Big Ern's BBQ — Restaurant in Las Vegas

So, have been putting off this review. Being totally honest, I stopped writing reviews for over a year because of this place. Let me say I have never had brisket as good as I've had at Big Erns. I had heard that for great bbq, the fat is rendered during cooking so that it becomes this chewy amazing substance that you would be willing to eat from a bowl, literally spoon a bowl of fat into your mouth so good. Had never experienced that until here, and haven't seen it since, it is amazing, I hope you get to try it one day.

I stopped by Big Ern's BBQ right after opening one day and got the sandwich you see in the photo on an inside table (on checkered tablecloth). It was amazing. The potato salad was really good too. 5 stars. Walked to a casinos nearby afterward, and later decided I needed another one, around 7pm-ish.

The 2nd sandwich was garbage (one sitting next to glass of tea in photo). I actually had to walk back in and have them make another, will call that the 3rd one (one sitting next to empty plate in photo). The 2nd bun looked nothing like the earlier one, it was smashed and crumbly. And the brisket must have been whatever was leftover, because it was basically icky shredded beef that had started as brisket. I figure the meat in 2nd and 3rd was what was leftover in the pan. The bbq sauce tasted like it had been sitting for a few hours, it was thick, and not in a good way. I was astounded, because just earlier that day I had eated the most amazing bbq sandwich ever from there.

I figure it had to be the night shift, what they gave me was trash. I still don't understand how they could even think that someone would take that piece of garbage and be okay with it. The sandwich I got to replace the 2nd one wasn't much better. The bun wasn't dry and crumbly, but it was still smashed, which was really sad because the buns they were using looked amazing and tasted great. I don't know if I have ever seen a better looking bun (first one), it looked like a woven basket or something, was really neat to look at. I would have even come here the next day for another, but after 2nd and 3rd I decided I would go elsewhere. Whomever owns this place, it was June of 2018, 2nd to last weekend of the month. I figure, that sort of issue would hopefully be fixed before too long, cause otherwise you would get a lot of complaints. Whoever was doing the closing shift, they were not doing a good job, they were just sending out stuff that should never go out. Makes one wonder if someone is fudging inventory, would only require that everything, even garbage go out in order to make something on the side.

To the public, if you come here, can likely guarantee you really great food if you come near opening. Though there is a chance that as the day goes on the quality may drop off.

Location was nice. Seating was nice. Didn't wait a really long time to get my food. The bbq sauces they have are great. Parking is nearby. Parking, entrance and seating are all accessible. Also there is seating outside. If not for that afternoon experience would have given 5 stars and told you that they deserve a 6.

I will come here again. Like I said, best bbq sandwich I have ever had. I still recommend this place to everyone I know going to Vegas, but I advise they go there early in the day.

Update - tried going during COVID, but was closed! Will try...

I really have no idea how they have a reasonable rating on TripAdvisor. 5 of us went. 3 got food (one was brought an incorrect order and the other was brought nothing). After asking the cook what was going on we we're basically told 'i don't know' and then he promptly left the building (guess his shift was over). Enter cook #2. He clearly has no idea what was going on even after we explained who should be getting what food. By this time for one of the orders, they came back and said they were out of the meat that he had ordered, but the infuriating part is that they had it when the order was placed, so the other orders that came in after ours got the last of it.... By the time the other 2 got any form of food the 3 that originally got food were already done. It was literally a 20-25 min wait. Apart from that, the food taste/quality was 'ok' at best, maybe not even. Even if there were no service issues I probably would not go back there anyway just based on food quality. Also, icing on the cake, we dined inside and someone clearly burned something they should not have back in the kitchen. The stench of smoking/burned plastic(?) filled the room about half way...

The trouble with this place is that you typically don't go to a BBQ place for the atmosphere, the service, or the location — you go because of the food. I travel all over the US for my job, and make it a point to try BBQ places. This was, hands down, flat out, the worst BBQ I've ever had. I was honestly baffled. It's as if they put absolutely no effort in the meal. The pulled pork, the most crucial part of the meal, wasn't even slow cooked. It was dry and tough and had only a meager amount of BBQ sauce on it. I had to suck down my entire iced tea just to finish chewing through it. It was as if they microwaved it. The potato salad was gross. It had way too much mustard and vinegar in it. And the potatoes were hard and barely cooked. The dinner roll that I was suppose to use to make a sandwich out of the meal was a joke. Looked like it was purchased from a dollar store. I'm not normally so hard on a place, but come on guys. What were you thinking with this place. I understand having a regional style, but this is just sad. You have a great location, why screw it up by serving horrible food. What a sad day for BBQ. What a sad day...