Rodney Scott BBQ; Homewood, Alabama
All meats are cooked/smoked on site at the local restaurant.
All meats are done on the same type pit; no offsets. Wood is burned down to coals and shoveled into the trays in the bottom of the smokers. They had 4 of the smokers to use. They had 4 whole hogs on hand in the cooler. They said they usually cook hogs in the 150 lb. range.
Staff and service were great! When I asked about smokers, etc. I was immediately offered a tour of the pit area. Great folks! Unfortunately, the food was not as good as I hoped.
Went with my wife and another couple. Wife had catfish sandwich (very good). Friends both had 2 meat combo plate with whole hog and chicken. They said hog was pretty good and chicken was OK.
I had 3 meat combo with whole hog, brisket, and ribs. I thought the hog meat was the best meat on the plate, but not as good as I had hoped it would be. Brisket and ribs were both dry. Brisket had good taste, but was sliced very thin apparently to compensate for lack of tenderness and moisture. Ribs were a little on the tough side and very heavy in smoke flavor. Cole slaw was just a basic mayonnaise type slaw, not what I would expect to be served with South Carolina whole hog. Collard greens were good, but too many tough large stem pieces. Cornbread had good texture and color, but they need to leave out the sugar; bread, not cake. Hushpuppies were good and wife said her fries were good. Onion rings appeared to be just a premium frozen panko breaded type ring and I would not get them again. Overall food was OK and I would eat at Rodney Scott BBQ again, but only if with a group that really wanted to go there.
Overall rating for people and service; 5*
Food rating; 3*/5