If your idea of a great barbeque joint conjures up images of a hole-in-the-wall and smokers running from the early morning hours onward, I have found Myrtle Beach’s best BBQ.

Located in North Myrtle Beach, Brisket (the name leaves little doubt as to the house specialty) is everything you could want in a BBQ restaurant. It’s housed in a small, unassuming building, but that 4,200-pound, custom-built smoker – it can hold up to 750 pounds of meat!! – is a gift from the heavens.

People with palettes I trust had long sung Brisket’s praises, but I ate at the “Barbeque Saloon” for the first time on my recent staycation golf trip. It didn’t disappoint.

We sat at the bar, flanked by a framed portrait of “The Duke,” John Wayne. Strong start. The dining room is relatively small, especially considering the demand, so there is a chance you might have a wait, but the staff hustles and the service is quick.

The bar features an extensive selection of craft brews and a highly recommended 3-shot bourbon flight that ranges from $12 to $15, depending on the level bourbon you prefer.

On a menu that features smoked pork, chicken, ribs, sausage and more, everyone in my group went with the, you guessed it, brisket.

It was amazing. You are provided a butter knife but there is no need. The brisket was easily “cut” by a fork and was as flavorful as any I’ve ever had. Using sauce almost fell into the category of “it’s an insult to the chef,” but Brisket does offer four homemade sauces – vinegar, mustard, spicy, sweet – and they are all good.

The sides were tasty as well – I had the mac and cheese and a buddy raved about the collard greens – but they weren’t the star of the plate I paid $10.99 for. While it would be hard for me to recommend anything other than the brisket, a lady pulled up a seat beside us at the bar and got a pulled pork plate to go.

She had ordered the same thing the day before.

The choice of entree is yours, but you won’t go wrong no matter the decision.

As good as the lunch plate was, I’d be remiss not to mention the pork rinds and pimento cheese appetizer (both homemade), which was nearly the equal of the brisket.

I took a couple days off the back of my life every time I dipped a pork rind into the pimento cheese, but it was a small price to pay.

Bottom Line: If you like barbeque, go out of your way to eat at Brisket. Now. The place is full of character, the food is outstanding, and prices are good. Not sure what else you could want out of a restaurant.

<Photos from the Brisket Barbeque Facebook Page>