Insider Pages Reviews for Hill Country Barbecue Market

4 Stars: Best BBQ in the city (by Wagnerp)

Wagnerp — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 09:00:00 GMT

This is a great place to get a good bbq. The pulled pork here is the way to go. I would suggest this place over the dallas bbq and dukes any day.

5 Stars: AMAZING bbq food and service! (by bklynqt05)

bklynqt05 — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 09:00:00 GMT

I ate her with a large group of friends on Saturday. I'm not really a big fan of bbq food but after dinner at hill country I'm now an addict! Everything was delicious and the staff were very friendly. Will definitely be back.

5 Stars: Barbecue at it's finest! (by LWicz)

LWicz — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 09:00:00 GMT

I'm not sure what restaurant the person below went to, but Hill Country is the best barbecue spot I've been to in the city. The aroma of good ole fashion Texas cue hits you the second you enter the door, not too mention the staff that greets you with a smile and makes you feel like you're a regular (even if it's you're first time). I consider myself to be a barbecue connoiesseur (which is maybe why I have a gym membership) and this place honestly makes me wish I'd found it as soon as it opened instead of wasting my money on other food people call barbecue. Not only the food, but FREE live music?! Give me a beer, a rib, and free live music and I'll go just about anywhere. I hear they're opening up a fried chicken place around the corner, looks like I'm going to need to renew my gym membership :)

1 Stars: Hate it (by rate123)

rate123 — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 09:00:00 GMT

A totally rude and unhelpful employee ruined this place for me. BBQ if ok but I'll never spend money at Hill Country again.

1 Stars: Emperor's new clothes. (by signorcolin)

signorcolin — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 09:00:00 GMT

From day one, the PR blitz for this place has been overwhelming. But for all the hype, this place is a cheap imitation of real BBQ. Overly fatty, poorly cooked meat at ridiculous prices. I don't know why this place consistently makes Citysearch's Top 5 lists (a real coup for the PR machine, I guess). There's been a BBQ renaissance in the five boroughs in recent years. There are at least a dozen cheaper and better BBQ joints. Go to those places. Avoid this one.

5 Stars: The best!!! (by CSMobileUser)

CSMobileUser — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 09:00:00 GMT

Great food. Great staff. Great place.

4 Stars: Very good BBQ for ok (for NYC) proces (by harlock_jds)

harlock_jds — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 09:00:00 GMT

Ate here and got the pit master combo which was well priced (for NYC) for the amount of meat.

The pork ribs were the highlight and well certainly be what I'll order in the future. Very meaty and while pink in the middle that's not unusual for BBQ. The Beef Ribs were ok but not very meaty and kinda overcooked (not as bad as blue smokes beef ribs are but still a bit overdone). The brisket was nice and fatty (as i had asked) but i'm not a big brisket fan without sauce. It also came with some chicken which was forgettable (and kinda puny.. not that i was complaining with the amount of food i got but i wouldn't have been thrilled if i had just gotten the chicken).

For sides I got the green been casserole and deviled eggs as the sides. The casserole was very good, the eggs tasted like you'd expect them too (they were sold as chipoltie deviled eggs but i tasted no smokiness or spice to them).

However the layout of the place and the ordering process is a disaster. I went at a very uncrowded time of day and it was still a pain to get everything. I can only imagine what a nightmare it is when it gets busy. Also carrying everything back to the table was not easy. I'd think with the servers they could at least help with that. I've eaten at places in this style in Texas before and i have never seen one so badly organized.

1 Stars: Disappointing BBQ (by wexlers)

wexlers — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 09:00:00 GMT

Ordered my husband some BBQ from Hill Country after a NY based Texan said it was the best in the neigborhood.
My husband said the bbq ribs were medium rare - yuck, the beef ribs were very fatty.
I ate the chicken which was good. We typically try to order relatively healthy sides, the coleslaw and cucumber salad will good, the beans made with beacon, and the stringbeans with a cream source where extremely heavy/fattening. Wont be ordering from them again..

2 Stars: Customer Service Could Use Some Improvement (by kimsmith12345)

kimsmith12345 — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 09:00:00 GMT

I've had two unsatisfactory experiences here however since the establishment is new I do hope it will change in the future as the food is good and the restaurant has a uniqueness to it. Suggested improvements are the following: customer serice, shorter wait time at the counter and carving station and nicer wait staff.

4 Stars: Good TImes!!! (by biffybnyc)

biffybnyc — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 09:00:00 GMT

Fun Times -- good for celebrations. Good Drinks, Cheap Food and Everyone gets their own bill so you dont have to devide at the end of the night. You eat and drink what you can afford!!! :P

5 Stars: Fun Bar & Cheapest Drinks in Chelsea/Flatiron (by barlover75)

barlover75 — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 09:00:00 GMT

I've been looking for a great country music bar ever since I moved to the City. This place has awesome live music several nights a week with no cover and the whole staff is in jeans and cowboy boots. Plus, the drinks are some of the best prices around. Specialty drinks run the usual 8 to $10 bucks but you can get margaritas and well drinks for like $5 bucks all the time. Even though they don't have draft beer, you can get buckets of beer for cheap; and not those fake buckets of beer with the tiny little Corona bottles either, I mean actual full sized beers, six of them! My boyfriend and I love to go in late after the dinner rush, like around 9:30 or 10. They have a happy hour that starts at 10 and we got like 6 PBRs and 2 margaritas for 22 bucks PLUS the bartender (super hotty..at both upstairs and downstairs bars...upstairs Superman and downstairs Lex Luthers hotter little brother) gave us a couple of shots on the house. I am so happy that I finally found a reasonably priced bar in the City that has good music and isn't too snobby/clubby or too divey either. It's never overly crowded and hot and you never have to wait in line for the bathroom which is awesome. Sometimes, if we get there early enough (before the kitchen closes) my boyfriend and I will eat something like a Jalepeno sausage or chicken breast. It comes with bread so we usually split one sausage or one piece of chicken and make 2 sandwiches for like 6 bucks. It's plenty. Oh, the chili is to die for too! And for the booze snobs, like my brother, who think PBR is beneath them, they have like a million different kinds of whiskey and bourbon and tequila. My brother is working his way across the bar until he tries them all. Do yourself a favor, go there after the regular dinner rush, like 9 or 10, grab a bite and head downstairs to the bar for free music and cheap drinks. tons of space for large groups too. I love it.

5 Stars: your kids will love it! (by extraginger)

extraginger — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 09:00:00 GMT

Hill Country is our family's favorite restaurant in NYC. The chicken, brisket, and cupcakes are out of this world. It's super kid friendly and the prices are reasonable. It's perfect for groups also!

1 Stars: Don't buy a gift certificate -- they will rob you! (by littlerowlf)

littlerowlf — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 09:00:00 GMT

Hill Country BBQ can't go out of business soon enough for me.

I was looking forward to giving this place a chance ... had a $75 gift certificate that was a month past expiration. We asked about it at the door, and the hostess said they couldn't accept it. We asked to see a manager, and got the same story, with a little rudeness thrown in. "Well, you did have a whole year to use it," he said. (Well then, I guess we owe you an apology.) "The computer won't accept it if it's expired," he said. (Oh my, I'd hate for the computer to get upset.) "I wish there was something I could do," he said.

So in the end, they basically stole $75 from us. What an absolutely, jaw-droppingly stupid policy, from a P.R. standpoint. If the manager had just said, "Oh, that's okay, come on in," our party of four would have spent a boatload of money beyond the value of the certificate, the servers would have earned big tips, and we may have come back and recommended the place to our friends. As it was, after a few choice words for the manager, we walked out, we will never return, and we'll tell everyone we know to avoid the place like a rat-infested KFC.

How does this place have 4 1/2 stars? The reviews seem pretty terrible overall.

1 Stars: ungood, like somewhere quite a bit below mediocre and not expensive, but way overpriced (by wallstreetguy)

wallstreetguy — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 09:00:00 GMT

ok, so the dumpy hostess was miserable, couldn't be bothered to explain the "meal ticket" rules. sorry, i'm not a cowboy and wanted to know the deal. i go to the bar to wait for my pal, bartender MIA at opposite end of bar while he chats up waitress for 15 minutes. Pal shows up, we sit down, place is like totally empty, literally 30 empty tables, we get our food, servers pleasant enough, sit to eat, food is OK, but not special, like a below average diner except it's priced outrageously for what it is, think it came to 40 dollars each for some barely below average sides, average meat, (think arby's and you're close) and a beer.

anyhow, am shooting the breeze with my pal and manager seats a couple on their big date at table next to us, i mean like 10" away, while the dive is empty. they can't chat, we can't talk business, so the four of us are going to be miserable and whispering or talking weather forecasts. total drag.

you can find this kind of food done far far better anywhere at about half the price and the people/service is worst i've had ever here in town. so here it is "pardners," i'm figurin' i could take the knicks to a kkk lunch and get better food and better service. do yourself a favor and skip it.

1 Stars: HORRIBLE... can't believe it's still in business! (by Eaterintown)

Eaterintown — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 09:00:00 GMT

There are some serious dishonest ppl and irresponsible mgmt working in this place! My husband and I came here for a family gathering. We hung our camera on the chair and left it behind. I called back within two days after I knew FOR SURE it was left here. Between my husband and I, we made numerous calls trying to speak to the dining room managers. The person answered the phone always took down our number and promised that one of the managers would get back to me the very next day, whether found the camera or not. and guess what? We NEVER heard from them...! We lost our camera once before at Marquee, the night club, and it was turned in before I called their lost-and-found, and we got it back within a week!

This is the first time I had to write something here because I feel too strongly about this experience to not say anything. The food is acceptable, but nothing special. You can do it yourself at home, which now I regret we didn't choose so for our family get-together.

1 Stars: In a Word...AWFUL (by gleebo)

gleebo — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 09:00:00 GMT

Probably the worst restaurant I've been to in Manhattan..."A glorified Sizzler". It was worse than cafeteria food

1 Stars: Annoying Atmosphere / Bad "System" (by samsam411)

samsam411 — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 09:00:00 GMT

This place belongs in a theme park. With so many competing NYC restaurants with great food and welcoming ambiance, this one can't last.

At ?Hill Country,? you have to wait in line to get your own food and then carry it downstairs to your table even though there is wait staff to take your drink order. ALL of the food is served on paper products -- about as environmentally friendly as a coal refinery. You can't order food and receive a bill; you have to carry around a "meal ticket" to be checked-off for each item ordered (...even drinks).

It is trying so hard to look authentic that they purposely scratched up the floors. But regardless of a revolting time at this disaster posing for a restaurant, you have a wonderful opportunity to buy some souvenir t-shirts and hot sauce when you pay the cashier!

5 Stars: Yuppy Back Country Paradise (by clowwwn)

clowwwn — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 09:00:00 GMT

Hill Country serves delicious BBQ, with brisket, ribs, pork chops, and chicken. The sides are as good as the beef, with creamy string beans, mushrooms, mac and cheese, mashed potatoes, and more, all filling and delicious. Decor is appropriate--big, bright, airy space with barbecue tables and paper towel rolls in lieu of napkins. Great for lunch or dinner.

4 Stars: Great pork ribs, fun atmosphere, helpful staff (by eat_club)

eat_club — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 09:00:00 GMT

Chrystie said it was her favorite place. You can eat at your own pace and you only pay for what you get for yourself. (Read the other reviews to learn about the meal ticket system.) Me? I drink a lot, so I like EVERYBODY paying equally... Mike and I paid $50 each! Ouch! Easier drinkers paid less, but it wasn't cheap. On the other hand, the food was good, the service unique (food on paper-- no I don't mean paper plates, I mean PAPER!), pay by the pound, with Lone Star beer and a ton of tourists. We came at 7PM and had no trouble getting in. Other reviews scared us, but proved wrong. The staff let people join us as they came, even moving tables to accommodate us. By 8 there was a line and they might have gotten tougher. We had a great time, and enjoyed the atmosphere, the staff, and the food. Pricey, yeah, but worth it. --Eat Club is a roving group of NYC Drinkers

1 Stars: Guess I'll have to live without it. (by lady_ny)

lady_ny — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 09:00:00 GMT

The service at Hill Country is impressively bad. Our waitress was a very small step away from being a complete derelict, the hostess was snippy and abrupt - even bitter, and the manager was over it too... In fact the only non-disgruntled employees we encountered were the people working the meat station. Go figure. Recently made the tragic mistake of ordering delivery... 2 HOURS folks. No lie. We ordered two small lunches and it took exactly 2 hours. The food is good, but I'll just have to live without it.

4 Stars: A real kick! (by grlnxtdr)

grlnxtdr — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 09:00:00 GMT

Okay, so it isn't very New York, to have to cue up to get yer grub. But you don't have to order a whole hog to get yer rib fix on. You can order what ever you please in the amount you please.

I think their beef ribs are the best in the city, and the sausage is a surprisingly tasty adiction of mine. Of all the sides the corn pudding is the one you gotta try. Just don't forget to leave room to order desert, the Ancho chile Cherry Brownies and the PB&J cupcakes are worth the calories. Or Blue Bell Ice Cream direct from Texas!

If you feel like making a big texas night of it, they have a rambunctious live band down stairs in the evenings. Close yer eyes and you've just been transported to the lone star state without having to git on an aero-plane. Yee-Haw!

5 Stars: a fun night! (by lightpoints)

lightpoints — Sat, 24 May 2008 09:00:00 GMT

HUGE place, you forget you're in NYC. There's a nice bar up front and a good crowd grabbing drinks, big screen downstairs for the game and a big dining area on the first floor. The ribs fall off the bone, the bourbon sweet potatos get an A+, and they've got cupcakes even a diabetic can't resist. Good place to come with your man or to meet one.

5 Stars: Tasty grub w/ a cafeteria setup (by sharopooks)

sharopooks — Mon, 05 May 2008 09:00:00 GMT

Really enjoy the food here though the whole food ticket set up can be fun or irritating depending on your mood. I mean, it's fine but sometimes you just wanna get your food all in one line (not in separate lines each for meats, sides, drinks, etc). Anyway, despite the novelties of the cafeteria set-up & the ?no plates? thing, the food is quite scrumptious ? the ribs, brisket & chicken are delicious, as are sides like mac ?n cheese & beans, thought the corn pudding wasn?t great. They do have sampler dishes that terrifically help cut down on decision making by pre-determining the meats/# of sides per person but note, these are HUGE, 2 people could split the ?sampler meal for one.? As a Texan, I appreciate the Blue Bell ice cream, Big Red soda, large portions & amply-space dining room. Don?t forget to tip?there?s a place by the cashier where you do so, it?s easy to forget. Also, they sometimes have live music in the spacious downstairs. If you?re a bbq fan, this place is worth a try?the reviews are mixed on the cafeteria setup but the FOOD is the star.

2 Stars: not worth the $ (by robinratner)

robinratner — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 09:00:00 GMT

Quite disappointing experience overall as we had heard good things. The beef ribs did not have enough meat on the bone while the moist brisket had a decent flavor but was quite fatty. The sides were mediocre, the atmosphere felt like a Texas theme park. The hardest part to swallow though was not the food but the bill. $78 for 2 people for cafeteria style eating is just not acceptable!

4 Stars: Katz meets Barbecue!! (by Chuckles208)

Chuckles208 — Sat, 09 Feb 2008 09:00:00 GMT

Katz Deli meets Texas Roadhouse Barbecue.!! It's like grillin in your backyard and pigging out like a fat slob in your wife beater t-shirt. Go for the brisket and the pork ribs not everything on the menu is to write home about. But Real New York Attitude and Ambiance!!

2 Stars: Interesting experience, but that's just it. (by vasche)

vasche — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 09:00:00 GMT

Food was mediocre at best and way overpriced. No draft beer seemed weird for that sort of place. Staff was friendly, but not too attentive. People at the meat station looked tired and ain't exactly too happy to see us:). Overall it was an interesting experience (eating off of a piece of paper on a tray that is, instead of a plate), but I would not go back there again. I can find a much better meal for two for $76 in the city. My wife, not a picky type, has absolutely the same opinion.

5 Stars: You have to know what to get... (by anirbanghosh)

anirbanghosh — Thu, 27 Dec 2007 09:00:00 GMT

Being a Texas native and BBQ lover, Hill Country is definitely the best BBQ experience I've had in the city. I've read the negative reviews...but I think it's more of knowing what to order here and sticking to those. The Moist Brisket and Japapeno Sausage is second to none. The Prime Rib is exceptional. The Beef Shoulder is good as well. I do think other BBQ places is better for ribs (pork or beef) and I've also had better chicken. As for sides...the Veggie Casserole, Corn Pudding, and the Bourbon Sweet Potato Mash is great. Downstairs is great for watching a game but they have had techinical issues at times...and the checkout process definitiely needs to be improved (waited 15m in line to pay last time). Overall though, sticking with whats good, this is great BBQ for the true foodies.

2 Stars: awful delivery service (by pisal)

pisal — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 09:00:00 GMT

man - i heard some good things about this place but first impressions left a definite bad taste in my mouth. and it wasn't even the food! it didn't even make it! after calling twice and being LIED to about the food being on the way. then we found out all they had was "chicken"?? really bad communication and service overall. i cant say much about the food though

2 Stars: Okay Cue with Velvet Rope Attitude (by lintsao)

lintsao — Sun, 18 Nov 2007 09:00:00 GMT

Went to Hill Country last night for an early dinner. A party of four, we arrived at 5:45 when the main dining area was about half full. A young woman at the entrance handed us off to a kid wearing a headset who led us past empty tables interspersed with occupied ones, to the far end of a communal table near the bathroom. Beyond the communal table was an entire section of empty tables, two-tops and four-tops. We asked for a four-top and he told us that the empty section was reserved for a large party. This seemed dubious but we acquiesced. As the empty section slowly filled over the course of our meal it was patently clear that no party being seated there had any acquaintance with or relation to any other party sitting there. So obviously the staff makes some kind of value judgment as to who gets to sit where. Based on what? We asked about the parking meters out front when we came in, so possibly they decided we were from out of town (pretty hilarious really, since the four of us are native New Yorkers, while the faux sophistication of the headset-sporting staff in charge bespoke a year out of college, and a big six months in the city).

It doesn?t really matter though. This kind of garbage is amateurish and rather nasty, there is no reason given the pretensions of Hill Country?s set-up to treat clientelle like this. As to the food, the moist brisket is very good, the dry brisket is not so good, the sides are fine. But this seating game left a bad taste in my mouth that overrides any good taste that the food could provide. None of our party would go back for more of that.

5 Stars: Fun concept! (by veggie2001)

veggie2001 — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 09:00:00 GMT

I am not a meat eater, but I enjoyed the side dishes! And I can see why people like the meat-- so cool that you can ask for, say, one slice of this, 2 ribs, a slice of that, and a sausage. A great way to try a bunch of stuff. I am excited to go back with a group so we can try different things, and to check out the live music... The price is not bad either-- and the drinks are good :)

3 Stars: Your average BBQ (by judibean)

judibean — Sat, 20 Oct 2007 09:00:00 GMT

We came here with high expectations, having eaten at Blue Smoke and Dinosaur BBQ. This one was a disappointment. The BBQ sauce was ok and there was only one at that, and the pork ribs were tougher and chewier than I'm used to. Granted, they give you more meat on the bone than at Dinosaur, but still, I prefer quality over quantity. The sides were good for the most part. We got the deviled eggs (flavorless) and the green bean casserole (what all veggie dishes should taste like!). I sampled the mac n cheese from my sister's plate and it was deliciously rich and cheesy. Given that the side dishes outshine the meat, I have to say this is a deal breaker for me. I don't really plan on returning.

5 Stars: Best Barbecue in New York, Great Music (by jmsklb)

jmsklb — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 09:00:00 GMT

Best barbecue I've ever had as New Yorker. Fantastic environment - great live music. Tons of people, hi energy, great looking people, perfect for large groups...
Come hungry!

5 Stars: Does not stink. FABULOUS "$$$" Barbeque (by vincent3000)

vincent3000 — Sun, 07 Oct 2007 09:00:00 GMT

I may not be from Texas but I have had my fair share of barbeque, and so has everybody else that I went with -- and we all agreed that hill country was some of THE BEST we have ever tasted. The sides were absolutely to die for -- the mac and cheese maybe the best I have ever tasted and the corn casserole thing, the bourbon sweet potatoes... The cheese sausage was out of this world too. The brisket was excellent -- but the fatty brisket was a little too fatty for my liking. I cannot eat peanut butter but apparently the PB&J Muffin is heavenly. This place is an EXPERIENCE!

4 Stars: Best of the Rest BBQs in Chelsea (by agapitog)

agapitog — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 09:00:00 GMT

Dallas BBQ, RUB, and Hill Country in Chelsea all have good BBQ. However, the beef brisket in Hill Country is the best. mmmm.mmmm...good. The chicken is also very good. Meats can be ordered by the pound and it took all my self control to not overstuff myself too much. The atmosphere is very homey and comfortable (like a picnic). The service was extremely friendly and nice, too.

2 Stars: The food was just above average. (by julielaccasio)

julielaccasio — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 09:00:00 GMT

The food was just above average. The atmosphere was very plane. The staff was the most arrogant and impersonal of any restaurant that I have been to. This place is also about three times as expensive as it should be. They are living on hype and must be bribing the food critics. I am speaking of the location on Country Hill on west 26th street on Chelsea.

1 Stars: Hill Country BBQ flat out stinks (by eigoom)

eigoom — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 09:00:00 GMT

Hill Country BBQ flat out stinks

My first thought when I tasted the food was that whoever owns this place doesn't love BBQ. Remember that Aunt that you had to visit during the holidays who would always serve her "famous" roast beef? A roast beef so dry that you wondered how many days it had been in the oven? Well I couldn't see her in the kitchen of this BBQ themed cafeteria but I'm pretty sure Auntie was back there because that is precisely what the Hill Country brisket and shoulder tasted like. As a matter of fact, it was pretty hard to distinguish the difference between the taste of the "brisket moist", "brisket lean" and the "beef shoulder". There were two things worth eating, the corn pudding and the sausage. The thing about the sausage is that they don't even make themselves, they ship them in from some famous place in Texas. I suspect the same might be true with the corn pudding. I didn't try the ribs.

So basically, the meat sucked, the sides sucked, even the beer selection sucked and I'm quite sure the service would have sucked had there been any. The fact that they sell meat-thermometers at the cash register was both amusing and offensive. Hill country is nothing more than an MBA case study of how to stretch margins. If you don't care about taste or service, Hill Country is for you. Otherwise, save your cash. NYC has some respectable BBQ but Hill Country ain't it.

Hill Country BBQ = F
Hill Country BBQ's PR people = A+

5 Stars: Great BBQ (by keaidetuzi)

keaidetuzi — Fri, 24 Aug 2007 09:00:00 GMT

You have to give them props for the Texas decor, esp if you're from Texas... it's always nice to see that wonderful lone star flag hanging up. The BBQ was definitely good. I really liked the jalepeno sausage, it's got just enough kick to it, a nice change from the hot/spicy phobic taste buds of this part of the country. The brisket was moist and the ribs were definitely good. My other fellow Texan said he's had better, but honestly, this was plenty good. One note, the chilli was a little too sweet for our taste buds, but other than that, it was great. Needless to say, I will be back there for seconds.

3 Stars: With the choices New Yorkers have now, I think this one is Just average. (by toper3)

toper3 — Sat, 11 Aug 2007 09:00:00 GMT

The selection was GREAT/even the prices weren't too bad. The hostess was GREAT/but the waitress was ok. The meat servers were very nice/explaining about the different cuts. This kitschy place was a nice change for NYC but the actual BBQ just ok. But I must

1 Stars: THE OTHER REVIEWS WERE CLEARLY WRITTEN BY INVESTORS BECAUSE THIS PLACE WAS AWFUL!!! (by ab75)

ab75 — Fri, 10 Aug 2007 09:00:00 GMT

I Love Texas I have been to Austin, Dallas, and Lubbock several times and I have eaten in fine restaurants and dives and let me tell you they were all amazing fantastic service and food. Hill Country is just another overpriced, over hyped, pretentious Manhattan eatery. Save your time, money, and sanity and go somewhere worthy of your lifeforce or better yet since this place is virtually self service anyway buy a couple racks of ribs and heat up your George Foreman Grill because this places stinks the meat was fatty, the sides were disgusting and the wait was ridiculous.

3 Stars: not worht it (by martincohentfi)

martincohentfi — Wed, 08 Aug 2007 09:00:00 GMT

food is okay, but service really is below average, the owner came to your table and talks and talks about he was a policeman and so and so and so, who cares people go there to eat not to talk to be a therapist and the guys who grill your meat they must to check the appearance they look dirty.
really not worth it.

3 Stars: solid, not great (by bmc98)

bmc98 — Sun, 05 Aug 2007 09:00:00 GMT

Had high expectations, but found the experience average overall. Had the lean and moist brisket. Lean was solid, but "Moist" was an understatement; its really fatty and wet. Also had the mac and cheese (great) and pinto beans (average). Great selection of sides, and blue bell ice cream for desert, which is strong. Went with 5 guys and everyone was surprised by the price tag at the end of their meal. Not bad but not rushing back.

5 Stars: TEXAS in NEW YORK!! (by thewhitetiger)

thewhitetiger — Sun, 05 Aug 2007 09:00:00 GMT

On a recommendation, we decided to try this place, and I'm SO glad we did. Parking in the city is always impossible, so I'll avoid that subject. As soon as you walk in they great you like family, and they'll treat you likewise. The system is different, which made it more interesting. The food was excellent. Our plan was to eat moderatly and then go out, but when we started eating, we changed our minds. We decided to try EVERYTHING. After over an hour we were unable to walk. Not only the meats were great, the sides and drinks also. I cant enfacise enough how friendly the servers were, for a moment we forgot we were in NY, and we felt in Texas. I admit it was weird not eating on a plate, but after a couple of bites, we didnt even care. We went downstairs to hear live music, and even tho country isnt out thing, we had a great time. The big surprise was the price, which was half of what I expected. Needless to say, we'll be back, soon and often.

5 Stars: Tex in the City (by brittini)

brittini — Thu, 02 Aug 2007 09:00:00 GMT

Two words?beef shoulder!!
I am a native Texan who felt right at home at Hill Country. Is that Big red Soda I see? Blue Bell? Only thing missing (and something they really need to work on) is Shiner Bock beer. I am writing them next to petition for Hill Country to be allowed to buy it.
The beef shoulder and lean brisket are what I go back for ? the ribs are not my favorite but who cares with all the other yummy stuff. The mac and cheese was disappointing but the corn pudding makes up for it in a big way!!

3 Stars: Great BBQ. Weird system. (by changmino200)

changmino200 — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 09:00:00 GMT

So the food was very good, but the wait was long to get to the dining room and then you had to get on another line to actually get your food. Then, they were out of beef ribs when it was only 8pm. All in all the time between being seated and actually eating was probably par for the course, but it was a lot more work than your average NYC restaurant. We ended up with too much food because it's hard to tell how much meat you can eat.

1 Stars: Major Dissapointment (by rhhinnj)

rhhinnj — Sun, 29 Jul 2007 09:00:00 GMT

I love BBQ and had been looking forward to trying Hill Country for some time - but I promised to wait
and go with a close friend a fellow BBQ lover to return from vacation and visiting family in Texas and Oklahoma. We had seen the glowing NY Magazine review and were very excited to eat some "improbably good BBQ".
We got the moist brisket and Kreuz smoked sausage.
The brisket was indeed "moist" and "fatty" as promised but it had very little flavor.
There was virtually no smokiness. Frankly, it reminded me more of boiled soup-meat.
While the sausage had a nice crispy exterior skin, it was incredibly greasy.
The flavor of the meat was bland and the texture a bit mealy.
We also got some sides - baked beans and mac and cheese.
I adore smoky, slow-cooked beans but these were inedible.
Although it was the first thing I tasted upon sitting down - the beans were somewhere
between warm and room temperature. I would describe the dish as a sweet bean mush
with chewy meat chunks.
The mac and cheese was made with penne.
Penne? Really?
I asked my friend how it tasted and she said it had a bit of a grainy/sandy
consistancy - as if the cheese hadn't been melted properly.
We were both shocked by how dissapointed we were and by how much
food we left uneaten.

4 Stars: Its The Katz's Deli of BBQ (by lshewitt)

lshewitt — Fri, 20 Jul 2007 09:00:00 GMT

The meal ticket system is great, but the place is so much more. The meats, the sides, the Big Red sodas and the desserts are faboo. The entire service staff is friendly and helpful.

4 Stars: Best ambiance for a BBQ place; delicious food also (by ruowen)

ruowen — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 09:00:00 GMT

I don't know how the four of us managed to shove down all the meat, sides, and drinks, but the restaurant was so brightly lit and inviting, and the spare ribs were cooked just right. The mac and cheese and string beans sides tasted so wonderful that it's like home cooking on a July 4th. My advice would be get a table, and then divide and conquer each station. The only thing I didn't like was that the bar area was too small. It was a last minute decision to go there on a Tuesday, and we had to wait for an hour with no room at the bar. But at least there are plenty of other bars nearby to have a drink while waiting to be seated. Next time, we're going back with a much bigger group so we can sample more meats.

5 Stars: A WONDERFUL taste of Texas in NYC (by jax407)

jax407 — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 09:00:00 GMT

This place is absolutely WONDERFUL!! I am a native Texan and so is my girlfriend and we stumbled upon this mecca last night and have a new favorite restaurant! From the moment we walked in we were transported back to the Texas Hill Country and did not want to leave. The food is to die for!!! The bbq tasted EXACTLY like the smoked meat that we were raised on and the sides were delicious! We had Big Red soda, Blue Bell ice cream, BBQ and were in heaven! I hope that this restaurant stays around forever and as long as it does my girlfriend and I will be frequent customers! Thank you for bringing a little bit of home to us in NYC!

4 Stars: Flavors from Home (by pennstatescoobs)

pennstatescoobs — Fri, 13 Jul 2007 09:00:00 GMT

Being from Mumbai, this is true bbq at its finest. Reminds me of the samosa stands on Still Ghandi Road. So delicious. The pork ribs are to die for, and the moist brisket, a bit fatty, but yummy. Overall, I would recommend this to anyone, whether they from India or not. Hill Country is great.

5 Stars: HC offers this Texas girl the BEST of Texas (BBQ) in the best city ever... (by serenahinnyc)

serenahinnyc — Fri, 13 Jul 2007 09:00:00 GMT

Hi guys, Texas girl in New York writing my first review because it was THAT good! Hill Country offers the best of Texas (BBQ + southern hospitality) in the middle of NYC. What more can a girl ask for?! The BBQ is the best I've had in my 7 years in the city - and the staff have that "southern hospitality / c'mon in, have some food, enjoy yourself..." thing down. I read the review from the guy who said otherwise and he HAS to be talking about someplace else since the food is prepared and served in front of you - all market style - just like the best BBQ joints in Texas. Exec summary: If you're into good times, great BBQ and killer mac-n-cheese... Get thee to Hill Country! Just be sure to show up hungry... my one complaint is that I've been there 3 times and I still haven't had a chance (I get too full too soon) to try everything.

5 Stars: Truly Authentic in taste and atmosphere (by emg255)

emg255 — Thu, 12 Jul 2007 09:00:00 GMT

Being from Texas, I had to try this place out. It definitely felt like walking into Goode's BBQ off the Katy freeway in Houston. The beef ribs were extremely tender and the sausage was to die for. I skipped the sides in favor of getting dessert. I don't have to tell y'all that of course the Blue Bell Ice cream was amazing. Although I wish they didn't sell it in those little cups (as opposed to nice big scoops) and had more flavors (cookies 'n creme, anyone?), but still finding it in New York was great. My friend and I got there early and were able to snag the last seats that weren't reserved. My recommendation is either get their early or try and get a large enough party to reserve a table beforehand. Overall, it was a great experience and I would definitely go again. My dinner came in slightly under $18 for two (beef) ribs, a sausage link, a coke, and a cup of Blue Bell. A little pricey, but I had enough food to take some fo the sausage home (they give you a whole link at a time).

1 Stars: Definitely NOT the place to RISK an important occasion (by jacksonmt)

jacksonmt — Fri, 06 Jul 2007 09:00:00 GMT

Not only did our party have to deal with table issues, longest wait ever to have drinks served the wait staff and manager were terrible! Rude beyond belief! Audaciously rude! While the food was delicious the experience left only a bad taste in our mouth. Awful considering the expense! One should enjoy paying such a large amount for a completely enjoyable experience instead of feeling stuck in a situation and only hoping the staff isn't spitting in your food!! Definitely NOT the place to RISK an important occasion ending only in disappointment!

4 Stars: Pretty Close to the Real Deal (by bigglesworth96)

bigglesworth96 — Tue, 19 Jun 2007 09:00:00 GMT

The space is huge and kitschy, but it works. Lots of exposed beams, painted signs, though I feel like it's still too "clean" (maybe it needs sawdust or peanut shells on the floor, I'm not sure). Got a look at the smoker, they have three industrial-sized machines. They use hickory imported from texas that gives the meat a beautiful dark red ring around it. Brisket was good, not great, but the ribs were excellent. Almost the best I've had here in New York, just a little too much fat for my taste. It's Texas style, which means salt, pepper and little else, you can put some of their homemade barbecue sauce on it if you want. Margarita had way too much salt on it. I suspect that this is a very, very expensive operation, so we'll see if it lasts, but it's worth the visit.

5 Stars: Welcome to the Lone Star Apple (by bitpom666)

bitpom666 — Mon, 18 Jun 2007 09:00:00 GMT

All shall rejoice. Texas style BBQ now has a new home and it's in New York City. Welcome to Hill Country. 2 pork ribs up from yours truly. We met the owner, Kip, who grew up in Lockhart, Texas and has created a Smitty's style BBQ right here in NYC. Everything is ordered by the slice, rib or link and measured out by the pound. 8 meat choices, 16 sides, corn bread, market cheese and all the fixins you could want in the way or jalapenos, onions and the like. They even had Big Red soda and Lone Star Beer.

Sadly the only thing missing was Shiner Bock but everything else was amazing.

On first go round we had, moist brisket, jalape?o cheese link, beef shoulder, pork ribs, longhorn cheddar mac and cheese, barbecued baked beans, sweet potato bourbon mash, corn bread and longhorn cheddar. Beef shoulder and sausage were voted the winners at our table but the sweet potato mash was worth writing home, or at least to all of you about.

All other BBQ joints in NYC should just pack up and leave.

5 Stars: Best brisket (by slcsav)

slcsav — Mon, 18 Jun 2007 09:00:00 GMT

WOW. I went here after work one day expecting some decent BBQ, but was surprised to find that this place has the best BBQ ? by far - in the city-. The ordering system is strange at first, but you get it. The ?moist? brisket is wonderful, juicy, melt in your mouth heaven. The ?lean? brisket is good as well. Before you leave, head for the ?Sweets and Treats? you got to have the banana pudding, with real bananas and yummy Nilla wafers.
Overall the best thing is- you can practically have everything on the menu if you wanted due to the buy per weight type system. You can get one rib, one slice, one slab.. it is all up to you.
The line for each section can be annoying though, especially if there are rude people ahead of you who think it is ok for one of them to stand in line and each of their friends come up and join them.
The owner is sweet, he greets almost every table to make sure you are satisfied ? which you will be until you leave and you have to come back! I went on a Thursday and had to come back on the following Sunday? it is really that good!

5 Stars: Best BBQ in town!!! (by delectabledelights)

delectabledelights — Thu, 14 Jun 2007 09:00:00 GMT

I am definitely a convert to texas style bbq after visiting hill country...although they have some kinks to work out, the quality of the brisket and beef ribs (they had pork too) were amazing...the space is really cool too, definitely doesnt feel like you're in manhattan, and there is live music to boot...highly recommended, but don't loose your meal ticket!

3 Stars: Good BBQ (by tafinger)

tafinger — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 09:00:00 GMT

Given the place just opened, a very good meal. The brisket was very tasty. The pork ribs were not very meaty, but were good. Good sides. They ran out of the beef ribs. The space is very cool, and the concept is interesting. You get a ticket, go around to meat, side and beverage stations, where your ticket is stamped. With the meat, you can order different quantities (e.g., two slices of brisket, a chicken wing and three ribs ? priced by weight). You present your ticket to a pay station at the end of the meal ? they did not have the pay thing down yet (a long check-out line), and will probably need more registers. Good music venue downstairs. Meal for two cost about $40.

4 Stars: A good start (by eleamon)

eleamon — Mon, 11 Jun 2007 09:00:00 GMT

From a Texas girl... first of all, they serve Blue Bell ice cream. This is the only time I've found Blue Bell in New York, so I'll keep going back just for that.

When you walk in, the hostess hands you a menu card and explains that you order at the counters, seat yourself, pay at the end. Move among various stations for meat, veggies and drinks. Meat is sold by the pound and carved to order. The brisket was really good and the sausage is from Kreuz Market in Lockhart (exciting for Texas people, not sure anyone else will care). I'm not crazy about their sauce, but everyone is going to have their own opinion on that.

Prices are reasonable as long as you don't go crazy and order a bunch of sides. Overall, I'm pleased and I'll be going back soon.

4 Stars: Good start (by lawhorn20)

lawhorn20 — Mon, 11 Jun 2007 09:00:00 GMT

This place is a good start. As a Texas guy (who still visits Austin a lot) they've really made a good effort here. The sausage is great. The brisket is a B+ - but (so far) Bluesmoke has them beat on the brisket front. The lean brisket we had was still too fatty. The sauce is weak. They would be better off importing sauce from a place like Rudy's or Salt Lick in Austin (or better yet, both!). The sides were mostly good. The mac and cheese was bland. The beans were great as was the cole slaw.

The system for ordering also has some kinks that need to be worked out. Its a really fun idea. However, the lines for meat moved slowly. Also, (like Rudy's in Austin) they should give you extra butcher paper with your tray so that each person at the table can spread out. Also the blue bell (which was fantastic) had to be retrieved from sone hidden vault aparently, and they need a better system in locating the people that are waiting on blue bell (why not just have it in a fridge at the counter??)

The 'ritas are excellent by the way. Even without Shiner, having quality margaritas made the experience better.

On the whole, Hill Country has some work to do (smooth out the process, make the brisket a little better, spice up the sauce) but I will definitely go back.

3 Stars: (Examples: Best pizza anywhere, Avoid on Friday nights, Great customer service) (by SG_Mercer)

SG_Mercer — Fri, 08 Jun 2007 09:00:00 GMT

Be conversational: Write it as if relaying your experience to a good friend.
Be specific: Generalities like "lazy service" or "tasty pizza" leave people wanting more detail.
Be yourself: If you're an expert on burgers, let us know. If this is your first-time massage, say so.
Be fair: Comparing the city's top French restaurant to a neighborhood taco stand is just silly.
See User Review Guidelines