The Alamo Barbecue Restaurant
 

Great second hand reviews coming in for this “new restaurant”. Anyone visit this past weekend?


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Yes I visited and wasn’t impressed. I’m not a huge barbecue guy and don’t know the difference between the different styles though. I ordered burnt ends, which I’ve enjoyed at the trucks on 104. They came out as just small cubes of meat, not burnt at all, enmeshed in inedible fat and slathered with sauce. The mashed potatoes were lumpy, but I understand some people like them that way. The margarita drink was pretty watered down. The macaroni and cheese was not very cheesy, more bouncy and rubbery. The street corn on the cob was good but nowhere as good as when Tower Hill used to offer it. I look forward to hearing about others’ experiences!


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How's the environment? The Brookline one has a Texas vibe to it, but the Weirs location looks kinda sterile.

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Tried to go yesterday. Their FB said they opened at 11am and their sign on the road said open at 12pm. We went around 12:30 and the doors were locked. :(

The environment on the bar side where I was seated was pretty sterile, yes, but nice enough.


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The Alamo - former location of 70 North
 

Tried this new spot last night. Opened in the last week or so, I believe.
Owners are the group that owns the two locations Dox restaurants and another bbq spot in southern NH - and you could tell they’d done this before.

Six of us, made reservations and glad we did as got busy after 6.
Service - excellent.
Food - excellent. Many in our group did combo platters and can attest that the pulled chicken, brisket and burnt ends are all excellent. Variety of sauces on the table and my favorite was the Carolina. Hubby liked the ghost pepper.
Jalapeño cornbread very tasty and moist. Cajun waffle fries awesome. Collard greens excellent. Mac n cheese very good.

Can’t say anything that could have been done better. It was excellent overall.

We will certainly be back and I highly recommend you try it. Get there before 6 if you can…even on a Thursday after 6 filled up quickly and there was a wait but our reservations were 530 so we were seated right away.

This is what I don't like about BBQ restaurants, burnt ends have become a marketed menu item, anything and everything is made into "burnt ends". True burnt ends come from the fatty end point of a brisket during the smoking process, but most restaurants are serving you something else because the likelihood of them having enough burnt ends to offer up as a separate menu item fall short, so they use other meats and call it "burnt ends".

It's the MRG Mariano Restaurant Group, they have restaurants in Townsend, MA and Brookline, NH

Kind of like Pizza's and Flatbreads, Flatbreads just being a smaller, differently shape pizza that you pay more for!

Wifey and I enjoyed a great BBQ dinner at The Alamo Sunday evening.

The food was great.

The portions were BIG.

The service was great.

The prices were reasonable.

We will be going back again.

My dinner was the pick two of BBQ and consisted of a "half" rack of ribs (that was so big it could tip over Fred Flintstone's car), some tender beef brisket, baked beans, extra yummy collard greens and corn bread.

Wifey had the "smash burger" tacos and a flight (4) of margaritas.

I hope this place makes it because it is only a twelve minute drive for me.

Thanks!

Going to try it today for lunch!

Dan

Location
 

Where is this restaurant?

Right diagonal from the Weirs entrance where Faro/70 North used to be.

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Lund At Alamo
 

We went for lunch today and it was good! My only complaint is the ribs I ordered were served at room temp. While they were fall off the bone good and I’m sure they are smoked to proper temp, I would have like them served warmer. All in all good barbecue and I will be back. See pics below…

Dan

Am I seeing it right that a 3-meat with ribs would be $47? That's pretty pricey, especially as those plates don't look all that stacked.

Has anyone tried the chicken and waffles?!

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Pick three with ribs would be $47.00. I had the “pick 2” which was $37.00 which consisted of 1/2 rack of ribs and brisket. I had Mac and cheese and beans for my two sides. Cornbread comes with all meals and it was really good! It was more than enough for me as I couldn’t finish it all….

Dan

Pricey !!!

Everything I spend money on these days is pricey.

Relative to other choices, I deem this place worth it.

I do miss the 15 cent hamburgers of days gone by...

We have been twice.

Both times there were empty tables but we had a wait of over 1/2 hour in the entry way before being seated. They said they didn't want to seat more people than the kitchen could handle. It would have been better to clear the entry and seat people with the explanation that it would be a wait before they got served. They could have taken a drink order when they explained that. It would help their bottom line and be a better experience for their patrons.

While waiting, watching the hostesses and staff there seemed to be a lot of organizational problems that many new businesses start with.

The food was good and we will go back.

15 cent hamburgers? :eek: That must have been when my parents were paying the bill because I don't remember that. :emb:
It seems like all these new restaurants are starting out with new, higher price points. A $20 hamburger with fries is not uncommon now.
So much for inflation subsiding.

That seems to be the new things in the last few years. I, too, would rather have been seated and wait than stand and wait, and by hearing the chatter around us, it seemed they would rather have been seated too.

I'm with you. at $37-47 a plate I would rather be eating at O in Laconia!

I agree, that is way out of line for BBQ, especailly for the portions shown above, even in todays pricing/cost climate

The best authentic barbecue is still The Traveling Texas Smoke Shop” in my opinion on route 104…

Dan

I noticed his competitor, further up on RT104 didn't open back up this season. :confused: I know they had a war of words going on the past few years.

Cripes...these prices are astronomical.

I just checked the website, and it says "closed for construction" and "looking for a June-July clearance." I don't know if that's new, though, or from last year? I did notice that it's been closed the last few weeks.

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I had the same experience with food temp. Went for lunch and I got the pick 2 meal. I chose the brisket and pulled chicken. Chose collard greens and potato salad for sides. Collard greens were excellent. Potato salad, just meh. The meat was definitely not hot. I wouldn't even say it was warm. It had good flavor and I love that you choose your sauce (which are on the table in squirt bottles so you can choose your flavor and amount). It was $32. Which i thought was kind of expensive for the amount of food I got.
Got a margarita that was very underwhelming, but it was only $10. So the price was good!
I didn't really care for how it is served (you can see from Dan's picture, it's served on a small metal sheet pan with a piece of parchment paper). I had to ask for a separate plate because cutting on the paper just added shredded paper to the meat. But that is totally MY problem, not theirs. I'm sure it wouldn't bother others.
I will definitely go back once bike week madness is over.

FWIW I checked the prices at a similar higher-end sit down BBQ joint here in Portland, Oregon and the prices were comparable..

Welcome to Ongoing Inflation, where the five dollar bil is the "new" one and the twenty is the "new" five.

Rough time to be poor / working a minimum wage job.

The $47 is easily $10 high when compared to literally every BBQ within a reasonable distance.

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The TTSS is just a couple bucks cheaper at $34.00 (Alamo = $37.00) for a two meat meal and they have a LOT less overhead than the Alamo… this pic of the TTSS menu is from last year…prices may be higher now…

Dan

Then he's expensive, too, or they both offer a lot more food (or other value?).

Yankee Smokehouse is $30 for four meats, Rubbin' Butts just under $30 (when making the 1/4 rack a full).

The BBQ Shak and Smokeshow (the other two closest?) are more a la carte and harder to compare.

KC's in Bedford is $32 for three and comes with enough food to choke a horse.

Smokehaus in Amherst is just below $30.

Alamo would have to pile it on for those prices, and it doesn't look like that from the pics.

That doesn't mean I won't check it out, by the way—I don't mind spending some moolah if it's worth it, especially if in a cool area like the Weirs—but given my Brookline Alamo experience and the pricing, I'll be going in with high expectations.

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For as long as I can remember, that's been a tough spot to make a go of it. I'm guessing the overhead is very high and it's not an area that has a very big draw during the winter months. I wish them luck!

Used to like them but last night the brisket was as dry as a chip…we threw it to the birds…cornbread ($4) was the little rectangular ones you buy at Hannaford

KC's has "The Shovel" which is the pinnacle of BBQ gluttony!

Lukewarm and (some say) mediocre food with a side of shredded paper, waiting in the foyer instead of table seating where one might get a drink, and a sterile atmosphere - all for $50 a plate (with tax & tip)? Yikes.. why would anyone go back?

Restaurants in the Lakes Region charge high prices because people are paying them. Most of the tourists coming here are from high cost of living states, like Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Jersey, where these prices are normal. They can afford to go out to dinner while here and pay the high prices. I see where an MIT study shows the minimum income to live comfortably in Massachusetts is $120,000 (second highest next to Hawaii). Not many people in Laconia make that much. This immigration from wealthy states has also caused the price of housing to be unaffordable for the locals. All the condos and houses going up near Weirs Beach aren't being sold to the locals.

I live in Mass and many of the restaurants in the Lakes region charge higher prices than back home!
I go to a local pub in my town every Tuesday night. They have $3 Coors Light drafts and a burger with fries for $12.95 every night of the week. Tuesday's special is a large cheese pizza for $8, $1 per topping extra. Home-made soups and chowder, $5 for a good size bowl.
Another local pub right down the street has a draft and burger with fries on Monday nights for $12.95.
Even the supermarkets are cheaper!
I do agree, they have a captive audience, esp during the summer months.

We have some local places with cheaper prices as well. It's the tourist traps that can demand the higher prices.

I have found that the Mexican restaurants still give good value relative to other types.

It seems that Chinese food has become very over priced.

Oh well, I can always go to McD's... oh wait... never mind.

Maybe it's because I'm from only an hour and a half away, but I don't think (most of) the Lakes Region's restaurants are all that more expensive.

I can list a dozen within a few minutes of our camp in Moultonborough that are easily on par with restaurants in Nashua and northern Massachusetts.

In fact, Breeze, Alamo, Lakehouse Grille, Lemongrass, and maybe a few others are the only ones I can think of that are "pricey."

That term, though, implies a value system, right? Like, O is "expensive," but the quality is a different level.

My issue with Alamo being $35+ is that literally every other place I visit (other than, apparently, TTS) is less expensive...and, historically, Alamo's quality and quantity hasn't justified the price.

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I'm familiar with all the local places and I still find them more expensive than the local places back home in my town and Mass doesn't allow happy hour alcohol discounts.

Portions are tiny! Drinks are measured pours. Probably 1.5 ounces per cocktail for all the money. Felt like I was at Chilis.


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The Village Kitchen does not have e a bar…just beer and wine and has more of a country setting than some of the upscale restaurants but after seeing some of these BB Q prices you might want to check it out.
Thursday night Seth had a BBQ special brisket, ribs and chicken. All for $19 and it was the real deal. Seth smoked the brisket for 13 hours and it was as good or better than any I’ve had anywhere.
Only has it certain days so you probably have to call or check his ads on Facebook

Thanks for the note—we'll keep an eye out!

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Best brisket and pork ribs I ever had were smoked recently at my son's house; took him a few years to figure it out but by jove, I think he's got it.

Moral of the story: DIY BBQ: yum!

Precisely the problem with the Lakes region now. Retired, you hit the nail on the head. No one will admit it, but everyone knows it to be the truth.

Alamo Today
 

Here’s today’s pick two barbecue plate from the Alamo! Burnt Ends and half a chicken. Comes with two sides and cornbread. Could only eat half of what was served took rest home for dinner tonight!! Everything was great especially the burnt ends!!

Dan

Was there myself today. Double smash burger was excellent.


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We tried Alamo Saturday night. They were slammed, but the call ahead seating option worked pretty well. We were sat inside on the dining area to the left. There were only a few tables in the large room, seemed a bit odd for such a big space. Even still, it was extremely loud in there due to a large party with a lot of crazy kids running around. We decided to move out to the lower deck which was great. Luckily the rain held off.

The food was good. Nachos and poppers were good and served hot. As others have mentioned, the BBQ plates were not served hot. It was lukewarm at best. I had a pick 2 with braised beef and pulled chicken and was happy with it. My wife had the half rack and said it was good but liked my beef better.

The kids had burgers and chicken sandwiches and all were happy. Margaritas were decent.

Will definitely go back but would look to go when seating outside is available.

It’s weird, you would think after the first complaint of food being served lukewarm (in my case essentially cold) that it would never happen again.


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I've eaten BBQ four times in the last four weeks (don't judge, it's vacation!)—in Billerica, MA (Northeast Smokehouse); Nashville (Martin's) and Memphis (Central), TN; and Concord, NH (603 BBQ) and ALL were just warm.

I've gotta think there's something about not overcooking? Cold is a problem, of course, and sides are usually warmer, but I'm not sure I've ever gotten BBQ that's hot?

Either way, I continue to hesitate on this place given the reviews/pics and pricing.

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Most BBQ when being served in a restaurant atmosphere is cooked just before done and sits, as it needs to be ready to be ordered, then they heat up or finish the cook. And as such it could end up being dried out or overcooked when heated up, so it is a fine line they need to walk to make sure the food being turned out is good tasting, and not worry about the temp. The best to me has always been roadside places. These guys/women spend a lot of money and if it's not good they are underwater financially and do not last.
I personally like my BBQ served hot, so I tend to stay away from restaurant BBQ service, not knocking it, The Yankee Pit turns out enough that it is always hot, so unless you are in a fast moving heavy customer load bbq joint with a line out the door, expect any bbq to be warm to cold, it is just the nature of the style of cooking that we are not used to up here in the North.

Four times in four weeks?

You have to keep training!

I have hit Sonny's BBQ in Florida four times in a three day trip.

Such is my commitment... :D

We went over the weekend. My brisket was very dry, and I am not a fan of the BBQ sauces. My wife got the chicken and waffles as a meal and loved it. She can't wait to go back.

Not to rain on everyone's parade but, one of the leading causes of colon cancer is eating too much smoked red meat. Google it. There are other healthy choices.

We are all going to die of something, and smoked red meat tastes better than the "healthy" choices!!!! :D:laugh:

:laugh:

Attachment 18872

Lucky for me, pulled pork and pulled chicken don't count! :D

Although BBQ is a favorite, I anticipate that my demise will be described as "Death by misadventure."

Pork and chicken are not "red meat", so...

When I burn wood in my woodstove, the chimney collects creosote. It's black and viscous and dries to a flakey substance. Creosote is toxic and carcinogenic.
Is creosote the black crust on smoked meat?

Richard Simmonds is dead…Keith Richard’s is still alive and Keith doesn’t
Live too healthy

Best way to stay healthy in N.H. is walking off all this rich restaurant food. Go for a long walk, maybe two miles including any steep hills ..... walking-walking-walking.

Central N.H. does not have too many sidewalks but there's still places to go for a long walk.

Want to go advanced with the exercise ........ buy a $65 weighted 5-lb knobby hoola- hoop made by Health Hoops-Korea and start hoola-hooping ....... :banana: ....... to work off that rich restaurant food.

I tried that place last summer, their food was very good.

Old State School in Laconia is one of out favorite walks….kind of spooky with the old buildings and a mile or so of trails in the woods and some easy hills

Everyone should be intitled to live their own life the way they see fit.
Personally, I try to eat healthy but having a prime rib once a month just feels right, just had my monthly fix last night at the Lochmere golf club restaurant. :D

3rd and done
 

Phoenix wanted reviews, so I ended my couple years off from posting - this is review #3 tonight.

3x tries to Alamo - and we're done. They just arent good compared to what's out there,

I'll skip the negatives (though I will say brisket that's > 50% fat is not cool, and poppers should be at least somehwat hot). FB is rife with the downsides of this place. The lack of presence of cars tells you all you need to know. Winter will not be kind I think.

I'll go right to the recommendations. The two places on 104 are better, much much better. Rubbin Butts is a bit better too.

Wanna drive to Rochester instead? I would do so, as Mr. Sippy is 1000% better. 1.5x the portion at about half the price. And 250% better tasting for BBQ and sides. They are a super-friendly place to boot. We'll drive 40 minutes every time to not be disappointed and treated like we belonged there.

If you care they are Phantom gourmet blessed -

Https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gLOnV4iLYTc

I really do wish the best for Alamo as it would be great to have a local BBQ place, but as it stands we'll be taking a drive to somewhere else.

i Agree with Bigstan. When the traveling Texas Smoke shop is closed, I will go the distance to Concord and try 603 BBQ.

603 BBQ is all the rage right now, but I'm not feeling it. Three meats for $45, and not including ribs, is criminal.

I got the two meat on a reasonably busy day and was horrified at the portion for the price. Also, everything is spicy, including the mac and cheese, which I'm not jazzed about. Add to that the seating limitations on even remotely busy days (need to go next door or outside if the few picnic tables are full), and we won't be going back.

That said, it sounds like Alamo is falling apart in both locations. I'll stick to Smokehaus, KC's, Yankee Smokehouse, etc.

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Brunch
 

Does anyone have a copy of their brunch menu? And any idea how much the Bloody Mary bar is?