Michael P.
Yelp
I was excited about this one. It has been on my radar for some time and I found myself in the area so there was no better time to try it out.
Got here around 4:00pm, slammed. It's not a huge space, modest, I'd say about 10 tables plus seating at a bar top overlooking the experts at work behind the counter. Every table was full. I walked into a line that they got moving pretty swiftly. Before putting my order in I was told it'd be about 30 minutes til I got my food. Initial reaction was "dang, they have that many orders in the queue? This place must be the real deal".
No problem, put my order in for a 2 meat platter with Brisket, smoked chicken, black eyed peas and collard greens with cornbread on the side $25 after tax and tip. Solid deal if I get a good amount of meat I thought.
While waiting I took a little walk. Behind the restaurant there is a paved path up to a couple softball fields and an elementary school. Nice little spot with a couple playgrounds for kids and a post-meal stroll after you're filled to the brim with bbq (some foreshadowing there).
I finally get back and almost 30 minutes after I ordered, to the minute, I had my name called for my food. A thick, 3/4" slab and 12" long slab of juicy delicious brisket with a off-cut from the point/burnt ends edge of the brisket (wasn't actually burnt ends but probably a slice in from that) was staring me in the face. This was topped over a mound of smoked chicken, must have been 1/2-3/4lb. I don't normally get smoked chicken at bbq joints but I wanted something a little less rich to go with my brisket and I had already eaten a little while earlier that afternoon (small overpriced meal from a food truck at tree house but that's a different story for another review).
The brisket was freaking delicious. I have finally had delicious brisket. I never understood what the lure was. It was always good but never blew me away. This opened my eyes. I LOVED It. Now, I've never been to Texas, or the Carolina's or any other bbq destinations.. But this bbq is way above and beyond anything else I've ever had in New England by a wide margin.
The chicken was delicious. How in earth are you able to keep it so moist and get so much smoke flavor on there BT's? I need to know.
The unsung heroes of bbq, the sides. The black eyed peas were great. Exactly what I wanted. Simple, fresh, and delicious with some fresh tomato, green pepper and well seasoned. The collards were nothing to scoff at either. I've had some bad collards. Some mush, some too tough, some over salted.. These were quite perfect. Tender, delicious and had small bits of chopped meat in them. Seemed like pork? So good. Even the cornbread was solid. No sauce necessary on this, but all their sauces were delicious. Nothing overly fancy, just good wholesome sauces.
Also, don't sleep on the pickled vegetables. You can help yourself to as many pickled habanero carrots, pickled red onion or pickled jalapeño's as you want. They are up to the right of the counter where you order.
Will absolutely be back here. Not sure if he was the owner but l overheard an employee call out to the guy manning the chopping block, Spencer. Seeing this man slice through 10 perfectly cooked briskets while I was sitting there at the bar top while waiting for and enjoying my meal was a sight. Maybe I like smoked meats too much, maybe I'm a little crazy. But if that sight is what crazy looks like and the taste of that food is what crazy tastes like, I'm okay with being crazy. Spencer, thank you and your team for the wonderful meal.