Two Scotts Barbecue — Restaurant in Grand Rapids

Four West Michigan barbecue joints in 1.5hrs for lunch. That was my goal, and mission accomplished! First off, there's only 2 things I cared about: brisket and sausage; both the most difficult thing and easiest thing to cook, respectively. Two Scotts was first on the agenda and came in last place. The brisket was somewhat juicy but completely lacking in flavor on both the rub and smoke fronts. The meat faired pretty well in the pull test, but could have been more tender.

A significant problem was the lack of any serious bark on my slices. In fact, 3/4 of my portion had no bark at all - just the exposed fat cap layer that, quite frankly, wasn't rendered down nearly enough. The lack of bark is indicative of three things: 1. Not enough rub, 2. not enough evenly distributed rub and, 3. pulled too soon. I'll get to that in a minute. The brisket that the slicer had on the slab certainly had some bark, but for large sections the fat cap was plainly visible. Smoke flavor was practically non-existant which left the overall flavor somewhere around pot roast. Bark on every single slice of brisket, whether from the lean or moist end, is par for the course and criminal behavior when missing.

The lack of all-over bark, bark that is a bit of a wet mess, and meat that is just shy of really tender usually point to one thing: It's being pulled too soon and/or isn't being rested long enough. I'd say maybe both. The key to that elusive sugar cookie bark is low and slow. That bark has got to be nearly black when you pull it. If not, you're just fartin around. Whether it's pulled and then wrapped, then placed back on for more hours, then pulled and rested - is neither here nor there for great bark.

The sausage, however, was delicious but did taste more grilled than smoked.

Everyone in this place was cool and are clearly busting their butts. I wish them success but can't urge them enough to leave that brisket in the smoker for a longer period of time until the bark is black, pull and wrap with butcher paper, and stick it back on until you get that precious jello wiggle. Then rest for hours, lol. Best of luck guys!

1st place: Dallas Deli, Grandville 2nd place: Slows Bar BQ, Grand Rapids 3rd place: Horseshoe Smokehouse, Grand Rapids 4th place: Two Scotts,...

UPDATE: My HUSBAND and I had our big day! No bride wants to compete for attention on their own wedding day… but in this case, I guess I’ll let it happen 😉 The talk of the evening was how DELICIOUS Two Scott’s food was. The chicken was tender and moist, the ribs were well seasoned, the Mac n cheese was creamy and full of flavor, the coleslaw was refreshing, the cornbread was 🤤, and the smoked mushrooms were a hit… especially with the vegan and vegetarian guests. Oh, and the SAUCES… OUTSTANDING. We had some leftovers due to some last minute changes to our guest count, but we finished the leftovers the following day without a problem.

And if the food being delicious wasn’t enough, Scott and his crew were punctual, warmly greeted and served our guests, and shared their fun and outgoing personalities.

My husband and I are already planning a post-wedding trip to Grand Rapids and we are going to hit up Scott for some more food.

Scott, we cannot thank you enough for your outstanding service and food. Andy and I are so happy our guests left happily full. We will be seeing you soon!

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We had an appointment to do a tasting at Two Scott's BBQ to see if we would like to book them as our caterer for our venue. Scott was very kind, very thorough in his explanation of their careering service and food, and was just a fun person to talk to. The food was AMAZING. My fiancé is vegan and we are going to go with a BBQ caterer because of how much he liked the smoked mushrooms, mac n cheese, sauces, cornbread, and potato salad. I am a carnivore, so I like the meats. Everything served was delicious. You cannot go wrong with any of the sauces and you can tell that they are home made. My favorite were the ribs, chicken, and brisket... even though I would be happy with any of the choices as our entrees for our wedding. If you are looking for a yummy BBQ option, enjoy tasty home made food made locally... Two Scott's...

Review for Two Scotts BBQ

If you're in the mood for some mouth-watering barbecue, look no further than Two Scotts BBQ. This local gem has quickly become one of my favorite spots for a casual meal.

Food: The highlight of my visit was undoubtedly the food. The brisket was incredibly tender, melting in my mouth with each bite. The smoky flavor was perfectly balanced, and the house-made barbecue sauce added just the right amount of tang. I also tried the pulled pork, which was equally delicious; it was juicy and packed with flavor. The sides, particularly the mac and cheese and coleslaw, complemented the main dishes wonderfully. Everything was fresh, and you could tell that a lot of care goes into the preparation.

Service: The service at Two Scotts BBQ was exceptional. From the moment I walked in, the staff greeted me with warm smiles and made me feel right at home. They were attentive without being intrusive, ensuring that my drink was always full and that I had everything I needed. The servers were knowledgeable about the menu and offered great recommendations, which made my decision-making much easier.

Ambiance: The ambiance of the restaurant is casual and inviting, with a rustic charm that perfectly aligns with the BBQ theme. The decor features wooden tables, vintage BBQ memorabilia, and a cozy outdoor seating area that would be perfect for warm evenings. It’s a great place to hang out with friends or enjoy a family meal.

Overall, Two Scotts BBQ offers a delightful dining experience with fantastic food, top-notch service, and a welcoming atmosphere. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for some of the best BBQ in town!

Unfortunately I ate the BBQ so fast I forgot to take a picture. I will update...