Adam & Eats: Red Barn BBQ

This week’s adventure takes us once again to the world of mobile eateries. A place not unlike the Twilight Zone. From the little bit of buzz I’ve heard about this next place, it sounded pretty good. So, I felt that we should go there together. Sadly, don’t get your hopes up. The place is a bit underwhelming.

Located in the front corner of the Quarry Shopping Center’s parking lot is the new location of Red Barn BBQ. First off the bat, it is important to point out that they are not affiliated with the Red Barn Steakhouse, so do not call the steakhouse looking for information. It’ll just upset them.

Now, back to the little red building in the parking lot.

Like many other food stands, they have managed to squeeze an entire kitchen into a tiny shack. This feat alone is impressive, but it is the operator of the stand who really sets the mood. Bruce, the guy in the tiny barn, is like your estranged uncle you can’t be sure if he’s drunk or not. He is warm and friendly, but somehow he still manages to unnerve you. Maybe it is complete lack of urgency that is unsettling. It’s as if The Dude from the Big Lebowski was selling barbeque sandwiches in a parking lot.

Since the subject of sandwiches has been brought up, let’s talk about the food. I think what we have here is a perfect example of a place that makes one thing really well, but doesn’t make anything else wonderfully, so they compensate by buying and serving premade stuff.

The sandwiches are fantastic. Just the right amount of smoky flavor and tender meat and then drizzled with wonderful sauce. If this was the only thing I had ordered, Red Barn BBQ would have received a much higher score. That and the menu has smoked sausage on it, and they stopped selling the sausage because no one ordered them.

Simple solution, take it off the menu and it won’t break my heart when I can’t order one.

Like I said a second ago, if you stop at a sandwich, you’ll leave with a smile, and some barbeque sauce, on your face. It is when you begin getting into the side dishes that sadness starts to creep in. The baked potato casserole has the potential to be an amazing dish, but falls a little short. The baked beans are good, but leave you feeling like they probably came out of a can having something to do with rolling beautiful bean footage.

The potato salad definitely came out of a tub. How do I know? Because I watched Bruce scoop it out of a tub that you can buy at Sam’s Club. You know, the one that inevitably turns up at every family reunion ever.

Like always, I’m not trying to talk you out of going to eat somewhere. In fact, I highly recommend going by and getting a barbeque sandwich. You won’t be disappointed. Just save yourself 3 bucks and pass on the side dishes.

When you’re there, tell them to bring back the sausages for me.

Until next week, good eating to you and yours.