Hickory

Before getting into the details, I want to point out that I don’t particularly like barbecue… I know, shocking. I was kind of annoyed that my husband made a reservation here yesterday. Anyway, with low expectations we entered Hickory and decided to just sit at the bar since it wasn’t too busy. I liked the atmosphere of the place and the staff was super nice and attentive. The drinks were very tasty — I love the different house infused vodkas (citrus, grapefruit, pineapple). We were there during happy hour so those $ 9 drinks were only $ 6! We ordered the blue cheese fries, which my husband loved. Some things, like the infused vodkas and the blue cheese fries, reminded me of Kent R’s Jasper’s restaurant so that was cool.
I ordered the Texas Roadhouse burger with sweet potato fries and my husband got the 3 meat ¹⁄₃^rd pound thing and a side of brussel sprouts. I loved my burger… it was really good! So were the sweet potato fries, they were perfect. My husband really liked the ribs. I tried his chicken and brisket… wasn’t a fan of the chicken but again I’m not a BBQ fan so I didn’t like the smokey taste. Otherwise it seemed moist and tender. The brisket was actually surprisingly good (minus the BBQ sauce… I know, I’m weird). Brussel sprouts weren’t as crispy as I hoped they would be and it looked like they had bacon in them which I was disappointed by because that wasn’t mentioned in the menu. Lately, I haven’t been caring for the flavor or texture of bacon. That was also the problem I had with the blue cheese fries but we didn’t order that off of the menu, it was suggested by the bartender. But there seemed to be bacon crumbles… for most, like my husband, this is a good thing.
Overall, I would come back! I like that they have sandwiches in addition to BBQ and the drinks were very good. Great atmosphere and nice staff. I know other reviewers had problems with prices… for me, I guess I was comparing this to the Jasper prices since that’s the only other Kent R. restaurant we’ve been to. So I thought the prices were very reasonable! BBQ aside, $ 10 for a burger and fries is pretty average I think. Happy hour on a Saturday from 4 – 7 isn’t something you find everywhere and the HH drink prices are very good.

The drinks were yummy to my tummy! I loved the Big Daddy and White Sangria! I was not impressed with the food. I had chicken tacos which came out cold. They lacked in flavor and were a very big disappointment as I am a foodie. The hickory smell inside was pleasant and made me think my food would be full of flavor. I am a fan of other restaurants linked to the owner. I will drink here but not EAT here. The 3 stars is for drinks and ambience. Food is 0 stars.

The Smoked Burnt Ends Chili Burger may be the best burger I’ve ever eaten. I look forward to returning and trying many more things. Thank you for a great culinary experience!

I’ve been here several times and have always left happy. Nice cocktails, high quality meat, friendly service, and an atmosphere that does a good job balancing casual and moderately upscale.

Disappointed I order the lunch special to go and what I got they would be better off not even including fries then to skimp on them to this degree.

Disclaimer: This meal was paid for with a gift card that I received from the GM of Hickory based on a conversation that he and I had as a result of my last review. I have not, do not and never will trade reviews for favors; I promised the GM that I would review this visit using the exact «lens» that I would if I had spent my own money. With that in mind…
My return visit revealed that, perhaps, the wheelhouse of Hickory is their burgers and sandwiches. We sampled the smoked sausage fondue for starters, and the Texas Roadhouse Burger and Shaved Pork Cuban Sandwich for entrees. The fondue came in a little cast iron pot, and although it didn’t seem like a lot of cheese, it outlasted the sausage. While the cheese had a rich flavor and perfect texture (allowing it to adhere nicely to the meat), the sausage was a little bland. I liked the grind (a little coarse), but I was hoping for more smoke flavor and spice. There were some pickled onions and fresh jalapeño slices provided, and they added a nice flavor component.
But the sandwiches were the real stars of this visit. My selection was the Cuban, and although I generally prefer them played more straight, this was a very nice variation on the classic. The apply-​chayote slaw had a great sweet yet tangy flavor and crunch, and the substantial but not overbearing pickle planks enhanced the crunch even more. The pork had a mild but noticeable smoke and great flavor, and had a nice moisture content. Swiss cheese and mustard were applied in just the right amount to complete the flavor, but didn’t dominate.
The roadhouse burger featured a good sized medium cooked patty with grilled onions, smoky, semi-​thick cut bacon and smoky cheddar cheese. Both it and the Cuban were served on grilled Texas toast, always a plus in my book. Both sandwiches were very tasty, and as I said previously, this is where the strength of this restaurant seems to lie. If you weren’t overly impressed by the BBQ, definitely try the burgers. Admittedly, the competition is stiff in the burger space, but these are great examples.
Oh, and I almost forgot the fries: I tried both the regular and sweet potato fries, and while I found the former to be a fairly average example, the sweet potato fries were very good, featuring a nice crispy exterior and creamy, sweet interior, and they were perfectly seasoned.

Fancy place by famous chef, Kent Rathbun! The bbq is out of this world but it’s pricey! I want to come back but my wallet won’t allow it!
FOOD: ⁵⁄₅
SERVICE: ⁵⁄₅
AMBIANCE: ⁵⁄₅
PRICE: $$$

Surprisingly disappointed. Really hoped to be impressed. Cool design inside/​out. Small menu. Dry brisket and extremely fatty pulled pork. Sauces sucked. Ketchup was the best lol. Sausage fondue and sweet potato fries were good though. Poorly mixed Moscow mules.

If you are a true TX BBQ fan, Hickory is probably not for you. That being said I will start with the positives. The staff were very friendly, knowledgeable, and attentive. The drinks were great and the charred jalapeño creamed corn was good. The food presentation was nice.
For the cons, the restaurant seemed like it had an identity crisis going on. It was like it wanted to be a bit hipster with a side of rustic while playing music that didn’t really match either. We had the fried green tomatoes which were a bit bland, wish I had gone with the sausage fondue. For my entrée, I had the three meat combo. There wasn’t a true smoke flavor in any of the meat, no real smoke ring present either. The texture of the meat was good but the brisket was really dry. I am never leave meat on my plate but I left it here, some of all three. My wife had the shrimp and crab coleslaw, she said it was just okay. When we try a new restaurant, we always get an appetizer, entrée, and dessert but we were disappointed with the other food so we decided to save those calories and skip dessert. :-/

The smoked turkey and brussel sprouts are awesome! Definitely coming back to try the other menu items!

Had my first meal here today and while the experience was lovely and the service was great, I wish I could say the same about the meat.
I love barbecue and I eat a lot of it all over the state.
Hickory wasn’t exactly on my radar, but a friend works close and I was happy to give it a try.
The décor is first-​rate. Beautiful place with very gracious hostesses and very attentive waiters. I couldn’t ask for a nicer atmosphere and better staff. It was great.
I ordered the Meat Lover’s Combo platter ($ 19) comprised of brisket, ribs and a ¼ chicken (I chose white meat). I also added an a la carte sausage-​of-​the-​day ($ 4), which was a chipotle and white cheddar sausage made of beef and pork.
I also got the crispy brussels sprouts ($ 5).
The brisket tasted fine. Not the best, but far from the worst. It was a bit undercooked. It didn’t pass the pull-​apart test. Cut with a knife, it could have used another hour on the pit. We were told the combo plate had 5 oz. of brisket, two or three ribs (depending on size) and a ¼ chicken.
I didn’t have a scale, but I don’t think the two small slices of brisket was 5oz.
You can order brisket by itself at $ 12 for a 1/​3-​pound.
Let’s stop and ponder that for a second…$ 36 per pound for brisket.
I’ve eaten almost everywhere in the state and this is the most expensive brisket in Texas by at least $ 12 per pound.
I ate at Franklin BBQ in Austin last week, and his brisket, lauded by most as best in the state, is $ 20 per pound. I get that restaurants have costs and overhead, but I just laughed when I saw the price of the meats here.
The ribs were very overcooked — to the point were I picked up a bone and the meat stayed on the plate. The two ribs were very meaty, but it ended up as a pile of pulled pork I ate with a fork. The taste was average and quite mushy.
The chicken was the best meat today. It was moist and had a nice sauce. I’d order it again.
The sausage was almost void of fat, which some might like, but I enjoy a little moisture in mine. The flavor was fine, but I didn’t catch much chipotle or cheddar. The link was about 4 inches long and served sliced with pickled onion and sliced fresh jalapeño.
The crispy brussels sprouts might be the best sprouts I’ve ever eaten. Well cooked, crispy and covered in bits of bacon with a ton of melted butter/​bacon juice at the bottom of the pan. I could eat a lot of these sprouts. Best bite of the meal.
My dining partner ordered the charred cornbread, which was fantastic, and the charred creamed corn, which was also very nice.
Overall, I won’t be ordering this BBQ again. There’s no justification for the prices.
I’d love to come back and get one of the burgers I saw being delivered to the next table.
The tacos and salads also looked like they were worth a try.
This is a nice enough (but really expensive) place for lunch if you’re in the neighborhood, but there are better places to get BBQ if you’re willing to drive 10 minutes north (Hutchins in Frisco) or 10 minutes south (CattleAck BBQ).

I was pleasantly surprised at the ambiance and food presentation of this place. It reminds me of Smoke, but a slightly more upscale & sexy feeling. Smoke is rustically decorated with the feeling of being in your barnhouse kitchen and Hickory is like the reception dining room to hold a nice romantic dinner.
Texas craft beers on draft slightly cheaper during happy hour, along with wine and select cocktails. We sat at the bar with a view of the restaurant and a couple TV’s. My honey was pleased their old fashions are $ 6 on happy hour and served on a block of ice with Knob Creek double barrel whiskey. Great deal!
We started with the fried green tomatoes and they came out hot, crispy and paired with the most delightful green sauce. Highly recommend. The menu seems a little small, mostly with either your choice or meat+sides or a selection of sandwiches. I was tempted to order the brisket sandwich, but we ended up sharing an order of the pork shoulder, mac n cheese and coleslaw. Everything was very good and decently portioned. I felt the sides were a little pricey. $ 5 for a small side of coleslaw & $ 7 for a side of mac n cheese seemed a little steep. However, the mac and cheese had wonderful flavor with chunks of meat in it and the coleslaw sprinkled with feta which was a new take I hadn’t seen before.
I was surprised it wasn’t busier in here for Friday night. We came around 6 and the place was pretty ghostly. Around 7:30 it started to fill up. I would come back again for a sandwich. The owner seems to have put a lot of thought into the interior and food design. I enjoyed it and I hope it does well!

We ordered the Meat Lovers Combo to share, crispy Brussels sprouts, and molasses baked beans. The chicken in the combo was the best, followed by the ribs, and then the brisket which was a bit dry. I liked the beans better than the BBQ sauce. The sauce was good, it just wasn’t the Texas-​style sauce I’m used to. I loved the Brussels sprouts. They had a taste I couldn’t quite place (in a good way). We finished with the chocolate cupcake which was pretty great. I wish it had vanilla ice cream with it though. Anyway, great overall experience!

This place looked like it had the potential to be awesome but fell way short. Awkward server and slow with drinks. Drinks were good once they came — my husband had a very generous pour of bourbon and I had the ruby slipper.
We both ordered burgers which were way too salty and very small. Very small orders of fries, which were good! I wanted more!
Cool looking restaurant and bar — maybe give them a little more time to work out the kinks!

We had high hopes. We waited as long as we could. Alas, woe is me.
Saturday night, 8:00. The place is occupied with 16 people. We learn the hostess hates us, because she sits us at the FIRST table outside the kitchen door. Still high hopes. Sttttaaarrrvvviiinnnggggggg, and it smells of good smoke.
The décor is beautiful and modern, techno music bumping… where are we? I’m confused.
Fried green tomatoes first. The batter flavor was great. A scant smattering of cilantro~ey ranch stuff that was great. The chunks are great… the smaller the better. Two of the larger ones were completely inedible.
Our water was new, nervous and barely functional. …but he tried.
Based on reviews, we went burgers. She did the buffalo, he the 44. Sides of loaded baked salad and jalapeño creamed corn. She loved hers ’cause the onions were good and smokey. His meat was outstanding if kinda unseasoned? The bacon was the tits and the egg was runny… but bland. I was sorely and completely disappointed in the burger size. The red onion dominated the flavors though, which made me sad.
The baker salad was prolly the best tatersalad I’ve ever had, anywhere, ever. (It had crispy little bits of meat fats) I would eat this e’ryday. E’ryday.
The corn was good, but showed a lack of effort. The flavor was all there, but the charred kernels were a bit tough. If they had been actually creamed or mascerated. The orange AND red bell pepper were delicious.
Overall, I was disappointed. The floor was too waxy, we saw someone slip too. I guess I expected better than Kenny’s. This reminded me of a restaurant in a hotel lobby. It felt like you feel when you order a burger at a sporting event for $ 12 a la cart… it was tiny, and i was too hungry. I wanted to ask abut burnt ends, but knew the server wouldn’t come through. This isn’t Pine Lodge or Lockhart. $ 52 for two burgers, two sides, an app, two ice teas… before tip. The only upside was that kids weren’t packed out like te rest of Plano. Swanky and chic, but not worth it unless you need to impress.

Had a delicious meal here tonight and we were even welcomed by the famous chef himself!
The pork was melt-​in-​your-​mouth tender and juicy and the BBQ dipping sauce was very tasty and flavorful. The green apple slaw was not what I expected as it was a vinegar base and not the usual mayo slaw base but it was delicious as well, the perfect ratio of sweet apples to cabbage. I highly recommend the mac-​n-​cheese if that’s your thing, it has a tasty parmesian bread crumb topping and a creamy cheese mixture that is absolutely wonderful.
If you are in the area– or even if you aren’t and would need to make a special trip– do it! This place is worth it :)

I like bbq. Correct that statement to ‘I love bbq’ and Hickory is my new favorite. The atmosphere is classy and comfortable. It is not psuedo-​gas station bbq, but it is a high end, perfectly priced place to meet friends, have drinks and talk over great bbq.
The server we had was very well versed in the menu and provided several excellent, well informed suggestions. My wife and I split the sampler and it was the perfect amount for the two of us.
There is a nice selection of bourbon drinks and other adult beverages that go great with smoked meats and sausages. Overall, Hickory is an excellent choice for a date night and times with friends.

This is a new place developed by the talented Ken Rahtburn and although brand new it is off to a great start! The atmosphere is terrific. Warm, tastefully decorated, welcoming with a huge patio and fireplace area. The staff was very friendly and we quickly met the manager. It was just the two of us tonight and we had a deliciously prepared martini and ordered the salmon and the lean brisket with two sides — brussle sprouts and grits. They quickly brought out a relish tray complete with fresh yummy pickles. Then our entrees arrived on little black skillets. The lean beef was delicious. We cut it with a fork. The salmon had a tomato salsa on top and was also very savory. The grits did not look very appetizing because they were made with blue corn… but close your eyes and open your mouth… AMAZING! we loved it. We enjoyed the whole evening and plan to return soon!

I’m not a BBQ guy. I really do not care for cramped, community quarters, wearing half of my meal in a sloppy display of gluttony or smelling like firewood after I leave to where I think something might be on fire when I’m driving home and in reality it’s just the odor in my shirt. Hickory is so far removed from your «typical» BBQ experience that you might find yourself looking at the menu just to make sure you’re in the right building. Here is a BBQ experience that plays against conventional traditions for the better. Why shouldn’t a BBQ place be modern? Who says your BBQ staples cannot be enjoyed on a sprawling patio with loveseats? And can cayenne pepper work in a cupcake?
At the time of this writing, Hickory has been open for a week. As the brainchild of Kent Rathbun, you know you’re in for a treat, and those of you who are a fan of the culinary conqueror can skip the remainder of this review and head over to grab a seat. For the rest of us, keep reading and map out your route here: they do not presently take reservations, nor are they open for lunch.
Four of us came Monday evening and in no time at all, a manager was over to introduce herself, welcome us and give a brief overview of the menu. With cocktails, beers and ginger peach tea (!) ordered, a couple of us made our way outside to scope out the patio. A whopping 80 seats flank the outside, with fans, misters and rafters overlooking the tables. Plans are in place to cover the patio and install a few TVs, but for my money, the tables near the fireplace are the showstoppers out here.
Inside, a number of low tables, booths and high tops surround a theater-​in-​the-​round bar, while TVs are tuned to whatever sporting event is battling your date for face-​to-​face time. There is not much to write home about a possible waiting area aside from the bar, though I suppose you could stand outside until a table opens up.
Back to the action: Rhonda was a joy to have wait on us. We were –THAT– table that asked a minimum of 11,000 questions but she handled us with ease, not to mention the 13-​top she had behind us.
It was our first time, so we decided to order as much food as possible, declaring war on our respective digestive tracts and diets. Armed with a duo of local Texas beers, I set my sights on the Commanche Buffalo Burger, Texas Cheddar Mac & Cheese and the tin of Altoids in my pocket. All in all, we enjoyed both a yummy and lean cut of wagyu brisket, an order of fried green tomatoes, Hickory waffle fries, the Baby Beet Salad, a Texas Taco stuffed with chicken, and side orders of baked beans and charred jalapeño creamed corn. The burger was phenomenal, and the yummy brisket more than lived up to its name. And, as the first time ever trying fried green tomatoes, I can safely say all future fried green tomatoes have a tough act to follow. Everything was outstanding, but the best thing was still to come.
With a likely food coma approaching, I made a beeline for the bathroom and felt like I walked into another restaurant. Hickory is «classy» BBQ, and this bathroom looks like it was removed from a posh hotel somewhere. While I gathered my bearings and loosened a notch on my belt to accommodate the massive quantities of food I had somehow amassed, I steeled myself in for whatever joys dessert promised.
We got one of each dessert, guaranteeing I am not going to eat again until next Wednesday. I would put them in the following order from «excellent» to «my tears of happiness add a nice touch to this wondrous sweet I am putting in my mouth.» The blackberry cobbler was tasty, and the Texas Size Chocolate Cupcake wins for being moist, as well as for having cayenne pepper in it. But the best in show honor belongs to Maw Maw’s Buttermilk Pie. Do not try eating this by yourself. While it may be possible, it is not recommended. Mankind was not meant to experience such euphoria without sharing. It really is that good.
Prices are fair, with the most expensive items (aside from bottles of wine) topping out at $ 15. If there are any knocks, they are slight. I mentioned the compromised waiting area, and the only other thing that struck me as odd was one of the design choices on the menu. Having the tacos next to the desserts seems weird. I actually thought they were dessert tacos at first. Like I said, the chinks in the armor are slight.
This is not Spring Creek. This is not Rudy’s. This is not that place in your college town where you ate at picnic tables, stuffed paper towels in your mouth and pounded cans of beer in an effort to cover up the fact that you struck out with the girl in your Social Psychology lecture. Hickory excels because it takes the BBQ concept somewhere new: a modern, «classy» and late night atmosphere. Yes, they close at 9:00 p.m. during the week (10:00 p.m. on weekends), and sure, you may have a hard time jockeying for position on the patio. But in terms of offering a fresh and delicious take on what it means to be a BBQ joint, Hickory stands alone.

I was hoping I’d get to try Hickory out this week, but I was a little afraid of the crowds. Last night I was passing by and I figured I might as well see if I can get a table and to my surprise I could. The décor is pretty — rustic but still classy. I love they they serve fountain drinks in big mason-​ish jars. The sides are served in little cast iron pots — each with a little rubber trivet under them.
My server was really helpful in answering the questions I had about the menu (for the record — their green goddess dressing DOES have cilantro in it). I ordered the smoked turkey sandwich with crispy brussels sprouts and the baked potato salad.
The baked potato salad is not what I expected — I expected a cold potato salad with baked potato toppings –bacon, cheese, chives, etc. What I got was warm — oven roasted (I presume) potatoes with cheese, chives, sour cream, bacon — it was very good, but not at all what I expected.
The crispy brussels sprouts were to die for. Definitely one of the top 3 best brussels sprouts I’ve ever had. Crispy. Caramelized. With bacon chunks. What more could you want? Pretty sure I’ll be getting these every time I visit.
The turkey sandwich also good. I enjoyed the flavor of the turkey and it wasn’t dry. The bread was grilled and crispy while the sauce it was served with was sweet but had a little kick. It was a little unwieldy to eat as a sandwich and this is where I have one little thing i would change about Hickory. I would have preferred the main course be served on a plate instead of a basket with brown paper. I’m sure they were going for the rustic BBQ «paper as a plate» thing, but I would have eaten this sandwich with a knife and fork if I had been able to, but paper in a basket did not lend itself to this so I ended up having to pick pieces of the sandwich off with my hands to eat it.
Overall the service was good, the food was tasty and I will be back. Can’t wait to try a burger, some of the other meats they offer and some of the appetizers! Welcome to the neighborhood, Hickory!