My Last Bite: Savor the meats at Dickey's Barbecue Pit in Rockford
Published: 08 Jan 2016
Reposted from Rockford Register Star
Opened: Dec. 31
Hours: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily
Phone: 815-599-1110
Website: dickeys.com
Most popular items: Pulled pork, which costs $6.50 in a big barbecue sandwich; and ribs, $13 for a half rack; $26 for a full rack
We ate: My boyfriend and I stopped at Dickey's about 11:30 a.m. Jan. 2. But the comparatively small place — it seats 37 — was packed. So we ate elsewhere. But my grandson and I decided we'd check it out the next day, and we got takeout. We were the second in line at opening time, and there were eight or so people in line by the time we left.
I ordered a beef brisket sandwich. The brisket — among the best I've ever had — was juicy and fatty enough with a nice bark taste on some of the meat. And, much to my liking, the bun was grilled. My grandson ordered a pulled pork sandwich, which was moist and had a mild flavor. And we shared a turkey hoagie, a smaller sandwich. The turkey breast was juicy.
We shared a few sides: Onion Tanglers, which are a bit like French fried onions in a can but taste more like regular onion rings, and they're hot. Yum. The waffle fries were OK. The cheese in the mac and cheese tasted a little too processed. But the coleslaw was creamy. Other sides include jalapeno beans and Asiago cheese creamed spinach.
"Ahh" factors: The meat we had was quite good. Other meats include ham, Polish sausage and chicken. It is smoked daily on-site. Barbecue sauces — sweet, spicy and original — are available in a warmer. And you can get your fill of free self-serve, soft serve vanilla ice cream.
"Hmm" moment: I was confused by the pricing for individual items, and I'm not alone in that, Ryan McPeek said. After a few visits, though, he said, the menu that also includes "picnic packs" and "family packs," as well as the "Big Barbecue" and "The Westerner" sandwiches, becomes ingrained. The Westerner is the largest sandwich, with your choice of two slow-smoked meats and two slices of Cheddar cheese for $8.75.
I was OK with the total bill, though: $10 for the pulled pork sandwich, waffle fries and Onion Tanglers. And the same for the brisket sandwich, cole slaw and mac and cheese. Each side costs $2.25, or $3.50 for two sides.
Next time, I'll: Get the brisket sandwich and ribs.
