Clem Mikeska's Bar-B-Q Belton — Restaurant in Belton

Based on other reviews we thought this sounded like a place to try. Showing up, it's in a shopping plaza which a better location would be better but oh well. Walking in it has some nice trophy fish and wildlife which were nice along with some older nostalgic photos from early bell County which was neat. The ceiling was opposite tho with just the original drop ceiling and plain recessed lighting. Some of the ceiling tile had water damage that could easily be replaced improving the appearance. The booth seats are nice polished wood with some cushions that were aged and worn a bit with a used, not dirty tho, looking table. The lady that seated us was very sweet and very quick to get us to a booth. Our server came out quickly and got our drink orders and ended up taking our appetizer order of white wings which were bacon wrapped around a chicken breast filled with cheese and a small jalepeno in the middle. Let me tell you, those were amazing! The table bread was also delicious as well with both butter and cinnamon butter. We noticed our server was very quick w our order, but was also very short and not personable at all. It was like a race to get away after any interaction. I ordered the 3 meats of turkey, bbq beef and brisket with a salad and loaded mashed potatoes. I immediately poured the potatoes out to mix them up to eat them and that's where the first disappointment occurred sadly. I'm assuming there was just far too much sour cream with a little bacon and green onions and a little potatoes that weren't hot enough to melt the large amounts sour cream. The cheese couldn't melt and essentially it was like eating mouthfuls of sour cream. A couple of bites in different spots and all the same result, no problem I just won't eat them. I started working on the meat. In all honesty, there is very little difference in the meats at different bbq places which isn't bad cause they are all delicious. What makes the places different are the different sauces, the ambience of the place, the staff and maybe even the plate. So the meat was good, nothing different or disappointing, it was just delicious bbq as you would expect. Their sauce tho does taste unique and does have a nice flavor to it. We usually get an appetizer, entree and dessert. We didnt get the chance this time sadly. We weren't asked for refills and while we were still working on our food, the server already brought us the check and 2 to go boxes. That made our mind up for us unfortunately. Although this wasn't a great experience, it was still better than the best day at...

UPDATE: Despite my initial middling review of 3 stars for the food, I have eaten here several times since then, primarily because it's one of the few BBQ places where they seat and serve you at a table like civilized people instead of making you stand in a long line of people like Soviet-era peasants waiting for a loaf of bread all ordering from one single meat slicer who's working so hard to keep up with orders he's dripping sweat from his forehead all over the meat.

Anyway, every meal since my first has been really good! Therefore, let it be known that I have raised my 3 star rating for the food to a 4 star rating! (insert trumpet fanfare)

ORIGINAL REVIEW: Nice, big restaurant with table service vs the more common cafeteria style service you find in many other BBQ restaurants. Waitress was very nice and attentive. Only downside was the BBQ. Overall pretty bland without much smokiness to it at all. I had the double meat plate with turkey and jalapeño sausage with pinto beans and green beans on the side. Here's a breakdown:

Turkey - Typically I find that turkey and chicken do a good job of soaking in the smokey flavor of a BBQ but this turkey, while good, did not have much of a BBQ flavor. Simply tasted like an oven roasted turkey.

Jalapeño and Cheese Sausage - It's evident there was jalapeno in the sausage because I could clearly see it, however, there was virtually no jalapeno flavor. There was definitely a cheese flavor, but often times the cheese flavor was stronger than the sausage flavor.

Pinto Beans & Green Beans - Both were generally bland without much flavor. I don't know for certain, but I wonder if the meat isn't prepared elsewhere and then shipped in for the restaurant to heat...

On my first visit at this location, I evidently went in the wrong door. The man at the counter told me to go out and use the other door. That entrance was for dine in and not take out. He wasn't friendly at all. Embarrassed since he was loud and people were turning around looking at me. I walked out the door, through numerous dead crickets and bugs in front of the restaurant to the take out door. They should sweep the front for OBVIOUS reasons. I felt like Gordon on Kitchen Nightmares. I started to leave but I wanted to give them the benefit of a doubt despite a rude employee's tone towards me and dead bugs outside on the sidewalk. I should've been a health inspector lol I ordered desserts ONLY, since I lost my appetite for any meat or actual food. The pregnant girl behind the take out counter seemed to have an attitude. One of the guys walked in with me just went to the back and started working and touching plates, containers and food without washing his hands. I ordered one serving of 4 desserts for my adult daughter and I to taste test which cost me over $50. $10 for a small serving of cobblers and banana pudding? I could have made these at a cheaper price...myself... being a retired chef. The containers weren't full, there was NO BANANA in the pudding and NO CRUST in the one cobbler and ALL CRUST in the peach cobbler with no peaches...maybe peach residue. I will not be back to this location. The one in Killeen was little better but it's closed now. Maybe I'll try a different location in another city...but every time I go to Clem's it seems to get worse and worse. Maybe it's a sign not to eat here. There's better places to spend my...