Hall's Grocery

COLLEYVILLE: Hall's Grocery
4200 Glade Rd
Colleyville, TX 76034
817-267-6803
Open M-F 8-5

This little gas station at the corner of Glade and 121 was hopping on a Tuesday afternoon, and it wasn't on account of Coke and Slim Jims. Hall's is positively packed with goodies including their very own line of condiments, a small farmer's market in the back, the largest selection of beer I have ever witnessed (and I like to witness beer), and a tiny counter that serves up Texas BBQ.

Choices include the standard meats served up with a side of pintos and potato salad if you're ordering a plate. I took mine to go, and the two meat plate set me back less than $7. Good thing, because the brisket was downright awful. Rather than chopped or sliced, chipped pieces of beef barely recognizable as brisket contained no smokiness and little flavor at all. These fatty slices were tepid (not good for fat) and almost inedible.



Luckily, the ribs were better. Yes, they had been basted in a sauce, but the meat was tender, not to a fault, and had a great smokiness from its time in the large smoker out front. The meat was flavorful, and the sauce complimented rather than overpowered this tasty pork. The sides were average at best with no more flavor than what they were packaged with. The rating below is based solely on ordering the ribs, as the brisket just isn't worth the space in your stomach.

Rating **

BBQ in the Bible

A reader sent over the following passages from the good book relating to smoked meats, and I thought I would share his diligent research.

"Hey, brothers in BBQ,

Like yourselves, I am also a Texas BBQ lover and find good BBQ is a religious experience. Therefore, as an ordained minister of the Universal Life Church, I turned to the Bible to see what the good book hath say regarding meat, smoke, and fire. Well, here it is along with my interpretation.

Deuteronomy 12:15 Nevertheless, you may slaughter your animals in any of your towns and eat as much of the meat as you want… according to the blessing the LORD your God gives you. Both the ceremonially unclean and the clean may eat it.

Deuteronomy 12:20 When the LORD your God has enlarged your territory as he promised you, and you crave meat and say, "I would like some meat," then you may eat as much of it as you want.

Leviticus 11:3 You may eat any animal that has a split hoof completely divided and that chews the cud.

Ezekiel 24:10 So heap on the wood and kindle the fire. Cook the meat well, mixing in the spices; and let the bones be charred.

Exodus 12:8-10 8 That same night they are to eat the meat roasted over the fire, along with bitter herbs, and bread made without yeast. 9 Do not eat the meat raw or cooked in water, but roast it over the fire—head, legs and inner parts. 10 Do not leave any of it till morning; if some is left till morning, you must burn it.

Reverend Sam’s interpretation… According to the blessing the Lord your God gives you, you crave meat and say, "I would like some meat," then you may eat as much of it as you want. So heap on the wood and kindle the fire. Cook the meat well, mixing in the spices; and let the bones be charred. Do not eat the meat raw or cooked in water, but roast it over the fire and eat the meat roasted over fire. Do not leave any of it till morning; if some is left till morning, you must eat it then for breakfast. The word of the Lord. God Bless Texas."

Thanks Reverend Sam. We just knew we were doing God's work!

- BBQ Snob

Daddy Joe's Smokehouse Barbecue

COLLEYVILLE: Daddy Joe’s Smokehouse Barbecue
5220 State Hwy 121
Colleyville, TX 76034
817-571-8700
Open Daily 11-2am
daddyjoessmokehouse.com

Update: This joint is CLOSED.

07/2009: Andy Caster has taken over a location that has been plagued by controversy as of late. After Mark Gabrick and Dallas Green parted ways, Caster came in to try and patch up the late Cowboys BBQ & Rib Company. Less than a month later, Gabrick was broke, Cowboys was shuttered, and Caster reopened the joint as Daddy Joe's. The menu is definitely shorter on non-BBQ items providing more focus on the 'cue. Prices have also been lowered and hours extended attempting to bring in a higher volume of customers.

I ordered a two-meat combo to-go, and although ribs are not listed as an option on the combo plate, they were included on this visit without hesitation. When I returned to the car to find a full 1/2 slab of baby backs, I realized why they hadn't been offered on the combo plate. I was now nestled in my front seat ready to enjoy the bounty before me. At first sight, I knew these ribs would be fall-off-the-bone tender (not a positive). They had all the signs of baked and basted meat, and were covered in a thick red sauce. The meat did have some smoke on it providing a kick of flavor aside from the sauce, but a generous hand wielded the basting brush today, so the meat wasn't really allowed to shine.



The brisket had a nice black pepper bite to the rub which allowed a dark crust and deep smokeline to develop. A line of well rendered fat hugged the edge of these slices from the flat cut of the brisket. Smoke flavor didn't quite permeate the entire slice, but the level of smoke was higher than what I've come to expect in DFW. Each slice was moist and flavorful if a bit tough, but I would order this again without hesitation.



The sides were average compared to what I previously enjoyed at Cowboys. Onion rings had come straight from a freezer bag, and the server recommended black eyed peas were a one dimensional mixture of peas, water and Rotel.

I understand why this joint has sold out a bit to do a more tradtional Memphis style rib given the popularity of the term fall-off-the-bone tender, and its grossly over-hyped merits. You would also hope that a joint serving these ribs wouldn't use display their creed, "If it ain't smoked, it ain't Texan" so prominently on their website. It's just that true Texas BBQ cannot be treated this way, and it will not go unnoticed here. If they would just lay those slabs to gently cook alongside those well smoked briskets, this joint could climb quickly in this blog's ranking.

Rating **