i have only three words for jack cawthon's bar-b-que:
best. barbecue. yet.
finding a decent restaurant can be difficult in a town… er, city like nashville. often, what happens is that established local places often become over-rated touristy havens, and the food quality once associated with the establishment suffers, while the business continues to grow because of a continual input of new customers. the once-faithful base has long dwindled or fled, leaving only the mere memory of a once-sweet restaurant. the reputation once associated with the name is the only thing propping up the business.
that is definitely not the case with jack cawthon's bar-b-que!
since 1976, jack cawthon's bar-b-que has been cooking barbecue the way god intended for it to be cooked… over an open fire made from smoking wood embers.
can meat be slow cooked in a gas-fired oven?
sure, it can.
is it barbecue?
not at all!
it's no more barbecue than a nissan z-car is a formula one racer.
barbecue's very essence is slow cooking over an open fire made of wooden coals which produce abundant smoke. it's what adds a distinctively unique character and flavor to barbecue.
i could gush on, and on, and on about barbecue in general terms, but what i really need to tell you about is jack cawthon's bar-b-que!
they make, quite simply, some of the very best barbecue i have ever had. and i do mean ever!
people often talk about "cooked to perfection" and never really define what that means. let me tell you what that means with jack cawthon's bar-b-que.
it means smoky flavored meat that is falling-off-the-bone tender, moist, and succulent. but perhaps best of all, jack cawthon's bar-b-que lets the meat do the talking. it's not messed up with some wretched sauce slop to cover up the flavor of the smoked meat. it means each and every bite is perfectly cooked, and says it was cooked over wood-fired coals that smoked for hours. it says we know barbecue and our pride is in how we adhere to time-honored tradition to make a product worthy of your tasting, worthy of your time to eat, and because of that, we are absolutely certain that you'll enjoy it.
i ordered a half rack of pork ribs, a large pulled pork sandwich, with baked beans, cole slaw, and potato salad as sides - three traditional, and time honored dishes that have, since time immemorial, accompanied barbecue. they offered a choice of rolls or cornbread, and i chose cornbread.
all too frequently, it seems that some attempt to fake out their customers by proffering products from freshly opened cans. not jack cawthon's bar-b-que!
the baked beans were luscious and dark, suggesting they were handmade. their taste was of brown sugar, blackstrap molasses, a hint of cinnamon, black pepper and maybe another secret ingredient, or two. they were perfect in every way, and were truly the best baked beans i have had in a very long time!
the coleslaw was perfectly flavored as well. the coarsely cut cabbage was very lightly seasoned with apple cider vinegar, black pepper, sugar, and a touch of mayonnaise. sometimes it's difficult to find coleslaw that is worth eating. but jack cawthon's bar-b-que's coleslaw is worth every last forkful to your mouth.
and the potato salad? i have rarely had potato salad made with yellow mustard that i thought was worth a hoot. jack cawthon's bar-b-que has made one that is every bit, and every bite delicious, and reminds me of some of the award-winning potato salad made at family reunions, and other summertime family get-togethers where the expert cooks made their very best for everyone.
the cornbread, though made with sugar, was pleasantly tasty, and was neither soggy, nor excessively dry.
the half rack of ribs were dry-rubbed, and the pulled pork was simply meat in between two buns. again, they know how to let the meat do the talking. and, that was exactly how they served it, which was not a special request. you know you have some good barbecue when you don't have to put sauce on it! and in my considered opinion - which i reiterate - jack cawthon's bar-b-que makes, quite simply, some of the very best barbecue i have ever had. and i do mean ever!
i tried the trinity drive restaurant location, and the interior is spotlessly clean, well-lit, tastefully appointed, and family-friendly. there is ample seating for many. the building itself is tidy and well-maintained, the parking lot is spacious, clean, in good repair, and features a drive-through. service is rapid, portions are generous, and very reasonably priced.
they have three locations in the greater nashville area to better serve you: trinity, charlotte, and broadway.
if you're serious about the meat, you owe it to yourself to enjoy jack cawthon's bar-b-que!