Let's Talk BBQ
General => General Discussion & Topics => Restaurants, BBQ Joints and reviews => Topic started by: smokeasaurus on April 11, 2015, 11:14:34 AM
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So Wendy and I were at Lowes the other morning out in Highland and we were hungry when we were done there. We were walking towards a Del Taco when I see a Dickey's BBQ. We have seen some of their commercials and I said what the heck.
Wendy was like, "Smokeasaurus going to a BBQ restaurant??(http://i1213.photobucket.com/albums/cc469/s1cott11/funny%20icons/yikes.gif) (http://s1213.photobucket.com/user/s1cott11/media/funny%20icons/yikes.gif.html)
Now, I am like the rest of ya, I feel my Que is better than any restaurant. Well, sometimes it might be and sometimes it isn't. But I figured lets give it a shot.
We walk in and they have a big picture of Ronald Reagan with some cowboys and a big Lone Star on the wall.......so far so good 8)
The guy behind the counter informed me that the chain is based out of Texas. I figured that was why there was no Tri-Tip on the menu. They had ribs and pulled pork, ham and chicken.........and brisket ;)
I ordered a brisket sammie for Wendy and I. I told the kid "If ya can do brisket good, the rest should be good as well"
I darn near swallowed my cud when he asked me if I wanted meat from the point or the flat 8) 8) Point me up dude ;) ;)
Basically had a burnt end sammie with some pretty good bbq sauce on the side. Speaking of sides, nothing to write home about.
But here is where it gets interesting.............
I go back to the counter and I ask the kid "You guys use electric smokers right?"
To my amazement they let me go into the back of the kitchen. They have a huge Old Hickory rotisserie smoker in the back that burns hickory logs. I got to see the burning logs that keep the pit working 24 hours a day. They have their own beef rub that they use on their briskets. Briskets are rubbed down 24 hours ahead of time and are in the pit up to 14 hours. They have a wonderful pork rub that they bottle and sell that they use on their ribs and butts. They marinate chicken in a italian dressing concoction. All proteins are cooked together in the huge hickory pit and is watched by the workers round the clock. I was taken back to the huge walk in fridge and got to see the full packers and double packs of pork shoulders. Ribs stacked up to the sky. They go through 70 racks a day.
The staff is young kids that obviously was trained the right way. One of the kids said "You won't see no tri-tip here, this is Texas Que and you get brisket"
I was in the back for nearly an hour, Wendy had another brisket sammie while I was in the back.
Upon leaving, one of the workers gave me a baggie of meat and a bottle of pork rub to take home with me and I was told whenever I come back I can go into the kitchen any time I want to :) :) :) :)
While the brisket was really good, the sides were so so. They have free soft serve for when you are done and that is a nice touch. What impressed me was all these young kids that have a love for BBQ and that Dickiey's is keeping it real by cooking with real wood :) :) and they are all so darn nice
Here is the web-site if interested: https://www.dickeys.com/
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The only Dickey's around here closed before I could try it. They franchise a lot. Sounds like you found a great one. I think showing the cooker is genius. People really appreciate that and the effort it takes to make.
Enjoyed your story!
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Sounds good. Looked at their website, they have 3 locations around Tuscaloosa and 1 in Huntsville. Maybe they will make it to the Birmingham area soon.
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We have one nearby and I like their pulled pork and brisket sandwiches. I buy their BBQ sauce for use at home. You walk through the door and you are enveloped in the smell of hickory smoke. Hmmm, good. I was somewhat skeptical the first time I went. The skepticism vanished after my first bite. I give it a thumbs up....maybe two.
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The only Dickey's around here closed before I could try it. They franchise a lot. Sounds like you found a great one. I think showing the cooker is genius. People really appreciate that and the effort it takes to make.
Enjoyed your story!
The manager told me they love to bring people to see their cooker so they know the meat is real and prepared on site and that they cook lo and slo the way it should be done.......
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I went to dickeys in Plano tx with my in laws quite a few times in the 80s. It one of the older ones if not the oldest. I was thrilled with dickeys because they actually served pork ribs...something that was in short supply in north Texas in the 70's and 80's as just about everywhere I went it was always beef ribs that were served.
Haven't been back there in a long time but I have eaten at the dickeys at Dfw and it was really marginal...of course a lot of food suffers at the airport.
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Hmmmm - there is a Dickey's not far from here. Haven't tried it yet. My oldest daughter works at Famous Dave's and the thought of BBQ after a few days of double shifts is more than she can bear. I'll have to sneak over to Dickey's on my own. Thanks for the post!
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I had never heard of this chain, but, when I looked them up, there looks like there's one in Pineville, just south of Charlotte.
On my list things to do!
Thanks ! ! !
BD
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They don't have any local to me but surprisingly they just built one in Palmdale of all places. I have seen their commercials but have not tried it yet. I no longer live in the Antelope Valley so I would need to make a special trip just to try it.
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The way you cook Muebe, I wouldn't drive an hour for Que, when you can do it so much better yourself :) :)
However, if you are in the area, give that brisket a try.....
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Just talked with my daughter (as she headed off to work at FD) she said she had heard good things about Dickey's and is up for a trip in the next few days. We'll get some pictures.
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We have one near the office and 2 or 3 here in the Boise are. We eat lunch there a few times a month. The brisket, ribs and sauce are decent, but the only side I will touch are the beans... I've never asked to go in the back, I'll have to try that next time I'm in there when it is halfway slow.
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We have a Dickey's BBQ in Hickory. In fact, Tim, Hub and I ate there about 2 weeks ago. We have eaten there several times. The only thing Hub doesn't like is the Texas Pete hot sauce they put out. Other than that, it's decent commercial BBQ.
Art
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When I was a kid, we would have to go thru Dallas to go from East Texas to West Texas, or West to East - visiting family. If the timing was right, my Dad would ask what we wanted for lunch or dinner...Dickey's was always my answer.... ;D
At the old original location, they had a big wheel of yellow hoop cheese with a red wax rind on an old butcher block table,. You just cut off a chunk, and ate it before, or with your meal...It was always at room temperature, and a real treat. The good old days....... :)
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we just got one a couple of months ago. Guess I need to give them a go.
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Told my daughter about Smoke's visit to the pit. Asked if I could visit the pit at her Famous Dave's - she said she would check with her manager tonight at work and let me know - said it was pretty cool.
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They don't have any local to me but surprisingly they just built one in Palmdale of all places. I have seen their commercials but have not tried it yet. I no longer live in the Antelope Valley so I would need to make a special trip just to try it.
Mike
Dont waste your time or $, you can make 1000x better bbq.
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Each location in any chain can vary in quality of product. But, most of the Dickey's I have eaten at were good - for commercial BBQ.
Having said that - yes, most of us can and do make better BBQ at home. We have the tools, the know how, a support system ( LTBBQ ;D ) and...as much time as we want. Commercial BBQ has limits. Time, and cost to produce the finished product.
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Well put Tee. I was impressed with the Dickey's I was at because I wasn't planning on being impressed ;)
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Nice write up Smoke. I was happy to see a positive assessment.
Recently I saw someone I have had respect for in the past bash them very unreasonably on FB.
So many "Food Writers" act like they expect these places to be turning out over the top high end products.
Kerry and I eat at the new local Dickeys every couple weeks as they have a reasonable lunch special.
for about $8 you can get a decent lunch rather than many of the other options out there that are just crap food for the same price.
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We had Dickey's about 2 miles from here. They were only open a short time. Deb & I tried it one time.
I remember watching the counter guy prep my pulled pork sammie. He grabbed a handful and weighed it. Then he formed it into a ball on the cutting board and pressed and pressed it into the shape of a hamburger patty. I watched the juice run out onto the cutting board. It looked good, but it was too dry to eat without some sauce. I tried to engage him in some BBQ talk since nobody else was in the store, but he wasn't interested.
I guess why that one is closed.
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Just goes to show you that in a chain of stores...all Que is not created equal..... :'(
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Just goes to show you that in a chain of stores...all Que is not created equal..... :'(
Same with any "chain" - food or otherwise. It is down to the local manager and staff. I've been in the cleaning business for way too many years. The largest company in the US (over $1B) still varies from branch to branch. Just the way it is.
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The Original Dickey's were very good but I'm afraid they've franchised out too much I haven't found one in years here in Texas that I would eat at. If I'm in the San Antonio - Austin corridor and want chain BBQ I am never disappointed with Bill Miller's and now they even have breakfast taco's including egg and their smoked sausage or carne guisada San Antonio style. I'm glad you found a good one, hope it stays that way.
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We have a Dickey's BBQ in Hickory. In fact, Tim, Hub and I ate there about 2 weeks ago. We have eaten there several times. The only thing Hub doesn't like is the Texas Pete hot sauce they put out. Other than that, it's decent commercial BBQ.
Art
Pretty decent restaurant BBQ! If you want hot sauce you need to take your own, though.
Hub
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Thanks for posting the review. I have seen a couple of Dicky's restaurants around but have never tried them. I am moving that up on the priority list!
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of course a lot of food suffers at the airport.
& people too ;) ;D
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I was shocked there is one in Yonkers NY a little over an hour from here...next time I go down that way...will give it a try
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I was reading the OP and for my life couldn't figure out who Sammie was. Maybe I should go to the doctor after all since I have been sick for the last few days. ::)
There is a Dickies close to me that is a dismal little place that has terrible side dishes. BBQ sandwich there is ok.
A decent BBQ restaurant would be gold. Why it is so difficult is beyond me.
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I promise to y'all That I will never franchise Backyard Jack's Barbecue of Byron...STILL locally owned and operated
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I promise to y'all That I will never franchise Backyard Jack's Barbecue of Byron...STILL locally owned and operated
;D ;D ;D ;D
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I promise to y'all That I will never franchise Backyard Jack's Barbecue of Byron...STILL locally owned and operated
;D ;D ;D ;D
X ;D ;D