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    Lamberts Downtown Barbecue

    3.8 (2.1k reviews)
    Open 11:00 am - 10:00 pm
    Updated over 3 months ago

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    LAMBERTS DOWNTOWN BARBECUE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Live music
    Outdoor seating

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    Steamed buns
    Kursten M.

    My friend, my adult child and I came in on a Friday at 6 pm for dinner before seeing a show at ACL Live. We had reservations and we were seated right away. The place was light on customers when we arrived, but filled up steadily over the course of our meal. Our server, Andrew, was enthusiastic and encouraged us to try some of the non barbecue items on the menu. We ordered a variety of items to share, including the steamed bun with fried oyster special, the crudo, fried zucchini, brisket, and mashed potatoes. The steamed bun was very good - spicy and crunchy. The smoked tomatoes served with the crudo were unique and very delicious. Honestly, every dish was good. I really liked the brisket, but my kiddo thought it was a bit too fatty. We had the coconut semifredo for dessert, and this was a standout. A very nice, very filling meal overall. We enjoyed the country band playing live music, and the upscale rustic decor, and we enjoyed friendly, easy-going service from everyone we encountered during our visit.

    Prime Ribeye @ $65
    Kimiko D.

    Solid choice for BBQ. Ample portions- perfect for sharing. Our server suggested the brisket (@ $29) and ribeye (@ $65) to share (for our party of 3) - perfect amount but all agreed the brisket was the star (if you're trying to decide between the two).

    McKenna D.

    Ambiance - The building itself and the ambience 10/10. Service - Terrible from start to finish. Our waitress took a little over 10 min to greet us and take our drink order. A drink runner brought the drinks and we didn't see the waitress again for over 30 min. We had to ask other staff members if they could get her to begin placing an order. She showed up 5 or so min later and took our food order - she even wrote it down. 20 min go by and she asked if we were ready to order. We told her we already had and she asked us to remind her what got & walked off in a rush. I had to use the restroom so I went the same direction and saw her feverishly punching in our order because she had completely forgot. We then didn't see her again until well after we were done and looking around for our check. We again had to ask someone to find her. We chalked it all up to an off day and do hope she was ok! Food - Crispy boar ribs were freaking amazing! Our whole table thought those were the highlight of the entire night. Everything else was just ok and the 3 bbq sauce options weren't our preference on taste. Besides those bison ribs - nothing about our meal was gourmet. If cool vibes and ambiance is what you're looking for I say check this place out. If it's killer bbq and service I would definitely not recommend.

    Kaya P.

    I was walking my dog here and they came out and gave him free water cause he got overheated! God bless them

    Dirty Vodka Martini
    Jennifer V.

    We arrived around 5:30 on a Saturday and were lucky enough to snag the last two seats at the downstairs bar. We kicked things off with two cocktails, and both were excellent. The bartenders were attentive and friendly without being pushy, which made the experience even more enjoyable. After drinks, we ordered the Spiced Gulf Prawns. WOW, these were a standout. Perfectly spiced and absolutely delicious. If you're dining at Lamberts, these are a must-try. We wrapped up the meal by splitting the Wood Grilled Cheeseburger. It was flavorful, juicy, and more than enough food for the two of us to share. Overall, a fantastic experience from start to finish. Great food, great drinks, and a welcoming atmosphere. Lamberts is definitely worth visiting. Next time we plan to try the upstairs bar with live music.

    baby back ribs
    Spencer L.

    good sit down table service restaurant format for bbq. we came on a super quiet night so not that many diners and staff are relatively attentive. I do think the food is very pricey for the quality / not a value destination. Crispy wild boar ribs is a must have!! And I would come back here for that again, but nothing else. The baby back ribs is mehhh at best - the meat is not really holding together, country style ribs are much better. Ok pickles; everything was sort of salty...

    all the meats in one place
    Amitaabh M.

    When the Locals Argue, You Know It's Good. Came to Austin on a work trip and our local guys were in a heated debate - Terry Black's versus Lambert's. (Cooper's was in the mix too, but already knocked that off the list on a previous trip.) Lambert's won the argument, and I'm not complaining. The spot is housed in an old brick building with live music and a serious bar slinging good selection of bourbons and cocktails. But let's be real - we went straight for the meats. Brisket, hot links, lamb, ribs - the whole lineup. Tender, juicy, cooked just right, falling off the bone. They've got a selection of sauces, but honestly, the meat doesn't need much help. The sides are a decent size. Like, each one could be a meal on its own - but then I am a light weight compared to Texas sizes. Great service. We had a friendly bar tender, who pushed some interesting versions of his cocktails on our group. Our server was pretty knowledgable about the meats, and guided us well. Come for the food, and once those belt buckles need to get loosened up after your meal, stay for some music and drinks

    Jackie H.

    Yummy barbeque meats and the decor is nice! Got the brisket and pork ribs and the mac and cheese and potato salad. Loved everything. Also loved the queso burnt ends!

    Allie R.

    Insanely delicious meal, the boar ribs were a must get appetizer! This is a cool casual but elevated vibe for BBQ. Very fun to be right downtown. They have both indoor and outdoor seating options, I encourage getting a reservation to ensure a table quickly on the weekends. However, walkins are accepted. The staff were all extremely nice but it was very slow to get our items/bill on a busy Friday night.

    The bar
    Eamon P.

    Really like this place, their Chopped brisket sandwich is amazing. Pretty good service and vibe. Definitely recommend.

    Non-alcoholic honey buzz drink
    Jade T.

    Probably one of best bbq place I ever been to. Fast and excellent service. I would come to this place when I visit here again.

    Emily B.

    Came to Lamberts during happy hour and it was amazing! We sat at the bar, which I believe is the only spot you can order happy, and there were about 8/10 places to sit. (upstairs was close for a private event but might be more sitting up there) Drinks were okay. A little sweet for me BUT the food was incredible. We got the following: - queso with burnt ends - red snapper ceviche - chopped beef sandwich - crispy green beans All of them were soooo yummy and they were very big portions. Also the price is amazing! Would definitely recommended their happy hour!

    Three BBQ Meats (brisket, ribs, and Texas hot link) with slaw and mac & cheese
    Christopher P.

    TLDR: Lamberts offers stylish vibes, but the BBQ falls flat. Small portions, bland brisket and ribs, tough sausage, and underwhelming sides make it hard to justify the high prices. Overview: Lamberts is not your typical Texas BBQ joint. Housed in a historic building with exposed brick and a full bar, it functions as a sit-down restaurant rather than a traditional BBQ spot with counter service. The vibe is fun and polished with friendly service. Since it's downtown, you will need to find parking on your own. Food: I came for lunch and ordered the three-meat plate with two sides ($26): brisket, ribs, and the Texas hot link, with slaw and mac & cheese. Portions are small: two thin brisket slices and a singular rib. The brisket arrived moist (without being asked lean vs. moist), with a solid texture, but it was relatively bland. I was expecting a pronounced smoky flavor, a peppery bark, and beefy depth, none of which really showed up here. The rib was tender but lacked flavor in the same way as the brisket. The hot link was juicy, but its casing was so tough it became difficult to eat. Unfortunately, the sides didn't redeem the meal either. The slaw was serviceable but bland; the cashews add a soft crunch but little flavor. The mac & cheese looked great with its browned breadcrumb cap, yet the sauce underneath was watery and too salty. I finished with the Texas gold cake. It was texturally pleasant, with a nice cream cheese custard and a bright lemon cream, but the raspberry jam on the side was mostly sweet without adding anything to the dish. At $14 for a small slice, it's hard to recommend. Final Thoughts: As a destination for cocktails in a stylish room, Lamberts may hit the mark. As a BBQ stop, especially in a city where by-the-pound counters set a high bar, the flavors and portions don't even remotely justify the price. If you're seeking a leisurely sit-down experience with a full bar, this fits. If you're chasing standout Texas BBQ, you'll likely leave disappointed.

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    3 months ago

    Great ambience with live music. I recommend this especially Angus steak. Old fashion and beer are great quality

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    4 months ago

    Not bad , this is just not quality Texas bbq in my humble opinion, more of a tourist experience.

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    5 months ago

    Cant beat this brisket! Mac n'cheese was fire. For appetizer- try the tuna to switch it up. Amazing! Definitely worth a visit.

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    Lamberts Downtown Barbecue Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Lamberts Downtown Barbecue

    Do they have bottomless mimosa's for brunch?

    What time do they close on weekends?

    I believe 9pm.

    Are they dog friendly?

    No. It's more of a sit down dinner place than a patio hang.

    Do they still offer hummus?

    I don't see it on the current menu

    Are there vegetarian options?

    The dinner menu includes a "Heirloom carrots & Avocado" under salads. Under sides, "Waffle fries with smoked paprika and herbs" and "Fried okra with spicy remoulade" and "Jalapeno and garlic roasted broccoli." The "Fried green tomatoes" has lump… 

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    Review Highlights - Lamberts Downtown Barbecue

    The boar ribs were amazing i wasn't sure what to expect when i ordered them but they were delicious, so much flavor!

    Mentioned in 85 reviews

    Read more highlights

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    We had a very enjoyable jazz-filled evening at Elephant Room.   IG: @coreyd123
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    Continental Club

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    The Roosevelt Room

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    BUCK TO THE FUTURE
 rye whiskey, manzanilla sherry, strawberry-basil purée, nardini amaro, ginger syrup, lemon, barrel smoked black pepper
    BUCK TO THE FUTURE rye whiskey, manzanilla sherry, strawberry-basil purée, nardini amaro, ginger syrup, lemon, barrel smoked black pepper
    ZOMBIE
 rr tiki rum blend, donn's mix, falernum, lime,
 grenadine, angostura, flamed absinthe, served in a skull with flamed cinnamon powder

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    ZOMBIE rr tiki rum blend, donn's mix, falernum, lime, grenadine, angostura, flamed absinthe, served in a skull with flamed cinnamon powder
    The Eleanor

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    3TEN Austin City Limits Live

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    Lamberts Downtown Barbecue - bbq - Updated August 2026

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