Martin’s Place

Martin’s is special. I do not think its the best BBQ in town, but it’s damn good and good enough. More to the point, this is an old historic one of a kind building, and you should visit it. Yes indeed it’s quiet as a church, and full of old people who stare at you. That’s kind of the charm, really. It’s a survivor. Get a combo plate, sit at the oddly shaped counter and soak in the history. It’s just plain fun and atmospheric. Good people too.

Their brisket is delicious. I love that you can waft in the BBQ smell as you eat. It’s a total tease though, waiting for your food smelling all that awesome.

Finally got around to trying their BBQ. It lived up to its reputation. I can’t even describe the taste be used it was truly unique but what bbq should taste like. I rank this better than Kreux, & Kruex much better than Rudy’s. The pricing is also legit. I spent around $ 20 for 1 lb ribs & ½ pound brisket.

Whoa is OLD OLD place. It is so quiet when you walk in. Guess there is only 2 person working and they are the server and chef. Order 2 combo for take out it was perfect BBQ but it was cold by the time we took back to our hotel! Girls LOVE IT! Will be back next time we are back to TX!

The BBQ was very good, the only downside was how the place looked. I understand it’s been there a long time, but it seems as though the owners haven’t maintained it as well as they should especially with it being considered a historical marker.

This place may not look like much, but trust me, you’ve got to try it. My husband could eat bbq 7 days a week & we have it at least once weekly & often drive quite a distance to try someplace recommended. Martin’s has delicious bbq & the prices cannot be beat. We think Martin’s is definitely worth a try & think after that, you’ll return again & again.

I have to say that I was scared of this place after I bottomed out my car in the parking lot, went through an old rusty metal screen door and walked into a yellow tinged establishment. I was holding my breath thinking… should I just walk out like I wasn’t supposed to be there? But no I got the blank stares of the other patrons like I wasn’t from around here. Which is a totally accurate statement because I’m from Illinois but I love BBQ. I’ve pretty much had it all and I even make my own at home. Now even after all of those details and emotions I decided to give it a try. I realized that the inside was smokey and stained because of the actual pit in the back. I thought the BBQ was very good and it had a nice smoked wood flavor. This is definitely not for the faint of heart barbecue lovers. The smoke is very distinct and strong. I took my order to go because it was actually pretty smokey in the building. It was definitely worth it to me even though the initial experience made me feel like it might have been my last meal. I highly recommend giving it a try.

DISCLAIMER: It was raining when I visited, and that DEFINITELY affects the experience. The rain is going to make smoking VERY difficult, and as a result, the meat will not be up to par and the whole restaurant will be smoky.
First impressions: Gross looking bathrooms with entrances adjacent to the front door. Ew. I held it in. Tons of smoke inside the restaurant (like I mentioned, due to the rain). By the time I left, all my clothes and my person reeked of smoke. Interior is decorated much like many other BBQ places, but the lighting is a bit dim.
Find yourself a seat and peruse the menu, someone will come take your order (eventually). And then your food will come (eventually). The wait was, honestly, much longer than I expected (around 30 minutes total), especially considering there were only 2 other tables at the time.
I ordered the two meat combo, for which I chose ribs and brisket with cole slaw and house potatoes. Onions, pickles, and bread free if requested. $ 10.75. (Each additional meat is $ 1 extra, but ribs can only be one of them). Water/​cup of ice is 10 cents. Total cost is $ 11.75 after tax.
The ribs were dry and chewy, and the brisket was rather dry as well. I don’t know just how much the rain affects the meat, but I would avoid going when it’s raining at all costs. Totally not worth it. The meat was also covered in BBQ sauce, which I prefer to apply at my own discretion.
The sides, however, were pretty good! House potatoes is basically mashed potatoes, but thicker and less creamy. Cole slaw is solid. Onions and pickles were served on top of the meat, so the pickle was warm and covered in sauce (not a fan of that).
Having experienced Franklin BBQ in Austin, I compare all other BBQ to it, and Martin’s simply cannot compare. This place does seem to have good reviews though, so perhaps it’s worth coming again when the weather is sunny.
Misc: Parking lot is unpaved!

Best BBQ I have experienced in BCS. The ribs, sausage and brisket are a go. Get the brisket, you will love it. I also loved their chopped beef plate with two sides. Love this place.

I have passed by this historic little building for years yet never stopped. I wish that I had. I think if they lit that beautiful neon sign to let passers by know they were a functioning business, then neighboring restaurants like J. Codys & Chicken Oil would feel the affect.
As I said this is a quaint very historic place. They probably haven’t changed/​replaced a single thing in years. You walk through and old wooden door and a screen door and the smokey bbq goodness aroma immediately lets you know you are in for a treat. There are tables but I especially enjoy they diner-​like bar that you can sit at and visit with the regulars (whom seem to make up for most of the business). It is a family owned place and staff is a bit quiet unless you are like us and talkative to get to know them. There are exterior restrooms which are indeed aged but you go there for the food afterall.
Now the food: We had brisket (very tender but could be more smokey), sausage (which I don’t eat but family said that it was really good), chicken (a tad dry) and sides. We went with the beans which were average. Their sauce was comparable to Rudys mild in flavor. But we got a meal for 2 (split 3 ways) for only $ 12. For the price you cannot beat it!
The overall ambiance was nice and comfortable. Smokey, quiet with no loud music, you can have a conversation and you don’t feel rushed. I would go back for that at-​home feeling alone. Add a good amount af tasty cue for a very reasonable price and I am hooked!

Interesting place and nice folks. I didn’t think the food was all that good. Must be a cultural thing. Bottom line… if you’re from California-don’t.

Plus a half a star… Wish there were half stars.
Anyways.
Food was very tasty. The brisket sandwich is well portioned for $ 5.
The quality of the brisket is also nice. It was very lean and minimal bbq sauce to mask the flavor of the meat.
Although the aroma of smokey goodness is in the air, I didn’t really get the smokey flavor or smoke ring imbedded in the meat.
Brisket had good texture as well.
Also tried the roasted chicken. (White meat only… G/f’s choice)
The chicken was incredibly moist. Once again minimal BBQ sauce to mask the flavor of the chicken. And portions again are great. As well as price. $ 4.75 for half a chicken. Highly highly recommend.
Now for sides.
The onion rings were really good. Some sort of vinegary tang to the batter once fried.
Potatoes were also good. Had some bacon added to them which is always a plus.
Would def recommend.
Sadly this is a slow moving place in terms of service but it’s an okay compromise for quality well priced meats.
Also if you are «iffy» on restrooms this is definitely not your 5 star establishments. Just know you are sacrificing bells and whistles for amazing food and home cooking that’s just to die for. Have an open mind and empty belly because you’ll love it.
Be sure to try it next time in Bryan.

As much as I love the fact that a same family owned BBQ place has been here since the 1920’s and is even a State of Texas Historical Landmark, they might want to think about getting with the times.
I called in an order for a chopped brisket sandwich. This is something that should take 10 seconds to put the meat on the bread. I called in 15 minutes early, showed up 15 minutes later and it still took 15 more minutes waiting in line. Seriously, 30 minutes for someone to put some meat on bread?
Now it tasted really super excellent, a smoky flavor I could taste for hours later. But gave me heartburn for hours. Not sure why but it did. Will try again soon.

Just simple BBQ and great service. The atmosphere is exactly what a real Texas no frills BBQ joint should be. Walking through the front door is like walking into a time machine. Yes everything is very antique, but it’s all very clean.
You can’t beat them on price. And the front door opens in the wrong direction which is a kind of fun.

Martin’s Place is one of those restaurants that you just WANT to be good more than it actually is. It’s so crusty and ancient and scenic, wouldn’t it be the coolest thing ever if they also had great food?
This place is more a museum of BBQ history than an actual working restaurant. The small brick building was built 80 years ago, which surprised me because after looking at the interior of the place, I would have thought it would be older. The interior of Martin’s Place looks like it pre-​dated the Texas War of Independence or maybe it was brought over from Europe after being used in a grubby pub for centuries.
Upon entering, you experience the heavy woodsmoke which fills the room and stays in your clothes the rest of the day. The dining room has U-​shaped countertops have worn spots where thousands upon thousands of plates have sat over the years. The linoleum has been scraped to the floorboards in heavily trafficked areas and the ceiling is black and yellow with untold layers of the BBQ smoke of the ages. I peered into the kitchen and it was like a smoky, greasy black dungeon. Even the other patrons looked like they were about a hundred years old themselves.
This place probably could have used a renovation about fifty years ago, now it’s just so worn and run-​down and ancient that it’s a curiosity and conversation piece. It’s too cool to fix up. Martin’s has got style.
That said, the food was just average. The moist brisket wasn’t especially tender and lacked seasoning. Flavor was sparse, and unfortunately the sauce didn’t add anything — it’s very weak. The potato salad was pretty good as a chunky yellow mustard variety. The corn nuggets were rather interesting and tasty. My companion said his ribs were much better than the brisket, but I didn’t get to try it.
I don’t know if I’d come back for the food, but this is somewhere I’d definitely bring my out-​of-​town friends or family for the experience. They sure don’t have places like THIS in Pittsburgh, PA!

Open since 1925, Martin’s is in its third generation of family ownership. The present building and pit date back to 1939, when it was a grocery store, gas station, and barbecue joint. Now they limit themselves to the last of these, but not much else about the place has changed. The interior, yellowed from smoke and age, appropriately reflects their commitment to a tradition of barbecue. The worn tables and low, 1940s-​era horseshoe bar are evidence of decades of loyal customers. But aside from its historical marker and equally-​yellowed reviews from years gone by in magazines like Texas Highways, Martin’s remains unassuming and undiscovered. It lacks the pomp and traffic of Lockhart, where tradition has been infused with fresh doses of vitality. Without an interstate, without highfalutin critics, and without a steady stream of bobos, the rhythm of barbecue here proceeds undisturbed, and the results are still very good. The brisket was smokey and moist, with just enough of a crust, and the sausage was good, too. The sides, as with most places, were unremarkable except that we received a generous helping of fried okra.

Okay so walking in this place can throw someone off a little, but not me– I love local hole-​in-​the-​walls. This is not a place to ask for a water with lemon. You want a pop? You get a can. You want a cup? Get it yourself.
This place is simple. Nothing fancy to look at and in somewhat a state of disrepair. The wall was adorned with old news clippings that showed the true work and love that really went into the food.
Now, moving on… to the food…
I had the beef brisket, corn nuggets, and cole slaw.
Let me tell you– I will never, ever find a place with better brisket. So juicy so tender so yummmmmmmm. What the house made BBQ sauce lacked in flavor, the brisket’s flavor more than made up for!
The corn nuggets were perfectly crispy and not greasy, and the cole slaw had just the right amount of sweetness to it!
Sure, I’m typically a healthy eater and not a big BBQ type– but this place gave me a mouthgasm :)

Excellent Brisket and German Potatoes. Pleasant atmosphere. Great prices.

I really wanted to love this place. The unchanged look of the place… it’s like a time capsule.
However, the place feels a little like they’ve signed off and are riding their reputation’s coattails.
My hope for them is that in the future they view this restaurant as a legacy that deserves better.
A good first step is to make your own peach cobbler. It’s not that hard. If the desert is from a box, it leaves customers wondering what else has been sacrificed in the name of convenience.

Simply Amazing!
This is real BBQ. Brisket was just perfect. I love their sauce, not too sweet with right amount of smokiness. Sausage was just OK. Next time, I am going to try the ribs.
I don’t know if this is normal, but it took 30 minutes to get our food. We weren’t in a hurry so everything was cool.
Definitely heading back next week.