Wasn't it called "Big Beef BBQ"?
That may be it. With big red letters?

The place at Waterloo/Broadway is ET's.

The place at Waterloo/Broadway is ET's.
Boscorama,
Thanks, I remember it now. I just knew where it was and never thought about the name. It was pretty good the few times I have been there. My son pointed me in their direction, he really enjoys their food. Were you around when Beasley's was open on 63rd (Irma's Burger Shack), and his second location was The Shack on 62nd near Broadway Ext.? His chopped brisket was excellent and his sauces were great too. He actually closed a successful store (Irma's) and opened another one in Pink, South of Norman. Then he came back to the city at the 62nd location and operated it till he got sick and had to retire.
C. T.

I stuck my head into ET's once to see about a hot link on the run (low carb day), saw on the menu it was more than I wanted to pay (probably a 'dinner') so went across Broadway to IB's for my quickie. Everyone has told me ET is good. BTW, hot links are NOT how I measure BBQ places, lol.

Do remember driving by Beasley's but never ate there.

Toms on 10th is closed for good it seems, no big loss. JTs still has great ribs and yes its only open for lunch, but it is also open on Saturdays now, so thats not a bad deal when you want it. No amazing barbq in the okc area. Smoking Joes in Davis is great if your ever headed south this summer.

Smoking Joes in Davis is great if your ever headed south this summer.

i'll second that... i was skeptical when i visited but that place really impressed me. definitely worth the stop. -M

Boscorama,
Were you around when Beasley's was open on 63rd (Irma's Burger Shack),
and his second location was The Shack on 62nd near Broadway Ext.? His
chopped brisket was excellent and his sauces were great too.
C. T.
Jack would tell you his recipe, too. It was salt and pepper and, I believe,
hickory wood. He'd say, "I'll tell the recipe but you won't follow it." His
joint was featured on a local news station about 40 years ago.

Jack would tell you his recipe, too. It was salt and pepper and, I believe,
hickory wood. He'd say, "I'll tell the recipe but you won't follow it." His
joint was featured on a local news station about 40 years ago.

Prunepicker,
You are talking about "The" Jack Beasley of local tv/radio fame. Did he have a bbq place? Ken Beasley was his nephew and he owned the stores in the late 60's through the mid/late 70's until he got sick.
C. T.

Prunepicker,
You are talking about "The" Jack Beasley of local tv/radio fame. Did he
have a bbq place? Ken Beasley was his nephew and he owned the stores
in the late 60's through the mid/late 70's until he got sick.
C. T.
Don't know. Maybe it is Ken but it was on N.W. 63rd just east of N. Western
and on the north side of the street. Maybe I'm getting the name mixed
up with Jack's BBQ on N.W. 39th Expressway.

Prunepicker,
It is currently Irma's Burger Shack. Ken had lots of farm stuff inside. Gunney sacks for curtains, water well buckets, and lots of others. And he was a nut for cleanliness. When He came back to OKC from Pink, Ok., he rebuilt the old structure that is now the Shack Seafood and oyster bar. He was in operation for less than a year when he got sick. One thing he was known for was when he ran out of stuff, he would put a sign on the door that said out of food, gone fishin. It happened too often. By the way, he looked like a slim Jack. Including the rough complexion.
C. T.

Prunepicker,
... he rebuilt the old structure that is now the Shack Seafood and oyster bar.
C. T.
Where is the Shack Seafood and Oyster Bar? I know where Irma's is.

Where is the Shack Seafood and Oyster Bar? I know where Irma's is.
Prunepicker,
1035 NW 62nd St., East of Irma's. It was a biker bar for a while. I have heard it is excellent but can't vouch personally. There has been conversation on this thread about them and it was mostly good.
C. T.

Its good if you like all your fish and seafood fried. They dont have much boiled, broiled, grilled, or anything like that. That is about all, its nothing special. Long ways from the ocean.

Ray's down in Norman is good, Also Bob's in Ada used to be the best and when they moved to Nirman they were great too.

Ray's down in Norman is good, Also Bob's in Ada used to be the
best and when they moved to Norman they were great too.
I've known about Bob's for years, 30+, but have never eaten at
the place.

Bob's in Ada is either no longer there, or what is there isn't the Bob's that was so very good even as late as 07 and 08.

The folks at Sooner Legends and Suites (sw24th and Lindsey) in Norman do Q the way Bob's used to do Q. I've found none better this side of Hwy 69, and I grew up not being a fan of restaurant Q, preferring ol' shack Q made by questionable characters in places that gave you pause .. where you tended to count the dawgs outside and hoping the number was the same as the last time you were there.

We stopped by Leo's today on the way out of town, it was the best that we have had there in a long time.

We stopped by Leo's today on the way out of town, it was the
best that we have had there in a long time.
Really? Was it the place on N.E. 36th and N. Kelly? I'm glad to
hear that. The last time I ate there is wasn't very good. In
fact, I decided to not return. Maybe I can change my mind.
Did you have the strawberry cake? It was the only thing I liked
on the last trip. It was as if Leo made it.

I believe they were cooking the meat too long. There's a time
to take it out of the cooker. Some believe more is better. Leo
didn't. He knew that ust right was just right.

Yep, the 36th & Kelly location and cake came with the dinner. We talked to Charles some, he was in the store today.
It was a huge portion of brisket, with no "bad" chunks and my wife thought the ribs were some of the best that she has had. It was really exceptional today, much better than some recent trips and I picked up a couple of bottles of sauce, now I just need to fire up my new smoker.

I snapped a pic to torment some friends on Facebook who grew up on the stuff and don't live in OKC anymore.
http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/s320x320/547064_2984502702650_1564475883_31930191_228236244 _n.jpg

you gots yerself a bit of a mean streak there.
;)

you gots yerself a bit of a mean streak there.
;)
I brought some sauce back for the ones here in Denver...now I just need to finish getting the smoker assembled and fire it up.

Had our first bad experience at Iron Star last night. Started when I called at 3pm to make reservations. I wanted a table for 6 at 7pm. They said they were full. Normally I would just call somewhere else, but the rest of my party had never eaten there and really wanted to try it and my past experiences have taught me Iron Star is not very good at organizing their reservations and traffic flow. So, I wasn't convinced they really were full.

Sure enough, we arrived at 7pm and were seated 10 minutes later (glad I didn't listen to the person who answered the phone - or, maybe I wish i had.....)

I ordered a couple of orders of the bacon wrapped quail so everyone could try it. I was told (as they always do) that the quail takes a bit longer to prepare. I told them it didn't need to be served as an appetizer and to just bring it to the table with the entrees.

After the waitress stopped by 3 times to apologize for the wait, out food finally arrived almost an hour after ordering it. The quail wasn't with the entrees so I inquired and was told they would be out shortly.

The ribs were really VERY blah. No flavor at all. Very tender, but just not good quality or seasoning. My wife and I had raved previously about the mac and cheese - but we all agreed it was just 'okay' on that night and not creamy or cheesy at all. The corn pudding though was as excellent as ever, as was the whole okra.

Oh, and the quail, it never arrived (except on my bill - which was promptly removed).

We've eaten at Iron Star many times, but this was the first time I ended the meal by apologizing to my guests.

I'll certainly give it another try, but I hope quality control is not slipping.

Check out Smokey Ray's trailer parked on 29th Street in Del City (Just West of Sunnylane in front of a mini mart).

They are putting out some of the best BBQ I have had in OKC recently. The pulled pork has some heat. So if you don't tolerate spicy food well. Stick with the chopped beef.

Check out Smokey Ray's trailer parked on 29th Street in Del City
(Just West of Sunnylane in front of a mini mart).
Oh heck, I was near there today. I try it the next time I'm in the
area.

Ray's BBQ on Lindsay in Norman. Fantastic! And order mac and cheese too!

What days is the place in del city open?

As for Bobs in Ada, it was great. Grew up in the back door of that place, ate it 2 times a week for most of my life. It sold in the 90's to the guy from Legends in norman tried to redesign it with all the OU stuff. He gave it an honest shot, but his food just wasnt consistent and he had an old man at the register who had to be family cause that is the only reason anyone wouldnt have fired him. He was rude and hateful, Bob never was when he was there. There wasnt a better barbq place in the country when it was rolling back in its time. Doug or whatever his name that has the Sooners Legends place raised prices, lowered standards and ran it into the ground before he put it up for sale for about 200k, insane. That place is sitting closed and run down, sad deal for what it used to be in its day. Have tried tons of places and nothing compares to Bobs. Will swallow my pride and try Sooner Legends someday, but i dont expect much after what he did in Ada.

As for Bobs in Ada, it was great. Grew up in the back door of that
place, ate it 2 times a week for most of my life. It sold in the 90's
to the guy from Legends in norman tried to redesign it with all the
OU stuff. He gave it an honest shot, but his food just wasnt
consistent and he had an old man at the register who had to be
family cause that is the only reason anyone wouldnt have fired him.
He was rude and hateful, Bob never was when he was there.
I'm convinced that as soon as the originator of a BBQ restaurant
is no longer the owner or is in charge of the cooking process that
the quality of the BBQ will diminish. I didn't eat at Bob's until the
late 90's and didn't understand why people were crazy about
mediocre BBQ. You gave the reason. Leo's was the same way.
It might be family owned but it isn't anywhere near the same as
when Leo supervised the cooking. Yes, the strawberry cake is
just as good. That's because they know the recipe and don't
waver from it. Just follow the instructions.

The originator created the taste by smoking the meat per his
recipe, knowledge and uncanny ability to stop when it's time to
remove the meat from the cooker.

Does anybody remember Crockett's BBQ. I say BBQ because
that's what was on the sign. To tell the truth, I ate there a
couple of times before I realized it was supposed to be BBQ.
For some reason my friends liked to go there so I complied.
I think their motto was, "Crockett's! Mighy bad BBQ."

Crockett's was so bad that I'm convinced they smoked the
meat, I think it was meat, by smoldering old shoes and grass
clippings over cedar. No way it could have been pecan,
hickory or any other favorable wood.

The worst BBQ ever. EVER! I'm still not convinced it was BBQ.

I remember it being 'Crockett's Smokehouse' and their theme song was:

"Crockett's, ... Crockett's Smokehouse. Mighty good Bar-Be-Que."

Radicalmoderate,
That shack was Tom's Oaklawn BBQ. It is an old army building and when I first went there in the late 60's it had dirt floors. They remodeled and it had real floors. He retired about ten years ago and somebody took it over and it hasn't been the same since. I wasn't a big fan of anything but the ribs and they were the best I have ever eaten. I loved Han's, Leo's were pretty good but Tom's were smoked just right and like somebody else mentioned, the meat didn't fall off the bone, it required just the right amount of chewing. They were so tender. Another unique thing was that they put hot (heat hot, not spicy hot) sauce, both mild and hot on the table so if you used the sauce, you weren't pouring cold liquid on your hot meal. I think they closed about six months ago. Next time I get over in that area, I will check it out. I haven't seen cars in their parking lot for a long time.
C. T.


Chandler, I used to eat at Toms about 5 years ago, I thought it was very good. I loved the sauce (and how it was served hot), but went there about a year ago and they no longer served the sauce hot, and it seemed like they decided to dilute it with about 2/3 water. It was nearly inedible.

Really? Was it the place on N.E. 36th and N. Kelly? I'm glad to
hear that. The last time I ate there is wasn't very good. In
fact, I decided to not return. Maybe I can change my mind.
Did you have the strawberry cake? It was the only thing I liked
on the last trip. It was as if Leo made it.

I believe they were cooking the meat too long. There's a time
to take it out of the cooker. Some believe more is better. Leo
didn't. He knew that ust right was just right.

I used to eat at the Leo's downtown before they closed. I've been to the Leo's on Kelley probably 4 Saturdays in the last 2 months and I believe they are back on track. The Ribs were amazing, with the nice crust on the outside and the meat comes off the bone with just the right amount of chewing. The bologna is really good as well. I never have room for the brisket though. The one thing have been a little disappointed with on the Saturdays I've been is that they do not have the mustard greens out; just the cucumber salad.

The bologna is really good as well.
Bologna is back on the menu? I'm going as soon as I have the
opportunity.

Oh heck, I was near there today. I try it the next time I'm in the
area.
Prunepicker,
I went there Friday and he was closed (vacation I believe). Plus the lady said he was only there Wednesday through Sunday. Let me know if you find out different.
C. T.

maybe you barbecue historians can help me out...

i remember going to a barbecue joint with my dad when i was a kid in the early to mid 80's... it was in the vicinity of old paris flea market and i *think* it was on 15th east of eastern. the place was a hole in the wall, just a bare concrete floor separated by a counter. it might have been called 'hilltop barbecue' or something similar. does that ring any bells with any of you?

-M

[QUOTE=Corndog1;539335]What days is the place in del city open?

As for Bobs in Ada, it was great. Grew up in the back door of that place, ate it 2 times a week for most of my life. It sold in the 90's to the guy from Legends in norman tried to redesign it with all the OU stuff. He gave it an honest shot, but his food just wasnt consistent and he had an old man at the register who had to be family cause that is the only reason anyone wouldnt have fired him. He was rude and hateful, Bob never was when he was there. There wasnt a better barbq place in the country when it was rolling back in its time. Doug or whatever his name that has the Sooners Legends place raised prices, lowered standards and ran it into the ground before he put it up for sale for about 200k, insane. That place is sitting closed and run down, sad deal for what it used to be in its day. Have tried tons of places and nothing compares to Bobs. Will swallow my pride and try Sooner Legends someday, but i dont expect much after what he did in Ada.[/QUOT

I do not think Doug Kennon(sp?), who owns Sooner Legends with his sisters, owned Bob's when it was in Norman. I think Doug was the manager and the restaurant was owned by John Jacques, an attorney from Ada. John or his dad, Frank Jacques owned the Bob's in Ada after Bob's daughter sold it. Doug Kennon and his sisters bought the entire motel in Norman after the previous owners put it up for sale and continued selling the Bob's style BBQ with an extended menu in the restaurant with the Sooner Legends name.

I like Sooner Legends BBQ and its other menu items. I admire the Kennons for buying the motel and doing something fun with it.

Bigray in Ok

Prunepicker,
I went there Friday and he was closed (vacation I believe).
Plus the lady said he was only there Wednesday through
Sunday. Let me know if you find out different.
C. T.
I will but I don't know when that will be.

maybe you barbecue historians can help me out...

i remember going to a barbecue joint with my dad when i was a kid in the early to mid 80's... it was in the vicinity of old paris flea market and i *think* it was on 15th east of eastern. the place was a hole in the wall, just a bare concrete floor separated by a counter. it might have been called 'hilltop barbecue' or something similar. does that ring any bells with any of you?

-M

I dont recall a BBQ place but wasnt there a truckstop in that vicinity that had hilltop in the name (may stil be there for all I know, dont get over that way much)??? Seemed out of the way (not directly on the interstate) but recall seeing more truckers there than the ones that were.

I used to eat at the Leo's downtown before they closed.
RED LIGHT! WARNING!
Leo's was downtown? I didn't know that. I know that Pulliam's was
on about N.E. 4th and Lincoln. Leo's was downtown? When? Where?
I honestly don't remember that and I worked downtown in the 60's.

The Leo's downtown location was on Harrison, they were open there the past few years until last fall I believe. Most of the time they were open there the 36th & Kelly location was undergoing some work and was closed. The one that I frequented the most was the Western location where Earl's started.

The Leo's downtown location was on Harrison...
That's not Downtown. That's on the East side! LOL



The one that I frequented the most was the Western location
where Earl's started...
Leo's place on N. Wester was where the Gridiron Drive In was for
many, many years. He opened there in the early 80's. It was
good, but Leo was still alive and in control.

The Gridiron had some fine burgers.

That's not Downtown. That's on the East side! LOL

The people in Deep Deuce will be very surprised to find out that they don't live Downtown. LOL

That's not Downtown. That's on the East side! LOL
It was right where Harrison splits from 4th just past the railroad trestle.



Leo's place on N. Wester was where the Gridiron Drive In was for many, many years. He opened there in the early 80's. It was good, but Leo was still alive and in control.

The Gridiron had some fine burgers.
Leo's wife ran it until their divorce, she got it in the divorce and renamed it Feedie's (her name) but still got the sauce from Leo. Charles has been running it in the years since Leo's passing and sometimes Feedie is there at the restaurant. I never knew what was there before, I meeting my dad there for lunch when I started working in the area, it was pretty close to Benham so he and his coworkers frequented it quite often.

Anybody remember when Leo opened a location one block East and one block North of Britton and Penn? I was thrilled, Hertz had moved me from Lincoln Plaza to the new center at 104th and Penn and having Leo's in our back yard was great. I think it was open less than a year though.
C. T.

There was maybe still is a Hilltop Restaurant a bit east of Crooked Oak High School on SE 15. Had some of the best biscuits and gravy to accompany their scrambled eggs. A bit further east was a hole in the wall bar b cue place that sounds like what you are asking about. The set up was similar to Leo's,picnic tables and benches, the pit was in the north portion of the place, adding smoke and heat. I don't remember the name of the place, but the building was still standing the last time I drove by there, maybe a year ago. As I recall, the Q was pretty ol' good.
maybe you barbecue historians can help me out...

i remember going to a barbecue joint with my dad when i was a kid in the early to mid 80's... it was in the vicinity of old paris flea market and i *think* it was on 15th east of eastern. the place was a hole in the wall, just a bare concrete floor separated by a counter. it might have been called 'hilltop barbecue' or something similar. does that ring any bells with any of you?

-M

There was maybe still is a Hilltop Restaurant a bit east of Crooked Oak High School on SE 15. Had some of the best biscuits and gravy to accompany their scrambled eggs. A bit further east was a hole in the wall bar b cue place that sounds like what you are asking about. The set up was similar to Leo's,picnic tables and benches, the pit was in the north portion of the place, adding smoke and heat. I don't remember the name of the place, but the building was still standing the last time I drove by there, maybe a year ago.
maybe you barbecue historians can help me out...

i remember going to a barbecue joint with my dad when i was a kid in the early to mid 80's... it was in the vicinity of old paris flea market and i *think* it was on 15th east of eastern. the place was a hole in the wall, just a bare concrete floor separated by a counter. it might have been called 'hilltop barbecue' or something similar. does that ring any bells with any of you?

-M

Pulliam's is not gone, we are attemptining to get back to Okc 2013 an exact date I don't have but willing to answer anyother questions you may have...meat, sauce, past locations...ect. (I am a Pulliam)

I dont recall a BBQ place but wasnt there a truckstop in that vicinity that had hilltop in the name (may stil be there for all I know, dont get over that way much)??? Seemed out of the way (not directly on the interstate) but recall seeing more truckers there than the ones that were.

isn't that called skyline?


A bit further east was a hole in the wall bar b cue place that sounds like what you are asking about. The set up was similar to Leo's,picnic tables and benches, the pit was in the north portion of the place, adding smoke and heat.

that sounds like the place... north side of 15th. pit on the north side of the building. picnic tables with little other seating. i just assumed the place was no longer standing! -M

Skyline is a possibility too....

I think Steve's Rib (Edmond) is the best I have ever had! Not saying Earl's or the others are not good, but Steve's is the best around IMO. However, I am a sauce person so when you have a great HOT BBQ sauce you get bonus points in my book. Also, I usually just stick to brisket so if you are wanting ribs or other meats I cannot speak to those.

I love Steve's (chopped) brisket which is actually shredded through a device they call a buffalo shredder. If you like spicy, get the HOT sauce. It is not HOT but I like the spices. If you want HOT go to Happy Hog by the capitol (ask for the extra HOT sauce).

I think Steve's Rib (Edmond) is the best I have ever had! Not
saying Earl's or the others are not good, but Steve's is the best
around IMO.
Steve's is very good. However, I don't understand how you can
say Steve's is the best and allow Earl's to fit in the good
category. Earl's is amongst the worst bbq in the world. I've
had Earl's bbq and am convinced that an Egg McMuffin is by far
better bbq that anything Earl's has on the menu. I can't stand
Egg McMuffin's. But they are better bbq than Earl's.

Has anyone noticed that Steve's cobbler is really a dump cake?

In another thread I said good things about Billy Sims. More recently, my meat was sub-par, which would not have been mentioned had not an employee happened by our table asking if everything was good. While sympathetic to my dissatisfaction, he had no idea what the problem was and offered me a to-go container. Why, I asked? Maybe for my dog, he replied. I declined. The best he could offer was "sorry" I didn't like it.

BTW, there was a TIP jar at the cash register, not present before. Thank goodness I didn't tip them in advance!

"Sorry", has become a worthless word.

I've always considered *sorry* to be one of the best adjectives there is. Just about everybody thinks I'm being a smartass when I tell them I'll accept their apology, but I don't like sorry people. I really do not like sorry anything, especially people. And yes, Earl' is a sorry excuse for bar b cue.
"Sorry", has become a worthless word.

Happy Hog was much better bar b cue before George died a few years ago, IMHO.
If you want HOT go to Happy Hog by the capitol (ask for the extra HOT sauce).

...Has anyone noticed that Steve's cobbler is really a dump cake?
Are you talking about the Buttermilk Cobbler? That thing sounds terrible but is delicious. My mother raved about it and tried it the last time we were there instead of my usual peach cobbler (which is more on the cobbler side of things and also very good). I like Steves meats but they are getting too pricey. We may have to go there just for dessert in the future

"Sorry", has become a worthless word.

I agree...a few years back when I worked at Taco Bueno, it was an on-the-spot firing offense to say to a customer "Sorry about that" as it comes across as being insincere. We were told to be specific in the reply with something along the lines of: "I apologize for (fill in the blank as to what the issue was)", and then offer to fix the problem. Either with food replacement or if it wasn't something you had the authority to fix as an employee, tell them you will get the manager to resolve the issue. Usually just listening and replacing the broken taco shell or what ever the problem was would make them happy or giving them something free (like a bag of chips, drink or desert item). In rare cases would offer a full refund (may times a refund would be refused by the customer). What little that was "lost" by doing so was more than made up by keeping the customer happy and coming back.

Happy Hog was much better bar b cue before George died a few years ago, IMHO.

So true, so true, Happy Hog was my #1 pick for BBQ in the city before we lost George. Now it is Bedlam.

Had Bubba's on 23rd Street a few weeks ago. My timing sucked, it was about 430, and the pork and brisket were from the lunch cooking session, and dried out. The beans and mac n' cheese were outstanding, and the ribs were very good. I will be back at a better time to get the pork when it is fresher. Also, the bologna is EXCELLENT.

I hit Dickie's at 63rd and May last night. Don't bother. It is just chain style meat, "decent", but nothing good. Very little smoke evident in the taste, and the ribs were slathered in a molasses type sauce that was good enough, but just a bit "off". And the beans were quite bland. It is not bad BBQ, but it certainly isn't anything to go out of your way for.

The guy at Billy Sims said "I'm sorry you didn't like it" and "We don't want to lose you as a customer" and other correct things. It blew my mind that his solution was a doggy bag, rather than, say, a coupon for future use. I figured he couldn't write off my tab since it had already been paid. Thankfully, I hadn't dropped a tip into their f%*&g# jar!

I've had it with cashiers, too (Alvarados, for example), asking if everything was all right. They don't know what to do when the customer doesn't follow the script.

How are the beans at Georges Happy Hog since he died? Before, they were the best I've ever had.

I've always considered *sorry* to be one of the best adjectives there is.
I disagree. More than not I hear it as a reaction without any sincerity
whatsoever. "Sorry, tee hee." It's more of a, gee I got caught reaction.

...

I hit Dickie's at 63rd and May last night. Don't bother. It is just chain style meat, "decent", but nothing good. Very little smoke evident in the taste, and the ribs were slathered in a molasses type sauce that was good enough, but just a bit "off". And the beans were quite bland. It is not bad BBQ, but it certainly isn't anything to go out of your way for.
Was the AC fixed? Finally got a reply from corporate today asking me if the manager had contacted me resolving the issue yet? He hadn't and I let them know that.

Which brings me back to my point. It's a sorry excuse for an apology.
I disagree. More than not I hear it as a reaction without any sincerity
whatsoever. "Sorry, tee hee." It's more of a, gee I got caught reaction.