Sandra and Julian were in town to spend some of the Christmas/New Year’s season with Sandra’s family so as I mentioned in an earlier post we had a “meat” up (ha ha – I so crack myself up) at Hill Country.

The way that Hill Country works is that rather than order items off the menu when you first enter the dining area (whether you are therefore for a take away or to sit down) you are handed a Meal Ticket.

You then take this Meal ticket up to the meat counter and the sides counter and order to your delight. Meat is served in butcher paper and priced by the pound. The barbecue selection includes Beef Brisket (Moist and Lean – the Moist is the best item on the barbecue menu by far, the fattier the better!), Beef Shoulder, Beef Prime Rib and Ribs, Pork Spare Ribs, Sausages and Chicken. On another counter sits the sides which include Mac and Cheese, Campfire Baked Beans, Sweet Potato Bourban Mash etc.

It’s a really great way to order your food as you then can choose and make your own combination of barbecue up, and also have as little or as much as you want. It is, however, difficult not to get carried away! They also have an All You Can Eat night if you can handle it! An ideal venue for larger groups as it certainly makes ordering easier – no need to contend with fussy eaters!

Taste-wise – meat is smoked low and slow over Texas post oak so it comes out tender and with a great flavour and texture to it (though maybe some meats could have had slightly less salt …) As I said the winning barbecue has to be the Moist Beef Brisket. Delicious.

Most nights the bar downstairs has some sort of live music – so there is always plenty of atmosphere and energy. It can get really loud – but you don’t go there for a quiet night in!