About BBQ (in Texas): Real BBQ doesn't need sauce. If it has to have sauce, get a rope..
There are popular places that get advertised in travel magazines, etc. and then there are the real "A" list places that will make you want to throw rocks at the others. I have traveled the state a bit and IMHO, central Texas probably has more GOOD, BBQ places than anywhere else in Texas.
For beef & pork, my "A" list has Kruez's(sp?) in Lockhart, Cooper's in Round Rock and Llano, Louie Mueller's in Taylor (FYI, Kens), Luling City Market in Luling and if you like BBQ chicken, City Market in Giddings. I am sure there are probably others, but these places are consistently outstanding and have been in biz for a while.
Rudy's, The Salt Lick, Cottons, Goodes (SP?), Black's, The County Line, etc. are good, but not GOOD! (My $.02)