Photo of Snows BBQ pitmaster Tootsie Tomanetz

Early Saturday morning light hits the smoker area as pitmaster Tootsie Tomanetz works at Snow's BBQ in Lexington.

So we missed — widely — when we predicted last month that Killen’s Barbecue in suburban Houston would be No. 1 on Texas Monthly’s list of the Top 50 joints in Texas.

But we applaud — loudly — the magazine’s decision this week to put Snow’s BBQ on top. In all the years the Posse has been touring, breakfast at the Lexington place on a Saturday morning remains our favorite trip.

“It's the ultimate Texas BBQ experience: great food, great people and the best setting in the state,” says Posse co-founder Chris Wilkins.

And while we are eating a little crow for our Killen’s call, we’re pretty happy with our other predictions. We said:

Franklin Barbecue would not be No. 1. Texas Monthly put the joint second.

— Cattleack Barbeque in Dallas would be No. 2. It is third.

— The magazine’s top tier of joints would expand. It did, from four to 10.

Photo of 2017 Texas Monthly Top 50 BBQ issue

Cover of the 2017 Texas Monthly Top 50 BBQ issue. (Photo ©Texas Monthly)

— Five of our predicted Top 10 are among the magazine’s Top 10.

Texas Monthly’s Top 10 (bold indicates also Posse Top 10):

1. Snow's BBQ, Lexington
2. Franklin Barbecue, Austin
3. Cattleack Barbeque, Dallas
4. Bodacious Bar-B-Q, Longview
5. Louie Mueller Barbecue, Taylor
6. Tejas Chocolate Craftory, Tomball
7. CorkScrew BBQ, Spring
8. Micklethwait Craft Meats, Austin
9. Evie Mae's Pit Barbeque, Wolfforth
10. Truth Barbeque, Brenham

Snow’s BBQ was #1 on Texas Monthly’s 2008 list and Franklin held the top spot in 2013.

Another miss for the Posse: Pecan Lodge in Dallas. It was among the top four joints in the state in 2013 and we predicted top 10 this time. But it dropped out of the top tier though it remains among the Top 50.

Texas Monthly got that wrong,” Posse member Phil Lamb said. “Pecan Lodge has not missed a beat and I still think Killen’s produces the very best collective tray of barbecue in the state.”

Cattleack has long been a Posse favorite.

“All of their meats are top grade and hand cooked by the owner to perfection,” Posse pit master Marshall Cooper said. “I say they are the #1 Texas barbecue joint. This is where I go to eat barbecue when I want perfection.”

“They have moved from ‘Rising Star’ status to All-Star status,” Lamb said of Cattleack. “Their creativity is unmatched, too. I love that place!”

Posse member Jim Rossman did a geographic breakdown of the Top 50. The Dallas-Fort Worth area has 9, Houston area 7, and Austin 7. Rossman said he personally has eaten at 22 of the Top 50 and has some work to do.

We can’t sign off without acknowledging one other Posse call. In a post two weeks ago, Sherry Jacobson wondered why people wait in such long lines at Franklin when they can get excellent barbecue just a few blocks away at Micklethwait Craft Meats.

Micklethwait ranks No. 8 on TM’s list, but has the same score (4.75) as Franklin.

Photo of Snows BBQ sign

The U.S. flag flies in front of Snows BBQ, 516 Main St, Lexington. (Photos ©Chris Wilkins/Texas BBQ Posse)


Gregory Smith

7 years ago

Chris W., well this ole retired photojournalist lives just outside Tomball and has commercial property in Spring, Texas. Look at T.M.'s number six and seven. Guess I better get busy. If you folks make a stab at either joint this coming year, give me a shout and maybe I can join you nice folks.
Greg Smith/Rosehill, Texas

PACKY SAUNDERS

7 years ago

Got seven out of 10 right on my end... but nine of those were out of actual position. Only got Franklin correct at No. 2. What a curveball year, but I think I get the whys after reading the full text.




Austin Top 5 plus Snow's

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