Gatlin's BBQ and Catering in Houston, TX: A Review

Gatlin's Barbeque and Catering in Houston, Texas is the real deal and the crowds on a Saturday afternoon can vouch for that. Their motto is "Where love is the secret ingredient," and I believe it. Gatlin's BBQ is family owned and operated so they go the extra mile to make their customers happy. Their food is smoked low and slow and they use only the finest ingredients. Gatlin's Barbeque and Catering in Houston, Texas is a neighborhood gem that every Houstonian should try.

My husband had to wait 30 minutes from the time he walked into Gatlins 'til the time he left with our food order due to the plethora of loyal customers; that spoke volumes. Certainly it must be good if people are willing to wait so long for cuisine that is a dime a dozen in Houston, Texas. I reserved my judgment until the food touched my taste buds. Upon taking the food out of the bag I noticed large portions of potato salad and cole slaw -- and they were just my sides. There was also a big portion of sliced brisket which came with sliced onions, pickles, jalapenos, a slice of bread, and barbeque sauce.

I couldn't wait to dig in since I was famished; thankfully I was pleasantly pleased by the simple things like the freshness of the sliced bread. The potato salad was neither overpowering (with seasoning) nor bland. Instead, it was the perfect blend of being savory yet mild. It was obvious the potato salad at Gatlin's Barbeque in Houston, Texas was homemade.

The cole slaw wasn't your ordinary slaw either; it was a mixture of shredded white and red cabbage and carrots, but what made it special was the fact that the shreds were not even which made me believe the ingredients were hand sliced. The dressing that accompanied the slaw was just enough which I appreciated because I'm not a fan of cabbage drowning in sauce.

The sliced brisket had a layer of fat at the top which might seem like a bad thing but it was actually good for me because it was easy to remove and the rest was lean and buttery. The barbeque sauce was neither too sweet nor spicy which was to my liking.

Everything I ate was delicious and yes, it actually tasted like it was made with love. I highly recommend Gatlin's Barbeque and Catering in Houston, Texas and encourage every Houstonian to make a visit to the Heights for an appetizing meal. If brisket isn't your thing that's okay; Gatlin's has other meats like turkey, ribs, sausage, pork and even whole chicken. Not a fan of potato salad and cole slaw as your side? No problem. Gatlin's Barbeque and Catering has other choices such as dirty rice, green beans, baked beans and ranch style beans.

Gatlin's Barbeque and Catering is located at 1221 West 19^th Street, Houston, TX, 77008. Visit their website at Gatlinsbbq.com or phone them at (713) 869-4227. Gatlin's is open Tuesday through Saturday from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.