The County Line in Austin, TX: "Air Rib" Your Order to Your Door!

The County Line in Austin, Texas, and its' sister restaurant, The State Line in El Paso, Texas, undoubtedly offer some of the best BBQ in Texas. There are also locations in San Antonio, Houston, Harbor Point, Albuquerque, and Oklahoma. The wonderful news for those who don't live in Texas is the County Line will "Air Rib" your BBQ order to you anywhere you live in the United States. My brother recently received his birthday order of BBQ brisket and beef ribs, delivered right to his front door in Alexandria, Virginia, courtesy of The County Line's excellent staff and his number one favorite sister. He wants to know if he is getting another goodie gift for no occasion at all. OK, but only if he behaves.

The County Line has two locations in Austin: On the Lake and On the Hill. Since 1975, Kevin and his good ole' buddies have perfected a rich, tangy sauce that is second to none. The location on the lake is my favorite - a lodge-type setting just off Lake Austin and nestled snug on Bull Creek. This is a favorite spot in Austin to bring visitors that want to sit on an outdoor deck, sip cocktails, and enjoy the lush scenery of the Texas Hill Country.

My favorite item on the menu, and what has now become legendary, is the Beef Rib Platter ($13.99), loaded with gigantic BBQ ribs that melt in your mouth. Each savory rib is completely covered with meat. I don't know what they feed those cows, but they end up with barrels of beef on each bone. If you have a really big bull appetite, you can order the Rib King Platter ($17.99) and knaw until your jaw hurts. All the platters include potato salad, cole slaw, and beans. Other delicious platters include the Smoked Peppered Turkey Breast ($12.99), the Smoked Peppered Pork Sirloin (12.99), Extra Moist Beef Brisket ($11.99), Extra Lean Beef Brisket ($12.99), Baby Back Rib Platter ($18.99), and The County Line Sausage Platter ($10.00).

The County Line and The State Line offer lite menus ($8.49 - $14.99) for lunch and dinner, as well as homemade soups and sandwiches ($7.29 - $10.99) with any of your favorite BBQ meats. For appetizers, you might want to try the sautéed mushrooms ($5.49), the brisket tacos ($7.49), or the Cajun shrimp ($7.99). Even if you decide to go lite, you must indulge in at least one slice of the best homemade bread on earth.

If you are entertaining guests while dining at The County Line, you might want to order the all-you-can-eat versions of the menu items. The Country Style version is $18.99 per person and includes meats and sides for the entire table. The Cadillac version is $22.99 per person and includes meats and sides for the entire table, plus homemade bread and ice cream for dessert. The All You Can Stand version is $26.99 per person, and it pretty much speaks for itself - be ready to roll off your chair in an effort to breathe after this one.

The County Line is so famous that in May 2005, Senator Gonzalo Barrientos presented the restaurant owners with Senate Resolution No. 867, proclaiming that one of the reasons The County Line is so successful is because 20 of its employees have been with the restaurant for over 20 years. The County Line has fed many celebrities including Sandra Bullock, George Bush, Jessica Simpson, Lance Armstrong, and Ray Benson.

Now, Kevin does not give out his recipes too often, but a couple of recipes he shares on his web site are Mom's Bourbon Sauce Recipe and Mom's Bread Pudding. These are must have recipes for your kitchen at home.

The County Line On the Lake is located at FM 2222 just before Hwy 360 in Austin, Texas. (512) 346-3664

The County Line On the Hill is located on Bee Cave Road just past Hwy 360 in Austin, Texas. (512) 327-1742

The State Line is located at 1222 Sunland Park Drive, El Paso, Texas. (915) 581-3371.