Shagbark Barbecue Company — Restaurant in Knoxville

Very excited to have something new on my side of town! I discovered this jewel after work on a Thursday and I'm glad I gave it a shot. My first order could have fed a family of 4, but I wanted to try as much as I could. Here are my thoughts:

MEATS ▪︎ Brisket [Sandwich with mayo-based slaw (no sauce)]—a generous portion of brisket (¼ pound) on a nice, firm bun that held up to sauce and the moisture from the slaw. Personally, I don't like black pepper, which seems to be a primary ingredient in the bark (the outside crust), so it wasn't my favorite, HOWEVER, the meat was juicy and had a lovely layer of fat that was rendered perfectly. ▪︎ Other Meats—pulled pork, burnt ends, chicken, and ribs... I didn't try any of them on my first visit, but the pulled pork that was plated as I was waiting to order looked very good. Hoping to try the others soon!

SAUCES ▪︎ Sweet Smoky—just as described. Thick, sweet, and smoky tomato-based BBQ sauce. It had the tiniest bit of heat to it, but it was good and complimented the brisket well. ▪︎ Spicy Vinegar—I'm a weakling when it comes to spicy things, so I didn't try this one! Based on the other sauces, I can only guess it is lovely for those who enjoy their mouth catching on fire 🔥 😉. Note: I have no idea how hot this sauce is on any type of official scale, so this may be an exaggeration. ▪︎ White—I've never had a mayo-based BBQ sauce, so I was intrigued. Again, it's aptly described as "tangy and creamy." It's kind of like the BBQ equivalent to thousand island, but no pickle relish. ▪︎ Gold—vinegar- and mustard-base sauce... almost like a honey mustard, but not nearly as sweet. I'm looking forward to trying it with the chicken.

SIDES ▪︎ Baked Beans—very nice glaze-like sauce with a traditional smoky and sweet combo of flavors. I saw some green peppers, giving them a little heat. ▪︎ Fried Okra—full disclosure, I'm an okra connoisseur and probably a bit of an okra snob. That said, the okra here is phenomenal! I haven't had okra in a restaurant this good since Wright's Cafeteria closed a while back. Excellent breading, very crispy, and perfectly seasoned. If everything else was horrible (and it wasn't!) I'd go back for the okra, if nothing else. ▪︎ White Cheddar Mac—excellent mac and cheese! They keep the cheese sauce separate until it's time to put it on your plate, making it velvety and delectable when served. ▪︎ Mayo Cole Slaw—simple, but tasty! Slaw is always a great side to cut the spicy, smoky, fatty nature of BBQ with its crisp, freshness and tangy dressing. Note: There's a vinegar-based cole slaw that I didn't try. ▪︎ Potato Salad—another classic side for BBQ! The potato salad truly is creamy and delicious. If I had to pick one cold side item, I'd probably go for the potato salad. Note: There's is a pasta salad that I didn't try. ▪︎ ADD-ON: Cornbread Muffin—a 2-inch by 2-inch square muffin of sweet cornbread. It could almost be dessert, but I'm not there yet! The muffin is dense (in a good way!) and a wonderful accompaniment to the meal. ▪︎ ADD-ON: Mandy's Pickles—5-day (6-day?) soak in a brine with jalapeños, onions, and spices. I tried one, despite my aversion to spicy things. It was spicy.

DESSERTS ▪︎ Banana Pudding—This is the real deal! Fresh bananas, vanilla pudding (none of that fake banana-flavored nonsense!), vanilla waffers, and what I imagine must be homemade whipped cream. I don't know a more perfect dessert to go with BBQ! (My sister might say it's hot fudge cake at a BBQ joint that will remain unnamed! She's wrong!) ▪︎ Daily Cobbler—today's cobbler was blackberry. It made me wish I liked blackberries! The crust looked flaky and golden-brown and there was a generous portion of filling. I hear they put a scoop of ice cream on top! I'm looking forward to going back when it is peach, cherry, or apple. It's okay to get two desserts, right? I'll save one for tomorrow, really, I will!

SERVICE ▪︎ I interacted with 3 employees during my visit and they were all very courteous and seemed happy to be there serving good food to...

While the restaurant hasn't even opened yet, some troll gives a bad review because he cant get drunk there tonight... I myself am patiently waiting for some of the best BBQ that I've tasted yet. Can't wait till the opening. Have been dying to try the burnt ends sandwich and the brisket. I will be driving down to this spot on a regular basis. I know where these guys cut their teeth in the BBQ industry, and am beyond excited to see Knoxville embrace this Tennessee small business.

Update: Well, finally got to try this place! It was well worth the wait. I may have over ordered due to the anticipation, but I was seriously impressed with this food. Brisket was absolutely fantastic. The pulled pork really surprised me, and was the best I've had. The burnt ends are addictive (had to take some to go too). I tried the baked beans and cole slaw which are my usual BBQ sides and they were packed with flavor, and "Mandy's pickles" are absolutely amazing. I normally am not a dessert guy (normally those burnt ends would have served as my dessert) but I was convinced to try the banana pudding, and it was incredible. Just can't wait to get back there for more!...

Finally had the pleasure to try this spot in person and it did not disappoint. The food, the service, the attention to detail… all were perfect. I got the pulled pork plate with vinegar slaw and white cheddar mac and cheese. The pork was easily some of the best I’ve had in my life! It had great smoke flavor, a little acidity (which every pulled pork needs), and the portion was plentiful. The vinegar slaw was truly a surprise! It had great tang without being over the top. For those who haven’t given it a whirl you are truly missing out. The mac and cheese was fantastic! Noodles were cooked to perfection and the cheese sauce they make in house is reminiscent of classic, home cooked mac and cheese your parents or grandparents made. But the food wasn’t the only star of the show… the staff made sure our group was happy and comfortable. They brought extra sauces, refilled drinks, and even brought a box when they recognized we would have leftovers (they aren’t shy with the portion sizes 👍). Very pleased to have eaten here and can’t wait to see what this place brings to the table in the near future. Do yourself a favor and go eat...