The BBQ scene in Beaufort will soon be smokin’ even hotter with the addition of the new Bordertown BBQ restaurant to Beaufort Town Center this upcoming fall.
The new spot will be replacing the former Home Slice Pizzeria at 2001 Boundary Street, located behind Starbucks next to the old Quality Inn hotel.
“We’ll be offering a mix of Texas-style barbecue, Mexican street flair and Southern hospitality,” restaurant co-owner, Kristen Miklinevich told us on Friday.
“We’ve done the work,” she said. “We’ve spent a great deal of time in Texas figuring out the real deal with BBQ, and co-owner Sam Kochan has owned and operated a Mexican Restaurant in Massachusetts for the past 14 years.”
“The close overlapping of Texas BBQ and Mexican cuisine is what makes our name Bordertown, and the inclusion of Mexican flavors to traditional Texas BBQ is what will make our menu different because they compliment one another,” she added.
That sounds fantastic to us!
The couple spent 14 years running successful spots in Massachusetts, including Mission Cantina and North Village Smokehouse, until they decided to move south in 2024.
According to Kristen, the key to their taste is “Central Texas-inspired slow smoked meats on a 1000 gallon stick burner.” She said that the smoker will be kept outside of the restaurant, and will be smoking nearly all the time, adding a robust scent to the air around Town Center.
The menu will include brisket, along with other smoked items, Mexican-inspired street tacos and all the traditional sides you would expect from a BBQ restaurant. Kristen said that other meats will be sold by the pound to give that consummate Texas feel, along with lunch and dinner specials, huge combo platters, and brunch options as well.
Texas BBQ is in a class by itself. Along with big plates and portions, the focus of Texas BBQ is on the natural flavor of the beef, pork, or ribs, enhanced only by a perfectly balanced smoky bark; instead of drowning it in sauces.
“Fate brought us to Beaufort,” she said. “Sam has been a chef for years and is incredibly talented and his passion for cooking the best tasting foods is complimented by his using quality ingredients.”
“A brisket takes 12 hours,” Sam said. “Which means I’m starting most days at 1am, because that’s what real barbecue is.”
“We are excited to have a little something for everyone at Bordertown,” Kristen added.
In the bar, we were told that their margaritas are made with fresh-squeezed juices, because they wouldn’t serve anything that they wouldn’t eat or drink themselves.
Additional plans include a honky-tonk style bar in the back of the restaurant with live music, event space and a late-night vibe on the outdoor patio.
The couple plans to open the restaurant in mid-October, with hours of operation scheduled four to five days a week from 11:30am to 9pm. Then expanding on days/hours after they get their feet wet for a little while.
The Beaufort area BBQ scene has taken a few hits over the past few years with the closure of both the popular Dukes BBQ, K.C. Mike’s, and Sgt. White’s. Bordertown will be joining 4 or 5 other BBQ spots currently in the area, but will be the only one to focus on Texas-style offerings.
Keep up to date on progress at Bordertown BBQ by following them on Facebook.
