Smokey's Barbecue Pit & Deli

[DarkVader]

Smokey's Barbecue Pit & Deli on Middlebrook (3325 Middlebrook PK, at Liberty St.) is one of those barbecue places you drive by and wonder "is that any good?"

Well, my curiousity got the best of me, and I was actually in the mood for barbecue (a rarity for me) so I stopped in.

They do have, in addition to the barbecue, a smallish deli menu. I wasn't in the sandwich mood, though, so I skipped it, and went straight to the barbecue.

They've got both pork and beef, and some kind of unspecified ribs. I'm not a rib fan, nor do I really like beef, so I skipped straight to the pork options.

It turns out that they have sliced pork (I know the wars between the sliced people and pulled people are bordering on religious in nature, but I'll do either - I have a slight preference for sliced) so I was happy about that. I chose the full pound of pork ($7.99). The were out of beans, so I got the potato salad ($1.09). Natually, I asked for the extra hot sauce, but they were out, so I settled for the hot.

The meat was quite nice (not amazing, but very edible, no burned bits, good flavor.) I have to take away points for microwaving it to reheat it, but it didn't really seem to harm the taste or texture - I can only assume that they used very low power.

The sauce was reasonable - but had the very distinct taste imparted to it by large quantities of louisiana hot sauce - not a bad flavor in itself, but enough to overwhelm an otherwise nice barbecue sauce. I'd have cut the quantity of it and punched up the cayenne a bit, with maybe a touch of habanero instead.

The potato salad was lacking. It would have been edible - if I were much hungrier. As it was, I only had a few bites, enough to know it was substandard for my tastes. I am very picky about potato salad, though, so you might find it acceptable.

Overall, I can recommend it - if you're close by and want barbecue. Don't drive across town for it, though.

[Sir Diddimus]

I'll have to check it out. Thanks, Vader.

[Lost Traveler]

Is this the place with the little shack next anouther store?

If it is, I drive passed there at night some times and wow the smells just roll over you.