I traveled with friends to Blacksburg to watch our alma mater, Virginia Tech, play Marshall. We took the 460 route and planned to grab lunch in Lynchburg. My friend, Neal, spoke of a new-ish BBQ spot out there, so we (the three of us) agreed to check out County Smoak.
For the CoVa residents, County Smoak reminds me a little of Ghent's Redwood Smoke Shack - a small venue that churns out plenty of delicious food. CS is located next door to a putt-putt golf place which, according to my traveling companion who's frequented Lynchburg, has been open for at least 30 years.
CS's establishment is clean, organized and has plenty of real estate for outdoor seating. Inside, there are only 1-2 tables and a small bar for individual seating. Also inside is a soda fountain, their register, 2 individual bathrooms and the kitchen. An adjacent building houses their smokers - you can see staff going back and forth from the kitchen to the smokers (and vice versa).
Next to the register is a chalkboard that displays all of their menu items. They also have physical menus and sport a small chalkboard on the floor with dessert specials.
Since there is no table service, the ordering process is simple - get in line, order, pay and then wait for your name to be called. When we arrived, we wanted to stay out of the car, so we ate lunch there. CS has tables and chairs set up outside for al fresco dining - that's where we sat and enjoyed our food.
And when I say we enjoyed their food, I mean it. I had a platter for 1 in which you could pick 1/4 lb (total) of 2 meats (pulled pork, prime brisket, smoaked chicken, smoaked turkey, pork spare ribs, Scooby snacks [pork rib tips], smoaked sausage). I chose smoked turkey and brisket, and the platter came with pickles, a choice of a side (mac & cheese, pit smoaked baked beans, collard greens, red bliss potato salad, bacon & blue cheese slaw, mustard slaw, fire & ice pickles), a choice of one of their homemade sauces and a piece of cornbread.
Their brisket, hands down, is the best I've had in a while. It blows away both Bar-Q & Redwood, imo, and CS's turkey is outstanding. I was impressed with the potato salad (excellent coverage on the potatoes without being runny) and I was extremely impressed with their fire & ice pickles. Finally, their cornbread is so smooth, buttery and tasty. The best part - it was moist and far from dry.
The item that stole the show was their mustard BBQ sauce named Liquid Gold. It's both sweet and tangy, and worked perfectly with their meats.
We were so impressed with County Smoak that we decided to visit them on our way back home from Blacksburg. This time around I ordered a pound of brisket to take home to mom and a chicken sandwich (Alabama pulled chicken, fire & ice pickles, Alabama white sauce [The Don] ) for the road. All of the food I tried was delicious to the point where I'd seriously consider another trip specifically to dine there again.
Just in case, County Smoak sells their BBQ sauces in bottles, and they also sell their "County Smoak" rub.
Finally, County Smoak caters - mmmmmmmmmm!!!
County Smoak offers the best BBQ I've had in a long time. I can't wait to visit them again.
Thank you, County Smoak! JV read more