BBQ Nerd’s Golden Cue Awards (BCS Area)

After almost one year living in the Bryan College Station area, I’ve tried every joint in town on multiple occasions. Some of these trips, like the ones to Fargo’s, have improved my view on these joints since my first visit. Others, like a recent trip to All the King’s Men, reveal a bit of inconsistency in quality. I’ve crunched the numbers, tasted the meat, and now I’d like to present the BBQ Nerd’s Golden Cue Awards for the joints in town!

Golden Cue for Best Joint- All the King’s Men

Scroll down and you’ll see just how many awards this joint wins! But besides killer cue and sides, All the King’s Men offers patrons a unique experience and features Texas beer and their specialty- Bourbon! Upon request, they’ll serve the bourbon has pictured, giving you an authentic tasting, a true novelty tucked away inside a rising BBQ joint.

Golden Cue for Best Brisket- Fargo’s Pit BBQ

Upon my third visit to this famous joint, I was rewarded with some truly memorable Brisket. The cut was thick, the meat was juicy, and the salt was perfect. Truly a smokey masterpiece. (Runner up- DBQ)

Golden Cue Award for Best Pork Ribs- All the King’s Men

Oh man, these ribs were great. The bark was more glazed than your usual Texas fare, and the sweetness complemented the smoke perfectly. All of that flavor makes for a great bone! (Runner Up- Fargo’s Pit BBQ)

Golden Cue Award for Best Sausage- Kreuz Market

Not quite the same as visiting Lockhart, but it will do! The jalapeno cheese sausage has a great snap, and tremendous flavor from the added spices, pepper, and cheese. The grind has a very in-house feel, and the juicy fat combines perfectly the flavor to make a truly decadent link. (Runner Up- All the King’s Men)

Golden Cue Award for Best Chicken- Kreuz Market

Oh man, this bird is great! The skin is crispier than most, and the rub contains plenty of peppery goodness. However, it’s the meat underneath that really holds the key to BBQ greatness. The chicken from Kreuz truly has some of the most smokey meat I’ve ever eaten. (Runner Up- Fargo’s Pit)

Golden Cue Award for Best Turkey- Kreuz Market

This one was pretty close, but I have to give Kreuz, once again, the award. The turkey is tender, juicy, and smokey. The crust is almost perfect, even the leaner meat is plenty moist. (Runner Up- C&J BBQ)

Golden Cue Award for Best Specialty Meat- All the King’s Men (Candied Pork Belly Burnt Ends)

Oh man…. You can’t find these anywhere else in town, so come on down to All the King’s Men to get your hands on decadently sweet and smokey pork belly burnt ends. Dip em in sauce, or just enjoy the candied bark. (Runner Up- Beef Rib from Fargo’s)

Golden Cue Award for Best Sandwich- DBQ

For a food truck, DBQ is putting out some seriously good meat. The brisket here is a contender for the Golden Cue for the cut, but it’s the bread, pickles, onions, and optional coleslaw that takes this sandwich to the next level. (Runner Up- All the King’s Men)

Golden Cue Award for Best Sides- All the King’s Men

From creamy, Gouda mac and cheese to Havarti grits, All the King’s Men offers a wonderful array of choices. Their take on beans is essentially brisket chili, and while their sides are a bit on the pricey side, they are definitely a cut above the usual fare. (Runner Up- Lamar and Niki’s Soul Food and Pit BBQ)

Golden Cue Award for Best Sauce- All the King’s Men

You get three choices of BBQ Sauce here, and they even serve Buffalo sauce! The regular sauce is pretty standard, but the acidic Serrano sauce and the deeply smokey espresso sauce give everyone the chance to be a bit braver with their BBQ experience (Runner Up- Fargo’s Pit BBQ)

Golden Cue Award for Best Value- J. Cody’s Steak and BBQ

Two words- Unlimited Sides. You absolutely can’t beat that, and the sides here can offer a much needed healthier alternative. The meat ain’t bad, but it’s the savings that really keep families coming back here. (Runner Up- Martin’s)

Cue Award for Best Atmosphere- Martin’s

The fact that this is considered a historic landmark is pretty telling. Inside, you’ll find the famous horseshoe shaped bar and nearly a century’s worth of history all over the walls. You absolutely can’t pass up the chance to visit Martin’s! (Runner Up- All the King’s Men.)

We’ve reached the end of our Golden Cue Awards! Before we go, let’s take a look at my top 3 joints in the BCS area you HAVE to visit before you leave based on the awards won AND Runners UP-

1. All the King’s Men 2. Fargo’s Pit BBQ 3. Kreuz BBQ

This has been a really fun project, and I’d like to thank all of the restaurants and pitmasters for showing me an amazing 11 months! I look forward to many more to come!