House-made hot dogs: Here's what else this new Dartmouth BBQ joint has planned.

DARTMOUTH — If you spot a Big Foot in Dartmouth you're in luck. You are hot on the trail of a delicious, Texas-style barbecue feast.

This not-so-elusive, friendly sasquatch is the mascot of a new eatery coming soon to Route 6 called Missing Link BBQ, which aims to smoke the local competition.

"We want to be a staple in the community of Dartmouth ... we want to give people another reason to go there," said co-owner Doug Moniz. "If we can be one of those places that's our goal."

Missing Link is the brainchild of Somerset residents Moniz, restaurant manager, and Tom Lyon, the chef.

The pair met working at Fall River's Barrett's Alehouse and Barrett's Waterfront, Lyon as executive chef and Moniz as manager, before deciding it was time to team up and set out on their own.

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"It's always been a dream, for both of us, to have our own place and we just figured there's no time like the present to go for it and take the jump," said Moniz, who currently manages Tavern on the Square in Cranston, Rhode Island.

They are leasing the site of the former Stinky Pete's Pub, which has been vacant for roughly eight years, and will begin renovations on the building within the next couple of months, revamping it from the ground up with "brand new everything."

The building won't be opening its doors until the fall at the earliest, but luckily locals won't have to wait that long to get a taste of Missing Link BBQ.

The pair have purchased a barbecue food trailer and will be selling on site starting this month from the trailer until construction is complete.

"We wanted to start offering food to our patrons right away, as soon as possible," Moniz said.

According to his partner, Lyon is a barbecue expert and pitmaster who got his first smoker when he was 15 and has been honing his skills ever since.

"Tom is a phenomenal chef," Moniz said. "He's done a lot of different things but this is his passion. And when you have a chef that's able to do their passion, it's a special thing."

Lyon has extensive experience in the kitchen, having served as the executive chef for 22 Bowen's Wine Bar and Grille in Newport, Farm & Coast Market in Dartmouth and most recently Brick Pizza Co. in Bristol, Rhode Island, all while perfecting his barbecue technique and house-made sausage recipes over the years.

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Now he's bringing his expertise and flavor-packed creations to his new venture, which they describe as "contemporary New England approach to Texas-inspired classic American BBQ."

The pair's mission for Missing Link is simple: "to provide the best barbecue around, hands down," Moniz said.

"We want to deliver a food experience that makes you want to come back each time," Moniz said.

And how will the Link duo achieve this lofty goal? The secret's in the sauce, and the technique.

"Barbecue is a technique, not a food, that's a common mistake people make," said Moniz, who noted their "true, Texas-style barbecue" is cooked in a reverse-flow smoker. "We're true to the technique — the flavors are there, the freshness is there."

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In the trailer, they'll be offering barbecue plates of brisket, pulled pork, chicken, as well as pit roast beef sandwiches, chop sandwiches, with traditional barbecue sides such as house-made mac and cheese, beans and cornbread, all made from scratch.

Another menu highlight will be their scratch-made hot dogs that Moniz is confident "will absolutely blow people away."

"The most delicious hot dog you've ever had, I promise," he said.

Azorean street dogs on the menu

One variation is an Azorean street dog, which is famous on Portugal's Azores islands. Across the Atlantic, they come fully loaded with toppings such as hot sauce, mayonnaise, onions, and tiny, crunchy fries.

Missing Link's version — made with quality pork and beef ingredients served on a potato roll — will be topped with piri piri aioli and potato sticks, among other tasty fixings.

But make no mistake, Moniz points out. Missing Link's franks are no ordinary franks.

"When you take a bite of the hot dog we're going to offer it's almost like for a second your taste buds are like, 'What did I just bite? And then it recognizes that it's a hot dog," Moniz said.

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Once they expand their space and settle into their building, Moniz said the pair also expects to expand the Missing Link menu.

Enticing additions will include American-style ramen "with Tom's twist to it," Moniz said, meaning barbecue items will be incorporated into a traditional ramen dish.

They also plan to serve up wood-fire pizza, as well as feature seafood on the menu because "that's kind of what New England is all about," Moniz said. There will be a smoker dedicated just to seafood, he said, but at the start their focus will remain on the barbecue.

"We're really looking forward to showing everyone what we have to offer," said Moniz, who emphasized food will be locally sourced whenever possible, with fresh ingredients.

Cornhole and a backyard hangout

Moniz said their ultimate vision for the 890 State Road location is an open layout and rustic atmosphere, much like a small barbecue shack.

"It'll be simple, like you would find at a barbecue place in the southern states," he said.

Missing Link will offer counter service with seating for 50 to 60 in their indoor dining room, which will likely be a mix of tables and a bar-high counter on one of the walls.

After the restaurant is up and running, future plans for Missing Link within the next two years include building a "backyard hangout," Moniz said. This will include a fenced-in area to accommodate outdoor dining and yard games such as cornhole. He also hopes to move the trailer into the backyard space so patrons don't have to venture back inside to order food and drinks.

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While trailer-based, Moniz anticipates business will be mostly grab-and-go and delivery services such as Doordash. However, they are creating a cozy atmosphere for those who'd like to kick back and stay a little while.

A stone patio area will be set up in front of their trailer with picnic tables and umbrellas for folks to take a break for a bite.

He said they're shooting to have the trailer fired up in early May, but first they must apply for permits and get a green light from the town's Board of Health.

For more information about Missing Link, visit their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/missinglinkbbq. In the coming weeks you can get a taste of what they'll have to offer on their website, which is currently in the works.

This article originally appeared on The Herald News: Missing Link BBQ coming soon to Dartmouth