A 95¢ BBQ sandwich or beer? Yes — this Fort Worth restaurant has been around 95 years
October 13,2022
See full Fort Worth Star-Telegram article by Bud Kennedy here.
Riscky’s Barbeque turns 95 Oct. 20, and that always means a birthday special.
Yes, the 95-cent chopped brisket sandwich is back for one day at the Riscky’s flagship, 140 E. Exchange Ave., and five other locations in Fort Worth, Benbrook and North Richland Hills.
But this year, Riscky’s is also lifting a toast.
Counting down to its centennial, Riscky’s will host a birthday party at 5 p.m. Oct. 20 at the Exchange Avenue location.
All Fort Worth Riscky’s locations will offer a 95-cent beer that day to go with brisket tacos, sandwiches and rib specials.
It’s all to remember the 1927 founding of what began as an Eastern European immigrant family grocery and meat market, still operating at 2314 Azle Ave.
The special dine-in menu that day at all locations includes:
▪ 95-cent brisket tacos, now Riscky’s most popular item.
▪ 95-cent chopped brisket or pulled pork sandwiches.
▪ 95-cent beef or pork ribs.
▪ 95-cent “Texas fries” with onions and jalapenos
▪ 95-cent fried pickles
▪ and a 95-cent beer (Fort Worth locations only), soft drink or iced tea.
The Exchange Avenue location also will offer barbecue and beer tastings, photo stands and a chance for one of the first 95 attendees to win a night in the Hotel Drover.
The event remembers the history of immigrants Joe and Mary Riscky.
In 1911, Joe Riscky came to Fort Worth as ‘Joe Rucky” from what is now Belarus, working in a Stockyards meat packinghouse for $9 a week and saving up to marry fellow immigrant Marcelia Bunkiewicz.
About 1920, “Mary” Bunkiewicz Riscky’s family opened Bunker Grocery on Clinton Avenue near the Stockyards. In 1925, it became Bunker & Riscky.
In 1927, Joe and Mary opened and renamed a turn-of-the-century grocery 2 miles west at 2314 Azle Ave., back when that road was the main highway to Jacksboro and Northwest Texas ranches and oilfields.
That original Riscky’s was rebuilt in 1950. But it remains the legacy family meat market.
The three newer full-service restaurants — on Exchange Avenue, at 300 Main St. in Sundance Square and 6701 Camp Bowie Blvd. in Ridglea — offer a wider menu.
Those Riscky’s restaurants serve seven salads including a “Southwest salad” with Fritos, beans and chicken over greens.
The barbecue is standard commercial fare, not small-batch or trendy.
But it’s not costly, either.
Besides the brisket tacos, the most popular item on social media is the sausage.
But Riscky’s also serves some of the city’s best fried catfish. It comes as a platter, basket or on tacos.
The restaurants also serve burgers.
The 95-cent specials are served at the barbecue restaurants only, not at the family’s Riscky’s Steakhouse or Trailboss Burgers.
The three Riscky’s restaurants in the Stockyards, Sundance Square and Ridglea serve lunch and dinner daily; 817-626-7777. 817-877-3306 or 817-989-1800. risckys.com.
The original Riscky’s BBQ & Deli location on Azle Avenue near Texas 183 opens at 8:30 a.m. daily except Sundays; 817-624-8662.
The other two BBQ & Deli locations serve lunch and dinner daily except Sundays; 9000 Benbrook Blvd., 817-249-3320, or 8100 Boulevard 26, 817-581-7696, risckys.com.
Location Mentioned: Riscky's Bar-B-Q