Outside Miller's Smokehouse (Belton, TX)

The pit at Miller's Smokehouse (Belton, TX)

Inside Miller's Smokehouse (Belton, TX)

Pork ribs at Miller's Smokehouse (Belton, TX)

Slicing brisket at Miller's Smokehouse (Belton, TX)

Burnt ends at Miller's Smokehouse (Belton, TX)

Outside chunks of brisket on my first visit to Miller's Smokehouse (Belton, TX):

Miller's Smokehouse (Belton, TX)

This past Saturday, I drove an hour north to Belton for my first meal at Miller's Smokehouse, which sits a stone's throw from the town square, adjacent to the offices of the town's newspaper, The Belton Journal. I like BBQ better at lunch than dinner, but their Saturday hours are 4-9pm, so dinner it was. They were serving pork ribs that day, and I didn't pass on the chance to try them. Good call on my part. They were excellent. Maybe the biggest pork ribs I've had anywhere. Not tough, not dry. Peppery rub on the outside, moist, and nice smoke flavor. I did serious work on some paper towels. Also got a side of brisket. Tougher and not as moist, but in their defense, I asked for outside cuts that weren't too fatty. Smoke came through even more on the brisket, much more pronounced than at most places. Throughly enjoyed both sides: potato salad & buttered potatoes. Excellent service & very friendly, from owner to pitmaster to waitstaff. Only negatives are the odd hours & the fact that their iced tea is from a soda machine, not brewed fresh. I'll go back, for sure.

Best of 2010: Best Chicken

Winner: Schoepf's Old Time Pit Bar-B-Que (Belton, TX)



Others receiving votes: The Salt Lick, Opie's, Whup's, & Rudy's

Todd's pre-Thanksgiving meal at Schoepf's (Belton, TX)

Todd, a Man Upper since Day 1, hit up Schoepf's Old Time Pit Bar-B-Que in Belton on his way home to Dallas for Thanksgiving. From the looks of the pic he sent me, he had a healthy serving of brisket, pork ribs, ham, & turkey. Well done, Todd. Exit 294A on I-35, folks. Go about a tenth of a mile West. Then, stop and eat!

Sauce pickup and dinner at Schoepf's

A couple of Friday nights ago, Brad and I made the 130-mile round trip to Belton to pick up sauce from Schoepf's Old Time Pit Bar-B-Que for Gettin' Sauced! Naturally, we stayed for dinner. It was slammed. While we waited to order, we were told that we would have to take our orders to go, b/c there was no room in the dining areas. A table opened up, by the time we got our food and paid, so we didn't have to eat in the parking lot.

To sum up the meal: taste on, temperature way, way off. No meats were hot. The chicken wasn't even warm. Probably had something to do with the fact that it was a cool night and that the top of the holding pit was raised the entire time we were waiting (as you can see below). No problems re: taste; I just wish the food had been hot...at least warm. Schoepf's is good, but this was an off night, to be sure. Friendly service, though.

R.P. hits up Schoepf's & Johnny T's in one evening.

A recent email from Russell:

Had to run to Waco this evening. So figured I better man up @ Schoepf’s & Johnny T’s while up this way.

Can't beat new atmosphere of Schoepf’s. They actually had a bluegrass country gospel jam session going on back patio. Their pork ribs r mighty flavorful but could be meatier.
Brisket is tasty even if not really my style...a bit roastish.

Johnny t's provided a southern style home cooking surprise. Very flavorful and well marbled moist brisket. Mighty fine pulled pork and spicy apple slaw. I think we need to give this place future consideration for an official visit. It may well be a hidden gym in that A- to B++ type range.

RP on the road.

More from Schoepf's

Saturday, July 4, 2009: Schoepf's Old Time Pit Bar-B-Que (Belton, Texas)

Before spending July 4 on sunny Lake Belton, Mark and I took time to honor our country by lunching at Schoepf’s Old Time Pit Bar-B-Que in Belton. It was our first time at Schoepf’s since they renovated. With a new room for ordering from the holding pits and a picnic area out back, Schoepf’s is looking good. The line was crazy. It took me over 20 minutes just to get in the door and another 20 to the register after getting my tray filled with chicken and ribs. By the time I paid, half of my half chicken and one of my two ribs were long gone. It was also burning up, so I was drenched with sweat.

In spite of the large crowd, service was good, as always. I watched co-owner Ronnie Schoepf carefully deal with a group who were sent home with someone else’s order. Ronnie’s service to them was great, enough by itself to make me want to go back (I would’ve anyway).

My food wasn’t that hot by the time I sat, but the ribs were still pretty good, and the flavor of the chicken was fantastic. Mark had a ½ chicken, a ¼ pound of ribs, and took advantage of one of the day’s specials: husk-on corn on the cob for $3. The kernels were tiny, but it apparently tasted great.

All in all, a nice holiday feast.

Mark’s scores – Brisket: 9.1; Chicken: 9.98; Corn on the cob: 9.4; Jalapeno cornbread: 8.6; Sauce: 9.85; Service: 9.8; Atmosphere: 10; Overall experience: 9.94

Drew’s scores – Chicken: 9.2; Pork ribs: 8; Service: 9.7; Overall experience: 9.2

Overall Man-Up Score: 9.57