M&D's BBQ Cafe and Fish Palace- Denver, CO

Hello all,
This is my first post as a contributing editor on The BBQ Man. I also have a great passion for BBQ and have been able to try a lot of BBQ when traveling. This post speaks of BBQ in my hometown of Denver but I guarantee to add more reviews in the near future.

My visit to M&D's occurred on Wednesday, May 6, 2009 with my dad. This is one of Denver's oldest BBQ restaurants that I haven't been to but have heard a lot about. When we got there there was a decent crowd. The service was a bit slow but the waiter was very jovial and happy to answer any questions we had.

We ordered some of M&D's rib tips and a large chopped BBQ sandwich with cole slaw. Unlike many other BBQ places, there is no BBQ sauce on the table, only Frank's Hot Sauce. When you order you choose mild, medium or hot sauce to be put on your meat. I chose medium sauce as the waiter said it had some heat but wasn't unbearable.

The rib tips came out first on a large platter. There was a generous portion of rib tips well covered in sauce but not drowned. I was caught off guard by my first bite because of how hot the medium sauce was. Medium at M&D's is akin to hot at many other BBQ places. When I feel more adventurous I will try their hot bbq sauce. The rib tips had a good amount of meat on them. The meat was moist and tender and I was able to get the flavor of the meat in addition to the sauce.

The chopped BBQ sandwich came out shortly after. Having chosen the large sandwich there was meat overflowing the bun onto the plate. Along with the rib tips this was more than enough to share between two people. Chopped BBQ is a combination of beef and pork. The consistency was like sloppy joes. The taste of the sandwich was absolutely wonderful. The meat was held together on a hamburger bun that helped mitigate the heat from the sauce. This was a killer sandwich that I will definitely go back for. The coleslaw was very good. It was sweet but not exceedingly so. The slaw also helped me with the heat of the sauce.

Friend of the BBQ Man rates M&D's a 9 out of 10. The place has been around for a while for good reason.

For more information check out their website at http://www.mdbbqfish.com/index.php

Cordially,

Jesse

Jabo's BBQ - Greenwood Village, CO

Anybody that has been to Jabo's BBQ, even those from Texas will be admired by the founder Jabo's care for making good BBQ. Originally started as a grease truck, Jabo finally made it a restaurant with walls. They have 22 amazing flavors that will keep you coming back (from Mango to Raspberry), each with a very distinct flavor. It has a great atmosphere and I suggest sitting at the bar and learning from Jabo himself. The meat is cooked with fire and logs giving it a great natural smoked flavor and Jabo keeps the meet very tender.

The BBQ Man rates Jabo's BBQ in Greenwood Village, CO a 9 out of 10. The sauces is what makes the place great. Everyone can find a sauce that screams them. Tickle your taste buds one flavor at a time.

Cordially,
Devon

KT's BBQ - Boulder, CO

KT's is a staple among BBQ's connoisseurs. They have to die for patrons that eat at the establishment once a week. Well I am not going to lie. KT's is by far my favorite and frequently stop by for a bite. The meet is slow cooked, not smoked, for a juicy tender meat that seems like all the pieces are the burnt ends. The bread isn't the best but works well with the sandwich. The sauce is what makes this place incredible. The Tricia's Texas sauce is a sweet savory mixture that makes your mouth water. Add the Double Diamond, a vinegar based sauce with jalapenos and some other peppers, to get the right amount of hotness. If you like mustard based sauces the Memphis sauce is what you will be looking for. In the first bite you will notice the meet easily disintegrating in your mouth, while each of your taste buds is excited by its sweet, salty and spicy BBQ sauce while all you can think about is the next bite. The location in Boulder is the best. Tucked away by large open land it is definitely off the beaten path. Try eating downstairs for some privacy, or enjoy the outdoors on a nice day. They have a great loyalty program that rewards patrons. The sides are not bad, but definitely not something to write home for, except for there special beans which are only made on Wednesdays.

The BBQ Man rates KT's BBQ in Boulder, CO a 9.5 out of 10. This place is a must try for anybody that loves your taste buds to tingle with wholesome BBQ goodness.

*Something to try: Get a bag of the BBQ chips, mix Texas with Diamond, and dip the chip in the sauce with a little bit of meat on it. Also the June bowls (a mixture of meat and sides) is amazing as well.

Cordially,
Devon

Q4U - Frisco, CO

Q4U in Frisco Colorado is located in a small mountain town surrounded by ski resorts. They have their own smoker set outside which gives the meat a lot of flavor. I suggest the Burnt Ends (it is not burnt at all, just the most tender part of the meat and extremely juicy) which is to die for. The meat is placed on a hoagie and they have many sauces to choose from although most are very close in flavor. 4x has a celery infused flavor and hot will kick it up a notch. I usually add some jalapenos and a tiny bit of tabasco for extra hot.

The BBQ Man rates Q4U in Frisco, CO a 9 out 10. A must when traveling to any of the surrounding ski areas (Vail, Copper, Keystone, Breckenridge, A-Basin;even on the way to Beaver Creek, Aspen, or a quick stop before making the trek to Steamboat Springs).

Cordially,
Devon

Pappas BBQ - Houston, TX

Pappas BBQ is a little off the beaten path, but has a great atmosphere. A wide open building with ample seats and easy to navigate. The meat is a little bland for my tastes and only one type of BBQ flavor available. They have a great center island with different types of toppings and a few types of peppers to help kick up the heat a few notches. They have large steak fries that are pretty good, but not as crisp as I usually like.

The BBQ Man rates Pappas 6 out of 10.

Cordially,
Devon

Goode Co. Texas BBQ - Houston, TX

Just trying to find a parking space at Goode Company is nearly impossible. I had to park on a residential street a few blocks away. The place has a great fell and a nice outdoor section for good use when warm, otherwise your are snug together inside. They have their own homemade sides, but you will not find fries here. Grab a Stiner Bock with the meal. As always I went with brisket and enjoyed its flavor. The sauce is a tomato base and is not spicy at all. Its a bit harder to get full as the portions are small and a bit expensive for what you get.

The BBQ Man rates Goode Co. a 5.5 out 10. If your hungry and in the area and want to add it to your list then stop in, otherwise move on to a better place.

Cordially,
Devon

Railhead BBQ - Fort Worth, TX

Just ate at Railhead BBQ. It is located in Ft. Worth Texas and is generally in the running for best BBQ in the greater Ft. Worth Area. It is a very large establishment, especially for a BBQ joint. They have an interesting take where they add mustard, onions, and pickels to the sandwich. There sauce definitely has a mustard base and is served warm on the side. It is a medium thickness and has a great full flavor and smoth aftertaste. It is not too spicy, but Tabasco is available at each table. All I eat is Brisket which they serve sliced or chopped. The meat was fairly tender and they give you just the perfect amount to get you full.

All in all the BBQ MAN rates his establishment a 6.5 out of 10. We must remember that all BBQ is subject to ones own taste buds and never will match up. I will say that the place was pretty full for lunch time and they do very well.

Cordially,
Devon