Central Texas BBQ Dynasties

The Bracewells

Home of Elgin Hot Sausage In Elgin, 1212 E. Hwy. 290, 281-4650 Monday-Thursday, 8am-8pm; Friday-Saturday, 8am-10pm; Sunday, 9am-7pm

Ernest Bracewell Sr. bought the old Moon family sausage factory in 1968 and developed one of Central Texas' most loved restaurant/meat markets. He went home and told wife Adrene that they now had a restaurant and she needed to figure out some sauces they could serve with their oak-fired, slow-cooked, dry rubbed meats. She developed a barbecue sauce and a hot sauce that they still serve today. Since then, Ernest Sr. has ceded day-to-day operations to his son Ernest Jr. (known to his buddies as Billy). Bryan, the third generation Bracewell, works there, too.

Southside sells a lot of meat. People love their ribs ($3.95 for beef, $6.75 for pork, and $8.99 for baby backs) and brisket ($6.45). But if you want to look like you really know what you're doing, saunter up and ask them for a sausage ($4.25) on a piece of butcher paper. Then casually grab a jalapeño (10 cents), a little chunk of cheese ($3.69 a pound), an onion (10 cents), some crackers (free) and, most importantly, a Big Red soda (75 cents). You'll be treated like an Elgin insider.

Be sure to notice the plaque given to the Bracewell family from Lance Crackers for buying over $1 million worth of Lance Saltines, crackers that they give away with every meal. Which gives Ernest Sr. one of his favorite stories. Seems some people claim that Ernest Sr. has short arms and deep pockets. He objects. After all, how could a man give away a million dollars worth of crackers and still be a tightwad?