Restaurant Review - Pappy's Smokehouse rates 4 pigtails straight up
C's birthday was this past Sunday, and he had staked out where he wanted to eat for this occasion weeks ago. He read about Pappy's Smokehouse on a blog back in February. It was also featured on a show called Man vs. Food according to his pal, who had heard of it but not yet tried it.
Some background: I am from Mississippi. I know barbecue. My dad built his own smoker/barbecue out of an old refrigerator. My family takes barbecue SERIOUSLY. I love ribs and chicken; my dad also does yummy sausages as well. I never had pulled pork until I moved to STL though; pulled pork was not in our barbecue repertoire in Mississippi, and I admit I have always kind of looked down on pulled pork sandwiches, especially after the rather mediocre ones I have been exposed to here. I have never had barbecue that could best my dad's and in fact the only barbecue that came close was from Rendezvous in Memphis, TN---if you love a good dry rub barbecue, that place is fabulous.
Anyhow, Pappy's is located in midtown STL on Olive in an unassuming brick building. We wandered in and found a massive line, this being a Sunday (their biggest business days are weekends). They sell til they run out as the owners don't believe in reheating barbecue and serve everything fresh, so we made sure to get there plenty early. The line moved fairly quickly, but my tummy was growling because the place smelled so good.
Finally we were up. C ordered the full slab of ribs accompanied by 2 sides (he chose potato salad and coleslaw) and I got the pulled pork sandwich with cole slaw and sweet potato fries(!). For beverages, they have sodas and sweet and unsweet tea (no beer/alcohol). You place your order at the register and then they prep it and bring it out to you, with the waitress hollering your name so they can find you in the din. Comes out quick and hot, just how I like it.
Of course, this would be where I should be inserting the pictures, but silly me forgot the camera and it was too good for any of it to find its way home for photos. Here's some purloined pics of their work I found on the internet:
Pulled pork sammich (it comes to you dry and you add your own sauce):
Ribs with rub only; served dry so you can appreciate the barbecue and add your own sauce:
Well the verdict is that I think my dad may have some fierce competition from Pappy. Absolutely wonderful and by far the best pulled pork I've had in the region and possibly ever. It was well smoked, tender, moist and very flavorful without being overly salty. C's ribs were almost falling off the bone tender with the same expert smoke (smoke lines in meat = good) and flavor. I rarely polish off all my food when I dine out (I am the queen of the doggie bag) but be sure that I finished my whole plate, licked my fingers and started creeping over to my husband's plate. Delicious.
For the sides, the sweet potato fries were awesome. They were hot, crispy with just a bit of kosher salt. Great flavor and I was amazed how crisp they were, as sweet potato fries can often be well, kind of floppy. The slaw was a nice vinegary one with a hint of sweetness, perfect if you want to do your sandwich "Carolina style" (putting the slaw on the sandwich). The potato salad was mustard based and well flavored as well. BTW the other sides include deep fried corn on the cob and baked beans. They also have that midwestern classic the Frito Pie on the menu as well.
So my recommendation is to hightail it to Pappy's. My husband liked it so much he went back the next day for lunch with my mother in law. Yum yum.
Some background: I am from Mississippi. I know barbecue. My dad built his own smoker/barbecue out of an old refrigerator. My family takes barbecue SERIOUSLY. I love ribs and chicken; my dad also does yummy sausages as well. I never had pulled pork until I moved to STL though; pulled pork was not in our barbecue repertoire in Mississippi, and I admit I have always kind of looked down on pulled pork sandwiches, especially after the rather mediocre ones I have been exposed to here. I have never had barbecue that could best my dad's and in fact the only barbecue that came close was from Rendezvous in Memphis, TN---if you love a good dry rub barbecue, that place is fabulous.
Anyhow, Pappy's is located in midtown STL on Olive in an unassuming brick building. We wandered in and found a massive line, this being a Sunday (their biggest business days are weekends). They sell til they run out as the owners don't believe in reheating barbecue and serve everything fresh, so we made sure to get there plenty early. The line moved fairly quickly, but my tummy was growling because the place smelled so good.
Finally we were up. C ordered the full slab of ribs accompanied by 2 sides (he chose potato salad and coleslaw) and I got the pulled pork sandwich with cole slaw and sweet potato fries(!). For beverages, they have sodas and sweet and unsweet tea (no beer/alcohol). You place your order at the register and then they prep it and bring it out to you, with the waitress hollering your name so they can find you in the din. Comes out quick and hot, just how I like it.
Of course, this would be where I should be inserting the pictures, but silly me forgot the camera and it was too good for any of it to find its way home for photos. Here's some purloined pics of their work I found on the internet:
Pulled pork sammich (it comes to you dry and you add your own sauce):
Ribs with rub only; served dry so you can appreciate the barbecue and add your own sauce:
Well the verdict is that I think my dad may have some fierce competition from Pappy. Absolutely wonderful and by far the best pulled pork I've had in the region and possibly ever. It was well smoked, tender, moist and very flavorful without being overly salty. C's ribs were almost falling off the bone tender with the same expert smoke (smoke lines in meat = good) and flavor. I rarely polish off all my food when I dine out (I am the queen of the doggie bag) but be sure that I finished my whole plate, licked my fingers and started creeping over to my husband's plate. Delicious.
For the sides, the sweet potato fries were awesome. They were hot, crispy with just a bit of kosher salt. Great flavor and I was amazed how crisp they were, as sweet potato fries can often be well, kind of floppy. The slaw was a nice vinegary one with a hint of sweetness, perfect if you want to do your sandwich "Carolina style" (putting the slaw on the sandwich). The potato salad was mustard based and well flavored as well. BTW the other sides include deep fried corn on the cob and baked beans. They also have that midwestern classic the Frito Pie on the menu as well.
So my recommendation is to hightail it to Pappy's. My husband liked it so much he went back the next day for lunch with my mother in law. Yum yum.