We Slaughter Barbecue — Restaurant in Bastrop

I would like to start this review by saying that this place deserves a 5 star rating for being an iconic horror movie museum in a setting that will be a Mecca for cult horror movie fans. This review is for the food. I wish I could choose 0 stars for this dining experience. This was a shame. Without even seeing the operation, or talking to this uneducated "pitmaster", let me list off what problems I see:

-Brisket only seemed to be coming from the flat, which leads me to believe this cook can't know the proper procedure to making a true piece of central texas meat. The slices were way over seasoned with what is reminiscent of montreal steak seasoning(a good marbled slab of brisket cooked properly needs salt and pepper only). It had no bark, and it was clear from when it was sat in front of me that it was cooked in foil, leaving it tough as shoe leather. A good slice of a well cooked brisket should hold together and have absolutely no tug to pull apart, let alone need a kitchen knife or machete swipe via Michael Myers, or Jason Voorhees to get through it.

-The sausage was store bought and was heavy on pork fat mixture. Central texas bbq is known for its all beef, german-czech style sausage.

-Potato salad and beans were clearly picked up from a super market. No effort was made to create good side dishes. I heard one customer tell the pitmaster that the potato salad was horrible. He explained that someone else made it today.......Maybe he should have more say in the products that reach customers.

These issues may seem small to those who know nothing about central texas bbq. Those people will be the ones who travel to this location, and drench this plate of food with the "KC masterpiece" Memphis style, brown sugar sauce that is on the table for bbq novices. The pitmaster appears to have very poor fire management skills, and this is a testament to either his lack of skills, or the fact that he is overwhelmed by cooking so much food for such a large crowd, hence the foil method to expedite this delicate process. The smoke rolling out of the pit out front was so heavy and dirty that I had low hopes upon arrival. This heavy nauseating smoke leaves the meat pungent with what tasted like over used mesquite(central texas is known for hill country post oak, a delicate, subtle taste). This overly smoked meat reminds me of two things: -One who adds beef broth and liquid smoke to a foil wrapped brisket on a pit or in an unnecessary marinade. -One who believes that cooking brisket on a pit means more smoke, more flavor. Both of these are dead wrong.

I want so badly to see this place succeed, as I am a die hard fan of central texas bbq, and a pitmaster myself. These are not opinions, these are facts. I believe that the renowned Mike Sutter(fed man walking, Austin Tx), and any of the bbq critics from Texas Monthly will whole heartedly agree with this review. I am also one of the biggest horror movie fans that I know(especially the Texas Chainsaw Massacre original). This part of the equation will bring people to the door, as they have fantastic memorabilia, and have done an amazing job at recreating the premise. It's an uncanny feeling right when you pull up...I got chills from the sight of Drayton Sawyers old gas station, and could close my eyes and hear him saying, "You kids don't wanna go messin' around some old house, them things is dangerous!" It is kind of funny that this popped into my head. A local telling out-of-towners that messing around with the unknown is dangerous in Texas... Maybe this pitmaster can take the...

The next stop for Sally, her brother Franklin (Paul A. Partain), friends Jerry (Allen Danziger), Kirk (William Vail), and Pam (Teri McMinn) is a dusty roadside gas station where they go to regroup after a terrifying encounter with a hitchhiker played by Edwin Neal. To find that particular building, turn around on US-183 and head 70 miles southeast to We Slaughter Barbeque located at 1073 TX-304 on a desolate country road just outside of the tiny town of Bastrop, Texas. In 1974, this building housed a general store that was transformed into the Last Chance Gas Station by Hooper's crew. Famously, a Coca-Cola sign was added to the facade for the movie, with another sign underneath it reading "We Slaughter Barbecue." That sign has since been re-added to the building, part of a painstaking restoration that also includes a rusted-out truck and a memorial bench honoring deceased members of the Texas Chain Saw cast and crew. The words "The Saw Is Family'' have been etched into its base. The building has been a combination barbecue restaurant/horror museum since 2016, when it was renovated and reopened as the Gas Station. (Confusingly, the business operates both under that name and as We Slaughter Barbecue — don't worry, they're the same place) Now, the joint even has its own YouTube channel, and a steady stream of tourists stops to take pictures outside of the building, which looks exactly like it did in the movie. If you go around back, you can also pose with a replica of the green 1972 Ford Club Wagon van featured in the film, or next to a display with giant meat hooks and a metal bucket stained with "blood." Once you step inside, you're greeted with a cooler full of soft drinks and Shiner Bock beer that's surrounded by Texas Chain Saw memorabilia. Here, you can get a BBQ lunch and browse the restaurant's horror-themed gift shop. If you're brave, you can even stay the night in one of the four cabins out back. General manager Cory Young is a lifelong fan of horror and heavy metal, as well as a local who grew up in neighboring Smithville; as he told The Texas Bucket List, he often gets requests from tourists who ask him to rev up a chainsaw late at night to frighten their kids. He'd love to, but can't because of insurance regulations, he says, adding, "If you hear a chainsaw, run, because...

Delicious barbecue. Found out about it through TheDailyWoo on youtube (Adam The Woo). Wife and I have been there twice. First time we stayed overnight in their cabin. It was way overpriced just so you know. They offer free horror DVD’s if you are staying the night. Free wifi too although its very sporadic when using it. Sometimes goes out or its slow. The original owner I heard made delicious bbq so I dunno if it’s changed since then. Bbq sauce is so good too. Don’t listen to them when they say the spicy sauce is too spicy. It’s really not.

Both times we went there was hardly anyone there so that was nice. They also sell horror themed merchandise. The food was so good too. Don’t forget to try the dessert! I think they were rectangular cakes something like that. They buy them from a little mormon girl they said. I wish the menu was on a better display. They always have it in weird places like propped up on the ground and it can be barely legible. Inside its not very big so limited space. In the back there are those wooden park tables to eat on.

The bathrooms are VERY clean and look like they were recently built. Top notch toilet and showers and sinks. It all looks to be in perfect condition. You need a code to enter them so its super safe.

My other gripe is that you don’t wanna go later in the day. Go early it tastes fresher and better. The staff will treat you very well. There is this one lady with glasses who works there and she is so nice and down to earth. Another gripe is that the TV’s were too small and way to high up on the wall.

Last thing. A town called Bastrop is just a short drive away. I recommend going there. Great food, small town vibe, beautiful. Theres a bar overlooking the river and near the bridge. Live music plays and it’s a great place to drink moonshine and eat free popcorn and peanuts while sitting on rocking...