Nathan’s BBQ
1307 Prairie Lea St, Brenham, TX, 77833
Nathan’s BBQ Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Brenham for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
1307 Prairie Lea St
Brenham, TX, 77833 - Phone (979) 251-9900
- Website https://nathansbbq.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 9:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch, Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : No
Caters : Yes
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Melinda T.
This place is way over priced and not worth it! The service is miserable at best. I visited for the first time when my husband and I were driving my son to Blinn College. When we arrived and walked through the line the first gentleman to help us could barely speak any english and was just not friendly at all. We had to repeat everything we said. When I asked for extra pork shoulder the worker said no, it costs more, I was like okay it's pay by the pound so put the extra piece of shoulder on there. When I say no one spoke to us through the entire line, I'm not kidding. After sitting down and eating I had to get a to go container for my daugher's side dish and when I asked for it at the line again, no one said a word, just handed it to me. I honestly believe this place still is providing service like this is the 60s and we obviously are cross the Mason Dixie line. I truly believe that the horrible customer service is because we were minorities and not locals. I don't think they are used to seeing some affluent people from the city that are not minorities. I guess they only will speak to you if you come in with some overalls on and a toothpick in your mouth. The only good thing to say is that the pork shoulder was delicious, but I can pay $60 bucks anywhere else and get a lot better treatment!!!
(1)Skye A.
Was visiting the small, sleepy, and charming town of Breham for business. Stormy weather, called for a great meal. Not much around that caught my attention, until I had to get gas. I then noticed Nathan's, right next to the station, I was in disbelief, it couldn't have appeared at a better time. I walked in, and there it was, a nice comfy restaurant, TV's, great customer service, and a wonderful cook slicing a great looking piece if brisket. I ordered the sliced beef, with the baked beans, mash, and corn bread. The meat was tender, and seasoned, it came undone in my mouth, it was wonderful! Loved the fact that it was not drenched in any sauce, this is often a good sign, nothing to hide! On the second night, I had the ribs, well, that was most definitely where they hold their hat. Ribs was seasoned, tender, juicy, and meaty. They serve them with 2 sides, I picked the green beans with bacon chunks, and a side of their buttery mash, with chives, and cheddar. Simply, amazing! These place has excellent consistency, and great customer service skills. Thank you Nathan's for helping me feel better that night.
(5)Ivy F.
Great ribs and sides!! Adorable environment too. Highly recommend this local eatery.
(5)Russell J.
Not bad for a highway stop BBQ spot. Friendly service and decent meats. Sides were better than average which is a good thing.
(4)David N.
I was doing some work in Brenham and was starving! So what better use of the YELP app. This was one of a handful of places actually listed in YELP Brenham. So I was like I'm always down for Bbq, especially in a small town in TEXAS. 13 bucks for 3 meat with two sides. I got potato salad and mashed potatoes, both solid. Now onto the meats! The brisket was moist and very flavorful, the sausage was ok, reminded me of breakfast sausage, and the ribs were perfectly smoked. They kept the sauce in a big kettle on the side that kept it warm. The sauce had a good balance of sweet and salty. The meal also came with a piece of cornbread! I love that it wasn't just plain white sandwich bread.
(4)Robert D.
Food is always great. I love this place! The owner has a huge self portrait of himself above the entrance, which is kinda creepy, but other than that its a very very good place to eat.
(5)Shelly A.
When you're in Texas, I'm pretty sure this is what you are looking for - real Texas BBQ...and this place is the real deal! Nathan's used to be called Big Daddies and it was basically just a steam table inside the gas station. However, word has spread and Nathan's is now a full fledged restaurant with a loyal following. When you go to Nathan's you have to try the two meat platter, anything less would be a crime. I would say you should get the sausage (locals have said it's not Texas BBQ without sausage!) and then you pick between the pork pulled or the pork ribs (you really can't go wrong either way). Also make sure you grab some home baked bread and fill your plate with some onions and pickles from the counter! It's an unreal combination. I've been going to this place since 2003 and I would never come to the area without making a stop here!
(5)Sarah V.
Came here expecting Nathan Fillion. What we got was Nathan Lane. Yelp claimed this was the "best BBQ in Texas, hands down." A far cry, my friends! This was terrible. The BBQ sauce tastes like hot peppery ketchup. The potato salad reeks of excessive mayonnaise. +1 star for amazing ice. That's always a plus in my book!
(2)Annie S.
We stopped here for lunch after our tour of the Blue Belle Factory and were really excited because when we walked in, the customers in back of us started chit chatting with us and told us we were in for a real treat...and even the workers at Blue Belle highly recommended it for lunch. But somehow, the barbecue here just didn't seem to hit the spot. The brisket was kind of tough and stringy on the outside because it was too dry. The sausage was a bit on the salty side, but it was really flavorful. The ribs also weren't as juicy as I would have liked. I think my bbq standards have gone up since this visit to texas..and this being the 5th bbq stop on our visit...I have to say, there is better elsewhere.
(3)Melissa M.
Food was great but low rating because of the HORRIBLE service. We ordered our food to go, and it was our first time so I had to look at side options, told them what I wanted and even pointed at it and they gave me potato salad instead of the mashed potatoes and didn't give my husband his side of Mac and cheese at all. I noticed when we got back in the car so he went in to ask that they change out my side and give him his Mac and cheese and they were very rude about it. He also asked if I could have cornbread instead of a slice of white bread because I wasn't given a bread option and she said no. One of the ladies behind the counter was talking to some guy the whole time instead of helping customers. The food was good once we were able to get our order but they need new staff.
(2)Lesley L.
Before rendezvousing into Brenham, my secret admirer and I stopped for lunch at Nathan's. Upon entering, it felt like we had entered into a home. The staff was attentive, welcoming, and friendly. Right away, we already knew what we had wanted. The BF and I picked the two meat plate with two sides. We both had the moist brisket and sausage with loaded mash & mac. The sausage & brisket was moist, seasoned well, and melted in our mouths. So worth eating over and over again. Our favorite was the mac & cheese. OH MY ... that side was SO good that we ordered another small bowl to stuff our faces in. It had the perfect balance of cheese. Ooey gooey, melt in your mouth also. Perfect stop for lunch before heading to town for a fun filled day.
(4)Summer S.
Okay, I've been here once before and it was just mediocre. Decided to try one more time today and ordered the baked potato with chopped beef barbeque added. Got to the table and the chopped beef was ice cold. I took it right back up to the counter and told the cashier. She took the plate from me without saying a word and 5 minutes later came out with a warmer dish. There was never an apology whatsoever and she had an attitude. By the way, I noticed the cooks (you can watch them prepare your dish), were not wearing foodservice gloves. They just stick their fingers in the cheese, onions, bread, etc. I asked why they didn't wear gloves, the girl said, "We've been busy today and don't have time to wear them". Needless to say, between not wearing gloves, serving me cold barbecue beef and not being friendly, I will not return to Nathan's.
(1)W W.
All the sides are made from scratch. I highly recommend the sweet potato casserole and the broccoli salad. The smoked pork chop is to die for. Ribs are some of the best to be found.
(5)Tien Christine L.
Biggest disappoint was the service. Young man behind the counter was nice but the little gal ringing up the order could definitely use an attitude adjustment or better training... Mostly in customer service. As for the food: I got the two meat plate; brisket, ribs, Mac and cheese, and potato salad. Brisket was okay but the ribs were better. Mac & cheese is definitely a must have and potato salad is perfect. Nathan's would've gotten 4 stars if not for poor service.
(3)Jay Y.
Brisket, sausage, corn bread, black-eyed peas, mac-n-cheese and peach cobbler. All was great and live local music on Friday night to boot.
(5)John W.
I was there in town for a Pre-MS150 bike ride and ask a couple of locals "which is the best BBQ around?" Three of them said Nathan's BBQ. How could I pass this up?!?!?! Yeah, I could have passed it up. Everything was "Good" but not great. If you are in the area, it's worth a visit but it's definitely NOT worth the drive out there if you are from Houston or further. Prices were pretty good. Staff was friendly. Service was sparse but that's because they were SUPER busy. I guess the other BBQ joints out there just really suck. Mac & Cheese is definitely worth a try. The overall restaurant was pretty nice and clean. It was cute that it's connected to a gas station. If I lived in Brenham, I could see myself going there once a month. Please don't let the 3 stars fool you. I just know there is stellar BBQ out there and this place isn't top tier. Upper mid-tier is still good. Pork ribs were dry though, like almost fried. Sausage was good. I asked the lady behind the counter, "what kind of brisket do you have?" she looked at me like I was crazy and said, "brisket." Yah, they need a sign saying "this is NOT moist brisket." I love the country.
(3)Corey B.
Horrendous customer service!!!!
(1)Adam R.
Awesome brisket... A tiny bit fatty, but in a good way.. gave it a lot of juice and flavor.
(4)Roger S.
Warning: Big Daddy's has been renamed Nathan's Original Big Daddy's, presumably for a trademark conflict. Don't look for "Big Daddy's." You'll have enough trouble finding it by its new name. Also, one reviewer said it is in the back of a Diamond Shamrock Station. It is actually behind a Shell Station. It is at the Blinn College Exit from 290, on Prairie Lea St right off 290 on the Eastbound side. Don't park in front of the Shell, go around the back of the Shell station. Look for the sign for Nathan's Parking. This place is hard to find but worth looking for. Nathan's has been extensively remodeled since its Big Daddy days. It now has a dining room seating at least 60 and a few outdoor tables. Meat is sold by the pound so you can buy as much or as little as you want and you can get a bit of this and a bit of that. Sides are sold by the portion. Don't miss the twice baked potatoes and the cole slaw, both excellent. If you are passing through Brenham on 290 at lunch time, this is a must visit. Expect to spend 8-10$/person Open for lunch 7 days/week and dinner 6 days (closed for dinner on Sunday.)
(5)Candy J.
Found this place visiting Brenham in April. Great service, cool dining room, delicious BBQ! Prices are reasonable.
(5)Hope R.
Food is usually good but pricey. We had them cater our daughters wedding and were pleased with food BUT things Nathan (the owner) promised us never materialized. Asked for a contract but he assured us it would be ok. Should have insisted! Price he quoted prior to event was far below what the bill was. One call and Nathan gladly fixed it but who wants a hassle when throwing your child a wedding? We were promised that the food would be in chafing dishes- NOT! They were served very country in large pans. Not the look we were promised. Tea and water was also promised to be available before and after meal- NOT. We had to send someone to store for drinks (we had kegs and wine but nothing for non drinkers bc we planned on tea/water) They only brought enough tea for the meal. We were promised they would light the candles on all the tables for us and they did that! Yeah! The servers were attentive and prompt. Served the wedding party but the rest enjoyed buffet. Would have been nice if that service extended to family table as well. The wedding party actually got to eat since they were served and guests had to serve themselves. That was great! Left overs were well packed quietly and quickly. :) All in all it was satisfactory. I would hesitate to use them for catering again without a written contract! Even then, I would have to think twice.
(3)Harold B.
Hammercy!!! Sweet Hey-zeus!!! Man, lemme tell yall why I love yelp real kwik...cuz aint no way in hell I, we, whoeva would eva know about places like this!!! Headin back home, we were all gettin a lil hungry, so I pull up the ol trusty Y app and type in bbq...whoa!! shit!!! look out!!! Catch this exit!!! Thats right..damn near killed erebody for a 5 star rated bbq spot!!! Well this spot didnt disappoint@all..ok well a tad the brisket was lil dry but had good flavor..sorry dry brisket is a minus 1 star in my book.. But mang damn the ribs & the pork was juicy smokey love meat!!!! The bbq sauce is sweet & tangy-u get it @ the condiment bar along with ya pickles,onions,jalapenos, etc Even the sides were damn good-baked beans, mac & cheese and good potato salad even tho it was chunky and didnt have boiled eggs in it!!! For a bbq spot connected to a Shell it sure is real deal..we saw alot of ppl pass thru for pickup..they also have good specials per my pics If ya in the area def check em out!!
(4)Pam J.
We've tried this place several times and there is no consistent good customer service or food. Our most recent visit was a take-home order. It seems when I asked for the onions/pickles to be placed on the side with the chopped beef sandwich, the server placed 'everything' on the side. I had to build my own sandwich after getting it home. All I could do was shake my head at the stupidity of it all...lol. It will be a very long time before we go there again...if ever.
(2)Claudia E.
Good BBQ, Great sides, Amazing Sweet Tea!!!
(4)karen c.
Was going to Blue Bell and needed BBQ. Ribs are DELICIOUS. They don't fall off the bone with a touch, but all you need a slight tug. And the flavor is yummmmm. In fact, you can smell them as you walk in. Sides are also good. My fave was mac & cheese - a light, almost watery, cheesiness, that reminded me of Luby's. Potato salad tasted like deviled eggs (with the relish kick) and probably some of the best I've ever had... and didn't even have eggs in them! Twice baked potatoes were good, though not as good as they look, but even better when smothered around your brisket. Green beans could be more flavorful. Brisket was dry and tasteless. So skip it and get more ribs.
(3)Catherine H.
Lets get straight to the point, BIg Daddy's Bbq..(Renamed - Nathon's BBq) is as good as it gets... Forget the glitz and glamour of the so called City BBq.. IF ya want genuine great country style bbq, come to brenham, Not only are we recongizned for our world famous ice cream, we hands down have the best bbq.. Its located in a gas station..(yes a gas station.. thats how we roll down south!) They recently redecorated so its an actual restaurant now.. It has such Homey feel to it.. and if your from brenham, your bound to run into someone you know... Today I went with my sister and we both go the 2 meat combo.. Sausage - Usually im not a big fan of sausage but Ill def. make an exception for Big Daddy's... Its so delicious... Urgh i wish i had two stomachs!!! the Ribs are to die for! it literally falls off the bone as soon as your teeth sinks into it... The Brisket is my personal favorite... OMGGGOShh.. i just adore the brisket.. i could eat it forever..... I didnt have the chicken but i heard a friend once describe it as an Orgasm in your mouth.. too intense? yeah but its trueee.... hahah Defitnely One of my favorite BBQ places...
(5)David M.
This was my first and last visit to Nathan's BBQ in Brenham. It started off on the wrong foot when my wife and I walked up to the cash register to place our order to go. There was a second cash register with no one waiting in line. There was a lady who appeared to be putting in a new roll of paper into the register printer and so we waited for a couple of minutes while she never acknowledged we were standing there. By then a couple of customers walked up to the second register. After five minutes of standing there I asked the woman if we should get in the other line. She said " yes, this register is broke." So, we got in the other line and placed our order of two BBQ sandwiches, a quarter pound of lean brisket and a link of sausage sliced in bite sized pieces. We stood there for 30 minutes waiting on our order and finally got it, jumped in the car heading to Houston for our son's baseball tournament, opened the bags up to find the nastiest, fattest brisket I've ever seen and the sausage was one long 12" to 15" piece of sausage with no way to cut it while we're driving to Houston. I pulled my receipt out to get the phone number and called them back to complain. The young lady who answered the phone put me on hold and never came back to the phone. Pathetic experience!!
(1)Dennis C.
Like Roger said, Natan (a.k.a. Big Daddy) is behind the Shell station. You park at front only if you are there to pick up to-go order because the plate and silverware are at the regular entrance. The restaurant is newly decorated. Once we stepped in, we were greeted by 2 friendly employees. We ordered a variety of brisket, ribs, pork, and a side order of coleslaw. FYI, you can get some BBQ sauce from the condiment counter. Their pork is THE BEST pork we've ever had. It's smokey, it's juicy (all those wonderful fat), and a little bit crunchy from the burn. It's PERFECT! Yes, their pork is far superior than Rudy's, Louie Mueller @ Taylor, Duke @ Georgetown, etc. Their ribs can be more tender. It is not fall-off-the-bone yet. Flavor-wise, it's average. You can see the smoke line and you can taste the smoke but it somehow lacks the "kick". Combine it with their BBQ sauce, now it is good. :-) We love our brisket "moist". The brisket we had is a bit on the dry end. It is very tender and again, lacks the "Mumpt". The BBQ sauce is good enough to compensate for that. The bread / toast they give you, to me, also makes a difference. They are not using the regular thin-slice white toast but more "artisan" kind. It is definitely worth to be mentioned. At last, their slaw is on the sweet side, just the way we like it. The pork itself is worth the 1.5 hrs drive from north Austin. Plus, you can visit the Blue Bell Creamery to make it a day-trip.
(5)Jeffrey S.
Big Daddy's new dining room is awesome. Nice and clean. I love their breakfast burritos. They also make their own root-beer, available in a frosted mug. The root-beer is very, very, good, but a bit pricey and no refills. I find their brisket a bit dry at times, but the rest of their meats are very well seasoned and cooked. A great place for BBQ if you don't feel like leaving Brenham.
(4)Jana C.
Amazing BBQ. I love the sliced pork sandwich and the pork ribs. Any of the sides are great especially the cole slaw and twice baked mashed potatoes.
(5)Mallory I.
I have to say I was happily surprised by the food but the service just killed it for me. I had the Texas sloppy Joe which was delicious and unique since I have never seen it at any other bbq place. The service on the other hand was stand off-ish and he didn't know what was in the food he was serving! The gentleman before us asked what was in the coleslaw and he answered 'I don't know.' Considering that he is the first impression and almost the only personal contact it was unfortunate that he didn't take more pride in what he was serving by knowing what was in it. He didn't even reach out to other staff to ask what was in it. This could also have been affected by the large to-go order they were working on when we ordered. Also just a note on the food, I loved their bbq sauce but it is a sweet bbq so if you prefer spicy you won't enjoy this. Also, though I loved my food choice my boyfriend got brisket and sausage and both were very greasy and didn't pack a lot of flavor.
(3)Jim A.
We had brisket and sausage plate with cole slaw and green beans. The meat looked good, but lacked flavor; it was as if they forgot to do the smoking. The sides were good, but nothing special. In general, as a Texas BBQ, it was mediocre on the flavor. Finally, we also tried the berry cobbler; that was sad, skip that one.
(2)A H.
Best BBQ ever. Overly priced but it is really the only got to BBQ place here. It is now Nathan's barbecue, same owner different name. Potatoes are so good just make sure you go before 6 pm or they will probably be out
(4)Christine M.
Maybe I picked the wrong day to go because my experience with Nathan's/Big Daddy's Barbecue was nothing that deserved even a 3-star rating. It was a Friday afternoon, probably around 12pm or so and the place was relatively empty. There were about 4 tables occupied, so I began to think...hmm, is this a good sign or a bad sign? Then I began to see people coming in to pick up food and they must have been regulars because the staff was greeting them by name and having conversations and what not. Still looking good from that point, until I got my food. I ordered a loaded baked potato with chopped beef and a side of fried okra. My boyfriend ordered a chopped beef/pork sandwich with a side of fries. Let the disappointment begin! I took a scoop out of my potato only to have cold food in my mouth. Maybe it's a new trend, cold food, who knows, but I usually like my baked potato nice and steamy so the potato crumbles with your fork and the butter melts away and all the flavors just have a party. Today was blocks of potato and cold chopped beef to top it off. The fried okra definitely seemed like it was sitting underneath those heat lamps for awhile because they were cold too, even the heat lamp couldn't rescue them. The breading fell off many of the okras and they were pretty bland. I didn't get to try the sandwich but my boyfriend, who loves BBQ and will usually devour a BBQ sandwich couldn't even eat half of it. I did try the fries and they were cold and soggy. There was plenty of leftover and both us did not even think of taking it home, definitely not worth the extra baggage. I understand wanting to serve customers quickly but that shouldn't take away from the quality of the food or the service. Definitely crossed off my list of places to go to and put in my list of never again.
(2)Derek S.
Awesome place to eat. Food network stopped by last week to feature this place on an upcoming show!
(5)Jeff P.
4 stars outside of Texas. 3 stars in Texas. Decent flavors and choices of bbq. Good spot when driving between H-Town and ATX. Simple, decent bbq at a Texas gas station.
(3)Scott E.
just ok, if you are from texas and say this is world class BBQ you dont know what BBQ is. its better than the ones on 10 so if you are going to houston or coming from houston this is a better bet
(3)Katie M.
Good prices on gas. Very clean store and restrooms. Friendly staff. BBQ smelled good.
(5)David C.
delicious brisket and ribs!
(5)Trish C.
The description given does not adequately describe this place. It's conveniently located off 290 (either way), a shell station, and the best part, adjacent to Nathan's bbq. The bathrooms are extremely clean. If you have to stop, do so here. Refuel your car and body at this quick stop store.
(5)Shay H.
I flew into Houston on red eye flight that was delayed. I picked up the rental car to drive to Austin and was so tired and hungry on the way. I decided to look up BBQ spots and noticed Nathan's was right off of the freeway and had great reviews so I stopped. This place has seriously the best BBQ I have ever had! Not exaggerating. I got brisket and sliced pork. Both were excellent. Juicy, tender and seasoned just right. The crust on the meat was spectacular! I've never had pork with that kind of amazing flavor! I saw Nathan the owner walking in the dining room and told him how happy I was and how much I loved the food. After eating everything Nathan brought me some ribs to try for dessert! Holy cow! Even though I was stuffed I ate them all and they were even better than what I had ordered! Do yourself a favor and stop here. Nathan and his BBQ are both so awesome! Thank you Nathan for kicking off my TX trip with some amazing grub and hospitality! I'll be back for sure!!
(5)lily s.
So good... the End. :D This particular Saturday I needed to get out of town and get a dose of blue sky,(Spring)green rolling hills and some delicious Texas BBQ. (2 wks of cloudy, rainy weather in Houston will do it! I figure the good people of Washington County should benefit from this.) First I visited the wonderful, Antique Rose Emporium, just northwest of Hwy 290 & Nathan ' s on FM 50, almost to 390. The Details: It use to be, 'Big Daddy's', & Google still thinks it is, but greatfully, Google maps led me here through downtown Brenham. It's located on the west bound feeder of Hw 290. & wraps around a gas station. There were positive reviews, but one must prove this for him or herself, so off I go. The 1st good sign...the undeniable smell of smokey goodness before you even hit the door. Entering through the back of the bldg. Welcome signs Texas style. You'll order cafeteria style then sit down to custom made, bottle top table, (Texas brands mind you ;) Every bite ws scruptous. The ribs, the sides and the banana pudding, so good. Some 'claim' to be great, but Nathan ' s truly is! :) Signed...one happy (very stuffed ) camper. Safe travels now!
(5)Charles D.
Never thought I would give 5 stars to a restaurant attaches to a gas station, but this place is outstanding! We stop every time we drive from Houston to Austin or back, and sometimes that means two days in a row. The BBQ is excellent, house made chips, fries, green beans...all the sides are very good. The burgers are better than most I have had at fancy burger places. We especially like the BBQ burger, but the basic burger is flavorful, too. The staff also demonstrate exemplary customer service each time we stop. Smiles and helpful suggestions. Nathan's is worth stopping for! Do it!
(5)Wendy N.
The lean brisket & hot links are finger lickin good. You have to try the broccoli salad & baked beans! Tell them it's your first visit & they will let you taste the food. We will come back to Nathan's
(4)Victor O.
They say "there ain't no fibbin' about our rib", but that statement is a lie. It must be because there's no reason anybody should be talking about this rib. it's forgettable. Some barbecue joints off the beaten path should stay there. Perhaps it was the hour I arrived (7 p.m.), but the brisket's juices had been drained by some unseen demon. In the golden age of BBQ, why settle for a copper penny.
(1)Carol O.
Had Saturday lunch here at 1:00pm. The brisket and pork ribs were dry and tasted like they were left under warm lights for an extended amount of time. Ribs were too salty with no flavor. My favorites to take note: Bill Miller's BBQ Brisket, San Antonio, TX, and Salt Lick, Driftwood, TX
(2)Billie O.
Delicious, meaty ribs! Four huge ribs. Sausage - lean with a good flavor. Baked potato - grandson said they were awesome. Granddaughter declared the chopped beef sandwich was good and filling. This is quality BBQ, not like what we're used to in Cypress from the chain BBQs. Worth driving all the way to Brenham!
(5)James X P.
Stopped by on the way to Austin. I've lived here for my whole life and never tried this place. Amazing bbq better than Franklins, salt lick or county line. Found my new stop. Hell, I might come to brenham just for the ribs.
(5)Brendan C.
I would like to call attention to a serious Yelp fail. This place deserves an overall rating of at least 4 stars if not 4 & a half. No one said this is the best brisket or the best ribs or the best chicken, but it's all VERY VERY good. The sides are excellent. The prices are VERY VERY reasonable for what you get. The staff is over the top Texan nice. I don't think I've ever met such pleasant people in my life. Their service went above and beyond. They prepared a sample plate of all the meats for us before we ordered. Everyone wanted to help us out. I've been travelling across America for the past three weeks and I can say this place is VALUE.
(5)Tim C.
A friend of our son's took us to his favorite BBQ place, Nathan's BBQ, now it's our's too. If you go in here and it's your first time, let them know and they will let you try a sample of everything, we sure enjoyed that! My son and I both went with the sliced brisket and pork and a cornbread muffin, the meats were very tender with nice smoke rings and lots of flavor, the BBQ sauce was killer too. Not many 'Q places have homemade broccoli salad so I jumped on that along with some excellent slaw. My wife went with the combo loaded tater...this dude weighed about two pounds with all the goodies it had on it, she had them put chopped beef and sliced sausage on it, so big that we shared and it was awesome. They have a nice condiment bar with pickles, onions, BBQ, tea....we'll definitely stop in on future trips to and from the Houston area. Posted a plethora of pics of the food and decor.....we had a few pork ribs too and they were topnotch as well.
(5)Bj M.
My guy got the 2 meat plate w/brisket and jalapeño sausage, fried okra, and black-eyed peas. He gave me a bite of his peas and they were the best I've ever had. With a ranch style spice that needs just a little heat added they were better than pinto beans done the same way. As to his okra? Not even one nugget to share Lol! I'm one of those freaks of nature who loves beef and pork fat especially if it's been burnt but I've never ordered a burnt ends plate anywhere before and you bet I'll be asking about another at other BBQ places from now on. The sauce was just right IMO as I prefer a spicy sweet flavor.
(5)Justin C.
Some of best BBQ I have ever had, and that's saying a lot. Brisket was seasoned to perfection with a nice smoke ring on it and just enough trimmed fat to keep it moist and flavorful. They have an assortment of sides to choose from, including a cold broccoli salad, coleslaw, pinto beans, green beans, Mac n cheese, and mashed potatoes. Everything was great!
(5)Les W.
OMG on our drive through Texas we saw the sign for Nathan's. Advertising works! The best ribs I've ever had! Okra side delicious! Cornbread fantastic! Coat the ribs in the BBQ sauce...like icing on the cake.
(5)Detra D.
The family and I had made a wrong turn on hwy 36 on our journey to Temple, TX from Houston, TX. Boy, am I glad we did!. We pulled up to a Shell gas station to potty which had an entry to Nathan's BAR-BQ. By the way, the bathroom was nicely decorated and exceptionally clean. The food was smelling so good! I asked the Shell cashier if the food they had on display came from the adjacent restaurant and she said,"Yes." So, I had to buy a hot sausage link with a piece of bread and just a tad bit of sauce. In my opinion, great Bar-b-q is good without any or just a little sauce. Oh my!!!! That was the best sausage link I had ever had!! It made me wish I had bought at least 3 more. Since Blue Bell Ice Cream is closed indefinitely, we'll have to visit Brenham for Nathan's again!
(5)K M.
We have eaten here at least 50 times. The brisket here is ok. If you could get it fresh off the smoker it would probably be very good. The ribs are some of the best in Texas. They have a great smoke ring and almost always pass the bite test. True BBQ lovers will understand. Very tasty even without sauce. My favorite is the sliced pork. I have never had better sliced pork than what they serve here. It has always been perfectly moist and tender with a nice smokey flavor. It is so tasty even without any sauce. I have eaten at almost all of the Texas Monthly top 50 BBQ places. This place is as good as any of the top 50 and better than most. You will find places with better brisket but the sliced pork and the ribs are as good as I have ever tried. Maybe I will see you there.
(5)Madeline K.
Went here on the way home to Houston from Austin. We were all tired and very hungry and decided to stop somewhere and sit and eat instead of a fast food joint. It's in a very convenient spot, with good service, and has awesome bathrooms. Awesome, clean, happy bathrooms. But the bathrooms were, I think, the best part. I had a one meat plate of brisket (because they were out of sausage), which came with homemade bread and two sides, and I chose macaroni and cheese and twice baked potatoes. The brisket was cold, tough, and chewy, and the sauce was the only thing with any flavor. The macaroni and cheese was pretty good, but it was cold as well. The twice baked potatoes lacked flavor and I wish they'd had more cheese or bacon or chives or something other than bland potatoes. The bread, however, was delicious. Upon leaving, I asked for a to-go cup for iced water and was promptly charged 27 cents. Seemed pretty cheap to me. Two stars for the bathrooms and the bread. Other than that, I don't see what the hype is about.
(2)Jay W.
I judge bbq by it's tasty tenderness without sauce. Not so tender that's it's mushy. With ribs, a slight pull to separate the meat from the bone. Nathan's passes the taste/tender test No sauce required. As a first time visitor, I was given a warm welcome and a sample of sausage, chicken, brisket, pork shoulder, and pork ribs. All EXCELLENT.
(5)Paula C.
Really good bbq. I had the ribs and sliced beef (brisket, in other words, I think.) The beef was really moist and and ribs were fall-off-the-bone tender. I think Rudy's BBQ is way overrated, and this place totally trumps it (just barbecue-wise, anyway.) I wish they had more side options, but I still gave it 5 stars because the barbecue was THAT GOOD. The interior is wholly Texan (and I love it) and very clean. I'm from Houston but was in the Brenham area just to sight-see, so the drive is unfortunately too far for me to be a regular here. However, I def would be here at least once a week if I lived in the area. The staff was friendly, so no complaints there. I also kind of love that it's out of the way, kind of like a nice little secret to have, but one I'd like to share because the BBQ is bomb.
(5)John D.
Great place has the old barn look and feel. Have been twice had different meat each time. Ribs have the right amount of crust or bark and still juicy. Chicken was smoked very well and done perfectly. Sausage was mild and a bit dry for my taste but worked well with the BBQ sauce. Brisket was fork tender varied on juicy versus dry. Sides were great also just not very large servings. Must be the place for BBQ in town because carry out was standing room only!
(4)Charlie M.
I have been to this place twice. It is inside a gas station, but that should not matter. I got ribs the first time, and boy were they great! Lots of flavor, meat, and good rub on them. Really good sides, mac and cheese, potatoes and such. The second time I came here, it was a little slow inside, I did not know what I wanted and the fellow cut up all the meat and let me sample them all. How awesome is that! It made me order stuff I usually do not get. I was very happy.
(5)Troy H.
Big portions and friendly staff are the highlights. Everyone is a critic on BBQ in Texas, I get that. With that information and knowing what we all know about our own taste buds... ... I liked the brisket, it was charred and cooked good, but it lacked any good smokey flavor a good pit master can bring ... I also had the pork, it was dry. I am not sure if it was because not many order it and sat there too long or it was simply overcooked. .... the deserts were good and the sides were great. I like the place overall, but it doesn't make it on my "gotta stop and eat" list.
(3)J D.
As a California native on business travel in Texas, I came to appreciate a good meal in a small town. My traveling colleague told me this place was a must the first night we arrived at Brenham, and I'm glad we did it. Don't let the proximity to the gas station fool you, this place is legit. Food was tasty, fresh, and good portions. There's also an attaching mini-mart to get some shopping in for essentials before you hit the road. Definitely a must try if you're going to be in the neighborhood.
(4)Stefanie S.
Stopped here on a road trip and was very pleasantly surprised! While it may sound crazy, the chicken tenders were AMAZING!! The Mac and Cheese was really good while it was hot. The ribs were pretty good-- well flavored. Despite being full, we couldn't stop until it was all gone
(4)Sandi L.
Quite alright if I do say so myself the girls working were kind and helpful all in all a good experience
(5)Katie S.
We went on a Saturday around 6pm. I give it 4 stars for flavor, but no stars for temperature. Seriously, I get that BBQ meats aren't usually served piping hot, but room temperature sides like macncheese, green beans, and twice baked potato-- pretty unappealing. Not sure I'd go back for just that reason.
(3)Nancy W.
Why, oh why, did I not find this sooner? I love BBQ in a big way. This love was tenderly fostered during 9 years in North Carolina, where it is as big a religious experience as basketball and NASCAR. We were debating helping my father-in-law polish off leftovers or going out. Going out won, and my father-in-law suggested Nathan's. The chopped beef was tender, well seasoned and not drowning in sauce. I ordered the broccoli salad as my side - fantastic blend! Either my imagination has gone wild or there was bacon in it. I am always appreciative of salads that are not bits of meat or veggies swimming in mayonnaise. The dressing was just right. We have been here a week and must begin the trek back to the land of the bland, but I will plan on at least one meal here the next time we are in town!
(5)Rachael G.
I have to agree with Troy H. From all the way back in 2012, I have gone here twice against my will mostly, by friends and family and they dont really say anything afterwards, nothing ! Just its okay it was kinda bland bla bla BLAH!!!! I don't like it and for the quality of meat its Really expensive i think if you are trying to impress someone or are looking for good cheap food this is not it. customer service is not actually that great you almost have too force them to actually talk to you when at the cash register even when you are the only one in line, which its good manners to strike up conversation no matter how minuscule in the event that someone could be having a bad day and wants you to say something nice to them usually the group there, ( which is not based solely on my opinion from the two times i have been here) do not even care if you give them a complement they don't really say anything when you leave and its always kinda awkward because usually me and a few of my friends have said they feel unwelcome back to the restaurant . all in all its okay not a comfortable place to go to often food is bland and people that drink and the slightly older crowd seems to like it. Summer S. Review is a better portrayal now that i look at it.
(2)Lori F.
What do I know about Texas BBQ coming from Hawaii. Well I know the rib plate @ Nathan's is bigger than a Kali plate @ Da Kitchen. Ribs are rubbed with such a tasty seasoning i enjoyed them without the BBQ sauce. And I know the cornbread is so scrumptious I Wish I could have it for breakfast everyday. Great find.
(5)Yoojin O.
Stopped in based on Yelp reviews and was pleasantly surprised! Restaurant decor fits the BBQ theme perfectly. Food was delish! I had the pork butt and jalapeño sausage. Perfectly seasoned, didn't even need the BBQ sauce! Definitely recommended!!
(4)Jerry G.
BBQ. BBQ. BBQ! This is a great place to eat. Had the ribs and sausage - both excellent. Ribs were meaty - sauce was good but not needed. Mac and cheese my favorite side. Add a Lone Star and you've got a perfect meal.
(4)Heather D.
The food was okay, very over priced. Customer service was lacking. Coming from a big city to a small town I was looking forward to a friendly environment, instead got rude unfriendly service. They have one menu on the top of the counter this is very difficult for people from out of town who do not eat at this establishment often. The employees just stare at you, you have to decide what you want in a second so the line does not build up behind you. When you ask a question pertaining to the menu you get a blank stare or an eye roll and as if to answer your question they just point to what's in front of you without using words. I will not be returning or referring anyone else to eat here.
(2)Leanne M.
You can barbecue at home and be much better off. Over priced. Not very tasty. Imagine paying 60 dollars to buy your family hungry man barbecue tv trays. NEVER GOING BACK. Sorry.
(1)T S.
Run here. Do not walk. Some of the best BBQ I've ever had. The chicken falls apart in your mouth, the jalapeno sausage and ribs were insane. I would forgo the mashed potatoes next time around (just not my style), but the coleslaw was delicious! This place is far from Houston, but worth the drive! Try to get as much as you need when you go up the first time (i.e. forks, knives, to-go boxes, etc) because it's hard to just walk up and get anything after the fact due to the line.
(5)Ryan J.
Solid BBQ place off 290 in Brenham. I liked the pork the most, it wasn't a pork loin cut but more of a pork shoulder with all the nice fat on it. Brisket was decent, ribs were very good with good seasoning. Only gripe was the young man doing the slicing cut off most the brisket bark which i like and some of the best pieces of the pork so if you are picky make sure to assist the cutter in your selection.
(4)Agent D.
Food was adequate. Brisket was a bit dry and sausage was ok. The BBQ sauce was lacking, too. I liked that they offered cornbread, too, instead of just bread. The cornbread was good, as well as, the sides and banana pudding.
(2)Tom N.
So after eating a lot of ice cream from the Bluebell Creameries tour, my family was not satisfied with just eating ice cream for lunch. I couldn't convince my wife for an extra drive towards Lockhart, so we settled for Nathan's. Yup, sure enough, it's attached to a Shell gas station. Oddly I've stopped by there for gas many times, but never noticed the BBQ restaurant attached to it for some reason. We smelled the sweet BBQ aroma from the parking lot. We got in line and saw the people in front of us ordering and eating almost all their food voraciously before they could even pay at the cashier. I thought "man this is going to be good!". My wife loves chicken fried steak and today happens to be the special. I ordered BBQ of course (brisket, sausage, ribs) with green beans, mac'n'cheese, potatoes. Chicken fried steak was ok. Gravy turned into instant jello quickly that Bill Cosby would be proud of. Sausage was meh (made me nauseous). Brisket was disappointingly dry for me, but my daughter gave it thumbs up. Ribs were a little more moist (still on dry side), but it was very flavorful and tasty. One thing my wife and I agreed upon, Nathan's has the best green beans we've ever tasted! I don't know if it's laced with crack or what not, but it was literally the best dang beans we ever had! They had some BBQ sauce on the side next to the Cokes. I don't know if they place prefer their BBQ au naturel or all sauced up, but the sauce didn't help much IMO. I would rate this about 2.9 stars. Would I drive all the way from Houston for the sole purpose to eat here again? No. But if I stopped by for gas on the way to Lockhart/Austin, I would definitely think about grabbing a rib and a bucket of green beans fosho! This visit was on 12/26/12.
(3)Bill M.
Nathan's has delicious BBQ and delivers it in a memorable place. I liked the jalapeno sausage, beef ribs and brisket. Definitely worth a try.
(4)Bobby T.
Well, if you read my review, I said good things about Nathan's, but the hours are bad. They should open at 10, not 11. I was going to go a second time, but might not, based on the hours. I have to be at Houston at 11:30 am today and wanted to stop at Nathan's.
(4)Angie F.
Great barbecue place! My favorite were the ribs, grilled chicken, and sausage. We will definitely be back if we are around this area again. My 10 and 6 year old loved the barbecue sandwich. Oh and if you are unsure about what you want, you can ask for a sample. Sides were awesome too.
(5)Chris M.
Nathan's was recommended to me by a local, and since they had respectable reviews I opted to located this gas station BBQ and give it a shot. Not too shabby! It's connected to a large gas / convenience store, the outdoor sign is not as large or clear to see so you could easily miss this place. There's plenty of that typical wood seating and a cafeteria-like line to get your BBQ and fixings. The blonde gal at the cashier was really nice, I told her it was my first visit - - and I bet you're gonna tell me that everything is good here, right? "You betcha" - - she said. Well, I can't eat everything....I mean, I'm no Fat Bastard from Austin Powers....am I? The 3 plate meal is $12.49ish and change, a tad bit premium but let's give it a shot. She suggested: chicken, ribs, and brisket for meats, and cheddar mashed potatoes and macaroni and cheese for sides. The pork beans and green beans looked good too, but I went with her recommendation. She said the grilled chicken is marinaded overnight so it's quite juicy - - and you know what, she was right. I took a bite of the sliced chicken and it was very juicy and tasty - - awesome. The ribs and brisket were pretty good, not too much smokey flavor or seasoning. The ribs were not your typically fall-off-the-bone, not sure if they're pressure cooked, but even though there was no smoke-ring the ribs were still pretty good. The brisket was somewhat bland, but still good enough to eat. I absolutely loved their BBQ sauce - - it's in a large pot and it's hot, a bit sweet and it's thicker consistency - - it was so good that I had to ask for extra to take home. Hot diggity! The sides were very good too, lesser on the seasoning but still tasty. If I make it back here I'm going for their sausage, chicken, some beans, and a gallon of their awesome BBQ sauce. Their desserts (slices of pies and cakes) looked darn good too - - but 3 meats and 2 sides were good enough for this bastard.
(4)Erich B.
Came in town with the girlfriend for a few days to visit family and was hankering for BBQ. Came to Nathan's (formerly Big Daddy's) on a recommendation... Boy, am I glad we did! I feel genuinely sorry for Stephen S, Christine M, and others who obviously had a less-than-memorable experience, as we were all thoroughly pleased and will most definitely return. First of all, the gentleman who greeted us was prompt and polite. He asked us if we had dined there before. When we told him we hadn't, he immediately offered to let us try ALL the meats so we could make an educated decision. We fell in love with the brisket, pork, and sausage -- although we were not disappointed with any of them. We tried the mac and cheese (amazing!), potato salad, and coleslaw as sides, and they were all really good. The barbecue sauce was thick and delicious, and the bread was home-made and perfect. All in all, it was an excellent experience. I lived in Texas for 26 years before moving to Washington State (don't bother trying to find good barbecue there, btw), and I know good barbecue. This is as good as I've had around here. Do yourself a favor, disregard the negative reviews, and go give Nathan's a try.
(5)Stephen S.
Walked in! Got the cold shoulder! Walked out! Never got to order so can only rate the service. It was around 4 PM on July 20, 2011 and we invited a friend from Houston to meet us at Nathan's for an early dinner. When we walked in the door, there were two guys behind the counter and they quickly vanished. There was one lady on the phone who glanced in our direction briefly then turned away. There was one lady cleaning tables and she did not acknowledge our presence either. All tables were empty. We must have been invisible. There was food on the steam table and we could smell barbeque aromas. Maybe the place did not open for dinner at 4 PM. But, there was no sign to indicate dining hours that said no service at 4 PM. We felt invisible and unwanted. And, we are big enough to see. So, we went somewhere else in downtown Brenham for dinner and drinks, spent $60.00 and left a big tip at that other place as as well. We will not be going back to Nathan's again.
(1)Young W.
Went there many times when I visited Brenham for business trip in the past 4years. Their BBQ is very good. The pork and brisket are wonderful. The ribs are kind of dry, therefore 4 stars. The best of the best is the BBQ stuffed baked potato "all the way". The place is not easy to find since it's inside of a Shell gas station. The price is reasonable.
(4)