Worth trying: Goldee’s BBQ
Photo credit: Goldee’s Barbecue (4645 Dick Price Rd, Fort Worth, TX 76140; Open Friday, Saturday, Sunday 11 am - 3 pm)
Come, dear reader, and join me in the not-so-distant past.
The year is 2021. We are living through Zoom screens and rooting for the freedom of Miss Britney Jean Spears. We’ve heard whispers of a Bennifer reunion (can it be true??) and had dreams of getting our grubby little hands on a COVID vaccine. It was a time to be alive.
Somewhere in between all of this, some very exciting (and surprising) news came out of Texas.
After an era of reign from recurring barbecue greats of Snows and Franklins… a new ranking of the top 50 BBQ joints was published. And on the top of the list was a place few had heard of: Goldee’s Barbecue.
I was among the people saying asking more about this newcomer. I had never heard of Goldee’s and, according to the article, it was barely surviving about 15 minutes from my house.
You are telling me the best BBQ in all of Texas is here in Fort Worth?? And I have been sleeping on it?? 2021 was just full of surprises.
Pure Gold
When the list went live in April of 2021, I was one of many who knew I needed to venture out to taste “food that’s close to perfection.” I won’t claim to be a barbecue devotee, but you can’t live in Texas and not become a bit of a connoisseur.
During the pandemic, my husband and I would break up our road trips with our teardrop camper by stopping in spots highlighted on the previous Best Of lists. Barbecue is a reliable treat when you’ve been living off the grid for a few days and I have to say, most places on the top 50 are solid options. But the difference between really good barbecue and really great is a slim margin. Despite this, you’ll know it when you know it.
That was the case the first time I tasted Goldee’s. It was meat magic. Candy. Something almost otherworldly. It was like you finally tasted what you had been aspiring to at all the other places. And I’m not just talking about the brisket… everything at Goldee’s just kind of sings. This is not a place to skimp on the sides and go heavy on the meat. Do go heavy on the meat… but also get the sides. And also the banana pudding while you are at it.
There is nothing on this menu that isn’t worth trying. Top of my list are always the beans (think a stewed brisket chili), potato salad (onion and mustard forward) and cheesy grits. It might be the southerner in me, but I could live off of those three sides alone and the soft, fluffy, homemade white bread that accompanies every platter.
But, alas, there are also meats.
Goldee’s has a well-rounded offering that includes top-notch pork and turkey. You’ll find pork ribs, pork belly, brisket, beef ribs, turkey and sausage as the regulars on the menu. As long as you get there by 9:30 or 10 a.m., you’ll likely be able to try all six.
Staying Golden
The food is, without a doubt, exceptional. But the reason I’m a repeat visitor is because the place is so relaxed and staff incredibly kind. There is a sign at the register that says, “No meanies,” and it’s clear this is something the crew lives by. It feels like you are walking into a friends place (one that has recently cooked the best bbq in Texas, but a friend none-the-less) and they are delighted to see you.
Here are some of the little touches they do which make your experience feel so exceptional:
Folding chairs while you wait. Grab from the pile and cozy up to your neighbors while you wait for the doors to open.
Free water and beer. This is Texas so staying hydrated is a priority for most of the year. Goldee’s keeps a cooler stocked so while you wait, and while you dine, so you have plenty of water at your fingertips. On nearly every occasion I’ve been, they also have a cooler of beer stocked with local cans from some of the best breweries in the area. There are also sometimes what I’ll call ‘experimental beers’ (I’m looking at you, Ecto Cooler) that make it in the mix. Choose your path wisely. Puking green before you make it to the register doesn’t prime your pallet in the best manner, IMO. So just think it through.
Burnt end treats. Give me a little treat and you’ll have my heart forever. Goldee’s delivers. Be patient and you’ll find the crew hands out burnt end samples to snap you back to life while you wait in line and remind you that, yes, this will be the best BBQ of your life.
Easy atmosphere. There are some places that you get to the register and you feel like you have exactly 30 seconds to make your order and you better move on. Not here. They’ll ask you what you like, where you are from… then give you a little treat and see what else you want to order. I am one of those people who will have my ordered written down before I get to the register and then crumble, magnificently, under the pressure. That doesn’t happen here. They let you take your time, add or change an order, and help you figure out the perfect combo to get what you need.
To-go containers at the ready. It’s a small inconvenience but noticable when restuarants make it difficult to get to-go containers - especially at a barbecue joint where you are likely ordering with leftovers in mind. So when Goldee’s stocks their to-go packaging in the main dining space, it’s easy to grab what you need - lids, boxes, bags - and pack up your goodies without having to skirt back to the register to negotiate the to-go container options.
My tips to get the most out of your Goldee’s visit
Arrive on time. Preferrably around 9:30 a.m. and expect to wait. This isn’t a 4 a.m. arrival spot so be thankful you just need to sit through the next hour and a half.
Bring friends. Barbecue is better when shared… and it also helps with that 1.5 hour wait.
Try it all. Do not skimp, people. Get all the sides and get a big version of the beans, grits and potato salad. And if you are thinking of trying a meat, just order a sample! You will regret not doing it. And we can’t be living with regrets, folks!
Be nice. I would think this goes without saying, but lately I’m not so sure. You need to be kind. You will have to wait. You may have people in front of you that need to take their time. You may find out they sold out of something or items didn’t make it on the menu. It’s fine. You aren’t saving babies today, Dan. You are eating barbecue. Take your little treat and go sit down.
Share the good. Buy a hat. Buy a shirt. Tell your friends and come back again. Incredibly, Goldee’s almost went out of business during it’s first two years of business as a casualty of the global pandemic. Imagine if we had never gotten to eat those delicious pork ribs!!
But really, this is a great reminder that if you love a place, support it. Spend your money and tell your friends and go back again and again so we can keep great businesses in business.