Meat Smokehouse - Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

Meat Smokehouse
8216 104 St NW
Edmonton, AB T6E 4E5, Canada

Meat Smokehouse is a locally owned and operated smokehouse in the heart of Old Strathcona in Edmonton.  An authentic BBQ experience served family style at communal tables in a contemporary setting with homemade sauces and savory sides to complement the offering of smoke meats.

A card is present on the table that outlines their smoke times and wood preferences like a calling card to authentic meat perfection.  This seems like a good omen.

They battle against tradition by not serving lunch.  The weekday offering is for dinner but there is a brunch option on the weekends.  While I'm more of a traditionalist about barbecue being a lunch item, this ensured that the meat we had for dinner was fresh.

They offer Beef Brisket, Pulled Pork, BBQ Ribs, Apple Glazed Smoked Chicken, Fried Chicken, Andouille Sausage, and often have a featured smoked meat.  While sides shouldn't be the focus of a carnivorous outing, they can't be ignored at Meat Smokehouse. 

They have Coleslaw, Mashed Potatoes w/Gravy, Baked Beans (meat or veg), Garlic Fries, Brussels Sprouts, Maple Golden Beets, Mac/Cheese and a Cornbread Skillet.  

We had the Baby Back Ribs, Pulled Pork, Beef Brisket and Andouille Sausage with Baked Beans (meat), Brussels Sprouts and Skillet Cornbread.

While the sausage was a "little" mealy, the ribs were firm, crusty from baked on sauce and had a complex layer of flavors.  The smoke hits you first, then slides into a pleasant flavor of subtle spices.  It was very appealing.  The pulled pork started off tough but that just happened to be one bite.  The rest was tender and pulled easily.  The Goldilocks texture of the pull was just the right size.  Not to bulky but together enough to get a good tug.  It was clean, moist and fresh.  When ordering the brisket I almost asked if they served lean or moist but was pleasantly surprise when they provided some of both.  Each was impressively well smoked, flavorful and fresh.  One of the benefits of not serving lunch is that the meat was definitely fresh.  The beans were thick and flavorful and there was no skimpin' on the shreaded meat.  Very hearty bowl.  The brussels sprouts were a nice surprise that they had the expected flavor of the woody roasted vegetable, but it was shredded and presented as if it were cole slaw.  Now they had cole slaw on the menu but I couldn't imagine replacing the imaginative solution of this more northern side item for their southern presentation.  Brilliant.  And the cornbread...ah the cornbread.  It was just sweet enough but was loaded with buttery goodness.

There were 4 sauces on the table.  Bourbon, Cherry, Spicy and Mustard.  To be fair, the mustard was not mustard based barbecue sauce but actual mustard.  One of the odder choices here.  The Bourbon sauce felt like their standard.  It was tomato based, smokey and wrapped the meat well.  The Spicy was medium at best.  The Cherry was very tomatoey and felt a bit too much like ketchup.

Overall this was a high quality meal of barbecue.  Unfortunately there was no iced tea, condiment bar of onions, pickles and peppers but that can be forgiven as the focus of this meal was the name sake of the restaurant...M E A T.

Bodean's BBQ - London, UK

Bodean's BBQ - London, UK
25 Catherine St.
London, WC2B 5JS

While in London recently I decided to try a little American BBQ from the other side of the pond.  Bodean's is London's original BBQ smokehouse.  Started by Andre Blais back in 2002, his goal was to bring the taste, style and soul of his beloved Kansas City BBQ to London.



To start, they offer a good option of southern favorites.  Memphis Style Pork Nachos, Chili Con Queso, Chili Con Carne, Guacamole, Buffalo Chicken Wings, BBQ Spare Rib Starter and more.

For the main items, Pulled Pork, SOHO Special, Boston Butt, KC Brisket Special, Tri-Tip Smoked Beef, Burgers, Hot Dogs and more.

I had the BBQ Burnt Ends and Baby Back Rib Combo that came with fries and cole slaw.

While both the burnt ends and the baby back ribs had a nice taste to them, it's a bit of a stretch to say that they had true BBQ flavor and smoke.  I would have to classify this as roasted meat with a nod toward BBQ like spices.  I didn't get that smokiness that I expect out of true American BBQ.  That and the fact that there wasn't much in the way of rub/flavor/sauce encrusted on the meat. 

There were options for sauce,  the Smoked Hickory, Hot Chipotle and Vinegar based were available at every table.  I found their sauces sufficient but banal in their tastes.  There wasn't much that stood out here.  Just BBQ sauce versions of table ketchup.  

I've always wondered how one should treat food from a different culture when moving that culture's food into a different country.  Do you stay true to the flavors from the original culture, ensuring the greatest difference from what the locals expect, or do you adjust it based upon the country in which it is served to give the locals something closer to what they expect?  Now I'm not British and it's quite possible that the locals find this to be exactly what they want. If so, then that's great for Andre.  Bodean's does have several locations and that would indicate a certain level of popularity and success. While I don't think there is a right or wrong answer to this philosophical question, I do have my preference in this case.  And that would be that American BBQ taste like American BBQ and stays true to it's roots.  I always knew that I was in a restaurant in London while eating this substitute for American BBQ and would have preferred to be transported back home on a magic carpet ride of smokey goodness.

Ten50 BBQ - Dallas, TX

Ten50 BBQ
1050 N Central Expy
Richardson, TX 75080
http://ten50bbq.com/

Ten50 is authentic Central Texas-style barbecue from their brisket torpedos thru their premium meats and made from scratch sides all the way down to their creamy banana pudding or homemade butter crust pie.  Their pitmasters work 24 hours a day to slow roast their meats for 12-16 hours a day using homemade charcoal from hickory, oak, pecan and mesquite wood.  Yes...homemade charcoal. 

Kickstart your meal with chicken or brisket torpedoes.

Brisket or chicken in a jalapeno pepper wrapped in savory bacon.  They are a delicious of what's to come.

They offer Prime Brisket, St. Louis Pork Ribs, Pulled Pork, Rob's Ranch Chicken, Chicken Breast, Turkey Breast, House Sausage or Jalapeno Cheddar Sausage.  We had the brisket, ribs, sausage, brisket baked beans, home made yeast rolls and banana pudding.

I have to tell you that this is as close to a perfect meal as I find. The brisket is well smoked, tender all throughout the day, the house sausage is splendid (I'm not a huge fan of their jalapeno cheddar) and the ribs are spot on. Tender...dry rubbed pork perfection.  The beans are true blue Texas beans (more simple pinto beans than molasses soaked northern beans).  The sauce is enhancing but not overpowering and the rolls are mouth watering.  Complete the smoked meats with raw onion (a must) and then finish it off with their banana pudding that reminds me of Mom's.  Wash it all down with endless iced tea and you have a happy camper.

One of these days I'll have to try their turkey, pulled pork, snap'd green beans and fried okra.  But until that day comes, I'll be having more of the same.  Thanks for asking.


 

Lyle's BBQ - Lexington, KY

Lyle's BBQ
1001 Elizabeth St
Nicholasville, KY 40356
https://www.lylesbbqcompany.com/

Lyle's advertises friendly staff, family atmosphere and amazing food.  The hickory smoke their pork (12+ hrs) and brisket (12+ hrs) and cheery smoke their chicken (1 1/2 hrs), baby back ribs  (6 hrs) and sausage (1 hr).

They offer the starters of...

Three Amigos (fried pickles, fried banana peppers, and fried jalapenos)
Pig Wings (deep fried baby back ribs)
BBQ Nachos (pulled pork, topped w. cowboy beans, cheese sauce, shredded cheese & sour cream...brisket is an adder)
Loaded Tater Tots (fried, seasoned & loaded with sour cream, bacon & cheddar).

and more.

For the mains...

There are sandwiches or platters of pulled pork, beef brisket (flat or point), smoked chicken, baby back ribs or smoked chicken.

I had the ribs and brisket combo with baked beans, smoked mac and cheese and a side of hush puppies.  

The ribs were baby backs and not spare ribs so that's one point off there. However they were tasty but a little dry (likely due to the late hour of my dinner).  The brisket was very good and moist.  Not a heavy smoke ring and that played out in the lack of smokey flavor but didn't deter from the enjoyment of the meat.  The beans were typical for a baked bean (not my preference) but the smoked mac and cheese was good.

The Granny Smith Apple Slaw had a nice taste as did the pickles.  The hush puppies were spot on delicious.

Overall I had an enjoyable meal...just not top notch with the ribs being dry.

Rudy's Country Store - Allen, TX

Rudy's Country Store
1790 N. Central Expressway
Allen, TX 75002
https://rudysbbq.com/

I've posted about the Rudy's in Allen, TX before and there is a reason that I'm posting again.  It just hard to find better barbecue from the Rudy's chain, than right here in Allen. 

They serve brisket (moist and lean), turkey breast, pork loin, Rudy's chop, baby back ribs, chicken, regular sausage, jalapeno sausage, ham, pork ribs, prime rib (on Fri/Sat only), peppered tenderloin (on Fri/Sat only) and pulled pork.

The ribs are spot on, the brisket (moist) is so tender, moist and flavorful that it's hard to stop eating it.  The sausage is top rate as well.

I love their beans and the corn.  It's just a great all around Texas barbecue meal.

So what are you waiting for?

The Texas BBQ Company - Northborough, MA

The Texas BBQ Company
309 Main St
Northborough, MA 01532
http://www.texasbbqco.com

Imagine my surprise when I find a restaurant called The Texas BBQ Company in the middle of Massachusetts.  Needless to say, this has to be checked out.

They have some unique items especially on their starter menu...

Texas Caviar Dip & Homemade Tortilla Chips- A unique dip made fresh with black-eyed peas, jalapeno, avocado, tomato, purple onion, bell pepper and cilantro.

Tex-a-dillas - A delicious quesadilla with your choice of smoked chicken or pulled pork grilled in a flour tortilla with cheese and our own blend of Tex-mex salsa and spices and served with a Southwest dipping sauce.

...along with Poppers, Fried Jalapeno Slices, Jalapeno Cheese Sticks and more.

 

For meats, they have are Beef Brisket, Hill Country Sausage, Pulled Pork, Spare Ribs, Smoked Turkey, Fried Haddock and more.

 

 

I had "The Smoker". Certified Angus Beef brisket, pork and sausage on a large roll with fried okra and an iced tea.

 

The meat was all good.  Nice and tasty and full of smoke.  The sausage was firm, the brisket was tender and the pork was clean and pulled to perfection.

 

I can't tell you how surprised I was in the quality of the meal so far from home.  If you are ever in southern Mass and need a barbecue fix, I highly recommend The Texas BBQ Company. 

Smoki O's Barbecue - St. Louis, MO

Smoki O's Barbecue
1545 N Broadway
St. Louis, MO 63102
http://www.smokiosbbq.com/

Smoki O's serves St. Louis style barbecue from a small walk up location in St. Louis that Minnie Walker son's (Bruce and Otis Jr) started in 1997 to honor their mother's back yard cooking.

They serve Hot Links, Beef Polish Sausage, Beef Hot Link, Pulled Pork, Pulled Chicken, Rib Tips, Beef Brisket, Snoot, Chicken Wings, Pork Steak, Ribs and more.

 We had the sampler plate with snoot, brisket and rib tips along with cornbread, greens, mac and cheese and more. 

 Now if you are thinking this is just slathered with sauce, you would be right.  Now I'm not normally a fan of this much sauce but it actually worked within this environment.  It's a cultural thing.  With the simple, low brow atmosphere there was nothing pretentious about this place.  Just a simple barbecue restaurant born out of love for their momma's food and to help serve the neighborhood.

The snoot was the thing that interested me the most.  It was hard crunchy and flavorful.  A lot like a stiffer pork rind.  The brisket was very good...just hard to evaluate the subtleties with all the sauce.  The rib tips were great and the chicken wings were just fine.  All the sides enhanced the experience and the corn bread was spot on.

It was a great food experience and it felt like walking through a door to different culture from a different time.

Very enjoyable evening.

Pappy's Smokehouse - St. Louis, MO

Pappy's Smokehouse
3106 Olive St
St. Louis, MO 63103
http://www.pappyssmokehouse.com/

Pappy's serves Memphis style barbecue right in St. Louis and have a loyal following.  They smoke their meats for up to 14 hours low and slow using apple and cherry wood for a light smoke flavor.

Their house specialty is Dry Rub Ribs but they also have Pulled Pork, Pulled Chicken, Beef Brisket, Turkey Breast, Spicy Sausage and Burnt Ends (which often sell out first).

Some of their specialty items are Frito Pie (Fritos topped with your choice of meat, baked beans, cheddar cheese and onions) and these amazing combination plates...

The Big Ben – A full slab of Ribs, a Beef Brisket and a Pork sandwich, 1/4 Chicken and 4 sides.
The “Adam” Bomb – In honor of our friend Adam Richman from The Travel Channel’s show Man vs. Food. It's A Big Ben with a Hot Link Frito Pie.

I had a combination plate of ribs, brisket, green beans and fried corn on the cob.

After several meals of wet ribs, these dry rub ribs were a welcome diversion.  They are actually similar to my ribs and I just loved them.  Good light smoke. Layers of rub and good flavor.  The brisket was sliced too thin and didn't have enough smoke but the meat was well prepared..  The green beans were very nice and I like the light batter on the corn.  It's almost like a tempura.

There were 4 different sauces to choose from...
PAPPY'S ORIGINAL - The classic BBQ sauce, tangy with a kick
JANE'S SWEET SAUCE - In honor of Mike’s granddaughter and as sweet as Jane herself
CAROLINA VINEGAR - fit for the pulled pork of the same region.
HOODOO SAUCE - a spicier version of their original sauce.

I found the original to my liking but the heat did build up a bit so I cut it with Jane's Sweet part way through the meal.

Overall this was a very good meal and one that I would be happy to repeat again.  Only, I would hope to get there in time to try the burnt ends next time.

City BBQ - Raleigh, NC

City BBQ
1305 Kildaire Farm Road
Cary, North Carolina 27511
https://www.citybbq.com/

City BBQ is a chain that lays claim to Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana and North Carolina where they serve authentic and inspired barbecue.

I found the place cheery, clean and inviting.  In fact, they were handing out 4 oz samples of the rib rub for all customers.  A very welcome surprise.

They offer brisket, pulled pork, Lo Lo's Pulled Pork (special recipe), turkey breast, pulled chicken with 'Bama sauce, smoked sausage and a special called More Cowbell (beef brisket topped with peppers, smoked provolone, onions and creamy horseradish sauce piled high on Texas toast.

I had a combo plate.  Ribs, pulled pork, greens (with pulled pork), hush puppies (off picture) and Texas toast. (the rib rub sample is in the lidded container top left).

While these ribs are sauced, it is baked on at the end and adds a nice layer.  Now this is pulled pork country and they do it well.  It's moist, tender and ready for sauce.  

Speaking of sauce, they have many available.  Brush Fire Sauce, Swine Wine Sauce, Piedmont Pride Sauce, Sweet City Sauce and the Original.  I find the original works well for me although they also have a vinegar based sauce that is just spot on for adding onto the pulled pork.

The hush puppies were fresh and hot, the greens were not overcooked and well balanced with the pork inside.

Overall, you could do a lot worse for a barbecue meal...especially from a chain.

Rudy's BBQ - Arlington, TX

Rudy's BBQ
451 I-20
Arlington, TX 76018
https://rudysbbq.com/

While Rudy's BBQ is a mainstay in Texas chain barbecue, understand that every Rudy's Country Store is not the same.  There are different owners of many of their restaurants and that give the opportunity for a variation in quality and taste.  Some might think this is an opportunity but only your taste buds will determine if this is good or bad.

Now I've eaten at a lot of Rudy's locations so I think I have a pretty good idea of what to expect and I was a bit surprised at the Rudy's in Arlington. I selected some of my usual favorite options of sausage, brisket (lean), and ribs.  The sausage was very good. This is what I come to expect.  The brisket was fine but not over the top.  Now this was at dinner so I expect that it won't be quite as fresh as it was at lunch and that was essentially what I found.  However the ribs were the biggest surprise.  They had an artificial "chemically" taste that I have never experienced at Rudy's and must say that it was a disappointment.  

So as you dine out, just remember that every location is not the same and there are some Rudy's that are better than others.

Sugarfire Smokehouse - St. Louis, MO

Sugarfire Smokehouse
9200 Olive Blvd.
St. Louis, MO 63132
http://www.sugarfiresmokehouse.com/

Sugarfire Smokehouse has a lot of specialty burgers and sandwiches.  From the Big Muddy (brisket, smoked sausage, horseradish sauce, BBQ sauce, lettuce, and pickles.) to the PBLT (pimento cheese, house bacon, lettuce and tomato on toasted bread).

I selected something a bit more traditional, their 2 meat dinner that comes with 2 sides.

I selected brisket and ribs (baby backs...not spare ribs), green beans and au-gratin potatoes.  The brisket had an average smoke to it but nothing to right home about.  The ribs were tender with a nice layer of sauce sealed on for taste.  The green beans were cooked southern style (with garlic) which means they were over cooked.  The au-gratin potatoes were quite good.

Then there is the sauce.

There are several different kinds of sauce...

St. Louie Sweet BBQ, Texas Hot BBQ, Carolina Mustard, White Horseradish, Sugarfire 47, Coffee BBQ, Special Sauce, Ranch, Cider Vinaigrette.

I  found the Texas Hot the best (it's not that hot).  I even tried the coffee even though I don't drink coffee myself.  It definitely has a coffee flavor which is why I don't like it myself.

If I ever find myself in downtown St. Louis again, I might try one of their sandwiches as the regular BBQ was a bit forgettable.