We made it to Statesboro just in time for a mid-afternoon lunch at Vandy’s Bar-B-Q. This beloved cinderblock Statesboro institution has been serving up bbq plates (small or large – those are pretty much your only choices) and sweet tea to locals for 80 years. Though we live in the land of great bbq here in Austin, I often long for Vandy’s. The pork is chopped vigorously (and loudly), so that the meat, fat, and charred bits are perfectly combined. It’s all smothered with a slightly sweet vinegar and mustard sauce. The Brunswick stew is so thick and meaty you can eat it with a fork. And though Ben often shuns carbs, I like my Vandy’s with a healthy stack of white bread.
Here is the smokehouse around back. Not to be confused with that awful place in Greenville. This is where all the magic happens. I think they may have been burning some old shipping pallets in there, but it sure smelled amazing.
Ben loved Vandy’s so much, he ate it two days in a row. I think it may have been his favorite part of our weekend in Statesboro.
Good stuff. Growing up in Statesboro, when our Saturdays were too busy for Mama to cook, she’d bring home the Vandy’s BBQ with stew and sometimes a fresh loaf of bread. My brother and my Dad could put a dent in 2 lbs. of meat, leaving no stew – thick and tasty. Leftover sandwichs were gone by Monday (big homecooked meal on Sunday dinner after church – almost every time).
Thanks for the pics too. The new owners are old friends of mine and good folks.
Regards, John