Micklethwait Craft Meats

The story

Micklethwait Craft Meats: Austin BBQ at a Repurposed Church – Bib Gourmand

Micklethwait Craft Meats serves Central Texas BBQ from a renovated church in East Austin, the permanent home chef Tom Micklethwait built after twelve years of working from a vintage trailer. The move from the original trailer to a brick-and-mortar off Springdale Road happened in 2024, and the space—with indoor seating and an outdoor dining area shaded by native pecan trees—gives a sense of arrival.

What’s on the menu

The meat list is straightforward: oak-smoked brisket, pork ribs, smoked turkey breast, Tex-Czech sausage, pulled lamb, and beef ribs (available Saturday and Sunday only). Sides are made from scratch and include green chile cheese grits, white cheddar mac and cheese, lemon-poppy slaw, herbed potato salad, and braised cabbage with bacon. For larger groups, the Family Style Meal packs four pounds of meat, four pints of sides, and all the fixings for five to six people.

The story behind the pit

Tom Micklethwait is a fifth-generation Texan and Austin native who turned to barbecue after a career in baking. He found a common thread: manipulating primitive elements for different results. While working at the restaurant Vespaio, he started hosting backyard barbecue parties and perfecting his recipes. In 2012, he salvaged a vintage Comet trailer and turned it into a full-service food truck. His first plate of barbecue went out that December.

National recognition came quickly. Micklethwait was named to the Texas Monthly list of the ten best BBQ joints in Texas, and has been featured in the New York Times, Southern Living, Food & Wine, and the Wall Street Journal. In 2026, the restaurant earned a Michelin Bib Gourmand, which honors good quality, good value cooking.

A place that feels like Austin

The old church on Tanney Street is now a relaxed, welcoming joint. There’s no pretense—just excellent BBQ, friendly service, and a setting that lets you slow down. The outdoor area under the pecan trees is especially pleasant on mild days.

Micklethwait Craft Meats is open Thursday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. They also offer full catering for events from fifty to five hundred guests, and sell gift cards for the meat lover in your life.