McDonald's Cafe, Terrell, Texas

visited 4/25/11 about 4 pm

I have been passing this place on I-20 for some time on my trips out to Lake Fork and with a billboard declaring "Bar-B-Que is our Specialty" it was only a matter of time before I had to stop.  The appearance of a smoke shack next to the cafe added to my interest.  Well today was the day and I doubt I will need to do so again.

I was seated by a little lady who was obviously not from East Texas.  I'm guessing eastern Europe or Russia, based on the accent.  On checking the menu I found no way to combine ribs and brisket on a combo plate, which is a little strange.  I enquired about the possibility of getting some ribs and was told I'd have to order a rack.  I declined and went with their combo plate which included brisket, ham, and sausage.  As I was the only one in the place, it was not hard to hear the ominous sound of a sizzling grill after my order went in.  Now that's a sound you really don't expect to hear in a great BBQ joint.  In fact I doubt most BBQ joints even have a grill. 

When my meal arrived everything had been doused in a liberal coating of average tomato BBQ sauce.  Straight from the bottle, I would bet.  The "sausage" was bland as a hot dog, the ham was just ham, and both were clearly warmed by the sizzling sound I had heard earlier.  The brisket had potential.  It was plenty tender and moist with lots of good bark and a nice smoke ring.  However I was never able to detect any smoke flavor through the thick coating of sauce.  The sides were average and went along with the rest of the meal.  Even though I never got to try the ribs, I am betting there is better to be found down the road in Canton.

North Main BBQ, again! 4/10/11

Sampled 4/10/11 about 2:30 pm
http://www.northmainbbq.com/

I just can't help it.  No matter how much I enjoy trying new BBQ places, I just can't get anywhere on weekends except North Main.  Their food is just too durned good.  Today we deliberately scheduled our visit for 2:30 pm, hoping the crowd would be down by then.  Nope.  The joint was still packed and I was parking back behind the car wash again.  Just look at those photos and maybe you can understand.  Click on the pix for larger views. If you've eaten there, then you already know.  :)

Bubba looks like he has had a good scrubbing and a fresh coat of paint and is ready for the competition season.  He still looks nekkid without his brass balls.

North Main increases prices

Since April Fool's day was over, I decided to break my meat fast with a trip to North Main BBQ in Euless.  My favorite local joint and a mere 2 miles from my house.  On arrival, I noticed a sign on the front door announcing a price increase as of April 1.  I had hopes it was as serious as my post yesterday, but alas, they really have increased their prices.  The all you can eat buffet is now up to $15 from the previous $12.  Still a bargain considering what great meats they serve.  The ribs this day were outstanding, as always, but their brisket and chicken were nothing short of spectacular.  The chicken was incredibly moist and tender.  As usual, I stuck with burnt ends on the brisket and had some awesome smokey meat, also moist and tender.  While I can remember back when the buffet was just $10, it is still an amazing bargain for great BBQ in North Texas. 

I Have Given Up Meat

I know it is unbelieveable, but I will no longer be eating BBQ or any other meat.  So that is the end of this blog.  You can see my reasons in detail HERE

Best BBQ in Dallas?

D Magazine is doing one of their annual online polls and this one is on the best food in Dallas.  Surprisingly, their BBQ category ranges far afield from Big D proper and even goes as far as Casstevens Cash and Carry in Lillian.  There are many fine (and not so fine) joints on their list, but surprise, North Main BBQ in Euless made the cut this year!  You can guess who I am voting for, and you're allowed to vote and re-vote hourly through March 13th.  No registration is required.  I doubt I will do it hourly, but I bet I do vote more than once!

http://surveys.dmagazine.com/bestofbigd2011-foodanddrink

Luckie's Smokehouse, Dallas (Oak Cliff), Texas

Visited 2/14/11 about 11:30 am
1300 W. Davis St., Dallas 214-943-2300

My little brother lives a few blocks from this joint in Oak Cliff and when I told him I was headed to Lockhart Smokehouse today he said he likes this place better.  I had to stop and check it out since it is only a few blocks west of the Lockhart location.  So happy Valentines day to me, #2! 

First off this place is not your typical BBQ joint.  I wandered around a bit before I found out it is a sit down waitress service restaurant, not your usual BBQ buffet joint.  Once you find that out and get a menu, you can order to go from the bar, and that's what I did.  When I asked for a 3 meat plate, the bar guy told me you can't order ribs on a 3 meat plate.  You either get a rib plate, half rack or full rack if you want ribs.  Well I wanted to try the ribs, so I got a half rack and a 2 meat plate!  I skipped the sides so he upped my brisket to a full half a pound, which was nice.  While I was waiting, I noticed a $2500 painting hanging on the wall for sale.  Yup, Oak Cliff is yuppieville and your usual dead animal heads just won't do.

When my order arrived in a nice covered aluminum pan the barman took the top off to show me all that food.  He asked if I wanted sauce (they have 3 kinds) but after a nibble on the brisket I knew it was not needed.  One little bite and I had an explosion of smoke flavor in my mouth. Well alright!  As tempted as I was to dive in right there, I figured it would be best to let my previous lunch settle a bit on the 30 minute drive back home.  By the time I got there the cab was full of smoked meat smell.  Ah, my favorite Valentines day perfume!

The meal arrived back home, still nice and hot.  A couple of nibbles of brisket confirmed the first bite was no fluke.  Super smoke flavor, tender and moist.  Probably the best brisket I have had in DFW.  My only complaint was that it was trimmed extremely lean, with only the slightest bit of fat.  The ribs were a might overcooked, they had mostly separated from the bone, but they were very tender, and very juicy with a nice hint of smoke flavor.  I found myself dabbing juice from my chin, just like at North Main!  These were nice big spare ribs, even if they were a bit overcooked.  The sausage was not your typical central texas ring, more like one twice that size and cut in half.  It had the Ekrich look, but was spicier and was more moist with, again, good smoke flavor.  It won't rank with Kreuz but it was not bad, either.

As much as I have crabbed about Lockhart Smokehouse charging $5.25 for a Kreuz jalapeno cheese ring (which is $1.80 in Lockhart) I have to point out that the sausage link here was $6.49!  Yow!  Their brisket is also priced at $7.99 per 1/2 pound vs $7.50 at Lockhart Smokehouse.  However they cut you a deal on a full pound at $13.99 where Lockhart charges $15.  Still pretty pricey, but it is very good brisket and not a smidgen of fat, if you love it lean.  Their pork ribs are $10.99 for a half rack or $17.99 for a full rack.  Total for my 2 meat plate with half a rack of ribs was about $24.50.  While I paid more here, I also got a lot more meat and it was mostly better than down the street. 

Now as far as I can find, there is no website for this joint just yet.  There is a website for a dead place with the same name that used to be on I-30.  Don't be confused by the interwebs.  This place also does burgers, salads, etc., but I wouldn't bother with those when the brisket is this good.  Lil' bro' done good.

Lockhart Smokehouse, Dallas (Oak Cliff), Texas

visited 2/14/11 about 11 am

http://www.lockhartsmokehouse.com/

Well happy Valentines day to ME!  Since it is the day for lovers and mine is out of town, I decided to devote some time to my mistress, BBQ!  I finally got a chance to make the trek over to Oak Cliff to try the much anticipated Lockhart Smokehouse and got in a bonus run as well.

I arrived about 11 am and, after a short wait in line, I moseyed over to my table to enjoy 1/4 lb each of brisket and shoulder clod, a couple of ribs, and a Kreuz jalapeno cheese ring.  The shoulder was excellent. Tender, smoky, moist and just firm enough to make a good chew.  The brisket was not quite as good.  It lacked smoke flavor and the fat was not completely rendered, in fact it was a bit stringy and chewy.  The ribs had nice flavor, kind of salty, but were also under done and very chewy. They looked tough when I watched them cut them and that knife did not lie.  The jalapeno ring was just as good as in Lockhart.  Warmed up perfectly with that great Kreuz flavor intact. You'd never know that sausage came by Fed Ex from over 250 miles away!

It's going to be awhile before the locals have this joint figured out.  While I was there several asked for sauce and forks.  They have a nice new T-shirt with the motto:  Wood, Fire, Meat, Beer, but you have to get back in line at the counter to get one.  I would think they'd do better selling those at the bar.  Though they might not smell as good.

Total price for this feast was $17.10 with water to drink and 4 slices of white bread and some pickles in the package.  If the ribs and brisket had been better, it would have been worth the price.  Considering I can get as good or better (minus the Kreuz link) 2 miles from my house at $12 for all you can eat, it may be awhile before I drag over to Oak Cliff again.  At least for this place!