Eat This, Ph.D.

Today Miss Vinegar found a nifty little device that's supposed to judge the reading level required for a given website:

Who knew barbecue was so complicated?

That's My Q

Miss Vinegar's views on barbecue have been expressed here often enough, but a rundown of my creed may be helpful:

1)Thou shalt have no barbecue before Eastern North Carolina barbecue.

2)Memphis is okay too.

3)Barbecue places should ideally be simple, evoking the kitchen of a grandmother you may or may not have had in real life.

4)You don't have to like Brunswick stew or cole slaw, but in a barbecue place they should at least be options.

This creed made Miss Vinegar and PoBoy's spontaneous trip to downtown Roanoke's Blues BBQ Company a little hit or miss.


The Blues BBQ Co.
on the market, downtown Roanoke


The Food--This nearly faltered right at the first, when Miss Vinegar was initially served non-sweet tea by mistake. However, this restaurant did allow her to try something she'd been wanting to try for months: the carbalicious (and delicious) fried mac & cheese appetizer. Despite the presence of an East Carolina sauce on the table, however, Miss Vinegar ordered a beef brisket sandwich.

Shock! Horror! But...WHY?

While Blues BBQ's food is certainly good, they violate Article 3 of the creed all over the place. No sooner had Miss Vinegar spotted collards on the menu (good sign that this would be a place to take Daddy Vinegar) than she saw that the pulled pork sandwich was nine dollars (good place to take Daddy Vinegar if she wanted to be laughed at, since they can both eat at Stamey's in Greensboro for about that).

The Service--Our server was friendly, but intermittently attentive.

The Ambience-- Again, the restaurant violates Article 3; the pub-like polished wood is a bit on the fancy side for a barbecue place, though very pretty. Windows let you people-watch the downtown market traffic, and there's a small stage for live music.

Overall: **1/2 (two point five stars out of five)