I have now tried this place twice, hoping that the first time was just "a new business working out the kinks." Alas, each visit has caused me some pause and on the second occasion, was just plain dangerous.
I'll start with the bbq, then the sauce, and then the sides. I have now experienced the brisket and the pork ribs. I am of the belief that good bbq starts with the flavor of the meat, and sauce, if used is something that should enhance the flavor of the meat. It definitely should not hide the flavor of the meat. So, I ordered my selections with a choice of sauces on the side.
- The Brisket: the brisket was interesting as it had more of a pot roast flavor with very little flavor in the bark (or crust) of the slices. There was almost no smoke flavor which is surprising because the pitmaster uses hickory (a very strong smoke flavor normally). I didn't hate the brisket, but I was not paying $22 a pound for pot roast. I would never pay this much for this brisket again.
- The Pork Ribs: I ordered a half rack of pork ribs and ended up throwing them away. They were warm on the outside, cold near the bone, and the exterior rub was mushy, and not a crust! It's as if the pitmaster had smoked these ribs sometime in the past and then served them to me from a cooler. They were not trimmed and had a lot of fat too. My first bite made me gag. Because of the temperature of the ribs, I was concerned about food borne illness and ended up not eating them at all. I've seen some great reviews about these ribs, and I'm glad. I generally want businesses, especially BBQ places, to do well. However, I can't recommend this place simply because I didn't feel that I was served with the kind of care and attention to safety that MUST be present.
- The Macaroni and Cheese: this was another disappointment. All I will say is that what we were expecting and what we got, were polar opposites. Mac & cheese is supposed to be thick and creamy and full of cheesy flavor. This was the consistency of soup, as if cheese sauce had been poured over undrained macaroni. Not good.
- The Coleslaw: I really loved this side. Great flavor, not heavy, and fresh. What I had was not a bulk made coleslaw from a tub, but bright vibrant green and red cabbage tossed to order with a slightly sweet vinegar dressing. Very good
- The Sauce: I tried 3 different sauces, and I loved each one. This is where the creativity and the skills of the owner really shine! However, as a personal preference, I want a foundation of good bbq that the sauce can build upon. Here the sauce stands alone, and is perfect for pouring on the meat in order to make it edible.
This cart seems to be doing really well and I hope that they can get to a place where food safety standards and good food become their hallmark. It's just not there yet. read more