Chocolate Cake at Bennett’s Pit Bar-B-Que

While in Pigeon Forge, TN for the Smoky Mountain Jeep Invasion we paid a visit to Bennett’s Pit Bar-B-Que. We visited and reviewed the Gatlinburg location in 2019 and have been wanting to

come to this one for some time now. Here’s a link to the Gatlinburg review if you want to compare. Bennett’s Pit BBQ, Gatlinburg, TN – Patrick’s BBQ Trail So let’s take a look at the Pigeon Forge location.

The Restaurant and Staff at Bennett’s Pit Bar-B-Que:

Bennett’s Pit Bar-B-Que is located on the main strip, The Great Smoky Mountain Parkway. This is where so many shows, restaurants and attractions are in Pigeon Forge. They have plenty of parking behind the restaurant. Inside the dining room was large and very nice. They use what I would call a Western theme. Hardwood floors, wooden tables and booths. Everyone was very nice when we were there.

Tammy’s Choices at Bennett’s Pit Bar-B-Que:

Burnt Ends with Cole Slaw and Mac and Cheese.

Tammy ordered Burnt Ends tonight. Her sides were Cole Slaw along with Mac & Cheese. I didn’t try her slaw, but she said it was very good. It was a little sweet similar to KFC slaw. The mac &

cheese was delicious. It was cheesy and creamy like it should be. Now the Burnt Ends were wonderful. They had a great smoke flavor and the bark was delicious. Bennett’s Pit Bar-B-Que adds a sweet tomato-based sauce for these Burnt Ends. Just a great choice here.

Then there was Tammy’s Chocolate Cake for dessert. She loved it as well. I’ll have to say that it was pretty good.

My Choices at Bennett’s Pit Bar-B-Que:

This trip I ordered the BBQ Combo. I chose Pulled Pork, Baby Back Ribs and Sliced Brisket. For my sides I went with their BBQ Beans and Deep Fried Corn. I loved the BBQ Beans. They use a tomato-based sauce for them as well. And the Deep Fried Corn was also good. It’s basically a half ear of corn, a little messy but full of flavor. Tonight, the pulled pork had a good smoke flavor and plenty of bark mixed in. It was good just as served, but I also ate some with a little of their sauce on it. That

BBQ Combo. Pulled Pork, Sliced Brisket and Baby Back Ribs with BBQ Beans and Deep Fried Corn.

seemed to really bring the flavor out even more. Next was the sliced brisket. The smoke flavor and the rub really worked together to make an awesome tasting brisket. The smoke ring was there and the bark around the edge was all wonderful. Finally, the baby back ribs. Have mercy, they were awesome. The ribs at Bennett’s Pit Bar-B-Que were by far my favorite of the night. They were busting with flavor and so tender that they just melted in your mouth. I could have gone through a rack of them.

Final Thoughts on Bennett’s Pit Bar-B-Que:

We enjoyed Bennett’s Pit Bar-B-Que very much. They’re able to handle large crowds and keep things moving. Our service was wonderful, and the food came out pretty quickly. I can’t think of anything negative about this visit. This is in a tourist city with a major Jeep show in town. Thousands of extra people around. Even with the bigger crowds, they were able to manage things very well. I look forward to visiting here again.

Now For Your Thoughts:

We’d love to hear from others that have been here. Was your visit as good as ours? Tell us about your visit. How about some regulars? Some input from you would be great as well. What keeps you going back? What are your favorites?

I look forward to hearing from you. Just scroll down and leave your comments in the box. I’ll get them posted as soon as possible.

I encourage you to share this review on Facebook and other social media sites. Follow us on Facebook to see where else we go.

You can check out their website at: https://www.bennetts-bbq.com/

You can also find them on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/bennettsbbqpigeonforge

Enjoy the ride, good eating and thanks for stopping by.

The post Bennett’s Pit Bar-B-Que, Pigeon Forge, TN appeared first on Patrick's BBQ Trail.

Ed Wiley III with me in the dining room.

Well, the retirement life is getting good to us and we paid a visit to The Prime Smokehouse in Rocky Mount, NC. That’s really only a couple hours away and this spot has been on our radar for some time now. I actually planned to go there but didn’t let Tammy know. We started our ride by going to Roanoke Rapids, NC to visit an antique mall we haven’t been to in a while. After that I headed further south to Rocky Mount. Tammy didn’t care where we were going as long as we were going. So, I followed Rt. 301 down to stay off Interstate 95. I used my GPS to take me to the restaurant.

The Restaurant and Staff at The Prime Smokehouse:

The Prime Smokehouse is located in an old cotton mill in Rocky Mount. The building and surrounding area is beautiful. The buildings are being developed for other businesses as well. Entering the old building just gave us a comfortable, relaxing feeling. We went into the restaurant and were greeted and seated by a very nice young lady. Inside the restaurant is awesome. You get that sit back and relax feel while being surrounded by a Jazz setting. Now I do have to admit that this place is a little more upscale than what we’re accustomed to but I expected that from what I had seen online. Don’t let that scare you away.

Our waitress, Gracie, was wonderful. She helped us with choices on the menu and filled us in on some of the story about the restaurant. The owner, Ed Wiley III, developed the Jazz Theme to honor his father, who was a jazz saxophonist. They also have a stage area for live music though we were finished eating before the music started.

Prime Brisket with Gourmet Baked Beans and Orange-Ginger Yams.

Tammy’s Choices at The Prime Smokehouse:

Tammy ordered Sliced Brisket with Gourmet Baked Beans and Orange-Ginger Yams. The brisket was excellent. The smoke and seasoning blended just right to render a tender and juicy meal. The Gourmet Baked Beans were great. They’re a mix of navy and dark red kidney beans with molasses, bacon and Vidalia onions. Oh, they were so good. Now for me the Orange-Ginger Yams were different. I tried them and they were good but probably not what I would choose. Gracie suggested the yams but told us that they’re not sweet like candied yams. She just didn’t want anyone to expect them to taste like that. Tammy on the other hand wants to figure out how to make them at home. We also got a cornbread muffin to go with our meals. It too was delicious, a sweet type of cornbread.

Thus far, The Prime Smokehouse was nailing it with our dinner. But there’s more. Tammy ordered a piece of Chocolate Cheesecake for Dessert. The cheesecake was awesome and large enough to share but we didn’t. She brought part home with her.

My Choices at The Prime Smokehouse:

Three Meat Combination Platter with Chopped Pork, Smoked Sausage and Ribs. Sides of Gourmet Baked Beans and Potatoes Au Gratin.

Today I ordered a Three Meat Combination Platter with Chopped Pork, Smoked Sausage and Ribs. For my sides I also chose the Gourmet Baked Beans but went with the Potatoes Au Gratin which was also recommended by Gracie. I’m with her on the Au Gratin Potatoes. They were wonderful, so cheesy and flavorful.

Now for my meat choices at The Prime Smokehouse. The ribs were outstanding. They had a good smoke flavor with just the right seasoning, topped off with a little BBQ sauce. Excellent choice. I loved the sausage. It’s made inhouse, hickory smoked and just a little heat. I’d call it mild to medium. For me, it was just right. And finally, we have the chopped pork. This is the way I love my NC BBQ. Smoked, chopped and a vinegar sauce with a little heat. Again, I’d say mild to medium on the heat, just right for me.

And I topped my meal off with homemade peach cobbler and vanilla ice cream. This was some of the best peach cobbler I can remember eating. Either bring a cooler for leftovers for save room but get some dessert.

Final Thoughts on The Prime Smokehouse:

Chocolate Cheesecake.

The Prime Smokehouse was a wonderful stop on Patrick’s BBQ Trail. Yes, I said a little upscale in the beginning but not really. It’s very nice there and the people were wonderful. Before we left, we were talking to the people on either side of us and also had a visit from Ed, the owner and Chef. He visited every table in there before returning to the kitchen. He was so nice and very humble. We loved the short time we were able to talk with him. We will be back for more. They also serve steaks, seafood, and pastas just to mention a few. I’d like to check out some of the other choices on the menu too.

Now For Your Thoughts:

I think you know that Tammy and I both loved The Prime Smokehouse. Both of us want to go back to try some of the other choices they offer. But now is where I ask what you think.

Peach Cobbler with Vanilla Ice Cream.

If you’ve been to The Prime Smokehouse, let us know what you think. How was your experience? If you’re a regular, let us know what keeps you coming back. We’d like to have other opinions to go with this for others to see. Just scroll down the page and leave a comment. I’ll get them posted as soon as possible.

I look forward to hearing from you.

I encourage you to share this review on Facebook and other social media sites. Follow us on Facebook to see where else we go.

You can check out their website at: primesmokehouse.com – Barbecue and Beyond

You can also find them on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064233063226

Enjoy the ride, good eating and thanks for stopping by.

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Meet the Owners.

The Restaurant and Staff at County Smoak:

County Smoak is a small restaurant. There is 1 table and a bar that will seat 5-6 people. There are picnic tables outside you can also sit at when it’s not 95 degrees. We did notice that they do a lot of take-out business. We were there about 2:30 in the afternoon and people were steadily coming in to pick up orders.

We were waited on by Ken, at least that’s the name on my receipt. Let me say that Ken is a very patient young man and also very informative of the menu. He was wonderful and a big help to us making choices for the first time. I think he’s had everything one the menu at one time or another. On top of all of that, he was very friendly and an excellent host. Thanks for the help.

I also talked to a young lady before we left. She too was awesome. It was nice talking to her and hearing about her Kansas City roots. So, both employees we met were wonderful. We couldn’t ask for better people to serve us.

Tammy’s Choices at County Smoak:

Sliced Brisket and Smoked Turkey with Mac and Cheese.

Tammy ordered a Platter for 1. She chose Brisket and Smoked Turkey with a side of Mac and Cheese. The mac and cheese is slightly smoked with plenty of cheese. The menu says they use 3 different cheeses. It was awesome.

The brisket at County Smoak is just fantastic. So tender I could cut it with a plastic fork. The flavor rocked. They have a perfect blend of smoke and rub creating an excellent combination of taste and tenderness. And as much as I always say I don’t care for turkey, the smoked turkey was delicious. Again, you couldn’t ask for better tenderness or a better smoke flavor.

My Choices at County Smoak:

I also ordered a Platter for 1. Mine was with Chopped Pork and Smoked Sausage with a side of Pit Smoaked Baked Beans. The beans are prepared using their rubs and sauces and then cooked in the smoker. They are so good! You can tell County Smoak has spent a lot of time working on their menu.

Chopped Pork and Smoked Sausage with Smoked Baked Beans.

The smoked sausage is good too. I tried it with some yellow mustard sauce and also some KC style Boss Sauce. Both were excellent. Then there was the chopped pork. Yes, this was the star of my meal. I didn’t use any sauces on this wonderful smoked pork. The flavor was great. As with the brisket, the spices in their rub along with the smoke really brought out the best flavor you could ask for. I think I would have bought another pound to bring home but I knew our cooler was full already. It did good to hold the few leftovers we had.

I also want to mention that with the platters you get fire & ice pickles and cornbread (or a bun). Get the cornbread. You’ll be glad you did. Tammy didn’t get her pickles because of the fire part of their name. I did. They were also delicious. And they were not too hot. As long as you like a little heat, very little, you should try these homemade pickles out.

Final Thoughts on County Smoak:

My only regret at County Smoak was that I couldn’t get dessert. I just couldn’t fit it in and then drive for 3 ½ more hours and it wouldn’t fit in the cooler. I really wanted to try the Smoaked Banana Pudding. They also have a Smoaked Pecan Bourbon Chocolate Pie that sounds great. We have to go back. When you go there and see all the choices on the menu you’ll know why we needed help choosing. I don’t think you can go wrong. We had some wonderful food served by a couple of awesome people working the front counter. We both loved this spot and look forward to coming back.

If you’re traveling out Hwy. 460 or passing through Lynchburg, VA, you need to look this place up. You will not regret it.

Now For Your Thoughts:

I may have gotten a little long with this one but I feel they deserve it. What do you think? We’d love to hear from others who have tried County Smoak out. Locals or visitors, let us know what you think. With so many different choices let us know some of your favorites. Just scroll down and leave your comments in the box and I’ll get them posted as soon as I can.

I look forward to hearing from you.

I encourage you to share this review on Facebook and other social media sites. Follow us on Facebook to see where else we go.

You can check out their website at: County Smoak | Lynchburg, VA Barbecue Restaurant

You can also find them on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/CountySmoak

Enjoy the ride, good eating and thanks for stopping by.

The post County Smoak, Lynchburg, VA appeared first on Patrick's BBQ Trail.

Also to make matters even worse, especially for them, there was a fire in August 2024 that destroyed the building. They reopened June 6, 2025. A week later we were able to make the trip and try them out.

The Restaurant and Staff at Corolla Village Bar-B-Que:

Chicken and Pulled Pork with Potato Salad and Baked Beans.

Corolla Village Bar-B-Que is a small restaurant in the heart of Corolla Village. In fact, the Corolla Lighthouse is in their front yard so to speak. It is a beach area so no large restaurant. They have outdoor seating and offer take-out.

I believe Christie is the lady we met and took care of us. What a wonderful lady, friendly and just very pleasant. She talked to us about our choices and helped with recommendations. She told us about the fire and that they had just reopened the week before. I can’t say enough about her. We could have talked with her longer, but the line started growing. And by the way, her recommendations were correct too.

Our Choices at Corolla Village Bar-B-Que:

Tammy ordered a Combination Plate with Chicken and Pulled Pork. She substituted the chicken quarter for a breast. Her sides were Potato Salad and Baked Beans. The chicken was very good. Even though I’m not a chicken person, theirs has a good smoked flavor. It went well with her pulled pork. The pork had some nice bark on the edges and plenty of that smoke flavor as well.

The potato salad was awesome. Tammy believed my grandaddy came back and was working in their kitchen. He was very particular about cutting everything the same size. This potato salad looked as good as it tasted. The baked beans had a combination of pork and beans with butterbeans. We loved the sauce in the beans, they were delicious. Whatever it was, you need to try them.

And finally, I ordered a Combination Plate with Ribs and Pulled Pork. And my sides were also the Potato Salad and Baked Beans. So, all that remains are the ribs. Let me say to start that I did like the ribs. They have a good smoke flavor, but I’d like a little more rub/seasoning on them. That’s just my taste. And at this location, they deal with people from all over the country. Not everyone wants their ribs like I do. I did use a little sauce with them as well. But as I said, they were good and well worth a try.

Ribs and Pulled Pork with Potato Salad and Baked Beans.

Final Thoughts on Corolla Village Bar-B-Que:

I am so glad we finally made it to Corolla Village Bar-B-Que. Our only problem was that the rain arrived about the time we did so we had to eat in the Jeep. Well, it’s not the first time for that. We loved our food and Christie was the best. We’ll stop in again sometime during the off-season. I’m excited for them that they were able to rebuild and reopen so quickly. If you make the trip to Corolla, you need to check them out. I think you’ll be glad you did.

Now For Your Thoughts:

There you have it from me. What are your thoughts? If you’ve been to Corolla Village Bar-B-Que let us know what you think. How did your visit go? Any favorites?

I look forward to hearing from you. Just scroll down the page and leave a comment. I’ll get it posted as soon as I can.

I encourage you to share this review on Facebook and other social media sites. Follow us on Facebook to see where else we go.

You can also find them on Facebook at:  https://www.facebook.com/CorollaVillageBBQ

Enjoy the ride, good eating and thanks for stopping by.

The post Corolla Village Bar-B-Que, Corolla, NC appeared first on Patrick's BBQ Trail.

The Restaurant and Staff at Smokin’ Q:

Smokin’ Q is an owner/operator food truck. Jody Fulk is the man that makes it all happen here. His normal location is on Hwy. 11 coming out of the north side of Harrisonburg. He’s across the street from a truck stop. Smokin’ Q also works a lot of events, so you have to keep track of his Facebook page to know when he’s there. If you’re planning to be in the area, you can always message him and ask if he will be on location at certain times.

Brisket Sandwich at Smokin’ Q.

We really enjoyed talking with Jody and getting to know him a little more. He’s a hardworking and humble guy. He has been running the food truck for over 10 years. Let’s talk about some food now.

Tammy’s Choices at Smokin’ Q:

Tammy ordered a Sliced Brisket Sandwich with Pasta Salad. The brisket was wonderful. It had a nice smokering and some good bark on it. The flavor and texture were great also. As you can see in the photos, the brisket comes with sauce on it. The homemade sauce was also pretty good.

Tammy also loved the Smokin’ Q pasta salad. She said if we lived in Harrisonburg, she’d never make pasta salad again. It’s that good. I leave that to her. I don’t eat pasta salad.

My Choices at Smokin’ Q:

Pulled Pork Sandwich with Baked Beans.

My first choice at Smokin’ Q was the Pulled Pork Sandwich with Baked Beans. The pulled pork was delicious. It also had homemade sauce with some vinegar twang to it. The smoke flavor and bark were awesome.

The baked beans were wonderful too. They also had a vinegar touch to them. I’ve never had beans with this flavor, and they were killer.

Now I knew I wasn’t going to be able to eat all this but I had to order some Ribs to try. I almost cringed when Jody added the sauce to the ribs but I didn’t say anything. I wanted everything served the way it is normally served here. Harrisonburg loves sauce. None the less, the ribs were fabulous. They were tender and smoked to perfection. I loved them.

And then there was the Chicken Quarter. It was smoked to perfection and wonderful. Yes, it also comes with sauce on it.

Final Thoughts on Smokin’ Q:

Ribs at Smokin’ Q.

I want to make sure we get something straight here. Most of my readers know that I’m not a big fan of sauce. I do like some on occasion. Also, the sauces at Smokin’ Q are really good. So, it’s not like you lose out on any flavor. I talked to Jody about the sauce after we ate. He told me that most of his customers want the sauce. In fact, they want him to sell the sauce too. He said he’d like to serve meat without sauce. He believes that his meats are good enough to serve without any. I happen to agree. I didn’t ask him to not put sauce on anything because when doing a review, I want to get the same meat that any other customer will get when they walk up and order. Jody’s sauces and rubs are homemade and very good. Though I’m sure if you asked for no sauce or maybe a little on the side, he would accommodate you.

The other thing as stated before. Check the Facebook page to be sure he’s working the lot on the day you want to go. Just make sure you go. Jody is a really nice, hard-working man who puts love into his craft. You need to check them out.

Now For Your Thoughts:

That pretty much covers my thoughts on Smokin’ Q. Next time we visit Harrisonburg, they’ll be my first choice for some great BBQ. But what do you think?

Let’s hear from some of the locals and regulars out there. Share your thoughts about Smokin’ Q. What are your favorites? Just scroll down and leave a comment. I’ll get them posted as soon as I can.

I look forward to hearing from you.

I encourage you to share this review on Facebook and other social media sites. Follow us on Facebook to see where else we go.

You can find them on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/smokinqfoodtruck/

Enjoy the ride, good eating and thanks for stopping by.

The post Smokin’ Q, Harrisonburg, VA appeared first on Patrick's BBQ Trail.

The Restaurant and Staff at Old City Barbeque:

Old City Barbeque has a nice location. Everything there still looks great. We loved the décor and the feel of the restaurant. We were promptly greeted and seated. Our server, Kim, was a very friendly young man. He took good care of us while we were there. He made a couple recommendations as well as explaining a few things for us.

Our Choices at Old City Barbeque:

Ribs and Pulled Pork Platter with Smoked Stout Beans and Poblano Mac N’ Cheese.

We each ordered 2 Meat Platters. Tammy went with Sliced Brisket and Pulled Pork. I chose Ribs and Pulled Pork. We both went with Smoked Stout Beans and Poblano Mac N’ Cheese for our sides.

I’ll start with the Brisket. It was wonderful. The brisket at Old City Barbeque has great flavor as well as a good smokering and some tasty bark around the edges. It was tender and I was able to just pull it apart with my fork. Yes, Tammy gave me a slice.

The Pulled Pork was also very good. I thought the flavor was outstanding. The smoke and seasoning blended well. Tammy did get a taste of something hot, like pepper, along the way which made her shy away from it. I didn’t have that problem, which meant I ended up with even more pulled pork. And that’s ok with me.

Finally, the Old City Barbeque Ribs were rocking. They did come lightly sauced. I didn’t ask if you could get them without sauce, I just went with the menu. Sauce or not, I loved the ribs. They were also tender and just pulled right off the bone like they should. If you’re a rib lover such as I am, you should give them a try. Hard to beat some good ribs.

Our Sides at Old City Barbeque:

Sliced Brisket and Pulled Pork Platter with Smoked Stout Beans and Poblano Mac N’ Cheese.

Like I said, we both chose the same sides. The Smoked Stout Beans were excellent. They had a great sauce and smoke flavor to them. I’ll order them every time I come. As for the magnificent Poblano Mac N’ Cheese I do love it also. It comes loaded with cheese and a hint of flavor from the Poblano peppers. This mac & cheese is pretty awesome.

Final Thoughts on Old City Barbeque:

I will chalk this visit to Old City Barbeque up as another successful trip. We enjoyed our meals and the people there were wonderful. We’ll be back around for another visit. I think on my next visit I’d go for some ribs and brisket or just ribs. They were my favorites today. But I don’t think you’ll go wrong with anything you pick from their menu. I do recommend Old City Barbeque if you’re in Williamsburg, VA. It’s a great spot for some great BBQ.

Now For Your Thoughts:

So now’s when I ask for your input. Have you been to Old City Barbeque? How did your visit go? Give us all some feedback on what you had and what you thought about them. Just scroll down the page and leave a comment. I’ll get them posted as soon as I can.

I look forward to hearing from you.

I encourage you to share this review on Facebook and other social media sites. Follow us on Facebook to see where else we go.

You can check out their website at: Old City Barbeque – Barbecue Restaurant in Williamsburg, VA

You can also find them on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/oldcitybbq/

Enjoy the ride, good eating and thanks for stopping by.

The post Old City Barbeque, Williamsburg, VA appeared first on Patrick's BBQ Trail.

The Restaurant and Staff at Pungo Boys BBQ:

Burnt Ends and 9 Day Slaw.

The restaurant has added more dining space since the first review. The additional space gives more people a chance to sit inside and enjoy their meals. There are also some outside tables but that will have to wait a little longer for the weather. The décor is a nice mix of pigs/BBQ items and old photos of Pungo to keep the history alive. It’s a nice touch. And the staff is wonderful. Jill always greets with a smile and a welcome as she helps you with your order. Everyone working in the kitchen and food prep area are friendly and nice to speak to. Always helpful.

Tammy’s Choices at Pungo Boys BBQ:

Today Tammy went with Burnt Ends and a side of 9 Day Slaw. If you’ve never tried Burnt Ends, Pungo Boys BBQ is a wonderful place to start. The bar will be set high for when you try them elsewhere. Of course you can always come back for more. Now Tammy loves the 9 Day Slaw. You have to like vinegar to enjoy it. I enjoy it also but I believe Tammy to be their biggest fan.

My Choices at Pungo Boys BBQ:

Brisket, Pork and 2 Ribs Platter and Mac & Cheese with Smoked Andouille Sausage and Five Amigos BBQ Baked Beans

I chose the Pulled Pork, Sliced Brisket and 2 Ribs Platter. My sides were Mac & Cheese with Smoked Andouille Sausage and Five Amigos BBQ Baked Beans. I love these sides. Let me just start here to be different. I get the Smoked Andouille Sausage sometimes for a meal and love it. But when I go for the platter I got today I order the mac & cheese with the sausage in it. That way I can still get it. The mac & cheese is wonderful in itself. I’ll get it as a side when I order the sausage. Now the Baked Beans. I’m sure I can use the word Love too much but it is true about the beans as well. I love them. It is a mixture of several different beans along with their special sauce that combines to make them so good.

The meats at Pungo Boys BBQ are awesome. They slow smoke them at low temps for about 16 hours. The pulled pork is moist and tender. The smoke and seasoning blend to make some wonderful pulled pork. Of course, some people have to have sauce and they have a variety of house made choices for you. The brisket had a bark and smokering that is hard to beat. I chose the lean cut. No way to go wrong here. Finally, the ribs. They were actually my starting point. I love the St. Louis Style Ribs here. They have a crust/bark on the outside that’s just bursting with flavor. Then the smoke comes out. I think I’m ready to go back for a rack now.

The only thing we haven’t eaten is the pulled chicken. I can’t imagine it not being good. I just prefer the pork or brisket.

Final Thoughts on Pungo Boys BBQ:

Pungo Boys BBQ Homemade Banana Pudding.

I almost forgot so I’ll add it here. Save room for some Banana Pudding. For something that seems so simple this pudding is fantastic. They use cookies in place of vanilla wafers. They stay crisp longer. I think that’s a big difference. You need to try it.

I am so glad to be able to tell everyone about Pungo Boys BBQ again. The people here are great and the food is wonderful. I can’t say enough about them. I strongly recommend that you give them a try. It usually takes us a little over an hour to get there but the welcome and the food make it worth the ride. Go enjoy some great BBQ and wonderful company.

Now For Your Thoughts:

Well that’s enough from me. What do you think? We’d love to hear from others about their experiences at Pungo Boys BBQ. Here’s a chance to help your local BBQ restaurant by sharing some love with them for others to see. Scroll down the page and leave your comments. I’ll get them posted as soon as I can.

I look forward to hearing from you.

I encourage you to share this review on Facebook and other social media sites. Follow us on Facebook to see where else we go.

You can check out their website at: https://www.pungoboysbbq.com/

You can also find them on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61568017112320

Enjoy the ride, good eating and thanks for stopping by.

The post Pungo Boys BBQ, Virginia Beach, VA appeared first on Patrick's BBQ Trail.

Just a small part of the inside dining area.

We decided that we would wait for Redwood Smoke Shack to open their new location in Suffolk, VA to start the BBQ Trail back up. We’re going to try to visit 1 or 2 places a month. Some will be new places to us, and some will be going back to visit some old friends we met along the way. So here we are at a brand-new Redwood Smoke Shack, their 3^rd location.

We tried to make it for opening night, but they sold out. One week later we made it back and they still had pretty much their full menu.

The Restaurant and Staff at Redwood Smoke Shack:

This place is beautiful. Anyone who is familiar with the area will know that this was the old Bennett’s Creek Farm Market. The Redwood team has gutted and added on to the building to make it their own. But they also kept some of the old mementos from the Farm Market to keep some historic charm. It has been several years since we were at the Farm Market so we were thrilled to see what Redwood Smoke Shack has done with the place. Awesome job would be an understatement.

Tammy’s Choices at Redwood Smoke Shack:

Tammy ordered her favorite, Burnt Ends. These are some of the best you can get east of Kansas City. At Redwood Smoke Shack they take perfect cuts of brisket to make them and their effort is your reward if you get these. The smoke and the char makes such a wonderful treat.

Burnt Ends with White Cheddar Mac and Broccoli Salad.

For her sides, Tammy ordered White Cheddar Mac and Broccoli Salad. She wanted Corn Pudding but that was the one thing they were sold out of. The mac & cheese is wonderful. It’s thick and cheesy with plenty of flavor. The broccoli salad is pretty good too. I really liked the flavor. The sauce gave it a slight sweet taste.

And just for good measure, Bob brought out a sample of their Chicken Salad. When he bought the Farm Market he also bought their chicken salad recipe. However, he does make it with smoked chicken. She loved it. Even I liked it though I’m not a chicken person for the most part.

My Choices at Redwood Smoke Shack:

Here’s where the book comes in so pull up a chair. I ordered the Meat Sweats Sampler. Yes, this comes with 1 ½ pounds of meat. Let’s get started. First up would be the Housemade Jalapeno-

Chedder Sausage. This was some pretty good sausage. It does have a little heat to it but not too much. I think it is a good choice for someone looking to enjoy some sausage. Next up is the Pulled Chicken. Again, I’m not a major fan of chicken but let me just say, you need to try this. The smoke flavor is awesome. At times I almost thought I was eating pork. It’s that good.

So from the chicken let’s move to the Pulled Pork. The smoke and the seasoning is fantastic. To any fan of smoked pork, this is a must try. For those who would tone down the smoke a little,

The Meat Sweats Sampler with Pit Smoked Beans and Cilantro Slaw.

Redwood Smoke Shack offers plenty of housemade sauces for you. If you look at the picture of my platter you’ll notice 2 cubed chunks. They would be Pork Belly Burnt Ends. I don’t think they normally come on this sampler but how can you say no? They were awesome. I haven’t had pork belly at many places because I just have a hard time finding ones that I like. These I like. Again, the smoke and the glaze make them so good you’re just sad when you finish them.

Now we’re into the home stretch for the meats. I’ll go with the Lean Sliced Brisket. Bob ragged me for getting the lean and not the moist. But I could see the lean and it looked so good. Smokering, bark and pepper, how could I resist? I was like a kid in a candy store. The smoke and seasoning flavors were awesome. I went in the pit area after dinner and Bob showed me a smoker full of brisket for the next day. He did a pinch test and told me they were just about ready to pull them out and wrap them. I thought I was in brisket heaven. They really put a lot of love and attention into all their meats. It shows and you get the reward.

Finally, there are my Pork Spareribs. That’s them laying beside the sausage. It would not be a good idea to reach for one of them. I hate to keep saying it but the smoke and seasoning is awesome. I loved these ribs.

And quickly since this is getting long, my sides were Pit Smoked Beans and Cilantro Slaw. I love the beans. They are probably my favorite side. The slaw is also good. It has a good flavor and not too much mayo. That’s a good thing for me.

By the way, Bob did bring me a little piece of the Moist Brisket. You may look at it and see the fat but let me tell you, That fat just melts in your mouth along with the rest of the meat. It is far more tender than the lean. It’s just all personal preference.

Final Thoughts on Redwood Smoke Shack:

Well, I hope you have enjoyed this as much as I have. I’ve been away too long and look forward to getting back out there. What an awesome opportunity to be able to cover the opening of a new

Just a little peak behind the scenes.

Redwood Smoke Shack. The team here is mostly new. There are a few folks from the other two locations to help get things moving. Good luck to everyone there and just keep up the good work. You’ll get better. We’ve actually known Bob since his food truck days and have watched him work hard and see his dream come true. I wish him and his team the very best. This is a wonderful addition for Suffolk as well. If you want some awesome BBQ stop by and check them out. You can’t go wrong with anything here.

Now For Your Thoughts:

I would love to hear from you on your visit to Redwood Smoke Shack. Yes, the line was probably long and sometimes slow moving. But did the food make you forget the wait? Ours did. Please scroll down and leave a comment. I’ll get them posted as soon as I can. Let everyone know how you feel about them.

I look forward to hearing from you.

I encourage you to share this review on Facebook and other social media sites. Follow us on Facebook to see where else we go.

You can check out their website at: https://redwoodsmokeshack.com/

You can also find them on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/redwoodsmoke/

Enjoy the ride, good eating and thanks for stopping by.

The post Redwood Smoke Shack, Suffolk, VA appeared first on Patrick's BBQ Trail.

Good afternoon everyone. I know that it has been some time since we actively posted about our BBQ travels. Well, we haven’t been traveling much. Originally Covid shut everything down. Once the restrictions were lifted, we tried to visit some restaurants for reviewing. The problem we ran into then was the businesses were not able to get the quality meats they needed to put out an excellent product. I just didn’t feel right doing reviews on restaurants when they were struggling to stay alive. With that in mind, we just quit doing reviews.

So now I’m wondering if we should try to get this site up and running again. My wife, Tammy believes we should. I’m not totally sure. We really did enjoy doing the blog and meeting all the people we came across, not to mention some awesome food. I also have to re-learn how to use my website.

I’m going to give it a try. There is a local business about to open up a new location. I have been watching them and think I’ll try to restart my blog with their opening. That should be soon. Tammy and I will be working out a list of places to try out. Some we have been to and some we have not. Our visits will be slower than in the past. We’re thinking one or two a month. The exception would be if we take a trip and visit several locations.

Let me know.

Please let me know what your thoughts are. I’d appreciate any comments and your thoughts on whether we should go forward with this or not. I look forward to hearing from you. Really curious if my followers are still around.

And don’t forget to be watching for my first, in a long time, review coming soon. Thank you all.

The post Starting Over appeared first on Patrick's BBQ Trail.

The Restaurant and Staff:

Everything at Risin’ Smoke Barbecue was still outstanding. Everyone behind the counter was friendly and the dining area was nice and clean. There’s still plenty of seating inside plus there are picnic tables out front. We dropped in just in front of the Friday lunch rush. At first we were a little concerned at the lack of customers but they began filing in behind us. They were also

Brisket Sandwich with Onion Rings.

doing a lot of take-out business. Business did pick up after we arrived, so that’s good.

Our Choices at Risin’ Smoke Barbecue:

As I said, we were traveling and it was lunchtime at Risin’ Smoke Barbecue. Neither of us wanted a lot to eat just to ride for hours on it. So we went light, or at least we thought we did.

Today Tammy ordered a Brisket Sandwich with Onion Rings and a piece of Chocolate Chess Pie for dessert. The brisket was incredible. It had an awesome mix of seasoning and smoke. Smoked to perfection, this is some of the best brisket available. Back in 2016 I wrote that if I had a top 10 list, Risin’ Smoke Barbecue’s brisket would be right there with the best of them. I still believe that today.

Now the onion rings have changed. I will say that I loved the ones they had when we first visited. Even though I’m not as in love with these onion rings, they are still pretty awesome. The batter on these has a little kick to them. Tammy couldn’t eat them so I ended up with a double order. Along with the Southwestern sauce, which also has a little kick, I thoroughly enjoyed them. The chocolate chess pie saved the day for her. It is still as great as it was when we visited in 2016. And the same as we used to get back in the 90’s.

Large Pulled Pork Sandwich with Onion Rings.

Today I ordered a Large Pulled Pork Sandwich with Onion Rings. The pulled pork was excellent. It had great smoke flavor and every bite of that big sandwich was just as good as the first. And I did get the double order of onion rings since Tammy didn’t eat hers. So much for eating light.

Final Thoughts:

I do believe that Risin’ Smoke Barbecue is just as good as it was when we first visited back in 2016. Maybe even better. The brisket and the pork are some of the best you can find. And believe me, we find a lot of bbq out there. You folks around the South Hill area are still very lucky to have such a wonderful bbq restaurant in your hometown. I’d suggest that anyone traveling on Rt. 58 look them up and give them a try. You’ll be glad you did.

Now For Your Thoughts:

So how about some thoughts from you about Risin’ Smoke Barbecue. What do you locals and regulars think about them? Tell us about your favorites. We’d love to hear what you have to say. Just scroll down and leave your comments. I’ll get them posted as soon as I can.

I look forward to hearing from you.

I encourage you to share this review on Facebook and other social media sites. Follow us on Facebook to see where else we go.

You can find them on Facebook at: Facebook

Enjoy the ride, good eating and thanks for stopping by.

The post Risin’ Smoke Barbecue Revisited, South Hill, VA appeared first on Patrick's BBQ Trail.