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| - Barbecue without sauce is like doctors without borders, men without hats, and a day without sunshine - forehead-slapping concepts that so align with the human condition as to defy expectations on why they wouldn't exist. But it does exist in north Phoenix in where else but a strip mall. It's called naked for a reason since the sauce isn't smothering the meat like in most smokehouses. No, there's innate trust in the quality and flavor of the meat presented here, whether it's pulled chicken, sliced turkey, hot links, or the two that I selected, Pulled Pork and Chopped Brisket (photo: http://bit.ly/2eOADSp). For $14, you get a Platter, or more accurately, a tray of two meats, two sides and a cornbread muffin (photo: http://bit.ly/2eOxhix).
My choices for the sides were Mac & Cheese, the melty kind that isn't baked the old-fashioned way, and the Veg of the Day, which were Grilled Broccoli Florets (photo: http://bit.ly/2duVIM1). Both were delicious but not more than the plentiful portions of brisket and pork which benefited from splooges of barbecue sauce and mustard. But it was on my terms. My one disappointment was just the size of the cornbread muffin which was uncharacteristically mini-size, so I stocked up on the sliced pickles as compensation. By the time I get to Phoenix next time, she may not be rising, but I'll be eating some 'cue naked. Not me...the meat. That would be so wrong...like a day without sunshine.
FOOD - 4 stars...hefty portions of naked 'cue with tasty sides
AMBIANCE - 3.5 stars...a clean, well-kept spot
SERVICE - 3 stars...friendly enough though they kept moving us along
TOTAL - 4 stars...solid go-to for those in this part of Phoenix
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