Babe's Grill House — Restaurant in Palmyra

You know you're in the right place when you can smell the BBQ even before you get to the door. I enjoyed that as soon as you walk through the door, you are greeted with so many festive Halloween decorations. I don't know why, but I get such happy positive vibes. Whether you're here to drink, eat, or both, it just sets the mood. I came here to place an order for take-out but left with so much more. While I was waiting for my food, I ended up talking to one of the owners. I was taken aback when he thanked me for coming here. It's my first time here. I was like, ok. He told me that they have been open for 13 years now. He showed me the outdoor eating area and explained to me the typical layout they have on warm nights and game nights, etc. They have a fire pit similar to what they use for their bbq and a projector to play the game for everyone to watch outside. Visualizing what he said, I can only imagine it gets super packed here on the weekend. Even on that cold night, he had turned the fire on for me to be able to take pictures and see the full vibe. It was so cool. I highly doubt my pictures can do it justice. I was very thankful that he took the time to share that with me. They were pretty busy, too.

We ordered:

Pineapple jule margarita - This was yummy and warmed me up while waiting for my to-go order.

Wagyu dip - I forgot what this was called, but it was delicious with the tortilla chips. Super flavorful. Once you start eating it, you can't stop

Smoked Brisket sandwich with fries - The brisket was tender and juicy. The bread was nice and fluffy. It just melts in your mouth. Fries were amazing.

2 item deconstructed plate 1/2 rack St. Louis Ribs and local spicy sausage with homemade bbq chips and mashed potatoes - The ribs literally fall off the bone tender, and the spicy sausage wasn't spicy but flavorful with all the seasonings. The chips were tasty. I didn't care too much for the potatoes.

Chocolate cake - moist chocolate cake

Pumpkin cheesecake - This was light and not too heavy. It tasted like it was homemade.

Snickers cake - I liked this it wasn't a generic candy car cake where they put pieces of the candy bar on top. It tasted like it was homemade and re-created it to taste similar to a snickers bar.

Thank you very much for the warm hospitality. I highly recommend this place and can't wait to...

My visit to Babe’s Grill House in Palmyra was nothing short of fantastic. The wings and margaritas were a delightful start, setting the tone for a thoroughly enjoyable evening of great conversation with the friend I was dining with. Round two featured top-shelf margaritas and smoked brisket tacos that were fully loaded and absolutely satisfying. Each taco was packed with a tangy mango slaw, chipotle drizzle, smoked brisket, pickled red onion, and topped with crunchy greens, all held together perfectly by a single corn tortilla.

The wings at Babe’s are a must-try. They are generously sized with a perfect mix of drumsticks and wing cuts, prepared using a smoking method that infuses them with a rich, smoky flavor. I followed the bar tender’s recommendation to combine Buffalo garlic sauce with Old Bay dry rub on smoked wings, and it was a fantastic combination. I also got a take-home order of garlic Parmesan boneless wings for my wife. My total bill came under sixty dollars which left ample room for a generous tip. It's important to recognize great service, and my bartender, Adam, certainly deserved it.

Adam’s creativity shone through when I asked for a dealer's choice cocktail, mentioning my affinity with tequila. He started with a classic approach but then ventured into a more playful direction, crafting a mango jalapeño margarita in a high goblet with a simple garnish of a dried citrus slice. My second drink was a perfectly balanced classic margarita, adorned with a lemon twist and a smear of lemon oil. The Espolòn tequila for the classic margarita and Hornitos for the whimsical mango jalapeño mixer were excellent choices.

Overall, Babe’s Grill House offers a top-tier dining experience with delicious food, creative drinks, and...

We wanted to love this place. We really did. But our experience had more in common with an Army field ration than a great meal.

The brisket was our first sign of trouble. The smoker out back wasn’t running, and neither was the flavor. No smoke ring. No smoke aroma. No resting. I’m a Texan — brisket is a religion, and this was heresy. They didn’t ask if we preferred flat or point, but lucked into bringing a slice of point. Too bad: it was dry as sandpaper, with a giant, unrendered fat vein in the middle. We couldn’t eat it.

Bearing in mind, I raise premium pork, the organic tomahawk pork chop offered no rescue. When I asked how it should be cooked, the server said medium well — which should have been my cue to leave. The chop was dry, flavorless, and only made edible by table salt. Not famished enough to choke down the brisket, my son soldiered through the chop.

The fries? Lukewarm and tired. My daughter? Ate virtually none of her meal. My wife? Dumped everything into her mashed potatoes and declared, “I can force myself to eat anything — I was in the ARMY.”

As we left, the untouched brisket sat on the plate like a warning to others. The server said nothing.

We left hungry and disappointed.

Bourbon selection was decent.

The chili dip they call wagyu something or another (chili?) was decent bar fare.

I still tipped 30 on the...