#23 - RIVERPORT BAR-B-QUE, Friendly Eating in Jefferson, TX

201 N. Polk, 903-665-2341. Tue–Thur 11–6, Fri & Sat 11–7, Sun 11–3


I'm going to cut to the chase.  Holy crap, Riverport Bar-B-Que in Jefferson, TX is good.  The worst thing about the place is the distance from Dallas...2.5 hours.  Now that I've been to Riverport, the only thing keeping me from a return trip is that damn (sorry mom) 2.5 hour drive.

Riverport Bar-B-Que is located in Jefferson TX, halfway between Marshall and Linden.  It's closer to Shreveport and Longview than it is to Dallas.  The city of Jefferson was built on the Big Cypress Bayou.  In the past, the Red River north of Jefferson was dammed by a 100-mile logjam, which pushed water into the bayou, enabling ferry boats to go through on their own.  At its peak, Jefferson was one of the five largest cities in Texas.  But a little dynamite and the US Army Corps of Engineers blew up the dam and Jefferson's big-time dreams in the process. Now, it's better known for quaint B&Bs, serious antiquing, the Jefferson Jimplecute (the 5th oldest paper in Texas!), and Riverport Bar-B-Que, one of the top 50 BBQ joints in Texas. 

Riverport Bar-B-Que sits on the corner of N. Polk and E. Lafayette Streets in Downtown Jefferson.  We arrived on a Sunday around 1230 pm and every seat in the restaurant was filled with the after-church crowd. That said, in a town of 1,700 and plenty of tourists, we were able to place our order very quickly and grab a seat.

The service at Riverport is top-notch.  The folks at Riverport are friendly and talk to you like you've been friends for years.  Linc, the "head cashier," is one of the friendliest people you will ever meet.  Owner Steven Joseph has been a part of Riverport Bar-B-Que for 25 years. He even shared the recipes for his turkey (mayo, garlic salt and pepper) and cole slaw (chopped dill relish).  I will NEVER be able to make anything as good as these, but it's so cool that they shared it.

We ordered brisket, sausage and turkey; fried okra and cole slaw; and an order of loaded Swamp Fries ("they're famous on Yelp! said a friendly customer).

Riverport Bar-B-Que doesn't look like much but it sneaks up on you.  The fried okra was perfect...not too greasy, not too okra-ey.  The cole slaw is the BEST I've ever had.  The dill relish gives it a perfect flavor that cuts through the normal cole slaw sweetness...so great, and I'm sad I can't get it in Dallas.  The Swamp Fries were perfectly covered with a blanket of brisket, onions and cheese.  Linc even mixed us up some Ranch and Louisiana Hot Sauce dressing to dip them in.

The brisket and sausage were both top-notch, definitely top 50 material.  But dude, the turkey at Riverport is unbelievable.  After visiting 23 of the top 50 BBQ joints in Texas, something has to really stand out to make it memorable.  But the turkey at Riverport was so moist, so fantastic, so out-of-this-world, that we had to have more.  So we bought 2 lbs of it to take home with us.  It sat in the car for a couple of hours while we toured Jefferson, then another 2.5 as we drove home.  That's right, we risked salmonella to bring home the best damn turkey in the state of Texas.  It was worth it.

The man, the myth, the legend...Steven Joseph!

That turkey is so good, it deserves its own holiday. On Riverport Turkey Day, every Texan should give thanks to Steven Joseph for gracing Texas with his smoked turkey.  Jeffersonians should host a parade with floats headed down Polk Street, and celebrate in the square with table after table loaded with Riverport turkey.  Everyone would get to eat their fill.  And afterward, if you can still see your feet, there will be another month of winter.  Yes, we should all give thanks for Riverport turkey.

So in summary:

1. Go to Jefferson, Texas.  
2. Go to Riverport Bar-B-Que. 
3. Everything on the menu is great.
4. GET THE TURKEY!

You'll be glad you did.