Double S BBQ

Reviews 6

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Stephaney Olson

Nothing is charming about serving overpriced food on disposable plates and I dont think this style fits in Madison. We went to Double S entirely willing to pay a premium for local, Mom and Pop cooking and left very disappointed. Strike 1: the $2.50 can of Dr. Pepper. For that price I was blown away that I wasnt handed a gallon of soda in true Texas style. However, soda was not what we came for, so I got over it. Strike 2: BF ordered ribs, but received brisket plate. This actually turned out fine because as an apology he was able to keep the brisket AND the ribs, so I guess that made his meal worth the price (and made this a 3-star review rather than 2). Strike 3: flavor :( If I put a chunk of beef and salt in a pressure cooker for 45 minutes, drained the juice, and slapped it on a store-bought bun I would have been happier. Nothing about the brisket tastes BBQ or smoked. Slathering on the "Hot" BBQ sauce helped. The mandatory side (for the sandwiches) of fries and pickle were hella boring and Im pretty sure not homemade. Ribs were pretty good. Next time I want BBQ I will go to Brickhouse or even Famous Daves before I would go back to Double S. If youre going to play the small business card, your food has to back you up. Edit: Smoky Jons #1 BBQ (east side) is much better and now my favorite. Still has disposable plates though :(

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Greg Hogan

Note: the visit to Double S that this review is based on was during the first weekend in February of 2017. Im from St. Louis and my girlfriend hails from Texas. We know BBQ, and at least until they can get their permit to use their outdoor smoker at their current location, what Double S is serving is NOT barbecue. They try very hard to make the place look "Texas authentic" with the decor, but it comes off as nearly parody. We ordered the brisket, and what we got was barely seasoned pot roast. I understand that theyve run into difficulties with using their smoker, and Id like to give them the benefit of the doubt, but they should not be advertising their product as BBQ, and certainly not at the prices. The beef had no rub or spices on it, and no good char. It felt like they werent even trying to create a viable stand-in for BBQ. The two sauces they offered were fairly weak; too much ketchup goes into that mix. Portions were ok, but the sides were bland. An obscene amount of fries doesnt make the difference. They served the food on styrofoam plates, which I find lazy, wasteful, and environmentally careless--perhaps the most Texas-y thing about them.

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Stephen Wasmund

Ahhh, Texas smoked brisket. I had the beef brisket and smoked sausage plate with a side of corn, slice of pie, and of course, a Shiner. The brisket was just slightly salty for my taste at the first taste, but a swig of beer and a second bite balanced everything :-) Overall, it was very tasty! Price ($16.99 for the 2 meat,1 side, plate) was reasonable for a portion large enough to give me a decent sized doggie bag. I dont eat much meat, and feel ok paying an honest price for what is an expensive product. Its a casual, quick service BBQ joint. The only thing that could have made the "presentation" better is if it were served on butcher paper (like City Market in Luling, TX) with a side of Mrs Bairds bread and the option of Blue Bell ice cream with the pie :-) A fun fit for Monroe St with an easy atmosphere. Chat with Shon and Sarah if you get a chance.

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Adam Buckingham

Unremarkable. The brisket was ok, but a little tough and dry. The potato salad was not good. The menu lacks variety. There are several sections on the menu, but they are just different ways to eat brisket, ribs and sausage. I like brisket ribs and sausage, but it just felt uninspired. The loaded baked potatoes seemed special on paper, but it turned out to just be a soupy and greasy carton of butter, meat, beans and cheese with a potato at the bottom. The price was a little higher than it should have been for a plate of meat with one side and a pickle. Another side and some cornbread would have made the value a little better. The decor feels contrived and the atmosphere is nothing special. I was hoping to like Double S, because Monroe Street could use a good barbecue restaurant, but this sadly isnt it.

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Patrick Kelly

I saw the post reference jalapeno poppers and thought I would make a special trip from Sun Prairie to get some. I arrived around 330p and there was a note on the door that said they would return in 20 minutes. I waited about 25 minutes and called the phone number. The woman that answered said they would be back at 425p. I still waited. No-show at 425p. I called again at 440 and was told they would be opening in "a few minutes." I waited another 10 minutes and left. All told, I waited for about 90 minutes when the note said "be back in 20." Terrible customer service isnt worth cheap jalapeno poppers. Ill take my business to That BBQ Joint which is open when they say theyre going to be open.

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Molly Howard

Great ribs at a truly genuine Texas-style restaurant! Seriously delicious and really reasonable prices for the area. The owners are fun and friendly, and the paper plates and red solo cups add to the casual atmosphere. Service is rough around the edges, but will hopefully improve as they get settled into their new location. And Im all for supporting local, independent businesses, especially considering theyve had some unreasonable opposition from the neighborhood association for their meat smoker. (Who doesnt love the delicious smell of smoked meat?!)

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