Old Carolina Barbecue Company — Restaurant in Altoona

Tried this for the first time today. I ordered a pulled pork sandwich with fries and the vinegar style Cole slaw and a sweet tea. You order, you pay and you take a table. The service is fast. My pork came on a soft Kaiser roll- not hard and not dry. Nice start. I took my first bite- hmmm, the pork was tender, piled high, smokey flavor and....cold? It's 12 degrees outside! I wanted hot. I also thought it'd be wet with sauce. Nope. I asked the woman at the front for a side of sauce. Oops, it seems I missed the bank of pumps for sauce and ketchup. Lots of choices but I opted for the Original sweet Molasses style. Smooth, sweet and just enough bite for my taste. Returned to my table and poured on the sauce. Piled on the slaw, slapped on the bun top and plowed right through a delicious ,albeit cold, bbq sandwich. I can only imagine giving this place a 5 star review. The fries were perfect and nicely seasoned. The style of slaw was perfect. They've even got a sink (table "side-ish"), for you to wash up at should you eat ribs. Paper towels by the roll on the tables. Solid table, rickety ladder-back chairs. Choose a booth if you're larger than an average sized woman. I realized I forgot the baked beans. I ordered a side just to be able to review them too. I'm here, why not? They were hot, covered in sauce and bits of pork shreds mixed in. Really good but be aware: I think the beans are mixed. Dark red kidneys, white beans (navy?), and perhaps pinto or light red kidneys. Not your standard one type of bean baked beans, but very good nonetheless. I may return for ribs but soon. I get hungry for bbq about once in a blue moon but when I do want it again, I'm coming here. I'll just ask for my pulled pork to be served hot next time. Honest...

Walking in it is nice clean place.It had a BbQ joint feel where you order at counter and they bring food.The ribs I received were really good.The wings I received were delicious.Crispy tender seasoned to perfection. Now the brisket is not good,it was flavorless and dry.It did not have any bark on it at all and needed seasoning.Just some spice it was bland.The Mac and cheese flavorless contained little cheese and pasta was over cooked,which is always a problem with premise Mac. and creamy coleslaw was not creamy and not good coleslaw should be stirred frequently before serving because juices sink to bottom..I would like to come back but half the stuff I ordered wasn't seasoned properly.Pulled pork was pulled pork but not bbq.Pulled chicken moist but once again no seasoning Ecspecially compared to those wings.I could sing songs about the wings and the ribs are great too. I just don't understand how the pulled stuff came away with no bbq flavor.You have to catch the drippings and stirr them back into it.Garlic potatoes were fine but not buttery or garlicy.Loved the...

FOOD: tender moist brisket, slightly tough and not-so-tender pork ribs, as they maybe came off the ‘cue a bit before their time. The sauces here were really delicious! The vinegar slaw was a bit lacking in seasoning. The mac & cheese could have been a bit spicier, and baked a bit more, which, yes, I know is more of a personal preference. The cornbread was very good. The butter was whipped and sweet with a very legit cinnamon note to it. I would consider coming back here if I travel through this area again, and I would sample the pulled pork next time.

SERVICE: prompt and courteous and friendly and explanatory. Excellent, really, and worthy of 5 stars.

ATMOSPHERE: basic, rudimentary and functional, with quality fixtures, but had a slight corporate franchise system feel to it. The hand-washing station and self-service of silverware and sauces are a very useful touch.

This place deserves a solid four (4) stars for the moment, and I would consider a reevaluation at a future visit. It might be one of the only barbecue joints in Altoona, or even this part of...