I'd like to get back into a regular barbeque reviewing mode, but unfortunately, I'm just not travelling as much as I have in the recent past and the barbeque pickin's in Central Illinois are slim.
Anyhow, I recently ventured down to Gatlinburg, Tennessee recently and was surprised to see a barbeque restaurant back in the place where one had been years ago -- with a candle shop taking up the period in between. We discovered the original barbeque place some eight or nine years ago in our only venture into Gatlinburg for the Fourth of July holiday (or is it Independence Day?). I must say, it was quite a tasty treat. The next year I made a point to return. Subsequently, however, it was turned into a candle shop...which (ironically) burned down last summer.
So now it's Flying Pig Smokehouse. Young Son and I hit it for lunch one day, sans the Better Half (as she had already met her barbeque quota for the year). It's a quaint little place, but with barbeque joints, looks tend to tell you nothing about it at all. As usual when I encounter a new barbeque place, I ordered the pulled (or chopped) pork sandwich.
Overall, it was an okay experience. The sandwich was just above average in taste and tenderness, with the sauce (an off-the-shelf restaurant supplier brand) adding little to the overall experience. The ambiance was bland -- more reminiscent of a corner cafe. Value-wise, it's a pretty fair deal. They don't charge tourist prices in a tourist town.
I'm cutting these guys some slack, as they're just getting started. They do have a lot to build on and I expect that things will only get better. Right now, however, I'm going with two (out of four) pigs for taste, two for ambiance, and three pigs for value, for an overall rating of two pigs.
