Head to the Shack for a smokin’ hot meal

There’s a new name in barbecue in town, and you might have heard of the owners.

The Meyer family, known in the barbecue world as the Smokin’ Tailgators, opened Smoke Shack BBQ on Chandler Road last September and business has been good.

The Smokin’ Tailgators have won numerous barbecue awards, including placing in the top 10 at the Jack Daniels World Championship and winning top honors at several barbecue contests around the Midwest. Just look at the walls of the Smoke Shack – hundreds of ribbons adorn the walls and, Kenny Meyer said, “that’s not all of ’em.”

I visited the Shack twice last week to get a taste of award-winning barbecue. Stepping inside, I was greeted by a comfortable environment with just enough room for five tables. Pictures and awards from barbecue contests around the country covered the walls.

The staff – Kenny’s wife, three sons and mother-in-law – was as welcoming as they could be. And not in that fake way where the employees mechanically smile and say hi every time the door opens. Just because they’re on the other side of the counter doesn’t mean they stop being real people, and I appreciate that.

I sat down with Kenny over a plate of spare ribs for lunch.

Bellevue already has what I consider to be two of the best barbecue places around – Amarillo and Swine Dining – so I knew the Smoke Shack had to set itself apart.

The menu said the St. Louis-style ribs “fall off the bone,” but I found myself struggling to extract each bite. It must have been an off day or perhaps they hadn’t cooked quite long enough, because I’ve heard tales of the tender ribs at the Smoke Shack.

I came back Saturday night for dinner, and that’s when I found the Shack’s specialty – the “Tailgators” pulled pork sandwich with the house barbecue sauce. The meat was juicy and the sauce was just a tad bit spicy. It was perfect. I’ve ordered many pulled pork sandwiches in my day and been disappointed. This sandwich didn’t have a disappointing bite in it.

In my barbecue experience, I’ve found that baked beans are the biggest variant from place to place. You can put your mind at ease when you order beans at the Smoke Shack.

On my first trip, I got a baked potato as my side. After trying the beans on my second trip, I realized that was a mistake. There is no reason to ever go to the Smoke Shack without getting the beans, which have a unique combination of pepper and sweetness that makes them the perfect complement to the sandwich.

And the prices are great. Dinner came in under $7 and the ribs were $8.

So next time you’re in the mood for some barbecue, try our fair city’s newest establishment. You won’t be disappointed.