BBQ reviewer here, been going to Hometown for a longtime and they have been great. Don't listen to any of these people talking about how the place "Use to be and now it's not" they are completely wrong, it's exactly how it was. They now have a BBQ Smoker in the back with a big Tent and wood pallet bar and live rock music. Not entirely sure what the logistics are here cause it almost looks like the BBQ business and the Diner are kinda separated. We went the other night and it must have only been like 4:30 and the Diner was locked and lights off even though their hours are posted right on the door saying open till 9. If it wasn't for all the commotion behind the diner I would have just assumed they all left. Walked behind the diner, got a nice table under the tent, order some BBQ, live rock from Mosey Down, not a bad evening. I think the pit master and/or the manager of just the BBQ operation, which is called Phoenix Smokehouse ... further elaborating on why it feels like 2 different businesses, came from the Woodbound Inn up the street a bit. And in 2020 it seemed like the previous owners of the Hometown diner said they were shutting the doors for good, and the diner was closed for a long time. Suddenly it was open again and everything was pretty much the same except that they had a seasonal BBQ menu and Venue in the back. But anyways on to the food.
Got the 3 meat combo. Ribs, Sliced Brisket, and 1/4 Chicken. 2 sides with it, Mac and Cheese and "Baracho" Beans and a Cornbread. Extra Side of Dirty Rice cause I love it for some reason. No iced tea beverages though ... kinda bummed about it.
Ribs. Meat was most soft and tender. Some of the bark was a little rough as it usually is anywhere you go. Nice light basting of sauce. You don't get too much with a 3 meat combo, it was like 5 bones but the bones were like 3 inches long. Meat came off the bones almost like the meat was never on them to begin with. Made it easier to dip the meat in the sauces, which I never do but glad I did here.
Sliced Brisket. Surprisingly good. My rule is usually eat the brisket as soon as it's in front of you because most of the time it dries up real fast. But my ribs and chicken were on top (I suspect a lot of BBQ joints do this on purpose to help maintain some moisture). Once I got to the Brisket though, it was still relatively juicy and tasted nice and smokey. Not too much in the way of a seasoning though (that I could taste anyway) but flavor of the beef was more powerful than I thought it would be. Texture was a tiny bit rough but nothing bad.
1/4 Chicken. They don't ask what 1/4 you would like so I'm assuming they either always give you a drum or it'll be a surprise. Extra Smokey Flavor though and super tender. So easy to eat, my brain didn't even realize I had devoured the thing instantly.
Mac and Cheese was nothing special to me. Just a boiled spiral "Cavatappi" pasta with some standard cheese sauce, but I will say their was something pretty damn good about that cheese sauce. First look you would probably say Velveeta, but I think it had a couple good cheeses in there, maybe even a nice seasoning I couldn't really see. I'd get it again, but it wasn't the nice baked and grity 5 cheese blend with the hot oils and stuff like that.
"Banacho" Beans. Pretty sure "Banacho" is just a Mexican name, no real translation. That being said, these are Definitely Mexican inspired so hats off to whoever thought up this one. These baked beans sit in a brothy type of bean gravy with onions and bit of brisket but the actual flavor you will always get is that actual bean flavor. Perfect on top of white rice if you ask me. It can practically be called a stew, and you might think it has a little kick or a black pepper vibe to it. Good stuff but pretty filling.
Dirty Rice. Excellent! Some of the best dirty rice I've had, probably the best. Actually tasted like was dirty rice is supposed to be. Had some ground beef AND little minced pieces of brisket in there. Along with whatever pepper they use and the spices were authentic, not like some pouch of stuff from the market. Very good.
Corn Bread. I usually hate these mini load portions but these minis have such a good Rise in the middle that it's almost like you're getting 2 corn breads. Great taste too. Not the most authentic, still close to more of a yellow cake or a standard mix. But the way they bake it is magical. Now ... if they severed it with they own honey butter ... People would be ordering cases of them.
Sauces: They have 5 sauces! Impressive. And they are all made in house! Had to try them all. All of them were surprisingly good but I was very surprised to find a white sauce. Very rare to find an Alabama style up here, let alone a good one. This "White Lightning" sauce was excellent. Picture a mayo, vinegar, and south west seasoning mix, sounds weird but it's delicious.
All in all a solid 4.5, great place. read more