A traffic ticket leads to some good BBQ...

Okay, true confession time here on Fort Worthian... I got a traffic citation last week. It was a beautiful, sunny afternoon, with the temp in the mid 70s, and work was done for the day and I was in a great mood. Had the stellar new Black Crowes disc in the CD player with one of my favorite songs cranked... Let's face it, I was enjoying life, so much that I really wasn't paying much attention to the speedometer. Long story short, the officer caught me going 40 in a 30 mph zone. I don't know whether it was my conciliatory manner or the officer was just enjoying the day as much as I was, but he let me go with a warning on the speeding and gave me a ticket for not having a current insurance card with me.

So I paid a visit to downtown Fort Worth yesterday to show that, Yes, I do have insurance, and I have not yet joined the criminal underworld driving around without insurance. (Maybe that should be an option in the new Grand Theft Auto? "Muahahaha! I'm driving without insurance! I'm such a scofflaw!") So I drive past the Municipal Court building at 1000 Throckmorton, looking for cheap parking, and head down Taylor Street.

Now, I've lived in Fort Worth 17.5 years. I've visited and explored downtown on many occasions, and have had mucho fun there. But turning onto Taylor Street, I saw the little red shack for Bailey's Bar-B-Q, and I'm fairly certain I've never seen it before yesterday. I mean, it's pretty memorable having this little shack tucked between an office building and a parking garage... Have I never been down this street before?

I found a metered space on Taylor and parked, and as soon as I got out of the car, that lovely aroma of smoked meat hit me and any other lunch ideas were suddenly cast aside. Business first, so I took care of my traffic ticket and then I hit Bailey's for lunch.

First impression: This place is tiny! There was a line and I couldn't get into the door. There are a few tables scattered around inside, with a few outside between the building and the parking garage next door. Second impression: The smoked meat smell is much more concentrated inside, more than any BBQ joint I've ever visited. It was nice, but might be overwhelming for some folks.

When I saw the line, I thought it might take a while. But these people are fast! The service is quicker than any fast food joint. They've got one person slicing the meat and making the sandwiches, another person doing saucing and bagging, and the third taking orders and running the register. You know those credit card commercials where everything is moving like clockwork until someone tries to pay cash? That's this place, except they only take cash.

I had the Thursday special, which has a sliced beef sandwich, chips and a canned soft drink for $4.75. Nice deal! I grabbed a seat near the counter and just watched the operation while I ate.

Is it the best BBQ I've had in Fort Worth? No, that distinction still goes to Railhead, especially for ribs and a nice frosty schooner of Shiner where the foam gets those tasty little ice crystals... Mmm... But Bailey's is a fantastic spot for downtown folks, and it's one of those rare quick lunch places that actually tastes good. Plus there's the charm of eating in a little red shack downtown...

(817)335-7469
826 Taylor Street