Monday, January 7, 2013

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 ***

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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