Hickory Hill BBQ - didn't find my thrill on Hickory Hill

Hickory Hill



Hickory Hill is a relatively new place just off 31 between Tyler and Kilgore.  Someone recommended giving this place a try in the comment section, so I figured I would give them a try when I went out to Pat Gee's (they are very close to one another).  The place looks promising from the road, it definitely has a country feel to it with 'old timey' decor.

The spread:  They offer your standard barbeque fare:  Brisket, hot links, ribs, etc.  They have their menu on a small peg board just by the register and have a small dining area (4-5 tables).  I was greeted warmly and they took my order right away.

The verdict:  I just finished sampling Pat Gee's and I was excited to try Hickory Hill.  I ordered the three meat plate and got brisket, hot links and ribs.  The plate looked great.  The rib was large and meaty.  The brisket was perfectly cut with the right amount of meat and fat.  The hot link looked good to go.  Oh man was I disappointed.  All the meats had an acrid, overpowering smoke flavor.  It tasted like a mix between liquid smoke and an ash tray.  The brisket and ribs weren't very tender, but I only took a few bites because my palate was overwhelmed with the horrible smokey taste.  I couldn't discern the flavoring of the hot link again due to the overpowering smoke bomb.  The beans were more like baked beans and less like the 'ranch' style or 'charro' style that I prefer.  The potato salad was also a little sweet, but still pretty good.  Now I like a good, smokey tender BBQ, Stanley's brisket is a perfect example of that, but I was very disappointed with the meats at Hickory Hill.

Edible Tyler Roses: 1 out of 5, maybe they were having a bad day, but I really didn't like their BBQ.

Pat Gee's BBQ - Worth the drive

Pat Gee's BBQ



Pat's is an interesting place.  It is located off of 31 between Tyler and Kilgore in a ramshackle building that looks like it was built in another time. The barbeque pit is in a little kitchen off to the side and there is a dining area with a few scattered tables.  I was greeted warmly by an older couple, who I presume are the owners.  They are open Fri-Sun until the meat runs out.

The spread:  They offer your standard barbeque fair:  Pork ribs, brisket, hot links, etc.  They also offer the standard BBQ sides: potato salad, beans, white bread, etc. 

The verdict:  These folks know what they are doing when it comes to BBQ.  When you walk in the front door, you are hit with a wall of smoke that lets you know you have arrived at the right place for some BBQ.  The smoke has penetrated every surface in the place, so you know it has been around for quite some time.  The service couldn't have been friendlier, they figured out right away that it was my first time there and were quite welcoming (don't be scared off by the rough exterior).  The meats were all very good with nice smoke flavor, good seasonings and a tangy BBQ sauce (from a mason jar covered in foil).  The potato salad was mustard based and offer a great foil to the smokey meats.  The beans were very flavorful with chunks of meat.  The brisket had a good fatty content and was very tender.  The ribs were also very good, but perhaps a bit on the overdone side.  The hot link was great, just the right amount of spice and bit to the casing.  All together a very good meal.  By comparison, there brisket doesn't match the central texas style of Stanley's, however, I prefer Pat Gee's ribs and sides.  I will definitely be back.  This isn't the best BBQ I've ever had in comparison to the Titans of central Texas (Smitty's, City Market, Kruez, Black's), but it is very good.

Edible Tyler Roses: 4 out of 5, Go give Pat Gee's a try, you won't be disappointed.

Cedar Creek Brewery

I attended a great little gathering at Stanley this week.  The following is the facebook page.

https://www.facebook.com/events/193739300825896/?ref=3&ref_newsfeed_story_type=regular

Basically, it was a joint project between Stanley's and Cedar Creek Brewery that was celebrating the release of Cedar Creek's recent Great American Beer Festival Gold medal winner Belgian Dubbel.  I went ahead and ordered the Stanley's two meat plate with brisket and sausage as my meats.  Again, Stanley's is absolutely nailing the brisket and their locally sourced sausage is always outstanding (the guys at County Meat Market tell me that they make the sausage for Stanley's and I have purchase a couple of large orders for parties that I have thrown).

Belgian ales are currently my favorite style of beer and I have been trying the various iterations of late.  The Cedar Creek Belgian double was a very good beer.  It was a beautiful brown to dark amber color and had a great full body with plenty of complex malt character and a nicely balanced hoppiness (sp?).  They also had Cedar Creek's Pale Ale on tap, which I also enjoyed, although I am not a big pale ale/IPA guy.  The beer wasn't overly bitter and the floral aroma of the hops was quite pleasing.

The Cedar Creek Brewery is located just off of Cedar Creek reservoir in Seven Points.  They offer tours on Saturday and I will definitely go to take a tour and try out their other styles of beers.  Also of note, their head brewer Damon was there for the evening and I got to spend a decent amount of time talking to him and his wife.  He is a down to earth, great guy and with the winning of the Gold Medal at the GABF, their future is bright indeed.  If you see Cedar Creek in the store or on the tap, give it a try, they won't disappoint.

Wright's BBQ

Wright's BBQ



Wright's BBQ is a relative newcomer to Tyler and is located a little south of Grande off of Paluxy.  I'm not sure it is the greatest location for a restaurant as it is in a relatively low traffic area in an 'industrial/country' part of Tyler.  From the outside it looks non-descript with very little to indicate there is a restaurant.

The spread:  I really like their setup inside.  It reminds me of an old church banquet hall I used to go to growing up.  There is a bar on one side, a bunch of tables and then an entertainment area on the opposite side.  They offer your standard Texas BBQ:  brisket, sausage, ribs, turkey, and pulled pork.  For sides you can choose potato salad, pinto beans or cole slaw.  They also offer BBQ nachos and a BBQ baked potato.  For dessert you can choose from cobbler, banana pudding and cheesecake.  When I went by to give them a try, I was the only person in the huge dining room, which is always a bad sign.

The verdict:  This is another example of a family run restaurant in Tyler that I really want to love and support, but falls flat.  They are doing everything right except putting out good BBQ.  I loved the decor, the setup, the bar, and the service was friendly.  The food was just not up to snuff.  The brisket was tender, however, it had very little smoke flavor.  The sausage tasted like generic hickory farm store bought sausage.  The ribs were tender, but they again had very little smoke flavor.  The potato salad and pinto beans were also bland and a little sweet.  I am of the opinion that to do BBQ right, you need an experienced pit master and a BBQ pit that uses real wood and smoke, neither of which were evident on my visit.  I think perhaps they are focusing on being an entertainment center and not a great BBQ joint.  I think it would be a great place to have an event (I'd just prefer to cater from someone else!).

Edible Tyler Roses:  2 out of 5, below average BBQ.

Stanley's Famous Pit BBQ - Best Ribs in Texas?? *UPDATE*

Stanley's Famous Pit BBQ
525 S. Beckham Ave.
Tyler, TX 75702
http://www.stanleyspitbbq.com/



Stanley's is a local BBQ joint located just west of the Medical center hospitals off of Beckham. The place has a great reputation with many accolades including Texas Monthly top 50 BBQ joints, and more recently won a statewide competition for their BBQ ribs. I have been several times, once when I first moved up to Tyler with my brother. Everything I know about the owners, I like. They are working hard to have authentic BBQ in a fun environment.

The spread: Typical Texas BBQ offerings (ribs, sausage, brisket) as well as pork and turkey. They also offer fish tacos (which I haven't tried yet) and are open for breakfast.

The verdict: First, let me start off with I am BBQ biased. The high points are the brisket and the pulled pork, both are excellently cooked with just the right amount of smoke. I have had both several times and haven't been disappointed. My personal favorite is the egg and pork taco for breakfast. The biggest disappointment so far has been their award winning ribs. I have had them twice and both times, they weren't cooked long enough and didn't have enough smoke. They may be winning contests with their ribs elsewhere, but they are not putting out quality ribs when I have eaten them.

**I have been back to Stanley's twice since the original post. Twice I got the ribs and twice I was disappointed. The most recent visit, the ribs were inedible, really, really bad. No smoke, not tender, horrible taste. I also got some brisket from the fatty end and it had very little smoke and was CHEWY, again not very good. The highlight of the meal was the sausage which was very good.

**Double update.  Well I have been to Stanley's many times since the original post and I would like to increase my rating of the place.  The last several times I have gone, the brisket has been OUTSTANDING.  Very reminiscent of central Texas style BBQ - that is to say a lot of smoke and wonderful tenderness.  I have tried their ribs also many times and the bottom line is I just don't like them, whatever the flavor combo is, I just don't like.  There is never enough smoke and they aren't tender enough for me.  BUT, the sausage, pulled porked are good and they have been NAILING the brisket.  

***Triple update:  Stanley's has grown on me a lot over the years.  The brisket is one of the best there is in Texas.  Their sausage is fantastic.  They have a sandwich called the "Mother clucker" - a grilled/bbq'd chicken thigh, fried egg, cheese and a special sauce on a brioche type bun that is not to be missed.  I just had some of their gumbo today.  They have great live music.   I have been to a beer tasting they sponsored from Cedar Creek Brewery.  The bottom line for me is that this place continues to improve and really is a jewel in Tyler.

Edible Tyler Roses: 5 out of 5, this place is for real.  The brisket is worth driving for, some people love the ribs, they are just ok for me.

Bar BQ Hernandez

Bar BQ Hernandez



This is a little hole in the wall Mexican food place just off of Glennwood south of Front.  You might miss this driving by as there isn't much to mark this as a restaurant.  The parking lot consists of dirt underneath a big ole tree.  The place isn't much to look at from the outside.  In fact, it looks a little scary.  But the smells wafting from the kitchen are fantastic.  Don't judge a book by its cover on this one.  On the inside of the place, the people are friendly, the service is fast and it is clean.  I think this is also a cash only place, and the hours are a little irregular.

The spread:  They offer whole roast chickens, differnet kinds of fajitas, rice, beans and a couple of other traditional Mexican dishes.  This is definitely more of a traditional Mexican place and not a Tex-mex.  Don't expect frills and colorful decorations.  These people really only care about running a clean place and putting out delicious food.  The place is mainly take out, I seem to recall they have a couple of places to sit and eat, but I have only got food to go.

The verdict: This is my all time favorite hole in the wall place in Tyler.  The food is some of the best in Tyler and the value is great.  Everything is fresh, hand made and delicious.  You will have to power through your reservations of how this place looks from the outside, but it will be worth it.  Don't come in your Sunday best, but expect tasty, cheap food.

Edible Tyler Roses: 5 of 5, best Mexican hole in the wall in Tyler.

State of Tyler Barbeque - Best in Tyler?

This post is going to be a little bit different. I have reviewed several Tyler area BBQ joints and wanted to write a post that talks about all of them, and of course ranks them. My preference for BBQ is simple. It should have a lot of smoke, be falling off the bone tender and have an accompanying spicy/slightly sweet sauce (on the side of course). Of course, good BBQ doesn't need a sauce, but how often to you run into BBQ so good it doesn't need sauce? In terms of cut of meat, I prefer in descending order: beef brisket, pork ribs, sausage of any kind, chicken, cabrito, turkey, then whatever else you want to smoke. The method of cooking should be slow and low, turning a tough piece of meat into melt in your mouth goodness.

I have tried just about every BBQ place I know of in Tyler and the surrounding community to include: Bodacious BBQ, Stanley's, The Purple Pig, Hickory Fare, Stacy's in Jacksonville, and Spring Creek BBQ. With the exception of The Purple Pig and Stacy's, I have been disappointed. Stanley's has serious problems with consistency, although they have plenty of awards that tell me I'm wrong for not liking their food. Bodacious serves average food. Spring Creek will do in a pinch (with some great service). Hickory Fare is slightyl above the pack, but again doesn't put out great Q. Stacy's offers solid ribs and brisket, but the 45 minute drive down to Jacksonville isn't worth it. I guess the Purple Pig really isn't in Tyler city limits, but to me it offers high quality barbeque done right.

Best BBQ in Tyler: The Purple Pig

Any differences of opinion or any places I have missed?

Bodacious Barbeque - solid Q.

Bodacious Barbeque
http://www.thebodaciousbbq.com/



This is a BBQ place just north of the loop off of Troup. Some good signs from the outside are the large piles of wood they have stacked in the alley. Stepping inside also send off good vibes, with a rustic/cowboy decor and plenty of seating. You walk up to the counter, place your order then grab a seat and wait for your BBQ.

The spread: The options are somewhat limited. They offer brisket, hot links, sausage, turkey, ribs and sloppy joes as the meats. The sides offered are pinto beans, potato salad and coleslaw. For dessert they offer pecan pie, lemon pie and peach cobbler.

The verdict: I am all about a place choosing to produce a few quality items over producing a bunch of average food. Unfortunately, for me the BBQ falls a little flat. The brisket has a good smoke flavor, but lacks tenderness and fat/succulence. Did I just write succulence? Yes, I did - BBQ is something ethereal and sacred to me, so I can use fancy words. The ribs also have a nice smoke flavor and are somewhat tender, but they were just ok, not transcendent. The sides are also nothing to get excited about, they are solid, but not original or really good/great. That being said, I do think that Bodacious has the best BBQ in Tyler city limits, which gives me an idea for a new post.

Edible Tyler Roses: 3 out of 5, the Q is good enough to eat, but not good enough to get excited about.

Stacey's BBQ - Jacksonville Gem.

Stacy's BBQ
1217 S Jackson StJacksonville, TX 75766
No website





Stacy's is a BBQ joint located just off I-69 in Jacksonville. It has been around for over thirty years and has been ranked by Texas Monthly as one of the top barbeque spots in Texas.

The spread: Typical Texas barbeque fare. Brisket, sausage, ribs, etc. You pull up to the line, take a perusal of the meats and place your order. Surprisingly, they have a nice selection of sides, mustard and mayo based potato salad, pinto beans, baked beans, corn on the cob, and much more. I chose the three meat plate of brisket, sausage and ribs.

The verdict: Oh man, these guys know barbeque. The style is East Texas (white) barbeque with heavy hickory smoke. The smoke lines are for realsies in the brisket and ribs. The brisket was lean, tender and full of smoke. The ribs were fall off the bone tender, juicy and delicious. The sausage has a nice bite to it and hit the spot. I was surprised with the quality of the sides, as they are definitely not an afterthought at Stacy's. The place is old and full of local history. I loved the decor and the no frills ambience. The ribs are some of the best I have ever had and the brisket is in the top 5%.

Edible Tyler Roses: 4 out of 5, worth a road trip from Tyler. A definite stop if you are driving to Houston (and they are open).

Coyote Sam's

Coyote Sam's Bar and Grille
5424 Old Jacksonville Highway
Tyler, TX 75703
(903) 509-4222
http://www.coyotesamsbarandgrille.com/


 
This is a place just off Old Jacksonville south of loop 323. My wife and I have always driven by and wanted to give it a try, but never had an occasion. Our close friends wanted to go out, so we finally had an occasion to give it a try.

The spread: First of all, I love the exterior of the restaurant. It has a unique architecture and I love the stone exterior. The heavy wooden front doors open into a nice greeting room that has various animal heads on the walls. In fact the entire restaurant is decorated with taxidermy items and antique guns on the walls, with some very nice old Winchesters. I would have loved to spend more time looking at the various rifles. It definitely isn't for everyone, but the decor really worked for me. The menu consisted of the standard bar appetizers: nachos, jalapeno poppers, onion rings, with a little twist of venison chili covered nachos. The entrees consists of the standard BBQ items: ribs, brisket, sausage, ham, pulled pork. They also have several grill items available: lots of steaks, fish and burgers/sandwiches. The menu was a little odd for me, because usually good barbeque doesn't come from a place that also serves other things. My wife had the chicken avocado sandwich, I had the Kobe beef burger and my son had the kids rib plate. The service was pretty good, although when I asked the server whether the Kobe beef burger was real Kobe beef, she said "YES!", but when I followed with, "So it's flown in from Japan", she looked befuddled and said "I don't know." Small complaint, but if you are going to call something Kobe, it better BE Kobe.

The Verdict: The most surprising moment was when the waitress arrived with my son's kid's rib plate (3.99), there were six HUGE ribs and a big ole bowl of beans - this is one of the best deals in town. Although I know my burger wasn't Kobe beef (maybe Wagyu) and it was cooked medium well to my specifications and is the best burger I have had in Tyler. The bun was fresh and perfectly sized, the vegetable fresh and crisp, wow it was good food. Also a surprise were the baked beans, they had huge chunks of brisket (or pulled pork?) and they were the best baked beans I have ever had. My wife enjoyed her chicken sandwich, although she complained there was too much chicken (good complaint if you asked me). I did try my son's ribs and they were a bit of a disappointment. They were cooked well and finished over the grille for a nice crust and good flavor. There wasn't enough smoke for me, I didn't detect any smoke lines at all. Again, I failed to ask my friends' impression, but I know they are fans of Coyote Sam's.

Edible Tyler Roses: 4 of 5. The Grill items were spot on, the BBQ is average.

The Purple Pig Cafe - When Pigs Fly!

The Purple Pig Cafe
19785 State Highway 155 S
Flint, TX 75762
http://www.purplepigcafe.com/



 
The Purple Pig Cafe is a BBQ joint on Frankston (155) just north of Lake Palestine. I had driven by the place many times on my beer run to the Fat Dog's beer barn just out of Smith County (which is dry). I love the sign with the pig purple pig with little wings. The place is a little scary from the outside for a big city boy dragging his family and close friends along.

The spread: They serve good ole Texas BBQ (brisket, ribs, turkey sausage) as well as pulled pork, sow ribs, St. Louis ribs, baby back ribs, and Pittsburg hot links. They also serve the "purple pig" which is pulled pork with a cole slaw on top made from purple cabbage. They also serve cobbler for dessert.

The verdict: I didn't have great expectations for the place from the outside. Man, oh man was I blown away. We order a mess of ribs, Pittsburg hot links, brisket, beans, potato salad, and I got a purple pig sandwich. Everything was outstanding. The brisket was cooked just right with plenty of smoke, the ribs were fall off the bone tender and delicious, the hot links were incredible with the sauce they offered. The purple pig was the star of the show, the pulled pork was smokey and tender with the crunch of the purple cabbage on top. The sides were also excellent with plenty of flavor in the beans and the potato salad. Just when we thought we were about to burst, the somewhat surly waitress demanded that we order the peach cobbler. Normally I would have passed, but the wife insisted, so we relented. I was glad we did. The cobbler was warm, fruity and buttery with a great crust. It was the perfect ending to a fantastic meal. Overall, the best meal I have eaten since we moved to Tyler.

Edible Tyler Roses: 5 of 5.