[Cider Jim]

If you put enough hot sauce on NC bbq, you can't taste the vinegar as much.

[El Scorcho]

This thread makes me laugh. You guys act like they just pour vinegar straight out of the bottle in Eastern NC. If you're tasting straight up vinegar, someone is slacking on their sauce. I mean, it's fine that you don't like it, but you really shouldn't be able to taste it so heavily. Just an FYI.

Of course, I grew up eating the stuff regularly, so maybe I'm just biased.

this may be true, but I still think its pretty nasty BBQ...but its all opinion I suppose

Oh, so it's the slow-cooked chopped pork you have a problem with? And not the sauce?

A well-balanced Eastern NC sauce has only a hint of vinegar. The way I've made it in the past uses a lot more hot sauce and spice than it does vinegar. It gets simmered down over the course of a couple of days, so it's pretty potent stuff. I use it sparingly.

[Knucklehead]

This thread makes me laugh. You guys act like they just pour vinegar straight out of the bottle in Eastern NC. If you're tasting straight up vinegar, someone is slacking on their sauce. I mean, it's fine that you don't like it, but you really shouldn't be able to taste it so heavily. Just an FYI.

Of course, I grew up eating the stuff regularly, so maybe I'm just biased.

this may be true, but I still think its pretty nasty BBQ...but its all opinion I suppose

Oh, so it's the slow-cooked chopped pork you have a problem with? And not the sauce?

A well-balanced Eastern NC sauce has only a hint of vinegar. The way I've made it in the past uses a lot more hot sauce and spice than it does vinegar. It gets simmered down over the course of a couple of days, so it's pretty potent stuff. I use it sparingly.

If you uneducated folks want some learning. Drive south to Goldsboro, NC and eat at a little dive call Wilbur's. You'll never have anything better! Grew up there, ate there 3 times a week!

[Cider Jim]

My next-door neighbor says our new Texas BBQ place is open, and was really impressed with the food. Has anyone else been there for lunch or dinner yet?

[kel varson]

ever been to Cowlings?

[whmatthews]

this may be true, but I still think its pretty nasty BBQ...but its all opinion I suppose

Oh, so it's the slow-cooked chopped pork you have a problem with? And not the sauce?

A well-balanced Eastern NC sauce has only a hint of vinegar. The way I've made it in the past uses a lot more hot sauce and spice than it does vinegar. It gets simmered down over the course of a couple of days, so it's pretty potent stuff. I use it sparingly.

If you uneducated folks want some learning. Drive south to Goldsboro, NC and eat at a little dive call Wilbur's. You'll never have anything better! Grew up there, ate there 3 times a week!

I know Wilburs.... not as good as Pete Jones in Ayden, NC. Pete Jones was in Time magazine for his bbq.

[blwall1416]

Wilburs, Parkers, & Bills........nuff said.


However, I am looking to give Dickey's a try. I'll let them know if they really serve Carolina BBQ or not.

[El Scorcho]

The only thing on their menu that looks like it might be close to NC bbq is "Southern Pulled Pork". A generic name like that cannot be a good sign.

[blwall1416]

The only thing on their menu that looks like it might be close to NC bbq is "Southern Pulled Pork". A generic name like that cannot be a good sign.

Yeah, on two different sites, they list it two different ways.....one mentions mustard....the other doesn't. They better not be serving that crap like they have in South Carolina....

[ToTheLeft]

I went there.

I was severly disappointed...

My official Review:

Taste: 4 out of 10. Was kinda cold and not really very good, sauce was okay at best, waffle fries were very blah and poorly cooked.

Value: 1 out of 10. You can't get away with 7 dollar combo meals unless they are as good as Hardees or Steak and Shake. 6.99 for a normal sized pulled pork sanwich, 2 oz. of BBQ sauce, and a bag of weird waffle fries is not gonna cut it.

Service: 4 out of 10. Slow but friendly. I was expecting good things with the time I had to wait, thinking they were cooking something fresh or waiting for a batch to some out of the smoker. Obviously not (as it was kinda cold). People are friendly, however, but not worth it in the end.

Overall: 2 out of 10.

Not good, try Sheetz and their "Fresh out of the microwave" Pork BBQ sandwich, it's cheaper and better. Or just avoid BBQ all together and go to Taco Bell or Moe's!

[HenryGale]

Very Disappointed as well. Got a platter with pulled pork and brisket. Pork was dry. The brisket was very moist, and soft enough to cut with the fork, but had absolutely no flavor at all. I then added the sauce. Not really impressed even with the sauce. It was also expensive. 3 meats (2 pulled pork and brisket) with 2 sides and a drink was $13.50. Oh yea...very small portions as well.

If you have ever eaten at a Sonny's, you know it is not world class que by any means, but Sonny's blows Dickies out of the water.

I will continue to do my own pork and ribs at home.

[ToTheLeft]

Very Disappointed as well. Got a platter with pulled pork and brisket. Pork was dry. The brisket was very moist, and soft enough to cut with the fork, but had absolutely no flavor at all. I then added the sauce. Not really impressed even with the sauce. It was also expensive. 3 meats (2 pulled pork and brisket) with 2 sides and a drink was $13.50. Oh yea...very small portions as well.

If you have ever eaten at a Sonny's, you know it is not world class que by any means, but Sonny's blows Dickies out of the water.

I will continue to do my own pork and ribs at home.

Agreed. Sonny's isn't great, but its good enough for what you pay, and the all-you-can-eat portions at Sonny's make it well worth the trip. Dickey's, is not.

Now, if you are ever in Anderson, Indiana, you have to stop by Byrd's BBQ, now THAT"s good stuff. 4.99 for a pulled pork sammich as big as your face. And some AMAZING mac and cheese, and BBQ green beans.

[thepostman]

I am far from an expert on BBQ but I have always enjoyed Sonny's BBQ....my first job when I was 16 was working at one and ate there a lot and enjoyed it for a while then got sick of having it so much...but after I had got done working there and then went back a few months later for lunch I enjoyed it...

anyways....I am not sure how this adds anything to the conversation...but it just came to mind

ps...I always drive past Daddy Bim's when I am on my way to work and always wonder if that place is any good....anybody been there???

[Cider Jim]

I've been to both Daddy Bims & Dickeys. Daddy Bims is a dive with small portions: I'd give it a C- at best.

Dickey's on the other hand, my native Texan wife and I went there after school today. My wife's reponse: "I loved it! Very tender brisqet sandwich and plenty of good tasting sauce." She loved the deep-fried onion pieces, which were similar to the ones Logan's offers. I had 2 meats--chicken & pulled pork--which were both okay. To me, the best thing about the food was the vegetables--potato salad, tomato & cumcumber salad--and the portions were huge! We also liked how the drinks were served in what they called a "big yellow cup." The cup is plastic and a souvenir to take home with you. They also have a big barrel-sized jar of pickles and ice cream, which are part of the price of the meal. We had the ice cream but passed on the pickles.

My wife's grade for her meal: B
The Cider grade: B+

[Fumblerooskies]

How can a man who can't even spell MEAT be qualified to judge the quality of BBQ?

I guess I'll have to give it a taste test today or tomorrow.

[Sly Fox]

I warned you guys not to get too excited. But for the record, bad BBQ is better than good just about anything else. I'm jonesing for some 'cue here in the MIddle East. I'm tired of eating fish everyday.

[LUconn]

everybody who's working there is new. Give them a few weeks to get everything right.

[HenryGale]

I do not know that is the problem or not. Somebody needs to ask how they cook their pork and brisket. It did not taste like it was smoked at all. Very little flavor. The only flavor came from the sauce that you added later.

[Fumblerooskies]

Just got back from Dickey's with my wife...
...we both got the pulled pork and a side.

Nice, tender meat with a slight hint of smokey flavor...could be a tad stronger...but good flavor. Not greasy at all.

Added a mix of their sweet and hot sauces...VERY good flavor.

Mac and cheese tasted exactly like over-sized Velveeta shells and cheese.

Beans we just OK...but the BBQ sauce livened them up.

My verdict...better than Schmokies (since they changed their recipe about 6 months ago). I would judge it, based on this one visit...about a 7/10. I like the atmosphere at Schmokies much better...this felt too much like a fast food place.

[The Dude]

News and Advance had an article on Daddy Bim's today. Laurant made it sound like the guy was a culinary expert serving fine cuisine. Come to find out, it's located in that old dive off the old Old Forest Road across from Hill St. Uh, no thanks.

[Cider Jim]

Mac and cheese tasted exactly like over-sized Velveeta shells and cheese.

Beans we just OK...but the BBQ sauce livened them up.

Fumble, I don't eat mac & cheese, so is it tasting like Velveeta a good thing or a bad thing?
"Beans we"--that's got to bad, right?

On a serious note, Dickey's also has some flat screen TVs, but they weren't turned on yet. I like Dickey's, but I still think that the Silver Pig in Madison Heights has the best pulled pork in the Lynchburg area.

[LUconn]

were you mentioning Schmokies in a bad way? I've wondered what others thought about the place. I wen when it first opened and was pretty disappointed, but I really like their new menu. They have a great "smoke" flavored sauce, and their chopped pork is really good. And the meals come with a potato roll, and a delicious triangle of cornbread. The cornbread is really good.

[El Scorcho]

News and Advance had an article on Daddy Bim's today. Laurant made it sound like the guy was a culinary expert serving fine cuisine. Come to find out, it's located in that old dive off the old Old Forest Road across from Hill St. Uh, no thanks.

Since I now know that the infamous Laurant reads our board, I guess I'll have to temper myself a bit here so I don't end up in one of his columns.

However, as I've said before on this board, my wife and I picked up to go plates from Daddy Bim's one day. It was pretty expensive but, at the time, one of the few places to get Q in the 'burg. I was okay with the price...until I got home and opened the box. The portions were tiny. The food was awful. I felt ripped off. It is still one of the more terrible experiences I've had with food since being in Lynchburg. I will never eat there again, even if someone thinks I just caught them on a bad day. It just won't happen. Good for D.L. and the folks who understand such culinary complexities as those being served at Daddy Bim's. As for me, I'd rather go hungry than eat a meal of that crap again.

I haven't been to Schmokies since they revamped their menu. I'd have given it 3 stars out of 5 before. I'll have to give the new menu a shot sometime soon.

I'll also have to hit Dickey's, even though the idea of chain barbecue scares me a little.

[Fumblerooskies]

Schmokies changed their menu...much more variety...and LUconn...I was not talking about Schmokies in a bad way, at all. They also changed their BBQ recipe, as well...at least that is my perception...and it is not as flavorful as it was when they opened.

[LUconn]

that's true. I almost think that they may have blanded it up so that you could basically choose what style you wanted with all of the sauces they provide.