some changes, for the better, it seems. in winston again today, and since we were still in the mood for some good smoked meats (especially brisket), we stopped by here to pickup some carry out for lunch - our first visit since the name and ownership changed in june 2013.
much is the same - still take out only, still a broad selection of smoked meats and sides, still better to call your order in ahead of time, the service can be slow, even with a call in. the small front counter/ordering area seems brighter, less cluttered. the meats are not your typical nc style, especially once sauced with the house sauces, but they produce a fine smoked product here - and the meat comes out of the kitchen without sauce, you add what you wish.
we ordered 1/2 rack of ribs ($12.29), 1/2 lb of brisket ($7.69), 1/2 lb of pulled pork ($6.39), and 1/2 lb of smoked sausage ($6.39). in addition, we got medium orders of collards, cole slaw, and hush puppies - each $3.99. a small container of original and spicysaucewas included.
the pork is pulled rather than chopped, but the texture here is much better than most - the meat is not in long, dry stands, and holds anysaucebetter, once added. the meat is tender, moist, fresh tasting,and has a nice smoky taste, and the originalsaucegoes well with this, but i prefer a more traditional vinegar basedsaucewith pork, and added my own - very nice. this is well done barbecued pork.
the brisket is also excellent - tender, not at all dry, with a very nice smokiness to it, and the charred ends are nicely done. the original housesaucereally goes well on the beef - thesaucehas some sweetness, but there is some spiciness as well - a very nice taste together with the meat.
the ribs are at least the equal of the other 2 meats. the unsauced ribs are falling off the bone tender, with that same, great smoky flavor. these are ribs you can eat without sauce, but both house sauces compliment the taste here. the smoked sausage is pretty good, with plenty of smokiness. the meat is cut into rounds, which is not my preferred way, and it is slightly uncooked for my taste. i like a full link, cooked to a slight char, and with some "ripped" aspects to the skin.
the sides were pretty much average, at best. the collards had an odd, bitter taste, one we didn't care for, and were less than tender. the hush puppies also were not to our liking, and with a rather chewy crust. will have to try some of the other sides.
the meats here are very, very nice, and present a pleasant change of pace from the nc styles of pork barbecue. the ribs, brisket, and pulled pork are definite reorder items, and both sauces are
these meats are not inexpensive - the pork comes in at $11.49 a pound, the brisket at $14.69, the smoked sausage at $11.49, and a full rack of ribs rings in at $22.99 - rather pricey by most standards, and well above the downtown competitor. i think the quality is there, but the pricing may very well be a problem for many.
-----23 sep, 2011-----
not your north carolina daddy's bbq joint. this is not your typical north carolina barbecue joint because:
1) it is in a relatively new strip shopping center (all the white lines marking off parking places are still intact) - nail places, food stores, and foo foo restaurants are supposed to be in such places.
2) the place itself is small, takeout only, and much too bright and shiney.
3) they serve beef brisket and sausages, and theirsauceis thick and sweet.
4) and it appears to be owned by a guy named cowboy, who rode beef in the rodeo before he decided it might be better to cook and eat it.
having said that, the smoked meat served here is pretty good, but it will not be mistaken for nc barbecue, either eastern or lexington style. there is a heavy smoke taste to both the brisket and the pork, and both come out of the kitchen dry, they do notsaucethe meat. some folks will like this, some will consider it dry - if they add the house sauce, some will like it, most north carolians will considered it too sweet.and thick, with no hint of vinegar.
the pulled pork sandwich is huge, definitely a two handed operation. the meat is more chunked than pulled, but it definitely not chopped. they offer both white and red slaw, and after asking for and receiving a taste of the red, i chose the milder white. i did not add sauce, and the sandwich was dry. i took the remains (most of the sandwich) home, and added some of stamey's hotsauce(not their dipping sauce) and this became a very good sandwich for my taste - moist, tender meat with a lot of smoke, and a decent nc style sauce. cost, $4.39
the brisket sandwich is the same size as the pork, and again is not sauced. the meat is somewhere between sliced and chunked with a nice smokey flavor. it is not as tender as some brisket, like that a blue smoke in winston or smokey's bbq shack in morrisville, but it certainly is not tough. a little of the housesaucegoes well with the meat. cost, $4,79.
the fries are the way to prevalent, rectangular & ridged variety, with no hint of potato. i just do not understand why so many places serve these abominations. the service here is a little unfocused, lacking any hint of urgency in either taking or filling an order, but it gets done