Upgraded 2foodies Star Rating: 3.5
Welcome to today’s edition. We’ve got a lot to share - many changes going on like adding video to our text-based format. So, whether you prefer reading a review or listening to one – we’ve got you covered.
Today’s review is an update on Reyna’s Bar-b-queue. Our first visit was back on October 29, of 2020. We fell in love with them from day one, and if you haven’t had a chance to read our first review, please do, just scroll down, and you’ll see why we keep coming back.
For now, it’s all about their brisket and as we move forward, we’ll be reviewing their menu items, once a month, one dish a time, so that you can appreciate why these “foodies” love them so much.
Reyna’s is PURE Bar-B-Q with more than just a subtle hint of South Texas. It ranks up there with the best of the local competition – with “quality” meats and a price point that’s going to be hard to beat. This combination is a one-two punch and nothing short of great value for your hard-earned money.
Reyna’s uses prime/choice briskets and meats that are seasoned with traditional and local spices and smoked with a blend of Oak and Pecan logs that hit the palate in just the right way. How good is it? Let me tell you, the sliced and chopped brisket is a perfect balance of meat with a tangy/savory sauce well worth the price. One of our favorites is Moist and Lean Brisket - some of the best we’ve tasted in the RGV. The “marbled fat” on the moist brisket was to-die-for, and the lean brisket was juicy, tender and melts in your mouth.
And a pound is currently still under $20.00 that even if inflation forces Reyna’s to raise the price, you’ll still end up with a great value and a juicy and delicious piece of meat that you’ll love and won’t forget.
All in all, Reyna’s deserves an upgrade from a previous review from a 3.00 to a solid 3.5 for their commitment to consistency in quality – that’s what set’s the competition apart for achieving Total quality.
And if you’re not yet familiar with our 2Foodie rating system, please check our website and you’ll see why this 3.5-star rating is one step closer in the pursuit of excellence!
In closing, till our next review, Let’s applaud Reyna’s for showing our community what a local family-owned restaurant can do, especially when inspired to raise-the-bar and offer us “foodies” a meal worth going out for.
In the end Reyna’s says it all when he says…. Making sure you leave with a smile.
Thank you.
Star Rating: 3.0
Somewhere in early March when the pandemic was just becoming a reality and headline news, we noticed a new building being constructed over by Sam’s Club in Harlingen. At the time we weren’t sure what it would be, but considering its design and location, we figured it would be a restaurant. What we never imagined was how long it would take for the doors to finally open to the general public. Flash forward to the grand opening ceremony on October 29th and you’ll be hard pressed not acknowledging how brave and fearless these owners must be, to take on a restaurant venture during one of the most challenging times in recent history. Imagine, with a virus still lurking and the distribution of a vaccine far from sight - this kind of commitment takes people with a lot of faith and confidence, to take risks, and put their money where their mouth is.
Reyna’s is Bar-B-Q with more than just a subtle hint of South Texas. It ranks up there with the best of the local competition – with “quality” meats and a price point that’s going to be hard to beat - this combination is a one-two punch and nothing short of great value for your hard-earned money.
So, in light of the pandemic, we felt more comfortable going through the drive through to place our initial order. Here’s what we picked up and took home to feast: (1) Sliced Brisket Sandwich, (1) Chopped Brisket Sandwich, (1lb) of Moist Brisket, (1lb) of Lean Brisket, (1) Full Rack of Baby Back Ribs, (1) Full Rack of Spare Ribs, (1) Pint of Potato Salad, (1) Pint of Cole Slaw, (1) Tossed Salad with Smoked Chicken Breast.
We’ll start with the only item that completely let us down – the Cole Slaw. It was fresh, but dry as plain cabbage can be. I mean, we know it’s healthier to eat without the added calories that a great dressing can add, but seriously, a rabbit would have a hard time enjoying it. We know that’s a bit harsh, but all things considered, this was the only disappointing item we experienced in our initial review.
The rest of the meal was surprisingly fantastic – seriously. Reyna’s uses prime/choice briskets and meats that are seasoned with traditional and local spices and smoked with a blend of Oak and Pecan logs that hit the palate in just the right way. How good was it? Let me tell you, the sliced and chopped brisket sandwiches were great - a perfect balance of meat with a tangy/savory sauce well worth the price of $5.99 per sandwich. The Moist and Lean Brisket was some of the best I’ve tasted in the RGV – the “marbled fat” on the moist brisket was to-die-for, and the lean brisket was juicy, tender and melts in your mouth – at a little over $16.00 per pound – competitively priced and a great value. Now, for our favorite part of the meal – the ribs. OMG – these pork ribs were FINE. Whether you like baby back or spare ribs you won’t be disappointed. Priced at under $20 bucks for a full rack – you’ll come back to Reyna’s for more. We normally opt for baby back ribs, but their spare ribs were some of the best flavored and juiciest ribs we’ve had in a long time. We absolutely enjoyed them. And, if you’re into bar-b-q sauce – you’ll like the fact they have a large selection of flavored sauces to go with their ribs. And, for those who are watching their calories, the Tossed Salad with the Smoked Chicken Breast was certainly well worth the $8.99. A solid bargain when you consider what you can get at a national chain like Chick-fil-A. And now for the last item in our review - the Potato Salad – with a perfect blend of mayo and mustard that complemented our meat and turned our meal into a feast. All in all, Reyna’s deserves a solid 3 and merits respect for showing our community what a local family owned restaurant can do, especially when inspired to raise-the-bar and offer us “foodies” a meal worth going out for.
Folks, this is indeed a miracle and living proof that the American Dream is alive and well here in the Rio Grande Valley. Our hats off and a salute to a business that dares to dream and ventures to succeed. We will be back and looking forward to sampling the rest of their extensive menu soon. All in all, the drive through service was quick and the staff friendly and very attentive.
On a final note, when it comes to local mandates on mask wearing, we have no say in the matter. So, that being said, and knowing how politicized mask wearing has become – we decided that when it comes to reviewing restaurants – we strongly support establishments that accommodate everyone by offering options. When restaurants offer us a choice – we all win. If you like to dine in and feel comfortable doing so, perfect – just be sure to follow your local mask mandates. If you’re more inclined towards convenience, and wearing a mask is not so much an issue, then drive-through and curbside options are your best bet. Ultimately it should be about personal choice and our freedom to make that choice.
As foodies, we know better than to mix food and politics. At the proverbial “table” it should be all about our mutual love of food. What we’re saying is, let’s keep our local restaurants free of politics - A Politics Free-Zone for all of us to come together and support our local businesses. This way, we all win and get to enjoy a great meal while keeping our local restaurants alive and well. God Bless.
