DO they serve sweet tea?

Don't believe so, I think it was just a Pepsi or Coke fountain, but I don't really drink sweet tea, so I may have overlooked it.

Big John's Alabama BBQ in Tampa! They had to close for a year because of road construction and it was the longest year of my life! Family run for 40 years, they do have a FB page.

Henry's Smokehouse in Simpsonville, SC
Great American Land and Cattle Company in El Paso
State Line in El Paso
Jack's Creek in the middle of nowhere outside Henderson, TN
Izzy's in El Cajon, CA
The place in Memphis with the Pink Cadillac limos near Graceland was pretty good... for the life of me I can't remember the name.
Smithfield's Chicken & BBQ in NC
Sticky Fingers in Charleston, SC

Lots a hole in the walls all over!

Sticky Fingers is a chain...

-The Shed-Ocean Springs, MS
-Dreamland Ribs-Hoover, AL
-KC Pit-Marietta, GA (I heard they got shut down for selling coke and not the one you drink)

As is Smithfields...

Is there a "no chain" rule in this thread?

No, but the OP did write "Lots a hole in the walls all over!" and I think being a chain negates being a hole in the wall.

Back on topic, I finally went for KC BBQ, to Arthur Bryant's, and was very impressed by it. Loved the pulled pork, burnt ends, fries and of course the people and the atmosphere.

My favorite is Risckys Barbecue located in the historic Fort Worth Stockyards, Texas. They serve Beef ribs, the daily special is $9.95 all you can eat ribs, comes with garlic bread, fries and pickles. They will bring the ribs to you as long as you keep emptying your basket. it is cooked to order. Yummy. I live in Maryland now so I am missing it big time. Any MD BBQ's?

Rather than review 25 pages-did a search and Bryan's was not listed.

Bryan's Black Mountain Barbecue in Cave Creek, AZ.

http://www.bryansbarbecue.com/

Not that yelp is the definitive critique site but....

http://www.yelp.com/biz/bryans-black...que-cave-creek

I went to a new one over the weekend:

Coopers BBQ in New Branufels, TX

My friend and I split a half pound of pork chops, half pound of sirloin and a half pound of brisket as well as an order of cole slaw and it was all amazing. Served on wax paper (the only way to eat it), in a large room full of lots of picnic table type seating. Good selection of beer in bottles at reasonable prices, free bread, pickles, baked beans and jalapenos for the diners. The sirloin was some of the best meat I've ever eaten. I'd give this place an A.

How does Black Mountain stand up to a really good Texas barbecue, like Blacks, Kreutz or Coopers?

I see from these links that they use sauce, so it gives me pause even though we drive by there once or twice a month on the way to the feed store.

Isn't that redundant?

Wow. No new entries since July of last year.

After sampling six different BBQ joints in Central Texas last week, we still had enough gas in the tank to make our usual BBQ Thursday jaunt at lunch today. This time we ate at Stiles Switch in DNA. (For those who aren't locals, DNA = Deadly North Austin.)

I arrived at 12:15 PM and there were about 10 people in front of me. The line cleared quickly and I was seating myself across from Mackieman before 12:30 PM. YMMV on how fast you get served and seated. This place seats about as many as Texas Rib Kings and has a similar feel to it.

I ordered brisket (fatty/moist side with plenty of bark), pork ribs, a link of two kinds of sausage (Thorndale & Switch Original), and a side of corn casserole.

The brisket was very tasty; moist, peppery (but not overly so) with a nice layer of smoke. The pork ribs were meaty, tender, and came off the bone easily (but not as easily as the ones at Franklin BBQ).

The Switch Original sausage was a drier sausage than Thorndale, spicier and made with pork and beef. The Thorndale was a pure beef sausage, from what I could tell. Less spicy, but very tasty. I liked it the best, but Mackieman preferred the Switch Original.

They offer one sauce which reminds me of some places in Kansas City. It is tomato-based and thin with a hint of vinegar and very slightly sweet. It did not take away from the meat, but neither would I have missed it if it wasn't there.

The corn casserole was something I've never seen at a BBQ joint, but it was okay. I'd order it as a side again, but it didn't wow me. Both paranoiatx and Mackieman commented that there was not much excitement surrounding their mac and cheese sides either.

I had heard that their banana pudding was very good, so I went back and was given a half pint for free since it was the last serving. I picked up some extra spoons to share and Mackieman and I agree that it was a very good homemade banana pudding (they serve it right out of the Pyrex dish).

So, I put this place up there with Black's in Lockhart as far as the brisket goes. The ribs are better than what we get at Texas Rib Kings and that's sayin' something, IMHO. And, the sausage passes the test as well.

Always nice to find another acceptable BBQ joint right here in River City to spend a BBQ Thursday lunch.

Best regards,

William R. Sanders
Social Media Specialist
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide

[email protected]