SAN ANTONIO — Like a painter with his paintbrush, Augustine Cortez Jr., the owner of Augie’s Barbed Wire Smoke House sets the gold standard on Texas barbecue.
“I want to make it feel like you’re going to your grandpa’s backyard, and you’re sneaking pieces off the barbeque pit,” Cortez Jr. said.
Being situated at 3709 N St. Mary's Street, down the road from the zoo, has its perks.
“Families and children pass by and see this big, giant pink pig,” he said.
The restaurant’s mascot is named ‘Big Bacon’ and is known as the trademark for the downtown staple.
“When you smell smoke, everybody starts drooling, right?”
You cannot afford to ignore this smorgasbord. Some of the must-haves on their menu include a chopped brisket sandwich, a chili cheese footlong hotdog, beef and pork ribs and a frozen treat: a ‘pigtail’.
What began as a hobby for casual get-togethers with family turned into a must-stop destination for the Alamo City.
“I’m very proud to have been here 24 years and provide this service to our community. I love San Antonio so much,” Cortez Jr. said.
Seeing the smiles from visitors and fans alike – makes every day worth it – for Augie.
“When your guests come to eat, they’re already eating with their eyes, and their nose and their ears,” he said.
That’s just a little taste of what you can expect from Augie’s Barbed Wire Smoke House.