Eamonn O.
Yelp
MEAT!!!!
Having read a number of excellent reviews here, we decided last Saturday that it was time to stop talking about it and just do it.
On entering I was impressed immediately by the layout and décor, this is a proper pub, albeit one with stag and bison heads staring at you from the walls (although not on the menu). The tables are all kitted out with a bucket of plastic cutlery, squeezy bottles of mustard and BBQ sauce and tellingly, rolls of paper towel.
We managed to snag a seat in the corner by the window and perused the cocktail menu. I ordered a Lynchburg Lemonade and S_ wanted a Harlem Night without the Kahlua. Knowing how tetchy mixologists can be, I approached the bar with some trepidation but other than a good humourted "what's the point then?" the barman proceed to mix our drinks. Gentleman Jack in a Lynchburg? That's class. And for S_ an extra shot to make up for the Kahlua. Class!
The staff were very friendly, helpful and efficient throughout the evening, you could not ask for better.
Now to the main event.
The menu is short but very appealing. 1/2 Rack of Ribs (you can order a full rack), Sausage Links, Pulled Pork, 1/2 Chicken or Brisket + 2 sides for 13.95* or you can opt to sample 2 meats and 2 sides for 16.95*.
Being lifetime members of the undecided we opted for the 2 meat plates.
I ordered the Pulled Pork and Brisket with Fries and Onion RIngs. S_ decided to go for the Links and Pulled Pork with Onion Rings and Beans with Burnt Bits in.
The food is as good as you would get anywhere west of Tearaght island.
My meats were juicy and tender, and obviously sloooow cooked with patience and care. The fries area crispy and seasoned perfectly and the onion rings were chunky and crispy. The accompanying dips and on table BBQ sauce and mustard complemented the meats perfectly, each mouthful was a flavour sensation.
S_'s links (a large meaty sausage) was also excellent. And the beans were real baked beans with chunks of burnt edges, just like momma would have made if she was from south of the Mason Dixie line (Cork is close enough I guess).
We split a Peach Cobbler for desert, out of pure greed as we were already stuffed. I'm not a big dessert aficionado so to me it was a tasty crumble-like concoction with a nice scoop of vanilla ice cream, but judging from the noises coming from S_ as cobblers go this was the genuine article.
Bison Bar ticks every box and then some. This is US cooking at it's best.
*Prices correct at time of commitment to memory but are subject to random variation depending on the number of Lynchburgs I subsequently consumed.