Today we made a stop at JJ’s Meat Shak in Buena Vista, VA. We were riding down the Blue Ridge Parkway and decided to hunt a place down for lunch. Once we found a rare spot on the Parkway with internet service we stopped and made a search. We happened to be pretty close to the Buena Vista exit and there they were. So with decision made, off we went. Here’s what we found.

The Restaurant and Staff:

JJ’s Meat Shak is located in Downtown Buena Vista on Magnolia St. The ride down off the mountain on Highway 60 was an interesting one to say the least. Do not get in a hurry on this road. It has plenty of sharp curves and steep downhill grades. Positive side it also has some awesome views. For travelers on I-81 it’s also just a short ride from Exit 188 on 60 East.

The ride down Main St. was pretty cool. Seems that a local artist came up with an idea to help revitalize the area. So he designed some very large bugs to place on the tops of buildings along the way to watch over you. Sounds strange but they were actually pretty cool looking.

JJ’s Meat Shak started out as a weekend food truck in 2011. The restaurant itself appears to be fairly new. You come in and order at a window then choose your seat. Outside seating is also available. It has a really nice atmosphere. The young lady that took our order was very friendly as was the one that brought our

Two Meat Sampler with Smoked Chicken and Sliced Pit Beef.

food to us. They have a self-serve drink counter with soft drinks and tea.

Our Choices at JJ’s Meat Shak:

Tammy ordered a Two Meat Sampler with Smoked Chicken and Sliced Pit Beef. Her sides were Slaw and Mac & Cheese. The slaw at JJ’s Meat Shak was pretty good. It was slightly tangy and fine shredded. And her mac & cheese was delicious. Homemade with chunks of cheddar cheese melted in, have mercy it was good.

I know, here we go again with chicken. It was that good though. The smoked chicken tasted like it had just a hint of sauce cooked in along with the smoke flavor. Strange as it may sound, I thought it was up there with some of the best chicken I’ve had at a restaurant in a while. Then there was the pit beef. It was excellent. I don’t remember the first place we had this “Pit Beef” was but it is really growing on me. This one has a great mix of smoke, pepper and juice combined. Being thin sliced it just melts in your mouth. Just thinking about it makes me want to jump in the Jeep and hit the road.

Two Meat Sampler with Pulled Pork and Sliced Pit Beef.

I also went with a Two Meat Sampler. Mine included Pulled Pork and Sliced Pit Beef with Baked Beans and Potato Salad. My potato salad was wonderful. The Baked Beans, even better. They were prepared in a fantastic sauce.

I didn’t try as many meats this time because I wanted my own Pit Beef. It’s become addictive. The pulled pork was outstanding. It had a nice smoke ring, good bark mixed in and excellent smoke flavor. Again, no sauce needed.

Sauces:

I did try a few sauces. I checked out their Vinegar Sauce and a couple of spicy ones. They were all good and none were too hot. You just don’t need them. I know some people like to sauce up their bbq so that’s why I try them. And I’ll have to admit that there have been times when I enjoyed a little sauce too.

Final Thoughts:

Well after a really nice ride down that steep grade from the Blue Ridge Parkway we found some great bbq at JJ’s Smoke Shak. Well worth the ride down the mountain and it’s not that far down. I do believe we have found somewhere that we will return to on our journeys up and down the Parkway. Sometimes you have to hunt for a while to find a good meal while you’re up there. This will be a place that we will revisit.

And for the I-81 travelers you have a choice. You can exit off and go into big city Lexington to hunt for food or you can go to the opposite side of the interstate and visit small town, easy going Buena Vista. That’s always an easy choice for me. Tammy and I both loved this place. It was a great addition to the BBQ Trail. I encourage you to pay them a visit to find out for yourself. I believe you’ll be glad that you did.

Now For Your Thoughts:

Here’s the chance for others to tell everyone what they think about JJ’s Meat Shak. Have you made that hop off the interstate or parkway to visit before? Let us know what you think. Did you have a good visit like us? What did you have? I know they have a broad range of food selections. Tell us about your choices. We’d love to hear from you. Get those comments in so I can post them too.

What do you regulars think?

I wonder if the regulars will fill us in with more information about JJ’s. Buena Vista is not a huge town so the regulars have to be really loyal to keep a business going. What did we miss? Tell us about the people there and the other food choices. What’s your favorite? Here’s your chance to let everyone know what makes you a fan of JJ’s Meat Shak. Drop some comments off and I’ll get them posted with this review as soon as possible.

I look forward to hearing from you.

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You can check out their website at: http://www.jjsmeatshak.com/

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

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