We had a to-do list for our Austin visit July 22-26. Eating some authentic Texas barbecue came up at 11:00 AM Sunday morning and the search was on. Stiles Switch BBQ at 6610 N. Lamar fit the bill and they opened early.
Violet Crown Shopping Center was Austin’s first shopping center and its art deco accents went up in 1951. Stiles Switch BBQ and Brew arrived in 2011. The joint was named after the International and Great Northern railroad stop in Stiles Switch, Texas built in the 1800s. An added sign we were at the right place was Jeff’s Auto Body next door.
The folks running Stiles were friendly and cut our brisket at the counter. I told the girl at the register, “My wife thinks we can’t buy beer on Sunday.” She recoiled in shock and declared, “What’s wrong with her? We drink beer with our barbecue in Texas.”
Owner Shane Stiles and pitmaster Lance Kirkpatrick have considerable cooking experience. The brisket was excellent and their local craft beer soothingly cold on record setting hot day.
“The Switch” also features live music and washer tossing on the outdoor patio. If you have a hankering for smoked meats, home grown music, and a great atmosphere this is the place.