Freedmen\’s Serving Up BBQ and Seasonal Libations

With barbecue month in full swing (but let\’s be real, it is always BBQ season in Texas) and the  highly anticipated release of the Texas Monthly list of “The 50 Best BBQ Joints”, we visited one of our favorite BBQ spots, Freedmen\’s. This Austin staple is housed in 1869 building that is rich with history and lends the Freedmen\’s. The building itself has served many purposes throughout the years and has kept its sense of community serving as a gathering place for fine cocktails, refreshing beers in the beer garden and smokehouse. 

All the meats here are phenomenal. If it is your first visit the Holy Trinity Plate with their incredible brisket, addicting pork spare rib and savory house-made sausage is the way to kick off the experience. The pork spare ribs have this incredible glaze that makes them standout in the Austin BBQ scene. At no surprise Freedmen\’s made Texas Monthly list of “The 50 Best BBQ Joints”!

Smoked Mushroom Buttons and Baked Beans at Freedmen\’s

Freedmen\’s received a While the BBQ is the main attraction their sides and appetizers do not take a back burner. The kitchen takes classic barbecue sides and adds their own unique twist. A few of my favorites are Smoked Button Mushrooms with butter, white wine rosemary, lemon; Smoked Beets with a delightful herbed chevre and balsamic glaze; hearty Baked Beans chopped beef and pork, brown sugar, lone star; and my absolute favorite, the Horseradish Potato Salad with celery, pickled jalapeno and egg.

In addition to lunch and dinner, Freedmen\’s serves up a comforting Sunday brunch of Barbecue Benedict, Jalapeno Cheddar Grits and the Instagram worthy Bloody Mary which is a meal unto itself.

£10,000 Cocktail at Freedmen\’s

The bar program at Freedmen\’s is phenomenal. They have over 160 whiskeys, a nice selection of local brews, fine wines and innovative cocktails. Some of the refreshing spring sips on the menu include:

£10,000: A perfected mix of Gosling’s rum, house made falernum, kiwi simple syrup, grapefruit and lime. The £10,000 is a wonderful patio sipper.

Heart-a-daq: This stunning cocktail has strawberry infused wheatly vodka, lime, kronan swedish punsch, luxardo maraschino, simple syrup, fennel bitters and egg white.

Suelo Fértil: For the tequila lovers we recommend the Suelo Fértil. A unique cocktail of Suerte Reposado, blueberry-lemon oleo saccharum, dolin rouge and cynar.

The Man From Jupiter: This fun cocktail has Pimm’s No. 1, honey-thyme syrup, lemon, lime, celery bitters and finished with sparkling wine.

Freedmen\’s also has a great happy hour which is available Tuesday – Friday from 4pm-7pm which includes:

$2 Lone Star Draft & Pabst Tallboys

$3 Whiskey of the Month

$2 Off Glasses of Wine & Well Drinks

$5 Barbecue Sammies

A stop at Freedmen\’s is perfect for any occasion. It is one of my favorites to take out of town guests as they can get a feel of the cocktail, craft beer and barbecue scene all in one place. And bonus, there are so many photo ops to be had at this handsome historic building.

TM BBQ Fest

If all this BBQ talk has made you hungry, check out the Texas Monthly BBQ Fest happening November 5th: TexasMonthly.com/tmbbqfest

Address:
2402 San Gabriel

Telephone Number:
512-220-0953

Hours:
Tue–Wed 11–10
Thur–Sat 11–midnight
Sun 11–10