After a couple of trips for takeout, a friend and I settled in at Q for a sit-down meal last night. An attentive hostess swooped down upon us at the door to check if we were eating in or taking out; when she learned that it was the former, she set us up with a table number (remember it! You'll be asked again at the counter!) and sent us along through the line to order with the to-go people. (This means a table is assigned to you...so if you don't like it, too bad, I guess.)
This time I diverged from my previous love, the pulled pork, to try the sausage and chicken wings. GOOD IDEA! While the sausage was tasty, with a spicy kick, the wings were the winners, gorgeously burnished with a glaze and sprinkled with spice rub. Tender and meaty, they matched well with the Memphis sauce. Very different from your usual "buffalo wings," and so much better!
I hadn't been thrilled with the sides on previous occasions, and this time tried the mashed potatoes (with some red skin still clinging to them), which were better, and a tiny side salad in a foil cup, which was standard salad bar fare. (Wish they had onion rings as an alternative to the squashy fries.)
The Q Pups were bigger and fluffier than previous times, less like small gritty falafel balls and studded with corn kernels.
The table is stocked with a roll of paper towels and bottles of Q's four sauces (I like the sweet Memphis and spicy Texas), but no salt & pepper (packets are up by the soda fountain), which I didn't discover until tucking into the messy fare, so I had to regroup and clean up to go grab some, then settle in again. Shakers would be a lot easier...
At any rate, this was an incredibly satisfying dining experience. I will definitely be back for the wings!
Q-BBQ is what I imagine a restaurant that was opened by someone who enjoys traditional BBQ, but grew up in Naperville, IL or any other midwest city. They've got all the right elements, but the execution is off. If you've experienced authentic southern BBQ, you'll notice on the first bite. If you're a midwest shut-in, well, that would explain all the 5-star reviews for this place.
I had the pulled pork sandwich, and my friend had the brisket. Both were good, don't get me wrong, but they were a little bit tough, which is a sign that perhaps maybe they weren't cooked as long as they should've been or were cooked at a higher temperature for a shorter period of time. Good BBQ is super tender, these were not. The cole slaw was great, i was actually a huge fan of that, as were the "Q pups". Cornbread was also well done, but a bit more starchy than traditional corn bread.
Each table has the traditional roll of paper towels, which is a nice touch, and were the array of sauces, of which the Texas sauce was my personal favorite.
Overall, I wasn't especially thrilled at the food for the price paid (it's on the high end), but if you haven't had better, then i can say you'll probably enjoy it. ignorance is bliss. :)