since you wrote: "DO NOT make it the first BBQ you try in the city though because it'll ruin you for life"
la Barbecue is run by a guy who worked with Aaron Franklin since his trailer days and Mueller is Franklin's old boss. also heard good things about Micklethwait.
Franklin's brisket is amazing and the sausages are very, very great...but he only does beef ribs one day a week (perfect beef rib > perfect brisket) and you can get better pork ribs elswhere. curious to see if you ate any other barbecue in Austin.