David B.
Yelp
Date of service: Dec 11, 2014
Meal: Lunch, Eat in
All Ratings out of 10:
Quality of food: 8
Food to Spend Value: 7
Quality of Service: 8
Overall Rating: 8
As I have stated in other reviews, finding good BBQ in the Pacific NW is about as easy as plucking a hair from a hungry tiger's butt. Well maybe I haven't used those words verbatim, but you get the idea. I have lost track of the number of sheer disappointments I have experienced since leaving the BBQ mecca known as the Lone Star State, and I have had many more of those disappointments here in the Puget Sound area. To find a place that actually understands BBQ and happens to be close to my office downtown is almost like plucking hairs from 2 tigers....well, let's get on to the review!
What I order is based on when I go, as the availability of some items changes during the week. I like to go later in the week (Thursday or Friday) because they have St. Louis Style ribs, and that is what I ordered on this day. You can get a 1/3 rack or 1/2 rack, but you may as well jones up for the 1/2. I always get the beans as my side as they are simply delicious, with a great smoky flavor that I cannot get enough of. The ribs are also quite good. They are tender, juicy, and the dry rub is great on them. I also love the BBQ sauce here, and you can buy it by the bottle (which I do for home 'Q'ing). The sauce itself is mild, but you can ask for it spicy on your meat, which really spikes the heat up nicely without robbing the flavor. The sauce also complements the meat nicely so you know they aren't trying to cover mediocre BBQ with sauce, which is what many bad BBQ places do.
If I go earlier in the week, then what I order really depends on what I am in the mood for. The pulled pork is very consistent and on par with pulled pork in Texas. The brisket I have found to be inconsistent, though when it is on it is quite good. They do meatloaf on Mondays, and you haven't experienced meatloaf until you have had this. I will many times add a side spike to my meal if I am hungry enough, and boy is it good. For the uninitiated, this is their spicy sausage links, and you should do yourself a favor and get some.
The place is small, quite akin to its name, but the service is fast and friendly. I also find that, even when every seat is taken and the line is long, I am typically able to find a seat for myself and whoever I am with. I don't recommend going with more than a group of 3 if you plan on eating in, though, as it may be impossible to sit together. They cater very well to "To Go" orders, which many people take advantage of.
Hole in the Wall is a gem for Seattle. It isn't the best BBQ I have ever had, but it is pretty close to the best I have had in the Seattle area. When I am not traveling for work I make it a weekly destination, and the owners recognize me when I come in, making it feel homey as well. The prices are reasonable and the quality is high, so if you are hankering for some decent BBQ in the Puget Sound area, you should stop looking for tigers to pluck and head on over to Hole in the Wall.