Garrett’s Barbecue — Restaurant in Corpus Christi

Do not sleep on this strip mall place that looks like it may not even be occupied when you arrive. You can smell the mesquite burning the minute you exit your car-didn’t get a look at the pits. Upon arrival we were the only customers, creating questions. Really quiet. Only a young couple behind the counter. Minimal menu written on butcher paper tacked to the wall. Three meats available-sausage, brisket, and pork ribs. Simple sides like slaw and potato salad appearing to be commercially made, not in house. Neither of those are very good. One sauce on the tables with a sweet leaning flavor. I didn’t ask about it’s production. We ordered the three meat plate so as to try some of each. Sausage really good with a light burn of black pepper. We liked this very much. This was sliced behind the counter which I think is a mistake as it dries out as it sits on the tray during dining. Pork ribs came as two and a half bones and had an excellent pull. Not dry or over cooked at all. Brisket was a a very large pair of slices which was quite fatty imo. Was not asked what type we preferred-lean or fatty-but it had a lovely smoke ring, a deep rub redolent of black pepper, and a full mesquite flavor. The slices were best toward the top near the bark, as the lower portion nearest the fat was a bit too mushy for my taste. It was good with a drizzle of sauce and wrapped in the included white bread though. This very generous meal along with two beverages and tip came out to less than $30 making it a killer value when compared to...

Had the three-meat plate with two sides. Portions were so large I had to take more than half of it home. Pork Ribs were excellent, juicy, fall off the bone; could use a bit more seasoning to enhance the flavor (my opinion). Lean brisket was the most moist and fall-apart as I've ever had; cooked perfectly but could have used a bit more seasoning (again, my preference). Smoked sausage was excellent. Cole slaw is vinegar based and is good. I had the beans and that was the only disappointment; they were canned which is no problem but they sure could have been "souped up" with seasonings and jalepenos. I'll order the potato salad next time in lieu of the beans. While the seasonings were a bit mild for all above, the BBQ sauce was good and is on the sweet side. I get it if Garrett's is keeping the seasonings light for the meat to shine thru; or to cater to all people of which some like things milder than spicier. I'm obviously used to a bit more spice or seasonings. The co-workers I was with had the chopped beef sandwich and they were absolutely huge and overflowing with chopped brisket; excellent. Lastly, they don't have anything to drink other than canned or bottled beverages including water; I personally would have preferred a cup of ice water (which is not available) than buying a bottle of water. First time experience that I wanted to share. Again, EXCELLENT and...

I recently visited a Garrett's BBQ, unfortunately, the food was, well, just average. The brisket and sausage, while decent, didn’t have the melt-in-your-mouth quality that sets great BBQ apart from average BBQ. Even the sides, potato salad, was underwhelming—nothing that would make you want to come back for seconds.

As for the service, it was as lackluster as the food. The staff seemed indifferent, with little enthusiasm for the job. They weren’t exactly rude, but the service was snarky at the order counter, and there was no sense of urgency or attention to detail.

On the brighter side, the restaurant was clean, which is always a plus. The dining are was well-maintained, which made for a comfortable environment. Parking was also plentiful, so at least getting in and out was a breeze.

In the end, if you’re in the mood for BBQ, this place will do the job, but don’t expect anything extraordinary. There are better spots out there if you're looking for a BBQ experience that will truly satisfy...