First I'll discuss the food (excellent), then service and comfort (pretty good), and finally move…read moreon to other factors (amusing but also disturbing). I've been disappointed by too many barbecues, even in the South where they are known for the genre. Patriot Smokehouse restored my faith that great barbecue must still exist.
I got a 2 meat platter with two sides. Since I was camping I also ordered an extra meat and two more sides to go. Plenty for the lunch and two more meals the next days. All the meats were very good to excellent, fork tender but not falling apart, lots of smoky flavor and visible "bark". And each meat had a completely different spice rub, which I learned were all designed in house. I have a lot to cover so just a few words on each:
Pulled pork: a good mix of mostly chopped with not much shreds; lots of flavor even without adding sauce. Brisket (the 2nd of my two-meat platter): tender and fork-cuttable, a bit too thinly sliced for my liking. Baby-back ribs: maybe the best I've ever had. No disagreeable gristly parts, and with an unusual "hammy" flavor (maybe from brining?) Sauces: they have 4 sauces, and they bring you as many as you request. All invented in house. A tomato-based, a mustard-based, a vinegar based, and an extra hot&spicy. I tried all but the vinegar and liked them all but especially the mustard.
Now the sides. Potato salad: the potato chunks were not overcooked, a bit mayonnaisey but excellent due to the tanginess and bite of the mustard and who knows what else? Fried okra: well, I had to try it, and if you're determined to eat okra (rather than use it to thicken a gumbo) then fried is the only way - and they nailed it. Baked beans: sauce thick, sweet, and smoky, not the best not the worst. Garden salad (don't judge me; I needed some greens): nothing special; just iceberg lettuce, sliced tomatoes and onions, with shredded cheese; choice of dressing (I had Italian)
Quantities: All sides were of reasonable size. The 2-meat platter wasn't balanced though; more than enough pulled pork and not enough brisket. The ribs: a half rack (how many is that - 6?)
Other foods: The pecan pie was excellent with sufficient pecans on top, a filling that was not oversweetened, and a good crust. The strawberry pie: not what I expected. It wasn't a fruit filling but more like a mousse. Good for what it was, but I wouldn't order it again. Surprisingly they do not sell cornbread.
Drinks: Lemonade, sweet tea, or ice coffee all come with the meal. Free refills on drinks. I got lemonade which was a bit weak but not too sweet. I don't think they serve alcohol.
Service: Took slightly longer than I expected but she (cashier, waitperson, mother of the two chef brothers) did come by with a drink refill and kept me updated. She was pleasant and answered my questions about the restaurant's history and other things when asked.
Ambience: first thing that struck me was the smoke. The first time I stopped by (to check it out for the next day as I had just eaten) they must have had a slight smoker malfunction because it was visibly wafting through the room - but not too thickly. Ahh, wood smoke and meat drippings; enticing! That's when I knew I had to come back. The room was concrete floored, wood trim stained by years of smoke, plank tables with clear vinyl coverings. Real silverware was provided and plenty of napkins. There was a TV but it was small and the sound was off. It was playing "Fail Army" the whole time which was fun! The music was alt-country, old rockabilly, and bluegrass; a nice mix.
I should stop now but I won't. On to the "other factors". As you can guess from the name "Patriot Smokehouse" there's a theme here. American flags, "Don't Tread On Me", and the waitress/mother was wearing a silly red/white/blue hat and a shirt saying "God, Country, and Freedom" or something to that effect. The symbols abounded, covering the walls. It wasn't all cliché though. A poster titled "Weapons Of the American Revolution" provided at least some interesting reading, and a cartoon of a chicken, pig, and cow titled "Cluck, Oink, Moo" was cute. But then there's the sign on the front door "Lawfully Concealed Weapons Are Welcome Here". That sign is not a joke. Of course they are - and that's fine. But do you have to spell it out in big bold letters and offend those who might be uncomfortable about this? Some compassion would be appreciated.
The newspaper review on the wall described it as "unabashadly patriotic" but that's not patriotism - it is jingoism. Want to make America great? That takes compassion, empathy for people different from yourselves, and humility. Judging by the theme here I don't expect that a move to "greatness" if it happens will start here.
But I loved the food, enjoyed my conversation with the mother, and the people watching. I'd unhesitatingly come back and recommend it wholeheartedly.
