A Day in the Life of Barbs B Q, One of Texas’ Best BBQ Restaurants

Monk: Chuck Charnicart is a veteran of current Texas Monthly #1 Goldee’s Barbecue who struck out on her own in 2023 to start Barbs B Q in Lockhart. Within a year, Barbs had been named a James Beard semifinalist for Best New Restaurant, named a best new restaurant by Food & Wine, and named one of Eater’s Best New Restaurants.

In the below video from the Smoke Point video series from Eater, they shadow Chuck as she goes through a typical day opening Barbs. Just another day in the life of one of the best new barbecue restaurants in Texas.

Description: 25-year-old Chuck Charnichart’s restaurant Barbs B Q in Lockhart, Texas, earned a James Beard nomination and Eater Best New Restaurant award within a year of opening in 2023. At the Barbs counter, customers can have their pick of pork ribs, turkey, fajita sausage, pork stew — and even choco pudding for dessert — as well as its famous brisket, coated in Mexican spices and smoked for over 12 hours.

A Thousand Words: Stopping at a Buc-ee’s in Tennessee

Monk: A few photos from a stop at Buc-ee’s in Crossville, TN this past summer. Buc-ee’s is of course the Texas-based gas station chain with an almost cult-like level of following and support for its clean bathrooms, jerky wall, Beaver Nuggets, and on-site barbecue station.

Of course, Buc-ee’s is also known for their copious amount of gas pumps, nearly 200 in number.

Once inside, the Texas Roundup seems to be the focal point of the store, directing people to the team of pitmasters slicing, chopping, and creating pre-made sandwiches and tacos.

There is also a huge selection of both rubs and sauces for your backyard grilling and barbecue needs.

Even if you’ve managed to escape without buying food, rubs, spices, or Beaver Nuggets, there is a selection of backyard pits available from Old Country BBQ Pits as you exit the store.

Until next time, Buc-ee’s!

Post Oak Barbecue delivers above average barbecue in Denver

Name: Post Oak Barbecue
Date: 8/23/24
Address: 4000 Tennyson Street, Denver, Colorado
Order: Brisket, ribs, sausage, turkey, burnt ends, collards, okra (link to menu)
Pricing: $$

Speedy: Denver is not really known as a barbecue city, but Monk and I once had a great experience there at the now closed Owlbear Barbecue, which I also re-visited (and enjoyed) in 2021. So on a recent weekend trip, I knew I wanted to try barbecue for at least one meal. Fortunately, my college roommate and Denver native Leor mentioned Post Oak as his favorite in town, so we went (along with a couple of other friends). 

Monk: While our first experience with Denver barbecue was fairly average, that Owlbear Barbecue visit was quite memorable, and surely one of the best Texas barbecue experiences I’ve had outside of the state of Texas.

Speedy: Post Oak is in what looks like an old school store front, and is a long, skinny restaurant, with the ordering station on the right, and a bar on the left, and scattered tables and bar seating. It almost looks more like a bar where you’d go to have a beer and watch a game than a barbecue joint, but hopefully the food exceeds game day bar food. The team let me do the ordering, so we ordered a little bit of everything (meat-wise) minus the pulled pork, including the Friday special – burnt ends. The meat came out pretty quickly, and we were off.

Starting with the brisket – I was pretty impressed. It was well seasoned, tender, and moist, but not quite as melt-in-your-mouth as your top tier Texas brisket. Still, this was my favorite meat of the meal, and I’d return to Post Oak for it.

The turkey was also a standout. Every bite was moist, buttery, and flavorful. I am a pepper fiend and could use a little more seasoning, but still really good. There is seemingly a bit of a turkey renaissance in the barbecue world, and I’m here for it. Long live the bird!

Monk: Count me in for the turkey-ssance as well!

Speedy: The ribs and sausage were both good but not standout, and while my table all liked the burnt ends, I found them a little chewy – probably the only thing I wouldn’t order again. For the sides, the fried okra is a must order, and the collards were solid, with chunks of pork mixed in. 

While Post Oak Barbecue doesn’t look the part of traditional barbecue joint, the ‘cue turned out to be more than solid, and our whole group enjoyed the meal. All in all, another great barbecue experience in Denver.

Ratings:
Atmosphere/Ambiance – 3 hogs
Brisket – 4 hogs
Turkey – 4 hogs
Ribs – 3.5 hogs
Sausage – 3.5 hogs
Burnt Ends – 3 hogs
Sides – 4 hogs
Overall – 4 hogs

Following Goldee’s Barbecue as they Prep for Service

Monk: Goldee’s Barbecue skyrocketed to the top of every barbecue pilgrim’s list when it was named Texas Monthly’s Top Barbecue Joint in 2021. In the below video, Eater’s Smoke Point series follows the prep routine over a Thursday and Friday of the three friends who are owners and pitmasters at Goldee’s, Jalen Heard, Johnny White, and Lane Milne, as well as their newest venture Ribee’s.

Of note for me was the fact that they bake all of the bread they serve, whether its the sliced bread or the rolls for the sandwiches. That kind of attention to detail is why they earned the coveted top spot from Texas Monthly.

Description: Customers line up as early as 6 a.m. to get Goldee’s award-winning barbecue. Since winning the No. 1 spot of the “Texas Monthly” list of best barbecue joints, the Fort Worth restaurant increased its output from 12 to 150 briskets per week to feed crowds of customers who visit from across the country. At the counter, you’ll find the classics, including brisket, ribs, turkey, and sausage that can be ordered with hot honey, sweet, or with their signature sauce.