Bubba's Bar-B-Q

Note: TP4 apologizes for the long delay since our last review and update. Even blogs have to take a summer vacation. Thanks for reading!

View the entire Bubba's Bar-B-Q photostream with comments here.

Also check out the Bubba's website - it's priceless!

Location/Curb Appeal: Brian

The large, red letters of Bubba’s BBQ shine like a beacon of southern hospitality just off Lee Highway near Fairview Park Road. Although tucked in the corner of a strip of other Falls Church eateries and the austere “7 Market”, the sign is clearly visible, but does little to entice the eye. The panache of Bubba’s website makes up for the rather ordinary exterior should you venture that far in your research. Be prepared for a barrage of swine imagery depicting every aspect of Americana. Pigs on the space shuttle? Who knew? I do believe Bubba’s curb appeal would be something to write home about should it be located in a standalone building and free of the constraints of strip mall uniformity. However, this was not the case and as the restaurant is located off a frontage road, you may drive past it on your first trip. Be vigilant.

Dear Readers, don’t be fooled by the typicality of Bubba’s storefront or location. The website, interior, and catering van out front do justice to a Falls Church establishment priding itself on good food and friendly service. If you have a hankering for BBQ or just want to see an absurd amount of pig paraphernalia, be sure to make a stop. Bubba’s BBQ is no pig in a poke.

Rating: 1.5 Thurbs

Food & Beverage: Tommy

Note: Tommy did not submit a review this week, but this is what the editor imagines he might have said about Bubba’s.

Bar-B-Q! I’m from North Carolina, so that means I am extremely opinionated about Bar-B-Q. And Bubba’s does a good job with it. We ate BBQ pork and chicken sandwiches that came with standard sides like fries, cole slaw and hush puppies. Someone ate a hamburger, which seems pretty ridiculous in a Bar-B-Q restaurant – but live and let live.

Rating: 2.5 Thurbs

Service/Cost: Guest of Honor Kelsey Downs

As I sit down to write this I'm finding it a little hard not to explain to you the plethora of pigs that were living in this restaurant. No, not live pigs but just the creepy kind you would find in your dead relatives house. Even a pig with largest eyebrows you have ever seen...But alas, I will push past this to relay to you my stance on the service and cost. The service was top notch as we were greeted by a cheerful man with a nice accent and a slew of one-liners that he constantly threw out throughout our time there. He even managed to give us tips on ordering by alerting us that the prices were not just in his head but also on the menu so we needn't waste our questions on him. The cost wasn't bad either. The guys seemed to be rather delighted with the $4.95 pitcher of beer and the $5/6/7ish meals weren't too bad as well. Taken from a college kid who's used to being frugal, I'd say all around it wasn't a bad deal at all.

Rating: 2 Thurbs

Ambiance/Entertainment: Mark

In the words of our comrade Matt Warren, "Whoa! Pigs galore.” Imagine the middle aged single women who is obsessed with Beanie Babies, and swap out the Beanies for Weanies(almost clever). There were hundreds of pigs scattered through out the store. The dead ones were already being cooked, but I am referring to the figurines and stuffed pigs scattered throughout the place. If I remember correctly, there was even a trophy case with, what one can only assume, the valuable pigs. The familiar yellow-once was white-color scheme could be noticed throughout the restaurant, but nothing was inherently dirty. Some things just looked like they may never come clean. The menu above the counter was the black felt kind with the plastic white/yellow letters that was supplied by Pepsi back in the '90's. No frills, but a lot of pigs. It seemed to be a bit of an over compensation complex. I'd say, based on the accent of the guy running the show, he didn't grow up on Southern BBQ or Sweet Tea. Nonetheless, it kinda felt like you went back in time--I mean, went south a few states. Like many of our dinners, we were 4 of 8 customers for the duration of our dinner.

Rating: 2 Thurbs

Bubba's Bar-B-Q

Overall Rating: 2 Thurbs

Old Hickory Grille

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Location/Curb Appeal: Mark
“Ole Hickory.” Now, if you didn’t say that with an old prospector voice, then you completely missed the intent of including an “ole” in the name of your establishment. So, the name was quite catchy, and Matt and I had enjoyed the various pronunciations of our dining venue. Aside from flickering sign, the newly built/renovated strip mall yielded a rather neutral façade-nothing fancy. The family of pink, felt pigs, which lined the windows, reminded us of the family stickers which moms with minivans put in the lower left-hand corner of their rear window. It was decided that these types of stick figures, sandals, little fish, or variation thereof are not Thurber Approved.

Rating: 1 Thurb

Food & Beverage: Brian
Rarely do I have the pleasure of reviewing the food and beverage portion of our latest dining experience where every member of our group enjoyed their meal. Well, dear readers, I knew my 15 minutes was quickly approaching as soon as we crossed the threshold of Old Hickory Grille. In all honesty, the rather bland title “Old Hickory Grille” did not inspire much confidence toward the ensuing menu choices. I thought, “This place will be typical American fare, mediocre at best.”

After being promptly greeted and seated, a fresh basket of corn bread and rolls was placed on our table. Then, what to my wondering eyes should appear but a menu rivaling the Cheesecake Factory (sort 0f). After perusing five to six pages of choices, I had the Alabama Camp Stew, Mark and Tommy enjoyed the pulled pork sandwich platter, Matt dined on Angel Hair Pasta, and Mike devoured a gargantuan plate of ribs and chicken along with three sides. I speak confidently for the entire party by saying everything, yes everything, was delicious. All were astonished we could not think of a soul who had been to Old Hickory Grille. It was so good, three of us capped off the evening with a round of Sno-Cones. If you’re around the Graham Road/U.S. 50 area, do yourself a favor and stop by an establishment that easily beats the surrounding competition.

Rating: 4 Thurbs

Service/Cost: Tommy
When we walked into Old Hickory Grille, I could've probably told you exactly the prices for most menu items. $9 sandwiches...$16 for slightly fancier entrees and basic seafood platters, $21-25 for ribs, half chickens, salmon, stuff like that. This was mostly correct except for in the bottom left corner of the opening page...what's this?? Specials, you say? HALF-OFF pulled-pork or pulled-beef sandwiches on Monday and Tuesday nights!? This is Monday night! Done and done. I got a delicious pulled-pork sandwich with fries and side of cole slaw for $4.12. That's not a misprint. I didn't really pay attention to what others paid for their meals because I almost peed my pants when I saw that price, but I assume theirs were also pretty good because they all really enjoyed their meals.

Service was excellent, keyed by a Hispanic gentleman in his early 30's, with the assistance of who I assume was his (approximately) 12 year old son. The boy took care of bussing tables and brought the check, the waiter brought the food and kept glasses full at all times. Excellent service, especially given the fact that we inadvertently showed up 10 minutes before closing time, which could make even the most patient waiter slightly perturbed. Excellent service, unbelievable bang for your buck.

Rating: 4 Thurbs

Ambiance/Entertainment: Matt
Ole Hick is one of those reassuringly familiar places with a decorative scheme that consists entirely of random old knick-knacks. You know these types of places (Cracker Barrel, Applebees, Chilis, etc.), and you know their “antique store shopping spree” motifs. Here’s an abbreviated list of what is hanging on the walls and in the windows at Ole Hick: bird houses, wooden dolls, quiver of arrows, Buddy Lee cardboard cutout, Chinese checkers board, other assorted game tables, Indian blanket, strange unlit neon sign, clown carving (with sign to the restrooms), and a variety of decorative roosters and chickens. Oh, and lots and lots of pigs – as pictures, plush toys, signs, carvings…pigs everywhere. What do all of these things have in common? Nothing. What practical use do any of these things provide? None at all. But somehow, all together, they create the feeling of eating in an old, familiar place somewhere out in the mythical countryside – just like the one depicted in the mural that runs along the front wall of Ole Hick. Either that or some weird person’s attic.

Rating: 3 Thurbs

Old Hickory Grille
Overall Rating: 3 Thurbs

Guest of Honor Review: Mike Steenhoek
Mr. Steenhoek could not be reached for comment, but his press secretary offered the following statement on his behalf:
“Mike ate so much ribs and chicken at Old Hickory Grille that he lapsed into a 24-hour coma which rendered him unable to submit his blog post. Although he worried family and friends and will most likely experience some long-term health problems because of this meal, Mike maintains that is was absolutely worth it.”

Remember to enter your name in the Guest of Honor Lottery at the bottom of the page. You could be next week's winner!