My husband and I recently visited 3 Stacks Smoke & Tap House to experience their new menu and walked away extremely impressed and extremely full.  If you’ve haven’t visited the restaurant before , 3 Stacks Smoke & Tap House, is a great BBQ restaurant located in Frisco, Texas.    3 stacks has now taken it to another level by becoming a full service restaurant (they’ve gotten rid of the buffet line) and has combined their already terrific BBQ with a full menu that includes several new and creative selections of meats, appetizers, sides, and desserts.

Let’s start with the BBQ.  Even though 3 Stacks is stepping up their game with their new and creative menu their Pit Master Bryan Shanahan combines old school BBQ skills but leverages high quality smoking equipment to produce consistent and delicious  BBQ.   He oversees the three large smokers  himself and produces a competition level BBQ  that is as tasty as you can get. The USDA prime hickory smoked beef brisket is very moist and tender and has a great cap and smoke ring.

The St. Louis ribs were succulent and tender with a sweet finish.  They are some of the best I’ve had.  3 Stacks also prepares their sausage in house in their new sausage production viewing room.  That’s a unique approach,  restaurants usually don’t do that.

Most BBQ joints build their reputation based on their meats but they don’t try too hard on their sides or alternative BBQ choices.  For the most part they all have the same old tired and boring potato salad and beans but 3 Stacks has added some creative sides, appetizers, and desserts.  Chef Pete Rukes has taken southern staples and has infused them with a modern twist and added several new items to the menu.  I highly recommend the White Cheddar Mac and Cheese, and the “to die for” roasted garlic mashed potatoes.  We started the meal with fried green tomatoes with charred corn salsa and chipotle dressing (bet you never had them served this way) and buttermilk and bacon hushpuppies (yes I said bacon – yum).  The smokehouse flatbread is very unique and delicious.  It has a great combination of smoked meat flavors that you wouldn’t expect in a pizza.    Other new items to the menu include jalapeno-cheddar sausage corn dogs, Texas poutine with brisket chili, and a BLT with house cured pork belly (I will go back just to have this again).

Now let’s talk desserts.    Who doesn’t love the banana pudding that most BBQ places have?  Well Chef Rukes has gone one step further and has combined the banana flavor with my favorite dessert ever – Crème Brulee and has produced a new favorite, “Caramelized Banana Crème Brulee”.  He’s also taken another old dessert staple, bread pudding and has created a new decadent dessert called “Warm Doughnut and Maple Bread Pudding”.  Everything is made in house and it’s obvious in the quality and taste.

3 Stacks offers a wide array of craft beers if that’s your thing.  My vote for best cocktail goes to “Smoke Show”.  This is their version of a margarita and it is amazing!  It includes tequila, Cointreau, lime, agave and smoke (of course) sea salt!  Also of note is “The Ol’Barrel” which is a Manhattan style cocktail.  Not only is the whisky barrel-aged but the drink itself is aged in a barrel on site for an extra smooth cocktail.

3 Stacks gets it’s name from the three smoke stacks that greet you at the door to the restaurant and introduces you to what this restaurant is really all about – smoking BBQ.   Inside, the restaurant  has a large open floor plan with exposed brick walls which gives it a modern rustic ambiance.  This puts the restaurant a step above most other BBQ restaurants.  It also has several TV’s throughout the restaurant which makes it a great gathering place for game watching and family events.

My BBQ loving husband gave it two thumbs up and so did I!  I love BBQ but I also love that there are delicious non BBQ items to choose from too.  That alone makes this restaurant something special.  Anyone who loves BBQ and is ready for something different needs to put this restaurant at the top of their list!!

3 Stacks Smoke & Tap House is located at 4226 Preston Road in Frisco, Texas .  It’s open Sunday through Thursday from 11 am to 9 pm and Friday and Saturday from 11 am to 10 pm.

For more information, please visit:  www.3stacksbbq.com.