Restaurant review: 3 Stacks Smoke & Tap House posed to be Frisco BBQ staple

The ribs are a must-have item!

Photo courtesy of 3 Stacks Smoke & Grill

3 Stacks Smoke & Grill features a "Texas chic" design, mixing a traditional smokehouse look with modern amenities.

FRISCO — At a preview event for 3 Stacks Smoke & Tap House, a new barbecue restaurant in Frisco opening Saturday, I found myself trying foods I've never tried before.

As a somewhat picky eater, that's a big deal for me. But that's the allure of 3 Stacks -- once you try something you know you like, you love it so much that you start wanting to try everything else the restaurant has to offer.

Trace Arnold, who will be part of the History Channel's "Ultimate Smoke & Grill" cross-county cookout tour in May, helped the restaurant come up with its menu along with a team of chefs and other food specialists. Arnold has been nicknamed "the rib whisperer" for his talent at the smoker.

Restaurant owner Jason Hall said the collaboration came about by chance.

"I met Trace at a cookout and asked him what restaurant he cooks at," he said. "Trace told me he didn't work at one, so I told him, 'We've got to change that.'"

After trying the food, I'm convinced creating a new restaurant as a result of the partnership was worth whatever it cost.

I tried the brisket, smoked sausage, two styles of ribs, six-cheese macaroni and cheese and several other items -- all of which had a Texas-style taste with some unique modifications.

All of the food has the smoked taste Texans have come to love, and everyone at the preview had their own favorites -- a testament to the strength of the menu. Hall said his favorite item was the smoked turkey, while others favored the brisket or beef ribs.

Photo by Anthony Tosie

3 Stacks offers several standout barbecue items, such as ribs, as well as side items like six-cheese macaroni and cheese.

Both ribs -- baby back and beef -- were standout items, especially when paired with the restaurant's barbecue sauce. The six-cheese macaroni and cheese was a standout side item. The macaroni is already made with cheese before being layered by another round of melted cheese on top.

Drink-wise, the blackberry lemonade provided a tangy-but-tasty refreshment for those who aren't interested in the restaurant's alcoholic beverages.

Of those alcoholic offerings, the most notable are the 36 craft beers 3 Stacks offers on tap. Each main meal item has been paired with one of those beers. Dry baby back ribs, for instance, are paired with a Hefeweizen beer. Other food-and-beverage pairings are also available, such as smoked salmon complimented by a featured wine.

In terms of the restaurant's physical appearance, the design features a "Texas chic" style. It's clearly a smokehouse, but all the modern amenities you'd expect at a sports bar -- such as plenty of televisions -- are situated around the restaurant.

For anyone looking for a new restaurant to frequent, 3 Stacks will likely quickly become a mainstay for residents of Frisco and other local cities.

3 Stacks is open 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday-Saturday and noon to 7 p.m. Sunday. The restaurant is located at 4226 Preston Road. For more information or to view a menu, visit www.3stacksbbq.com.