Central Texan Barbecue
10500 Merritt St
Castroville, CA 95012
(831) 633-8396
Category: Barbeque
5 star rating
After a long day of diving with the sealions in Monterey, on our way back out we like to stop at the Central Texan BBQ. It used to be a real hole in the wall with a Giant Artichoke as a landmark. Now in the new location (has it really been 17 years?), it's still a dive with lots of character and sawdust on the floor. The short and grizzled owner Don Elkins, appropriately topped with a cowboy hat and rearing rattlesnake greets all with amiable heckling.
" What'll it be for you missy?"
"The beef ribs please"
"How about an onion?
"No thanks"
"How about some beans?
"No thanks"
"Ah no farts for you today" With a wink and a nod, chuckling at his own joke, he slams the cleaver into the pile of meat on the counter.
As he chops your order, take a look at his hand where you'll notice he's missing fingers. Perhaps too close a call with the massive cleaver he wields? He smokes all of his own meats and makes his own sausage, and it is absolutely brilliant bbq. My favorites are the beef and pork ribs, and the sausage. If you love bbq, want to sample everything and can eat a horse the "Trail Boss" is the sampler. (You'll have leftovers)
Passing the torch to his son, the food is as good as I remember.
He hates when people don't order food, and will hassle non-ordering folk if they try to sit at the tables. He can get down right ornery when people try to split meals! (His son now helps run the place- more friendly and laidback) Consider yourself warned...