The Swinging Door

06/14/2008 Posted by digzy

I have been there three times and I am dissappointed everytime.Owner is rude,plates are dirty,menus stained.The wait staff is friendly though and it it is not their fault the food comes out of kitchen slow.Chicken is very good but sausage is poor and brisket is average at best. If you want good Q go to Fulsher or Hilje .

Pros: Dance Hall on certain nights

Cons: Food

06/01/2008 Posted by vanamm

Years ago this place was be pretty good, not as good as Bakers Ribs or Shepherd Drive B-B-Q in Houston, but fairly good. Now the brisket is tough and stringy, the service is slow and it's a lot more expensive than better bar-b-q places that charge less. Don't waste your time or money on this place. Twenty years ago it was fairly good but not any more. I considered giving it an "average" rating but in good conscience a "poor" rating is really all it deserves.

05/31/2008 Posted by mtwa

I am a Q connoisseur. I know that is sort of an oxymoron, but don't get me wrong. I don't like it fancy 'cause that is not what good BBQ is all about. I have been smoking whole animals for years, toured the country experiencing regional differences from FL to KC to Memphis, SE Ohio to Carolina, and now TX. I justify this as field training...learning the way of the pit-master. Overall, this is the best I have had in Houston so far and I would rate this as worth the drive. What I like about the Swinging Door is that it captures the local style, specific points below. 1) It is not in town (+), 2) they use pecan for wood (+++ ) high marks for using the local fuel 3) their meat can satisfy without sauce (++) Brisket-- good rub, moist, good flavor, a bit soft, not like competition standards, but appeals to me. Ribs--pork, this is beef country, but ribs really should be pork, firm meat competition style, mild rub, great pink color, mild pecan infused smoke throughout 4) Sauce--they have a decent sauce (+) if you want it, although it is a bit vinegary a la southeast style (- - 'cause it is not typical of the region) 5)sides were good--small but adequate portions on the 2 meat plate Potato--good size cooked well green beans were outstanding (crisp and well seasoned herb salt), slaw had raisins, odd, but good. German style potato salad was good. Drinks--sweeten your own tea (was pretty good), did have lemonade and Dr. Pepper (required in my book) 6) Desserts were good Cobblers--not as good as Mom's, but passable, nice selection of berries. No banana pudding? 7) I know others have complained about the price, but I will pay for good Q and this is not out of line with other houses offering good Q around the country.

Pros: captures the local defintion of Q

Cons: the drive

05/08/2008 Posted by days_crazed

I can't believe people think this could be anything even close to the best BBQ. The sausage seems nothing greater than some Eckridge sausage thrown on the grill. I would rather go home and make some Chapel Hill rather than eat this sausage. The brisket was okay - no complaints I guess, but also no raves. The sides were PATHETIC. The prices were ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS!!!!!! This place is so overpriced its not even funny!!!!!! 1 meat plate was somewhere around $10.00-$12.00 2 meat plate was somewhere around $15.00 3 meat plate was near $20.00 YOU GOTTA BE KIDDING ME!!!!!! And the bbq baked potatoes were nothing beyond good. Not great but not bad. Nothing to rave over. The service is decent (had better but had worse). Sorry, but this is nothing more than an overpriced, below average bbq joint.

Pros: Nothing

Cons: PRICES ARE RIDICULOUS!!! FOOD IS SUB PAR!!!

01/26/2008 Posted by txbbqman

The Swinging Door serves very good smoked meats out of Richmond. The smokey brisket was moist and very tender, it was well above average and the best meat that I was served. The sausage was pretty good, nothing special but good as most places. The ribs were meaty but were also a little fatty I think mine needed to be smoked a little more. The sides were pretty good. They have beans were excellent, they were thick and had a heavy BBQ flavor. I also ordered the green beans, they tasted very fresh. The potato salad was plain and average. Overall it was very good Q but its not served cafeteria style so you cannot see the meat when you order it and thats the way BBQ should be served.

Pros: brisket was excellent

Cons: way too expensive

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful

06/10/2007 Posted by lovesbbq

THE GREAT BBQ IS WORTH THE DRIVE. I WORKED THERE FOR 3 AND HALF YEARS, ATE IT EVERYDAY, AND I STILL LOVE IT!!!!!

Pros: GREAT FOOD!!

Cons: NOT ONE CLOSER

06/01/2007 Posted by mherrold

This is what a BBQ reataurant should look like and the food is as good as any other BBQ in Houston. I wish they had more sides, but you really don't go to a BBQ restaurant to eat the sides. The meat on the ribs fall off the bone. I've tried all the meats and they are all prepared very well. The sauce is tangy (Think arby's sauce tangy) but is just sweet enough to compliment the meat. It is a bit pricey but worth it.

Pros: Meats, Sauce, Atmosphere

Cons: Desserts, Location

05/25/2007 Posted by thebestcritic

I've been eating at The Swinging Door for 25 years, and it's good, really good, but certainly not the best around. The prices have gotten out of line over the years. Average prices are 25-30% higher than average. Service is poor at best. Meats are good, but sides are very lacking. Potato salad is sub par; raisins in slaw?? Where did that come from...New York City?? Brisket is the best choice; ribs are really fatty and greasy. The atmosphere and location is what really makes the place. Biggest draw is their custom cooking, bring your meat and they will smoke it for a reasonable fee.

Pros: Brisket; Ambience; Sauce

Cons: Price; Service; Parking

05/10/2007 Posted by joeandamy

The food was great especially the ribs. The atmosphere was unique with Willie Nelson singing Georgia. What the south is all about.

03/24/2006 Posted by mbetzkin

I eat there all the time and the service is great. And yes, the wait staff is incredibly hot. I love all the food there. I usually dont eat potatoe salad but i love theirs. Prices are pretty cheap considering all the food you get. And i recommend the root beer to drink. Their own rootbeer is the best ive ever had!! Excelent all around! Service is great.

Pros: Food, Service, Atmosphere

Cons: Can't eat it all, No chain