The Spotted Pig BBQ — Restaurant in Lavonia

I love food I’m a chef from New York City originally Michelin star trained but have also lived in 15 other states so I know a thing or two about bbq and when I hear good things about a certain place I must try it. I was expecting a bbq experience I got anything but that I ordered everything for take out and was disappointed that some of the food was cold (pulled pork, beef brisket plate with sides) but almost Everything was super bland. Lacked flavor although the ribs which were priced at $31 for a whole rack including 4 sides which I got, they were extremely tender I sadly couldn’t get any flavor through. I also got the choice of two meats priced at $21 which included two sides. pulled pork and the beef brisket was my go to and was deeply disappointed at the flavor and texture. The pulled pork had no flavor and tasted extremely chewy and dry in certain parts leaving me to believe it was left out long enough to oxidize. The beef brisket I was extremely let down, I expected something Smokey flavored but just tasted the seasoning which lacked flavor but nothing Smokey about it. I suggest for that price at least throw in a couple of more pickled vegetables instead of the raw pieces of red onion and make the portion of corn bread a bit bigger, let me feel like you care. The sides were ehh. I got the potato salad lacked some components, Mac and cheese extremely dry and overcooked, coleslaw, sweet potato dish, fried okra, baked beans (super yummy) . Don’t be afraid to season your pasta/ potato Water. The sweet potato dish was weird. Felt like everything was thrown in a cup and forgot to be mixed in. I get the concept of the soft with the crunchy but it doesn’t work here. I also noticed they have no dessert menu? Hopefully that changes. I also asked if I could get extra corn bread and was given an entire pack of burger buns? Which was charged at $10? Seems a bit steep but I get it. All together I paid $63 seems ok in today’s economy. The service was ok although the first girl who attended me over the phone had no idea what she was talking about when it came to my order and had to pass the phone to someone who seemed more experienced. Maybe a better training program will help her before answering phones. Thank you my delivering me my first experience. Hope next time is...

TWEEKS ROAD TRIP FOOD REVIEW! I don't give many five stars.. but this was some of the best BBQ I've had in a while.. and I have quite a bit. First.. some context.. this is east coast, Carolina BBQ.. which just means "smoked meat".. no sauce. Sauce is like religion.. you don't tell folks which to use.. you give them meat, provide several suce "types", and they pick. So the smoked ribs and chicken I had at the Spotted Pig had no other discernible "Sauce" on them than the thick, juicy flavor of well smoked meat. Second, (I got the ribs and chicken combo) the ribs were not just falling off the bone if you sneezed on them, but cooked & smoked so long that the bones were soft. I actually bit into one of the long rib bones and thought, "Wow.. that's a piece of tough meat." When I found that I had actually bitten clean through a large chunk of the bone. WOW.. That's tender! Ohl. plus they were super juicy! (not dry like over-smoked ribs or ribs left under a heat lamp all day. I think they must have pressure cooked them.. and then smoked them.. I love'em like that!

Next up.. The chicken dark meat was aaammaaazing.. the smoked skin of the 1/2 a chicken was some of the best I've ever had. The only problem was the white meat part was a little dry.. could have been the time of day I was there (late), so I don't want to dink them on that.

The sides were Okra was okay (needed a bit of salt, but finger licking good).. but the baked beans were memorable.. I could have made a meal out of just those.. they had various bean types (pinto, red kidney, etc), I think had a touch of red pepper/cumin, molasses, and some kind of meat (like sausage or hamburger) in them. YUM!

Overall.. if your driving through SC on I85 near the GA border (I'm not even sure if this is a one restaurant join.. or a chain).. stop there if you can. I will from now on! It's like 10mi off the beaten path.. but...

The hospitality was very good.They were welcoming and friendly. We got there early so it wasn’t crowded. The chairs are low so if you’re tall, well you know. They have outdoor seating as well, but we chose to stay inside away from the flies. The decor is your typical BBQ Texas style dive. The food came out fast, like 15 minutes after we ordered and it was fresh and hot! We ordered the sampler which came with 2 pork ribs, a serving of pulled pork, 2 slices of brisket, 1 chicken leg, 2 mini corn muffins and small servings of all their sides. Perfect for my husband and I. Now for the food….

Star of the show : Barbecue Egg-rolls! Absolutely delicious filled with pulled pork, coleslaw. melty cheese and other goodies, doused with a touch of barbecue sauce. Yummy!

Pulled Pork : Tender but no flavor. I had to add barbecue sauce which made it better.

Pork Ribs : Tender and smoky but again, bland! I had to add barbecue sauce for flavor…smh

Brisket : Meh, it was overcooked by about 15 minutes so it wasn’t melt in your mouth tender, but dry unfortunately.

Chicken: Meh, nothing special. Again a little overcooked, but not super dry. Barbecue sauce to the rescue!

Sides : Potato salad, coleslaw, macaroni and cheese, baked beans and sweet potato crumble. I enjoyed the sweet potatoes and my husband enjoyed the potato salad and baked beans.

Overall : I need flavor! If they would have added salt and pepper before, marinating the day before would be even better. It would have been so much better! Barbecue sauce should not be a need, but an option.

If I was in the area and had a taste for BBQ, I might stop by, but I wouldn’t take that 45 minute ride just to eat there. Hopefully you’ll have a...