CLOSED: Big Al’s Texas BBQ makes delicious state-ment
The combo plate with beef brisket and funeral potatoes at Big Al's Texas BBQ in Provo Tuesday, Sept. 18, 2012. MARK JOHNSTON/Daily Herald
A full rack of ribs served up at Big Al's Texas BBQ in Provo Tuesday, Sept. 18, 2012. MARK JOHNSTON/Daily Herald
The saying that everything is bigger in Texas probably had something to do with naming a restaurant Big Al’s Texas BBQ.
Somehow Moderate-Sized Al’s or Midget Al’s just doesn’t carry the same cachet when you’re hankering for some grub.
That being said, we found Al’s to be big on taste while only having an average effect on our wallet. That’s a combination we can get behind.
We enjoyed an afternoon visit to Big Al’s Texas BBQ, located at 992 S. University Ave. in Provo, earlier this month. The decor was distinctly Western, which put us immediately in the mood for delicious barbecue.
Like many local barbecue joints, patrons place their orders at the front counter and then find a seat. While waiting in line, we soaked in the country roadhouse vibe, from the music played on the speakers to all the cute sayings posted at various places around the dining room. (Signs dispensed advice, such as “Don’t eat ’til you’re full, eat ’til you’re tired,” and sentiment, like “Big Al’s — where you can get sauced and still drive home.”)
There were horseshoes, ropes, cowboy hats, stars, Texas and U.S. flags, lanterns and longhorns hanging all over, and a cool Western saloon/storefront design along one upper deck. Patrons also should be cautioned against wearing ties. One sign said, “Warning: Cowboys don’t wear ties. … Dress code enforced.” This was followed by a “Necktie Party” board which featured 16 ties snipped in half.
We inquired about the “dress code” at the front desk — not that we would ever be caught wearing a necktie to a barbecue joint, mind you — and were told that, yes, these were actual patron ties that had been “branded” as it were. Of course, only those ties that are willingly sacrificed by their owners are snipped, and we were told that some businessmen saved the good ties they were wearing, but later returned with different ties to appease the dress code gods. It’s all in good fun.
There is a giant board of menu options to choose from at Big Al’s, and it took us several minutes to figure out our preferences. There are starters, sandwiches, salads, sides, combo platters and, of course, all kinds of meat. We opted for a little of each to get a well-rounded experience.
As for starters and sides, we heartily endorse the Ultra Thin Onion Rings, the San Antonio Steak Fries and Sweet Potato Crisscross Fries. They were all fantastic, especially when dipped in the house brand of fry sauce. We also enjoyed the Tombstone Funeral Potatoes, the Garlic Texas Toast and the Poppyseed Coleslaw.
As for the main meats, we ordered a combo platter that offered three options. Our favorite was the smoked sausage, which had a great flavor. We also tried the ribs, which were typically good, and the pulled pork, which seemed a tad dry to our taste. Of all the meats, we found ourselves continually going back for the smoked sausage, which was clearly our favorite.
The Big Al’s Fully Loaded Salad was exactly as advertised. It was loaded with lettuce, carrots, red cabbage, tomatoes, cucumbers, shredded cheese and a selection of meat, in this case smoked turkey. It comes with a choice of three dressings — ranch, raspberry vinaigrette or bleu cheese.
In the sandwich realm, we suggest the Texas Wrap, which features a choice of meat, seasoned potato chunks, beans, cheddar cheese and dressings stuffed in a chipotle tortilla. There was a distinct Southwestern flavor to the wrap, which tickled our fancy.
It took us a while to find Big Al’s Texas BBQ — the restaurant will mark its one-year anniversary in October — but now that it’s on our radar, we could certainly envision return visits.
Big Al’s Texas BBQ
Where: 992 S. University Ave., Provo
Prices: Daily specials $8.99, sides $1.89, starters $1.99-$4.99, sandwiches $5.99-$8.99, combo platters $9.99-$16.99, ribs $14.49 (half rack) to $21.49 (full rack)
Hours: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday to Thursday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, closed Sunday
Info: (801) 373-0408, bigalstexasbbq.com