It’s on the main drag (Rt. 30), but not all that easy to notice. Located in the spot that most recently housed the Great Valley Deli (Collegeville Deli II), BuenaVista Mexican is a small, nondescript restaurant in a small, nondescript strip mall (that also houses Strawberry Bakery) along a nondescript area of Frazer. It is, however, worth finding this place, for hearty, homemade Mexican fare that stands above the more common fast-casual Mexican chains of the area.

The space is somewhat dark (during the day), and is sparsely-decorated but clean and comfortable. Only a few tables were filled, but the folks there were talking to the waitress (table-service is provided, as well as actual plates and silverware) as if they were regulars. We got take-out, but this would be a perfectly fine place to enjoy a casual lunch or dinner, and probably a good place for kids.

The lunch menu (which we chose from) is dominated by Tex-Mex favorites fajitas, enchiladas, and burritos, all available with chicken, beef, pork carnita, or veggie option, and a variety of sauces including mole and chipotle. There are also quesadillas, tacos, and a few other traditional options like tacos, sopes and flautas. For more adventurous eaters, tripe tacos are often on special. Also, “Mexican Burgers”, a fusion that mixes the torta with everyone’s favorite American sandwich. The dinner menu is expanded, featuring all of the above as well as a variety of platter options featuring chicken (mole poblano), steak (carne asada), pork, and/or veggies (chile relleno).

Our first choice was the pork enchiladas with mole sauce. The sauce was the star here — a perfect balance of sweet and spicy, rich and robust without being too thick. I can’t really comment on the authenticity of said sauce, but I can say that I ate every last drop of it. The pork carnitas appeared to be chunks of pork shoulder – not pulled as expected – and perhaps a bit dry, but when paired with the wonderful sauce, this was not an issue. The platter was served with a side of refried beans and Mexican rice. The beans were smoky, with hints of char, which created a more rich and flavorful bite than the typical canned beans. The spiced rice was somewhat pedestrian, but served as a nice foil for that sauce.

A burrito with chicken (pollo) in chipotle sauce was less successful. Like the mole, the sauce was excellent. It was subtly creamy, and persistently but not overwhelmingly spicy, with hints of smoke and sweetness. Unfortunately, the burrito filling was 2/3 rice, which was dry and bland, and the chicken was somewhat sparse. There was certainly some nice flavor here, but the abundance of rice overwhelmed it to some extent.

All in all, BuenaVista is a nice find for a quick, healthy take-out meal or a casual lunch or night out. We’ll certainly be back!

Buena Vista Mexican American Cuisine
365 Lancaster Ave.,
Malvern, PA
610-644-3982
Hours: Mon – Thurs, 11:30 a.m.– 8 p.m.; Fri, Sat, 11:30 a.m. – 9 p.m.; closed Sun
Credit Cards: Yes
Bar: BYO

When longtime Berwyn mainstay Trattoria San Nicola closed abruptly last April due to a supposed “expired lease”, some eyebrows were raised, especially when the space was quickly snapped up by Alfred and Barbara Giannaccari of Newtown Square Alfredo’s fame. Though it is perhaps unfair to the Giannaccaris to immediately compare the two restaurants, it is only natural to do so when they are so similar in concept. Luckily for both Alfredo’s owners and their patrons, however, the new team brings a freshness and creativity to the Southern Italian concept that – though there is nothing wrong with what places like San Nicola are doing – is a nice breath of fresh air into the local Italian scene.

The dining area’s setup is quite similar to it’s predecessor, with two small dining rooms separated by a grand passageway, both with large windows overlooking the street. The decor has been spruced up a bit with warm, orange and brown tones. The atmosphere is bustling, and while owner Barbara informs us that they’ve recently taken some measures to curtail noise, we saw no problems with the atmosphere or service.

As mentioned, the menu is Southern Italian – lots of pasta, seafood and meats like veal and chicken – and though it can be difficult to bring a great deal of creativity to these dishes while maintaining authenticity, it is nice to see Alfredo bringing some new ideas to the table. For example, we started with the arancini, a Sicilian risotto fritter that we’ve been been making in my family for generations, but that has only recently begun to appear on US menus with any regularity. They certainly weren’t as good as my mother’s, but they were true to the old world style, and worth a try if you haven’t had the pleasure. Our only complaint was that the marinara they came with was cold — an unnecessary error that dampened our enjoyment of the dish.

The selection of pasta entrees is short but enticing, and several called to us on this first visit. Rigatoni Amitriciana, the classic Roman staple of tomato, pecorino and pancetta (why is it so hard to find guanciale around here?) was wonderful, as the rich flavor of the bacon mixed ever so well with the pungent cheese and tangy tomatoes. I’d prefer to see this with the traditional long-cut bucatini, or even just spaghetti, but that’s certainly a nit. Elsewhere, I was worried that the Agnolotti Alfredo – half-moon shaped pasta filled with ricotta cheese with cream sauce & spinach – would be too heavy, but in fact it was just the opposite. The pillowy pasta melted in the mouth, and the ingredients for the sauce were used delicately to create a succulent, must-try dish. Lastly, spaghetti and meatballs was simple but delicious, however the meatballs were rare in the middle, a relatively minor but elementary kitchen error that, along with the cold sauce on the rice balls, left us perplexed, especially considering the excellent highs we saw from the same kitchen.

Aside from these few execution snafus, Alfredo provides the quintessential neighborhood experience – casual, simple fare in an upbeat, casual environment. The menu is not huge (unlike some other local Italian joints), but it offers a nice variety and some dishes that are new to the local circuit. Prices are extremely reasonable, and the BYO factor certainly adds even more value. Here’s to hoping this new Berwyn Italian mainstay lasts as least as long at the last one!

NOTE: On January 12, 2011, Alfredo will be hosting a benefit for “Coats for a Cause”, accepting monetary donations and used coats. More info on Facebook.

Alfredo Italian BYO
668 East Lancaster Avenue
Berwyn, PA 19312
(610) 640-2962
http://alfredobyo.com

Ashys Burgers & Fries is a little storefront operation in the Paoli Shopping Center serving up excellent hand-crafted, fresh (never frozen) burgers, lots of fries, as well as some Mediterranean specialties like hummus, falafel and stuffed grape leaves.

The heart of this operation is the burger. It’s thicker than 5 Guys (to which this place will draw a lot of comparison) — about 1/3lb, but similar to the aforementioned franchise, the menu states that all burgers will be cooked well done, due to health concerns. This is certainly a shame, but our first burger was closer to medium well; it had a nicely seasoned char on the outside, with just a bit of pink in the still-juicy middle. The second burger we had was fully gray, and a tad drier, but still flavorful. Surprisingly, the bun may be the star here: it’s large and pillowy, and soaks up the meat juice expertly well. It’s dense and flavorful – almost brioche-like. A light toasting at the time of plating brings a sweetness that adds a certain complexity to the sandwich.

A variety of free toppings are available — both standard, like lettuce and tomato (which were both a bit too close to white), ketchup, mustard, bbq, etc., as well as a bit more adventurous, like blue cheese and cucumber-yogurt sauce. There doesn’t appear to be a choice of cheeses, other than the blue, or the Swiss on some of their specialty burgers, which would be a nice addition to the menu. Speaking of specialty burgers, we tried the “Ultimate Mushroom & Swiss”, which featured mushrooms & Swiss, obviously, plus lettuce, tomato, bacon and Ashys’ garlic sauce. I was a bit worried that it’d be more mushroom than burger, but, in actuality, each ingredient was used sensibly. Different bites produced different flavors — a bite of smoky bacon here, a wisp of earthy mushroom there. All in all, it was a hearty and satisfying burger without ever feeling over-the-top or unbalanced.

Ashys fries are somewhat pedestrian; though nicely crispy, they are about the same fries you’ll find at any pizza joint up and down Rt. 30. This isn’t to say that there is anything wrong with them — they play a nice foil to the burger — just that they don’t stand out as anything special. Start with a single order; we tried a “couple” (medium) and had enough for about a week.

As exciting as it is to have a good burger place around, personally there may have been more excitement anticipating Ashys’ Mediterranean specialties. I’m a sucker for good falafel, and haven’t really found a good spot to get it this far out in the ‘burbs. Ashys’ version comes with four deep-fried patties, lettuce, tomato, onion and cucumber-yogurt sauce, all piled on lafa-style flatbread. Once again, the bread seems to be the star here – it is soft and chewy, providing just enough support for the dense sandwich. The falafel patties are crispy on the outside and wonderfully creamy within, and the yogurt sauce provides a nice tang. Washed-out iceberg and pink tomatoes can perhaps be overlooked on a burger, but they cause more of an issue here, where it’s all about the veggies. It’d be nice to put a bit of Ashys’ homemade hummus on the sandwich as well – though it isn’t really necessary, it certainly would take things to yet another level.

Service is bright and cheerful. The owner and staff go out of their way to be friendly, and on several occasions were noted remembering repeat customers. (It’s also worth noting that there are already a fair amount of repeat customers!)

All in all, Ashys is a great addition to the Paoli neighborhood. There’s nothing on the menu over $8, and portions are quite generous. One should have no problem filling their belly for less than $10, quite a fair price to pay for quality comfort food and prompt, friendly service.

Ashys Burger & Fries
82 East Lancaster Ave
Paoli, PA 19301
P 610-640-1800
F 610-640-1801
http://ashysburger.com
Open everyday from 11:00 am to 9:00pm

Ever since it opened in 2005, The Silverspoon (Cafe) has been a quaint place to get interesting and healthy breakfast and lunch. A recent move/expansion to Eagle Village Shops (Spread Eagle Village), however, combined with the addition of chef Ron Sliverberg (son of owners Rich and Ruth), has allowed this little neighborhood cafe to reach new levels of food and service.

The Silverspoon is committed to focusing on local and sustainable meats, as well as whole grains and seasonal vegetables. Touted by the owners as a casual, “bouchon-style” atmosphere, the restaurant is housed within an open, airy room that’s both casual during the daylight hours and elegant after dark. There’s also a great patio out front when the weather is optimal.

Breakfast and lunch are consistent with the experience from the other location, if a bit more elaborate. On brunch special one day was a pulled pork hash – a saute of potatoes and baby spinach, mixed with house-smoked pork shoulder and topped with a couple fried eggs. The dish was rich and extremely flavorful. More traditional options include some interesting omelettes and multi-grain pancakes or french toast.

On the lunch side, we tried the “Cape May” panini (turkey with strawberry mustard, cheddar, and slaw). Though the slaw was somewhat overpowered by onions (a no-no for me), the sandwich was still light and tasty. Sandwiches change seasonally but always feature fresh, interesting combinations.

Coffee lovers might also take note that The Silverspoon serves perhaps the finest espresso in the area – topped with a wonderful crema, it is intense and robust without any burnt aftertaste.

Though brunch and lunch are nice experiences, dinner is truly where The “new” Silverspoon shines brightest. The seasonally-appropriate dishes are inspired and unique. Our meal kicked off with a cold avocado “soup” amuse, a decadently creamy concoction mixed with crispy guanciale (pork jowl bacon) and drizzled with chili oil. The savory flavor and crispy crunch of the Italian delicacy was a perfect addition to a nice meal starter.

A basket of fresh bread and a plate of piquant extra virgin olive oil was also served while we waited for dinner – though nothing out of the ordinary, the freshness of the bread and wonderful flavors of the oil didn’t require any additional tinkering.

As an appetizer, we shared the duck confit risotto with sprout leaves, baby bellas, and pecorino chip ($12 – also available for lunch). The entire dish was drizzled with basil oil, and the combination of the fragrant basil, pungent pecorino, and amazing earthiness of the local mushrooms almost made the duck unnecessary. But who’s going to turn down duck confit?

The entree that jumped immediately off the menu was the cider-brased berkshire pork osso bucco, pumpkin grits, truffle duxelles, grain mustard jus ($24). It sounded like Fall in a bowl, and the actual execution did not disappoint. The sweetness of the cider and pumpkin was a perfect foil for the with the richness of the fork-tender meat, creating an amazing balance and resulting in a completely clean plate.

We also tried the seared grass-fed angus beef striploin, served with marrow quinoa, broccoli two ways and a sage demi ($29). The meat was simply perfectly cooked – charred on the outside and a deep-pink medium rare within. Getting temperatures correctly is a somewhat lost art, and this was execution at its finest. Interestingly, broccoli was perhaps the most dominant of the dish’s flavors (though I didn’t see exactly what the “two ways” was). The marrow quinoa had an earthy, rich – if slightly strange – taste.

Adventurous eaters might want to visit The Silverspoon on Wednesday nights for “World Tour Wednesday”, when they offer a constantly-changing menu focused on interesting dishes from around the world such as Brazilian pork ribs, Hungarian molasses duck or Moroccan coconut cake. Follow on Twitter for each week’s menu.

In our original review (in ’05), we described the service at the Silverspoon Cafe as having a slightly weird vibe. We were unable to put our finger on exactly what it was, but it was something. Our lunch experience at the new location continued that feeling — I couldn’t tell if our waiter had a bit of an attitude or just a unique personality. At dinner, however, service was both friendly and professional, somewhere between a cafe and fine dining experience.

All in all, The Silverspoon’s decision to expand and add dinner service has been an excellent one for the area. They offer creative, innovative and sustainable cuisine, a seasonal menu, and a comfortable atmosphere for a casual or even romantic meal. Best yet, the BYOB policy makes it a great value.

Cape May Panini

Pork Hash

The Silverspoon
Eagle Village Shops
Wayne, PA 19087
610.688.7646
http://www.silverspoonwayne.com/

Chinnar Indian in Berwyn serves up tasty, hearty Northern Indian fare in a comfortable atmosphere. The menu offers a wide variety of choices: soups, tandoori grilled meats, chicken, lamb, seafood and vegetable curries, and rice-based biryanis. Just about everything is excellent, mainly fueled by a wonderful balance of assorted spices.

I’m a sucker for the decadent, curry-based dishes such as the zesty chicken tikka masala, the creamy chicken, lamb or vegetable (navratan) korma, or the classic chicken curry. The sauces are always spicy and delicious — so good, in fact, that my true moment of epiphany during each Chinnar meal is when the dregs of the creamy, pungent sauce can be swirled all together with some plain jasmine rice, and slurped up in all manner of messy glory!

Tandoori Chicken, the classic dish marinated in yogurt and spices then broiled in the tandoor to a golden red, is a mixed bag. The leg was wonderfully tender and succulently seasoned, but the breast meat — though also well seasoned — was dry. Once mixed with some extra curry sauce from another dish, however, it was quite reasonable. One of the few disappointing dishes we’ve tried is the seekh kabob (ground lamb seasoned with herbs and spices grilled on skewers), which was a bit rubbery and not really enough food for adequate sharing.

The meat dishes don’t typically have many vegetables with them, so we always try to order at least one veggie entree. The aforementioned navratan korma is a perfect balance of sweet, creamy and tender, but all that cream may cancel out the benefit of the vegetables. Along those same lines, lasooni gobhi is an appetizer of pan-fried cauliflower that is both crunchy and tangy, if a tad heavy. Chana masala, spiced chickpeas cooked with tomato, is an aromatic treat. One can only eat so many chickpeas, but we used the leftovers to create some Indian-spiced hummus the next day. (Fusion!)

A Chinnar meal isn’t complete without a few orders of their house-made breads. Whole-wheat roti is a favorite: oily and chewy yet pillowy soft, best dipped in one of those fragrant curry sauces.

We prefer Chinnar to go (hopefully remembering to print the website coupon), but the interior is clean and elegantly casual. For lunch, a buffet is available for $8.95.

Chinnar Indian Cuisine
416 West Swedesford Road
Berwyn, PA 19312-1164
(610) 251-2526
http://www.chinnarindian.com

The combination of fresh, local ingredients, creative, innovative Italian-American cuisine, comfortable-yet-refined ambiance and brilliant service make Restaurant Alba one of the most exceptional restaurant experiences in the western suburbs.

Food: Things kicked off with a complimentary amuse of sunchoke puree with extra virgin olive oil. This robust oil was also served next to crusty Italian bread.

We started out with the “Batsua” ($12) – a crispy fritter made from braised pig’s feet and belly, served with a mustard crema. These had a wonderfully “porky” flavor; though we expected it to be like bacon, it was closer to a smoked pork barbecue. Though frying this concoction seems excessive, it was certainly worth trying. We also sampled the Antipasto ($15pp – changes daily), a sampling of 5-6 “chef’s choice” appetizers. All were excellent — but our favorite was the goat cheese & grilled ramp bruschetta.

Wood Roasted Goat, served alongside grilled whole grain polenta and soffrito braised greens ($31), was tasty and savory. To make this dish, a whole goat is slow-cooked overnight on the dying embers of the previous night’s fire and then braised before a quick reheat on the grill. It’s a uniquely flavored meat — closest to lamb but not quite as gamey.

The Berkshire pork shoulder, served with crispy spaetzle & peas, charred fennel and a bit of Tupelo honey sauce ($26) is cooked in similar fashion to the goat, and the quick grilling just before serving gives it a texture almost like a crusty bread — crispy on the outside but light and fluffy inside. In contrast to the goat, the honey and cider jus gave this dish a subtle kick of sweetness.

A grilled rib-eye special was served with sea salt and fine tuscan olive oil alongside crispy potatoes and a mixed green salad. It was a simple dish — the “crispy” potatoes were really cold homemade chips, which was a bit disappointing — but the steak was well-cooked and quite tasty.

Alba also offers 4-5 pasta dishes such as Veal & Sweetbread Ravioli, Morel Mushroom & Vegetable Soffrito ($20) and several fish entrees like the Atlantic Tilefish with Nettle & Potato Gnocchetti, Grilled Meyer Lemon & Caper Brown Butter ($29). The menu changes seasonally.

For dessert, we tried the Chocolate Pot de Creme with Almond Torrone Whipped Cream ($8), which was light and slightly minty, creating a palate-cleansing feeling. It wasn’t spectacular, but we still cleaned the plate.

Bar: Once only a BYOB, Alba now offers a full bar. (BYOW is still allowed at $10/bottle.) A small list of beers focuses on local crafts from Victory. The wine list, on the other hand, culls mostly from Italy, with a large variety of hard-to-find small producers (or at least as many as you can get through the PLCB system). They also make house-infused grappa for those with fortified stomachs.

Service: Though the food is excellent, the attention to service at Alba is what truly sets this restaurant apart from others in the suburbs. Clearly the staff and management understand how to handle any issues and resolve them quickly and satisfyingly. Our very first dinner at Alba, shortly after they opened, showcased their attention to detail. A pork chop originally came from the kitchen extremely undercooked, so much so that it was inedible. A passing waiter (not our own) quickly noticed that I looked unhappy and offered to take the plate back to the kitchen. Never a good situation to have one plate of hot food on the table and not the other, our waitress quickly reappeared with a small appetizer to tide me over until they could fix up the chop. Obviously I was unhappy with the fact that my food was not prepared well at first, but the professional and caring way that the entire staff handled the incident was brilliant.

On a more recent visit, our waiter once again illustrated how seriously Alba takes service. There were no errors from the kitchen this time around, but our waiter answered every question we had about the menu (there were quite a few) with a level of knowledge and detail as if he would be personally preparing each entree. He had no hesitation to help us choose the entrees that would be suit our interests and needs.

Ambiance: Artsy and comfortable, bustling yet romantic. There are two rooms, the main one which features an open kitchen, and a more private side room. The main room is perhaps a bit more compelling because of the large wood oven in view, but there isn’t a huge difference.

Value: As with many restaurants that move from BYOB status to bar status, the value proposition at Alba has gone down a bit. It’s nice that they offer a BYOW option, but the $10 corkage is quite steep. Wine bottles are not outlandishly priced (at least compared to other restaurants), and value can be found with some digging, but most bottles are at least $40. Entrees haven’t dropped in price since the bar was added, so expect to pay upper 20s or even low 30s. It is hard to complain when the quality of the food and experience is consistently excellent, but Alba is certainly no longer your neighborhood restaurant for a casual Friday night.

Details:
# of times we’ve eaten there: 4
Reservations: Yes (recommended even on weekdays) OpenTable
Bar: BYOB
Cards: MC/Visa
http://restaurantalba.com/
7 West King Street
Malvern, PA
610-644-4009

Rating: 5 silver spoons out of 5

Overview: Outsanding upscale bistro that can offer both a casual neighborhood meal of small plates, pizza and pasta, and an upscale special occasion dinner of wonderful modern American entrees. Worth the drive from the Main Line!

Food: To start things off, a complimentary amuse bouche of cool three potato soup and crème freche was immensely fresh and even featured hints of kennett mushrooms. After struggling to decide among a variety of attack plans, we opted for the Antipasto ($18), a collection of different small bite appetizers. The Mushroom & Truffle Grilled Cheese was, obviously, great, as are most things that feature bread and melted cheese, but the local mushroom flavor added just enough interest to make this stand out even more so. Another winner was the Fava Bean Crostini with Shaved Pecorino, which, when dipped in the olive oil provided with the complimentary bread was even nicer. It was great to see Fiddle Head Ferns featured (with Prosciutto Di Parma), as these hard-to-find veggies are always a nice treat in the Spring. Though perhaps not the intended way to eat it, spreading the Goat Cheese & Caramelized Onion Flan on a piece of fresh, crusty bread made for a great impromptu bruschetta. Lastly, the Fried Smelts with Anchovy Aioli were just ok, as the “fishy” flavor overwhelmed to some extent.

The Natural Free Range Chicken entrée, served on a bed of Butternut Squash, Johnny’s Mushrooms, Cous Cous “Mac & Cheese” and Chicken Jus ($26) was the big winner of the evening (and we rarely order chicken!). The French-cut bird was perfectly cooked, crispy skin on the outside but still tender within, and the creamy “cous cous”, which was a mix of all the above ingredients, was both rich and comforting. The other entrée we tried, Local Spinach and Feta Tortellini served in a Spring Garlic Broth with Grated Aged Goat Cheese ($25), offered more subtle flavors but was both light and satisfying. It tasted like Spring in a bowl!

For dessert, we opted for the Liquid Center Butterscotch Cake, served with Bourbon-Vanilla Bean Ice Cream, Espresso Dust and a Cocoa Nib “Glass” ($9) — think a butterscotch version of the classic molten chocolate cake. This was a bit too sweet — perhaps a coffee ice cream to replace the vanilla would provide some bitterness to offset the vanilla sweetness — but nonetheless we cleaned the plate.

On another visit, we sampled several of the excellent pizzas for a more casual dinner. Though everything was good, the Butternut Squash pie (Grilled Butternut Squash, Applewood Smoked Bacon, Gorgonzola, Baby Arugula) was out of this world. The sweetness of the squash paired brilliantly with the salty bacon for a unique, wonderful treat.

Bar: We chose to bring our own wine (for a $5 corkage fee), but Sovana does offer a nice selection of wine and beer. The moderately-sized wine list offers reasonably priced bottles ($30-60), though watch out for the single glass prices. For beers, they offer some nice local craft brews, including a couple draft choices from Delaware’s Twin Lakes Brewery.

Ambiance: We’re partial to this kind of place — bustling, modern, and friendly, with lots of wood and natural light. Perhaps not a place for a quiet, romantic evening, but otherwise excellent. They also have some tables outside, both on the side (in a nice garden area) and out front (strip mall parking lot views).

Service: Competent service — nothing outstanding to report.

Value: Hard to say what a meal for two will cost due to the abundant options for meals and drinks, but prices are available on the website. Though the entrée prices can head into the $30s, the food is excellent and likely worth the price. Having a BYOB option, despite the $5 corkage (which is quite reasonable considering the license), is also great. And, if you want to try Sovana without breaking the bank, a meal could quite easily be made of appetizers and pizza.

Details:
# VISITS: 2
Cards: Yes
Bar: Yes / BYOW $5
Site: http://www.sovanabistro.com/
Reservations: OpenTable

Overview: Standard Chinese eat-in / take-out… a step above places that have pictures of the food on the menu, but a step below Margaret Kuo and Yang Ming.

Food: All the basics that you’d expect. Our only “beef” with Hong Garden is that they use way more filler than beef, so an order of Hunan Beef, for example, has far more water chestnuts and bamboo shoots than actual beef. (This, of course, is a common occurrence these days at any Chinese restaurant, so it should be noted that Hong Garden is no worse than most of the rest.)

Ambiance: A little dated, but open with lots of windows. Large fish tanks with ginormous goldfish will keep the kids and kids-at-heart happy while they wait.

Overview: Authentic Southern barbecue. Eat in or take-out. BYOB. What more do you need to know???

Food: Jimmy’s is the real deal, with pork, ribs, chicken, brisket and more slow smoked on the premesis over hickory and cherry wood.

Three sauces are offered — Traditional (sweet), which is what you get if you just ask for sauce, Carolina Vinegar (which is more like a vinegary ketchup & sugar-based sauce you find in Texas than what you’ll get in NC), and Hot, which we have not tried but looks like a spicy version of the traditional. The standard sauce is way to thick and sweet for our tastes, but the vinegar sauce is quite good.

The pulled pork platter is served in torn chunks (not chopped), just the way we like it, and has a great smoke flavor. Our serving was hearty and even included quite a bit of the “bark”, or the highly seasoned outside of the shoulder. The pulled pork sandwich wasn’t quite as good, as the meat was chopped more finely and seemed a bit slim on the bun. It’s ok for bread to control a sandwich with a great french or italian artisinal loaf, but this is barbecue bread. Pile on the meat!

Ribs were dry-rubbed, just the way we like ‘em, with more great smoky taste. Though they weren’t the most tender ribs we’ve had, they mostly fell off the bone and tasted great with a dip of the vinegar sauce.

Though we don’t typically advocate ordering chicken at a BBQ pit, Jimmy’s unique chicken could just steal the show here. It’s rubbed with rosemary and lemon, which matches greatly with the cherry smoke flavors infused during cooking. Again the sandwiches could use a bit more meat, but the flavor here is all good.

Now, let’s talk sides. Jimmy’s mashed sweet potatoes are some of the best we’ve had at a barbecue joint, because they aren’t overloaded with sugar. He lets the natural flavor of the veggie shine through, and the mashed-but-lumpy texture is just right. Another winner is the mac & cheese, something we typically don’t get excited about, yet somehow kept reaching for more of Jimmy’s. The smoked beans were solid, but unspectacular, and perhaps a tad sweet. The coleslaw was the one disappointment from a side perspective; it was somewhat bland and underwhelming. Though slaw is an absolute requirement with barbecue, we’ll likely skip it next time for sweets or mac n cheese.

Ambiance: There really isn’t much — bright, open room with a big pig graphic on the wall, and, well, that’s about it. Casual, comfortable, great for families. Hey — this is a barbecue joint — the ambiance is the people and their messy fingers, not the decor.

Service: Friendly and helpful. The staff has seemed a bit overwhelemed at the response, but that seems to be getting better as they get more experience. Again, a casual, friendly spot.

Value: As is typical with barbecue joints, they give you a ton of food for a decent price. As mentioned above, we felt the sandwiches were a bit thin, but the platters pack more than enough food to fill your belly.

Details:
# of visits:2
reservations: not needed (counter service)
bar: BYOB
website: jimmysbbq.com

Reviewed by our friends The Dining Duo in the Trend. (Sorry, review has been removed — If the Carnivore sends it to us, we’ll post it here!)