I admit it. I love me some barbeque. It’s hard to find barbeque that really satisfies. I mean, sorry Armadillo Willy’s, but you’re not what I’m looking for. Spending time in Texas showed me some good barbeque so in the back of my addlepated head, I have been looking for that taste again.
I’d followed Southern Sandwich Company on Twitter for while. Curious, always missing them, I had waited. Today, they were close enough for me to get to. Hidden behind the behemoth of Electronic Arts, cordoned behind yellow plastic chain link was the black truck issuing the smoky joy of Southern Sandwich Company. A line had formed but moved really fast. Southern Sandwich keeps it simple. A few items, most quick and easy to prep and box up.
Today, for my first try, I had the barbeque beef brisket sandwich ($7), the tator wedges ($1.50) and the hush puppies ($1.50). Figured that would be a good way to start though the cole slaw did seem kind of enticing and I wanted to save them to eat with the baby back ribs another day.
The brisket sandwich is on a soft, seeded hamburger bun. They give it a grilling so it’s warm and inviting. Inside was a pretty good amount of beef, about a cup and a half, with some sauteed onions and a few pickle rounds. There are no condiments, those you can get on your own (they have ketchup, Carolina vinegar sauce, regular tangy tomato based bbq sauce, sweet and hot mustard, mayo) but it has a pat of butter that you are encouraged to put on the brisket and let melt. The brisket was smoky and chewy (in a good way) with a nice crust with a tender, moist interior. If the butter doesn’t lubricate the sandwich enough for you, I liked the Carolina vinegar for its sweet and heat. It was a cleaner taste than the sweet mustard or the bbq sauce for me but I’m not a bbq sauce fan.
The hush puppies were ping pong ball sized crispy corn confections. Inside was a polenta like interior dotted with onion and herbs. It was dense with a hit of black pepper on occasion with a sweetness. Oddly enough, it wasn’t greasy but there were a trace of oil that came through. The corn meal interior was sandy, in a good way.
If you like fries with your sandwich, that is the main reason to get the tater wedges. They are coated, spicy and not much really to recommend them beyond eating the sweet and spicy mustard (which I have to admit I dunked the fries and the hush puppies in because I liked it so much).
If you want to get your bbq fix on and find yourself within striking distance of the Southern Sandwich Company, give ‘em a try. I’ll be back.
