Richmond, VA
This week we were really in the mood for some comfort food. Something tasty, something that wouldn't empty out my wallet. After a short drive around and a quick browse on Yelp, we found a little barbecue place in a cute shopping center that caught our eye.
The restaurant is very clean and well kept. Simple decor, but hey, what are we here for? Frilly napkins and extravagant decor or some yummy food? There were a few others there when we were there- it's just a little quiet because we chose to visit during an off peak time. That just gave us the opportunity to take our time and enjoy the country music. :)
The menu is short and simple, but really has all of the essentials for a good bbq fix. I think the simplicity of the menu makes it really easy to focus on the quality and flavors of the food.
When we were ready to order, we approached the smiling young woman at the counter. She was incredibly polite and bubbly. Definitely getting a southern hospitality vibe already.
I decided to get the advertised special- a 1/2 pint serving of pork (NC or VA style offered but I chose NC) mac and cheese, hush puppies, and two corn bread muffins all for just $8.99. That is a really good deal considering the portions and comparing to other BBQ prices I have seen.
My pork had a nice mild smokey and tangy flavor. It was very tender and moist meat and felt like more than what I though a 1/2 pint was going to be. The mac and cheese was nice and creamy, not too wet or soggy, and had real cheeses melted on top. The hush puppies had a really crispy crust and super soft spongy insides. Bright onion flavors and freshness exuded from each bite (I may be a little biased- I really like hush puppies) Or maybe that just makes me a better judge...
I digress. The corn muffins were almost exactly what I picture, when I think of the perfect corn muffin. It was sweet, soft, and moist. No giant pieces of corn meal to prevent me from enjoying each bite. More cupcakey that corn meal muffin, it really was just what I have been craving for awhile. All I was missing was maybe a kernel of corn hidden here and there.
There were 3 sauces on the table that really made the pork enjoyable. The VA Sauce is a sweet, tangy sauce with a little peppery kick. A left lift really- it wasn't all that spicy. It was however a nice and thick sauce that was a nice bold flavor. The NC sauce really was just a bottle of vinegar with crushed red peppers and a few other spices thrown in. It was really liquidy so do use with caution! Don't drown the meat! The Sweet sauce really was just that- sweet. It is a thick sauce that closely resembles those KC Masterpiece or stereotypical bbq sauces with a kick of heat. I think mixing the VA and the Sweet sauce together made for a perfectly balanced sauce that made my pork even more delicious.
So my dining companion ordered off of the traditional menu, getting the 1/2 pint pork platter. This was the better choice if you are looking for that extra side on top of the plate I chose. It saved just about 40 cents. :) He chose to get the VA style pork, which was more the tomato based, sweet pork. The meat was sweet and tangy, and really hit the spot. His coleslaw was fine grated cabbage and carrots with a nice light flavor. It wasn't super oily tasting and reminded me of the sweet coleslaw you get at KFC, but more homestyle. The potato salad left a bit to be desired- the potatoes were on the dry side and seemed a bit shrunken. Maybe they were overcooked? Either way, it was still decent enough to finish. The beans were soft, sweet, and savory with a hint of smoky. I really enjoyed the texture and the taste. Now I hear from some that they are like premium canned, but I still like them. I don't recall ever having any "real" from scratch bbq beans so I may not be the best judge, but I think they are good.
So we definitely enjoyed our meal had a very pleasant dining experience.
Overall, How Nuts Are We About Virginia Barbecue?
Food: 4 coconuts. Good food, large portions, and good prices. MMM corn muffins soooo goooood...
Service: 5 coconuts for our server who was incredibly police and happy!
Repeatability: 5 coconuts. This will probably top my list of local BBQ places on a budget. I definitely see myself coming back here (we almost came back the next day for lunch!)
Until Next Time... ☜(⌒▽⌒)☞
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