"This Dallas stalwart is still cranking out good smoked meats, selling all the usuals by the pound. But the Pitmaster sandwich—a mountain of brisket, pulled pork, and sausage topped with crunchy jalapeños, slaw, and sauce—is your chance to wrap your hands around half the menu. Or get the Hot Mess, a massive, salt-crusted sweet potato loaded with Southwestern-spiced barbacoa, chipotle cream, cheese, and bacon that’s deserving of its name. Pecan Lodge also has a full bar, so you can see what happens when you add a couple whiskeys on top of all that food." - kevin gray, nick rallo, rosin saez