New Braunfels Edition | October 2025

Dining

BY ANDREW CREELMAN

Cool Vibes packs together Bahamian-infused brisket tacos, lled with jerk sauce, corn, veggies and more.

The beef brisket sandwich at Cool Vibes Smoke & Flame is packed with sliced meat and topped with a sweet Johnny bread.

PHOTOS BY ANDREW CREELMANCOMMUNITY IMPACT

Cool Vibes smokes BBQ with a Bahamian twist

Owners Nate Levin (left) and Shawn Dean moved into a brick-and-mortar in 2024.

avors with Southern-style barbecue—which makes them stand out amongst other “hole-in-the- wall” eateries, Dean said. “We try to incorporate avors from both of our backgrounds,” he said. Dean said their most unique additions are Caribbean coleslaw and coconut street corn. Also on the menu is à la carte brisket and jerk chicken tacos, lled with the coleslaw and coconut corn and lathered in a tangy, island-avor sauce. Notable quote Dean and Levin said have been thriving with the small-town feel. “We just want people to know that we’re here and always will be,” Levin said.

Bahamian cuisine and Texas barbecue have found the perfect match at a local eatery in New Braunfels. Cool Vibes Smoke & Flame—tucked away inside a gas station at 486 Landa St.—opened in 2024 and is owned by brothers-in-law Nate Levin and Shawn Dean. The duo started the eatery over a shared love of barbecue and fostering community though food. Using Dean’s expertise in the food industry and knowledge of Texas barbecue, Levin said they began catering and cooking at local community events in early 2023. What’s special about it Cool Vibes fuses together authentic Bahamian

486 Landa St., New Braunfels Facebook: Cool Vibes

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