I was in Paducah, KY on a quick business trip yesterday and was looking for some good barbecue. We found a place called Backwoods BBQ located at 5172 Hinkleville Rd and am I glad we stopped. We pulled in what we thought was the parking lot but it wasnt but when we went around to turn we saw a huge pile of wood and a smoker going at it and did it ever smell good. That was a very good sign.
We parked and went in and were told we could sit anywhere we wanted. There are several seats at a bar and in another section booths and tables. We were seated at a table and our server was there in an instant. We asked what was good and we decided on a half slab of ribs with baked beans and potato salad. I mean, come on, what else should one have at a bbq joint ….. ribs ribs ribs. Now I have been to some of the best bbq restaurants in the county including Big Bob Gibson’s and Interstate BBQ so my expectations for ribs are very high. I wasn’t disappointed. Our plates where there within a few minutes and we dug in. I picked up the end rib and the bone slid right out and the meat was cooked perfectly. A slight smoke ring was visible but there wasn’t an overpowering smoke taste. I did not add any sauce at this point and the flavor of the ribs stood on it’s own. They were excellent. On the side were baked beans and potato salad, both of which were good but the ribs were definitely the main attraction. To be honest I probably could have had a couple more slabs but alas I was a good boy.
For desert I had a peach cobbler and my travel partner had a chocolate pie that must have been stacked 6 inches high. Both were very good and a great end to some good old fashioned Kentucky bbq. I did order a side of pulled pork and mixed in a little of the home made sauces, both a sweet and hot and polished it off as well.
All in all my experience at Backwoods BBQ was great and I give them a big thumbs up and recommend anyone going through Paducah stop by. For those of you not from Kentucky but are travelling on Interstate 24 it is just a few miles of exit 4 and very easy to find. Definitely worth the detour. View Mapquest Map Here
on Dec 4th, 2009 at 6:18 pm
I too ate at Backwoods BBQ on Thursday. In my opinion it is the only BBQ worthy of my calories in Paducah. I too enjoy the ribs, but on this visit I went with the ham–they do it well. I added a cup of white beans and cornbread and I was full.
I was with two others who did not want dessert, so I deprived myself of the chocolate pie that you described perfectly.
Your next trip to Paducah, the BBQ is on me!
on Dec 4th, 2009 at 6:26 pm
I FORGOT THIS: Paducah is home to a huge and successful BBQ festival: BBQ on the River, held each September.
Here’s a link: http://www.bbqontheriver.org/
on Jan 6th, 2010 at 2:39 pm
[...] great sign was the huge pile of wood and the wonderful blue smoke coming from the smoker. We parked and went in and were told we could sit anywhere we wanted. There are several seats at a bar and in another section booths [...]