Lockhart's barbecue scene just got a spicy kick with the inclusion of Barbs B Q on Bon Appétit's 2024 list of best new restaurants. The Texas eatery, helmed by the spirited 26-year-old pitmaster Chuck Charnichart, is turning heads and tempting palates with her inventive culinary twist on traditional barbecue. As reported by CBS Austin, Barbs B Q's blend of Mexican-American flavors with South Texas barbecue staples has carved out a niche that Bon Appétit couldn't ignore.
Apart from Barbs B Q's brisket, praised by Bon Appétit and earning Charnichart the title of "Chef of the Moment," the spot boasts offbeat creations like spicy pork ribs with a Flamin' Hot Cheetos finish and fajita-spiced sausages filled with cheese and cilantro. These feisty concoctions have propelled the Lockhart restaurant, cleverly named after Nicki Minaj's fanbase – “the Barbz” - into a league of its own, with weekend queues often wound around the block, as detailed by My San Antonio.
But it's not just carnivorous cravings that Barbs B Q is satisfying. The restaurant's green spaghetti, a unique take on pasta slathered with roasted poblano sauce, has also been making waves among the foodie community. This innovative approach seems to resonate with adventurous food lovers looking to spice up their palate with an unexpected twist on classic fare. It's not just the crowd that has taken notice; in April, the James Beard Foundation named Barbs B Q as a finalist for their Outstanding New Restaurant category.
The revelation by Bon Appétit, which considered new eateries that opened between March 2023 and March 2024, placed Barbs B Q among the gastronomic standouts of the year. The esteemed list, which can be found on CBS Austin, features Barbs B Q alongside other renowned names such as Hungry Eyes in New Orleans and King BBQ in North Charleston, South Carolina. With only weekend openings from 11 a.m. until the brisket, ribs, and sausage sell-out, Barbs B Q serves up its fiery fare at 102 E. Market St. in Lockhart, TX, a location now marked by culinary distinction.
