Joel's BBQ - Flatonia

I tried the food at the restaurant, and we placed our order. The smoke flavor was fantastic. I had the ribs, while my wife enjoyed the chicken. The ribs were te... read more I tried the food at the restaurant, and we placed our order. The smoke flavor was fantastic. I had the ribs, while my wife enjoyed the chicken. The ribs were tender, not greasy, and had the perfect texture. The chicken was juicy and full of flavor.

This restaurant definitely needs to enhance its service! The staff was not very friendly. Unfortunately, the food fell short of expectations; the meat was dry,... read more This restaurant definitely needs to enhance its service! The staff was not very friendly. Unfortunately, the food fell short of expectations; the meat was dry, and my loaded potato looked quite unappealing. Overall, it was not an enjoyable experience.

Absolutely delicious! My family and I shared a half chicken, and it was incredible! The service was friendly and efficient, and the atmosphere was clean and imp... read more Absolutely delicious! My family and I shared a half chicken, and it was incredible! The service was friendly and efficient, and the atmosphere was clean and impressive. We were truly impressed!

This was undoubtedly the worst barbecue I have ever experienced. My family hails from San Antonio, and growing up, I often traveled down I-10 to visit relatives... read more This was undoubtedly the worst barbecue I have ever experienced. My family hails from San Antonio, and growing up, I often traveled down I-10 to visit relatives. Joel's used to be a frequent stop for us—it was a small, red shack by the roadside, serving up fresh, smoked barbecue. The aroma of smoke would greet you, and you'd often leave smelling like that delicious barbecue. We usually got a large container of chopped barbecue to share with our family upon arrival. However, I don't know what has happened over the years. I'm 32 now, and this is NOT the Joel's I remember. I'm a big barbecue fan, and while I may be a bit of a BBQ enthusiast, the food we had was inedible. My sliced brisket was cold, tough, and lacked flavor. My husband ordered a stuffed baked potato, but it arrived cold and hard—not cooked through. It had a few slices of American cheese on it (seriously?), and it came with the same disappointing brisket I'd received on my sandwich, but chopped into cubes. If your brisket is cubed, it means it's old and cold, definitely not fresh. On top of the awful food (we even ended up taking it home to give to our dogs, feeling guilty about it), we were charged a premium price. The sign claiming to have the "best BBQ in town" is either a joke, outdated, or a delusion. I really don’t understand how Joel's BBQ still has a 4-star rating, but I guess that's on par with the neighboring McDonald's.

The staff here are friendly and welcoming. The food was delicious and packed with flavor. The BBQ sauce was a highlight—not too sweet, just a subtle hint of swe... read more The staff here are friendly and welcoming. The food was delicious and packed with flavor. The BBQ sauce was a highlight—not too sweet, just a subtle hint of sweetness. I do wish they offered a spicier version, though. I would definitely return to this place! Everything tasted homemade, from the chopped beef to the pecan pie. Service: Dine-in; Meal type: Lunch.