Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Rooster's Roadhouse


DENTON: Rooster's Roadhouse
113 Industrial St

Denton, TX 76201

940-382-4227

Open Sun-Thur 11-10, F-Sat 11-11

www.roosters-roadhouse.com


I'd heard about Rooster's a while back on the Dallas Observer's website, and I'd stored it in my brain for just this occasion. The wife and baby and I were on our way to OKC for Easter, and the baby was hungry just as we crossed Lake Lewisville. I quickly put my wife on IPhone duty to search for a solid dinner stop in Denton, then remembered a joint that served BBQ which my wife might actually enjoy. I referred to it as a "burger joint" in my convincing explanation, and in a few minutes I was staring at the back of the menu which features their BBQ options.



Ribs are not an option, so I went for brisket, pulled pork and sausage. The sausage had the most perplexing flavor. It is smoked then cut lengthwise before being slapped down on the flat-top griddle where another layer of flavor is added. The spiciness of the meat was also out of the ordinary for a BBQ joint, then I noticed on their website that they use Syracuse Sausage from Ponder, Texas, which specializes in Italian sausages, and are mainly featured on the menus of fine Italian restaurants in the area. That explains all of those spices.

Pulled pork wasn't quite so dynamic. The meat was average with just a hint of smoke. It was a bit dry, but the overall flavor was fine. Brisket was better with a decent amount of smokiness. The moist meat was perfectly cooked, but it could have used more seasoning to really bring out the flavors. If it's flavor you're after, then the sides is where you need to look. Okra os perfectly crisp and salty, and the spicy "rooster tails" are breaded onions strings that neither of us could stop eating. An authentic banana pudding in a Mason jar was the perfect finish.

After the meal, one of the owners gave me a tour of the J&R Manufacturing pit which uses all hickory wood. He also explained that ribs are just offered as a special because the demand is too hard to determine to keep them on the regular menu. Before I can bump their rating, I'll have to find time to get back to Denton when the ribs are smokin'.

Rating ***
Rooster's Roadhouse on Urbanspoon

4 comments:

kYle said...

I ate the brisket at Rooster's this past Saturday and it was soldly average at best. Tender, but very little smoke flavor. The fried pickle appetizer was very good and the waitress was cute.

Gary Barber said...

You missed the real treat at Rooster's. The smoked turkey sandwich.

Anonymous said...

frustration!!! -- when they opened the ribs were available daily and i believe the ribs to have been the best thing on the menu.

Mallouf said...

They have a pit sandwich that is really fantastic. Sausage, pulled pork brisket a little chow chow, and some BBQ sauce. It's really a nice mix of flavor.

Start off with the pulled pork nachos...Thank me later.

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