Brisket Love Barbecue & Icehouse offers some great tasting BBQ with a splash of Live Music along with Craft Beers and Spirits. As they say, “come for the food but stay for the experience”. As a huge fan of great BBQ, no amount of “experience” can make up for the lack of tasty food. Good thing you get both at this little gem tucked away in the Piney Woods between Lindale and Hideaway Lake in East Texas.
One of my favorite BBQ Joints in East Texas, Brisket Love offers all the BBQ favorites you love plus a few surprises. The menu gets a tweak here and there from week to week whether it’s a new veggie of the day or a new pile of delicious meat served in a different way. I have yet to find a smoked meat on the menu that I didn’t enjoy. I even asked for a side salad once with Blue Cheese dressing. Even though Blue Cheese dressing wasn’t offered at the time he made some up from scratch that was pretty darn tangy and tasty.
The Pitmaster is Craig Wood, he and his wife Lee Ann have created not only a restaurant with great food but also a place you want to hang out and chew the fat so to speak. The staff has always been friendly and willing to help make my visit enjoyable. If you are like me and like to talk to the Pitmaster about their craft Craig has always taken the time to talk cue. To me that is part of what makes BBQ not just a food but a lifestyle, hobby and a passion all packaged up together.
I’ve only been there for lunch so I haven’t had the opportunity to enjoy the Live Music and Hackberry Hall. I have friends that have experienced the Brisket Love night life and said it was a great time. As I am writing this we are still in the middle of the Covid-19 outbreak so I imagine that is affecting the Live Music scene a bit. Speaking of Covid-19 they have done a nice job of providing hand sanitizer and social distancing.

Brisket Love Menu
You will find the traditional BBQ fare as well as a pretty diverse menu with a few surprises including house made sausage. Of course the star of the show is the Brisket but pork, turkey, sausage and hamburgers are all part of the supporting cast. There are also creative items on the menu making cameo appearances for limited runs. I always have to check the Brisket Love menu board for any new creations to try out.
The Brisket is tender with a nice bark on the slices. The flavor profile is not hard core Central Texas Style but you still have that nice salt/pepper and smoke flavor. The flavors of the house made sausage are wonderful. They grind their own meat and they don’t pack it full of fillers. If you are like me you will find the texture just a bit grainy but man the flavor is spot on. I also enjoy the tender and juicy pulled pork.
I love it when a BBQ restaurant serves their sauce warm. Squeeze bottles on the table are okay but if you want to take it to the next level serve your BBQ sauce up warm. Also, I am not a vinegar guy so I appreciate the sauce at Brisket Love not screaming at my taste buds. The sauce walks the tightrope of sweet, smokey and tangy.
Whether you are enjoying a Sandwich, Meat Plate or even a Hamburger you are in for some good eating. Barbecue isn’t for everyone but for those that enjoy good cue Brisket Love is a great choice for lunch or dinner. They also have a kids menu if your little buckaroos haven’t developed a love for BBQ yet.
Smoked Meats
- Brisket
- Pulled Pork
- Pork Ribs – Beef Ribs on Occasion
- House Made Sausage
- Turkey
Side Dishes
- Vegetable of the Day
- German Potato Salad
- Mustard Potato Salad
- Pinto Beans with Meat
- Bacon Mac and Cheese
- Cole Slaw
On my most recent visit they served Collard Greens with Bacon. I had never tried Collard Greens before so I gave it a shot. I was pleasantly surprised, it may have been the bacon that got me but I won’t hesitate to have them again.
Odds and Ends
- Baked Potato With or Without Meat
- Hamburgers
- Sausage Wrap
- Onion Rings
- French Fries
Salad Choices
- Brisket Love Salad with Brisket and Turkey
- Grilled Chicken Salad
- Smoked Turkey Salad
- Garden Salad – No Meat
Desserts
They keep it traditional when it comes to the desserts offering Blackberry and Peach Cobblers. You can also get ice cream.
Still on my To Do List for Brisket Love is to try the ribs, a hamburger, bacon mac and cheese and have dinner with a side of live music. Hopefully I can complete the To Do List in the not too distant future. So, if you find yourself in the Lindale, Texas area and feeling a bit on the hungry side go see the crew at Brisket Love. You’ll be glad you did.

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