Blue Ember Smokehouse — Restaurant in Texarkana

Last night we ate at Texarkana’s new barbecue joint, Blue Ember Smokehouse. I will tell you the best things about it right off the bat. The sausage was VERY good, by-far the best part of the meal. The new building is beautiful and super nice. And the staff were very friendly.

I really wanted to like this place, because I’m a barbecue guy. But, sorry to say, our meal wasn’t good…and I wouldn’t recommend it. I ordered a half pound of brisket and my wife ordered the Special Ops sandwich without the bread, so we could try all their meats. When it comes to barbecue, it’s all about the meats for me…I couldn’t care less about the sides, so I never mention them. And maybe, hopefully, we caught them on a bad night.

My brisket looked OK, but it was dry as a bone, overcooked and tasteless. Not worth anywhere near their $29 a pound price. I can say I’ve been eating brisket at Naaman’s Barbecue joint ever since they opened in a food truck at the gas station, and they’ve never had a bad brisket day when I’ve been there. Actually I even liked it better when they were in the gas station. Their brisket is currently $26 a pound and worth it. I’d much prefer Naaman’s for brisket…and I’ve written them glowing reviews for their brisket and beef ribs in the past. When I want pork ribs I will still go to Silver Star Smokehouse or Big Jake’s BBQ…and I’ve written Silver Star glowing reviews for their pork ribs in the past. I do not like the brisket at Silver Star or Big Jake’s…only the pork ribs.

The pork ribs at Blue Ember were not cooked long enough, were very fatty and tasteless, looked like no rub at all. The pork butt wasn’t good, dry and had no smoky taste at all. You had to slather them both in barbecue sauce to eat them. Actually none of the meats we tried were smoky tasting, just kinda blah, like the taste you get from propane smokers. Blue Ember just reminded me of your typical Arkansas pork barbecue joint...but most of them can at least do some pretty good ribs.

When we ordered I asked for “1/2 lb brisket from the point”. Briskets have two ends, the point, which is fattier, and the flat, which has very little fat. When the point end of a brisket is cooked properly that fat will render into the meat giving it great taste and making it very juicy. The guy who took my order had no idea what I meant, so he asked “dry or moist”. Of course, I said moist, thinking that meant the point. But it was cold and very dry…overcooked dry! And it wasn’t from the point end. I will admit, I’ve been called a brisket snob…and I basically rate every barbecue joint on their brisket. I have been to all the great central Texas barbecue joints known for great brisket. In fact, one year we ate at 35 of the top 50 barbecue joints in Texas, as rated by Texas Monthly magazine. I’ve been cooking brisket for 40 years, so I have eaten a lot of brisket in my life. And some people around here need to know, you NEVER put barbecue sauce on brisket…unless it’s so dry you can’t eat it without sauce, as Blue Ember’s brisket was last night. My thought on brisket is never eat it outside of central Texas, except at Naaman’s in Texarkana and City Butcher in Springfield, MO.

I also think Blue Ember needs to create some barbecue “plates” to add to the menu, like most barbecue joints have…like 1 meat and 2 sides, 2 meats and 2 sides, 3 meats and 2 sides, a brisket plate, a rib plate, etc. When I first go to a new barbecue joint I want to try all their meats, and shouldn’t have to order a sandwich (Special Ops at Blue Ember) to do that. Give me a barbecue plate. Whereas their entire menu at this time is a la carte. I don’t like paying $42 for a barbecue dinner and only like the sausage. My backyard brisket, beef ribs, pork butt, pork belly, and pork ribs are much better. 😂 I can only hope Blue Ember Smokehouse gets much better. There is plenty of room for...

We had a two sandwiches, one pork, one brisket, a side of baked beans, fries, an order of the brisket twisters, 2 drinks & the total was $36.00. We had put off visiting because of some of the negative reviews & I'm so glad we finally ignored them & went. The food was incredible, the brisket & pork so tender & there was lots of it, the bread was so soft and delicious too. The beans were delicious & the brisket twisters were fantastic. The fries weren't hot but they were still delicious & the seasoning on them was on point. The sweet tea was perfect. From the moment we stepped in the door, the staff was very friendly & helpful. The restaurant & restrooms were pristine & it was truly a great experience & we will without a doubt be back as we want to try everything. We are so glad we went & didn't feel like the price was too high as some have stated, as we've eaten at other area BBQ places & they were comparable. Also they smoke whole turkeys, so we're getting one for Thanksgiving. * I forgot to mention even though the meats don't need sauce, we tried all 3 and they were...

I barely made it through the door before turning around and leaving. My daughter and I were the third group of people to walk through the door as they just opened for the day. The (white) people ahead of my daughter and I were greeted with good mornings and smiles as the worker held the door open. I gave a good morning and smile to the worker holding the door. She did not respond. She did not smile or anything. She kind of looked down and out to the parking lot. My daughter and I stood in line and looked around. I decided to not spend my money with this business. It could've just been me but I felt it was some racism going on. I'm giving it a two star because the place looked amazing. I did not order anything so I do not know how the food tasted or if the service was good. The atmosphere was trash. I felt like I showed up to an ex's birthday party uninvited. We ended up going...