Lockhart Smokehouse's second location is near the corner of 15th & K Streets in old downtown Plano. (Photo ©Chris Wilkins/Texas BBQ Posse)

February 12, 2014, may go down in history as the day great barbecue finally came to Plano. In the past, if you wanted good BBQ and lived in Plano, you had to drive to either south to downtown Dallas or north to McKinney. Sad but true for a city of 272,000. Then Lockhart Smokehouse came to town......

The Posse first met the Lockhart crew when we snuck into the original location in Oak Cliff before they opened in February 2011. Their opening week coincided with the infamous Super Bowl ice storm that paralyzed D/FW that year.

With hard work and determination, they overcame the ominous start to become a top 50 BBQ joint in Texas, as named by Texas Monthly magazine in 2013.  In the world of Texas barbecue, that's a major accomplishment, especially in less than three years. Lockhart Smokehouse has proved to be a pillar in the renaissance of great barbecue in the city of Dallas.

Diners wait to order at Lockhart Smokehouse in Plano (Photo ©Chris Wilkins/Texas BBQ Posse)

Co-owners Jeff Bergus and Tim McLaughlin were wanting to establish a second location in Collin County, but were patient enough to find the perfect location. When Tim found this location in the burgeoning dining destination of downtown Plano, they began the hard work to make that happen.

The Plano location is almost exactly the same size as Oak Cliff and the menu is identical. Pitmaster Will Fleishman has moved north to become general manager of the new restaurant. Will is running two large Bewley pits, giving him almost twice the pit capacity of the Oak Cliff location.

With the opening of Lockhart Smokehouse in old downtown Plano, the BBQ drought is finally over in this neck of the woods.

Lockhart Smokehouse, 1026 East 15th St., Plano, 972-516-8900. Open Sun-Sat 11am-9pm or until the meat runs out, bar open until at least midnight.

(L-R) Co-owners Tim McLaughlin and Jeff Bergas pose with general manager Will Fleishman between the dual Bewley pits at Lockhart Smokehouse Plano. (Photo ©Chris Wilkins/Texas BBQ Posse)

View from the balcony of Lockhart Smokehouse in Plano. (Photo ©Chris Wilkins/Texas BBQ Posse)

Mike Singleton cuts meat for Lockhart Smokehouse customers. (Photo ©Chris Wilkins/Texas BBQ Posse)

Sausage from Kreuz Market in Lockhart is a staple at Lockhart Smokehouse. (Photo ©Chris Wilkins/Texas BBQ Posse)

Baby Jesus watches over the briskets in the Lockhart Smokehouse pit room. (Photo ©Chris Wilkins/Texas BBQ Posse)