Cooper’s Old Time Pit Bar-B-Que

So I’ve been here a couple of times since my original review, most recently just the other day. My biggest gripe used to be their high prices, but nowadays other places have not only caught up to Cooper’s prices but most have even surpassed them. So price alone here is no longer a concern for comparisons.
The item I think I’ve enjoyed most over my visits has been the pork chop. I’m not normally a pork chop fan, but these are pretty unique and always tender, juicy and quite good.
As for the usual Texas barbecue suspects, I just can’t really say I’m a fan. The brisket is so overly salty, and I love salt, that I could hardly eat it. It was extremely tender, but the salt was just so overpowering it’s all I could detect. I prefer a smokey, more complimentary seasoned brisket. I just couldn’t enjoy this at all. We also had pork ribs, and while not as overpowering as on the brisket, still too reliant on salt for flavor in my opinion. They were also probably some of the least tender I can remember having anywhere, not melting off the bone like some, they required a decent amount of gnawing. Props as usual for the free beans though (and bread, which some places actually charge for).
I don’t know that I’m going to continue to stop here when passing by, I just didn’t enjoy it enough to justify it. I like the thought of this place, the institution that it is, and the experience. If I do, I’m going to try something I haven’t yet, maybe the chicken, even though chicken isn’t ever a reason I’d be stopping for barbecue. The pork chop option is always there if I feel like spending about $ 25 on one.

My GF and I were making a road trip from Fredricksburg to Kingsland and stopped at Coopers for their cobbler.
She had their pecan cobbler and I had the blackberry cobbler. Both were excellent. Though we didn’t stop for the meat, we decided we needed to carry some back home to Austin with us.
You stand in front of the pit and pick your piece of meat. Rather unique. The problem is there are so many choices and they all smell so good.
After looking at their beef brisket and then a thick smoked sirloin that was on the pit, we decided to take back the medium rare smoked steak. It was very tender and tasty. We also took back some beef /​jalapeño sausage and potato salad.
Both pieces of meat were very good.
Cobbler was exceptional.
The potato salad was a bit salty. My GF thought they put pickle juice in it. I will probably pass on the potato salad when I return, but not the other choices we made.

This place is the bomb! We had hearty beef ribs, brisket, regular sausage, and chicken. Ordered potato salad, corn on the cob and coleslaw for our sides.
Unlike other places that give you as much bread as they think you should eat, Coopers just puts whole fresh, soft butter crust loaves out on the table for you to enjoy.
The drinks are self service with Coke products offered and of course sweeeet tea.
By the refreshments are self serve FREE hot pinto beans with a few jalapeños thrown in for flavor. You can also pick up onions and jalapeños complimentary for your sandwiches.
So of course I started with the brisket which was soooo good, but the best for me were the Dino sized beef ribs. They were packed with so much meat and were soft, savory, and melted in your mouth for pure awesomeness.
I saved the sausage and chicken for the children who seemed to thoroughly enjoy their dinner.
We were hungry when we arrived so we did over order but not a problem here. They have foil and to go bags conveniently placed for you to bag up your leftovers and small styrofoam cups to take extra beans.
I definitely want to come back to try their steak, turkey, pork chops and jalapeño sausage as well as their cobblers. My stomach just couldn’t eat anymore on this trip.
I did pickup two yeti cups to keep our drinks cold on the trip back.
I’d definitely recommend this joint if you are up for a road trip or are in the area.