Wicked Awesome BBQ — Restaurant in Hartford

Update on our second visit (12/10/21): I spoke to the wonderful people in Wicked Awesome BBQ about this, but feel it's worth posting. My wife has been diagnosed with terminal cancer. After three days in Boston for evaluation and treatment, she had not really eaten anything. The tumor on her liver is really affecting her appetite. However, after a day-long journey on Amtrak to get home, the first thing she said when we arrived in White River Junction, was, "Let's get dinner at that BBQ place near the VA." I knew instantly what she wanted. Our second trip to WABBQ was just as pleasant and enjoyable as the first a month ago. She ordered the same Root Beer Puller Pork Sandwich and satisfied her body and (based on her smile) soul. It was so good to see her eating after three days, that I nearly cried. I had the pulled chicken dinner with baked beans and cornbread -- and it was delicious. It's two hours from home to WABBQ, but I told my wife, anytime that's what she's craving and can eat -- we'll make the trip, just to see her happy and healthy. Thank you all, at WABBQ for a meal that made a difference.

Wicked Awesome is billed as a "traditional" American BBQ restaurant. I beg to differ because unlike traditional BBQ and various styles of ribs, smokehouses, and other meat shacks, this place IS truly wicked awesome. In fact, it's so good, it's probably one of the best BBQ stops east of Lake Champlain. From outside, the aroma extends the perfect dinner invitation for hungry locals and travelers alike. The staff is sincere and friendly and focused on providing an enjoyable BBQ experience above all else. Again, it's really not traditional -- Wicked Awesome is better than a good portion of all restaurants in terms of food quality, service, taste, and value. While I really wanted BBQ, I had to test the wings, since Wicked has a Wing Challenge that is supposed to bring happy tears to every wing-lover. A half-dozen wings arrived crispy and hot, cooked nicely, but a bit on the scrawny side, which in these supply-chain shortage times is forgivable. The requested reaper sauce (there are milder options) was relatively tame, and gave the wings a nice messy glaze. What really got my attention, though, was the reaper mash, delivered to the table after I asked for something "a little hotter." The house-made mash had the heat I craved, but with a complex palate of bitter and sweet to accompany the burn. Next to me, I couldn't resist picking at my partner's Root Beer Basted Pulled Pork. The meat was delicate and tender, and the flavor was both peppery and sweet with a hint of acid. Served on a bun, there was enough moisture in the pulled pork to resist dousing the sandwich with extra table-side barbecue sauce. The bun stayed intact and the serving was generous enough so that my mooching didn't make a dent. Across the table, a rack of ribs with cornbread disappeared quicker than I could grab a sample. I watched the tender meat fall off the rib and almost ordered a second dinner for myself! They were reportedly so good that I was not even allowed to pick at the bare bones left on the plate. I did score a piece of the warm cornbread in a cast iron skillet. The bottom had a nice char and crunch, but the top was moist and sweet with a dollop of butter. If you're out for something wicked, but used to run-of-the-mill traditional BBQ, make a change for the better. Visit Wicked Awesome where the food, service, and prices are awesomely wicked. Conveniently located near the junction of I-91 and I-89 and almost across the street from the White River Junction VA Hospital, it's the perfect 'pit' stop for...

We were driving home from Vermont and hopped over the boarder to get lunch at Macdonald’s. We noticed “wicked awesome BBQ” in the same lot and opted for some Q instead. Greater my a sweet girl who took out to go order of two combo orders. 1-Wings and Ribs 2-Brisket and pulled pork. She told me it would Be about 15 minutes. I went outside to wait with my wife who was waiting in the car. I decided to walk out back to look at their BBQ rig only to notice it appeared not to be used for sometime, how long, no idea. I am a devout proponent of Q. Not only have I repeatedly made the BBQ trails in North and South Carolina but in Texas as well. I, myself have been smoking meat since 1985 and own several rigs myself including the stick burner, gravity smoker, Weber Smoky Mountain as well as a Recteq pellet so I know my way around Q for good or bad. After noticing the cold, neglected smoker the first alarm went off. The second went off after I received my order and drove off. Upon opening the wings and ribs my eyes gravitated to the mushy and sauce soaked baby back ribs. Pre-Sauced q is meant to substitute or enhance flavor so the pre sauce is a no unless there is something to hide and in this case there sure was. Other than the overly sweet sauce the ribs lacked and flavor whatsoever. There was no flavor of smoke or any detection of spice from the rub. This is a sure sign of precooked ribs that have all the sweet natural smoke flavor. Not only that but these baby backs, although not true ribs (I prefer St. Louis that pull away from the bone without breaking apart) were overly mushy as if they had been parboiled. Afterwards we opened the second box and found to lumps of sauce smoked shredded meat that were almost without distinction. Shredded brisket??? That was the third alarm. The meat was again sauce smoked and devoid of any flavor other than the sauce. I new for a fact that this was previously cooked because when I buy into it rather than meat juice I tasted watered down meat, literally I tasted water. As if that wasn’t the worst of it the final alarm rang when i turned the pork over with my fork to distribute the sauce more evenly I took a bite and the pork was cold. Now, they had just opened so either the meat had sat from the day before or it was microwaved to order from the refrigerator (my assumption). I support small business and that is one reason we chose “Wicked….” Over Macdonald’s but I work for my money and do not believe in being charitable to those who are without scruples she it comes to giving me what I paid 40.00 for. I am writing this for all who would dare venture into this Awesomely Wicked Pit of despair. PS, In Conclusion we through out the Pork...

Always in search of good barbecue, and was so excited to try this place. The girl who took our order was very friendly and informative. We ordered the meat lover’s sampler, the deep fried catfish, seasoned fries, and the award-winning chowder. Total bill was $115. Let’s talk first about portions. The meat lovers sampler (which was $59.99) proclaims that you get two skillet cornbreads. Exciting, right? Except they’re muffins. The only things we had a lot of were chowder and French fries. The French fries were great, but tasted frozen. Not a huge deal, but for the cost we expected better. I’m not really sure what awards the chowder was winning because it was just okay, if a little runny. The beans are basically chili, the coleslaw was just “meh”, and the Mac and cheese was wildly overcooked (though that cheese combo was great!). So, while I’m over here seemingly complaining about everything, I do have praise. As I said, the staff was EXCELLENT. The smoke was done to perfection. The brisket was moist and tender, the meat fell off the rib bones beautifully and had the loveliest smoke ring, and the pulled pork was delightfully moist. Problem is flavor. They leaned way too hard into their sauce, and don’t appear to have seasoned the meat on the smoker. The biggest crime was that our catfish was over cooked. That said, their maple tartar sauce is BOSS. With some refinement, they could be great. They’re definitely an improvement over Big Fatty’s. That said, a lot of food went uneaten and we feel like we didn’t get the kind of quality you’d expect from a place with Wicked Awesome...