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| - Rudy! Rudy! Rudy! Rudy! If you live anywhere near I-10, you've probably seen that eyesore of a red barn that is Rudy's BBQ. It's a dining experience unlike any other in the Valley. It's like a delicatessen, crossed with a picnic, and covered in BBQ sauce. The BBQ is really good, but I learned a few things that will make my experience even better next time.
Tip #1: Show up early for lunch. It's not as packed as when it first opened, but we waited about 10 minutes to order at 11:45. Wait until 12:15 and you'll have a long line and trouble finding seats.
Tip #2: Understand what you're getting. You can order sandwiches, but most people order meat by the pound. The sign says $6.49 for a half pound of brisket, but you pay what it weighs. My portion was over $7. I wouldn't recommend the "cutter's choice" option. I saved some pocket change, but my brisket didn't look as moist or as lean as my friends'.
Tip #3: Order pint sides and share them among your friends. It's better value.
They serve the food in what looks to be a wax paper lined milk carton. After navigating the condiment bar (try the cherry peppers), you can look for a small wooden picnic table, or take up part of a large table covered with red and white table cloths.
As for the food itself, the brisket had a great smokey flavor, but it was dry in places, and had large hunks of fat. I blame myself for ordering "cutter's choice." Rookie mistake. The cole slaw was really good. The cabbage was minced pretty fine, and it was sweet and creamy, but not too creamy. The new potatoes were just roasted potatoes in butter. They definitely needed salt, and the inch of melted butter in the bottom of the styrofoarm bowl was an unappetizing visual. There were two bbq sauces on the table. I liked the tangy, vinegary flavor. One was supposed to be spicier than the other, but they tasted similar to me. Both had kick.
I have some friends in Austin, TX that think Rudy's rivals Salt Lick BBQ, and I think they're crazy. It's good, but it's not that good. The smokey flavor of the brisket definitely stood out, though. I'm looking forward to my next visit, when I can navigate the menu a little easier.
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