Sean L.
Yelp
"You know it's serious when the pitmaster walks out with a camera crew and stamps your chest."
TL;DR: Pulled into Helberg BBQ with the Side Dish Queen for a late Friday lunch, early dinner. No line. Straight to the counter. Brisket, turkey, sausage. Sides? She picked three winners: chimichurri slaw, street corn, and mustard potato salad. Banana pudding was mandatory. The brisket bark? Divine. Turkey with pesto? Glorious. Sausage? Hot, snappy, just the way I like it. Then came the surprise; Phillip Helberg himself stepped out, stamped my orange shirt, shook my hand, and gave me stamp #25. Halfway done, full belly, and one happy Queen.
Let me set the stage. Friday afternoon. Sun high, stomach empty, and a BBQ itch only Woodway could scratch. My wife (aka the Side Dish Queen) was in tow, which meant I wasn't leaving without at least three sides and a banana pudding. We pulled up to Helberg BBQ at 4:15 PM; not a single person in line. It felt like a trap. Or a blessing. Turns out, it was divine intervention wrapped in brisket.
We stepped up to the counter and I didn't blink.
* Brisket: That bark could hold a sermon. Smoky, peppery, cooked with conviction.
* Turkey: Thin-sliced, tender, laid back in a blanket of basil pesto. Absolutely stunning.
* Sausage: Snapped louder than my knee in a cold front. Spiced just right. Juicy but behaved.
And then came her royal selections:
* Chimichurri Slaw: Bright and tangy, just enough punch to make the meat sing.
* Street Corn: Loaded, creamy, topped with lime and seasoning like a backyard blessing.
* Mustard Potato Salad: Cold, bold, and heavy on the love.
Now let's talk banana pudding. That creamy swirl with ginger snaps and banana slices danced like it was made by someone's praying grandmother. They say it is a family recipe.
And just when I thought the tray was the highlight, a staff member leaned over and said, "Hang tight, we're calling Phillip." Out comes Phillip Helberg, flanked by a camera crew, cool as smoke in February. He stamped my shirt like it was a BBQ baptism. We chatted meat and the madness of collecting these Top 50 stamps. Then I grabbed our tray, grinning like a fool, and slid into a booth with the Side Dish Queen.
Every bite confirmed it. Helberg is the real deal. Clean dining room. Family friendly. Kind folks. Portions that don't pretend. Flavors that preach.
Stamp count: 25 down. 25 to go. Halfway through the holy pilgrimage. If you're looking for brisket and blessings, Helberg delivers both.