Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Big Ronnie's Pit BBQ


WHITESBORO: Big Ronnie's Pit BBQ
25646 US Hwy 377

Whitesboro, TX 76273

Phone?

Open Thur-Sat 11-7


Update: This joint is CLOSED.

2010: I learned about this joint from a recent post by Texas BBQ Posse, and be warned before making the trip up to Whitesboro, that I've also been told by the posse that this joint might already be closed down. The posse is a Dallas based gang of 'cue heads, many of which work for the Dallas Morning News. This would explain why they get so many of their road trips documented in print. Big Ronnie's was just a few miles north on 377 from my stops in at the BBQ Joint and Clark's, so I pulled in late on Friday evening to learn that they had just closed up shop and were out of meat for the evening. The next day up at Lake Texoma it was pouring, so my brother-in-law decided to join me on my trek back to Ronnie's. He would later learn that there are very few trips with me that feature just one BBQ joint.



Big Ronnie isn't around much anymore. There was a comment about the combination of strokes and alcohol, but it was a group of ladies working the place on a Saturday morning. They offer meat by the quarter pound, so we went with that amount of sliced beef and two pork ribs. They came with a deeply flavored sauce that was on the sweet side, but was definitely unique. Ribs were well seasoned and had some good smoke, but they needed more time on the smoker to tenderize. They were just too chewy. Brisket was better but needed more smoke. The slices were moist and also a bit chewy. The bites with crust were good, but the interior meat tasted like little more than roast beef. They needed the sauce, which luckily was up to the task.

Rating **

4 comments:

Unknown said...

Dearest bloggers and Texas BBQ lovers, Big Ronnies has closed shop in Texoma but a brand new BBQ stand will be opening its front window for business in just a few months. Hopefully atleast before the end of this year. It's going to be called BackRoad BBQ, it will be family owned and operated and the foos will be just as good if not better. BackRoad will sit in the place of where Big Ronnies sat. The place looks deserted now, but bare with us, the new BBQ stand will open!! So, be on the look out for a Red with white trim metal building that somewhat resembles either a barn or caboose depending on who you ask. This is an insiders scoop, I will keep you up to date.

dustyrose25 said...

Check out Backroad BBQ's Blog!

dustyrose25 said...

Backroad BBQ is now open for business in the previous location of Big Ronnie's BBQ on Hwy 377 North of Whitesboro. Since opening in March 2011, they have enjoyed a multitude of returning customers as well as many pleased new customers who have commented that they are very impressed with the moderatly sweet sauce with a hint of spice and the tender sliced beef and tasty ribs. Backroad BBQ is owned and opperated by a local and close knit family. Its deffinatly worth a trip to Lake Texoma for a taste of this delicious BBQ.

Brandon said...

I was wondering how long before Back Road BBQ makes it into the Texas Monthly BBQ edition? We've been here over a year now, yes the word is gettin out by word of mouth and via Facebook but we've still yet to reach a much larger customer base. Check us out on FB @Back Road BBQ! We'd love for the Full Gospel BBQ guys and gals to come out for a visit.

DISCLAIMER:

Each joint is judged on the essence of Texas 'cue...sliced brisket and pork ribs. Sausage is only considered if house made. Sauce is good, but good meat needs no adornment to satisfy. Each review can only be based on specific cuts of meat on that particular day. Finally, if the place fries up catfish or serves a caesar salad, then chances are they aren't paying enough attention to the pits, so we mostly steered clear.

-THE PROPHETS OF SMOKED MEAT