We stopped on our way home because we had read an article in WashPost about this establishment. My first impression was that the store was dirty. The food is all the way in the back. The cashier/cook/salesman was trying to push the ribs. He gave us a taste that was very good. Â We ordered one slab to take home. The cost was about $22 for one slab. He kept pushing us to buy more buy the slabs are really big so we decided on only one.
I am glad we only had one. The meat on the rib was tough, tasteless and clearly old meat. It tasted like lighter fluid and were very greasy. I ate one rib and felt sick (I was sick the rest of the night). I ended giving my dog some of the rib meat but it looks like it also made her sick.
I will avoid this place. For good barbecue go to Willard's, Carolina Brothers or Famous Dave's.
We've driven past this place many a time when heading out to Middleburg or our favorite winery in Aldie. Â There's always a smoker going on, one of those huge black machines that cooks up the meat and belches tons of smoke that smells delicious. Â We finally decided to stop to check it out.
Was surprised to see that the Aldie Country Store is run by a young, hyper man who is cook, chief and bottle washer all at the same time. Â He literally darts from place to place, running out front to check on his BBQ ribs and then sprinting back again to help a customer, all the while preparing an order for someone else. Â It was exhausting just watching him. Â
One thing I didn't like was his constant, aggressive sales pitch while you are trying to decide what to order. Â He is pushy, but as soon as you say no he does stop. Â A minute later he's back at it, trying to push something else. Â It was kind of annoying. Â He did give us a small sample of the rib meat and it was good. Â But I didn't need a whole rack (or half rack for that matter) since we just wanted a few sandwiches for a picnic at the winery. Â He was pretty insistent that we should get the ribs and I had to be rather firm in telling him no. Â But who wants to do that every time?
By the way, there is an article on his counter from The Washington Post. Â Apparently, the guy was a chef in his native country but he is forbidden from tasting the BBQ meat he cooks for religious reasons. Â
The BBQ beef sandwiches we got were good, but I don't think I'll go back. Â The store looks dirty, and I was a little worried that the food would make me sick. Â It didn't, but it's not really worth another trip to tempt the fates.
My husband found this place last year when he was riding his motorcycle out. He said he could smell it before he even saw it.
Anyway, we finally made our way out there yesterday. The BBQ/saleman was really good with his sales pitch. Like others, have said he is super fast and repeats things a lot. But that didn't matter once we were offered a sample of ribs and it was delicious. I was sold! However, we ended up with too much food!!! Basically he said we would get 4 pieces and 2 sides a pieces a person. Our totally combined ribs was a whole rack!. So if you are going there with someone, one rib meal is more than enough.
He also had chicken, pulled porked, and I think something else. Those other items didn't look as good. The sides were green beans, baked beans, mashed potatoes, and mac n' cheese.
We ate inside due to the weather still being cold. It was cold in the store and I wore my jacket the whole time. I also didn't like how I had to eat with super cheap plastic silverware. It just doesn't work well.
One thing I wish he would serve here would be cornbread. BBQ and cornbread goes together too well. Also I love the homemade sauce and I didn't see where I could have bought any to take home.
He put my ribs in the microwave. Â And in case you didnt hear me the first time he put my ribs in the microwave! Â I dont know if they started out that tough and stringy, but I'm sure the microwave didnt help. Â They were not trimmed either. Â The sandwiches are drowning in sauce and the guy running the show is a bit pushy. Â
bbq sin
2.5 Stars The ribs were smoky, but overly fatty and tough. This was made even worse by the guy telling us that the meat was ready to fall off the bone. It's just another one of his robotic, canned phrases he uses to sell people on the food. He rambles them off non-stop without adding any emotion or pride to those sentences, or even stopping to look you in the eye. Part of this is understandable since he's the one-man show sprinting from customer to customer and doing 6 things at once. It's not a really good way to run a business though as others like my wife who have already paid get neglected as he stays at the register taking more cash and waiting on the more impatient people. Do yourself a favor and hire a teenager to man the counter.
When my friend and I finally got our full rack it was only cut into three pieces. The forks and knives at the store are of the cheapest variety and couldn't cut into these tough ribs. Good thing the guy on the other side of the table was one of my best friends. We played tug-of-war with the ribs to split them up. If you're going to eat the ribs at the store, consider bringing your own good knives.
The barbecue sauce has an initial kick to it, but it's not particularly memorable. It's a good compliment to the meat though, and it's good that they've got so much sauce ready in containers for the tough meat.
My wife also got the potato salad which just tasted like eggs. The rest of the sides and dishes they sell don't look appetizing.
Aside: I'm a fan of dives, but this place is a different kind of grimy. Kitchen Nightmares grimy.
After reading the recent Washington Post article on the barbecue served here, a friend of mine and I decided to make a trip to Aldie. Â We were so excited to try this place after reading the review and were equally disappointed when we arrived and walked around the store. Â I can't even give a review of the food, because the place was so dirty that we couldn't even bring ourselves to eat there. Â There was mold growing around the edge of the glass in the refrigerator case where the cooked meat was stored, the soda machine was crusted with old soda and the store itself looked like it had just survived a dust storm. I'm not sure how this place has passed a health dept inspection. Â I wouldn't recommend this place to my worst enemy!
Review Source:Normally I would never write a review but what my husband and I experience 2 weeks ago bears sharing. Â We both went in for BBQ, through the years we have frequented this establishment and have enjoyed BBQ. Â It has changed hands but we thought it must probably still have great BBQ. Â We ordered pulled beef and chicken. Â As I cut into my chicken it was alive with maggots!! Â My husband brought our orders back up to the owner and he sheepishly said ok, put them to the side and continued to ring up BBQ orders of people on line. Â He made NO attempt to throw out the BBQ that he was serving.....just horrible.
Review Source:Th guy that runs the place is extremely nice. His name is Pardee. He works the store like 12 hours a day 6 days a week. He does all the barbecuing of the pork and beef ribs and chickens. The smoker is out front of the store and on weekends there is a constant billowing of smoke coming out along with the awesome smells of meats being cooked. The ribs are usually not too great as I have had them cooked better in restaurants that specialize in ribs but for a quick stop and grab they will do. It is truely a country store along with warped floorboards but I like those mom and pop places.
Review Source:This store is only good if your going in to get your basic drinking needs. Not worth any time or money to try any "BBQ" that has been drenched in vinegar much less made by a vegetarian who thinks he knows how to do the BBQ business. In my opinion this place doesnt even compare to real BBQ.
Review Source:I've eaten here a handful of times and am just NOW getting around to writing a review. What a crying shame.
Sketchy sketchy sketch sketch. AND THAT'S WHAT DREW ME IN! A dirty country store...dusty items on the shelf....dead flies on the window pane. I will eat anything this man serves! There's a very enthusiastic, tiny man running back and forth behind miles of glass coolers. I made my choice, put in my order and he flat out said ''NO! You need to try this! Let your mouth do the deciding!" Hmm. I guess I made the wrong choice. I'm sorry, tiny man. I ordered what he told me to, and enjoyed it. I guess he knows me better than I know myself. My only qualm is: he needs to get stronger eating utensils. I couldn't stab any of the food because the fork kept bending. It was made of rubber or something. I say, go here and "LET YOUR TASTE DO THE DECIDING!"
This place used to be awesome years ago. I have fond memories of buying a cup full of BBQ, coleslaw and beans. Â It was amazing and fresh off the smoker. Â I stopped tonight for pulled pork. Things have changed significantly. Â I paid $14 for pulled pork that tasted like oversauced store bought stuff and the potatoes were instant. On top of that, the man behind the counter wouldn't stop talking long enough to answer my questions. Â He was much too busy trying to talk me into buying more stuff I didn't want or need, Â When he rang up my bill, I almost had a heart attack. Â A total rip off and inedible. Not like it used to be. Â I should have turned around, taken it back and asked for my money back. Â Truthfully, I didn't feel like dealing with him ever again.
Also, the food is cold, even though it is on a "hot" table and it is clearly not being handled in accordance with normal health codes. Â I'm not sure about when and if he has been inspected, but this place would be closed down if he was doing this in Fairfax County.
I'm not sure why people have positive posts here. Â I have eaten BBQ from coast to coast. Â This is the worst I have ever eaten.
Fake barbecue. Wet with water from sitting overnight. No flavor and no smoke. So many people feel that you can take a pork roast and just pull the meat off, drench it in sauce, and call it barbecue. Â The meat should stand on its own. If it doesn't have charred bits in it and it isn't chopped up, it ain't Carolina. Â Sorry, folks. If you like this, we need to get you to a real barbecue joint. Try Black Hog if you are ever in Frederick or Urbanna. They sell real barbecue. This place was a waste of some hard earned money. Â The smoker wasn't smoking when we went in, so I should have known better.
Review Source:Wow, what a trip this place is. Â Country store crap up front, and legit BBQ in back. Â The dude behind the counter is a story in himself, and can he shill his Q! Â But, he's got a point: the ribs are tremendous, the pulled pork first rate, beef short ribs laden with garlic are super, and the sauce tastes like he just ladeled it out of a simmering pot. Â Nine of us ate for $100, are you kidding?! Â Considering that this place is only a couple of miles from highfallutin' places down the road that cost three times as much, skip the places in Middlebury and roll up your sleeves.
Review Source:I love, love this little place! I started going here when I was about 9 or 10 years old. I would get barbecue on the way home from riding at Paper Chase Farms (now Fox Chase in Middleburg.) The food was fantastic! It isn't much of a place to look at, but to me that is part of the charm. I'd always sit outside on the benches in the warmer, and nice weather and eat with friends after the barn. I hadn't been for many years, and when I went back I realized that the store had a different owner. The food is still really good, though.
I go time to time for old times sake and because I enjoy good food.
If you have some time, the drive is really beautiful around there, and give this little stores' bbq a go! You will be pleasantly surprised. :-)
It is a "country store" in all its charm and glory, and I literally turned the car around to go check out the wonderful smell of smoked BBQ. We live in DC, but have yet to find smoked BBQ, so we were up for anything!
There was a very nice gentleman behind the counter who offered us some samples of the ribs....I almost fell over it was so good.
We ordered two slabs to go and barely made it home before eating to our hearts content.
If you are looking for fine dining, this is NOT the place. But if you are hankering for a taste of small town, real southern, hickory smoked BBQ, they've got it!
This is a fun place with some great BBQ. Fun because it's a nice treat to pull off a country road, walk into a country store, and stand in front of a deli counter in the back and see all the great BBQ items that have been brought back from the smoker out front. Ribs, pulled pork, pork filets, chickens and bunches of sides. And where else can you get BBQ served up by a chatty chap from India?
We bought a full slab of ribs (have to save some for leftovers!) and a chicken. The chicken had a mustardy sauce which was unique and tasty - they also have one based (I think ) on terriyaki which I will try next time. Take-away is the best choice here, though there is a table out front if you want to eat right away.
If you're out visiting horse country or the wineries, this is well worth a stop. Don't blink - Aldie's not a big place to begin with, and this country store isn't much to look at. But so much more "real" than some of the over-rated places down the road in Middleburg...
I grabbed a half rack of ribs today. Driving by, how could I resist? It smelled soooooo good.
The dry rub on the ribs is great with a great layering of flavors.
This is a "country store." It's not gleeming with stainless steel and it's not owned by a massive chain. The folks you see behind the counter are the conglomerate. It's like any number of real stores you'll find along the road from coast to coast. If you're a snob, this is probably not your place. If you're looking for some great cooking and personal service, this is worth the stop.
I am going this place 4 stars because the pulled pork sandwich was amazing! I'll get back to that later but first, the intro. We drove by this place on the way to a winery and decided that we would stop here for lunch on the way back (and I though I would get my first find, but Neal beat me to it). The place isn't all that great looking and there isn't seating, but you know what I don't care, its the food that I care about. I get to the back counter and I am floored, its an Indian guy doing BBQ, or at least that's what I thought.
I ordered a little bit of everything and for $20 I got a pulled pork sandwich with slaw, a beef sandwich with slaw, 4 BBQ ribs, BBQ Chicken and beans; it was a great deal. I then approached the chef and asked him where he was from and sure thing he was Indian. He was apparently a Junior chef (i forget where) and he decided to give this a try.
Now the judgment... First, the ribs. The ribs were extremely heavily smoked, which I love, but I think they were either in there a bit too long or when he re-heated them they got tough. I think if they were right off the smoker they would have been great. It had a pretty unique seasoning on it, kinda Indian, just like the BBQ Chicken. The Chicken had a stronger Indian flavor and was also smoked; you could see it as soon as you took a piece. Unfortunately, the chicken was a little dry, but if I were to put it apart and stuff it in some bread, I think it would be a home run. This is the first time I have had a fusion of Smoked BBQ and Indian flavors and they worked well. Just a bit more info about the Indian flavor... When I say this I do not mean it tastes like you are eating curry, but being Indian I can tell he used a lot of our typical spices.
Now the good and some great news. The Beef sandwich with the slaw was delicious, but the meat was a little tough, although not as tough as the ribs, it was a little bit. The pulled pork sandwich (not the NC style one, which I suspect would be amazing too [I didn't try]) was AMAZING! It was moist and the sauce had a wonderful kick to it. I am craving some of that right now at 12:15 in the morning...
I am in love with the fact that an Indian is cooking some great Q since I have not seen that to date, representing! The sandwiches, which he tells me are his best sellers, are the way to go. I have had good BBQ in NC, SC, TX, but this pulled BBQ sandwich was hands down one of the best. I think if he works a little bit more on his Ribs and BBQ Chicken he could have a 5 star BBQ joint. He already got the great smoke flavoring down.
Take a look at the food and store pics (made sure to do a through job on them so I can post em here). Don't forget to stop in and support the small guys!
Who knew that the Aldie Country Store has such delicious BBQ?!! I was out in Aldie today to visit a different business that I saw on Yelp - which turns out is closed on Sundays-Mondays. Turned out to be serendipitous - as I ducked in the Aldie Country Store afterward for a bottle of cold water - and found a deli counter area in the back.
They do BBQ, ribs, sandwiches, burgers, dogs, wings, pizza, subs - as well as catering. I ordered the pulled pork BBQ sandwich with a bit of coleslaw on top of it.
The young guy working the counter was real friendly - I chatted with him for a few minutes - he gave me an overview of their food offerings, which also include Turkey legs, pies, and Thanksgiving style foods.
The bun was moist and warm, the BBQ was excellent - tender, moist, succulent - and there was a good bit of it - I had to eat around the edge of the sandwich to prevent any rogue BBQ from escaping the sammich!
Now that I am home and thinking about it - makes me want to drive back for some more! And some ribs!
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