My Favorite...BBQ

Inspired by the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo, I am going to talk about two of my favorite restaurants to eat at during Rodeo season. Whether you call it BBQ, Bar-B-Que, or Barbecue, I call it simply delicious. Slow-smoked with savory spices and sauces, barbecue from Texas just can’t be beat. Home to the legendary stockyards, Fort Worth along with other tourist attractions such as the rodeo can bring in visitors from all over. My pre-rodeo staple is barbecue and beer from either Railhead or Angelo’s.

RAILHEAD SMOKEHOUSE

Located just a mile and a half down the road from Will Rogers Coliseum, home to the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo, stands Railhead Smokehouse at 2900 Montgomery St. Established in 1986, and owned by Charlie Geren, local celebrity and member of the Texas House of Representatives, District 99, Railhead has been serving some of the best barbecue around. They are known for their German style sausages with Texas spice and flavor and their pork ribs. My favorite is the tender chopped beef sandwich plate ($7.45), with sides of sweet sauced pinto beans and French fries (+$0.50). The flavor and texture of the meat smothered in the sweet and savory barbecue sauce makes for a mouthwatering treat. I order my sandwich without the mustard, pickles, and onions, but ask for extra barbecue sauce so the sandwich bun can be soaked in the sauce. If I am taking a group to the rodeo, I usually pull up to the drive-through and get chopped beef by the pound, packs of buns, and sides. I will have the group meet at my house and assemble our own dinner with a cold case of beer. If I ever eat at Railhead, it is usually on a Saturday afternoon and I sit outside with my family and my dog, staring at the rustic railroad tracks and signals. The restaurant has a wooden lodge feeling, with neon beer signs adorning the wall. Food and beer are ordered at the counter before sitting in the friendly and loud restaurant. Staff t-shirts promote Fort Worth pride and remind patrons “Life is too short to live in Dallas.”

ANGELO’S

Angelo’s Barbecue is a Fort Worth childhood memory for many who grow up in the area. One thing that sticks out in my memory is the mounted bears that are found all around the restaurant. The one shown above is the welcome bear, as people line up to give their order. Angelo’s was established in 1958 by Angelo George who sold well-seasoned beef brisket and ice cold beer at 2533 White Settlement Road. The seasonings and barbecue sauce are so famous that they are sold to the public at the restaurant and select grocery stores in Texas, Louisiana, and Arkansas. My favorites are the rib plate ($12.95) which is served with ribs, sauce, beans, potato salad, cole slaw, pickles, onion, and bread. As a friend once described, “the beer is better at Angelo’s” because of the frosted schooners. The layout of Angelo’s is very casual and can accommodate large groups. The process of ordering begins with serving yourself various soft drinks and water out of a refrigerator and picking out cold sides and chips. The food is served cafeteria style on trays, and visitors seat themselves in the large wooden building. Menu items are served until they run out, so I recommend eating early to get what you want.