Monday, January 7, 2013

Joe Allen’s Bar-B-Q


ABILENE: Joe Allen's Bar-B-Q
1185 China Street 
Abilene, TX 79602
325-672-9948
Open Sun-Thur 11-9, F-Sat 11-10
www.joeallens.com


After a disappointing meal at Sharon's Barbeque down the street, we were hoping more from Joe Allen's. I had heard that Joe Allen's was a great joint that had fallen out of its prime. If it was once worth exaltation, then it has certainly fallen.


The sausage had good smoke and the links were well seasoned and moist. They had an odd sweetness to the flavor, but were still enjoyable. The brisket was bland and undercooked with a thick line of chewy white fat. Ribs had decent flavor, but were also undercooked. The beans and slaw were both the tops in town, but good sides are not what makes a great barbecue joint. This might be the best Abilene has to offer these days, so too bad for Abilene.

Rating **

2 comments:

Plano Mark said...

Abilene hasn't had good BBQ since Harold's close.

Anonymous said...

been to all 3 and Harolds was terrific, the rest are terrible.

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