GA Pig, Brunswick, GA

GA Pig, Brunswick, GA

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Suzy Q's Barbecue Shack

     On our way to Rochester, NY yesterday from our home in the 'burgh, we passed through Buffalo and stopped for lunch at Suzy Q's. Doug had found this place on line, God bless him, and was inspired by the great reviews. The good people of Buffalo had not led us astray, we soon discovered; this is great barbecue. We both ordered the 2 meat combo with spare ribs and pulled pork and a side of beans. We would have tried the chicken and collard greens, but they were out of both. Doug started with the cornbread. which was delicious. They crisp up the top of it and pour a little honey over it, and it is truly a little bit of Southern heaven. They give you two generous pieces per order, so he shared with me...yum. There are three sauces to chose from on the table, and we woke up the pulled pork with a few dashes of their eastern North Carolina style sauce, which is vinegar and spices...this was perfect with the pulled pork, which itself was tender, juicy and nicely smoked. The ribs are big and meaty, and they don't trim them, so you get all of the flavorful fat on there. I don't eat this fat, by the way, but leaving it on the ribs acts as a flavor enhancer and ensures a final product that won't dry out while it's smoking. I very much like the dry rub and marinade they use, and these ribs are so succulent and tasty, they really don't need the addition of sauce. Having said that, their sauces are very good, so don't skip them altogether. The baked beans were tasty, with a pronounced smoke flavor and a sweetness that was not cloying...someone in the kitchen has a practiced hand. I will say that I prefer beans that aren't as smoky and sweet with my barbecue, as a simpler preparation won't get overwhelming to the palate, and I was a little tired of the flavor of these before I had finished. I will still give these a thumb up, however, as I get what they're doing here, and these are good for that style of baked bean.
     A word about running out of food. We find this to be a fairly common practice among barbecue restaurants everywhere. We both spent years in the restaurant business, and understand the fine line any good establishment treads between managing food costs and feeding the hungry masses. Like alot of barbecue place in the south, Suzy Q's is a small family operation. They do this because they love it, not to get rich. The theme of most barbecue places that are this popular is, "When we're out, we're out. Sorry for the inconvenience, and come back tomorrow." This is just how it is, folks, so go early, go often, and thank the powers that be that you have such good barbecue in your town.

Suzy Q's Barbecue Shack
2829 Niagara St
Buffalo, NY 14207
(716) 873-5981

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