(Feb. 4, 2020) — Nothing says comfort-food-on-a-moon-and-star-lit-winter-evening quite like barbeque food. And I am not talking food doused in a bottle of BBQ sauce from the store. Full disclaimer: I am a fan of bottled BBQ sauce…convenience, hello! But I am MORE of a fan of local, house-made conjures of all things BBQ.
Well, this is a tale of amazing BBQ food at an delightful local establishment in our lovely sister town across the River: Moodus BBQ. You take a relaxing, approximately 15-minute drive along the scenic route, which takes you beyond the Goodspeed Bridge, past the beautiful and historic Goodspeed Opera House. You will find your destination atop a hill on Rae Palmer Road. The parking lot is spacious and well-lit. The signage for the restaurant is clear. Light and sounds of laughter, music and conversation filter outside. We have arrived.
Moodus BBQ is one of those places where you instantly feel like you are a regular. There is no such thing as strangers at this restaurant. The wait staff immediately made us feel welcome, as did fellow customers – with smiles and friendly “hellos” and “welcome!” There were various families and couples sprinkled throughout. There is also a full-service bar.
Our order consisted of a several IPAs, a glass of house merlot, a pulled chicken dinner with all the fixins’ (choice of two house-made sides; cornbread); a combo platter (essentially, a sampler of Moodus BBQ’s divinely yummy meats) with a choice of two or three meats. For our party, it was a choice of three: the sliced brisket, which was absolutely out-of-this-world and melted into your mouth like butter, baby back ribs, and St. Louis ribs. As our kind waitress explained, the meats come as they are – without an imposition of BBQ sauces; no, that is left to the discretion of the customer! And then, a moment later, our waitress came over with a generous tray of individual BBQ sauces. There was a sweet one, there was a spicy one, there was a “regular” BBQ sauce (although, there was nothing “regular” about this sauce; if I could have just eaten the sauce, I would have!), there was vinegar, and finally, there was a wide array of hot sauces to add as desired. The sauces are proudly made in-house, as are most of the sides available – the baked beans, potatoes, collard greens. Everything was wholesome-tasting, fresh and at the table in a timely manner. The service is genuinely inviting. The food we ordered was absolutely, without exception, delicious.
We are definitely returning. On that note, I ought amend my beginning: it does not need to be a winter evening to be a perfect time for BBQ. You just need it to be a day… or night…and have an appetite. Moodus BBQ will be there for you.
Moodus BBQ Details
Location: 12 Rae Palmer Road, Moodus, Conn.
*Hours: Sunday-Thursday, 11:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m.
Friday & Saturday, 11:00 a.m.-midnight
*Kitchen Hours: Kitchen closes at 9:00 p.m. Sunday-Thursday; 10:00 p.m. Friday & Saturday
Website: moodusbbq.com
Photo from Moodus BBQ website.
