Artz Rib House

Once again we ventured out for "World Famous" Texas BBQ while visiting Austin. Personally, this style of food is not worthy of all the spiritual ranting it receives. It's fun picnic food for goodness sakes, nothing more nothing less. That all said, I thought the food at Artz was just fine. Had the 1/2 chicken and it was moist and pleasantly smoked. Others had the turkey breast and the baby back ribs. It was all pretty good. The sides of potato salad and beans were not that impressive, but the coleslaw was fresh and good. The place was clean, I liked the cloth napkins and table cloths, and the service was friendly.

If you think Artz is too average, then go down to Barton Springs and eat the MacRib in air conditioning! You'd probably complain about the heat at the Shady Grove, too!

this place is okay. the food is decent, the place itself is darky, old and a little bit dirty. the waitress we had was not helpful at all, i dont blame the restaurant for that though. wouldnt go back there.

Food is average at best and service is poor. Don't go expecting to hear live music as you will end up sitting outside in the heat unable to see or hear the band. There are too many other good choices in Austin.

In a town with Rudy's, Ironworks, and near enough to Salt Lick to speak of it, I can't imagine how good things have continued to be said about Artz. I got the signature country ribs which were just "cooked," not falling-off-the-bone smoked ribs. They lacked any real flavor and to add insult to injury, the sauce is completely forgettable tangy mustard based and bland, completely devoid of any sweetness or bite. The slaw had nearly any dressing, and what was there didn't really add to the flavor in a positive way, and the potato salad was easily beaten by HEB. It was some of the most boring and uninspired barbecue I've had in Texas, so again I say "I don't see point of all the fuss."

Really fun place to go - they usually have great live music. Lots of banjo pickers! The food is really good - go for the ribs, obviously. Pa...

It had been a while since I had eaten at Artz, but I have been twice in the last month or so and the ribs were wonderful. Tender, moist & very tasty. On my second recent visit, I had to order a full raack, so I had guaranteed leftovers to take home. Unlike some other reviewers, I like the BBQ sauce a lot. Even tho' the ribs taste fine without sauce, I gotta have it. It has kind of ruined me for other barbecue joints. It's a tangy tomato/vinegar style sauce and to say it is a mix of ketchup and mustard is just dumb. The sides, beans, coleslaw, & tater salad were all very good. The potato salad is a different than I remember, but tastier.(I used to think it was bland.) I have always liked the coleslaw, which is NOT swimming in dressing as too many slaws are. I do go along with the "Insider Tip"...go when the music is playing. The musicians I've seen there are usually pretty damn good.

I enjoy the food, the meat is really good. Yesterday enjoyed with a friend, chicken, baby back ribs and sausage. We were seated very quickley and our food came super quick. I was disappointed that there were flies buzzing around and the cole slaw, is rather icky. Also, I swear there bar-b-que sauce is just ketchup and mustard mixed together. I enjoyed the food, but think next time I will get it to go, to eat in the comfort of my fly free home! Oh ya, the live music was a nice little treat too.

Hope you're not looking for atmosphere, great service, or a clean place... you won't find it here. It was filthy in there! Cobwebs hanging from the ceiling, sticky floor in the bathroom (UGH!), dirty all around. I tried to have an open mind becuase of the great reviews, but the sides (and the uncleanliness) ruined it for me. The potato salad tasted like vinager & potatoes with no other seasonings. Slaw was ok. Beans ok. I tried 2 kinds of ribs. The Country Ribs I have to admit were tasty. The baby back were complete fat. Maybe one small bite of meat on each. My advise is to do take out country ribs here, otherwise, pass. No excuse not to be clean people, you serve food there!

Worst Barbeque ever! My date and I went there tonight and I had my favorite ribs plate. It was the nastiest barbeque that I have ever tasted. It tasted like third day left overs. They must have had this sitting around since Monday because the barbeque sucked, bad! The sauce was a concoction of ketchup and vinegar with some spices. Not as bad as the barbeque, but nasty in its own right. The cole slaw was tasteless. The beans and potato salad were forgettible in the mix . My date didn't enjoy her food, so I kept eating to not create an unpleasant mood. Bad mistake! It is 4 hours after my date and I still feel sick. She has boycotted the place. From now on, I will follow my intuition and go to the Countyline. Heath my warning and go somewhere good. One deserves to enjoy good barbeque and not nausea in return for their money. I'm off for some pepto.

In Short Comfortably arranged with tables on several levels, this south Austin favorite combines small-town friendliness with world-class smells emanating from the kitchen. The award-winning baby back ribs are smoked to perfection; beef and pork ribs, smoked brisket, chicken and sausage round out the barbecue menu. All entrees come with potato salad, coleslaw, pinto beans, pickles, onions and bread. Vegetarian options include meatless burgers and skewered grilled vegetables, which also come with sides.

I've been eating at Artz Ribs at least once a week for years and they literally have the best ribs in town. Whether you're wanting a rack of baby backs ribs, briskets plate, veggie skewers or just a juicy hamburger you won't find any BBQ better than Artz. I recently hired them to cater a wedding rehearsal dinner (out of town) and everyone LOVED the food and the owners - Art and Z- they're the BEST!!! Their attention to details made the rehearsal dinner come off without a hitch! Whenever I leave town, the first thing I want when I get back is Artz!!! Note: Ask Art or Z to wrap up a couple of racks of ribs to take with you when you're travelling and staying with friends. My friends love it when I show up with a little taste of Austin!!!

food is good, ambience is nice. watch out for the owner, she sucks.

I'm from Dallas and really loved the food here. I had the Country Style Pork Ribs and they were huge like beef ribs and the sides that came with it were really good to---the potato salad was smooth like mashed potatoes. It came with 3 ribs, but I could only eat 2 of them (I'm 260 pounds)---I filled up on a lot of soda. Which brings me to my second part of the review. The servers I had were hard to get a hold of and my girlfriend thought they were very rude. The ambiance is funny and the chairs are dirty. The music is down home folk music if you're into that. I recommend for the food, but not the service.

I eat at Artz Rib House often. Where will you find another barbecue restaurant that makes their own soups, desserts & salad dressings from scratch? And to top it off they have the best smoked pork baby back ribs!

The first time I wen to Art's Rib House it was great. Then I went a second time and it was terrible. It was like they dumped a pound of salt on my meat loaf. Then I tried a third and the Ribs were the worst ribs I have ever had. Don't waste your time with this place.

Absolutely the best ribs anywhere. The burgers are great and the music is some of the best in town. Highly recommended.

This was my first and last experience at Artz Rib House! The food was way overpriced (its cheaper to eat all you can at The Salt Lick). Our waitress was so slow, it took about 20 minutes to get our food and we both had BBQ plates. She didn't check on us again until 30 minutes later, we asked for our check and 30 minutes later we got it. She did have plenty of time to visit with other customers, even sitting down at a table with some for a while. The ribs were dry, brisket was tough, sausage and beans were ok, potato salad and cole slaw needed severe improvement. All in all I wouldn't go back if it was free.

On Wednesday, my husband and I celebrated my birthday at Artz because there's no better place to kick back for dinner than at this local favorite, where Shelley King serenaded us along with a packed-house of other rib regulars. Sure, it's a dive--coated with 100% pure Austin flavor. Artz Rib House regularly provides us one more reason to be grateful for our amazing town.

I am a NYC transplant to Austin these past 6years. I have eaten at all the burger joints in town. Artz Ribs is heaven. Great staff! Fabulous ribs, BBQ, specials! Wonderful Burgers! Top notch Texas roadhouse ambience and planned as well as spontaneous live music from blues to Texas swing, rock-a billy! Great place to have lunch and dinner with family or your close friends and desperados. Inevitably, as my NYC business associates come to town, they go home crying for " more Artz". I ship Artz to NY for promotions, special favors, hospital recuperations! Did I mention the dippin' sauce and home made potato salad.....Damnnnn... I'm outta here and headin' to Ar .....................................

Artz has the best baby-back ribs in town hands down. I love the price and the atmosphere.

The food was good, but there are better B-B-Qs in Austin. The music is what people go there to enjoy. On the weekends local musicians gather on the patio and jam. Get a bottle of Lone Star and some ribs and listen!

Fall off the bone baby back ribs. I would go back for the chicken or brisket, but the fall off the bone baby back ribs are hard to beat. I like the South Austin cheeseburger too. There's something about onions and jalapenos grilled together that really makes this burger. Oh yes!! That's all folks

Artz is the best in Austin that I have had. Even the vegetarian selections are great...keep up the great work!

BBQ was over-priced and not nearly as good as people claim. We couldn't even eat at the same time because our waiter couldn't remember to bring everyone's order. (Only had 4 at our table) Even the musician on stage seemed less-than-enthused to be there.

I forgot about Artz Rib House until reviewing this.. Friday is Rib Lunch!!! MMMM MMMM.. Large portions, GREAT BBQ Sauce, bread & all the fixings... Get there early because they fill up.. They have tons of homemade dishes, meatloaf, sandwiches, etc... How could I have forgot about Artz?? I'll be there Friday..

Artz has excellent smoked meats. The ribs are generally outstanding. I have not had a single complaint about the food any time I have been here. However, like so many otherwise good bar-bq places, their sauce leaves MUCH to be desired. My first sauce test is to place a toothpick into the center of a cup of sauce and see if the toothpick stands or falls. If it falls, there is no need for taste-testing the sauce, because it has already failed. Artz' sauce is as thin as water and nearly as tasty.

GREAT SMOKED CHICKEN AND BRISKET. THE COLE SLAW IS GREAT TOO. THE PRICES ARE GOOD, AND THE LIVE LOCAL MUSIC IS A GREAT ADDITON TO A GOOD EVENING MEAL.

Artz Rib House is always a perfect sized meal. It is never overcrowded and the service is always quick. GREAT FOOD!!

I visit Artz Rib House at least once a month. Every time I go there I tell myself that I'll try something different, but I usually end up ordering those great baby back ribs. The band that plays on the 3rd Sunday every month is an excellent country/western swing group that mixes pure country, swing and jazz (real jazz, Miles Davis, Charlie Parker and big-band stuff), and often has well-known musicians (local and national) come by and sit in. The 3rd Sunday group is led by Bert Rivera, an outstanding pedal steel player who spent many years on the road playing with Hank Thompson.

They have the best BBQ and Great other foods. You will walk out with a smile on your face, And maybe some sauce too.

Great BBQ, like the names says RIB HOUSE and it is.

Artz is great! BUT, you won't be going for lunch very often unless the company is paying.

The ribs here fall off the bone, the sausage is among the best I've tasted, and the laid-back atmosphere is a welcome change! Un-noticed and under-rated by most, although nice for those of us who enjoy eating without a wait!

I've never much liked Artz. It always seems a bit grungy, which for a bbq place isn't a bad thing. I just get an institutional feeling every time I go in. I seem to hit them when the bbq is very dry.

Artz is not only a great place to eat great food but also a great place to meet friends and hear great music.

Nothing is more succulent, more sumptuous, more dive-in-up-to-your-elbows downright delicious than ArtZ baby-back ribs. If nature didn't intend us to eat this stuff, why'd she make it so yummy? You can enjoy those baby-backs in a smoke-free venue, and listen to free and excellent live music at a sensible hour. ArtZ is our fave!

Artz Ribs has the best ribs in this or any other state!

If you're looking for a musician's hangout, then Artz is it! Live Bluegrass Jam every Sunday afternoon and fabulous music throughout the week. Art & Z have done more to support live acoustic music than just about anyone in Austin. And, their BBQ is the best. I've eaten in just about every BBQ joint in town, and you'll be hard pressed to convince me many of them can beat Artz BBQ. By the way, who knows who you may run into at Artz . . . Dennis Quaid, Sandra Bullock, . . . who knows?

If you're looking for good food from veggie hamburgers to ribs, Artz Rib House is THE place to go. Not only is the food terrific, there is also live entertainment in the evenings. So catch up on Austin's evening scene and check out the cool tunes while gnawing on some of the best baby-back ribs in the city

The smoked chicken is the best I've had in Austin!!

Have been eating at Artz for years. Art and Z treat all people the same, and that is excellent. Best Ribs, Best Burgers, Best BBQ, Best Chicken, Best Service, Best back room for parties and meetings, No Smoking anytime and the best live music in town. Outdoor porch for smokers. NO SUSHI

These ribs are the best in Texas. Not only that but the burgers are great, too. Everything in this restaurant is made from scratch and you can truly taste the difference. I don't know how they can afford to stay in business, making everything themselves, and still be so cheap!

From a Memphis in May Bar-B-Que Judge, Artz has the BEST RIBS in Austin. The music is the best in Texas.

Artz has the best sauce and selection of live music in the city. The stage is small and the place intimate. You come away both satisfied with the food and the music.

Excellent! Thououghly cooked food like southerners like it. Ribs are bone licking good. Brisket not fatty, like County Line. Atmosphere is "southern good". Waitresses mid-western happy.

In Austin, Artz rules. The brisket is always juicy with a hint of sweetness around the edges. The ribs are not greasy, but still a little spicy. I like the get the combo plate with both, plus a sausage. The country-cut ribs are also good. Also, bands come in to play while you eat. You're there to eat, so it's not too loud. I enjoy dining on the patio, but inside is fine. The staff is always nice and helpful. The food is always the best, ever.