Madison's Smoked BBQ - Newark, DE

Madison's Smoked BBQ
4154 Ogletown Stanton Rd
Newark, DE 19713

Madison's Smoked BBQ has been around since the summer of 2016.  It's a clean restaurant settled into a strip mall in Newark, Delaware.  Basically everything you don't want a barbecue place to be. I'm always dreaming of that little run down shack that has been peddling barbecue for decades making it the way their daddy taught them how to.  This is not that place.

Now I don't mean to start off on a bad note as the restaurant is pleasant, clean the staff is very nice and helpful.  Kind of like a bike shop employee is helpful when you need to learn how to change a tire after your first flat.  So if this is your first barbecue experience, I'm sure you'll enjoy your meal.  However, I'm always searching for that elusive rare gem hiding in the woodwork of some small town.  For that, I will continue to search but that doesn't mean that I can't enjoy every bit of the journey.

I went there with friends and we each ordered a 2 item plate of Sliced Brisket and Pulled Pork each with 2 sides.  I got the house special greens and baked beans while others had Cole Slaw, French Fries, and Sweet Potatoes. In addition we added St Louis Ribs to get a good sampling.

As you can see, the meat came presauced.  While I usually want my first experience with a restaurant to be how "they" serve it, I may change that as presauced meat is not appropriate. Especially when it is not cooked with sauce. Sauce should be on the table and applied as the user sees fit, not the server.

The meat (brisket, pulled pork and spare ribs) were all pleasantly cooked but there was no real barbecue flavor in the meat.  It was just cooked. I now have a better idea why the sauce is applied by them.  

The greens were...fine.  The beans were actually a little better than fine.  The consistency was thick and felt like they were twice baked which always adds a bit more to the beans.

Barbecue is not just about cooked/smoked meat, it's about the flavor of the culture and this, unfortunately, didn't have much culture to it.

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.