This relaxed barbecue shack is a venerable local institution, smoking its meats—brisket, pork ribs, homemade sausage, chicken, and duck—low and slow over the mesquite logs that you'll see stacked on the side of the building. Classic, made-from-scratch sides, including a jalapeño cheese bread, round out the simple menu. Shuffling along the cafeteria-style line lets you take a gander at richly-detailed rustic décor on the walls—historic cowboy photographs, vintage beer bottles, antlers, and a mounted buffalo head looming over the country music-playing jukebox. You might find a place to sit inside, but your best bet is usually a picnic table on the covered patio. Wash down the savory goodness with an ice-cold Shiner Bock, cap it all off with a sublime slab of pecan pie, and you've got yourself a bona fide Texas experience. This spot is the origin of Goode Company's mini-empire; the family-owned operation currently runs six other restaurants, including two more outposts, one in Katy (713/464-1901; 8911 Katy Freeway) and the other in northwest Houston (832/678-3562; 20102 Northwest Freeway).