Coming from Massachusetts, good Southern barbecue always had a mythical quality for me. I’d heard stories of brisket so tender you could pull it apart with your fingers, drenched in sweet, yet tangy barbecue sauce. Growing up in the land where clam chowder reigns supreme, it wasn’t until I came to Duke that I discovered how incredible Southern style BBQ really is. And there is no finer representative of pulled pork, hushpuppies and braised beans than Maverick’s Smokehouse and Taproom. Here are the five reasons why you need to check out Maverick’s Smokehouse and Taproom, Durham’s newest BBQ restaurant.
1. Location, Location, Location
When you think of the Durham restaurant scene, two main locations spring to mind: Ninth St. and Brightleaf Square. Situated just past the Little Dipper and Devines, Maverick’s Smokehouse and Taproom has prime real estate in Brightleaf Square. Just a short walk from East Campus, Mavericks is the perfect option for those nights when you just don’t feel like eating at Marketplace.
2. The Key Three
There are three big names in barbecue: Texas, Memphis, and Carolina. Typically, restaurants choose one style an roll with it, but Maverick’s elected to do something a little different. Their menu contains a mix of the three styles and each dish is served with a side of the three different homemade sauces. Although the Texas was indisputably my favorite, the spicy kick of the Memphis sauce complimented my brisket very well.
3. Feel Good Food
Southern barbecue is one of those types of foods that is a cure-all for your midterms blues. There’s just something about a homey plate of pulled pork, drenched in barbecue sauce that’s an instant mood raiser. Maverick’s Smokehouse and Taproom nails the homestyle-feel. Not only does it have incredible entrees like the brisket and pulled chicken sandwich, but it also brings delicious sides like creamy mac and cheese, bourbon-braised beans, and onion hushpuppies to the table. If you’re still hungry after, you have to try their homemade cobbler. Your stomach and your soul will thank you for this meal.
4. The Brisket to End All Brisket
I may not be an expert on all things brisket, but I can recognize great food when I taste it and the brisket at Maverick’s Smokehouse and Taproom is beyond great. As I always do when it comes to eating unfamiliar foods, I deferred to my server’s judgment on what I should order. She recommended the Texas Dry Rub Brisket, chopped and sauced and boy, was she right. The brisket was so tender it fell apart as soon as I put my fork into it and the Texas barbecue sauce gave it that perfect sweet yet tangy taste. If (read: when) you go to Maverick’s, order the brisket. You’ll thank me later.
5. Big Portions, Small Prices
As a college student, the first thing on my mind when I go to a restaurant is how much food I can get for a low price. With its plate options, Maverick’s Smokehouse and Taproom caters to both your stomach and your wallet. Both the brisket and the pulled chicken sandwich came with hushpuppies as well as a side, and some of the combo options include a second side as well. Any night that I’m able to score an entree with a side of mac and cheese and hushpuppies for only $9 is a good night for me.
Maverick’s Smokehouse and Taproom is the type of restaurant where the food is so amazing, you want to keep eating even when you’re full. Next time you’re in Brightleaf Square, be sure to stop in and treat yourself to some of the best barbecue in Durham.