Beaver's

I'm shocked that this place has the 4.5 Star Rating!!! All the reviewers saying the brisket and ribs are good clearly don't know what good smoked meat is all about. The brisket is cooked too quickly resulting in a tough piece of meat (I think they wood smoked the meat initially for flavor then use gas assist to finish it out). The ribs are dried out; it is easy to do dry rubbed ribs that are moist and tender (this ain't it). The sausge was good. The pulled pork was dry and more closely resembled chopped beef that had been set up for a while. Good pulled pork doesn't have a ground up consitancy, it has stringy pieces of meat.\r \r I had the $12 smoked sampler. I also ordered the greens and baked beans which were the best parts of my meal! I left all the brisket on the plate, ate only half of one of the two ribs. I'm glad there was sausage and ground pork on the plate to eat.\r \r I told the waitress that the beef wasn't acceptable and she said she'd get me more; which never happened! My girlfriend had a salad that was basically diced iceberg lettuce.\r \r Monica Pope needs to remove her name from this place; it's killing her rep! Kloss needs to repossess their smoker for gross misuse and incompetence!\r \r Mirroring other comments; the drinks are great! But this is a restaurant, not a bar so it should be reviewed as such!\r \r I picked up the tab for my friends dinner since I suggested the place. It was $160 for BBQ and drinks for 5 people!!!!!!!\r \r This place doesn't appear on the landscape when looking at Goode Company or the original Otto's. Even Gabby's has better brisket! This place is billed as a ""high end"" BBQ joint. The only thing high end were the prices!!!!!!!\r \r I'VE GONE BACK AND LOOKED AT OTHER REVIEWS AND AM NOW CONVINCED THOSE THAT RANTED ABOUT HOW WONDERFUL THE BBQ WAS MUST BE EMPLOYEES OR CLOSE FRIENDS! THE GAP IS TOO WIDE BETWEEN WHAT WAS SAID AND DETAIL ANALYSIS BY MANY WHO CLEARLY UNDERSTAND SMOKED MEAT! more

Group of 7 about 2 months ago. We were on outside patio. All of us are 'foodies' and pretty much eat out for every meal. We were all excited to eat at Monicas new place. The beer selection was excellent, service slow but friendly. Then the food came--Terrible and tasteless. From the appetizers, hamburgers to the barbque. Of course being 'foodies', we tried each others food. Nothing was good. No one should leave hungry from an Ice House/BarBQue place, but the portions were either so small, or some of us didn't eat our meal. (I'm not kidding when I say a Whopper has more flavor and more substance than the $10 burger I tasted from here) I'm convinced anyone raving or going back to this place are friends/family, or wanting to 'be seen'. So, after paying our $200-300 tab, we left. When I got into my car white 'chalk' got ALL OVER my carpet from the rocks used on the patio....It gets EVERYWHERE. I should have had them pay for my carpet cleaning. Pros: friendly staff Cons: food, price more

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I generally disregard warnings of poor service - if the food is great, other things can be overlooked... Unfortunately, our recent experience here was the exception to this rule. I guess I'm writing this just for the management's edification - something needs to be done to improve the horrendous service! Various things made the experience unfortunately memorable. We sat so long at our table with no waiter, we had to get up and request one; many items had to be requested two or three times (the bar-b-que sauce we requested on the side came when we only had a few bites remaining); we sat so long after asking for our check that we had to go inside and pay at the bar. I understand the restaurant is very new, but the evening was entirely unpleasant. My husband complained of how tough, dry, and fatty (even though he had requested lean - another service issue, perhaps??) his brisket sandwich was, but the smoked pork sandwich I had was delicious; I can only hope they hire some experienced waitstaff or give them a better idea of what is expected of them soon! Pros: very unique concept, pleasant ambience, good food (but SMALL portions) Cons: LACK of service, community dining tables on patio, did I say service... more

Unique, unpredictable and warm - our initial summation of Bvrs. Having read some of the previous reviews and how premature some of the critiques were - being only a 5-month-old establishment, I wonder why these people even bothered to eat there at all! In a nutshell, it's a classy, yet unpretentious BBQ joint in a triangle mold instead of a square - how refreshing! The place has transformed in a mere 5 months. Most of the complaints - bathrooms, small servings, outdoor seating, etc. have since been addressed. I marvel at how anyone can comment so negatively when the restaurant is still in its embryonic stage. Bvrs has evolved and continues to do so. As for the food, the flavors are rich and powerful - once again unpredictable and perfectly balanced with spice and flair. \r Things we would recommend: the coleslaw - lovely balance of veggies and dressing - not too creamy; pork ribs - not normally a fan but will endeavor to order again. The rub was flavorful and the meat was quite moist. Did not find it fatty at all. Wings - yum yum - get them every time. Stuffed pepperoncini- if you like a spark, this is a must-have. Deliciously creamy with a crisp, chili after bite.\r Chocolate Donuts - a recommended dessert that did not disappoint. \r Drinks - any one they suggest! All delightful. Our colleagues also boasted of the apple cobbler.\r \r If you want toxic ridden, synthetically slobbered, sub - par ingredients, lathered in gelatinized, exotic sauces to disguise the inferior quality of the raw ingredient, then Bvrs is not the place for you. Otherwise, enjoy the quality, enjoy the attention to detail and keep watching as Bvrs embraces a non-conformist approach to BBQ with style. more

The food was to be nice ""GROSS""! It was horrible! I am NOT a picky eater, and I had been here for drinks before, and the drinks were good, and the menu looked good, so went back for lunch, and it was NOT good. The brisket tasted like it was from an infected animal, the burger's were nasty! The bread looked good and was described nicely but tasted like it was stail!!!! I highly DO NOT recommened going here for food.... drinks are good though. Pros: atmospher, serivce, and drinks Cons: FOOD and value more

The brisket was ordered lean and it came out fatty, but that?s not what made it the worst brisket I?ve ever been served in TX. It was also old, leathery, and cold. The service, starting with a hostess who did absolutely nothing to welcome arriving patrons, was ultimately reduced to one apology after another. The draft beer was cold ?but only by British standards. The sides were brought out long after the entrees, and then only as an after-thought when we mentioned to the server. I wish I could say the only bad thing about this meal is that it was overpriced! The beer and liquor selection is great, though, so my advice is to go for a drink, but steer clear of the food. If you want to eat, try the seafood appetizer and the mac and cheese, both quite good but ironically so for this beef house. There are some vegetarian items to choose from and these provide a nice option to the bacon ridden beans and greens that are served up. Based on my experience, the vegetarian items would probably be a better choice than any of the meat offerings. I would steer clear of all of the meat. At my table we all tried different meat entrees. The pork shoulder got a good review from my friend. Every other meat entree we tried got no positive comment --unless 'mediocre' is anything to crow about. With so many good beef restaurants in Houston, I can't think of any reason to try this one out. Pros: Beer and liquor selection Cons: Bad beef entrees and bacon in virtually every side more

In hearing that Monica Pope had a new creation, I definitely wanted to try it out. B's is a very unique place with lots of character. Low-key and unfancy decor with the ingredients and food of a smart chef! I had the pulled pork sandwich which was extremely delicious - cooked perfectly and the sauce is like none I've ever tasted - piquant and tasty. For our sides we had the Molasses - Bourbon baked beans which were unfortunately a little undercooked, but still were full of great flavor. The slaw was a bit too simple - I really do like simple, fresh salads, but this was pretty boring. The highlight of the meal for me was the Pecan Pie Squares - so completely heavenly it was sinful! A must-get, if you go here! I would say that it's a place everyone should try out for themselves...the menu offers so many intriguing options that although my first experience wasn't ""over-the-top-great"", I still want to go back just to try more! :) Pros: Pulled Pork, Menu Choices, Pecan Pie Squares Cons: Slaw more

After reading the review in the HBJ, we decided to give it try! Word to the wise, don't order the barbecue sampler neither once nor twice. It was hard to imagine this dish coming out cold since we had arrived 20 minutes after opening on Saturday evening. We assumed the dish sat in the window too long before it was delivered so we requested another order. There was no change. It almost tasted as if it had been refrigerated. I was anticipating mouth watering ""pit"" barbecue and ended up with dry, tough meat more in tune with ""pitiful"". The third time was a charm however, for our main dish selection. The bison meatloaf was very moist, nicely seasoned and most of all warm. The pulled pork sandwich was a bit fatty but flavorful. The sweet potato skewers(?) are delicious. Menu suggestions, dine on the sides and stay away from anything linked to the word ""barbecue."" Pros: Nice big patio tables and lots of parking. Cons: Cold food, stood at the hostess stand for some time, small portions, wine servings were very small. more

Okay! I am so done with this place. I can't tell you how many chances I have given this place. Shame on me for this one last time! I didn't take my own darn advice and went back for brunch. Can they be any worse at service?????? NO! My boyfriend and I waited an hour and a half for a BLT and an egg - no kidding, then left before we got the food because we were hungry. I don't know if it is the kitchen or the servers themselves but someone needs to revamp the service here quickly. The drinks and bartenders are great but do not, REPEAT do not go here to eat! Pros: Cocktails, Atmosphere Cons: Anything you chew more

Our first trip to here was (we were told) their busiest night in their 8 weeks of operation. They were selling out of several ingredients and dishes, and we could see why. The overload of customers meant the bar was packed, and the bartenders put on a show. The drink menu is quite original, and not for the timid. It features creative twists on traditional cocktails, with a level of sophistication we have not encountered in Houston. The drinks were almost as much fun to watch made as they were to drink. Try the Mayahuel Fizz and the Train Wreck. Their beer selection is excellent, too, and meant for the connoisseur. After a few tasty cocktails we got down to eating. We had the oyster soup special, which was delicately flavored, creamy, spicy, and perfect. The smoked meat sampler was a great choice. My favorite item was the ribs-boldly flavored with a dry rub, lean, a bit dry, but still very tender. The sausage was excellent, as well. As for portion size, I'm not sure what the previous reviewer was complaining about - I had to take food home. Then again, I am not obese. If you've eaten in sophisticated restaurants in cities like New York, San Francisco, or LA, you know that the higher quality your food is, the smaller the portions usually are. In fact, oversized portions is something that bothers me about Houston ""high-end"" cuisine. Perhaps we would not be one the fattest cities if we understood the value of quality over quantity. That said, the portions here are adequate, and prices are very fair, and the menu is designed for you to try a few different things. The atmosphere was also very stylish, with patrons fitting in whether they were dressed up or a bit casual. I highly recommend this restaurant, especially for adventurous eaters who want to see how more ""urban"" cities might enjoy Texas BBQ. Pros: Very creative flavors, high quality ingredients, reminds us of New York City! Cons: Not a typical BBQ shack. You must be willing to experiment. more

If you think $16.00 for a meat combo platter that consists of 3 thin slices of beef brisket, a sausage link about 2 inches long, 1/4 cup of chopped beef and 2 ribs is a good deal then this is the place for you. I eat out on average of 5 times a week all over town and am not shy about spending good money for a good meal and frequent Vic and Anthony's and Segaris alot but this place is no V&A's. The meat is wonderfully flavored but the portions are tiny. The basket of bread recommended by the wait person consisted of 4 small slices of toasted bread $5.00. The pulled meat sandwiches $10.00 each were about the size of 1/2 of your average deli sandwich (is this Houston, Texas or London). Oh and you got about 2 tablespoons of cole slaw as a side. Once our order was delivered never saw the server again until we flagged him down for the check. The decor while clean was nothing to write home about or enough to warrant the high cost . Yeah as other reviews state there is a bar but the drinks are no better than at any other more reasonable restaurant in town. My advice is pass on this place unless you have alot of money to burn or the owner's price themselves out of business. Pros: Good tasting food Cons: small portions and big prices more

The bar was awesome. The drinks were fresh and the bartenders are very knowledgeable.\r The food and service was okay, needs improvement. It just opened up so I will give them the benefit of the doubt that things will improve soon. I will go again for the bar.\r Cons: Not much parking more

Let me start off be saying that I am a long time T'afia patron and a fan of Monica's. To start with the positive, the Jolie Vue sausage on the smoked meat platter was some of the best sausage I've ever had. Ditto with the pork shoulder. The ribs (country style) were without question the worst ribs I've ever had. Anywhere. They were tough and dried out and the only taste was that of the burnt dry rub. Brisket showed promise if there had been more meat and less fat (to be fair you can ask for a lean portion...I should have done that). Corn puppies were dense gut bombs but not greasy at all (see...trying to stay positive). The goat cheese appetizer was good but the cinnamon sugar on the pita(?) chips was unncessary with the fruit chutney that is also served with it. I will definitely try again because I want to support Monica. However, execution needs work. You won't find a more diverse food or drink menu (they offer cocktails made with beer) in a barbeque place. Pros: Diverse menu, not your average bbq selections Cons: Uneven execution more

My girlfriend actually told me about this place, she apparently knew the chef there and so we went to try the place out last week. I will say that their menu is different, but very unique and delicious. Their brisket is awesome, their quail was real good, and their macaroni....WOW. I definetely will be inviting the guys out there to hang out, drink some cold beer (they have a HUGE beer menu) and eat some excellent food. Pros: Atmosphere, uniqueness, high quality food, very nice wait staff Cons: Needs a patio, they have an awesome view of downtown if you walk outside more

this is monica pope (from tafia) & co.'s new restaurant concept. i wanted to love it, but it just missed... more

this is monica pope (from tafia) & co.'s new restaurant concept. i wanted to love it, but it just missed the mark too many times. the inner loop ... more

The BBQ is the best I have ever had in my life. I went there tonight and haven't been able to stop talking about it (my wife is actually getting kind of annoyed with me). Anyway, you have to check this place out if you like food; you won't be disappointed. While the food was good, what is so great about this place are the drinks. The two bartenders there (Bobby and Dave) handled a very busy bar and made some of the best tasting/looking drinks I have ever seen. Everybody was asking questions, and they answered them like bartender teachers or something. I don't know how to describe this place, but it is unlike anything I have seen before in the way in has modified this icehouse theme thing. You have to go eat here and have some of their drinks. I am mega impressed; another great Monica Pope restaurant. Pros: Drinks, Staff Service and Knowledge, Food, Originality, Prices Cons: Hard to Find more

Doodies is a classic. There are very few places left in Houston where you can get a cold beer at a decent price, play a little pool, listen to the juke box and have a bartender that will talk to you. If you like a traditional lounge with some personality, this is the place for you! Pros: Cold & Cheap Beer, Friendly Staff more