October 17, 2007Blues BBQ open and hopping
As you can see from this picture I snapped this afternoon, Blues BBQ beside 202 in downtown Roanoke has opened for business. Monday was their first day of serving up pulled pork BBQ, brisket, grit cakes, succotash and other tasty fare. Owner Patrick Maggi (pictured below) tells me they had 50 customers at lunchtime on Monday, which completely blew the fuse on their tiny kitchen. Since then, he has scaled back the menu in an effort to get food out faster, saying he has plenty of time to expand his offerings later. A buddy of mine (from Tennessee, so he ought to know some decent Q), ate lunch there today and said the Carolina style pulled pork sandwich was the best he's had in these parts. Maggi may be a newcomer to Roanoke, but he is no newcomer to barbecue. He already operates a Blues BBQ in Maryland and plans to open a third, larger location there in 2009. "This is just what I really love to do," he said. Maggi recommends the grit cakes, which consist of grits mixed with spices and Romano cheese, then deep fried. Even if you don't like grits, he says, you'll love those bad boys. At $8.95- $14.95 on average, these aren't cheap lunch prices. But Maggi argues that they are comparable to what he pays at the market building for lunch. He also says they plan to feature a daily lunch special. While I was there, a gentleman in a suit wandered in and sat down at the bar for a drink. Maggi told him he did not expect to get his ABC license until Friday, but when he does, it will be a "bourbon bar." "I'll be back Friday," the man said. What does that mean, you ask? It means they will have 80 different brands of bourbon behind the bar. They'll also serve other mixed drinks, wine and beer, including some lesser known microbrews, he said. If you hit up Blues BBQ, please let me know what you think.  |
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Comments
[October 17, 2007 9:19 PM]
carrie : →http://www.gingerlemongirl.blogspot.comNow Lindsey, I can tell you are not a true southern girl... "serving up... grit cake" Lindsey, my dear, there is no such thing as a grit! It's always plural! haha!! It's a grits (with an 's') cake!! Do they really just call it a "grit cake?" Somebody's gonna have to talk to those guys... they just can't serve true southern pulled pork and serve a "grit cake"...they need to get that right! ;-P
[October 18, 2007 9:52 AM]
Tim BlassingameI ate at Blues on opening day and the bbq was delicious. I tried the Carolina and Blues style and found both to be the real deal. The Carolina style had the perfect blend of spices, vinegar and smoke. The tomatoe based bbq sauce used in the Blues style was outstanding. The tangy, not too sweet sauce married well with the perfectly smoked pulled pork. The sandwiches are served on a homemade roll that's soft on the inside with a slight crust on the outside which was a perfect match for the bbq. The onion rings and fries are addictive. I can't wait to go back and try the pit beef and the fried mac n puppies. My waiter Charlie said the fried mac n puppies were sinfully good. We'll see. Good luck Blues BBQ.
[October 18, 2007 10:50 AM]
LindseyOn the contrary, Carrie, I'm about as Southern as they come! In fact, I'm craving canned venison-- how Southern is that? But they do just call these "grit cakes." I'm not sure what that's about, but I know I want to try them soon!
[October 18, 2007 12:32 PM]
LoriMiss Lindsey, what do you plan to do with the canned venison?? A nice venison chili? OOOH venison stew? My Mama makes a delicious venison stew, which now that I am thinking about it I'm craving some, too! With some hot buttered biscuits...you can't go wrong!
[October 18, 2007 1:11 PM]
LindseyMy favorite thing to do with canned venison is heat it up in brown gravy and ladle it over homemade mashed potatoes. Damn, it makes me hungry just thinking about it.
[October 18, 2007 4:41 PM]
LoriMmmm, gravy.
[October 18, 2007 6:42 PM]
Jonathan BrownI loved Blues BBQ for lunch today. Tim is right that the onion rings and fries were addictive. I love onion rings so I ordered those. My friend got the fries. I however ate most of his fries...lol. I only tried the Carolina, it was great. Hope to try more in the future. Please Roanoke lets keep this place OPEN!!!!
[October 19, 2007 7:43 AM]
KathyOkay, girls, guess what's in my fridge right now? Venison stew!! served with big ol' Pillsbury Grands whompa biscuits (the can goes 'whompa!' when you hit it on the counter to open it). Love, Love, Love!
[October 19, 2007 10:11 AM]
LindseyKathy, would you part with your venison stew recipe?
And guys, I'm glad to hear that Blues BBQ is hitting the right spot so far. I hope to check it out for lunch soon myself.
[October 20, 2007 6:30 PM]
DebbieI had lunch there today. The Carolina pulled pork was great, as was the fried okra. I think the prices are a little high, but if the food is really good, I don't mind. I can't wait to try more things. I don't know where or what he's been eating in the market bldg, but most of the food there, is not that high.
[October 21, 2007 8:43 PM]
JayWell -- thanks to these reviews, I think I'll try Blues BBQ this week.
Thanks!
[October 27, 2007 9:17 AM]
patrick : →http://bluesbbqco.comZorba,Grrek salad with gyro meat. $10.00 with drink eveytime I get it! $1.50 for a cookie next store to him! The most inexpensive place there is the chinese, which is a lot of food for your dollar, but then again a chinese buffet is usually $ 4.95 for all you can eat. The bottom line is true Q costs money, a beautiful restaurant costs money, a full staff costs money, and a full bar costs money. It's not just cook the food and sell it.
[December 10, 2007 5:13 PM]
Brian Yaspan : →http://www.clydesride.comThis is from someone who was fortunate enough to eat Patrick Maggi's food for several years back in San Diego.. you folks in Roanoke are LUCKY! Just keep him away from the bourbon.
[December 21, 2007 11:20 AM]
RICK SCAGGSGREAT PULLED PORK, INTERIOR IS GREAT LOOKING. WAITERS GOOD.BOURBONS SELECTION NEXT TO NONE. REALLY ENJOY THE MUSIC ON TUESDAY NITES. NICE TO HAVE A NON SMOKING PLACE TO LISTEN TO MUSIC AND ENJOY DINNER
[December 22, 2007 8:05 AM]
FloMy hubby and I are fairly new to this area, so I had no idea that the Blues BBQ was also new.
We've eaten their several times, Thursday night having been the latest.
The brisket sandwich has been my favorite sandwich. And, the beans are fantastic. Heck, they're a meal by themselves.
The atmosphere is very welcoming, and we'll be going back there often.
I just love downtown Roanoke, and The Blues BBQ is (so far) my favorite place there.