Totally Disappointing Meal

Stlsportster · 07-18-2018, 08:01 PM

In Charlotte for business. Had a local coworker recommended his favorite local Carolina BBQ joint. Ordered the meat sampler. Ribs, pork, chicken, and their specialty....smoked pot roast. Sides were fried yellow squash and spicy kidney beans.

Pot roast was chuck, smoked then braised in some kinda stock with onions. Pork was yellowish tinged..not sure what it was mixed with...ribs were decent but had little smoke flavor and they chargrill them to heat before serving so the outside was charred and they obviously don’t use rub...chicken was dry and again charred on the outside.

The fried squash was the best part of the meal.

Don’t know why I even try to eat Q out anymore.

Kanco Connection · 07-18-2018, 08:07 PM

Ugh. Hope you expensed it.
I was in Memphis and tried 3 different Q joints with my buddies. Pretty disappointing all around. Not as bad as what you’re describing, but I was expecting amazingness in one of the Q capitals of the country.
I’m learning that an even better seasoning than appetite is.....low expectations.

16Adams · 07-18-2018, 08:21 PM

May I suggest you find some business in Texas??

:-))

Czarbecue · 07-18-2018, 08:34 PM

I always think I may be missing out on something if I don't try a place. Maybe it's a hidden gem... that's what keep me going when trying new places.

cowgirl · 07-18-2018, 08:46 PM

I always drive around back to check out their wood stack and smoker before going into a joint to eat. Most of the time I can tell if it's going to be good or the opposite.

SmittyJonz · 07-18-2018, 08:47 PM

Ain't they got Arbys out there...........?

LYU370 · 07-18-2018, 08:58 PM

Why did you get beef in the Carolina's where pork is king?

SirPorkaLot · 07-18-2018, 08:58 PM

Charlotte is not known for its BBQ.
You have to travel an hour east or west to get the good stuff.
Charlotte is all transplants, aren’t any southerners there

LYU370 · 07-18-2018, 09:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kanco Connection

Ugh. Hope you expensed it.
I was in Memphis and tried 3 different Q joints with my buddies. Pretty disappointing all around. Not as bad as what you’re describing, but I was expecting amazingness in one of the Q capitals of the country.
I’m learning that an even better seasoning than appetite is.....low expectations.

Was Rendezvous one of them?

Should have just gone to Gus's for fried chicken. Best there is!

Stlsportster · 07-18-2018, 09:04 PM

+1 on Gus’ chicken.

Yes I expensed it.

Got the sampler so I could try a bit of everything. They wanted $20 for a half rack and $30 for a full rack. For $6 you could add 8oz of pulled pork or chicken to the ribs. Or for $27 you could get a little of everything.

Last time I was here I tried a different place which was better.

One of these trips I’ll make the 65 mile drive to Lexington which I hear is fantastic.

TravelingJ · 07-18-2018, 09:15 PM

That's sad, sorry to hear it. I still try them when I'm out on the road, and I've found a few gems. What's really disappointing, is the times I've sent coworkers/friends to joints that I loved-and then they hated it.

tarheelsmoker · 07-18-2018, 09:28 PM

Hate to see that the queen City disappointed on your BBQ. If that is the joint I think it is they have gone downhill. There used to be a really good Q restaurant that was also a biker bar, but they opened several locations. It's not nearly as good as it once was. But John is right. Many of the natives have moved out of Charlotte. Next time you are in town let me know and I will try to get you a better recommendation.

Happy Hapgood · 07-18-2018, 09:28 PM

Good to know a local that knows. Not always as easy as it sounds.

hammb · 07-18-2018, 09:32 PM

In my (albeit limited) Carolina experience your best bet is the places that wouldn't even consider having a sampler platter. THey should just have BBQ. Not pork, not ribs, not beef...just barbecue. The definition is slightly different from East to West (East whole hog, West shoulder). In the West you may have the choice of chopped coarse/fine or sliced.

These places MAY also offer ribs or chicken on occasion, but the true NC BBQ places are going to specialize in just BBQ. As for sides, anything beyond hushpuppies and slaw is likely a crap shoot.

My favorite place in NC that I've tried is Skylight Inn in Ayden. The menu is pretty much 3 items: Slaw, Cornbread, BBQ. And it's fantastic.

Stlsportster · 07-18-2018, 09:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tarheelsmoker

Hate to see that the queen City disappointed on your BBQ. If that is the joint I think it is they have gone downhill. There used to be a really good Q restaurant that was also a biker bar, but they opened several locations. It's not nearly as good as it once was. But John is right. Many of the natives have moved out of Charlotte. Next time you are in town let me know and I will try to get you a better recommendation.

Last time I ate at Mac’s Speed Shop and it was decent.

This was McKoy’s.

Have heard Midwood is good and read good stuff about Bill Spoons.

07-18-2018, 08:01 PM	#1
Stlsportster Babbling Farker Join Date: 08-09-16 Location: Random Point In Time and Space Name/Nickname : Parental Assigned Label	Totally Disappointing Meal In Charlotte for business. Had a local coworker recommended his favorite local Carolina BBQ joint. Ordered the meat sampler. Ribs, pork, chicken, and their specialty....smoked pot roast. Sides were fried yellow squash and spicy kidney beans. Pot roast was chuck, smoked then braised in some kinda stock with onions. Pork was yellowish tinged..not sure what it was mixed with...ribs were decent but had little smoke flavor and they chargrill them to heat before serving so the outside was charred and they obviously don’t use rub...chicken was dry and again charred on the outside. The fried squash was the best part of the meal. Don’t know why I even try to eat Q out anymore.

07-18-2018, 08:07 PM	#2
Kanco Connection is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 06-28-17 Location: Colorado Springs, CO	Ugh. Hope you expensed it. I was in Memphis and tried 3 different Q joints with my buddies. Pretty disappointing all around. Not as bad as what you’re describing, but I was expecting amazingness in one of the Q capitals of the country. I’m learning that an even better seasoning than appetite is.....low expectations. __________________ Weber Performer Deluxe x 2 / PBC /RecTeq RT-590/ 18” Smokey Joe / Weber Spirit gasser

07-18-2018, 08:21 PM	#3
16Adams somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 01-16-13 Location: USA	May I suggest you find some business in Texas?? :-)) __________________ Tiernan SOB34, Primo Oval XL, Oklahoma Joe's Bronco, Oklahoma Joe's Highland, Pit Boss Austin XL, Pit Boss Table Top

07-18-2018, 08:34 PM	#4
Czarbecue Babbling Farker Join Date: 06-24-17 Location: Monroe, GA Name/Nickname : Viet King Cong	I always think I may be missing out on something if I don't try a place. Maybe it's a hidden gem... that's what keep me going when trying new places. __________________ Boathouse Smokers Big Black Cabinet

07-18-2018, 08:46 PM	#5
cowgirl somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 07-18-07 Location: Oklahoma Name/Nickname : jeanie	I always drive around back to check out their wood stack and smoker before going into a joint to eat. Most of the time I can tell if it's going to be good or the opposite. __________________ jeanie Lifetime member of the Society for the Preservation of Authentic Royal Magical Rare Kaskaskian Peppers (Thanks Ash :)) RIP Ash, you are missed http://cowgirlscountry.blogspot.com/

07-18-2018, 08:47 PM	#6
SmittyJonz somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 07-17-13 Location: Burleson Tx	Ain't they got Arbys out there...........? __________________ NO Such Thing as Over Smoked - just Over Dirty Smoked.............

07-18-2018, 08:58 PM	#7
LYU370 somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 05-28-14 Location: Streamwood, IL	Why did you get beef in the Carolina's where pork is king? __________________ Andy FEC100 - Big Joe - Weber Spirit II Gasser Are you ready for a THROWDOWN?!?!? Join us, It's a BLAST!! Join us for the Inaugural 2024 South East Bash - May 2024 Tennessee - Sign Up Link

07-18-2018, 08:58 PM	#8
SirPorkaLot somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 08-31-09 Location: Homeworth, OH Name/Nickname : John	Charlotte is not known for its BBQ. You have to travel an hour east or west to get the good stuff. Charlotte is all transplants, aren’t any southerners there __________________ John

07-18-2018, 09:04 PM	#10
Stlsportster Babbling Farker Join Date: 08-09-16 Location: Random Point In Time and Space Name/Nickname : Parental Assigned Label	+1 on Gus’ chicken. Yes I expensed it. Got the sampler so I could try a bit of everything. They wanted $20 for a half rack and $30 for a full rack. For $6 you could add 8oz of pulled pork or chicken to the ribs. Or for $27 you could get a little of everything. Last time I was here I tried a different place which was better. One of these trips I’ll make the 65 mile drive to Lexington which I hear is fantastic.

07-18-2018, 09:15 PM	#11
TravelingJ is Blowin Smoke! Join Date: 09-07-12 Location: Independence, MO Name/Nickname : Justin	That's sad, sorry to hear it. I still try them when I'm out on the road, and I've found a few gems. What's really disappointing, is the times I've sent coworkers/friends to joints that I loved-and then they hated it.

07-18-2018, 09:28 PM	#12
tarheelsmoker Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 03-13-12 Location: Denver, NC	Hate to see that the queen City disappointed on your BBQ. If that is the joint I think it is they have gone downhill. There used to be a really good Q restaurant that was also a biker bar, but they opened several locations. It's not nearly as good as it once was. But John is right. Many of the natives have moved out of Charlotte. Next time you are in town let me know and I will try to get you a better recommendation. __________________ Weber OTG 22.5"Weber Performer (copper)Kamado Joe Big JoeGasserCamp Chef FTG

07-18-2018, 09:28 PM	#13
Happy Hapgood somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 03-17-12 Location: Shreveport, Louisiana Name/Nickname : Mike	Good to know a local that knows. Not always as easy as it sounds. __________________ Cooking Equipment: Weber WSM, Weber GA, Weber Spirit E-310, Weber 22" OTG Charbroil Oilless Turkey Fryer Wife LuzziAnn 1956 model. Ink Bird IBBQ 4T Wi-Fi Temp Monitor, Superfast LSU Purple Thermapen & ThermaPop, Party Q Ink Bird Sous Vide, HF Flame Thower My Motto these days is "Low Stress, Low Drag". The Artist Formally Known as Toast

07-18-2018, 09:32 PM	#14
hammb Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 05-08-13 Location: Waterville, OH	In my (albeit limited) Carolina experience your best bet is the places that wouldn't even consider having a sampler platter. THey should just have BBQ. Not pork, not ribs, not beef...just barbecue. The definition is slightly different from East to West (East whole hog, West shoulder). In the West you may have the choice of chopped coarse/fine or sliced. These places MAY also offer ribs or chicken on occasion, but the true NC BBQ places are going to specialize in just BBQ. As for sides, anything beyond hushpuppies and slaw is likely a crap shoot. My favorite place in NC that I've tried is Skylight Inn in Ayden. The menu is pretty much 3 items: Slaw, Cornbread, BBQ. And it's fantastic.