The Bar-B-Q Man

CORPUS CHRISTI: The Bar-B-Q Man
4931 IH 37 
Corpus Christi, TX 78408
361-888-4248
Open M-F 11-8
www.thebbqman.com

The joint was empty on a drizzly mid-afternoon and the glass case at the counter was packed full of smoked meats. We ordered a five meat sampler at with no need for sides. Without pulled pork or anything else unusual on the meat menu, we went for the smoked turkey and ham in addition to the Texas trinity.

We had just taken a few bites of the good smoky spare ribs before the owner Malcolm DeShields came over to check on us. We learned from him that the Bar-B-Q Man signed one of the first contracts with V&V sausage, and Malcolm did a fine job getting enough smoke on their links from his pair of Southern Pride smokers. Slices of deli ham and deli turkey were as poor as expected while the moist brisket was above average.

The restaurant featured a couple of gifts from Cecil Cotten of the recently burned Joe Cotten's BBQ. There were a few wooden chairs that had been salvaged from the old place and a large pink pig that Cecil had painted and delivered to Malcolm stands watch over the parking lot parking lot. Even without the spectacles, The Bar-B-Q Man is worth a visit.

Rating ***