13 August 2008
BBQ Showdown
Posted by hottie under: BBQ; Kids .
Pig in a Poke v. Big Foot
Pig in a Poke 3 1/2 peaks out of 5
Silver Saddle Center
9001 N. Hwy. 89
526-2747
Open Tues. - Sat. 11 am - 8 pm
(Closed Sunday & Monday)
Big Foot BBQ 3 1/2 peaks out of 5
Old Town Shops in The Basement
at Leroux & Birch
226-1677
Open for lunch & dinner all week
The Fatso and I held a BBQ showdown recently between Pig in a Poke out on the far eastside of town versus Big Foot, right in the heart of the city. Barbecue is quite dear to the Fatso’s heart, but as you can see, it came down to a tie in ratings for different reasons. Both are good choices for barbecue depending on your mood and the crowd you are feeding.
Pig in a Poke is out by Doney Park. It’s a tiny place located in a gas station strip mall. (We did just prove that cuisine from a gas station can be good! See below.) It is very clean inside and cutely decorated in a grandmotherly way with country kitsch and lots of piggy cookie jars. On their menu is a lengthy explanation of the exact origins of the term “pig in a poke” for those who are curious.
The BBQ here is mesquite smoked and the taste of the meat shines through as the smoking does not overpower. The “kicked up” sauce is the way to go for a little extra tang on your sandwich. Pig in a Poke does have a great way with potatoes. Baked potatoes are mesquite smoked and have a wonderful flavor. The same method is used in the stellar potato salad - one of the best versions I have had. The beans are passable, but they taste canned and then doctored up with spices.
Pig offers one dessert, Rosie’s homemade rum cake. The cake is very moist, but is too boozy tasting. Not very high quality rum was used in generous quantity so that not all the alcohol taste burned off in the cooking. However, Pig does not have a liquor license so perhaps you can get your fix with a slice of the cake!
Big Foot BBQ is a favorite in Flagstaff. It feels like you’re eating on the patio of a rental college house with ramshackle chairs and tables from Goodwill and a tv from the 80’s. Big Foot is in fact located in The Basement of the Old Town Shops in the middle of downtown. The Basement is an interesting spot: you can get trendy ladies clothing, a haircut, and lunch all in one convenient stop. Go see what I mean.
The tempting barbecue smell wafts up the stairs as you make your way down. BBQ here is hickory smoked and tastes it. The smoked flavor comes through much more strongly; so much so that the meats all taste mostly the same. That’s not a bad thing, just a different style than Pig in a Poke’s. The menu is extensive though with shrimp or catfish ‘po boys, chili dogs and even a few vegetarian options. There is a special kids menu too. Big Foot’s beans get the award in this category - they are homemade and tasty.
Big Foot does offer beer and wine along with many specialty colas, root beer and cream soda. They do have sweet tea for you displaced Southerners and carry Moon Pies at times along with pecan pie.
Prices at both Big Foot and Pig in a Poke are comparable and reasonable. Pig in a Poke gets the advantage for service though. In fairness, Pig in a Poke is small and doesn’t see the crowds that Big Foot sometimes has. However, service is sometimes spotty at Big Foot even if they are not busy. Lastly, Pig in a Poke is clean and accomodating, while Big Foot does have that collegiate atmosphere. Peanut shells are strewn on the floor at Big Foot and this can be fun for some, but it does give the restaurant a dirty look in addition to the mix and match chairs and tables. But Big Foot’s food is better overall so this is why our battle ends in a draw.
One Comment so far...
Ryan Zuk Says:
24 September 2008 at 8:50 am.
Hottie, Fatso… fun and informative review. Podcast helpful too. I don’t get to Flag often, but this has me wanting to plan a trip. Hard choice between the two and, although further out of town, I’ll give a slight edge to “Pig in a Poke” for the Chevy Chase / Vacation reference. In Phoenix, I’m a stickler for Alice Cooperstown - great smoked BBQ and fun environment (my conspiracy theory is that Alice and Famous Dave’s serve up the exact same ribs; maybe you can do an on-the-road BBQ edition some time to weigh in. Thanks again.