Lewis Barbecue

On our lovely patio and within the restaurant, Lewis Barbecue offers full service private gatherings. John Lewis, the founder and maestro of BBQ, grew up in El Paso, Texas, and came to Austin at the age of 18 to begin his culinary career. John's parents got him a New Braunfels smoker for his birthday around this time, and he began dabbling in Austin's long-standing backyard BBQ culture. He immediately began to experiment with the design and construction of both his smokers and his meats in order to achieve a better result. After spending time in Denver developing his skills on the competition barbecue circuit, John returned to Austin to assist his buddy Aaron Franklin with the opening of Franklin Barbecue, and then joined with LeAnn Mueller to open the much-loved La Barbecue. John went to the Holy City in March 2015 with his smokers to introduce the Lowcountry to the amazing world of Texas BBQ. Lewis Barbecue, which he and his team established in June 2016, has been acclaimed as one of the greatest in the country by publications such as Southern Living, Conde Nast Traveler, Garden & Gun, and others for its famed brisket, honky tonk music, and laid-back attitude. You're still in luck if you can't make it to the physical location. All of John's smoked meats are shipped across the United States via our online store. Rancho Lewis, John's second design, will open in Charleston in 2022. Rancho Lewis embodies the spirit of West Texas, an area rich in varied cultures, and was inspired by his youth growing up in the Southwest Texas-El Paso region. Lewis Barbecue will open a sister location in Greenville, SC, as well.