Review: Delano Barbeque Co. a must for barbecue fans

It’s not every day that people can say they met the “pit man” at a barbecue restaurant, but that’s what happened to me on my first visit to Delano Barbeque Co.

As I was at the counter asking an employee for his food recommendations, Cedric Taylor, the manager otherwise known as “Pit Man,” came up front to talk about some of the meats he prepares every day.

In July, Jon and Michelle Suddeth became the new owners of the 10-year-old Delano Barbeque Co. The couple has made some changes to the restaurant, the most exciting being the addition of dinner hours Thursdays through Saturdays. (Previously, the restaurant was open only during the lunch hour.) The restaurant also now can host private parties, rehearsal dinners or wedding receptions, and it also offers catering services.

The restaurant offers a long list of barbecued meats, including pulled pork, turkey breast, ham, chicken breast, hot links, brisket, burnt ends, ribs, and chopped brisket. It also serves Angus burgers, sandwiches including fried pork loin and smoked sirloin, and kids meals that include chicken strips, grilled cheese sandwiches or ribs. Homemade onion rings, breaded okra, baked beans, pasta salad, potato salad, smoked macaroni and cheese, french fries, coleslaw and potato chips are also on the menu.

On our visit, I tried the Carolina-style pulled pork sandwich with a side of baked beans. The pork was piled high on a toasted bun topped with spicy coleslaw and the restaurant’s signature “Hawg Sauce,” which is a vinegar-based, bold and spicy barbecue sauce. The combination provided a flavor I had never tasted before. I also got the baked beans, which are made with three different types of beans.

My husband had the one-meat dinner, which came with two sides and garlic toast. He chose brisket, spicy coleslaw and baked beans. When he picked up our food at the counter, the server had accidentally put fries instead of baked beans on his tray. They got him a side of baked beans and told him keep the fries, and I’m glad they did. Now I know that not only are their beans great, but they also have wonderful, crispy, flavorful fresh-cut fries, too.

The brisket was tasty, but some of the pieces were a little fatty. The brisket is sliced thicker at Delano Barbeque, which may explain some of the fat. The burnt ends we sampled while placing our order were made out of a 3/4-inch pieces of meat. A customer sitting near us told us that on our next visit we should try the smoked sirloin sandwich, which is made with thinly-sliced sirloin.

Delano Barbeque Co. is a must if you like barbecue. The delicious food and friendly staff will make you want to go back for more. And who knows? You might even get to meet “Pit Man” on your first visit, too.

This story was originally published February 4, 2015 at 6:25 PM with the headline "Review: Delano Barbeque Co. a must for barbecue fans."