Andrew O.
Yelp
I rarely review a place, but as a native Texan who lived in the Hill Country (and not in Austin, which is a theme park) I felt the need to address an area of specialty.
Sadly, there are no competent Tex-Mex restaurants in Boston, so I had to default to the Republic's other main food, our beloved BBQ, which has strict requirements for its preparation and consumption. I found Larry J's to be quite competent, so I graded it on the Texan scale. Note this was an UBER delivery, so certain things are not reviewed.
PROS:
+ Arrived with absolutely no sauce on the meat, but available on the side. This is an indication of the chef's competence, as sauce is used to cover up deficiencies in the meat.
+ Fat still on the brisket, which is a good thing. The meat near the fat and the bone produces the most flavorful meat. I don't mind a bit of shaving for better taste.
+ Sides were competently executed, but subject to one caveat below. Fries were impressively good for a BBQ place, where they are often an afterthought.
+ Flavors were excellent for this area of the US, again subject to 1 caveat, below.
+ Three sauces on the side, one representing the molasses-heavy North Carolina style, one representing the ArkLaTex pepper style, and one that was allegedly the representative of Texan "spicyness."
+ All in all, it will keep a Texan sane, which is a good thing.
KINDA-CONS:
= Everything was too... cold. Not temperature wise, but spicy-wise. Texas BBQ is about punishing yourself for your sinful ways, and the heat is the way to do so. Still, considering that Texas-level heat would probably mean Larry wouldn't sell anything, I'd give it a break. A necessary accommodation to soft northern palates.
= In the Republic, using apple and hickory to smoke meat will get you shot, and the cops will call it justifiable. One only uses mesquite and pecan, but I imagine that it's quite difficult to get either up here, so it's forgivable.
CONS:
- Beans in chili. Absolutely criminal. If this was Boerne there would be riots.
The fact that I had to go to the spiciness of the food and the type of tree used is an indication of Larry's overall quality, and I'll be back. BYO habaneros, of course.