Joe Allen’s Pit Bar-B-Que

Just like we remembered… totally worth the cross country trek from Washington, DC… and dad from Moab, UT. Still one of the best steaks around. I’ll have to make dad pay next time!!!

Visiting from out of town i was told they had the best bbq in town. It was just OK, the saving grace was their sausage. Other than that i didnt find anything to be great. It is also a bit overpriced for the quality. Staff is friendly though.

This place has potential to be quite good, but inconsistency is its weakness. One night you’ll go and get a top-​flight steak. The next night it’s totally off the mark. Also… as steakhouses in Abilene go, the atmosphere here is at the bottom end of the scale.

Please, please, please bring back your filet!!! Husband loves the ribeye but they are too fatty for me.

We stopped at Joe Allen’s in Abilene because we had heard it was famous (not infamous) for its tasty barbecue… and it did not disappoint! We had chopped brisket sandwiches and added their delicious barbecue sauce. We shared an order of fried okra and a side of cabbage and highly recommend both. Décor was rustic and interesting. We enjoyed Joe Allen’s very much!

Somebody needs to explain a few things to these people about ambiance. I understand that there’s a place for rustic dining, but when you spend your entire meal cringing from the screech of metal chairs on concrete floors and the pounding of brisket being chopped, you leave pretty unsatisfied.
Add to that the weak lake water they call tea, and it’s the trifecta. Too bad they have pretty good catfish. Guess I’ll get mine to go from now on. Learn that some people are sensitive to excessive noise.

The wife and I stopped by here when we were in the area and both agreed that it was some of the best BBQ we’ve ever had! The prices were great and the staff was amazingly friendly. We will definitely go back if we are ever in the area again!!! I think they need to take their ribs to the annual Rib Cook off in Reno, NV (Sparks, NV). We never had ribs this good while attending the cook off which has been featured on the Food Network and my wife grew up in Reno. Thanks for the great service and amazing food!

Very good food and service. Friendly employees. Fast service, clean environment
Highly recommended!!!

This place used to be legendary. As other reviewers have stated, since the moved from Treadway to S. 11^th, things have gone downhill and I have to concur. The first time I stepped foot in the place (Treadway location) was the year 2000. I was amazing. That was my first chopped brisket sandwich ever and I loved it. I can’t remember when the business moved to S 11^th but it hasn’t been the same since. The food quality has gone down hill, I think the sandwhich size has gotten smaller, and the service can be mediocre. One reviewer mentioned the potato salad being like mashed potatoes. I have to admit, I love it that way and that’s one aspect I feel hasn’t gone downhill.
I just hate to see a once beloved place with some great memories go to crap… I’m sure I’m not the only one who feels this way. I haven’t stopped going to Joe Allens, but my visits are not that frequent.

I was not to happy with my fish it was a few small piece of fish and when I ask the man taking my order what kind of seasonings he offered three kinds I asking which one do you like, he responded salmon as I was ordering catfish in a smart demeanor this was about 4 pm maybe not a good time to go there!!! I have been in the food industry for a long time. when the person taking your order has a bad attitude it’s hard for me to return

My Wife and I took my Mom here on a Sunday for lunch. The food was very good. I had the porter house pork chop, okra, everything was real good. Service was also good. The only complaint that we had was when the front door opened we had a blast of cold air.

Ordered the porterhouse for two. Cooked perfect and delicious! The green beans were yummy and Toddler fave! Good sourdough bread and very reasonably priced for portions and flavor! Love atmosphere and good service.

While the Treadaway location was so 5 stars, the new is about 3.5 stars. Be sure and eat on the serve yourself side. On the waiter side, they made us late back to work. Took way too long for how busy they were. Had the ribs my last 2 times here, and they were very good. Yes, the cornbread was DRY, as mentioned in another review. We will be back, but only to the serve yourself side.

Heard great things but was so disappointed. Everything from brisket to ribs were DRY and the BBQ sauce was not that great (personal preference in sauce). Veggies seemed as though they were out of a can and the potato salad was mashed. When I think of potato salad I think of pieces of potato etc. Not mashed potatoes.

It’s been a few months since we visited this establishment. I am writing about the restaurant area, not the BBQ area.
Back when they were on Treadaway, the place was great, food was great. Since moving to their South 11^th location, it’s being going downhill ever since. Speculation is because Sharon left and she was the «good» behind it all.
Nothing has changed and frankly I am not sure why they aren’t citied by the health department just for the number of flies within the establishment. Given the number of these pesky pests constantly flying around, landing on drinks, food, tables and even skin, one can only wonder what it’s like in the kitchen. While we never ate the bread, it was always requested because we quickly learned that by placing the plate of bread to the side, the flies were consumed with the plate and it would reduce the amount flying around, landing on drinks, food and skin. The sad thing is that I am sure that once we leave, the bread that dozens of flies had been feasting on was taken back to the kitchen area awaiting for re-​distributation to the next group that came in. I know this sounds gross but it’s reality. If you go in there, you will make note of the flies.
On to the food. Again, the steaks used to be really good at their former location. Medium seems to be rare as of now. Tough, tasteless and very poor choice of meats. What’s sad is that the chef seems to think there is nothing wrong with his food. We were in there on a Saturday night from 7−8ish and I could count the number of people dining on two hands. Driving by Lytle Land on the way home, the lot was full of cars.
I know my reviews tend to be on the negative side but I am just sharing my experiences. What is good for one may not be for another. I will say that this place has issues and I am certain revenues from the restaurant isn’t what’s keeping it’s doors open. I reviewed another local steakhouse and they have since closed their doors even though some felt their food was great. If a restaurant has good food and service, they will stay open unless management is totally clueless on running a business.
Enter Joe Allen’s at your own risk. I will be filing a complaint with the health department in hopes it will force them to clean house and rid of those filthy germ spreading pests.

In the days of yore when they were located on Treadway, they were the best, sadly those days have been gone for quite some time.
The meat is fatty, the sauce is inconsistent, the sides are mediocre, and the service is rough.
In short, go elsewhere for BBQ.

Good fresh, not too greasy bbq good!
+everything was good!
+good tender meats: I loved the turkey!
+sides were perfect: not too much salt or pepper added.
+corn bread topped w butter was delicious!
+you add the bbq sauce to your food
+ bbq sauce was tasty w a good tangyness
+waitress was nice

We really wanted to like this place. It has a western ambiance and the waitstaff is friendly enough.
However, if you can’t do barbeque right in Abilene, stick to steak or country cookin’. We tried the brisket platter with 2 sides, and it still came out on a bun. A stale bun! The potato «salad» was actually mashed. My turkey sandwich was good but served dry, so I just ate the turkey. The corn bread was done well.
Next time in Abilene, we’ll try another barbeque place.

Came here for lunch while working nearby. It was hardly busy at all! Service was very attentive and on the ball. I had a very delicious chopped brisket sandwich and a HUGE side of fried okra… enough to feed two people. The meal was reasonably priced, under $ 10. I would definitely recommend this place of ever in the area and in the mood for barbecue.

Needing comfort food!
Had a brisket sandwich, beans, and potato salad. All very good. The potato salad is more like mashed potatoes but, very good!