bsnelson
enthusiast
Posts: 873
Loc: Allen, TX 75013
Reg: 10-14-05
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02-14-11 05:59 PM - Post#126092
I'll have a Yelp! review up soon, but here's a teaser:
The search is over. It *is* possible to get Central Texas quality BBQ in Dallas, and the place to get it is Lockhart Smokehouse in the Bishop Arts district of Dallas (or, as us Allenites would call it, Waco ;) ). This place is the real deal. There are a number of Lockhart, TX tie-ins:
1. Owners are family-related to Kreuz Market ownership
2. They serve Kreuz Market sausage
3. They cook over seasoned post oak trucked in from Central Texas
4. Their pitmasters were trained by Kreuz Market's head pitmaster
The place is Central Texas all the way, with very limited side items, no sandwiches, no plates or platters, no forks and most importantly, no sauce. Orders are placed by weight and wrapped in butcher paper (though they need to get some more heavy-duty stuff) and served with plain white bread.
Meats are phenomenal. Brisket is super moist (when ordered from the fatty end, the only way to do it IMO); it and the shoulder clod and ribs all have great smoke and are tender but not mushy. Sausage is just like being in Kreuz Market, and is just something that can't be described; it's like no other sausage I've had in Dallas.
Downsides: Their rub is a little heavy on salt, but not terribly so. It's a little spendy (the sausage links pack a high "delivery premium" on the way up from Lockhart), and of course, it's a bit of a haul, especially from here (though I did make it in a little over a half hour today).
Bottom line: This is it. The real thing. If we could ever get anything like this in Allen, I'd have to move or start ordering Lipitor by the truckload.
Brad
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Al C
enthusiast
Posts: 5920
Loc: McKinney/Allen, TX
Reg: 02-16-01
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02-14-11 08:43 PM - Post#126100
In response to bsnelson
If they're from Lockhart, it's good. If they're Kreuz ... they're great!
Thanks for posting this. I hadn't heard about it. Sounds like it's worth the drive.
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bsnelson
enthusiast
Posts: 873
Loc: Allen, TX 75013
Reg: 10-14-05
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02-14-11 11:10 PM - Post#126107
In response to Al C
My Yelp! review is here. You might want to read the earlier reviews if you want to fully understand my ire at the beginning. :)
Brad
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Al C
enthusiast
Posts: 5920
Loc: McKinney/Allen, TX
Reg: 02-16-01
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02-15-11 09:17 AM - Post#126113
In response to bsnelson
My Yelp! review is here. You might want to read the earlier reviews if you want to fully understand my ire at the beginning. :)
Brad
They shoulda built up this way ... far away from snooty Dallasites. Nice job bringing them back down to earth.
And what's with all the compaints about "no sauce?" They really don't get the entire smoked BBQ concept in the city, do they?
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redskinedmccoy
enthusiast
Posts: 134
Reg: 10-17-08
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02-15-11 11:22 PM - Post#126149
In response to bsnelson
I was awaiting your approval before going here.... I work close enough to the Bishop Arts District to make an early trip out one day and go for lunch. I am very excited to try!!!
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TC2112
enthusiast
Posts: 805
Reg: 08-16-07
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02-18-11 03:02 PM - Post#126341
In response to bsnelson
Just got back and I can't say enough good things about this place. I work not too far down the street, so I'm going to do my best to avoid going there multiple times a week.
I ordered 1/4 lb brisket from the fatty end, 2 ribs, 1 sausage link, "Today's Deviled Eggs", and a bucket of Shiner. The beer was split with my co-worker, the meat & eggs consumed by me.
The brisket was right up there with the best I've ever had, and the ribs not too far behind. I agree with OP on the rub being a tad salty, but only as it applied to the ribs. Everything else was fine. But the sausage. Oh my, the sausage. Nothing compares to one of those 'fall apart in your hands' links. Combine that with the deviled eggs (made with BRISKET) and ice cold Shiner, and I was in heaven.
Do whatever you can to get to this place. Better yet, stay away and leave some for the rest of us! 
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AA
enthusiast
Posts: 859
Loc: Allen, TX
Reg: 07-20-09
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02-13-14 04:10 PM - Post#166144
In response to TC2112
Plano location is now open downtown. Now it is close enough for me to try since I don't get to Dallas very often unless on business
Lockhart Smokehouse in Plano is open and smokin’
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bsnelson
enthusiast
Posts: 873
Loc: Allen, TX 75013
Reg: 10-14-05
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02-18-14 04:15 PM - Post#166231
In response to AA
I went today; short version: Very promising, could end up being a worthy competitor for Hutchins.
My Yelp! review is here
Brad
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RRRquilter
enthusiast
Posts: 1471
Loc: Allen
Reg: 05-02-05
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02-18-14 05:09 PM - Post#166233
In response to bsnelson
We have tried twice. The first time the line was out the door and moving at a snails pace. The second time they were sold out. I think we will be waiting a little longer before we try again.
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javaprincess
enthusiast
Posts: 151
Reg: 06-01-10
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02-18-14 06:22 PM - Post#166237
In response to bsnelson
How long was the wait when you went? If not too bad I might persuade my coworkers to make a trip there. How about parking?
Thanks for the review. I am hungry now.
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bsnelson
enthusiast
Posts: 873
Loc: Allen, TX 75013
Reg: 10-14-05
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02-18-14 11:20 PM - Post#166247
In response to javaprincess
There were about 30 people in line when I went (arrived about 12:20 on Tuesday), and it took me 10-15 minutes to get through the line.
Parking is, well, as bad as ever. :) It's downtown Plano, if you can't get lucky and park on the street, you're looking for a parking lot within a decent distance. I got lucky.
Brad
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javaprincess
enthusiast
Posts: 151
Reg: 06-01-10
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02-19-14 03:39 PM - Post#166272
In response to bsnelson
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Gary
enthusiast
Posts: 427
Reg: 06-25-01
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02-20-14 03:40 PM - Post#166302
In response to javaprincess
Parking lots can be found at http://visitdowntownplano .com/directions/
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Tough 75002
enthusiast
Posts: 744
Reg: 11-17-04
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02-24-14 11:26 AM - Post#166340
In response to Gary
We tried to go to Lockhart's in Plano for dinner on Saturday. No dice.
The lady in the store two doors down said they post the handwritten signs everyday at eleven and five saying they have run out of food and to come back at noon and six.
I am sure it is tasty but not worth the hassle.
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RRRquilter
enthusiast
Posts: 1471
Loc: Allen
Reg: 05-02-05
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02-24-14 02:27 PM - Post#166344
In response to Tough 75002
Yeah, we went by last night shortly before six and they had their sign up stating that they were sold out.
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Al C
enthusiast
Posts: 5920
Loc: McKinney/Allen, TX
Reg: 02-16-01
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02-24-14 03:50 PM - Post#166347
In response to RRRquilter
That way of business may work fine in the Hill Country, but it won't fly in these parts.
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allen
enthusiast
Posts: 1965
Reg: 12-02-05
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02-24-14 07:21 PM - Post#166352
In response to Al C
You mean selling as much as they can make, at a high margin, won't work? Okay.
| We sittin' here, I'm supposed to be a franchise player....and we in here talkin' 'bout PRACTICE? |
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bsnelson
enthusiast
Posts: 873
Loc: Allen, TX 75013
Reg: 10-14-05
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02-25-14 12:59 AM - Post#166357
In response to Al C
That way of business may work fine in the Hill Country, but it won't fly in these parts.
It's working great for Pecan Lodge in Dallas...
Brad
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Al C
enthusiast
Posts: 5920
Loc: McKinney/Allen, TX
Reg: 02-16-01
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02-25-14 12:06 PM - Post#166362
In response to allen
You mean selling as much as they can make, at a high margin, won't work? Okay.
Not at all what I meant. Folks down south are used to BBQ places running like this. Those around here don't like being told "sorry ... we just ran out." They won't be back.
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MavsFan2
member
Posts: 35
Reg: 05-24-12
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02-25-14 02:11 PM - Post#166365
In response to Al C
You mean selling as much as they can make, at a high margin, won't work? Okay.
Not at all what I meant. Folks down south are used to BBQ places running like this. Those around here don't like being told "sorry ... we just ran out." They won't be back.
Personally this translates to "I MUST try this place out and go early to make sure I get some BBQ that I must have been missing"
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mgrayar
enthusiast
Posts: 3859
Reg: 09-25-09
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02-25-14 03:48 PM - Post#166372
In response to MavsFan2
Those people can go to Dickies. No chance they will ever run out. I like the idea of get it while they've got it. It means it will be fresh. Nothing left over and reheated. The way it is meant to be.
Learn more about Cystic Fibrosis and how you can help at:
http://www.cff.org
Everyone can make a difference! |
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Al C
enthusiast
Posts: 5920
Loc: McKinney/Allen, TX
Reg: 02-16-01
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02-25-14 03:58 PM - Post#166373
In response to MavsFan2
You mean selling as much as they can make, at a high margin, won't work? Okay.
Not at all what I meant. Folks down south are used to BBQ places running like this. Those around here don't like being told "sorry ... we just ran out." They won't be back.
Personally this translates to "I MUST try this place out and go early to make sure I get some BBQ that I must have been missing"
Agreed!
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suzeeh
enthusiast
Posts: 209
Loc: allen, texas
Reg: 11-08-01
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03-31-14 11:32 AM - Post#167100
In response to Al C
I work in downtown Dallas, so several of us ordered out last week. I ordered pork chops, but they were out so got brisket and deviled eggs. The deviled eggs were really tasty. I can't say the same for the brisket. While it had a really good flavor, it was so greasy that I literally had to take out the many chunks of fat in it. It was disgusting. I would never wait in line to taste this again. I'm also not big on slices of white bread. Where are the rolls?
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allen
enthusiast
Posts: 1965
Reg: 12-02-05
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03-31-14 01:30 PM - Post#167106
In response to suzeeh
Have you ever had Texas BBQ before?
| We sittin' here, I'm supposed to be a franchise player....and we in here talkin' 'bout PRACTICE? |
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mgrayar
enthusiast
Posts: 3859
Reg: 09-25-09
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03-31-14 08:11 PM - Post#167129
In response to allen
Lean flavorless brisket and rolls, sounds like Dickeys.
Learn more about Cystic Fibrosis and how you can help at:
http://www.cff.org
Everyone can make a difference! |
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LowGear
enthusiast
Posts: 302
Loc: Allen, TX
Reg: 01-12-06
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03-31-14 09:26 PM - Post#167133
In response to suzeeh
Sounds like you ordered the "moist" brisket which has the most fat marbling.
Next time order the "lean" brisket and you won't be disappointed. You can also request slices with heavy "bark" on it if you like the flavor of the rub. Yummy!
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bsnelson
enthusiast
Posts: 873
Loc: Allen, TX 75013
Reg: 10-14-05
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03-31-14 09:57 PM - Post#167136
In response to suzeeh
I work in downtown Dallas, so several of us ordered out last week. I ordered pork chops, but they were out so got brisket and deviled eggs. The deviled eggs were really tasty. I can't say the same for the brisket. While it had a really good flavor, it was so greasy that I literally had to take out the many chunks of fat in it. It was disgusting. I would never wait in line to taste this again. I'm also not big on slices of white bread. Where are the rolls?
Lockhart Smokehouse (in Dallas and now in Plano) is modeled after the tradition of Central Texas BBQ, which has its roots in German and Czech cuisine. Originally Central Texas BBQ was eaten with one's hands and without sauce or sides. Pickles and onions add a little "palette cleansing", and if any bread product was offered, it was white bread or saltine crackers. The meal would be eaten with your fingers, and maybe a knife for some of the tougher cuts.
That's it, that's how it was done. Lockhart Smokehouse started out this way, but eventually caved on sauce, forks and other "creature comforts". Rolls would not be found in Central Texas BBQ joints.
As for the fat, the "moist" brisket has more flavor than the lean, and is (as you might guess) more moist, but the fat requires some trimming, either with a knife or (even better) with your fingers. It's a completely different mindset than a Dickey's or Spring Creek; it's like comparing McDonald's to Morton's Steak House, but the use of utensils is kind of reversed. :)
Brad
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bsnelson
enthusiast
Posts: 873
Loc: Allen, TX 75013
Reg: 10-14-05
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03-31-14 10:01 PM - Post#167137
In response to bsnelson
suzeeh, you might try The Slow Bone next time; they're a little more "accessible" to Central Texas BBQ newbies, with a wider selection of sides, but still with great meats. Ask the carver to give you a slice or so of the moist (or "fatty"), but see if he'll trim it a bit for you. Round it out with some lean brisket and try some sausage or ribs. It's all great stuff.
They probably even have rolls; I've never asked. :)
Brad
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javaprincess
enthusiast
Posts: 151
Reg: 06-01-10
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04-01-14 11:34 AM - Post#167149
In response to bsnelson
Well the BBQ joints in Lockhart and Taylor started as meat markets that served smoked meat. This is why food was (still is) served on butcher paper, and served with packaged sliced bread, because they were not restaurants thus no baker to make rolls.
I go to Spring Creek BBQ for their fresh rolls, and I get the BBQ meat and sauce on the side to go with my rolls!
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