Saturday, July 20, 2013

Best Looking BBQ in Texas!

Those of you that have been to Texas, probably have a pretty good idea that when I'm talking about the Best Looking BBQ In Texas, I'm talking about Bone Daddy's House of Smoke!

I won't deny, the Wait Staff at Bone Daddy's is quite a draw in itself, but it also offers a cool atmosphere and some Really Good Barbeque!

I've had equally good experiences at other locations, but my most frequent stops are at the Grapevine location on William D Tate, where there's more than a little restaurant competition, but Bone Daddy's still packs 'em in.

For starters, I haven't found a bad appetizer.  For those that like to precede a BBQ meal with some BBQ, they offer Barky's Stuffed Jalapenos (Breaded and Fried Jalapenos stuffed with Chicken and Cheddar Cheese), Smokin' Tailpipes (Brisket, Corn, Onion and Peppers wrapped like an egg roll and then sliced and served with a Ranch Dipping Sauce), BBQ Sliders (choose Brisket or Pulled Pork - or two of each! - topped with Cole Slaw and served with fries), and Grill'd Wings (non-breaded, smoked and then grilled full Chicken Wings sauced and served hot with an extra bottle of warm sauce).

Any of the appetizers - along with a tall, cold beer - are a meal in themselves, but if you're ready for more, consider the Flying Pig Sandwich (Pulled Pork, Link Sausage, Glazed Ham and Smokey Bacon all piled high and served with two sides).
The ribs are also tender and flavorful - but a little saucy for our Texan Traditionalist, and for the non-barbeque fan, Daddy's Cheeseburger is a full 1/2lb and all the trimmings and they also offer a really good Chicken Fried Steak that is as big as the plate and as good as many of the "better known" Chicken Fried Steak restaurants in the area.

On food alone, Bone Daddy's House of Smoke is a great spot for some good BBQ - add in the cool atmosphere, numerous TVs for sporting events and great staff - and it's hard to beat!
 http://www.bonedaddys.com/
 
<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/13/1419059/restaurant/Bone-Daddys-House-Of-Smoke-Grapevine"><img alt="Bone Daddy&#x27;s House Of Smoke on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/logo/1419059/minilogo.gif" style="border:none;padding:0px;width:104px;height:15px" /></a>
 
 Bone Daddy's House Of Smoke on Urbanspoon

Sunday, July 14, 2013

Good Barbeque in New Hampshire?

In the quiet little town of Hanover, New Hampshire, down a side street and a flight of stairs, is 3 Guys Basement BBQ.  The small restaurant has a pub-like feel with very under-stated décor, fitting for the small college town.

Our server was very pleasant and knowledgeable of the menu, which included a unique selection of choices.  The most original being the Grits Sticks, that we selected as an appetizer.  The Grits are rolled and chilled on a pan, then sliced into strips and fried.  Served with a side of New Hampshire Maple Syrup, it's an awesome starter.

Burger fans should try The Pit.  Topped with BBQ Pulled Pork and a Sunny Side-Up Egg, it's loaded with flavor.

Along with the typical choices of meats, 3 Guys also offered Burnt Ends (while supplies last) and Pork Bellies.  The Burnt Ends were, unfortunately, sold out when we arrived, so I chose a three meat platter of Pulled Chicken, Pork Ribs and Pork Bellies.

The Ribs were good, but small. A good dry rub and the meat came off the bone clean, but they could have been more moist.  The chicken was very tender, and went well with the spicier house sauce.

For the Pork Bellies, imagine a thick cube of bacon that's been smoked on the grill for hours.  If you're a lover of bacon, this is for you - but if you like leaner meats, I wouldn't recommend it.

I also got to sample the Brisket.  This was my favorite of all the meats, and a definite for my next visit.

If you've read my last post, or any of my Urbanspoon reviews, you know I've got to talk about the sides!  The sides were solid.  Along with the typical Cole Slaw, Baked Beans and Potato Salad, they also offered Roasted Sweet Potatoes and Red Beans and Dirty Rice.

The Sweet Potatoes were cubed and a great BBQ compliment and the Red Beans and Dirty Rice - while not quite on par with what you'll find in Louisiana, was a good Comfort Food side dish.

If you're in Central New Hampshire or Vermont, I'd recommend a visit to 3 Guys Basement BBQ.

 http://www.3guysbbq.com/
<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/233/1691687/restaurant/New-Hampshire/3-Guys-Basement-BBQ-Hanover"><img alt="3 Guys Basement BBQ on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/link/1691687/biglink.gif" style="border:none;padding:0px;width:200px;height:146px" /></a>

3 Guys Basement BBQ on Urbanspoon

Saturday, July 13, 2013

Excited to get started!

Welcome to the new Barbeque Review! I've visited BBQ restaurants all over the country in search of "The Best Que" and I'm anxious to share my thoughts about each of them.

I'm originally from Cincinnati, Ohio and now live in Fort Worth, TX, so many of my posts will be from those two areas, but I also sample the BBQ wherever I go, and gladly take your recommendations on spots to try.

What do I look for from Barbeque?  Top of the list is TASTE!  I know a lot of critics get wrapped up in smoke rings and bark and judge against "tradition", and while I look for all those things, nothing is more important than, "Does it taste good?"

I also consider the atmosphere and how the restaurant compares against what it's trying to be.  Of course, cleanliness and service are also important aspects.  Followed by value - they may be the best ribs I've ever tasted, but if they're $35 a rack, they have a higher standard to live up to than a $15 slab.

Finally - and this is a really big deal to me (sorry to those Texas BBQ -Traditionalist) - I rate the side dishes.  I don't care if "that's the way we do it."  If you're going to serve me a side with my BBQ, I want it to taste good!  I've had some great BBQ with sides of grocery-store potato salad and flavorless beans, and you're not going to get high marks from me with throw-away sides.

I'm excited to bring you this blog, and can't wait to share my experiences with everyone!