BBQ in Beaumont/Port rArthu

[Donny]

I am down in the Port Arthur/Beaumont /Lake Charles area for the next few months working after Hurricane Ike. Does anyone know of any good BBQ joints in the area?

All suggestions welcome.

Also, if you know of any place that is not to be missed (any cuisine) let me know.

Thanks

 

[FAST FRED]

I liked the mural behind the band stand, the boudain and the music at the Boudain Hut in PA.

It's a dive beer joint with a kitchen and live music, but I thought it was cool.

My wife and I went.

It's on a main street, I think even a highway, but I didn't remember the name or number until I googled up this map.

The Link

And there's a wall around a several house lots that's made of big conch shells and cement that I thought was fairly spectacular as conch shell cement walls go.

It's not far from Rose Hill Park, near the harbor, where legendary pickup football games were played by such local heroes as Joe Washington and Bubba Smith.

It's just a place I'd heard of and is only interesting for the athletic history.

The Link

You can drive by Janis Joplin's growing up house in PA, if its still there.

I thought the Babe Zaharias Museum on IH-10 in Beaumont was interesting.

The Link

There's also a Babe Didrikson Zaharias Municipal Golf Course on Jimmy Johnson Drive in PA, if you want to tee it up while remembering those famous sports figures from PA.



And the Spindletop Gusher Oil Well Site and Museum is worthwhile, if you're a person who thinks historic stuff like that is worthwhile.

The Link

I motored out to the Civil War Battle Site at Dick Dowling State Park at Sabine Pass and also drove a few miles down the beachfront state highway that used to run between Part Artur and Galveston before erosion and storms made it impassable some years ago.

Those places may be completely out of reach right now.

I spent three days in PA ,while my wife was busy at some job related workshops, and these trivial pursuits are the things I found to occupy my time.

That's all I got.

 

[SabreHorn]

Good BBQ does not exist in Southeast Texas. I've been in and around the region all my life, except for Austin and grad school in Boulder. SeaRanch in Port Neches has good chopped beef sandwich. There is supposed to be a good place in downtown Vidor according to friend but I haven't been there.

Dippitty's hamburgers in Lumberton is really good, particularly the onion rings.

Esther's has not reopened. Neither has Floyd's. Both are really good for seafood.

The Schooner in Nederland is excellent (particularly the gumbo when it reopens. It's been around since 1947.

Sartains in Nederland and Pats in Lake Charles are also worth checking out.

 

[MirrOlure]

Here's a rundown of some locally owned Beaumont spots (I'm presuming you are familiar with the chain such as Carrabas, Chili's, Papadeaux's, Hooters, etc.)Floyd's has, in fact, reopened. It is on IH-10 near the Washington Street exit in Beaumont. Good seafood houseFor Mexican, you'd probably want to hit either Elena's or Carlito's, each on College Street east of Downtown Beaumont.
Novrosky's (2 BMT locations, one by Parkdale Mall, the other on Calder and Lucas in) is a reliable burger.

Good Sushi at Tokyo (one next door to Novrosky's across from mall and the other on IH-10 near Carraba's).

Beaumont also has an excellent Vietnamese place: Pho - Four Seasons on College near 11th Street and an equally good Thai place - Chaba on Lucas just down from Eastex Freeway.

As for BBQ --- if you have to have it, try Fat Mac's which is on Calder, just west of where Calder and Dowlen merge. It is a decent attempt at a Central Texas style smokehouse.

Also, Tony's at Calder and IH-10 is all right.

You won't find a top end steak in town, but if you want a sort of old fashioned steakhouse, try Lone Star Steakhouse on Eastex Freeway near Hwy. 105. Especially good plate lunch specials there.

Finally, and certainly not least, the best Italian in town (and these places are damn good) is New York Pizza and Pasta -- I know their downtown location is open, hopefully Calder and Thomas Rd. location will open soon and Frankie's near the Mall. Both of these are excellent.

Hope that helps! You have to put in the effort, but you can actually find good food in Beaumont, and not have to resort eating at chains.

 

[iiiisofTX]

Mirrolure has a great list of good places to eat in Beaumont. I eat at Fat Mac's, Elena's and Tokyo quite often. Good stuff.

 

[Aces_Full]

I agree that Fat Mac's is a good place to get BBQ in Bmt. Also, if you like cajun cuisine and a good atmosphere (live music), then you need to try Larry's French Market in Groves. Good food and a cool place. Also, Billy Joe's BBQ in Pt. Neches is a local favorite.