Black Hog BBQ & Bar — Restaurant in Frederick

I want to start on the positive. The Chili here is by far the best, most authentic Texas Chili I've ever had from a restaurant. Akin to my own, you can tell they make small dice of Chuck beef to make this delectable chili treat. Just the right balance of flavor and heat. The texture is amazing and refreshingly Texan. The Brisket was a little dry for my liking, but not dried out. Perfect smoke penetration, great delicate meat shows they cooked it slow for a good while, and the smokiness throughout every bite. The wings are excellent. Good crispy exterior without breading, and the seasoning on the dry rub dusting we opted for was a perfect balance of savory and sweet. The sweet tea was fresh and perfectly sweet. Not too sweet, but definitely not lacking.

The ribs were gone by 5:30pm on a warm Saturday night, and I think we got the last ones. They were good. Not great. The last rib of the half rack was akin to beef jerky. Only about a 1/4oz or edible meat on the bone.

The two ladies taking care of tables were frequently overheard complaining about how full the half empty restaurant was. Our waitress refilled our glasses once in our 45 minute seated dinner, and somehow forgot when we asked for that refill, to bring the glasses back to us without reprompting her. After repeated beckonings from the food platers, she still ignored them alerting her of waiting plates, so the manager was the one, after 10 minutes of sitting under the heat lamps, that eventually brought our meals.

I will return for a bowl of chili on the next cold day,...

First off, I want to say that the food was good. It was the service that was disappointing today.

We came here at the location on Shorebird for my Father and Stepmothers birthdays (July 14 and July 19). We came for happy hour and for birthday meals using the Black Hog birthday coupons for 50% off (just printed this month).

To start, there were 8 of us and they couldn’t fit us at the bar. So we sat at a table directly next to the bar, where we asked to receive HH pricing and were informed we would not get the happy hour pricing even though the establishment couldn’t fit us at the bar.

Secondly, we presented, prior to ordering, the coupons for the birthday meals. Our waitress took them and told us she would add them at the end. Then she came back and said we needed to sign up for the rewards program to use our coupons. We gave her our email addresses to sign us up. Then, after our meal was over and she brought us our check, she then informed us that our coupons were not valid at all and we would just get the rewards points on our account. We responded by telling her that the sign in the bathroom still promoted the birthday coupon, and she said she knew but they just changed it.

Top it all off, we went on the Black Hog website to leave a review, and there is a $10 birthday banner on the website.

Ultimately, we couldn’t get the happy hour because of their space, and we got none of the advertised birthday promotions. Although the food is good, this service definitely turned us off from...

Stopped by the Frederick location of Black Hog BBQ and was seriously impressed. The spot is in a great area—surrounded by tons of shopping and super easy to get to. Parking was a breeze with a big lot, and there’s lots of outdoor seating if you want to enjoy your meal outside.

Inside, the restaurant looks fantastic. It’s clean, well-decorated, and has a welcoming vibe. One of my favorite touches? The open kitchen—always great to see the team working their magic.

The menu is just right: plenty of options without being overwhelming. The bar is fully stocked, and the drink menu has tons of variety for any taste.

Now, on to the main event—the food. I had the Arkansas Brisket (burnt ends), sliced brisket, and pulled pork. Every bite delivered. The burnt ends were melt-in-your-mouth tender and flavorful. The sliced brisket had that perfect smoke, a great bark, and tons of flavor. The pulled pork? Just delicious—juicy, well-seasoned, and full of that classic BBQ taste.

I also grabbed a side of mac and cheese—simple and comforting, exactly what you’d hope for alongside great BBQ.

What really stood out to me was the simplicity. No over-the-top sauces or crazy seasonings—just honest, well-smoked meat done right. Hands down, the best BBQ I’ve had in Maryland.

If you’re anywhere near Frederick, this place needs to be on your list. I’ll definitely be...