Best Joint In Texas?

Queing It Up right!

By National Barbecue News Cooking Crew

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All Photos Courtesy Of National Barbecue News

How do you judge barbecue? Do you compare it to something you have had previously or do you try and judge it owns its own? Is one way better than the other way of judging? These questions will always spark a heated debate in the barbecue world…both in the competition world and also in the restaurant world. Honestly, we think it doesn’t matter how you judge because the “good ones” will always rise to the top of the field.

While we were in Ft. Worth Texas for the annual NBBQA conference and expo we took a quick trip, with barbecue buddy Lynn Entrekin, to the new joint that had some seasoned barbecue folks telling us about how good it was. As we were pulling out of the driveway this bold statement was made twice by two different people; “I have never had any better barbecue anywhere!” Now for our crew that is a very bold statement due to the sheer number of joints we have visited over the nearly 30 years of being in the barbecue business.

407 BBQ is located in Argyle Texas, which is close to Texas Motor Speedway and probably one of the fastest growing communities in the entire country. Ever heard the term “location, location, location when talking about the restaurant business? We can tell you that this place is surely placed in a great spot and the spot is getting better every day.

This relatively new joint is owned and operated by Bryan McLarty. Bryan was one of the Operation Barbecue Relief volunteers we met back in 2014 in San Marcos Texas at the NBBQA event there. He actually let us cook on his grill at the very first SCA event ever held…that we wound up winning. Needless to say, we have a lifelong friend since that chance meeting.

Bryan McLarty is the main man at 407 BBQ in Argyle Texas

Before we left the restaurant that day we gladly approved 407 BBQ for our Best of the Best BBQ Restaurant Guide as the simple tests we conduct for this honor were passed with flying colors. So how does someone take a brand new startup retail barbecue restaurant and earn the title of being one of the Best of the Best? This doesn’t happen to most but we can tell you it takes tons of work and know how.

Bryan is not short on know-how as he told us he started BBQ’ing at the age of 10 with his dad. “We would have large family gatherings on the holidays, and my Dad would always cook, but he also liked to play dominoes. He figured if he taught me how to BBQ, then he could play more dominoes.” Prior to opening the restaurant in 2016, he was catering full time for the past four years and before that he catered part time for 17 years. Bryan told us they are still running their full-time BBQ and Steak catering company as that helps to keep their Ole Hickory Pits smokin’ all the time.

We asked Bryan about what he thinks the future holds for the restaurant and he replied back with a very wise answer. “We have bigger plans for the future; much bigger plans, but we will always be a part of this community.” Bryan also told us,” I have no plans for a second location, but then I had no plans of opening a restaurant to begin with and I’ve learned to stop saying never. Instead of never we are just taking things a day at a time. We never try to push the business. We just let the business pull us…as it knows where it wants to go. We’re just having fun and enjoying the ride.”

407 BBQ sample platter that we got to feast on during our visit

Bryan also shared with us about his business philosophy that might just help someone who is thinking about making the jump to a restaurant. “ I believe in 2 things for success in this business – Quality of our food and customer service. I’m a firm believer if you do these two things right every day, you will be successful. Bryan also explained “We are a family owned and operated small business, proving that by hard work and determination, the American dream is still alive and well. We let the business dictate our growth, and when the business can pay for it, we grow a little more. I think by controlling how fast we grow, we can always keep a handle on the business, and maintain our food quality each and every day. I don’t want to be a franchise or strip center type of business. I’d rather stay small, and do things the right way, than try to be “the next best thing”.

If you ever get close to the Ft. Worth area you will not be sorry that you made the trip and enjoyed this joint. They are open Monday – Saturday 11 am – 8 pm. You can also find more about this awesome BBQ joint…that we think could be the best in the entire state of Texas…at their website www.407BBQ.com.