Pork n Things BBQ
Denny Antel had found success already with his Pork n Things food truck. Then he saw that the old Outlaws Supper Club building—and its nearly five acres of property just within the city limits, near the airport—had become available. He jumped at the opportunity to expand, giving life to a big vision.
“I’ve always loved music and have played music since I was young,” says the award-winning cook. “I’ve always wanted a concert venue. This property reminded me of some of the places down in Austin that are famous barbecue joints.”
He’s at the beginning of what he describes as a five-year plan, but has already made progress. Summer visitors to Pork n Things BBQ will enjoy a beer garden, outdoor activities like cornhole, a fantastic open-air patio and a lot of televisions. “What makes a place in Amarillo busy?” Antel asks. Then he answers: “TVs and cheap drinks.”
There’s also the food itself. A former surgical first assistant, Antel had been a hobbyist in the competitive barbecue world for more than a decade when he opened the food truck, regularly traveling from Texas to Kansas City to compete. He racked up plenty of awards. “I have a basement in my house full of trophies,” he says. You won’t see them yet at the restaurant, though. “People ask me why I don’t have all the trophies [on display] here. My response is because the restaurant hasn’t won any trophies yet.”
In other words, all those trophies have Antel’s name on them, not Pork n Things. That may change soon. “My goal is to get this place in the top 10 of Texas Monthly barbeque joints in Texas,” he says.
Patrons are already making the drive out to the restaurant’s SE Third Ave. location, not far from I-40, and raving about Antel’s brisket, Kansas City-style ribs, burnt ends and green chile hominy. Everything on the menu is tender and flavorful thanks to the massive smoker out back.
The location may be a little out of the way, but that’s part of the appeal. “We’re still in the city limits, but when you come out here, you’ve got that out-of-town feeling,” he says. “But it’s not that big of a drive. We’re just 16 minutes from the Sam’s Club out on Soncy.”
Pork n Things BBQ is open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Thursday through Sunday, with both dine-in and outdoor seating.
10816 SE Third Ave.
806.699.7675
facebook.com/PorkNThingsBbq
