Texan Bar-B-Q in Lombard

I went to The Texan Bar-B-Q restaurant in Lombard 2 weeks ago and was pleased with the sauce, smoky with a kick and a lasting taste in your mouth. My friend, who lives around there, said it was not good but he went about 4-5 years ago for their grand opening. I told him he should give it another try. It's too hard to judge a restaurant when it's only been open a day or two.
Well I went back there again for another try and boy was I disappointed. The first time, I had the pork sandwich which when I got it, I thought they made a mistake and gave me brisket. The pork was sliced thinly and placed in between the bun. Kinda wierd but it wasn't bad. I spoke with the owner and asked about the brisket. She said they slice it thin and throw the burnt ends away! I asked her to keep the ends for chopping for sandwiches.
This time I ordered the 3 meat dinner, smoked sausage, baby back and brisket. The sausage was decent, that's about all I can say. The brisket was thinly sliced, about a half millimeter thick...no kidding. It was flavorless and EXTREMELY dry! I think brisket needs to be sliced thicker to retain the moisture or at least chopped. They still just throw away the burnt ends. The ribs, which say they are smoked were not smoked at all. Gray bones, no smoke flavor, no reddish tinge in the meat. For what I think were a steamed or boiled rib, it did fall off the bone and was tender, but it should be if cooked that way.
They will give you the orders without sauce which I did. Now I know why they sauce everything normally.
Sides were good. I had the dill potato salad and the beans.
So, to sum up my second experience, Not very good Bar-B-Q. Seems like the locals like it however cause it always has a good crowd. The sauce I would definely go back there for. They do sell their sauces.
http://texanbbq.com/pages/home.html

I have eaten here three times and I totally agree with EvilUs on his assessment. Ribs were meat jelloish, with no smoke taste. Brisket only so so and not worth going back for. Third plate tried was a smoked turkey club. I'm betting the turkey said Hormel or some such. So why give the place three tries? As EvilUs says, the sides are pretty good. But what I really like is their chili. It is really meaty, with brisket chunks aplenty and your choice of several heat levels. A bowl of chili and a side would make for a nice lunch.

I definitely agree with thick and have said it multiple times, including here: http://www.lthforum.com/bb/viewtopic.php?p=73597#73597, the Texan makes very good chili, and you can get it with the level of heat you want, including pretty darned hot.

For barbecue in this neck of the wood, Uncle Bub's does a somewhat better job, most of the time though it is variable, too. Still using a Southern Pride cooker which means it can be okay, or very mushy, but more often it is okay. Because of the variability I tend not to spend the money on their ribs, usually going with the smoked meat they do as the special of the day, pig, ham, brisket, etc.

But the chili at the Texan is the best dish at either place, by far. Too bad the other stuff at the Texan is so lousy. Drive south to Uncle Bub's and grab some Q, or even better head over to White Fence Farm at Fairview and the Burlington RR in DG to grab some fried chicken.

http://www.unclebubs.com/