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Gatlin's BBQ & Catering

MY REVIEW: The best brisket in Houston. Moist, tender,full of flavor, smoky. Order inside/out if you like the crisp outsides. I have been looking for great brisket in Houston and have found it. Matt G*arner's has returned. I like G*oode Company and have eaten there many times. Their brisket is very good/excellent and I have never been disappointed. Gatlin's brisket is existential.

The service can be slow. Who cares? The last time I was there, it took only 5 minutes to get my order.

NAME: barbeque lover
SUBMITTED: 10/20/2012   LAST VISIT WAS: 10/17/12
FREQUENCY: Everybody here knows my name...

MY REVIEW: By far the best BBQ I have eaten in Texas. The brisket is always moist and tender and favorable and they make their own sausage, mild or spicy, (I like the mild sausage myself) and the ribs are just the perfect flavor and fall off the bone. There are only three tables to eat at and people stare to see what you have ordered so I suggest you get it to go. There will be a line, but it doesn’t matter, you will not be sorry. It is really hard to explain what makes great BBQ, and there’s thousands of ways to cook it so all I can say is if you ever try it there you will see what I mean. I haven’t met anyone yet that ate there that didn’t say it wasn’t the best. There is a reason the Houston Press named it the best BBQ in Houston 2 years in a row. In the state of Texas that has the best BBQ and the biggest city in Texas where there are 313 BBQ places, and it wins two years in a row!…..Do I need to say anything else?

Pros: Try all the meats and you won’t find anything better, fantastic deserts, they have added extra staff so it is not as slow as it used to be.

Conns: I do not suggest any sides. They are nothing to write home about. The kitchen is not that big and tons of people have found out about this place and have tried the BBQ and always go back so they run out of everything every night. I have seen people complain about their prices, but they still keep coming back for more. If you haven’t been there before pay attention because it is just a little shack on 19th street.

Mark my words, and you will see that they will be moving into a bigger building down the line one day so they can accommodate more people and cook more BBQ and not run out.

NAME: Mrhouston
SUBMITTED: 9/27/2012   LAST VISIT WAS: 9/26
FREQUENCY: Visited 4-6 times

MY REVIEW: SLOW is an understatement. Slow to take an order, and even slower to prepare an order. Seriously, how can it take 25 minutes to fill an order AFTER you ordered? I did love the BBQ but calling ahead is the ONLY way. We didn't try the sides, but tried links, brisket, ribs (they were out of baby backs at noon on Saturday) and pulled pork. Skip the pulled pork. It was unbelievably dry. All in all, I was there over 45 minutes for a small order to go.

NAME: seemadeye
SUBMITTED: 12/28/2010   LAST VISIT WAS: 12/12/10
FREQUENCY: Visited once

MY REVIEW: Don't go here if you're in a hurry! I waited 30 minutes for a 1 meat dinner. Come on this is barbeque after all! The sides were awful, but the barbeque ribs were very good. I noticed that the regulars call their orders in advance so that they don't have to sit there and wait for a half hour. So if you do go call in advance and skip the sides.

NAME: ak
SUBMITTED: 12/22/2010   LAST VISIT WAS: 12/10
FREQUENCY: Visited once

MY REVIEW: Strong points are:
In my opinion the best combination of ribs and sauce available in Houston.

Super clean, very friendly and quite fast.

These are seriously good versions of slow smoked ribs, with a deep red colour and the meat barely sticks to the bones, coming off moist and succulent.

The sauce is perfectly balanced with a long slow afterburn that is reminiscent of the long gone and much lamented Williams Smoke House.

Weak points:
The garnishes do not stand up to the sheer beauty of the ribs and they are closed on Monday. On the upside, they are close to my house.

NAME: JJ
SUBMITTED: 11/15/2010   LAST VISIT WAS: 11/2010
FREQUENCY: Visited 2-3 times

MY REVIEW: So, after going again I tried the two meat combo and to my surprise I got better service and my food was hot (fresh) not cold like previously. I just wanted to assure that this was the best place and it was. I am glad I returned so I would and will agree that this is by Far The BEST BBQ my last experience has been erased from my memory. Would recommend this restaurant to everyone...

NAME: Cindy G
SUBMITTED: 10/16/2010   LAST VISIT WAS: 10/10
FREQUENCY: Visited once

MY REVIEW: While I can say the food was great, I can not say the same about the service or experience I had the day I went. As I came in I was quickly told they only had Beef, Links, and Turkey. So I ordered the 2 meat combo. While I was waiting I was told they were out of dirty rice so I ask for cole slaw no biggie. I arrived at 4:25 and got my plate at 4:55 ok so the food must be worth the wait? While I can agree the food was melt in your mouth good, it was cold. No bread was offered nor did I get silverware. I spent 30 minutes of my lunch hour there and 10 minutes trying to find a fork to eat it after wards... Dont think I would return! Not worth the hassle... very disappointed

NAME: Cindy G
SUBMITTED: 10/10/2010   LAST VISIT WAS: 10/10
FREQUENCY: Visited once

MY REVIEW: This is absolutey the best BBQ I've had in LONG time. Best ribs I've ever tasted. Brisket was fork tender and sausage links were good too. I'd rank them in that order, but all were delicious.

NAME: BBC
SUBMITTED: 9/30/2010   LAST VISIT WAS: today
FREQUENCY: Visited once

MY REVIEW: If you want melt in your mouth BBQ you need to get yourself to Gatlin's BBQ on 1221 W. 19th St....it is a little small place that put out BIG BOLD BBQ FLAVOR!!

Greg the pit-master is going to give the "old BBQ guys in the hood" a run for their money.

The slice beef sandwich for $5.00 was big enough to feed two people. The BBQ sauce is very unique...I have never had sauce like this before and now I am hooked...it is spicy, tart and sweet all at the same time.

The Gatlin's are the nicest people who make you feel like family when you come into their place...you feel like you are at their home having dinner.

NAME: MammaMia_54
SUBMITTED: 9/16/2010   LAST VISIT WAS: Sept 16, 2010
FREQUENCY: Visited once

MY REVIEW: Went Sat lunch...Asked for baby backs...they were out....pulled pork?...nope, out of that also.....now the good part, probably the best ribs and brisket in town, certainly a dead heat with B*rns, reminds of A*ngelos in Ft Worth. I could go on and on, perfect flavor, texture, etc....now some more comments...slow and small, but a nice outside area; I got it to go. Beans were plenty good, cole slaw ok, potato salad was plenty bland. Over heard talk of desserts as well. Kick back and give it a try, whatever meat they do have will be darn good.

NAME: face of downtown
SUBMITTED: 9/7/2010   LAST VISIT WAS: 9/10
FREQUENCY: Visited once

MY REVIEW: All I can say is wow!!! This place is now my favorite for great BBQ. Excellent brisket, ribs and pulled pork. The dirty rice is amazing. The potato salad and baked beans are also wonderful. They give you a good amount for the price. I'd easily pay a few dollars more for the plates and still be happy so I make up for it with the tip jar!

And if things couldn't get better the Gatlin hospitality is the best I've experienced in awhile. While I've only been a few times, Mrs Gatlin has treated me like family. My second visit I got a nice hug and a 'i knew you'd be back!' Like walking into your family kitchen for dinner.

Now to set expectations, this is by no means a mass produced product. Just like at home, if you show up late for dinner, don't expect everything to still be there waiting for you! They were out of ribs and a few sides as they had a very busy day and it was almost closing time, but everything else was wonderful as expected. If you love great BBQ... Don't miss this place... go now!

NAME: dmas
SUBMITTED: 9/2/2010   LAST VISIT WAS: 09/01/10
FREQUENCY: Visited 2-3 times

MY REVIEW: Let me just say that I'm VERY picky when it comes to BBQ and Gatlin's BBQ exceeded my expectations! The brisket is so tender and juicy it just melts in your mouth. The sauce is the perfect blend of sweet and spicy. I typically don't eat spicy food so it was just right! The baked beans are delicious and the FRESH (not canned) green beans are seasoned just right.

As they are just starting out, service could be faster but I know with time this will improve. Also, I would say this is more of a take-out place vs a sit down restaurant. All in all the Gatlin's are putting out a good product and you'd be silly not to give them a try! I only wish they were closer to where I live but believe me it's worth the drive! I will be back most definitely b/c I have yet to try their world famous peach cobbler!

NAME: Te'4Food
SUBMITTED: 8/25/2010   LAST VISIT WAS: Aug 14, 2010
FREQUENCY: Visited 2-3 times

MY REVIEW: Food was beyond my expectations--moist and tender brisket with very tasty sauce served on the side. The baked beans and cole slaw also were also up to my standards and were enjoyed. However, my companion was not overly impressed with the dirty rice. Limited indoor seating will lead me to go the take out route on future trips, and there definetely will be future trips. Good food, friendly personnel,and reasonable prices.

NAME: Timbergrove woofer
SUBMITTED: 8/23/2010   LAST VISIT WAS: 08/2010
FREQUENCY: Visited once

MY REVIEW: Goodness,,gracious, what a find. Best BBQ in this neighborhood for certain. Wife and I were referred by a friend who loved everything she had on her first visit. We were happily surprised by our first taste of sliced beef. The sauce is old southern syle, a little sweet but not too spicy, Cole slaw was down home and terrific. Peach cobbler was out of this world. Look forward to returning. This is definately a fabulous place for old fashioned BBQ. One can tell the love and effort they serve along with a friendly atmosphere. BRAVO!!!

NAME: CFharlie and Chris
SUBMITTED: 8/19/2010   LAST VISIT WAS: 8/10/2010
FREQUENCY: Visited once

MY REVIEW: Best barbequed pull pork and fall off the bone ribs I've had in quite a while. Sauce is so good it makes you lick your fingers looking for more. Sides are wonderful, too. Dirty rice is like my mom use to make. Friendliest people who make you feel welcome. Hope this place stays around for a long time. The neighborhood is in dire need of a great restaurant on the west side of Shepherd. Family owned and makes you feel like family when you walk in. Clean, clean, clean!!

NAME: hungryheightshound
SUBMITTED: 8/11/2010   LAST VISIT WAS: 9/2010
FREQUENCY: Visited once

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