Smoked sausage

Serious Texas B-B-Q

/ Mitch Clark / Leave a comment

Overall Rating and is it worth a visit: 8/10 and Yes. Sitting almost directly in the middle between Loveland & Fort Collins, Serious Texas B-B-Q sits on a large property and building, with great views of the surrounding Front Range Mountains, and a great outdoor patio area with a mini waterfall and space for your furry friends. Very much a Texas style interior, with corrugated steel along the walls and large wooden tables for dining, with red metal fold-up chairs. While the BBQ is okay overall, the setting and views give them some extra points towards being worth a recommendation. A cool place for Colorado BBQ where you can have a great view of the Front Range, enjoy some good food next to a running hardscape waterfall, and can bring along your dog for the patio seating. Would stop by again if in the area

Date Visited: 9/8/2024

Address: 201 W 71st St, Loveland, CO 80538

Day of the Week: Saturday

Time of Day: 1:30 PM. Open at 11:00 AM

Owner: Hunter Swanson. Took over for his parents that started it, Joe & Cookie

Website: https://www.serioustexasbbq.com/

Number of Years in Business: Founded in 1998 in Durango, CO. This is one of their 4 locations, with one 2 in Durango, 1 in Fort Collins, and 1 in Loveland

Number of People in Line: 4 in front of us and about 20-30 sitting down already

Regional Style of BBQ: Texas Style

Total Cost: $48 with Tip. Got brisket, ribs, pulled pork, turkey, chicken wings, chipotle coleslaw, mac & cheese, and apple crumble

Type of Wood: Unsure, but I believe it was either Oak or Hickory

Type of Smoker: Electric smoker in the back it appears

Type of Seasoning: Salt, pepper, maybe others

Best Dish: Pulled Pork

Best Sauce: Original

Best Side: Apple Cobbler

Interior Description: It has a nice smell of smoke when you walk in with a pleasant staff and comfortable seating for probably over 100 people. Switch back lines for ordering your food at the counter and then you can take it back to your seat, either inside or out. Rustic setting with exposed ceilings and several bar signs, vintage gas station apparel, and stickers lining the walls with 90s rock music playing when we came in. Had an electric smoker in the back with sweet and unsweetened tea, and grab-and-go cooler beers as you’re waiting in line, which definitely lives up to the Texas influence

Pro Tip: Visit this location for the views if nothing else, but the BBQ is pretty good too. Sit outside on the patio if possible, and go with the pulled pork, ribs, and the apple cobbler

Brisket

0/10 Ranking: 8 to 8.25/10

Seasoning: Salt, pepper, maybe some others

Description: The brisket had a good smoke flavor to it with minimal seasoning and bark. Had about a 1/4-inch smoke ring, but was slightly tough to the bite and was slightly chewy with more thick-cut pieces. Would get it again though, especially if visiting earlier in the day, but it does need more seasoning to it overall and was oddly cut

Pork Spare Ribs 

0/10 Ranking: 8.25/10

Seasoning: Salt, pepper, maybe others

Description: Fall off the bone tender with a nice smoke flavor and level of seasoning, but could use a bit more of both to take it to the next tier. Would get it again though

Pulled Pork

0/10 Ranking: 8.25 to 8.5/10

Seasoning: Unsure

Description: It had some bark to it, with moderate smoke flavor coming through in each bite. Slightly dry, but also good on its own. Would recommend the original sauce with it among all the options available

Sausage 

0/10 Ranking: 8.5/10

Description: Creamy interior texture with a slight snap in the casing. It had a little bit of spice and heat to it, which was enjoyable and tasty. Had a nice meat-to-fat ratio but could use a little more smokiness to them. Would get again

Turkey

0/10 Ranking: 8/10

Seasoning: Unsure

Description: Peppery with mild to moderate smokiness. The bird was tender and juicy, but not the best of the best for Colorado. Would get again through if in the mood for smoked turkey

Chicken Wings

0/10 Ranking: 8.25 to 8.5/10

Seasoning: Unsure, multiple spices

Description: They were crisp to each bite, with a light smokiness and a juicy wing overall. They had a dry rub on them as well, with crispy, but not rubbery skin. Good on its own or with ranch, would get these again, and they are one of the rare spots that does chicken wings, so grab them if you’re craving a smoked wing option

Sauces – Didn’t review them, but the Original was good for the pulled pork

Sides – Chipotle Coleslaw

0/10 Ranking: 7.5/10

Description: It was okay, but nothing special at all, with pretty mild flavor in general. Light mayo and acidity to it, needs more seasoning/flavoring to everything overall. Free tree to skip this one as a side

Sides – Mac & Cheese

0/10 Ranking: 7.75/10

Description: Thin and runny sauce, but good overall flavor and cooked al dente. Could skip for the next time as this also needs extra seasoning or thicker base sauce for it to be worth a reorder

Sides – Apple Cobbler

0/10 Ranking: 8.5/10

Description: Sweet, but not overly so, with a nice crunch to the crumble and good crispness to the apples. Would get again, but a small order is all you need

Interior & Menu Photos:

Sundance Pit BBQ

/ Mitch Clark / Leave a comment

Overall Rating and is it worth a visit: 8.5/10 and Yes. Decided to stop here on my way back from Colorado Springs, as the reviews were outstanding on Google and I am rarely down this far south. Stopped in almost right when they opened, with the restaurant sitting right along the main street in Palmer Lake. Had nice views looking out into the mountains, with counter service ordering right when you walk in the door. Ended up getting to chat with JT, his fiance, and staff member, all of who were super welcoming and provided great customer service and conversation. Learned that JT has been the service industry for years and was finally able to open his own spot with Sundance. Originally from Palmer Lake, he grew up in Central Texas as well as attended Culinary school in Austin, which is where his passion for brisket and post oak comes from, and when he moved back he decided he wanted to bring some of Texas back with him. That passion for Central Texas style bbq definitely comes through, especially with the brisket, Texas Twinkie, and even the Tex-Mex influenced elote. With them starting out less than a year ago, will absolutely be back to see the evolution of the bbq and the restaurant and would recommend for anyone swinging through the area or on your way in between Denver and Colorado Springs. Would recommend for a visit and worth a stop for sure

Date Visited: 9/14/2024

Address: 25 CO-105, Palmer Lake, CO 80133

Day of the Week: Saturday

Time of Day: 11:25 AM. Open at 11:00 AM

Owner: JT Cline

Website: https://sundancepitbbq.com/

Number of Years in Business: Opened December 16th, 2023

Number of People in Line: 0, but 3 came after me and two to-go orders

Regional Style of BBQ: Central Texas

Total Cost: $54 with tip. Ordered 1/2 lb Brisket, Pulled Pork (no 1/4 lb options), 1 Sausage, 1 Texas Twinkie, Coleslaw, 1 Shiner Bock

Type of Wood: Red, white, and post oak depending on availability

Type of Smoker: Off-set smoker, from BBQ Pits by Klose in Houston, Texas

Type of Seasoning: Salt & Pepper

Best Dish: Brisket or Sausge

Best Sauce: Didn’t review

Best Side: Texas Twinkie

Interior Description: Cozy and unique layout, with seating right in front when you walk in, as well as several rooms in back with larger tables for bigger groups. Could probably fit about 30-40 people if needed. Full drink menu including beer, wine, and spirits

Pro Tip: Texas Twinkie is a rare item in Colorado, be sure to grab one or several while you’re here

Brisket

0/10 Ranking: 8.5/10

Seasoning: Salt & pepper

Description: 1/2 lb order ended up being one very thickly cut fatty slice, with some nice bark to it. It had a nice 3/4 inch smoke ring to it and was super tender and juicy and cooked almost perfectly. While the salt and pepper come through each bite, the brisket needs more of both overall. Had a good level of smokiness to it, but could use more intensity there as well. Solid brisket and probably a top 10-15 in the state. Would order again

Pulled Pork

0/10 Ranking: 7/10

Seasoning: Unsure

Description: The pulled pork was dry and didn’t have much for seasoning or smokiness coming through. Chopped up vs pulled, while some pieces had some bark, not much overall. BBQ sauce helps a little, but not the best overall. Could skip this next time to try something else

German Sausage 

0/10 Ranking: 8.75/10

Description: Gets these from Sarah’s sausages right now, but is planning on making these in-house down the road. The sausages had a great fat to meat ratio, with a taut snap to the casing and a nice smoke flavor to it. Will absolutely order the next time I’m there

Sides – Coleslaw

0/10 Ranking: 8.25/10

Description: Cream texture with crisp cabbage. Leans more mayo than vinegar, but balanced overall and a nice side to break up the bbq with. Worth ordering for the table

Sides – Texas Twinkie

0/10 Ranking: 8.75/10

Description: A unique item not found in the Denver area, so this was a nice surprise to see. It’s essentially a smoked jalapeno, wrapped with bacon, and stuffed with a cream cheese brisket filling. The bacon was crisp on the outside and the internal filling was very tasty as well. Good spice level to it and would recommend you grab them if they are available

Sides – Pickles

0/10 Ranking: 9/10

Description: Crisp with almost a perfect level of acidity. Finishes clean for each bite, with a slight saltiness perfect for cutting some of the meat’s fattiness. Comes included with all the meats, but don’t skip them

Interior & Menu Photos:

B-Man ‘s BBQ

/ Mitch Clark / Leave a comment

Overall Rating and is it worth a visit: 8.25 to 8.5/10 and Yes. B-Man’s is tucked in a small little industrial neighborhood just off Hwy 85, surrounded by camper storage lots, some private businesses, and junk yards. That said, it gives it a nice low key vibe and also has great views of the front range mountains in the distance. Walking up to the building, you get a nice smell of smoke before you open the door, with a friendly staff and welcoming interior waiting for you inside. Outside, you have the primary smoker right front, along side some unique metal pig art. In terms of the food, the brisket was solid and the other meats were on par as well, so would certainly visit again if in the area, but nothing that was a must have. Worth stopping by, especially on a nice weather day to enjoy some good bbq and nice outside seating views, with or without your dogs and family

Date Visited: 9/7/2024

Address: 5500 N Plum Ave, Sedalia, CO 80135

Day of the Week: Saturday

Time of Day: 11:35 AM, Open at 11:00 AM

Owner: Brian Martinez & Will Johnson (Navy Friends)

Website: https://bmansbbq.com/

Number of Years in Business: N/A

Number of People in Line: 1 and then 4 came after me and two had large to-go orders

Regional Style of BBQ: N/A

Total Cost: $36.57 with tip. 3 Meat combo platter with fried pickles. Brisket, pulled pork, and sausage plus two rolls and a Fat Tire

Type of Wood: N/A

Type of Smoker: Multi-chamber off-set smoker. Looked custom built

Type of Seasoning: N/A

Best Dish: Brisket

Best Sauce: Mild

Best Side: Fried Pickles

Interior Description: Gave me small cottage vibes when I walked in, with seating for maybe 30 people. You order at the window and then get your food delivered to your table, either inside or out. Depending on the season, would recommend sitting outside for the views of the mountains and so you can bring your furry friends as well

Pro Tip: Get the brisket and fried pickles, as they are one of the few places that has them

Brisket

0/10 Ranking: 8.5/10

Seasoning: Unsure, but at least salt and pepper

Description: The combo portion came with three lean cut pieces with a nice 1/2″ smoke ring and a perfect fat trim at the bottom. Tender and juicy with a nice bite to the them, but were just a little bit firmer than I would have liked. Not really much for bark, but the seasoning and the smoke is well blended for a tasty and balanced bite each time. They could have used a little more smoke and pepper to it, but absolutely would get this one again and was their best meat overall

Pulled Pork

0/10 Ranking: 8.5/10

Seasoning: Unsure

Description: Juicy with some nice seasoning to it. Tender and melt in your mouth texture, but not mushy and actually had some bark on some pieces as well, which is a feat to accomplish. Was slightly too salty though and could have used a little more smoke flavor to it, but a solid pulled pork overall and would get again. While no sauce is needed, if you did want to add some, I’d recommend the Mild as the best option. It’s the best one for preserving the pork’s flavor, while still bringing a nice sweetness to it that doesn’t over power the meat’s original taste. The Hot bbq sauce takes over the flavor of the pork and the palate. Even though the spice and taste of the Hot is enjoyable, it becomes the only flavor you taste very quickly

Sausage 

0/10 Ranking: 8/10

Description: Smoked, cut up, and then sauced. Had a nice meat to fat ratio, while still having a taut casing to it. Could have used a little less sauce to it, but good overall. Would get again, but also not making a special stop for them either

Sauces – Mild

0/10 Ranking: 8/10

Description: A thin sauce that is slightly sweet, but not over the top with it. Has a little bit of acidity to it, with a nice flavor overall. Good with the pulled pork

Sauces – Hot

0/10 Ranking: 7.75/10

Description: Thin sauce as well, that does live up to its name, but goes slightly too far with the heat. Unless you’re a hot sauce fanatic, go easy when applying to your bbq, as it will overpower almost all of the other flavors with its spice. One of the spiciest Hot BBQ sauces in Colorado, so would recommend it if that’s your thing, but if not, proceed with caution

Sides – Fried Pickles

0/10 Ranking: 8.25/10

Description: Pickle chips with a nice light breading and some mild seasoning to it as well. The pickles were crispy without being overcooked and had a nice salt and acidity balance to them. One order should be split between 2-3 people though, but is also a solid value at only $6. Would get again

Interior & Menu Photos:

AJ’s Pit Bar-B-Q – Round 2

/ Mitch Clark / Leave a comment

Overall Rating and is it worth a visit: 8.75/10 and Yes. Walking up to the building, the smell of smoke hits you almost 10 feet before you even get to the front door, already a good sign of things to come. They had rock music casually playing on low volume as you enter and head towards the counter to order, with multiple picnic tables adorned by sauces and bbq books, with a full bar in the back as well. A thick smell of smoke lingered in the air the entire time I was there, strongly giving off that authentic BBQ vibe. Having won a Bib Gourmand award in 2023 from Michelin which is given to restaurants offering “fine cuisine at a moderate price” I was curious to try it again after not being blown away the first time I had it back in 2020. As far as the menu and the bbq itself, I was pleasantly surprised with what I found. They have several unique items such as the tri-tip and wagyu pastrami, but also cover all of the standard options you would hope to find such as brisket, ribs, pulled pork, and sausages. While the BBQ itself was good across the board, I wouldn’t say anything took home the best in Colorado for me. For beverage options, noticed they had lemonade and sweet tea on tap, to go along with several canned and local draft beer choices and was very happy to see they kept true to their Texas influence by having Shiner Bock available as well. Once you have your order, there are several options for seating both inside or out depending on the vibe you’re feeling or size of your group. The murals in back give a nice little tip of the hat to Texas BBQ and their respective pit masters, while also being the location where they host BBQ classes on the weekends, helping to potentially bring us the next generation of bbq bosses here locally. Overall, it’s a great spot to go and grab some barbecue if you’re craving the Central Texas style vibe, with a fun, quirky, and inviting atmosphere and good menu selection all around. Certainly a spot worth checking out, especially for you Michelin chasers, but also not the best of the best when it comes BBQ in Colorado. Would go back again

Date Visited: 7/20/2024

Address: 2180 S Delaware St, Denver, CO 80223

Day of the Week: Saturday

Time of Day: 11:23 AM. Open at 11:00 AM

Owner: Jared & Amanda Leonard

Website: https://www.pitbarbq.com/

Number of Years in Business: Started in 2010 in Chicago, opened in January 2019 in Denver

Number of People in Line: 15 sitting/in line ahead of me, with 25 who rolled in after me over about 60 minutes

Regional Style of BBQ: Texas Style

Total Cost: $65.15 with tip. Ordered 1/4 lb Brisket, Burnt Ends, Sausage, Turkey, Jerk Chicken, Banana Pudding, and Coleslaw with a Shiner Bock

Type of Wood: Post Oak

Type of Smoker: A.N. Bewley Upright Wood Burning Pit

Type of Seasoning: Salt, pepper, others

Best Dish: Brisket

Best Sauce: Carolina Gold

Best Side: Banana Pudding

Interior Description: An eclectic combination of seating options, gives this place a strong Austin weird vibe to it. With interior seating in the front that gives reclaimed and recycled Texas vibes, leading into a simple brick and mortar interior where you order and can grab a seat family style at the many picnic tables, heading to the outdoor seating section in back with open and covered options available. The back is lined with Austin murals, giving call outs to some of the Central Texas BBQ’s biggest legends and institutions. Fun and relaxing BBQ vibes to be found no matter where you sit

Pro Tip: One of the only places doing pastrami in Colorado and they use Wagyu beef for it as well. Didn’t try this or the Tri-Tip, but both are pretty exclusive to AJ’s as an offering. Would go back to try their beef ribs too

Brisket

0/10 Ranking: 8.5 to 9/10

Seasoning: Salt and pepper

Description: Ordered fatty cut pieces and they were really juicy overall. They had a light but enjoyable smoke flavor with a minimal red ring to it. The slice was really well trimmed, being a nice blend of fat and meat to each bite. Would like more seasoning and smoke flavor to come through as my only critique. Would order again

Burnt Ends

0/10 Ranking: 8 to 8.5/10

Seasoning: Unsure, but looks like a BBQ sauce coating on top of the salt and pepper

Description: Much smokier than the brisket, but also tougher and more dried out. Appears they cut them off and then toss in a sauce before smoking them again, but this batch might have been slightly overcooked. Could skip the next time and just get the brisket

Pork Spare Ribs 

0/10 Ranking: 8.5/10

Seasoning: Salt, pepper, maybe others

Description: Good bark and smoke ring to them. The ribs were tasty, with a sweeter flavor than most found in Colorado. To the bite, they were tender with a nice consistency to them, but not quite fall off the bone. Had moderate smoke flavor and seasoning to it and could have used more of each, similar to the brisket, but were really juicy and solid rib overall. Would get again

Sausage – Texas Style 

0/10 Ranking: 8/10

Description: Cheddar cheese and jalapenos are the headlining flavors with this sausage, which they slice into thin cut pieces for easy grabbing. The casing still had a nice snap to it though, with a well blended fat to meat ratio and mixture. Mild spiciness for the jalapeno being in it and could use a little more smokiness to it as well. 50/50 on if I’d order it again

Sausage – Jerk Chicken

0/10 Ranking: 8/10

Description: Creamier consistency than the Texas sausage, but also having a good snap to the casing. Medium level of spiciness for a jerk sausage where the spice hits quickly on the the tongue, but leaves just as fast. Would try again, but not a must order

Turkey

0/10 Ranking: 7.75 to 8/10

Seasoning: Salt and heavy pepper

Description: Juicy but a bit overcooked, making most of the pieces a little tough. Thickly cut, it had strong and enjoyable pepper flavoring, but could use more smoke and was just a little too overcooked which dropped it down into the 7’s for ratings. Would skip for the next time

Sauces – Smokey Sweet

0/10 Ranking: 7.5/10

Description: Certainly lives up to the name and description, with an acidic kick to it as well. Medium viscosity and thickness for the consistency. Was a little too heavy on the brown sugar though, as it is the strongest flavor that comes through and lingers on. Would skip for next time

Sauces – Citrus Chipotle

0/10 Ranking: 8/10

Description: This sauce had a nice little tang and sweetness to it. Had medium viscosity and thickness to its consistency, similar to the smokey sweet. Could see this one being good on pulled pork or with the turkey. Well balanced and with the slightest bit of heat from the chipotle, it was good overall, but I’m 50/50 on if I would want it again

Sauces – Smoke Jalapeno

0/10 Ranking: 7.5 to 8/10

Description: Smokey and a light acidity to it, definitely the spiciest option of the 4 available, but nothing too crazy or over the top with heat level. Similar to the other sauces, medium viscosity and thickness for its consistency. While the jalapeno flavor is there, it’s not really one I would need to get again, as this isn’t my typical type of bbq sauce I go for

Sauces – Carolina Gold

0/10 Ranking: 8/10

Description: Ringing true to being a Carolina style bbq sauce, the mustard flavor comes through right away, but with a nicely balanced level of acidity. Yellow mustard is the clear backbone of this sauce and has a nice overall flavor to it. Would recommend for anyone interested in this style of sauce. Slightly odd that a Texas Style place has a Carolina mustard as their best sauce, but would get again

Sides – Coleslaw

0/10 Ranking: 7.75 to 8/10

Description: Mayo based with mostly cabbage, followed by carrots, red onions, and some sesame seeds. Crisp and light with a moderate amount of mayo and mild acidity. Okay overall, but not exactly my style of coleslaw. Would only get it again to share with the table for a few bites, but not worth ordering if just on my own

Sides – Banana Pudding

0/10 Ranking: 8.5 to 9/10

Description: Rare to find menu item for Colorado bbq spots, so had to try it even though I’m not usually a sweets person. Seemed to be a very fluffy whipped cream/tiramisu type of filling to it, with crunchy lady fingers and fresh chunks of banana mixed in. Wasn’t overly sweet either and was a really nice light dessert option. Would absolutely order again

Interior & Menu Photos:

Burnt End BBQ

/ Mitch Clark / Leave a comment

Overall Rating and is it worth a visit: 8/10 and Yes. For being down in the corporate wasteland that is DTC, admittedly my expectations were tempered with this visit. When I rolled up at 11:40 AM, the sign still said closed and I wasn’t sure if they were still operating, but when I peeked inside, some staff saw me and came out to confirm that they were open, but they had forgotten to unlock the door that morning. Upon walking in, there wasn’t any smoke smell to speak of, but the place had chill and comfortable vibes to it, with reclaimed wood along the walls, concrete floors, and seating for about 100, with some outdoor options as well. While nothing really blew me away with the barbecue, I have to give them credit that everything was pretty solid and had a good floor to its flavors across the board. With burnt ends being less common to find in Colorado, it was nice to see them a staple on the menu and the they were also the only place I’ve seen offering a pork burnt end option and only the second place in Colorado behind Pit Fiend, that I’ve seen offer smoked jackfruit. For being corporate owned, I’m pleasantly surprised at the quality and would recommend it if you’re in town for a conference and craving some bbq

Date Visited: 7/7/2024

Address: 5332 DTC Blvd #100, Greenwood Village, CO 80111

Day of the Week: Sunday

Time of Day: 11:40 AM. Open at 11:00 AM

Owner: PB&J Restaurants Group aka Paul Khoury. Paul partnered with Pit Master, Stephen “Smokey” Schwartz (Who worked at Joe’s Kansas City BBQ, Jack Stack BBQ, & The Golden Ox, all Kansas City meat legends)

Website: https://www.burntendbbqdenver.com/

Number of Years in Business: Unsure, but I somewhere between 2010 and 2015

Number of People in Line: 0 in front of me and no one had been there yet before me, since the doors were locked. Did have 8 people come in after

Regional Style of BBQ: Kansas City Style

Total Cost: $86.76 with tip. Ordered 1/4 lb of brisket, burnt ends, sausage, turkey, pulled pork, and 1/4 rack of ribs. For sides, added in mac & cheese and coleslaw. Came with 6 pieces of Texas Toast and a Kona beer

Type of Wood: Hickory

Type of Smoker: Vertical Electric (I believe)

Type of Seasoning: Several blends

Best Dish: Pulled Pork or Burnt Ends

Best Sauce: Southwest

Best Side: Pickles

Interior Description: Sitting in a DTC business park area inside an upscale strip mall. Cafeteria style ordering with meats broken out down to the quarter pound. They also have bowls, platters, salads, wings, and even some taco options. Seating for about 100 and a familiar layout and feel to a Qdoba or Chipotle. Music was 70s and 80s pop and soft rock hits, which wasn’t exactly the type of bbq vibe I’m usually looking for

Pro Tip: Go for the burnt ends, pulled pork, and grab the pickles for a nice crisp and balanced acidity hit

Brisket

0/10 Ranking: 7.5 to 8/10

Seasoning: Salt and pepper, possibly others

Description: Thinly cut with a light smoke ring to each piece. Was juicy for both the fatty and lean sections, but was a little tough to chew. Not much for smoke or seasoning coming through either. Serviceable but nothing special either, I’m 50/50 on needing to order this again

Burnt Ends

0/10 Ranking: 8/10

Seasoning: Salt and pepper, possibly others

Description: More tender than the brisket and with better smoke and seasoning coming through each bite, but still pretty light on both. For a place called Burnt Ends, this was the better of the two brisket options and I would get again. 1/4lb is plenty for ordering next time

Pork Spare Ribs 

0/10 Ranking: 8 to 8.5/10

Seasoning: Salt, pepper, possibly others, and bbq sauce

Description: Fall off the bone tender, but not overcooked and still had a good bite to it. Not a ton of seasoning coming through and a light amount of smoke to them, most of the flavor seems to be coming from the sauce. Cooked really well, but needs more smoke and seasoning to them. Would get the again though, with 1/4 lb being enough with 3 ribs

Pulled Pork

0/10 Ranking: 8.5/10

Seasoning: Unsure

Description: Super juicy and smoky flavor coming through in each and every bite. Not much for seasoning, but cooked perfectly and one of the smokier pulled porks in Colorado and definitely a top 3 for juiciest. Would order again

Sausage 

0/10 Ranking: 7.5 to 8/10

Description: Chopped into bite sized pieces, the sausage was a little mushy and leaning a little fatty for its internal blend. Had good flavor and seasoning to it though, with a nice bit of heat as well. Would get again to share with the table, but also not one that I would probably order again for just myself

Turkey

0/10 Ranking: 7.5 to 8/10

Seasoning: Unsure

Description: Juicy through most, but not all of the pieces. This was the smokiest meat they served, but needs more seasoning and for it to be cooked just a little bit less. Would probably get again if in the mood for turkey, but not a necessity either

Sauces – Didn’t review, but tried all three with the Southwest being the best one

Sides – Mac & Cheese

0/10 Ranking: 7.5/10

Description: Noodles were cooked perfectly and the sauce was creamy without being thin. However, the mac & cheese was way under seasoned. Added some salt which made it better, but could skip the next time

Sides – Coleslaw

0/10 Ranking: 7 to 7.5/10

Description: Light and crisp, with more of a mayo base to it. More sweet than acidic, it was an okay slaw but nothing special either

Interior & Menu Photos:

Genesee Pub and BBQ

/ Mitch Clark / Leave a comment

Overall Rating and is it worth a visit: 8/10 and Yes. Good bbq overall and a quick easy stop either on your way or coming back from the mountains via HWY 70. When we rolled in after a hike, they were prepping for a Lobster Boil later that evening, so they also have several events and live music events throughout the year. As far as the bbq, the Kielbasa was the group favorite, followed by the turkey and the brisket. The fried okra was definitely a highlight, to go along with a really tasty and light coleslaw as the best sides. Cool setting, solid service, and tasty bbq make it easily worth a stop, especially with being dog friendly!

Date Visited: 6/1/2024

Address: 25948 Genesee Trail Rd, Golde, CO 801401

Day of the Week: Saturday

Time of Day: 12:36 PM. Opens at 10 AM on weekends and 11 on weekdays

Owner: Scott and Matthew Smith (Father & Son)

Website: https://www.geneseepubandbbq.com/

Number of Years in Business: Opened in May 2017

Number of People in Line: 0, but 12 were already sitting down. Table side service

Regional Style of BBQ: Texas

Total Cost: Had three of us, so order the 1/2 Sampler, which comes with 1/2 rack of ribs, 1/4 lb of brisket, pork, turkey, and chicken. Included 8oz baked beans, mac & cheese, coleslaw, and potato salad. Added on a kielbasa sausage, an order of fried okra, and 7 drinks, for $126.46 before tip

Type of Wood: Hickory

Type of Smoker: Electric

Type of Seasoning: Salt & pepper typically

Best Dish: Kielbasa Sausage

Best Sauce: Spicy

Best Side: Fried okra

Interior Description: Elevated interior, with a nice bar and several seating options. Best seat in the house though is outside on the back patio, as it has several tables and sitting areas to accommodate larger crowds when they have live music playing.

Pro Tip: Make sure to order the okra and coleslaw to go along with Kielbasa, turkey, and possibly the brisket

Brisket

0/10 Ranking: 8/10

Seasoning: Salt & pepper

Description: Good flavor overall, with light smoke and light seasoning coming across each bite. Could use more of both, but it had a good meat to fat ratio and every piece was moist. Would order again, but also not a necessity

Pork Spare Ribs 

0/10 Ranking: 7.5 to 8/10

Seasoning: Unsure

Description: Fall off the bone tender, but not much for smoke flavor coming through. Seasoning is tasty, but pretty light again and needs more to it. Split on if I would order them again

Pulled Pork

0/10 Ranking: 7.5/10

Seasoning: Unsure

Description: Not much seasoning or smokiness to it, but it was juicy. Add in the spicy sauce to make it a better blend, as it’s a little bland on its own. Could skip this one for the next time

Kielbasa Sausage 

0/10 Ranking: 8 to 8.5/10

Description: They split and then grill the links after smoking them. Good meat and fat ratio with a very tasty overall flavor. Would order again

Chicken

0/10 Ranking: 7/10

Seasoning: Unsure

Description: Low seasoning and smoke coming through. A little dried out as well, not worth ordering again

Turkey

0/10 Ranking: 8/10

Seasoning: Unsure

Description: Really tasty and juicy turkey. Nice seasoning, flavor and overall smokiness level. Would order again

Sauces – Original

0/10 Ranking: 7.5/10

Description: Sweet with a little bit of spiciness to it. Okay overall, but nothing special. Reminds me of KC Masterpiece BBQ Sauce

Sauces – Spicy

0/10 Ranking: 8/10

Description: Good heat and spice flavor to it. Not too thick or too watery, with good heat balance overall and would get again, especially for the pulled pork. Best sauce they have

Sauces – Carolina Mustard

0/10 Ranking: 7.5 to 8/10

Description: Very mustard heavy in the flavor with a sweetness to it. Reminds me of Heinz mustard flavoring, which was okay overall, but also nothing that special

Sides – Fried Okra

0/10 Ranking: 8.5 to 9/10

Description: Lightly battered and cooked perfectly. Good seasoning and not overly cooked, with a good bit to the tooth on each piece. As a rare Colorado BBQ side option, would absolutely recommend ordering them if you stop by and I will be ordering again next time

Sides – Mac & Cheese

0/10 Ranking: 7.5 to 8/10

Description: okay overall, but in-between on if I would order again. Creamy with al dente noodles, but unfortunately it had low flavor and needs more seasoning to make it better and worth ordering a second time around

Sides – Coleslaw

0/10 Ranking: 8.5/10

Description: Super light coleslaw, with some apples mixed in for a nice crispy sweetness. Could have used just slightly more vinegar to take it over the top, but really good overall and would for sure order again

Sides – Baked Beans

0/10 Ranking: 7.5 to 8/10

Description: Admittedly, I’m not a huge baked bean guy, but these came with the platter. They were okay overall, but almost taste like Bush’s Baked Beans and could skip for the next order

Interior & Menu Photos:

Roaming Buffalo Bar-B-Q

/ Mitch Clark / Leave a comment

Overall Rating and is it worth a visit: 7.5 to 8/10 and Yes. Bison ribs are the main reason to come here along with their lamb, as both meats are a rarity to find for most BBQ places. Overall, nothing special for the standard BBQ meat options, but the specialty cuts do shine through. Customer service was top notch from ownership as well, especially with comping a half rack of Bison ribs after first order was not up to their usual standards. Would go back again

Date Visited: 4/1/2021

Address: 2387 S Downing St, Denver, CO 80210

Day of the Week: Thursday

Time of Day: 11:00 AM. Opens at 11:00 AM

Owner: Coy & Rachael Webb

Website: https://roamingbuffalobbq.com/

Number of Years in Business: Opened in January 2015. Had a second location in Golden, CO but it has since closed down

Number of People in Line: 1 ahead of me

Regional Style of BBQ: Self-described “Colorado Style”. Coy is originally from Texas though.

Total Cost: $25 with tip. 1/4 lb of burnt ends, 1/4 lb of pulled lamb shank, 1 bison jalapeno cheddar sausage. (I did also order a 1/2 a rack of bison ribs, but they were comped by Rachael for the miss order on the first round of ribs I got)

Type of Wood: Pecan

Type of Smoker: N/A

Type of Seasoning: Blends of several seasonings

Best Dish: Bison Ribs

Best Sauce: Hot

Interior Description: Small interior with only 4 tables, but does have outdoor seating options. Very small kitchen/bbq prep area for them, which creates a cozy atmosphere while waiting in line

Pro Tip: Get the bison ribs and lamb options, as one of the only place you can find either

Burnt Ends – Thursday only

0/10 Ranking: 8/10

Seasoning: Salt, pepper, and other blends with BBQ sauce. Cooks them for an extra 3 hours after separating and coating with the sauce

Description: While the burnt ends are moist, with good seasoning and flavor overall, it does taste slightly different than most other burnt ends around. The flavor that comes through ends up tasting more closely to a beef roast, which was still enjoyable, but not the traditional expectation. The cuts are massive and could be trimmed a bit more of some their fat, as some were almost completely fat with no meat to them. Said they chop off half of the point to make the burnt ends and then leave the remaining portion to be sliced fatty or lean. Overall, nothing too special and 50/50 on ordering again

Bison Short Ribs 

0/10 Ranking: 8 to 8.5/10

Seasoning: Salt, pepper, and BBQ sauce

Description: First batch I ordered were insanely tough and dried out to the point that I actually took it back. The owner Rachael agreed that they were a pretty rough batch and gave me a new one right away and even comped them. Have to give her big points for customer service on that one. The second batch of ribs had good flavor to them, with a nice light gaminess coming through along with smokiness. Had a good texture to it, where they were almost fall off the bone, but still had a little bit of bite to them. Would order these again, but a half wrack would be all you need

Pulled Lamb Shank

0/10 Ranking: 7.5 to 8/10

Seasoning: Not sure if there was any

Description: Moist, with minimal seasoning if any to it, which does allow the natural lamb flavor to really shine through. Needs some of the sauce though, as it can’t stand on its own without either a side dish to combine with it like a coleslaw or a little sauce added. Both the hot bbq and sweet sauces can quickly overpower the lamb though, so use sparingly

Bison Jalapeno Cheddar Sausage 

0/10 Ranking: 8/10

Description: Good snap to the casing. Interior has a creamy, but still structurally sound blend of fat and meat. Little heavier on the fat than usual and almost has a chorizo type flavoring coming through. Can definitely pick up on the cheddar though. Good overall, but a little salty, so 50/50 on if I would get it again, as it was tough to finish a whole one due to the saltiness

Interior & Menu Photos