In many ways, Lil JJ’s Smokehouse falls right in line with other Texas barbecue joints. On a recent Saturday afternoon, the unmistakable booms of meat cutters chopping brisket boomerang through this small restaurant in far north Fort Worth, while the mouthwatering fragrance of smoked meats drifts from kitchen to dining room, tantalizing those standing in line for John and Brandi Berry’s brisket and ribs.
But lean in and you’ll see that this newly opened spot is far from your typical barbecue joint. Everywhere you look — on the walls, on the menu — you’ll find tributes to the restaurant’s namesake, Lil JJ. Here’s a photo of him playing football and another of him hanging out with his friends. On the menu, there’s a sandwich named after him. Matter of fact, the restaurant’s logo is a photo of JJ, smiling wide.
Lil JJ, you see, is John’s son, John Jr., and this restaurant is a tribute to JJ’s memory. Last year, at the age of 20, JJ passed away from a fentanyl overdose — another life lost to the relentlessly deadly drug…