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Pic-A-Lilli Inn
4.6
(1.8K)
Important note: They are open on Thursday, even though the website and their menu say Friday - Sunday.
I've wanted to stop here for a while, but my timing was always off.
There are a few other places in SJ that offer good, consistent BBQ. You get a choice of sauces (which I like), and the food is literally the same visit after visit. It's so reliable, that it has to be down to a formula:
XX pounds of meat @ YY degrees for ZZ minutes = Good BBQ. Nothing wrong with that.
This BBQ isn't that....and that's great!
We ordered 1.5 LBS of pulled pork, a pound of brisket, and a half slab of ribs. They didn't have brisket....which only means I have to return and complete my report. The pork "ran out" after the first 1/2 pound, so they "reloaded". The second batch tasted different. Not better....not worse....different. Wood fired heat source and a different location in the smoker? Who cares. Both were great.
As noted a lot here....the ribs were amazing. I got sauce on the side, and honestly it wasn't necessary. I used some of it, but it was totally a personal bite by bite decision. The ribs came with a small side of beans. They were unlike any other beans I've ever had. A big taste of cinnamon followed by very sweet, solid but soft beans. They were great, but we all agreed it would be hard to eat a lot of them.
The Mac & Cheese was fantastic. Very Southern style without the heavy New England, double Velveeta offerings you get a lot of places. Lighter and maybe less flavorful....which is meant as a compliment.
The only slight weakness was the sauce. It was OK, but I'm not sure it added to the outstanding flavors. I would recommend you get it on the side.
All in all we really enjoyed the meal (which we took out....drove almost an hour with....and ate without any re-heating). It was that good.
Staff also seemed...
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Went by this on my way home from day one of a soccer tournament. Book marked it in my head and found myself there a day later around lunchtime. It was 1:15 and they were just out of brisket so assuming they open at 12, get there early for that! We had the ribs (pictured), pulled pork, and Mac n cheese. The ribs were amazing. Good bite - not fall off the bone but tender and juicy... I always look for that round bite mark to show it's just holding together enough. I must say that these are worth the drive if you love smoked food. You can get your ribs dry too but I'm a fan of Smokey meat paired with sweet sticky sauce. I didn't sense any spicy heat to them if you're curious. The pulled pork was smoky and tender. The bbq sauce is not too dominant which allows the smoke to be the star of the show. Finally the Mac n cheese is incredible - cheesy, a bit smoky and well seasoned. I have leftovers of both ribs and Mac n cheese which won't last the night. Go there. Enjoy their food and let them know. They were all very friendly and getting to say thanks to the pit master on the way out was fun for a guy like me who loves the art of...
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You ever drive by a spot and just know that you'll find the most delicious food ever? That was my experience with Christine's. We were in town for a show and headed down to pick a lily's to try their wings. We tried to make it down there but passed Christine's on the way. We all decided if pick was too full we would go there instead and I couldn't have been happier.
The staff was friendly and pleasant but the food is where the cake was taken. You roll up and smell the sweet smell of bbq sauce but that's where the sweetness stops. I expected a thick sweet bbq sauce and was met with a balanced, tomato forward sauce, that got better and better with each bite of my ribs. It was tangy, hint of spice, and sticky, the perfect Carolina influenced sauce. The ribs fell off the bone, the chicken shredded with every fork stroke that went through it, and the sides were delightful.
Don't sleep on Christine's. These...
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