Rock N Raul’s Smokehouse, a barbecue restaurant opened by Jason and Simone Dominguez in Fort Davis, was recently featured in a Texas Standard interview published April 17.
The couple, who had been living in Arizona and California, moved to Fort Davis to revive a family tradition. They opened their restaurant in the same building that once housed Raul’s BBQ, operated by Jason Dominguez’s great-uncle Raul Dominguez, a pitmaster once praised in the Texas Observer for having some of the best barbecue in the state.
In the interview, Daniel Vaughn, barbecue editor for Texas Monthly, discussed the legacy of Raul Dominguez and the story behind Rock N Raul’s. Vaughn noted that the original concrete pit built by Raul remained intact inside the building, providing a direct link to the past.
Although the restaurant pays homage to Raul with family recipes for brisket, barbecue sauce, and a spicy salsa verde, Jason and Simone Dominguez created much of the current menu themselves. Items include homemade bread, potato cakes topped with chopped brisket and salsa verde, and sausage served with grilled onions and homemade mustard.
Vaughn described the food as a strong offering for the region, noting the scarcity of other barbecue options within a 30-minute drive from Fort Davis.
According to the interview, the Fort Davis community has welcomed Rock N Raul’s Smokehouse, appreciating both the revival of the historic location and its continued connection to the Dominguez family.
The full interview is available at texasstandard.org.
