I would not return to this restaurant. It is extremely dirty, the table and floor where we sat were sticky and gross. Â We ordered wings and fried green tomatoes to start. The wings were good. The fried green tomatoes were greasy, and the overly battered coating was not cooked in the center. The service was only fair. Though they seemed polite and friendly. We did not stay for dinner. Their menu prices are way out of line for such a dive.
Review Source:One of my favorite BBQ joints in Denver.
You can really stuff your face here. Â Portions can easily be shared. Â
In other words..come hungry.
My favorite is the Brisket plate, mac/cheese and mashed taters with gravy. Â i rarely finish it all and have good brisket for leftovers.
I've had chicken, burgers and pork here and it's all been good.
Service is always good. Â And prices are good for what you get. Â
Try the cheese curd apps, very addicting but filling.
Went on first Friday so not surprisingly everything was packed. Unfortunately the service suffered - it was hard for hubby and brother-in-law to have the all you can eat catfish when the server hardly comes back - granted the portion they did get was hardy but they can also put it away and were eager for seconds- which eventually came after another long wait. Food service was super, duper slow which could be understood  due to the night it was but it should not have been that slow to just get a coke. I had the pulled pork which had a bit of a kick to it and was an ample portion size and the Mac and cheese was a table favorite.
My husband and I previously came here for a late lunch on a Friday and the service was quick and the wings were delicious so maybe avoid it on a busy night.
My husband, sister and brother in law found ourselves here during Tenneyson's streets 1st Friday celebration. Â Service was excrutiangly slow. Â They were clearly understaffed to handle the crowd. Â Everything took a long time, drink orders, food orders, refills. Â It took 45 minutes for our meals to arrive and we saw the waitress once during that time. Â Â I ordered the cheese steak with a side of mashed potatoes. Â Husband ordered the catfish and a side of the mac and cheese. Â I was not a fan of the potatoes but the mac and cheese was tasty. Â The food tasted fine enough but I would not wait that long to have it in the future.
Review Source:After hearing and reading some mixed reviews about it I finally made it to Big Hoss BBQ the other day for lunch. Â I REALLY wanted to love it, as it's in a good location and I could see becoming a regular if it merited. Â I grew up in KC amid all of the BBQ joints and have been on the lookout for a go-to BBQ restaurant in Denver whenever the need for juicy, slow cooked meat hits me. Â Sadly, it looks like the quest continues.
I'm not sure what kind of kitchen worker would take meat that was cooked slow and low for several hours and place it on a completely burnt bun but for some reason that's exactly what they did. Â They didn't even take a second to scrap off the burnt parts before covering it with meat and sauce. Â Lazy? Â Contempt for the customer? Â Afraid to "waste" a bun? Â Who knows, but I'm guessing it's one reason why it was pretty much dead in there that day - and probably most others. Â It would've been great if the server/bartender had taken a moment to check back on the us, as I would've sent it back. Â Alas, she was too busy chatting it up with some dudes at the bar when she wasn't in the kitchen. Â And she never did come to check if things were OK, which a good server does a few minutes after dropping off the food. Â Like most others, my time is often short when I go out for lunch, so I ripped off the burnt parts on the top bun and put a bunch of BBQ sauce on it to try to drown out as much of the burnt taste as I could. Â Not exactly what I was looking for when I made my dining choice.
The fries were pretty good, the sauce a decent mix of sweet and spicy, and the beans had a nice taste with the extra veggies and spices - although I prefer pit style beans with my BBQ over the "firmer bean" type. Â However, the complete desecration of the meat and the poor service are likely to keep me from running back for more anytime soon.
BBQ is delicious - and I'm picky because I'm from Texas, so I like lots of sauce and brisket.
Unfortunately, they don't have burnt ends! Please, please get burnt ends on the menu!
I love the low bar seating and friendly atmosphere. I brought my parents in, because it's the only decent BBQ joint I've had in all of Denver, and they loved it!
The ribs are just amazing, and the sides are great too. I once had a brisket sandwhich there for lunch and immediately passed out for about 4 hours to digest it. It was that good.
Decent BBQ but could use some improvement. First, the BBQ sauce on the table was cold. I'm not talking room temperature, I'm talking, just pulled out of the cooler-cold. Â So, basically, I had to poor cold sauce on my hot BBQ. Second, there was a little too much fat on the brisket. The beans were a bit cold as well. All in all, it was good but not worth the price. If I'm going to pay $20 for a three-meat plate, I expect everything to be near perfect. The sausage was quite tasty, so was the pork. I also like the layout. The staff was not rude, but not overly friendly either.
Review Source:I feel the need to update my review as Big Hoss has fallen off my neighborhood favorites list into the "I wish this place was good again" list. Big Hoss used to be a friendly neighborhood joint where you could meet friends to watch a football game or relax with family. The food was good, but the sense of community was better. Over the past few months we've had so many experiences with rude and indifferent wait staff that I have found myself avoiding Hoss in favor of happier places on the Tennyson strip who also happen to now have better food. Not sure if the opening of the 2nd Big Hoss in Centennial led to this decline, but it seems like a possibility. No one seems to be running the house anymore and employees seem to think of their patrons as problems to be solved or pushed away. Here's hoping this one-time gem can turn the tide back around.
Review Source:Really 3.5 stars.
I like going for happy hour when they have half-price apps because those are my favorite things on the menu.
The smoked wings (hot wing sauce + Hoss bbq sauce) are delicious. For happy hour one pound is around $5.
The nachos are definitely one of my faves. House potato chips that stay crunchy, baked beans, pulled pork (you can choose from other meat selections or go without), cheese, jalepenos, and green onions. These are so good and it's a huge platter so it's great for sharing with the whole table.
When it's not happy hour or I want a sandwich, I usually go with the Memphis Belle which is pulled pork and coleslaw. It's pretty good. Their mac and cheese and fried okra are great sides. Their slaw always seems a little dry, like the dressing isn't thick enough to cling to the cabbage or something like that.
Their sauce is good - a balanced mix of tomato base, vinegar, spice, and sweet.
I'm kind of picky when it comes to Q, being from NC, and Hoss' is a lot better than some I've had in Denver but not the best. In my opinion, places that have such a variety of meats (pork shoulder, ribs, brisket, chicken, sausage) that are smoked have to cool them down to store them, and reheat them to serve which takes away a lot of the natural juiciness and tenderness that comes from slow smoking. In contrast, places that only have a few options can make it and serve it fresh from the smoker. For real, true, authentic BBQ, it needs to be the latter.
In town from southern California with a group of 12 people and found this place online. Outstanding BBQ and I'm not even a big BBQ person. Fried green tomatoes were awesome, sirloin was melt in your mouth delicious. Pecan pie, fried brownies and Jim Beam float off the charts.
To top it all off, our server, Amber, kept up with all of us and never skipped a beat. She even was patient enough with us to take about 15 photos of us outside of the restaurant after dinner and even brought out the cutout of the Most Interesting man in the World. Highly recommend this place!!!
I was passing through Denver and had a major BBQ jones. Looked through Yelp and settled on Big Hoss, which is in the Tennyson St. Cultural District, in which revitalization is well along. Nice street, nice space. Â The menu looked great, and the folks seemed nice. Â
The problem here, though, is that Big Hoss seems more like a bar than a restaurant, and the BBQ plays second fiddle to everything else. Their pit-smoked meats should be wonderful, but the method of serving them loses a couple of stars. I sat down in the open-to-the-street front area, ordered a plate of St. Louis ribs, and waited. And waited. And waited. Nothing. Asked a server, who said that the kitchen was busy. Â (The place was 3/4 empty.)
Seriously, at a BBQ place, an order of ribs should take about 5 minutes max. Pull out a slab, cut the ribs, plate them with the sides, done. But here, they smoke the ribs, pull them out of the pit, put them under a warmer, and then heat them on a grill or broiler and serve them. This means that (1) it takes forever to get served, and (2) the ribs that were probably awesome when they came out of the pit are now dry and chewy. They had plenty of good smoke flavor, but sadly had suffered in the time they sat before being served. Â It's too bad, since someone went to a lot of trouble to select and smoke that meat nicely. Â
So if you want a good-time dinner at a friendly bar, Big Hoss is great, but to a BBQ purist, it was sort of a shame.
When our friends suggested Big Hoss as a happy hour spot I was a bit cautious - the reviews on here made it sound like this is a serious dive with BBQ. I was happily surprised when we arrived. The place has a beautiful open patio out front, and then goes back into a huge wood bar. The was less than packed when we arrived at 5 on Friday, but by 6 it was packed. Their happy hour was great - $3 microbrew drafts and 1/2 priced apps. Our server recommended their fried green tomatoes and we were not disappointed. After a few rounds, we decided on food. I opted for the pulled pork, boyfriend got the ribs. Others at the table got burgers and sandwiches. Everyone loved their food and cleaned their plates. Boyfriend has high BBQ standard, and this place clearly passed.
I highly recommend checking it out.
I should begin by saying, I grew up eating BBQ in Oklahoma. Â Oklahoma pulls from KC, Texas, and South Carolina Styles of BBQ. Almost every rib joint is different and naturally you compare everything to what you grew up eating.
That said, Big Hoss doesn't make just one style of BBQ but tries to make the US tour of BBQ, it is the best I've had in Denver! Â I ordered a 3 meat plate and sampled off of everyone else's plate, so I sampled a St. Louis cut Rib, KC Pulled pork, Texas Brisket. Â Each were devoured with joy, but I think it may be a little too fancy for me. Â I have never eaten a St. Louis cut rib anywhere other than some major chain restaurant, I can appreciate the cleanliness of the meat and the simplicity of eating a groomed rib, but quite frankly, I don't like it. Â There is nothing a tasty as the rib-end and it is a shame that Big Hoss doesn't share them with us (I'm sure he is laughing as he nibbles each little savory morsel himself.) Â
The ribs had a basted sauce on top which paired well with the smoke, the meat was tender but not overcooked. If only there was an end to that poor rib.
The pulled pork was moist and tender. Perhaps perfect. Just the right amount of sauce tossed in.
The brisket, hmm, I wanted a little more crust, but what I did have in the serving was moist and tasty nontheless.
The Sauce is about as standard as a BBQ sauce should be, not too sweet, not too hot, not too runny... you get the point.
As far a ratings go, there can only be one 5 star BBQ Joint in my heart, but I would give Big Hoss an extra half star if Yelp let me.
Hello YUM.
If you are looking for a greasy meal in a quaint spot, this is your pit. BBQ pit that is. I had a pulled pork sandwich with sweet potato fries! Â Delicious! The table was supplied with sauces as well so I could make my humungous sandwich extra saucy! Finger lickin good. The wait staff is very friendly, not to mention I love this neighborhood. Definitely a must try!
I'm not sure how certain standard BBQ items would stand up to taste tests at Big Hoss, but I do know they have a pretty good lunch sandwich special and that, my friends, is a mixed pork and brisket sandwich. It's big, delicious and comes with your choice of one side. Since I'm terrible at making decisions when it comes to sides I had to order an extra. Hey, I wanted to try both the mac and cheese and the baked beans... what can I say?
Overall, I was pretty pleased with my lunch - the flavors were great and at right around $10 for a sandwich and a side the price was good too. The inside is all wood and friendly feeling, too. Plus the service was stellar. All in all that made me a fan.
As soon as I walked into this place, I could hear the band playing.. wasn't a fan, but hey, it's a nice touch. As soon as they announced some guys birthday, a group of guys by the band went back to buy the birthday boy a shot. Yeah, it's that kind of place. Very friendly, down to earth.
I definitely appreciated the selection of beers on tap... they even had an old favorite of mine, Pilsner Urquell on tap. Nice.
I recommend getting something like the three meat plate so you can try a few different things... The brisket was pretty juicy... and the pulled pork was full of flavor too (I'm a sucker for pulled pork!)... and the sausage was probably the most unique... comes with double cooked (battered) french fries... and corn brea... I had the jalapeno cheesy corn too... wanted to try some ribs, but too stuffed by then... but the best part? The bbq sauce... It's just awesome... definitely award worthy.
I reviewed this in a hurry, but I feel Hoss needs a proper review.
I have been going here for years, probably about the time my ex-wife packed up her stuff and left for DC. Â She and I didn't really explore the neighborhood much, and when I saw this place, I was rather interested. Â
This was all before the great kitchen fire of 2010ish.
So, I go.
I have some steak. Â
I have some bbq.
I have some wings.
I DO NOT WEIGH 300 POUNDS. Â
All were quite tasty.
For some odd reason, Hoss likes giving me alcohol. Â He has given me shots on several visits. Â His brother, without even having any idea of who I am (because I am obviously a big deal), allowed my brother and I to take a peek at their beautiful custom made smoker. Â
This place is great, friendly, happy. Â
Get the fried green tomatoes.
Get the 14 minute wings.
And try the ribeyes.
Also, the sausage is pretty good as well.
I'm not sure if we're talking about a nickname for badass, partner or the one who is a beast that can do anything he wants? Regardless, I don't think this compliment fits.
This was my second visit. I like to review after the second visit just to give a place a chance to win me back or reaffirm my decision to keep coming back for more.
My second visit found a few neighborhood locals at the bar very drunk and very loud. Strike one. Hey, I know it's not the establishments fault but you have to keep those "f" bombs from flying in a family centric neighborhood less you loose your base. We were seated next to the bar. When the swearing started we asked to move and had to do it ourselves, no help from the staff.
The Guinness tap was broken. Strike two. Keep that beer flown'.
It took way too long to get our orders taken and they were a little too quick bringing out my toddlers Mac N Cheese. Not necessarily a bad thing but not good too.
The Sirloin steak was good. And that's about it. The catfish Po Boy the same. the Mac n Cheese was kick'n though. My first trip I got the sampler and as far as BBQ, I'd search out something else.
Having BBQ from Chicago & Memphis, albeit a different style and flavor, I was not impressed with Big Hoss. But I have not yet tried the St Louis ribs so my next review could be completely different.
This was my experience. Every Saturday my work buys us lunch. I like to try new places and we felt like BBQ.
Keep in mind Franks, a catering company, is 2 blocks away. Now that place has some great BBQ. There is also a Brothers across the street. I also enjoy going to brothers maybe a few times a year.
I'm not a big BBQ kind of guy unless I have the rest of my day cleared for going into a food coma. I enjoy it though but wouldn't call myself an expert by any means.
With all that being said I was expecting some really good BBQ at this place. I ordered a western burger, my co workers ordered the brisket plate and a bacon cheese burger.
I didn't get very good BBQ. It was ok. I've been to way better places. The portion sizes were also very small. I'm not a raging fat ass or anything like that but I do like to stuff my face and relieve my chubby days every now and again. Not enough food for what we paid for. I didn't pay so I guess you could say I can't complain but I disagree. When going to a restaurant I factor price into my review as well.
I don't need to go to a all you can eat $6.95 panda buffet to be satisfied and give a place 5 stars.
Did I finish my food? Fuck yah I did but we could've walked over to Franks for the same general price and gotten AMAZING BBQ. Also, I understand I ordered my food to go but I didn't have to drive very far. I waited for it and the fries came out limp. The brisket portion for my co worker was somewhat laughable.
I'd be willing to give it another chance one day but there are just too many better places that deserve my attention. Save some time and go to brothers. You'll get your food fast, cheaper and way better that way.
Holy Shiitakes! Â SO MUCH FOOD! Â If you even remotely like BBQ you have to go to Big Hoss. Â One of their side dish options is cheesy corn. I thought to myself "oh, cheesy corn... I have seen that in the freezer section at the store!" Â Well, no no no... they drench this corn in spicy, creamy, delicious goodness. Â Ive never had anything like it. Â The ribs were also fantastic. Â I actually fought over the remaning rib with a 10 year old. Â
The food is GOOOOOOD!
Did I notice that your portions have been cut back my 1/2 or more? Yes.
And that the $$ didn't decrease? yes. Yes I did.
This only in the last month or so...not sure what's up, but I'm not a fan.
Because I always counted on the fact that shelling out a few extra clams got me a killer meal - and now it gets me a diner-sized meal for an exorbitant price.
FYI - They no longer have fried chicken.
Staff is always friendly - as is Hoss. Drinks on gamedays are still a fav.
So happy I found this place. Big Hoss delivers on some great BBQ.
He smokes all of the meat on-site and Hoss' brisket is all smokey goodness.
Try the cheesy corn...Similar to mac and cheese, but with corn instead of pasta.
The other thing that was really noticeable was the cleanliness. The place is spotless. Hoss had all the windows up front open at lunch and there was not a bug in sight. Not sure how he pulls that off, but I'm pretty sure it has to do with cleaning.
I have been to Big Hoss a few times in the last year and Hoss always delivers the goods. Growing up in the deep South I have a long, deep seated love for good pulled pork BBQ and the Kansas City plate delivers.
The service is attentive and friendly (at least at the bar where we always sit).
Great place to catch a game, grab a beer and eat some less than healthy but damn tasty southern style food.
I like this place a lot. Â Like others say, the bar itself is a great set up - perfect for having a single dinner, or meeting up with friends in a more than friendly atmosphere. Â The wings are great, the bacon burger rocks, and I enjoy most of their BBQ. Â But yes, there is some inconsistency and although I keep thinking that will change, perhaps it's why we keep going back. Â It is a locals joint, and yet still a good place to take out of towners.
  However, today I'm adding Big Hoss to my list for:  Favorite Places to Watch The world Cup.  Hoss is pledging to have all the matches going, and open up early for those AM games that may go great with a beer - or bloody mary.  I'm sure he will also have some good specials as well.
  Tennyson St is a cool place to visit - and Big Hoss is a good stop if you are strolling by - or looking for a great place to watch a game.
Atmosphere is fun. Service was great. Memphis sandwich was delicious. Baked beans were awesome. Mixed grill (green beans, mushrooms and onions) should have been a lot better but I guess 4 outta 5 ain't bad.
At first glance the prices seemed a nit high but than I saw the size of the portions and thought the price was perfect. The misses and I were able to share one sandwich and the two sides and it was the perfect amount. I was jealous of my friend who got the ribs. They were awesome and for ten bucks two sides it was a good deal. He had mashed potatoes which weren't outta sight but were very good.
I would come back but I'm not sure if it had enough of a draw to make me actually crave coming back.
Ok, I have been back to this place twice, I just love the atmosphere and the ambiance of this place.
And the food is spot on, last night I have the chicken, which you can get several different styles from Carolina, Memphis to KC...I had Memphis style and it was perfectly tender and had a lovely smoked flavor. Â I had the baked beans and cheese corns as my sides both also very good. Â the Mr. had rib eye and the mixed grill and was also very impressed.
We also met a partner there and he was very entertaining and engaging. Â
This is once of my new favorites
My .02 is anyone who gave this place more than 3 stars has never had REAL barbecue! Â The couple of people here who have actually lived where BBQ is King know that this place is a sham!
Being from Eastern NC, the home of Barbecue, the place where it all began (hence the no tomatoes in the sauce since back then tomatoes were said to be poisonous!) I have worked at a smokehouse and know what I am doing and that this place is all show, no go!
This place is good for the democrat, yuppie Highlandites that like throwing money at stuff that isn't worth it. Â It's also good for beer drinkin' Texans that like brisket. I tried liking this place but have taken my tastebuds elsewhere.
Oh yeah, the service is extremely SLOOOWWWW.
Big Hoss is nothing special. The interior is a mix between a doctor's office and a sports bar. Even though I don't personally like the atmosphere, it is well done. All the TV's match and there isn't tacky western knick-knacks on the wall like most BBQ restaurants. The outdoor seating is really cool for a casual lunch. Their windows come out to serve a patio fell while keeping the outside noise level to a minimum.
The food strikes a perfect balance between greasy and dry. The barbecue sauce is sweet but not overpowering. With that said, how hard is it to cook good barbecue? Most people could probably reproduce what you can get there. So if you have any culinary prowess, save yourself $10 and just cook it yourself. (They sell BBQ sauce by the bottle there so it's a good place to start.)
This was some delicious BBQ and was a great introduction to my first Denver culinary experience, one hour after I had stepped off the plane from Seattle. I came here with my friend, who lives in Denver and recommended that I try this place.
We first started off with the bbq'd chicken nachos, which were amazing. Instead of normal tortilla chips, they used kettle chips, which brought out more of the flavor of the bbq sauce.
For my entree I had the St. Louis style pork ribs. There was plenty of meat on each rib and there was great smoke flavor. Included with the ribs was my choice of a side, which was the cheesy corn, which as you can imagine, was very cheesy.
A great place, and if I am in Denver again, I will make another stop here to try something else.
Not certain why people go so crazy for ths place. Â It's pretty good-- the pork ribs are actually quite good. Â But anything else from the pit (chicken or buffalo ribs) is, in my experience, usually very overdone. Â This happened on all three of my visits. I like a little variety in my BBQ. Â
That said, they are very nice when something is sent back and are sure to accomodate and make their customers happy. Â So food-wise, Big Hoss is a very good place for pork ribs-- which I like-- but that's it. Â And yes-- Hoss is a fun guy and that helps.
Delicious Colorado BBQ at its best!
Bring up the subject of BBQ in a group of strangers, and you're likely to get as many opinions as there are people. Which state invented it, what makes the best sauce base, how long to smoke it, and who makes the best ribs.
For the record, I do. I make the best ribs.
At any rate, talking BBQ is like talking religion or politics. Just... don't. You're not going to convert anyone and you're likely just going to end up being punched in the nose. Or punching someone in the nose. Or crying. So add it to the "don't touch this with a ten-foot pole" topics: religion, politics, and BBQ.
However... because this IS a review, I'm touching it. And then I'll duck and run.
Big Hoss (and yes, there really IS a Hoss behind the name; he was hanging out with all his loyal customers the day we came in) isn't a sloppy, saucy, smoky joint with sawdust on the floor and styrofoam plates. On the contrary, it's a clean, upscale, high-end 'cue restaurant serving organic meats and four-- count 'em, FOUR-- different ways to get potatoes on the side. I've never met a potato I didn't like, and the three options our group tried (steak fries, hand cut chips, and campfire style) were all fantastic.
Also fantastic: the fried pickles. So different... so good.
I ordered the St. Louis ribs (award winning!) and MAN were they ever good! The meat literally fell off the bone, and there was just enough sauce to make it savory without being sloppy. Of course there's a bottle of extra stuff on the table should you LIKE it sloppy! Okay... so maybe it was a little bit sloppy... but it's BBQ. If you're not slightly sticky when you're done eating, you're doing something wrong.
Speaking of slightly sticky, it'd be nice if Big Hoss offered wet-naps at the end of the meal. You know... just in case you've got somewhere to go after your meal.
Bonus points for having the NFL Sunday Ticket and a raucous football crowd of all team denominations! Hoss himself, cruising the place with remote control in hand, made it a point to ensure that each patron had his or her game of choice on at least one of the many TVs. Calling most customers by name, Hoss seemed to be the kind of guy well suited to giving a place a real "neighborhood feel."
Big Hoss BBQ is really perfect for Denver. I mean, we're NOT the deep south... with its ancient BBQ traditions and BBQ wars. We're the new west. We like our stuff organic and our floors sawdust-free. We like a high-end selection  of whiskeys and microbrews alongside our Bud Light. We like friendly amicability to accompany our great food. Damn, we're cool.
Based on past experiences here, I'd give four stars. Â Mostly because I love bringing four or five (hungry) friends for the all-you-can-eat gluttony they offer.
But my wife and I went tonight, on a slow Monday, and had pretty mundane food. Â The BBQ was not even hot, like the cooks were watching the football game and didn't want to wait for the ribs to heat in the oven. Â The biscuits were very obviously not scratch baked (have they always been so hideous??). Â Now, Hoss wasn't there tonight, but after being open for several years, the place should be able to run itself. Â
And for the record, whether or not people like the Hoss BBQ, they are flat wrong if they say it is too sweet. Â It is NOT at all like the thick, sweet sauces you find in the supermarket; in fact, it is one of the thinner, more vinegar based sauces you'll have. Â This is not to say that you'll love it, but just don't get the wrong impression of it. Â I've had BBQ in Memphis, and THAT is sickly sweet...
Big Hosssssssssssss (guttural sound here)
Where else can you get FRIED PICKLES?
or
BBQ SPAGHETTI?
Big Hosssssssssssss (I just like saying it)
Back in the day, Big Hoss used to be a pool hall (along with the restaurant next to it). I wanted to check the new space out, especially since I driven by hundreds of times.
We went for lunch on a Monday afternoon and sat by the front window. Our waitress greeted us and offered to take our drink order. In fact, she had to come back a couple of times as we were busy yakking. There were two female employees that waited on us and they were pros. Granted, the place was empty.
We both ordered "Daily Specials". I had the BBQ sandwich with homemade potato chips and my friend had the ribs with onion slivers. We also had the $2.50 beer-on- tap special. The food overall was pretty good. I would go back again when I have a hankerin' for BBQ. Tab for lunch: $24 - not including tip.
The remodel is okay: Lot of ambient light from the street. Large sidewalk windows that open during warmer months. I don't get the need for SIX ceiling fans in a small area though. The rest of the place is kind of dark (it is a bar after all). The tin ceiling tiles are a nice touch.
Three Words: FRIED GREEN TOMATOES
I wanted to hold off reviewing Big Hoss BBQ before I returned to Mecca (Kansas City) to re-orient my palette to what perfect BBQ tasted like.
Sorry Denverites, but this ain't it.
Where do I begin with why this just isn't good BBQ?
First: There is no barbecue sauce which works well with all kinds of meat. I know that you would be tempted to THINK that if it involved a cost savings of not making your own BBQ sauce but it's not the case.
Pork gets a vinegar sauce, beef gets a tomato based sauce. If you want to get wacky you can make up a mustard sauce for your chicken and a white sauce if you're in Alabama.
The sauce here is a thick, molassesy, spicy red tar which will completely mask the flavor of anything you're eating. Which may be the goal when you see/taste their meat.
Second:Meat (And that is to say Fish, Fowl, Beef, and anything you want to call barbecue) is slowly smoked indirectly. It is not cooked over a wood fire, and it's certainly not cooked using charcoal like they do here.
If you've wondered why their meat lacks the classic smokey flavor that we associate we barbecue (We being Westerners, BBQ aficionados, MEN) the lack of a smoker could be it.
The brisket here is frankly disgusting. It's cut Texas style, which I prefer to the thinly sliced KC style, but the meat isn't smoked long enough so the fat and gristle shine horribly when your 3 pieces of beef land in front of you. If a restaurant is failing, I can understand trying to skimp on the portions but Big Hoss is always busy and their prices are outrageously expensive for what is supposed to be a people's food.
The pork has a weird texture to it which is really hard to describe. It almost feels like it was left sitting out at room temperature, and then reheated. It has a very waxy quality to it.
The chicken is not worth mentioning. It's not special and has the same waxy sheen that the pork has.
The positives are the sides. The fries are really amazing, and their cheese nips are to die for. They are deep fried, battered cheese curds.
Like everything else in this place though, they are over priced and the portion is not generous whatsoever.
The atmosphere is nice though the service can be lackluster. There are no male waiters which always makes me suspicious of ownership.
You would do much better heading one block up and one block over and eating at Brickyard which is reasonably priced and MUCH better.
After reading about all the Best of Westword awards this place received, I knew I had to try it...and I friggin' loved this place.
Walking in I felt very comfortable. Â The ambiance is great, and I love the huge wrap around bar. Â My husband and I sat at the bar, naturally, and had the pleasure of being served by Big Hoss himself. Â He's such a personable guy, who seems to really care about sending out quality food (that was made with love and patience) and excellent service. Â An example of this was when he stopped our appetizer on it's way out, and made the kitchen redo it...due to being a little overcooked.
We started with an order of Fried Cheese Curds as an app. Â The winner of the Best of Westord Fried Cheese was absolutely a must try...and it was amazing! Â Fried cheese might be one of the greatest inventions...ever...in my opinion. Â And this was one of the best! Â Reminded me of the cheese curds I would get at the state fair back in my youth.
For dinner I had the rib combo-baby back and bison.  My husband ordered the 2 meat combo plate with pork and hot links.  All of the meat was amazing: slow smoked, pink and juicy on the inside, and a  nice crispy char on the outside.  Their bbq sauce comes on the side, so you can add as much as you want or none at all (it doesn't really need it).  The sauce is very good as well...great flavor...slightly sweet with a little kick.
Even the side dishes were amazing. Â I loved the cheesey corn. Â Think mac & cheese, using corn instead of pasta. Â I also had the mashed potatoes with white gravy...pretty standard...no complaints there. Â My husband had the beans which were excellent...this coming from someone who is not a huge bean fan. Â I never order them, and would actually think of ordering these. Â Great flavor, chunks of pork...yum.
Overall I really enjoyed this place. Â Quality bbq and great service, in a relaxed atmosphere. Â It is a little pricier than most bbq joints...but I was okay with it due to the quality of the food. Â
Cheap tip: Apparently on Saturday nights they have all you can eat pork for around $10.00, along with $2.00 New Belgium drafts. Â You bet I'll be back for that!
I don't read movie reviews before I see them because I want to judge something on its own merits without tainting my thoughts with someone else's bias.
It's inherently difficult to be a Yelper and not read other's reviews before trying a restaurant - especially when half the reason I know a place exists is because of some Yelp reviews. Â Hoss' reviews range from the fantastic to the abyssmal... Having said that - This place is effing fantastic. Â
I think the differences in experiences are typical of a newer place, mixed expectations and whether or not Hoss is in the house.
Lacey and I ordered the cheese nips. Â I watched a girl bring them out - they looked a little over browned as they were on their way to us. Â I then watched as Hoss saw them, stopped her, turned her around and sent her back to the kitchen. Â A few minutes later Hoss himself delivers perfectly golden browned cheese bites that seemed like I got them from a vendor at a Wisconsin Cheese Festival.
Their whiskey/bourbon selection is great. Â Whiskey and Q are old friends, but most Q places lack a liquor license.
I ordered the two meat plate (so Lacey could have sausage) and she ordered the Combo Ribs. Â I had cheesy corn, which is an oddity, but I liked it... and the Baked Beans - meaty and delicious.
Big portions (which they should be for the price) of slow cooked meat. Â Not slopped in sauce to cover shoddy workmanship, but lightly sauced to highlight the smoke and tenderness of the meat.
The prices are a touch on the high side, and they could serve a bit more of the beans than they do... but I left feeling like it was worth every penny.
This place is great in so many ways! Â We were greeted right away, and while there weren't any tables free, we were able to go to the bar, and get $2 Fat Tires on a Saturday night. Â The bartender was very friendly as well!
The food is the highlight. Â We tried the pork, the brisket, and the sausage. Â All were very good, but the sausage was special! Â I also recommend their bbq sauce, in fact , I should have tried to buy a bottle for take-home.
Only 2 things I can be cranky about. Â First, they ran out of ribs by 8pm. Â What BBQ place runs out of ribs?!? Â Second, they thought the wait for a table would be 20 mins, turned out to be more like 45. Â That wasn't as big of a deal, because the place was so enjoyale.
The atmosphere is great... it's a bit more upscaled than the typical bbq place -- no peanuts on the floor! Â The crowd was a mix -- cool 20-somethings, some 30 somethings, and a couple older couples who apparantly knew where to go for good bbq!
I immediately texted some good friends after going there -- telling them that they gotta check this place out. Â I'll certainly go back!
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