Right by “Akerselva” there is a good old-fashioned BBQ joint. Good feedbacks, recomandations and more made me to set aside time to visit this place, but was it really THAT good !?
“Way down south” the closest you get to the southern state BBQ in Norway? My expectations were really high after good feedbacks, reviews, and recommendations from people with above average interest in barbecue and grill. The establishment was easy to find, even for a “not so urban” guy like me, car parking was also easy to find. But where in the world is the parking meter!? Where in the **** is it !? With strange glances from suited gentlemen who passed by, as well as some drifters. As a Neanderthal man in a Tesla, I who still have a code chip to access my bank accounts, had to use “EasyPark’s” parking app to avoid a water-repellent post-it note on the windshield. But that is not included in the result of this restaurant review!
First impressions and expectations
When the first thing you see is a high-caliber smoker mounted on a trailer and a giant “santa maria grill” with height-adjustable grill grates, you know that these people are serious. A sweet, beefy smell hits you long before you reach the corner of the building,to a large patio with outdoor seating. The premises are in complete BBQ style, signs with well-chosen words and expressions, and pictures and wallpaper of smiling pitmasters and food.
The food:
The menu is simple and unpretentious, consisting of 6 main courses and some carefully selected sides, as well as an early bird menu with smash burgers until 6 pm. In addition, they also have a “family pickins” where you can get a little of everything on a so-called Sharing platter (min 2 people) for NOK110 extra per person, you also get a brisket upgrade. I visited WDS alone, and asked nicely if they could make a “Pickins` light” for 1 person, they could not do that unfrtunatly. The choice was then quite simple: Prime Beef Brisket with a Macncheese side. Since brisket is considered the holy grail of BBQ, I reckon they serve it with pride. The food arrived exactly 4 minutes after I ordered it, and rushed down to the table by the waiter with a quick: “Enjoy!” Wow that was fast, and it’s great, but here the BBQ experience fades a bit. For me, BBQ is associated with: generosity, warmth, passion and “southern hospitality”. Here lands 2 slices of half-lukewarm brisket with 3 slices of pickle, (which could just as easily have come from a yar of store bought pickles) and a bowl of Macncheese. When I think of the wallpaper I saw earlier, I would say they shoot from the hip by having such pictures on the walls, and end up with a accidental discharge towards their own leg when they serve the food! Okay, the BBQ should be simple, but this presentation was disappointing. But it is the taste that matters in the end?The upper part of the brisket was nicely tender, good beefy and smoky flavor. The lower part was somewhat dry and the bark was a bit limp. The macaroni, on the other hand, is actually in the top 3 of all the Macncheese I have tasted. So a part of me felt maybe I was not getting my money’s worth. NOK 500 for this was actually not in line with the experience. The fact that you can not order a mix plate for one person is also a drag!
Consept:
They wanted a BBQ joint, and they have achieved that. The style of the venue, the menu and to some extent the staff fit into this concept. But they lack a little on the atmosphere.
Service:
The staff are nice, smiling and efficient. But the question is: What is BBQ? Low and slow smoked food? yes, but what about this?: generous, warm southern hospitality feeling associated with BBQ? This is totally absent. The food is characterized as low and slow fast food, and the food is thrown on the table without any commitment other than getting the food on the table. It’s a little sad when it’s only the FOOD that is BBQ, but not the experience.
The verdict:
So what is the verdict? The food was somewhat overpriced, lukewarm on the verge of cold. Something boring and the fact you can not mix the dishes a little more is a big negative impact. When you stand by a smoker / grill you must be able to choose several things is my opinion! Efficient service, but with a little commitment and warmth. So it’s 19 out of 30 Bacon grins from me!
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