Billy Ray's Catfish & BBQ - Tulsa — Restaurant in Tulsa

I find myself a bit torn after this visit—split almost evenly between appreciation and disappointment.

Let’s start with the food, since that was the reason I came. Brisket was my target, the litmus test of any BBQ establishment. Unfortunately, the sliced brisket fell flat. It was tough, lacking the tenderness that slow-smoked meat should carry. The smoke profile was faint, almost an afterthought, and the barbecue sauce, while serviceable, couldn’t rescue the dish. In the end, it was more of a struggle to eat than the satisfying experience brisket ought to be.

Now, on the other hand, service was a bright spot—perhaps the brightest of the evening. A great BBQ waitress isn’t like your average server; there’s a certain grit to the role, a mix of directness and care that makes the experience feel genuine. Traditionally, that role is filled by a veteran of the trade, often someone who’s been in the business for decades. Yet here it was carried out—flawlessly—by a woman in her late 20s. She worked the dining room with confidence and speed, balancing attentiveness with an effortless rhythm that made it seem second nature. Her performance elevated the entire visit.

The atmosphere, however, swung the pendulum back the other way. From the outside, the building is attractive—welcoming, even. But once inside, the spell breaks. The dated carpet was particularly off-putting; aside from being a questionable design choice, it spoke of years of wear. And while the space wasn’t dirty, it lacked freshness. The interior was dim, tired, and uninspiring, in sharp contrast to the inviting exterior. For a restaurant aiming to stand among the best, atmosphere matters as much as the food, and here it feels neglected.

That brings me to the larger claim: to be one of the best. A lofty statement, but one that demands consistency across the board. Perhaps I caught the kitchen on an off day, but both my own plate and the feedback from my colleagues suggested otherwise. Dry brisket should never leave the smoker, and certainly not in a restaurant that prides itself on excellence. I’ve had more memorable brisket at modest fast-food chains, and that’s not something a serious BBQ house wants to hear.

There’s promise here—the potential is visible in the service, the exterior presentation, and the ambition of the name. But to live up to its claim, the food and the dining atmosphere need as much attention as the staff already provides. Until then, it remains a restaurant with potential, but not yet one...

We stopped in to Billy Ray's on the way out of town for an overnighter in OKC. It was going to be well past 8pm before we hit OKC and I didn't want to eat that late. As it happened, traffic on the highway was a parking lot due to the interchange construction, so I jumped off to SW Blvd to take the "short cut". Seeing Billy Ray's was still open, we opted to get a bite to eat there. Overall, it was a fairly good experience. The staff were great. Friendly, always checking on us, made us feel welcome. The Wife got a 2 meat combo with tabouli and baked beans, while I went with The Assortment, which was chopped brisket, sausage, ribs and catfish, also with tabouli and baked beans.

Overall, the food was pretty good. The sausage was hands down the best thing on the plate, with the catfish a close second. While quite good, the catfish piece went in about 3 bites, so that was a bit of a letdown. The ribs (all 2 of them) were pretty fair. Once was a little dry, but the other one made up for it. The brisket was more or less a filler, as it really didn't have much flavor to it at all. The tabouli and beans were outstanding. The Wife, as usual, had eyes far bigger than her belly, and ate about 1/3 of hers, so I also got to have a go at the pulled pork and bologna. Both of which were also pretty fair. The pulled pork had a decent flavor, but was fairly dry, a chronic condition with pulled pork it seems. The bologna was well flavored and seemed to be lightly smoked and thinly sliced. The one thing that struck me odd, being a veteran of many a BBQ joint was the total absence of BBQ sauce on any table. Not one table had a bottle of sauce, and the pulled pork could have really benefitted from it. I didn't ask for any because there were only a handful of bites left, so I'm not dinging the server... I just found it odd. Overall, Billy Ray's is a pretty good place. I think the AYCE catfish would an awesome thing to try, since the one lone, skinny piece I did have was pretty good. Not sure I'd make this a destination from Owasso, but if I happened to be in the neighborhood, I...

I ordered Billy Ray's Catfish & BBQ from Doordash on a Saturday Afternoon. The food was delivered quickly, it was still hot, and the employee who called to confirm a side dish was very friendly and made you feel appreciated which is always nice.

I ordered a Full Catfish Filet Entree (4 filets) with 2 hush puppies, loaded 1/2 baked potato, and a 1/2 Baked sweet potato for $12.99

I also ordered a Sliced Brisket Dinner (half size) with a side of brown beans for $9.99

The amount of food you get for the price is incredible. The breaded catfish filets were delicious with the tartar sauce. The hush puppies tasted like what you expect deep-fried cornmeal to taste like, scrumptious, yet you immediately feel remorseful as your arteries soon begin to clog. Both of the potatoes were cooked to perfection. Especially the sweet potato, it was the right amount of soft, moist, and sweet.

The brisket by itself was the antithesis of mouthwatering, but when I dipped it into the BBQ sauce it was a flavor explosion. The brown beans I mixed with my eggs the following morning and that combination was utterly stupendous.

Overall if you are looking for a place that serves large portions at a discounted rate, I would highly recommend Billy Ray's...