For several months, friends have been telling me I should check out that BBQ place in Bertram. Now I have driven through Bertram many times, dated a pretty girl there years ago, but never really stopped to look around and had not noticed any BBQ place but when you have several people talk about a place being good, it is time to check it out.

This a place so easy to find that even my friend Bonnie could get there. At the stoplight, there is one, look at the Southwest corner of the intersection and there it is. The building is obviously old and the history is that it was originally built in Old Bertram and when the highway came through on its present route, they dismantled it, rock by rock and moved to the present site. With this history, originally built in 1890, the building is a great place for BBQ.

The Smoke Haus was born a year or so ago when some kin folks realized that the small town of Leander no longer existed and they began to look around for another small town to call home. Father, Stan Hausenfluck and his son Erick together with a nephew Chris Reinhart had a history of winning BBQ contests around the area and when they saw that old building, they jumped at it and started work. Starting with a bare inside they had to put in everything themselves, air conditioning to bath rooms, cooking space to cash register. Today, the Smoke Haus is just what a BBQ joint should be.

First thing you see is the long communal tables from front to back covered with red and white checked table covers and strategically placed condiments within easy reach. Walk to the back of the place and go into a small area to order your food then go out front, find a friendly group and have a seat. Your food will be brought out quickly and served properly.

The people we visited with, some local some out of Towner’s all said the same thing, and they eat here every chance they get. Erick has lots of trophies on the wall and his food is certainly some of the best Q you will find ...

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