A Westport Barbecue Stop With Plenty to Explore Beyond the Brisket

A barbecue platter can solve a pleasant problem: brisket, ribs, burnt ends, pulled pork, ham, sausage, chicken and smoked wings all make a convincing case for themselves. In Westport, this menu gives diners plenty of ways to build a meal around the classics, then wander into sandwiches, fried chicken, shareable starters and a few decidedly less traditional ideas.

The setting is as useful as the menu is broad. Inside are dining tables, booths and bar seating; outside, a large patio turns a meal into a longer afternoon or evening of drinks, games and conversation. It has the relaxed energy of a neighborhood hangout but enough table space and menu range to handle a family meal, a gathering of friends or a group that cannot agree on one thing to order.

For a first visit, the multi-meat formats are a sensible place to start. Two- and three-meat platters and shared samplers make it possible to compare styles of barbecue without committing the whole table to a single plate. The Holy Trinity brings together ribs, brisket and burnt ends, which is a fine way to get acquainted with the kitchen's smoke-forward side.

Brisket and burnt ends deserve attention here. The brisket arrives with the qualities barbecue regulars look for: a tender bite, a dark bark and plenty of richness without losing the beefy character underneath. Burnt ends bring their own deeper, caramelized intensity, with smoke and tenderness packed into smaller pieces.

Ribs, pulled pork, ham, sausage, chicken and smoked wings keep the platter options from becoming a brisket-only affair. That matters when a table has different preferences, or when you simply want a little contrast between a fatty bite of brisket, a rib with some chew and a piece of sausage.

The smoked wings are worth considering when the table needs something to pick at before the larger orders arrive. Their deeply flavored meat and lightly crisp exterior put them somewhere between a bar snack and a proper barbecue course.

The Burnt Heaven sandwich takes barbecue in a spicier direction. It is paired with sweet potato fries and has a punchy barbecue profile for diners who like some heat and do not mind getting a little sauce on their hands.

A brisket cheesesteak offers another route away from the standard sliced-meat plate. It is an easy choice for someone at the table who wants the flavor of smoked brisket in a sandwich format rather than a tray lined with butcher paper.

Then there are the day-specific dishes, which can be especially fun if your visit lands at the right time. A Tuesday burnt-end chimichanga pairs tender barbecue with a smoky, spicy, tangy barbecue-Tex-Mex approach. On Sundays, family-style fried chicken may be offered as a whole or half bird with fixings and gravy. These specials can change, so it is worth checking the current schedule before making plans around one.

The appetizer list has its own personality. Bits and grits combines barbecue ends or bits with grits, a bowl built for anyone who likes their comfort food with some smoke mixed in. It is a particularly good example of how leftover-style barbecue pieces can become the point rather than an afterthought.

Cheesy hushpuppies with jalapeño jam bring a sweet-heat contrast to the table. The jam makes them more than a simple fried side, and the hushpuppies work well alongside a beer or a round of cocktails before the main dishes arrive.

Loaded Jo-Jo potatoes are another lively option for sharing. The seasoned potato pieces have been compared to a cross between a baked potato and crisp potato wedges, with crunchy bits throughout. They fit neatly into a happy-hour order, but no one needs an official occasion to put potatoes in the middle of the table.

A barbecue meal can rise or fall on its sides, and there is plenty to work through here: creamy macaroni and cheese, baked beans, potato salad, slaw, street corn, grits, onion rings, fries and sweet potato fries. That range makes it easy to build a tray that does not taste like three versions of the same thing.

The barbecue pit beans bring smoke first and a slight spicy sting afterward. They are a natural companion to brisket or ribs, especially for diners who want their side dish to carry a little of its own heat.

Broccoli-bacon slaw is a welcome change from ordinary cabbage slaw. It has enough of a savory edge to stand up to rich smoked meat, while still bringing some crunch to a meal that can otherwise become wonderfully, unapologetically soft.

Jalapeño-cheddar corn is another departure from the standard barbecue lineup. Order it when the table wants a side with more personality than plain corn, or pair it with a milder meat order for a little extra zip.

For a larger, more unusual side of comfort food, the Wagyu meatloaf is served in a notably generous portion. It is not trying to be a light add-on; this is the sort of item that can change the direction of an order.

A sauce flight is useful here, not just decorative. With several meats and sides in play, sampling multiple sauces lets diners find the pairing they like rather than treating one bottle as the default for everything on the tray.

The spicy barbecue sauce has a loyal following and makes a natural match for anyone ordering the Burnt Heaven sandwich, wings or a mixed platter. A sauce flight also leaves room to decide how much heat belongs on each bite instead of committing the entire plate to one flavor.

Drinks go well beyond a quick beer with ribs. The bar offers local craft beer, bourbon and whiskey selections, margaritas and Bloody Marys. The burnt Old Fashioned can be made with a chosen bourbon, a nice small bit of control for somebody who knows exactly what they want in the glass.

Peach bread pudding is a dessert option when barbecue has somehow not yet finished the meal. It also makes a good shared final course after a table has worked through platters, sides and a couple of starters.

The outdoor patio gives the restaurant much of its social momentum. There is room for large groups and casual gatherings, along with outdoor games that make lingering feel perfectly reasonable. It is family-friendly and pet-friendly, so the crowd can be a broad mix rather than one narrow version of a night out.

At different times, the patio entertainment has included music and televised soccer. The schedule and programming can vary, but the basic appeal remains the same: barbecue on the table, a drink nearby and enough room for the group to keep talking after the plates are cleared.

The indoor bar and dining areas provide another option when the weather does not cooperate. Still, the patio is most useful in favorable conditions, and that is when the place most clearly shifts from a straightforward meal stop into an easygoing Westport gathering place.

Parking in busy Westport can take a little extra patience. Street parking, nearby lots and a parking garage are among the options, with availability varying by the time and activity in the neighborhood.

The breadth of the menu rewards a little table strategy. Start with a drink or an appetizer, order a platter or sampler for the center, then add a sandwich or a special if someone wants to go in a different direction. Helpful menu suggestions from the staff can be especially useful when the choices start to multiply.