Shotgun Willie's BBQ
Barbecue restaurant · Montague ·
Texas-style brisket, ribs, pulled pork, and sausage.
Texas-style brisket, ribs, pulled pork, and sausage.
"Shotgun Willie’s is technically in Madison, but it’s our pick for the best barbecue in the Nashville area right now. The Texas-style barbecue here is so good, we’re willing to travel outside the technical city limits for it—especially for the ribs, which always seem to be sold out. Once you get to the front counter, place an order for slow-smoked American wagyu brisket, Texas hill country sausage, or those elusive (and incredibly tender) salt and pepper ribs. Throw in a few sides like the delightfully puckery dill potato salad and some of the finest baked beans in the city. Expect a line on weekends that occasionally stretches out the door. And if you’ve got kids in tow, Shotgun Willie's has one of those coin-operated mechanical bulls they can ride for a quarter. And if you wanna give it a go, no judgment here either." - jackie gutierrez jones 2
"Shotgun Willie’s recently opened in Madison, and it’s our pick for the best barbecue in the Nashville area right now. Highlights include devastatingly tender American wagyu brisket, juicy Texas hill country sausage, and the frequently sold-out salt and pepper ribs—a masterful rendition of perfectly seasoned slabs. The flavor-packed sides, like the creamy dill potato salad, tangy baked beans, and crumbly jalapeño cornbread, are equally worthwhile. The casual, airy location is decorated with Lone Star state memorabilia that teeters on the edge of “way too much.” We’re talking Willie posters, Texas license plates, college pennants, and a coin-operated mechanical bull you can ride for a quarter. Eat inside at one of the tables or head out to the patio when it isn’t too cold or hotter than the devil’s backside on a Texas summer day." - jackie gutierrez jones 2, carlo mantuano, ann walczak
"Named after Texas’s own Willie Nelson, Shotgun Willie’s in East Nashville is leveling up the Nashville barbecue game — it’s all about the slow-cooked meats and bourbon banana pudding here. In a simple space adorned with plenty of Texas memorabilia, Bill Laviolette’s menu nods to both his Texas upbringing and his new Tennessee digs with award-winning brisket, Tennessee-style pulled pork shoulder, and smoked chicken. —Jackie Guiterrez-Jones" - Ellen Fort
"Shotgun Willie’s in Madison is a shrine to a few things that make Texas great: college football, Willie Nelson, and amazing barbecue. But to get to that barbecue, you’ll have to contend with another Texas barbecue tradition—a line, especially on weekends. And that’s OK, because this is some of the best smoked meat in Middle Tennessee. Highlights include devastatingly tender American wagyu brisket, juicy Texas hill country sausage, and the frequently sold-out salt and pepper ribs—a masterful rendition of perfectly seasoned slabs. And no tray is complete without flavor-packed sides like the creamy dill potato salad, tangy baked beans, and crumbly jalapeño cornbread. photo credit: Casey Irwin photo credit: Casey Irwin photo credit: Casey Irwin photo credit: Casey Irwin Pause Unmute They recently moved to a bigger location in Madison that’s casual, airy, and decorated with Lone Star state memorabilia that teeters on the edge of “way too much.” We’re talking Willie posters, Texas license plates, college pennants, and a coin-operated mechanical bull you can ride for a quarter. Eat inside at one of the tables or head out to the patio when it isn’t too cold or hotter than the devil’s backside on a Texas summer day. Food Rundown Salt & Pepper Ribs The KISS principle (keep it simple, stupid) is at work here, and there’s a reason for that—these ribs don’t need much more than some salt and pepper to really savor the smokey flavor. The meat is tender, but not too soft, and has the ideal amount of crust. photo credit: Casey Irwin Black Hawk Farms American Wagyu Brisket This is brisket just like Texas intended—tender, juicy, and with a perfectly subtle fatty texture that coats the mouth on impact. photo credit: Casey Irwin Dill Potato Salad Dill is a SWH, or a secret weapon herb, that should be deployed sparingly, and Shotgun Willie’s potato salad is one of the best use cases. Expect thick hunks of potatoes dressed in a creamy sauce that’s punctuated by the ever-so-subtle pucker of dill. You should also expect to like it. A lot. photo credit: Casey Irwin 4 Baked Beans This delightful little cup of fiber isn’t composed of just one type of bean—you get a whole squad that includes black, kidney, and great northern beans mingling together in a tangy, thickened stew. Throw that into your order and call it a day. photo credit: Casey Irwin" - Jackie Gutierrez-Jones
"Bill Laviolette’s lunch-only East Nashville storefront — named for his favorite Willie Nelson song — gets major buzz for its Texas-style brisket and ribs, smoked over white oak and pecan wood, as well as a Tennessee-style pulled pork sandwich piled high on a brioche bun. As Shotgun Willie’s BBQ warns on its website, these meats do sometimes sell out, so don’t dawdle if you want a taste." - Eater Staff