Horseshoe BBQ

The good news, Horseshoe serves the best BBQ beef brisket in Chicago.

The bad news, Chicago doesn’t make a good BBQ beef brisket

I did get excited when the waitress first set my dinner on the bar in front of me, there they were, THICK slices of brisket. Woo-hoo, could this be it?!!?

Nope.

As usual for Chicago BBQ brisket, there is virtually no smoke flavor and no rub. It was passable but only because all other BBQ beef in Chicago is so terrible. Horseshoe would not make it down South.

Pulled pork was some of the better in town.

Horseshoe
4117 North Lincoln Ave
Chicago

My wife and I ate at the Horseshoe a few weeks back. I had the brisket sandwich and beans. I thought both were pretty good. The beans were quite spicy with some good flavor. The brisket was pretty good too. The hot BBQ sauce had a nice spice to it. I didn't much care for their sweet sauce. My wife's meal was less pleasing. She had the pork sandwich which neither of us though was as good as the brisket. The low point, however, was the corn on the cob. Absolute dreadful. The corn had been over-grilled, then soaked in water and reheated. Bad, bad, bad.

Bottom line, I would return for the brisket and beans. We felt the pork was subpar. Avoid the corn at all costs.

The bar itself isn't bad. They have decent live music on many nights.

Giallo wrote:Avoid the corn at all costs.

In all fairness, corn isn't really in season anywhere near here. I would hardly expect the corn itself to taste good. But that preparation does sound awful.

I positively whipped myself up into a tizzy when I first heard of this place, but, despite the offerings of CFS (chicken-fried steaks), brisket, hot links, and beanless chili, I was a little put off by the optional chili toppings (cheese, onions, and sour cream), and so I have stopped short of visiting.

Is anyone aware of how they cook/smoke, or of their Q philosophy?

Damn. I miss Old Plantation (R.I.P.) on Armitage near Clybourn (unfortunately picked location for a real smoking SOU/TX BBQ joint).

Cheers,
Wade