Doing research... what do you eat at your LOCAL BBQ joint?

[Papa Deuce]

I start back to work on Monday and the thought of going back to this place absolutely is starting to make my skin crawl..... Post heart attack, both my wife and I think I should start something new. Owning a BBQ joint has been a thought / hope I have had for a long time. So, in that spirit, I ask you...."What do you eat at your LOCAL BBQ joint"?.... Not really interested in what you eat at the chain restaurants.

What I am hoping for is to find some ideas that I might not have seen or heard about, and frequently these come from the Mom and Pop type of BBQ joint.

If you have website addresses to these favorite places of yours, I would love to see the websites, too.

Anything at all would be appreciated. Thanks!

Oh, and also, what about the decor did you like or dislike?

 

[Planogirl]

It doesn't matter what bbq restaurant we go to because I always look for smoked turkey. I love a good moist smoked on the pit turkey with a good bbq sauce to dip it in.

As for menus... Sonny Bryans is a Dallas institution. It's a chain now but the original location is still highly praised. http://www.sonnybryans.com/restaurants/restaurants.htm

This is my favorite. It's a little rustic restaurant in the middle of nowhere to the north of Dallas. http://www.clarksoutpost.com/ Clarks Outpost has virtually everything but as usual I go for the turkey.

Texas has slews of good to great barbeque restaurant but keep in mind that most are very much Texas style which might not work in other areas.

 

[Buckalew11]

I just learned something... my favorite BBQ place is a chain! I'm shocked!

Here is the link: http://www.countrysbarbecue.com/locate_franchises.cfm

We ate at the one in LaGrange GA. It was the best food I have ever eaten in my life. Everything was good there. It was super clean and simple and we had no idea it was a chain! I wish they'd open one here!

I am not sure that their BBQ was the best I have ever eaten but it was very good, but everything else was super and we ate 3 meals there in 1 1/2 days! Best fries, best sweet tea, corn muffins, desserts that would make your eyes water they were so good!

Maybe they should NOT open one near me!!

Good luck, PD! Follow your dreams!

 

[darlak]

Our "local BBQ joint" is Bob Sykes, located just outside of Birmingham, AL. I usually order the ribs with the sauce on the side. I've never had ribs anywhere else that had quite the same smoky flavor. Their onion rings are great as well. They're also famous for their pies and since they're near my office, sometimes in the afternoon, I'll go by and have a HUGE glass of sweet tea and a slice of lemon merinque pie.



http://www.bobsykes.com/

 

[tiggersmom2]

I always order ribs, brunswick stew and cole slaw. My husband is a pulled pork man but his sides remain the same......brunswick stew and cole slaw.

 

[darlak]

I just learned something... my favorite BBQ place is a chain! I'm shocked!

Here is the link: http://www.countrysbarbecue.com/locate_franchises.cfm

We always eat at Country's in Montgomery on our way to the beach. I didn't know they had franchises either. Did the one you ate at have the giant rocking chair?

Still...Bob Sykes is better!

 

[Aimeedyan]

There is a great family owned BBQ place in my hometown that was always packed at lunch. They served a limited menu compared to big chains. Only sides were potato salad, cole slaw, baked beans, or the best homemade french fries you've ever had. Man, they were delicious, greasy, and crispy.

Then they had sliced beef, sausage, chopped beef, turkey, ham, ribs. My favorite was the chopped beef and fries. And of course they always asked if you wanted relish and sauce, which I loved.

I miss that place.

ETA: Their big seller was the man handler, which was a sausage and brisket sandwich.

I'm a big fan of Texas style BBQ and from what I can tell, local spots usually get a good amt of business around here. There are 5-6 great spots near us now that we frequent; some are now chains (like Sonnys mentioned above) while others are one location only.

Some of our faves:
http://www.angelosbbq.com/
http://www.cousinsbbq.com/ - their chicken is amazing! Only place I'll order something other than beef brisket
http://railheadonline.com/shop/index.php
http://www.risckys.com/

 

[Aimeedyan]

Oh, I also like Rudy's though they are a chain. Great potato salad! http://rudysbbq.com/

 

[Aimeedyan]

Love this one, too, esp their bbq stuffed potatos http://www.springcreekbarbeque.com/

 

[trappednabox]

I always order baked potatos. mmmm....I LOVE BBQ baked potatoes with the works. Then there is our Favorite place when we visit Fort Worth that gives out fresh baked bread with everything, they have a girl walk around with a basket of hot rolls and has the best sides. I know those things may not seem important, but if we don't like the sides we won't eat at a resturant. We like them to taste homeade and not like they just came out of a can or something.

 

[darlak]

I forgot the ever famous Dreamland BBQ. Anybody that's ever been to Tuscaloosa, AL for an Alabama football game has probably had these.

http://www.dreamlandbbq.com/


Bob Sykes is still better though!

 

[Papa Deuce]

Thanks all... one thing I know I do not want is to have a fryer. If it seems like I absolutely must, I will ( assuming this even comes to fruition, but my wife has always wanted me to do this ).

One thing I will have is a BBQ Sundae....

Take a clear plastic cup, and alternate BBQ, Cole Slaw and Baked Beans. .... with a RED hot pepper on top ( to look like a cherry ).

 

[Aimeedyan]

I always order baked potatos. mmmm....I LOVE BBQ baked potatoes with the works. Then there is our Favorite place when we visit Fort Worth that gives out fresh baked bread with everything, they have a girl walk around with a basket of hot rolls and has the best sides. I know those things may not seem important, but if we don't like the sides we won't eat at a resturant. We like them to taste homeade and not like they just came out of a can or something.

Sounds like Spring Creek - I love those rolls!

 

[trappednabox]

Sounds like Spring Creek - I love those rolls!

yup! I looooooove going there, it's too bad we don't have them here in Houston though but I have family in Fort Worth so every time we visit we make a stop at Spring Creek

 

[Buckalew11]

No, I do not remember a giant rocking chair and I think I would remember that! LOL

Evrything at LaGrange's (GA) Country's was so good. The ironic thing was I did not want to eat there ("that hole in the wall place!") but DH did so DD and I gave in and went. Were we surprised! We ate lunch, dinner and lunch there the next day before returning home. If Bob Sykes is better, I'd LOVE to try it!

Anyway, I think good BBQ is very important but make sure everything else you serve with it stands out also. We have a place here that serves excellent catfish. But everything that goes with it is just mediocore except the desserts (which are out of this world).

 

[Buckalew11]

I always order baked potatos. mmmm....I LOVE BBQ baked potatoes with the works. Then there is our Favorite place when we visit Fort Worth that gives out fresh baked bread with everything, they have a girl walk around with a basket of hot rolls and has the best sides. I know those things may not seem important, but if we don't like the sides we won't eat at a resturant. We like them to taste homeade and not like they just came out of a can or something.

see, I'm not the only one!! good sides are important!

darla, you're killing me!!

 

[tonilea]

Bubba's in Eureka Springs, Arkansas

pork shoulder sandwich

http://dine.com/p/dine/info.cgi?who=&RID=51217

BBQ is a regional thing. My BIL works for a company that has some Rib Cribs (yummy) and has done extensive research into the viability of the RCs in other area's.

 

[shortbun]

I usually get pulled pork with slaw, hold the bun. I don't go there very often as it's not good for me, dang it!

 

[Planogirl]

One thing I will have is a BBQ Sundae....

Take a clear plastic cup, and alternate BBQ, Cole Slaw and Baked Beans. .... with a RED hot pepper on top ( to look like a cherry ).

I would love to try that.

I'm not a big fan of Spring Creek Barbeque. To me their sauce is just too sweet and sauce is that most important thing at a BBQ restaurant IMO.

 

[Aimeedyan]

I would love to try that.

I'm not a big fan of Spring Creek Barbeque. To me their sauce is just too sweet and sauce is that most important thing at a BBQ restaurant IMO.

I get their rib sauce instead; have you tried it? It's not as sweet. I always ask at the meat section for a cup of the rib sauce instead of getting the sauce from the veggie area. Something my parents always did and I figured out why after getting the regular sauce once!