I really wanted to like this place based on how many decent reviews there are between Yelp and Google, and how lovely the staff was when we went in on Saturday to pick up our order, but unfortunately this place has missed the mark on various levels for me.
Let me start by saying the customer service is excellent. The counter staff was extremely friendly and had everything ready for us when we walked in for our pick up order. They made us feel like we were friends the second we came in, and I absolutely love that!
As for the food, we were met with disappointment the second we opened the bag when we got home. We ordered brisket, ribs, pulled pork, mac & cheese, and baked beans.
The brisket at $12 for a half pound was inedible; we had to throw it in the garbage because of how much fat was riddled throughout the two pieces we got. It left me wondering how the staff could even proudly serve this to anyone, even themselves. I picked the brisket up and tugged at both ends to try and get it to come apart, and the tug eventually turned into a hard pull because the fat wasn't only riddled so bad throughout the center, but it wasn't even rendered down properly. I know everyone is an expert in everything these days, so I'll spare you the lecture on how "I've had BBQ in so many places and in so many different states", but I'm fairly certain if the low n' slow process is completed accurately, there shouldn't be any need to tug and pull at the meat with such force to get it to come apart.
This leads me to the ribs. The ribs were not as terrible as the brisket, but it seemed as if they were not uniformly cooked for some odd reason. One section was filled with fat and not trimmed, the other section was trimmed and as clean as a whistle. The section with the abundance of fat was hardly able to be pulled off the bone, like I'm talking needing to put my fingernails into it to get it to tear. The bark was also unremarkable and barely existent, except on the two ends of the rack. It was unfortunate because ordering ribs is my favorite at any BBQ joint, and the bark on both ribs and brisket is what I enjoy most.
The pulled pork also had a large chunk of fat in it that was not rendered properly, as it was chewy and hard, not melt in your mouth and blending in with the other shredded meat for that delightful mouth feel it provides that I usually (very) much look forward to.
On to the sides. The mac & cheese was a bit strange for my tastes, as I'm a traditionalist when it comes to BBQ, but overall good. The cheese sauce they use is extremely liquidy and nothing like I've had before down south or while living on the west coast with many southern transplants. The consistency is almost reminiscent of mac salad. It has this thicker, creamier component to it, which is obviously from the cheese blend, but it is still thin enough to represent a mayonnaise type texture, as if you're eating mac salad. It is different, but in a good way. The slight smokey flavor and jalapeno spice kick was a very nice addition. As for the baked beans, they were cooked well, had a nice bite, and overall good.
I was also disappointed to learn while talking to the awesome staff members that they do not make any BBQ sauces in house. The 3 offerings they have available are from a major US foods manufacturer, which kinda sucks. I do think good BBQ speaks for itself and requires NO additional sauces, however, I am a lover of condiments and enjoy sampling things that are made in house to see what they're all about.
Overall, the star of the show (the meat) was a disappointment. I know this place is fairly new and the Cap Region is not necessarily known for its BBQ pit masters, but I hope this place changes a few of their practices and gets better over time. The sides were good and the employees are doing an excellent job; I hope to be back sometime in the future for another go once the kinks are maybe worked out. read more