Jack A.
Yelp
Why say you're open until 4:00 if you're not? I was traveling Hwy 71, and had heard about this BBQ place in Spicewood. GPS said I could just make it before closing and sure enough, walked in at 3:40.
The first thing that met me was the smell...of cleaning products. Nothing wrong with bleach, but when you expect to smell smoke and you get soap, expecting BBQ and you get bleach, well, it's just not the right notes. They'd started cleaning up in anticipation of closing, which the sign said they didn't do until 4:00. The employees--all but one--looked at us like, "Oh no, a customer." I guess they don't realize customers pay their wages; maybe no one explained that down at the tattoo parlor. Anyway, one sweet lady opened the pit door and showed off the meat. I ordered some brisket from the fatty end and a half rack of ribs. Another nice lady asked if I wanted it to go or dine in. Well, I looked at the others and decided, this being Texas, and me knowing when I'm not wanted, to get it to go.
How about some sides? Well, they'd put everything away except the cobbler. Here I am trying to buy something, and there's nothing to buy except dessert. My sweet tooth coaxed me to buy cherry and apple.
Opie's has two kinds of beans that go along with any meat order. I like that benefit very much! I noticed there was no lid on the cauldron of pintos (the lid keeps the moisture in), and it was...dryer than the Texas sand. The butter beans were lidded and perfect. And a big shout to Opie's butter beans--they were 5*. I dug out what I could because to me, BBQ without pinto beans ain't right, and they had a good flavor (4* I added some water to them after I got home and nuked them a minute = 5*). Bread and jalapeños were plentiful, onions were scraps, plenty of pickles, plenty of sauce, plenty of cups to put it all in (but I wish they didn't use styrofoam). $45 and I'm out the door at 3:54.
Brisket was more fatty than fatty brisket should be. The better places will trim most of the fat cap since hardly anyone eats that (and at $40/lb, few customers will return if you give them too much of what they can't eat). What beef there was was excellent and easily 4*. The ribs were very meaty 5* to the meat buyer, but dry as the beans (-2*) and the rub touted as spice was just average. I do not understand dry ribs. Have they not been taught to wrap the meat in foil to preserve moisture? Or did I run into the lazy crew? Cobblers were 5* and I can't tell you about the sides since there weren't any for me to buy. The jalapeno was perfect.
I go by Opie's about once a month. I may stop again (but not anywhere near 4:00). If so, I'll update this review. Meanwhile, let's hope the owner explains to the folks who work there that if they want a career in the hospitality business, it sure helps to be hospitable. They got dry down, though.