Bare Bones Bbq - Gatesville
Bare Bones Bbq
Description
This restaurant offers a warm, family-friendly atmosphere with attentive, friendly service and occasional live music. While the ambiance and hospitality shine, the food garners mixed reviews. The meats, including brisket and pork, are consistently cooked well but often described as lacking smokiness and bold flavor. Side dishes such as coleslaw—with a unique cilantro twist—and baked beans are generally enjoyable, though some items like loaded potatoes can disappoint due to reheating and sparse toppings. The house sauce is a highlight, enhancing the fairly mild BBQ offerings. Overall, this spot provides a decent, comfortable dining experience, especially suitable for casual outings.
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My son really liked the BOB hamburger, but my experience with the loaded brisket potato was quite different. Unfortunately, it didn’t live up to my expectations; the potato tasted like it had been reheated from the previous day, and the cheese was a gloppy mess. There was no butter, sour cream, or chives—just cheese and chopped brisket. Since it was takeout, I tried to salvage it with my own cheese, butter, and sour cream, but it didn't work, and ultimately it ended up in the trash. On a brighter note, I have had their brisket plates with potato salad and baked beans, which were delicious. So, I would recommend avoiding the potatoes next time.
The service was outstanding, and the family-friendly vibe was fantastic. The food was incredible—every dish, from the meats to the sides and desserts, was simply delicious!
The food is pretty good, but they charge a 30% surcharge on a $10 order if you pay with a credit card. It's hard to believe that a small-town business would exploit its customers like that and think it's acceptable. I would expect such practices in Austin, but not in Gatesville.
I've tried the lean brisket several times. While it’s not the best I've ever had, it’s still quite good. It’s never overcooked, though it lacks a strong smoky flavor. Their house sauce is tasty, and the atmosphere is unique. They offer live music on weekends, though I haven’t experienced it myself. The staff is very friendly, and I’ve never had any issues there.
We've been coming here for several years. The pork tenderloin sandwich used to be our favorite, but it’s no longer available. The pulled pork sandwich was consistently good, but lately the portion size and quality have declined. On top of that, during our last visit, they added nearly a 10% fee for paying with a card. While times are tough for everyone, the combination of declining quality and extra charges means we won’t be returning.
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