Dickey's Barbeque Pit - Rancho Cucamonga

Finding myself in Rancho Cucamonga during lunch, I decided to take the opportunity to try another BBQ place.  Finding this one was not a easy as it could have been. It is located in a commercial building and not be easily seen from the street.  After a few frustrated loops, I found Dickey's. 

The set up of the restaurant was not anything to write home about.   It looked more like a quick serve than a barbecue pit.  

Upon entering I am quick to find not smoky smell.  A disappointing but common southern California occurrence.  No worries.  Husband was excited to slug some suds until he asked for them.  Many of the ads on the walls show beer, but it is not for sale.  Another disappointment.   We are accompanied with a large group and order an XL Family Pack.  This menu choice allows for us to try 3 types of meats, 3 sides, and rolls.  We order pulled pork, beef brisket, and chicken for the meats and barbecue beans, jalapeno beans, and fries for sides.  the barbecue sauce was in warmed pumps near the beverage station. 

Our food was brought out.  It did not smell smoky, either.  As I opened the trays of food.  I found the meat was not pulled but chipped.  Yet another disappointment.  We loved the fries and the jalapeno beans but  that is where the end of the love affair existed.  The meat needed plenty of sauce as it was very dry.  The flavor was only satisfactory with plenty of sauce, as well.  

The highlight for us was the free ice cream cones.  That is right.  You heard me.  Each of the kids gorged themselves on ice cream after our meal.  The self-serve soft serve dispenser was just sitting in the middle of the restaurant begin everyone to take seconds. 

the following recommendations would make a difference:
Smoke the meat (I am feeling like a broken record here)
If you advertise pulled pork offer pulled pork or change the description to chipped. 

Ambiance:  1

Food taste/quality:  1.5

Overall review:  1.25

Tulsa Rib Company - Catering

Opening up this blog has allowed many to make suggestions to me regarding where to find the food I crave.   One that came to my attention recently is Tulsa Rib Company.  Being burned in the past by hype, I was not exceedingly excited to try this place regardless of the influence of co-works and Yelp review available online. 

I received an opportunity to try this place via a catered event.  The set-up staff was pleasant and seemed to have everything in order.  I walked outside to check out their methods and was dismayed to find raw chicken on a grill instead of in a smoker.  I found myself deciding not to allow this to hinder my opinion of the ribs, but I was wavering nonetheless. 

Still feeling slighted by knowing I am having grilled chicken and not smoked chicken I load up a plate of coleslaw, barbeque baked beans, potato salad, dinner roll, beef ribs, and a chicken quarter.  The potato salad was mustard based without being too acidic, though I am not certain Tulsa Rib Company made it themselves.  The potato salad tasted like any you could buy from a wholesale club.  The coleslaw and barbeque baked beans reminded me of the potato salad.  Neither was unpleasant, but I felt I could find the same dish just about anywhere.  I did not notice any meat in the beans, which always disappoints me.  Speaking of meat, I was not at all impressed.  The chicken was certainly grilled.  The ribs tasted like they came out of a crockpot.  BOO!  The sauce, again, tasted store bought. 

Tulsa Rib Company is another high hype low delivery Southern California barbeque place.  Although the meat was moist and tender, it was not barbeque.  The meat was merely prepared using a barbeque.

I have no review of the restaurant itself as I did not go to the restaurant.  The review is based on my catered food experience.  

The following recommendations would make a difference:

Smoke the meat

Add smoked meat to the beans

Make your own sides with a signature flair

Ambiance:  n/a

Food taste/quality:  1.5

Overall review:  1.5

The above rating is based on overall appeal of the ambiance, food quality, and food taste on a scale of 0-5.0.  5.0 is the best rating possible

Joey's Barbeque Chino, CA

I have to start by saying this place is world famous.  My dad discovered this place by word of mouth while in St. Croix, USVI.  I found myself in Chino by chance and made a point to stop into Joey's Barbecue knowing any other day would be a trip to specifically visit.  

I dropped in around 4pm on a Saturday and the joint was nearly packed.  Only a few small tables remained.  Thankfully, I was a party of one on this day.  The hostess who sat be quickly disappeared and was replace with a friendly waiter.  Now, I know what you are thinking, "Friendly service in California?  This woman is lying."  I swear.  The waiter was friendly.  Not only friendly but also helpful.  I did not want for anything the whole time I was there.  The waiter asked if I had been there before.  Then, he told me as long as I wanted food to keep the flag up at my table.  I never raised the flag, because I did not have to.  The service was great.  I swear it was. 

The building smelled of smoke and had a rustic appeal.  Overall, the dining area was comfortable and ruggedly charming.  Nearby patrons were talking about how much they loved the food.  I over heard one man tell someone he told a friend he was in Chino.  The friend insisted he visit Joey's after he already arrived.  At this point I am eager to eat to see what all the fuss is about. 

I ordered lemonade, pulled pork, baked beans, and potato salad. My order came out quickly. The portions were more than I knew I could eat.  I quickly forgot about the flag at my table knowing I would not need it. 

The meat was amazing.  The smoke ring was visible and the flavor took me back to Texas. The sauce was not my desire but was not bad.  With great meat who needs sauce anyway?  The baked beans had some smoky meat inside.  A nice and apparently unexpected touch in these parts.  The potato salad was nothing to write home about but was satisfying. 

My suggested improvements would include:  add an array of sauces to the menu.  Barbecue is rarely a one-size fits all endeavor. 

Ambiance:  5.0
Food taste/quality:  4.0
Overall review:  4.5

The above rating is based on overall appeal of the ambiance, food quality, and food taste on a scale of 0-5.0.  5.0 is the best rating possible

Beachwood BBQ - Seal Beach, California

I have heard great things about this next place, Beachwood BBQ.  The location I chose to visit is the Seal Beach location.  Beachwood BBQ has another location in Long Beach. The Long Beach location is equipped with a brewery.  The Seal Beach location has the same beers on tap but cannot sell growlers.  I used visiting this location to check out the town.  I have only been to Seal Beach one other time and felt that this outing for barbecue would be a good excuse to explore.  Beachowood BBQ is nestled along side other store fronts within walking distance of the beach.  The community is adorable, but I came to try the food.

The menu is complete with fried green tomatoes, pulled pork, ham, and lest we forget, tri-tip.  The bar stocks over 20 local beers on tap.  The atmosphere is low-key with jabbering locals and trivia games on hand. I snugged up to the bar, scanned the menu, and ordered fried green tomatoes with lemonade right off the bat.  The fried green tomatoes had a fry batter similar to mozzarella sticks.  The combination was good just unexpected.  No horseradish sauce was available but ranch was.  I ordered the ham with beans, slaw, and corn bread.  Hubby ordered what sounded like and amazing sandwich full of pig with a side of smoke asparagus.  The sandwich included pulled pork, ham, and bacon.  The pig sandwich is a special and is not available daily.

Our meals came quickly and looked amazing.  Even though the barbecue was advertised as Carolina style, I would have to oppose.  Beachwood BBQ has come up with something very different.  If I were to invent California style barbecue, this would be it.  The ham was thick not thin sliced and a bit salty with a sweet-smoky vinegar based sauce.  The beans have a good balance of savor and sweet with actual smoked meat inside.  The coleslaw comes in more than one variety on the menu.  The creamy coleslaw I ordered was dotted with chunks of pineapple.  I would have never thought of adding pineapple to coleslaw, but it was a delectable surprise.  Another yummy surprise was my Yankee style cornbread with cranberries.  Overall, the meal was fabulous, even if it was not a recognizable barbecue category.  Husband's meal was of the same caliber.

The pork, ham, and bacon was served on a pretzel bun with the same sweet-smoky vinegar based sauce as the ham I ordered.  You just cannot go wrong with the combination.  I was sinfully good.  The asparagus was prepared perfectly with a good balance of firmness and smoke flavor.  I gleefully enjoyed the two bites I stole from him.  I am looking forward to sneaking back to Seal Beach in December for the Christmas parade and barbecue.

My suggested improvements would include:  no need to advertise as Carolina-style.  Coin California-style BBQ.  Update the sauce to fit the the newly coined label.     

Ambiance:  5.0
Food taste/quality:  4.5
Overall review:  4.75

The above rating is based on overall appeal of the ambiance, food quality, and food taste on a scale of 0-5.0.  5.0 is the best rating possible 

BT's Southern BBQ Huntington Beach, CA

I have driven by this restaurant a few times and been eager try it out.  The first time I saw it the smoke pit beckoned me to turn my head as I was going into a nearby store.  I thought, "OOOH! That smells good."  Today Husband needed to watch football.  So, we made BT's Southern BBQ our hang out for a game.  I noticed BT's Southern BBQ had televisions during an online search.  What is better than football and barbecue?

As we walked toward the entrance there was no smoke billowing over the building as I saw the last time, but I knew fire had been there in the past and was hoping to smell the familiar smoky smell as we entered.  Just inside the door a faint smoky aroma was detected.  Hooray!  

The counter was taken up by chatty patrons enjoying one of the many locally brewed beers on tap.  The feel was a casual corner bar.  Husband and I headed to the counter to decipher the menu.  I noticed pulled port, pulled chicken, beef ribs, baby back ribs, and pork ribs. No offerings of fried catfish or greens were seen on the menu.  However, I was excited to see the choices and trying to be open minded with the choices of hot links, black, beans, rice, and tri tip on the menu.  My true joy was found when seeing fried okra on the menu.  I had not see fried okra on a menu in quite some time.  Some strange thing are on the menu, too.  Things like New Orleans BBQ Shrimp, tacos, and corned beef can be found on specified nights of the week.  Brisket is only available two days weekly.  
I ordered the fried okra and a pulled pork sandwich with baked beans.  Husband chose a rib plate.  The rib plate comes with pork ribs, baby back ribs, beef ribs, two sides, and a biscuit.  After we order the waitress tells us where we could find the sweet and spicy barbecue sauces.  I bring one of each to the table and taste.  The flavor is not like any barbecue sauce I have tasted before.  The sauces look nearly identical and taste more like salsa than barbecue sauce.  I was inclined to request tortilla chips.  Most barbecue originates from Memphis, Carolina, Texas, Kentucky, or Kansas City.  I am wondering which region the BT's Southern Barbecue sauce represents. 

Our food arrives in good time and I look over the plates to see what we have.  The okra doesn't come with a traditional horseradish sauce but ranch.  The okra was good on without the ranch.  The beef rib had quite a bit of fat on it.  The biscuit has looked like it was dolloped with an ice cream scoop.  Interesting.  The pulled pork does not taste of smoke and is dry.  The baked beans had little flavor.  The only thing I could takes for sure was onions and creole seasoning.  The pork rib was smoke and had good bit to it.  The beef rib was fairly dry but not as dry as the pork.  The black beans were uninspired and tasted mostly of bean.  The coleslaw was lackluster.  The biscuit was a deal breaker.  It was heard and heavy.  Since there was not butter or honey to help aid the biscuit down, I tried one bite of it and was not interested in digging in further.  

As I was finishing my meal I began to pay attention to the patrons around me.  The table beside me had ordered mac and cheese.  The dish did not appear to be made in house but appeared to be a Kraft Macaroni and Cheese dish.  I over heard a fellow diner stated to his eating companions that they would need to add sauce for the meal to taste good.  He was right.  The meat could not stand on its own and was not enjoyable solo.  I did notice another group who must have been regulars ordering sauces not offered to other clients.  The sauce was described as 'hot enough to peel your face off.'   I am not certain how that description matches any barbecue style I am familiar with.  I drowned my food in the publicly offered sauce the best I could and left unsatisfied. 

I am unimpressed with BT's Southern BBQ.  If you ware looking for a local beer hangout, this is not a bad choice.  If you are looking for real barbecue, try somewhere else.   It is not here.  

My suggested improvements would include:  smoke the meat and the beans.  Choose an established barbecue region and update the menu accordingly.  

Ambiance:  4.0
Food taste/quality:  0.5
Overall review:  2.25

The above rating is based on overall appeal of the ambiance, food quality, and food taste on a scale of 0-5.0.  5.0 is the best rating possible 

Burrell's BBQ Review (Carolina Style Barbecue)

Southern California is not short on sunny warm days with cooling breezes.  On this particular perfect day, I ventured to Burrell's BBQ by way of suggestion of a friend.  Prior to my departure, I performed a quick Google search of said establishment.  Burrell's is located in Santa Ana near downtown.  Since I work in Santa Ana a quick drive across the city for lunch is fine for my hour lunch break.  The current reviews I found online and the pictures do not tell the whole story, but I will make an attempt.

Driving to this restaurant feels like you are driving to someone's home.  In fact as I was making my way to Burrell's, I thought my GPS had failed me.  Alas, there is Burrell's around the corner and in the midst of residential housing.  As I drive towards Burrell's I realize there is no parking lot.  Street parking is available but if you visit on Tuesday's read the signs carefully.  Tuesday is street sweeping day near the restaurant.  You will be reminded of street sweeping at the counter of the restaurant.  I found parking fairly easily and made my way to the cardinal red building.  A friendly customer was found holding open the screen door to allow a few fellow patrons in.  I do not smell the familiar odor of barbecue pit smoke as I proceed across the threshold and am wavering in my choice of food for the day.  The entrance consists f double screen doors and behind is a narrow space before a counter the width of the building containing a hot table, tea urns, and the cash register.  I feel like I am a visitor to Burrell's and am not in a restaurant at all. 

As I enter a friendly man behind the counter is explaining the consistency of the barbecue sauce is Carolina style.  For those of you who are not familiar with Southern Barbecue, Carolina style is a vinegar based sauce.  I am not completely opposed to Carolina sauce but prefer the sticky sweet Kansas City style sauce.  With thoughts of Southern Barbecue in my mind, I peruse the menu. 

When I think of Carolina Barbecue, I think of the following meat staples:  pork ribs, pork (pulled or sliced), brisket (pulled or sliced), chicken (pulled or halved), and southern fried catfish.  The only staples I see on the menu are ribs, sliced brisket, and fried fish.  I see many typical California meats like tri-tip  on the menu along with an item I did not expect, gumbo.  Desiring as an authentic experience as possible I opt for the sliced brisket.  The slice brisket lunch is accompanied with corn bread and a choice of side.  Even though the restaurant has a Carolina feel, greens are not listed as a side.  I order the baked beans.  As I order I can not come to terms the friendliness of the gentleman behind the counter.  Of course anyone who compliments my smile is earning bonus points for sure. 

As I wait for my number to be called I find my way to the outside seeing.  Keep in mind there is no indoor seating available   The space in the front of the restaurant can barely accommodate one person walking past another to fill their iced tea or choose a can of soda from the cooler. 

I walk through the screen door and through a chain link gate to the side yard.  In the side yard are a number of picnic tables, a water feature, seemingly retired smokers, potted plants, and trees.  The tables each have their own roll of paper towels which delights me.  Any respectable barbecue establishment will need many a towel to clean the faces of rib gorging patrons.  The atmosphere definitely feels like I am enjoying a barbecue at a friend's house and quickly washes the stressful morning of work away.  I swear I have stepped by into a Florida afternoon and am not near downtown Santa Ana.   After a moment of listening to Michael Jackson and birds singing my order is called.  I venture back in.

My food is sitting atop the counter inside of a Styrofoam take out container with no soda or cutlery in sight.  The friendly man behind the counter sees my confusion, places his caller on hold, and points me to the cooler in the corner of the counter to find my drink.  I find plastic forks, spoons, and knives in trays by the front door on some shelving.  Back out I go with my brisket and soda in hand.

First impress, this looks yummy.  The cornbread is perfectly golden all the way around.  The sauce is a bit on the red side but is expected with Carolina sauce.  The smell is appealing.  I am ready to dig in. 

I start with the cornbread.  The bread is light, flaky, buttery on the top, and does not clump as you chew.  It is a Yankee style which I am happy about because I don't like cornbread that is not sweet.  The cornbread does not fall apart in your hand but is moist and palatable.  I move onto the beans. 

The beans are in good form, not too runny or thick.  The first bite has a snap of vinegar that is quickly balance with the seasonings of the rest of the sauce.  If I were to make Carolina sauce, this is how I would make it.  The vinegar is not overwhelming as I have experienced in the past.  I am missing bits of meat and smoke with the beans.  Don't get me wrong, the beans taste good, they just do not have the smoke pit feel I enjoy.  Next, I try the brisket. 

Upon inspection the meat is sliced at a good thickenss, but I do not see bark on the meat or a smoke ring.  Once I bite in I am wondering if the meat was smoked at all. After finding a whole basil leaf in the midst of the slices, I am convinced the meat was not ever inserted into a smoker.   I am now curious to the reason to have two smokers in view.  The meat is tender and juicy.  The flavor has the same snap as the beans have.  I find the vinegar based sauce balanced well with the seasoning and the meat.  Nothing is worse than ordering meat and only tasting sauce.  The season complimented the brisket.  I nearly finish my meal without feeling like I am putting myself into a food coma and am able to return to work in my allotted hour. 

I am overall impressed with the restaurant.  Of course have learned to set lower standards in the Southern California area.  My below ratings would be vastly different had Burrell's BBQ been located in the true South.  I found the mood of eating outdoors with grass under my feet at a picnic table endearing.  With that said, I will eat here again.

My suggested improvements would include:  seats with backs and not only offering picnic tables for the comfort of those who wish to lounge,smoking the meat, smoking the beans, and adding burnt ends to the beans. 

Ambiance:  4.5
Food taste/quality:  3.0
Overall review:  3.75

The above rating is based on overall appeal of the ambiance, food quality, and food taste on a scale of 0-5.0.  5.0 is the best rating possible

Where is the good Barbecue?

Now, I am no stranger to food, but up until three years ago, I was a stranger to California.  The move was over all great but was lacking one particular flavor.  Barbecue.

I am not talking about Korean, Hawaiian or the like.  I am talking about finger licking Kansas City, Texas, or even Carolina BBQ.  The kind that smoke can call a crowd from a mile away.  Anyone who knows real good barbecue knows there is no comparison.

Upon moving to Southern California I could not help but notice the mecca of eateries.  foods from all over the globe converge here.  British pubs, bacon wrapped hot dogs, Peruvian, real Chinese, Japanese, Thai, Korean, Pakistani, Indian, or what ever else your heart desires is here.  I could not wait to dive in as I am a true blue foodie.  My heart was not fulfilled, however, in the barbecue category.  Sure there are restaurants that claim barbecue. Some even boast Southern BBQ. I have been steered towards some places that people believe are the BEST.  Sadly, no true barbecue restaurant has been found.

Therefore, twice monthly I will visit said barbecue establishments in hopes of finding some real barbecue.
I will update any and all my followers on the findings of my expedition.

First stop BT's Southern BBQ in Huntington Beach California.