Stlsportster
Babbling Farker
- Joined
- Aug 9, 2016
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It’ll happen to you, if it already hasn’t.
Super Smokers in Eureka, MO...just outside St Louis. They opened here in 1996 when the competition BBQ scene hadn’t made it here yet. They won Whole Hog at Memphis in May in 2000.
Weekends there used to be a line out the door. Then they expanded too fast. Opened in multiple locations. Ahead of their time selling in kiosks in front of the grocery stores.
Now down to just the original location. Shell of themselves.
BUT. That’s not the whole story.
1. Stopped in on my way home from a failed mission in search of a brickseek deal. Ordered a family pack with 2 full slabs, 2 large sides, bottle of sauce for $57, plus added a 1/2 lb of brisket. Sides I picked jalapeño corn bread and tomato cucumber salad. Over $70 after tax and a tip.
Small racks of baby backs. Tiny. Short end bones were only an inch long.
2. Family barely ate them. Told me my ribs are so much better, it wasn’t worth it. Brisket was tender but flavorless. Sides were good. Everything had the taste of being held too long.
So. Over $70 for something I can produce for under $20. And mine is better.
Now, I’m sure that if Terry Black, the original leader of that team, cooked me a whole hog, or a few racks off his personal smoker I’m sure it would be fantastic. Clearly the restaurant is different.
But still it’s ruined for me. Haven’t been there in a while and may never go back.
Have your favorites been ruined? Does your family complain about bbq when you go out?
Super Smokers in Eureka, MO...just outside St Louis. They opened here in 1996 when the competition BBQ scene hadn’t made it here yet. They won Whole Hog at Memphis in May in 2000.
Weekends there used to be a line out the door. Then they expanded too fast. Opened in multiple locations. Ahead of their time selling in kiosks in front of the grocery stores.
Now down to just the original location. Shell of themselves.
BUT. That’s not the whole story.
1. Stopped in on my way home from a failed mission in search of a brickseek deal. Ordered a family pack with 2 full slabs, 2 large sides, bottle of sauce for $57, plus added a 1/2 lb of brisket. Sides I picked jalapeño corn bread and tomato cucumber salad. Over $70 after tax and a tip.
Small racks of baby backs. Tiny. Short end bones were only an inch long.
2. Family barely ate them. Told me my ribs are so much better, it wasn’t worth it. Brisket was tender but flavorless. Sides were good. Everything had the taste of being held too long.
So. Over $70 for something I can produce for under $20. And mine is better.
Now, I’m sure that if Terry Black, the original leader of that team, cooked me a whole hog, or a few racks off his personal smoker I’m sure it would be fantastic. Clearly the restaurant is different.
But still it’s ruined for me. Haven’t been there in a while and may never go back.
Have your favorites been ruined? Does your family complain about bbq when you go out?
