The Green Mesquite BBQ & More — Restaurant in Austin

Green Mesquite BBQ & More (Feb, 26 & 27, 2023)

I read in a review somewhere from a Texan that while Kansas City cooks up some great Burnt Ends that he hasn't found any Texas watery can deliver, Texas produces the best Brisket that nowhere else can rival. I tested that statement first visiting Kansas City early February, and then Austin later the same month.

The first Sunday visit to Green Mesquite was not planned. I originally planned to visit Monday. I had explored Austin the whole morning, and it was time for lunch. Could not decide what to eat, so decided instead to change my plans a bit and visit Green Mesquite instead. Figured if the food did not turn out well, I could find a different place to try out the next day. The location is very easy to get to via public transportation (Austin has a very well developed public bus system, and very inexpensive to travel around too.). The restaurant consists of two parts - an indoor air conditioned part with low lighting, and an outdoor area at the rear of the restaurant which I did not visit. Place had older decor, but I found it very comfortable while enjoying the cooler environment. The menu consisted of what most area BBQ restaurants offered in the area. There are several weekday specials that are great bargains. Ordered a two-meat plate with chopped beef and brisket. The chopped beef was fine, but I was not too particularly fond of the BBQ sauce, but the brisket was excellent even without any added sauce. Discovered the Brisket was cooked for 12+ hours using dry rub seasoning (after a good conversation with the order taker about BBQs in the area!) and was extremely tender. Although having eaten quite a few brisket meals before, I never knew that the external brisket crust could be crispy. That was the ultimate eye-opening dining surprise for a long while. At that moment of discovery, the decision was made to return the next day to order a couple pounds of Brisket to bring home for the daughter to enjoy. (FYI, the larger 28+ oz mixed nuts/cashews containers you buy in stores hold 2 pounds of meat adequately.)

I returned the next day before I rented a car to travel to San Antonio to pick up more food. Had the Monday daily special (More brisket, of course.), and thoroughly enjoyed the meal again.Should you try out the food? Most definitely. While there, try out the multiple sides that you can pick from, especially the hush puppies - something not commonly found. By the way, I still have leftover Brisket in the freezer, which I continue to enjoy. The big plus is that this place is very reasonably priced for the quality...

This place was absolutely disgusting, this was our first time eating there, we were excited to try the food because we thought we were going to have a good experience. However, upon arrival, we walked into a smelly, stinky dirty, unsanitary environment, and establishment. The tables were sticky the workers and waiters were not even dressed professionally. They didn’t look like they showered in months. They had poor hygiene and smelt really bad, we were so turned off, but I just didn’t wanna judge a book by its cover. I wanted to give them an opportunity to prove me wrong. However, as we sat down waiting for our food, we ordered quite a few things on the menu, including fried catfish, chili cheese, fries, hush puppies, mac & cheese, and jambalaya. The fish had absolutely no flavor or seasoning. It was very blend. The chili cheese fries were cold and stale, and it just taste like something awful. It looked like someone took a big dump right on my plate. We also ordered smoked wings that were disgusting and cold, The mac & cheese taste worse than Kraft box mac & cheese, which my kids love. We were so disappointed and I still feel sick like I’m gonna throw up. I can’t even believe I actually put that nasty food in my mouth. And the worst part is someone actually posted a video telling people to try this place because it had the best wings and food ever and now I’m starting to feel like the person who posted that video was probably on drugs or was paid by somebody to post the video. The tea taste like water and the regular water that we ordered taste like something from an elementary school water fountain, like you could literally taste the metal in the water. It smelt like dirty pennies. I will not be ever going back to this place ever, now I see why they got shut down before because this is such a horrible place that they shouldn’t even be in business right now. To expect people to spend their hard earned money on this type of service and food is despicable. I hope no one eats here because you will surely regret it unless you just naturally like nasty mediocre poor quality, food, and service. Then to make matters worse when we call to complain to the manager or owner, he basically disrespected us had no remorse or compassion, never apologized and then hung up in our face. This was a nightmare from hell. I highly strongly don’t recommend this place to anyone. I wouldn’t even wish this place on my...

As you may have heard, Green Mesquite almost closed permanently due to the standard mix of rising costs and reduced patronage that have afflicted so many restaurants on and around Barton Springs Rd. Fortunately, a group of employees, some of whom have been there for more than 20 years, pooled funds and got the restaurant open again. We decided to head down there to offer some support on a Saturday night, and I've got to say, I'm glad we did.

Austin has more barbecue restaurants then it knows what to do with, and some of them are probably offering better barbecue than Green Mesquite, but there is something to be said for a restaurant with old funky decor, that's been around for decades, is crammed with old Austin history, and has staff that treats one another like a family, pulling together to make something great...while delivering a quintessential Austin barbeque experience.

Wings were excellent, definitely Austin style, not Buffalo. Meats were on point, brisket fall apart tender but not fatty, sausage crisp with rich flavor, turkey perfectly smoked but not dry. The sides got the job done, the highlight was probably the potato salad. Peach cobbler was on point, a perfect complement to the meal. Live music was good, courtyard was full but not crammed, service was solid, beer was cold. Service was a little scattered, but friendly and bending over backwards to deliver a good time.

But I have to make one lasting observation. At the end of our meal, Rick and staff joined a family who was visiting, to celebrate and toast a former employee who had passed away. That's a real expression of the heart of the place, and I think, if you come and visit, you'll feel that heart in both food and friendliness. This is an old Austin place with an old Austin soul.

Oh, and I should probably mention that the prices are old Austin too. Getting a three meat plate with two sides for well under $20 is, compared with other restaurants in Austin, a...