Hill Country Restaurant

New York is a ruthlessly competitive space for restaurants, but there aren’t many that transplant the very atmosphere and feel of another city right in the midst of the Big Apple. The Hill Country Restaurant is one such, and those familiar with the culture of this sprawling country won’t need to guess that ‘Hill Country’ refers to the inimitable Texan city of Austin.

This Texan import is a barbecue that smokes the meats long and slow over real Texan post oak the way it has always been done in the real Hill Country. To create the feel here, the owners have taken their inspiration directly from the rugged heart of barbecue country: the famous Kreuz Market. So, when you walk in, you will be greeted by rough tables with rolls of paper towels on it along with cutlery stacked up in a pickle jar. The walls are adorned with pictures that suggest the dusty and rugged Texan countryside and there is a large lone star suspended next to the bar. But that’s just the décor. The restaurant goes a step further in recreating Kreuz Market. You get to choose your own meats by the pound and side dishes by the container. After your meats are measured out, they are sent across to the large smokers and then served to you on brown butcher paper. The side dishes come in paper cartons. The staff, as you would expect, are dressed Texan, even though there is very little that is authentic about the people themselves.

The experience here, however, is not all appearance. The fare is so good and authentic that the Wall Street Journal rated it as one of the ten best barbecues in the US. Additionally Time Out New York and the New York Magazine both rated it as the best of its kind in the city. Just like at Kreuz Market, the specialty here is moist brisket (it is also served dry), although the smoked sausage, pork ribs and beef shoulder are second to none either. The side dishes such as the shoepeg corn pudding and the cheddar mac & cheese have earned a reputation for themselves too. As far as the prices go, the meats here cost between $6.50 – $20 a pound, and the sides range between $4 – $16.

There news of two complete bars in the restaurant would come as a delight to those with a taste for the bottle. The drinks menu is extensive at both destinations, with the favorites being bourbon, tequila and long neck beers. The basement in the restaurant has a full stage too, which hosts live bands from Wednesdays to Saturdays that dish out some lovely country fare sprinkled with some rock and blues.

The restaurant remains open from noon till 10 pm, Sunday-Wednesday, and noon till 11 pm, Thursday – Saturday.

The Address: 30 W. 26th St., Chelsea, New York, NY, United States

TEL: (212) 255-4544

Category: -