I'm not really a picky eater but, having had some great food from Maine to Kauai, I try to be real in my assessment cause after all.... does the food and experience really warrant a trip back?
Face it - there are TONS of places to eat. Burger and pizza places, taco joints, Mexican hangouts, Chinese choices and yes, dives shoving out BBQ on every corner. So there are certainly options in our culinary searching.
I was hoping for a great BBQ place in my neighborhood - ANYWHERE. I miss the old Frog in CC but when you look at general BBQ places you don't find many or any 5 star destinations.
I went to Danky's as it's close and maybe, hopefully a great find for my pork passions. they certainly try to please and the owner was nice while fighting a cash register reset.
I decided on a basic for me which is the pulled pork. I usually judge the quality by the meat alone without a sauce. Is it smokey? Does it have a tantalizing taste not dependent on a slathering of spicy sauce to cover up its lack of swine sentiment? Is it moist or dried out waiting for the ketchup or vinegar wetness to bring it back from the edge of dehydration?
Theirs was a decent OK but not a top of the list hit. the overall combo of meat, sauce and slaw was about a 70 on the meat-o-meter. I'd like to think I could find a 90+ place or a 98 again.
The beans? OK but not worth the price. When you've had great, smoked BBQ beans with the meat drippings and some really good burnt ends added in from a southern roadside joint... you know what bean heaven is like.
Don't get me wrong.... this is better than some of the chain places and will warrant a return visit to try some of their other offerings but... it'll be with the same dire desire of opulent oinker or sumptuous swine that'll drive my return hoping to be impressed with quality smoke, reasonable pricing value and that overall experience that pulls me back as soon as possible.
When that happens... my 3 stars will move to 4 and MAYBE to a 5 if it warrants.