smokiness you’d expect, and the smoke ring was barely visible. The hot link sausage was mild, not living up to the “hot” descriptor. However, the poblano Oaxacan cheese sausage stood out with its great smokiness and flavor, though the casing was a bit too chewy. The Sides: The esquite fritters had good flavor but were too dry and crumbly, missing the mark on texture. The garlic parmesan fries were tasty but could have used a bit more seasoning to elevate them further. The mac and cheese was a table favorite with its creamy, cheesy goodness, but the portion size was disappointingly small, especially for a group. The beet salad was flavorful, though there weren’t enough beets, and one of our party noted that grilling the beets made them less juicy without adding much flavor. The garden salad was a pleasant surprise, with the smoky dressing receiving high praise from everyone who tried it. The Drinks: The cocktail program is excellent, and the drinks were a highlight of the meal. I tried "The Becky," their unique take on an espresso martini, which was well-balanced and delicious. Other members of our party also raved about their drinks. However, the cocktails were served after all the food, which felt out of sync with the flow of the meal. Water, oddly, is served without ice and not chilled, which some may find off-putting. Service and Atmosphere: The service was where Black Gold BBQ truly shined. Despite being a new establishment, the staff was extremely accommodating and attentive. We moved tables three times to find the right spot for our group, and the server and manager handled it graciously, ensuring we were comfortable. The server was quick to address all our needs, and while the cocktails came out later than expected, the overall pace of the meal was excellent. What set Black Gold apart was the personal touch—the server and manager took the time to talk to us, ask for feedback, and genuinely seemed eager to improve. All the comments mentioned here were shared with them, and their openness to constructive feedback shows a commitment to delivering a top-notch dining experience. Final Thoughts: Black Gold BBQ is off to a strong start with flavorful BBQ, excellent cocktails, and exceptional service. While some inconsistencies in the meats and sides need to be addressed, the overall experience was superb, especially for opening week. With some fine-tuning, this could become one of Austin’s go-to upscale BBQ spots. We’re looking forward to returning to see how they continue to evolve.

Melissa Arispe

Google

I’d give them 6 stars if I could! Drinks were tasty, food not only came out fast but tasted amazing. I recommend the Duck! Lastly the customer service here is top tier. Definitely worth the drive from south Austin. I can’t wait to visit again!

Brenda Huitron

Google

Opening Night mood was electric! We sampled the meats and spent time looking at the custom smokers outside. Food was delicious, drinks were amazing. Definitely becoming a regular!

Willie Jenkins

Google

Went on opening weekend. The atmosphere is amazing, the food subpar. The BBQ pork ribs $16.00, the sausage $16.00 and an Old Fashioned total $40+ dollars. The ribs, and the sausages texture was dry and a little tough. The ribs had silver skin on it (lazy, not a good chew. The sausage was tough, like everything was left overs or over cooked. The Old Fashioned was ok, the craft ice was the best thing going on. Really I have tasted better backyard BBQ

Erin Willis

Google

Black Gold is great. Stopped by during happy hour for an old fashioned and pulled pork sliders. Wonderful! Stop by for some great barbecue.

Jack Bowower S.

Yelp

4 stars is fairly accurate for this restaurant. They are just starting out so I'll give them some time and another visit at some point. The good - brisket taco was on point. I like that they give you a huge slice of brisket, and the guac, pickled onions, and other toppings were excellent. It's $14 but the slice of brisket is 1/3 lb so it is pretty filling and comes with fries, which were also plentiful and very good. The so-so: we got the beet salad and it was $25 with tuna added. For a $25 salad, it left much to be desired. It's just some romaine, goat cheese (which was good), dressing, tomatoes and a few small slices of beets. I'd hope for better with a salad at this price point. Also so-so: Mac and cheese - was pretty good but the cheese sauce was a little too thin and runny. The bad: the cornbread. It tastes like dried out jiffy cornbread with some corn kernels mixed in. In fact, the plain jiffy corn muffin mix and recipe cooked properly in a cast iron would be a big improvement over what they serve. It was school cafeteria grade cornbread with a couple sauces thrown in top. I've had cornbread at other restaurants and it usually comes out hot in a small cast iron skillet with some butter on top and it is fantastic and easy. That is all they need to do here but they tried to overcomplicate this dish and it is a huge dud. Don't waste your time on this one. Since the brisket was really good, this place deserves a shot just for the bbq alone. But I would stick to those plates and avoid the other stuff. If this place were not new, I would give it 3 stars. Like I said, they deserve some time to hone in their craft.

Luke T.

Yelp

My date and I decided to stop by Black Gold for a drink the other night. Upon its opening, we have frequented there and have always had an exceptional experience...food, service and atmosphere all wonderful and it's in the neighborhood. We ordered two single Tito's on the rocks and with soda on the side. The restaurant was empty with exception of one other customer at the bar and a two top. The bartender awkwardly hovered around us to the point of discomfort, so we decided get our bill. $33 for two single drinks is ridiculous. We then went down to another establishment down the road and ordered the exact same thing along with dessert. The price was cheaper than the total of Back Gold along with a bartender who could better read his customers. We want to continue to be supportive, but not at that price. Along with a bartender that can better read his customers.

Angelique K.

Yelp

Came across Black Gold BBQ on my way to Austin's Own Saltt so I added it to my list. Stopped in on Saturday for a late lunch with my sister. Only a handful of table we filled and a few people at the bar. Jessica our server was attentive and answered all our questions. Menu was a bit different than what was on the website. We ordered the cornbread as an appetizer. It was not to my taste. Very dense and a bit dry. We ordered The Black Gold which is very boozey. More cactus pear juice, simple syrup or a sugar rim instead of salt balance it out. I ordered the New Norteño Brisket Taco. It was fantastic. Two slices of brisket on a toasty tortilla. I'm not normally a fan of salsa on a taco, too messy, but the salsa Roma that came with the taco was SO flavorful with a fast of garlic and a kick of heat. Parm shoestring fries were great too. My sister ordered the Grilled Corn and Roasted Beet Salad. It was very tasty. Not overly dressed so the flavors were able to shine through. I'm planning to go back for dinner to try the Mac & Cheese and the Crispy Duck.

Jojuane P.

Yelp

New, elevated neighborhood BBQ spot. I went on its second day. I will only evaluate the food because service may be up and down as they learn the operations for the ideal guest experience. Scale: 1 = poor | 5 = top notch Sausage - 1 Ribs - 2 Mac n Cheese - 4 You can imagine if the best thing I ate was the Mac & cheese, you may want to proceed with caution. Too many stellar BBQ spots locally to invest (literally) in mediocre BBQ. Flavor is lacking. Sausage was dry. Ribs were bland. Actually glad I didn't get the brisket, because I expect it to be much like I described. I don't see a reason to return unless someone else was buying.

Randy W.

Yelp

Black Gold BBQ offers an upscale BBQ dining experience, and our first visit left a positive impression, especially given that this was the restaurant's opening week. We went with a large group and ordered nearly everything on the menu. Having visited Interstellar BBQ earlier in the day, we were ready to compare--and Black Gold held its own in several areas. The Meats: The brisket was solid, with a nice smoke ring and good flavor. However, make sure to ask for the wet/moist cut (the fatty portion), as they tend to serve a mix of moist and lean cuts, and the lean can be disappointing. The pork ribs sparked some debate at our table. One friend declared them better than Interstellar's, while my wife felt they didn't quite measure up. This might come down to personal preference. We ordered two beef ribs, and the quality was inconsistent. One was moist and flavorful, while the other was much drier. This lack of consistency was a bit of a letdown for such a signature item. The turkey had decent flavor but lacked the smokiness you'd expect, and the smoke ring was barely visible. The hot link sausage was mild, not living up to the "hot" descriptor. However, the poblano Oaxacan cheese sausage stood out with its great smokiness and flavor, though the casing was a bit too chewy. The Sides: The esquite fritters had good flavor but were too dry and crumbly, missing the mark on texture. The garlic parmesan fries were tasty but could have used a bit more seasoning to elevate them further. The mac and cheese was a table favorite with its creamy, cheesy goodness, but the portion size was disappointingly small, especially for a group. The beet salad was flavorful, though there weren't enough beets, and one of our party noted that grilling the beets made them less juicy without adding much flavor. The garden salad was a pleasant surprise, with the smoky dressing receiving high praise from everyone who tried it. The Drinks: The cocktail program is excellent, and the drinks were a highlight of the meal. I tried "The Becky," their unique take on an espresso martini, which was well-balanced and delicious. Other members of our party also raved about their drinks. However, the cocktails were served after all the food, which felt out of sync with the flow of the meal. Water, oddly, is served without ice and not chilled, which some may find off-putting. Service and Atmosphere: The service was where Black Gold BBQ truly shined. Despite being a new establishment, the staff was extremely accommodating and attentive. We moved tables three times to find the right spot for our group, and the server and manager handled it graciously, ensuring we were comfortable. The server was quick to address all our needs, and while the cocktails came out later than expected, the overall pace of the meal was excellent. What set Black Gold apart was the personal touch--the server and manager took the time to talk to us, ask for feedback, and genuinely seemed eager to improve. All the comments mentioned here were shared with them, and their openness to constructive feedback shows a commitment to delivering a top-notch dining experience. Final Thoughts: Black Gold BBQ is off to a strong start with flavorful BBQ, excellent cocktails, and exceptional service. While some inconsistencies in the meats and sides need to be addressed, the overall experience was superb, especially for opening week. With some fine-tuning, this could become one of Austin's go-to upscale BBQ spots. We're looking forward to returning to see how they continue to evolve.

Michel F.

Yelp

This is a brand new place, today is official opening days and you can see they are still working some kinks. Place is very cute and modern inside, there is outdoor patio and a well furnished bar. The food was good, however the operation has serious problems they have to fix before I can love this place. The service was very slow and it was like pulling teeth to get plates, tea and even bbq sauce, which the original amount given was ridiculously small. All the temperatures were off, with most meats barely warm and our potato salad wasn't cold. However the flavors were definitely there and we will give this place a second chance in a few weeks. It helped a lot that the manager comped our meal, which was super nice even though he didn't have to.

Lisa O.

Yelp

We ordered a split fatty brisket and non fatty brisket. The fatty brisket slices weren't as moist and fatty as Loro or Terry Blacks. The potato salad was excellent. I liked that it wasn't sweet like Rudy's. My husband thought his maccaroni and cheese was under seasoned and needed more salt. We would be willing to give this place another try. We like that Black Gold and Loro are opening in North Austin.

Katerina S.

Yelp

Love the food! Not your typical BBQ joint...kinda swanky, yet still very Austin-ey. Definitely a new favorite!

Rick P.

Yelp

I have had very good food there, but was surprised tonight. I ordered a burger medium and it was served on the dry and tasteless side of medium well. I have had great burgers here, but they ruined this one. I could barely choke down half of this one. The server asked me how the burger was. l politely told him that it was overcooked and showed him the center of the meat that had absolutely no pink and was dry as a fresh saltine. He said that he was sorry and offered no replacement. He said that they serve burgers a temperature above what is ordered because some people really really want a burger cooked more than what they order. I guess it was my fault for not knowing this. This place specializes in fine meats and prices their menu accordingly. Because of this, they should shouldn't ruin a $20 burger and then shrug and say, "Oh well."

Ryan R.

Yelp

So the place is brand new and just starting to work out the kinks. However as I sat at the bar this evening around 7:45 I was surprised that i wasn't walked through the menu or told about the concept being new and a fairly unique concept. They have been open 5 days. Being a new Resteraunt I figured there would be some sort of get to know us message and walk me through the menu. Next step after ordering the 8oz filet ($48) and a side ($7) the food was brought and no steak knife to accompany. Most steakhouses bring it automatically and I had to ask for one and waited. No biggie however the filet was not 8 ounces and while ordered medium rare it came out medium. Overcooked to my liking, thin and looking kinda tired. The flavor was good as the Bella mushroom sauce served on the side was excellent. The side I chose was the Fries and were excellent as well. I sat for a good 10 minutes as the bartender/server decided to have a chat with the other waiting around employees rolling napkins at the front entrance and just didn't seemed to care much about who was left at the bar top. All in all I will Come back again in several weeks but there is a lot of fine tuning to do and a better experience to be given for the prices being charged. Definitely feel the competition down the road and close by is a better value for now. Hopefully they get to a great place and offer a great experience soon! The neighborhood needs it.

Jody A.

Yelp

Phenomenal taste and menu! Will be a regular for sure. Chicken was moist until the last bite. Menu options and pairings dance on your tongue. So many more things I want to try! Ambiance is stellar as well. Higher end BBQ with style and taste! Fantastic!

Taylor S.

Yelp

I went soon after they opened in mid November. I got a brisket taco, a sausage link and had an old fashion while I waited for the food. The sausage was very dry and the brisket taco was ok but it was 3 ingredients and took about 20 minutes to make. I was the only person in the restaurant at the time. The old fashioned was good but the menu said it was made with Weller 12 year but they used buffalo trace instead which costs significantly less. I had high expectations, especially for the price but it was pretty disappointing. I plan on trying them again when they're a little more established

Mark R.

Yelp

Wow. I almost hesitate to post how I really feel ... as I'd like to keep this gem to myself. But I'll share. One of the best new spots in town. Truly original food. Simple and extremely well done in every category. The burgers and fries, sides - all awesome. Will be fighting the overcrowding of Austin now to go back and try several items I observed but didn't try this first time around.

Annie S.

Yelp

Omg! While visiting our daughter in Austin she wanted us to try a new restaurant that a friend works at. The food was AMAZING! And special thanks to Wally Sanchez for making the experience amazing! Customer service 10/10.....food 10/10...atmosphere 10/10! This place is definitely worth a return trip!

David Z.

Yelp

The food was NEXT LEVEL!! And the staff was SO friendly. We got the Beef Rib, Brisket and Oaxacan sausage and each one was better than the next! My favorite was the beef rib which was somehow both deliciously crispy and melted in my mouth! We also tried the Street Cornbread which was also amazing. Hard to recommend this place more! You need to go here and no I don't know the owner nor anyone who works here. It is truly a gem!

Allie S.

Yelp

I strongly urge everyone to get themselves over here before there's a line out the door, because two weeks into opening, this place is killing it. The smoked brisket fell apart, was so quality. The Mac and cheese is to freakin' die for. The cocktails were balanced and SO DELICIOUS. The service was amazing. Not a single complaint other than I couldn't fit more food in me lol. I will be coming back with friends and family.

Marcella H.

Yelp

Wanted to try out this restaurant since it is in our neighborhood. We were really excited to try out their food however we unfortunately were disappointed in the food experience. The service was great, no complaints there. We ordered brisket, their regular sausage, mac and cheese and beans. Their brisket had no flavor at all, their sausage was dry and had no flavor as well, their mac and cheese & beans were good but not great. On a positive note, they did have Big Red! We will most likely not return as there are better BBQ options unless we want to try one of their specialty menu items.

Heather W.

Yelp

This place is worth driving to from anywhere in Texas! Seriously decadent - the meat literally melted in your mouth. Top quality everything - from the service, to the music, to the thoughtful cocktails (highly recommend the "Black Gold"!) and the absolutely delicious sides. We are so grateful to have you here in Crestview! I know you will be bringing crowds from near and far. Glad you are OURS! Thx for the epic meal guys.

Taylor R.

Yelp

New gem just opened. I'm not normally a fan of bbq but this place was fabulous. I had the turkey club and my husband had the chopped brisket sandwich. Both delicious options packed with meat, also came with Parmesan truffle fries.. delicious. The cocktails were also great. Thankful for this new option!

Sandra C.

Yelp

Like the other reviews written, I went on the second grand opening day and agree that there are some major kinks to work out. The place is nice but the service is lacking and the food was piece-mailed to the table. For example, my brisket came out first and then my sides came out after I was almost finished with the brisket. Asked for silverware and the waitress brought out one set with 3 ppl at the table?? Some food, hot, some cold. But the fries and the green beans were excellent! Will give it another try in a few weeks.

Tracey M.

Yelp

Only been open a week so there were a few hiccups. The staff was amazing. Shout out to Heaven our server. The Karen margarita and the bacon wrapped green beans were awesome.

Owen M.

Yelp

10/10 burger i had was amazing. nice establishment too. great service. not a super long wait for food to come out.

Austin’s New Restaurant & Bar Openings

Black Gold - Review - Crestview - Austin - The Infatuation

Austin Restaurant Openings in November 2024 - Eater Austin

New Austin Barbecue Restaurant Black Gold Opens in Crestview - Eater Austin