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.