All this Texas Monthly Top 50 talk got me thinking about just DFW ratings. I think BBQ (at least in the DFW area where, admittedly we are just starting to catch up with some elite offerings and a wider range of options overall) generally falls into 6 categories...
Elite - Cattleack is in there no doubt. Haven't been yet but obviously Goldee's. I wouldn't put Panther City in there based on the one time I had it, but maybe
Upper Tier - Terry Black's would be in here for sure for me. Probably Hutchins and others in the TM Top 50, but not TM Top 10. Panther City for me
Above Average - Pecan Lodge and I'm sure several others I've never been to
Slightly Above Average - Rudy's gets it's own category (yeah I know it's a chain but I'd still take it over Lockhart, Heim and a lot of other places)
Average - Lockhart, Heim, and a ton of others
Below Average - Mostly crappy chains like Sonny Bryan’s, Spring Creek, etc. They might do in a pinch, but I'd never seek them out.
Shit - Dicky's (who are laughing all the way to the bank BTW)
Whatcha got DFW Surly?