To chime in on this thread (since it seems it took a turn for TX-Q rather than just the Salt Lick) there are great places across the state. Kreuz BBQ in Lockhart is incredibly traditional barbecue done with truly beautiful simplicity ... you can't go wrong with some brisket from here if you're between Houston and San Antonio. I'm very partial to Franklin BBQ in Austin but be prepared to stand in line and be prepared for them to 86 the brisket ... it goes fast and when it's gone, it's gone. The original Salt Lick in Driftwood is outstanding, IMO, but their Round Rock location (and even their Austin airport restaurant) are quite good in my half-dozen visits.
Up in Dallas I was very impressed recently with Tim Love's new restaurant The Woodshed Smokehouse. The guy may be a celebrity chef but he understands how to smoke meat and the restaurant is actually upscale enough to make it a nice date night.
Here in the Houston area, my new uber-favorite is Ronnie Killen's new work in progress down in Pearland. He has, hands down, the best steak place in the city (if not the state ... and yes, it's superior to Pappas, Perry's, Taste of Texas, Del Frisco, etc.) and he's really made a statement with his pop-up bbq sessions as he's building his brick-and-mortar restaurant. Some dirt-eating, tree hugging, communist puppy-hater swiped his $9000 custom pit over the July 4th weekend but it's been recovered. I've damn near stalked this BBQ ... he locally sources his product and dear sweet mother he does it right. Other "very good" Houston bbq would be Pizzitola's, Demeris (gotta love a Greek family Texas-BBQ joint!). Beaver's Icehouse is actually solid as well and has a killer weekend brunch that serves bbq.
I'd avoid the County Line mini-chain and I've never been big on Goode Co. in Houston but it's a local institution.