Q Texas Smokehouse

The Logbook — Real Guest Soundings

Depth Sounding: This is a composite account from multiple guest experiences, edited to our venue standards for clarity. Individual sailings vary by ship, itinerary, and crew.

Q Texas Smokehouse Review: Real Smoke, Real Flavor

Introduction. Q Texas Smokehouse (or simply Q) is NCL's barbecue specialty restaurant, found on Breakaway, Getaway, Escape, and other ships. It serves Texas-style smoked meats — brisket, ribs, pulled pork — with a specialty dining surcharge ($25-35 or a dining credit from Free at Sea). The meat is actually smoked on board (on some ships), which is a meaningful differentiator. Reservations recommended.

Food & Drinks

The Brisket is the star — properly smoked with a peppery bark, pink smoke ring, and tender-but-not-mushy texture. It's the best brisket you'll find at sea. The Baby Back Ribs are glazed and fall off the bone — good, though they lean sweeter than Texas purists would prefer. The Pulled Pork is smoky and moist, served with a vinegar-based Carolina sauce option that adds tang. The Corn Bread is made in-house and comes out warm — sweet, crumbly, and perfect with butter. Where it falls short: the Mac and Cheese is heavy and one-note — it needs a sharper cheese or a breadcrumb crust for texture. The BBQ Beans are forgettable. The Smoked Chicken is the weakest protein — dry breast meat that needs more time in the smoker or more sauce. Desserts are limited; the Pecan Pie is the right choice when available.

Service

Service is casual and friendly — the staff know the menu and will guide you toward the brisket (rightly so). The portions are generous, so the waitstaff will warn against over-ordering. Beer recommendations are smart — they push local or craft options that pair well with smoked meat. Dinner runs 75-90 minutes. The quality of the actual smoked meat can vary by ship — ships with on-board smokers produce noticeably better food.

Atmosphere

The dining room goes for Texas roadhouse — wood, leather, maybe some corrugated metal, Americana signage. It's rustic and unpretentious, which matches the food. The energy is lively and casual — nobody's dressing up for BBQ. Music is country and Southern rock at a background level. Portions come on butcher paper or metal trays, adding to the authenticity. On Escape, the space is well-sized; on some smaller ships, it can feel cramped.

Conclusion

Rating: 3.8/5. Q Texas Smokehouse delivers genuine smoked barbecue — the Brisket is the real deal and worth the surcharge alone. The Ribs and Pulled Pork are solid. It loses points for the dry Chicken, boring Mac and Cheese, and inconsistency between ships. Tip: Order the Brisket, skip the chicken entirely, add extra Corn Bread, and pair with a dark craft beer. This is one of the best uses of a Free at Sea dining credit.

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