Rolling down I-20 Eastbound the other day, I happened into BIG Spring, Texas, on or about lunch time. (In all candor, it’s always mealtime for me).
Heading down Gregg Street from the Interstate, I perused my BIG choices – Burger KING, home of the WHOPPER, BIG John’s Feed Lot, GREAT Wall, and then I spotted it – BIG Al’s and Son Bar-B-Q.
I was greeted by an amiable server, and told the “rules” for dining at BIG Al’s. Proceed to the counter/serving station, choose the lunch plate or the BIG platter, and depending on whether you choose the lunch plate or BIG platter, you have a choice of two or four meats, or any combination thereof. Pulled pork, my personal favorite, is seldom on the menu in Texas Q restaurants, so the choices were sausage, brisket, chicken,ribs, and/or “bodacious” ham. I eschewed the ribs and chicken and loaded up on the other three. At $8.95 for the BIG platter, I got to choose three vegetables (green beans, collard greens and corn on the cob won out), received a thick slab of Texas toast (BIG), ample amounts of butter, a choice of peach, apple, or cherry cobbler, and a BIG drink. Dave Thomas wudda been proud.
My amiable server continued to provide me with BIG service throughout the meal, refilling my iced tea without being asked, and continually reminding me to save room for a BIG serving of home-made ice cream, which they whip up every morning. He also extolled the virtues of other things on offer, wh
ich he encouraged me to try next time. Among which was a BIG serving of Steak Fingers, which, according to my server, were MUCH better than Dairy Queen’s!
The brisket, sausage and ham were superb. That dry-rub slow smoking process that Texas Q is famous for. While most Texas Q’s don’t offer sauce (and the meat doesn’t need it), BIG Al’s had a choice of several one could use as accompaniments. I passed on them. I like to taste the BIG flavor of the meat.
As my eyes started to glaze over, and the ice cream was starting to melt, I put a BIG bill on the table and motioned for the server to come over.
He said, “What, you want some change?” And I said, “No, that’s for you.” His reply was “I don’t need that much!”
I said, “You may not need it, you may not want it, but you did earn it, BIG time.”
BIG Al’s is open for lunch and dinner most days, if you find yourself in BIG Spring. 1810 South Gregg Street, (915) 267-8921.If you find yourself there without a car, and call the restaurant, BIG Al’s will send somebody to pick you up, so you can enjoy the BIG platter, and BIG Texas hospitality.
Update: Big Al’s is formally known as Al & Son’s BBQ
Big Als BBQ Review