ROTTED RANKINGS
Daily Meal dunks on Bill Miller in worst barbecue chain list
The Daily Meal is coming for a San Antonio favorite. The Indiana-based content mill has boldly declared that Bill Miller Bar-B-Q is the worst barbecue chain in the U.S. Hold our sweet tea.
While noting that the Alamo City-based institution has its fans, writer Jay Wilson decried poor customer service, long waits, allegedly cold food, and incorrect orders. The barbecue, he said, is “nothing to write home about.”
“This once-venerable chain now feels like it's gone downhill, and its customers increasingly feel as though they're no longer getting their money's worth at its restaurants,” continued the reporter, who may or may not have generated a list of 13 random barbecue chains from AI.
The Daily Meal admits it is not making first-hand judgments. The list was culled from recent customer reviews, “wider industry responses,” and awards lists. Wilson hails from London, a city home to Texas Joe’s Slow Cooked Meats, a joint known for authentic Lone Star dishes like mutton shoulder and, uhm, smoked celeriac and pickled shimeji mushroom tacos.
While no San Antonian is mistaking Bill Miller for the craft barbecue spots like Reese Bros. Barbecue or 2M Smokehouse, perhaps The Daily Meal should hire someone who is familiar with the subject before it attempts a barbecue list. Texas Monthly Barbecue Editor Daniel Vaughn may not be waxing poetic about Bill Miller, but it is a fiercely protected part of our city, and we’ll wear our chicken, pig, and chicken guayabera with pride.
The snarky website didn’t save its scorn for just one Texas restaurant. Dickey’s Barbecue Pit was pooh-poohed as the fourth-worst barbecue chain. While the Dallas-based chain did score points for its “left-field sandwich options” (imagine: smoked meats on a hoagie roll!), Wilson bemoaned the fate of franchise owners who were unable to make the business work.
Still, the rankings weren't all about dogging Texas. San Antonio and Dallas caught a few strays, but like the rest of food media, The Daily Meal is more enamored with Austin. Rudy’s Country Store and Terry Black’s Barbecue were rated the No. 3 and No. 1 best barbecue chains, respectively.
