Smokin D’z BBQ

So from this you might interpret that I may be a smoker and I am, thus I have a strong smoky opinion of how BBQ should be cooked.
If you read a review and they rave about how “the meat just falls off the bone” like that’s a good thing…i’ll suggest it would be similar to them reviewing a great steakhouse and saying “they overcooked my medium rare prime rib to brown, dry, well done…but it was falling off the bone!…”

In BBQ competitions commonly shown on Food or Travel Networks will show how the bite is and that some textures remains to allow chewing the meat off the bone. I’m not being a snob, this is basic stuff in most contemporary cookbooks on the topic.

Smokin D’z BBQ has made the move from the old Cave Neck location with aplomb and made that corner of the Hopkins Farm Creamery parking lot their own. Parking is ample, seating eclectic & comfortable. Wood is stacked around the cooking pavilion where one can view the smoking & grill operations. Orders are made next to a large board with the regular menu with specials teasing you on supplemental posters that come n’go... Though we’d called in most of our order, we wanted to add more so had to do the line a short time. Ordering was easy & credit cards & cash work. She waited, maybe 10 minutes for bbq order as I went to get some ice cream (a BIG PLUS of them co-locating with Hopkins!) & we are gone.

At home in a short time, we got the pulled pork out that one might admit is not photogenic but wasn’t bad. I’ll confess that my preference is to get this stuff with a little bit of the crunchy bark but I didn’t request this so of course they didn’t know so who knows if they could or couldn’t do that.

We got a few different dipping sauces and I was particularly impressed with one that was blessed with a bit of cinnamon. Way above the average and I might even say it was the highlight of this vendor.

The ribs were a mess of good news/bad news. The dry rub bark had some good flavor and the meat was not terrible. The problem in my opinion was the meat couldn’t be touched without dropping off the bone clean as a whistle. Of course this makes easy eating, you can strip the bones and have a plate of meat to eat with a fork; just not what you think of as ribs…

I of course didn’t know it for a fact but it would appear the rack was cooked long ago and spent way too much time resting in a hotel pan wrapped up, tightly steaming for hours maybe even refrigerate & reheated? I of course don’t know. But did perceive unfortunately overcooked meat and a loss of the dry of the dry rub. Keep in mind I ordered this on July 5th so I bet they did a lot of prep to be ready to get slammed, as you can see from the photos, they had a heck of a line at 12:14 PM and I’ve read social media reviews complaining about them running out of ribs so no doubt it’s a pain for them. Bet they’d hate to drive home with a bunch of ribs Sunday night as they probably can’t be used that next weekend. Just don’t understand why they don’t throw the ribs on the grill before serving to crisp them up less it is because they know they will fall apart. Alternatively, it is certainly possible they know a customer who has that desire for fall of the bone ribs and less they meet that standard it is not consumable you’ve got to serve a demographic & make a living.

I’ve always wanted to support the folks that run this place, the background family story is moving; hopefully they will take my comments with the best of intentions as I’ve got only the best wishes for them to do well but we have to be honest otherwise improving can’t happen & you folks are right next to that ice cream place…

However as this is THE POMPATUS OF LOVE OF RIBS I’m compelled to point out that where Smokin D’z BBQ excels in on-site customer experience, a few miles away, a whole different kind of ribs can be nibbled. And also, when the cornbread was ok we discovered something that could be described as a magnitude better, almost mind blowing, plus they are open regular hours, I’d strongly encourage you read my review of Fat Daddy’s BBQ.

This place is awesome with killer smoked chicken, but even better is the ribs are fall off the bone and thick meat that is so tender. Their sauces are great too and their sides are perfect, with a fantastic cornbread and beans too, we are quite impressed Please visit this place. They’re great people and the food speaks for itself….
Firefighter Bob

Passed this a few times and it smelt amazing! Finally stoped and it was the best bbq you will get anywhere in the area. The ribs were just so amazing. Fell off the bones! The flavor was amazing!