Saturday, December 19, 2009: Augie's Barbed Wire Smokehouse (San Antonio, Texas)

Before heading to the Alamodome for the two 5A state championship football games (with a cigar at the Menger Bar in between), Brad and I decided to hit up a BBQ joint in San Antonio we'd never visited and had only found out about a few days earlier. *Okay, I've gotta pause for a second here. I don't know what your idea of a classic Texas weekend is, but for me, it just doesn't get much better than BBQ, football, and cigars on a Saturday, after going to hear Robert Earl Keen the night before at Floore's Country Store in Helotes. Merry Christmas from the Family live at Floore's 6 days before Christmas: Awe-some.

Augie's Barbed Wire Smokehouse, on N. St. Mary's Street just north of downtown San Antonio, has a unique atmosphere. Of all the places we've visited, this is the first one that has a cigar lounge on site. BBQ and cigars occupy about 47% of my life, so Augie's is right up my alley. You can rent the cigar/wine Tree House for an entire night for just $100, and, Augie's will cater your event, if you want. Basically, if you want a venue to eat some BBQ, have a drink and a smoke, and watch a game, Augie's is for you. They've also got a great beer garden out back, with a 12-foot screen for watching games and movies. Behind the seating is the pit, which is an awesome old pit, complete with a huge tree that goes through the roof of the pit.

What really stands out to me about our visit is how friendly the staff were. The service was wonderful. From the meat cutter who greeted us to the lady at the cash register to the guy who gave us a full tour of the place, we were treated so kindly.

As for the food, the pulled pork was a bit saturated, but I enjoyed it and ate every bit of the huge portion that comes with the 2-meat plate. The chicken was completely dried out and tough, but the sides of corn and baked beans were hot and hearty. Augie's is generous with the portions, so you shouldn't leave here feeling hungry. All in all, the food was all right, but the atmosphere and service were awesome, enhancing the overall experience.

Drew's scores - Pulled pork: 8.2; Chicken: 5; Atmosphere: 9.3; Service: 9.8; Overall experience: 8.75

Brad's scores - Brisket: 8.25; Pork ribs: 7; Beef ribs: 7.25; Atmosphere: 9; Service: 9.75; Overall experience: 8.5

Overall Man-Up Score: 8.625