Roy's Pit Bar-B-Q (Russellville, KY)

Bike:  KTM Super Duke R
Route:  Google Maps

To say Roy's is pretty well known in these parts would be an understatement. I don't know if there are any other BBQ joints in Russellville, but I know plenty of people drive there and back just for Roy's. I've been eating their BBQ on a semi-regular basis over the past few years because my wife occasionally works in Logan County, and Roy's is our dinner on those days. It seems odd that I've never actually been to Roy's and I reckon it's time to rectify that situation...

Beautiful Saturday on Easter Weekend. The family is napping. I'm not.

It's already looking more like Summer than Spring.

Look, there's a cannon at the end of Main St. in Woodburn.

It's hard to get to Russellville or back without spending some time on the four-lane.

Federal Grove. We love that place!

Auburn, KY.

Auburn Minit Mart.

That yellow house on the right is for sale right now. Buy it, and then you'll have a Main Street address in Auburn. Sounds pretty cool to me!

Back on the four-lane.

Here we are... 

Roy's Bar-B-Q.

So, it turns out that there are two Roy's locations in Russellville. This is the smaller carry-out spot where all my dinners have come from, and the restaurant is three miles away on the other side of town. My understanding is that Roy's originally operated out of some sort of camper or trailer before moving into this building, and they now also have the restaurant with a bigger menu that features more than just barbecue. I do look forward to visiting sometime because that's where the meat is smoked and I'd like to see what else they have to offer. But if you're just looking for some Bar-B-Q to grab on the way home, this is probably your spot. It certainly works for us!

Nothing wrong with that.

There are a few tables and chairs inside, but most people who stopped by while I was there just used the walk-up/drive-up window to place their to-go order.

Pulled Pork on Bun w/ Baked Beans. 

VERDICT:  I guess I can't say much about Roy's in general because I haven't visited the real restaurant and I've never had anything besides their Pulled Bork and Baked Beans. You can also get Beef, Ribs, Chicken, and various sides/salads/desserts at this spot, but I stuck with what I know. The Pulled Pork is great and unique. And unique. Compared to my favorites like Split Tree or Wildfire, the hickory smoke flavor is less potent, and the meat is somehow sweeter and saltier. For awhile I believed the rumor that they mix Lamb or Mutton with the Pork, but that is not true. The fact that such rumors exist illustrates just how different their product is from other places in the area. The tomato based sauce is sweet and tangy, and a somewhat thinner and spicier hot sauce is available. Like the meat, there's just something a little different going on with the sauces -- I can't put my finger on it, but I love it. Good stuff, for sure.

The neat thing about barbecue is that it varies so much from region to region. Of course the differences are profound on a large scale -- Carolina BBQ has absolutely nothing in common with Texas BBQ, for example. But even on a smaller scale the contrasts are evident. I think most of the Bowling Green & Franklin places are pretty similar -- everybody offers pulled pork and most feature their own version of a tomato based sauce that is sweeter than it is spicy. Owensboro is just an hour away, but it's in a completely different BBQ world with their mutton, burgoo, and black dip. If you travel a few miles in the other direction, Monroe County has it's own thing going with the sliced shoulder and hot peppery vinegar dip.

Russellville has Roy's.

Roy's. Instagram.

Nine POINT Seven.
I was hoping this picture would snap a half-second later so I could make a stupid joke about that Mini and those cows and mini cows, but all I got was Nine POINT Seven.

Nice Day for a Ride I.

Franklin, KY.

Nice Day for a Ride II.

I often wonder exactly what makes a particular set of curves get a 35 MPH rating?

As opposed to a 30 MPH rating, for example?

SUPERCOOL SURPRISE BONUS TIME:  The Drake Country Store is open again!!! This makes me very very happy. I had no idea, so when I saw people rockin' the rocking chairs on the porch I had to double back and investigate. Sweet! Stay tuned for more details in the next ride report. For now, I'll just share these supercool surprise bonus photos...

Drake Country Store.

The Gang.

That's Anna Mae on the left, Kent in the middle, and Wendell on the right (I hope I got that right). And I'm talking about the real life people; the order is slightly different in the picture.

Best Easter picture ever? Maybe! I think they could tell I was happy to be there, probably because I was smiling and asking a million questions while tap dancing in my riding boots. Apparently they had an Easter Egg Hunt earlier in the day and they were kinde enough to share that picture with me. Awesome. I hope they framed it!

And I don't know who is in the Easter Bunny costume, but whoever it is probably did a better job than Jay Thomas. I kid, Jay, I kid!

Just to illustrate exactly how happy I was to see these folks back in business, I present Happy Rob. 

Headin' home... happy happy happy.

Route.

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Smoke Shack BBQ (Scottsville, KY)

Bike:  KTM Super Duke R

Route:  Google Maps

68 degrees in December? No rain? Gotta ride!

Over the past few weeks I've had some people mention The Smoke Shack in Scottsville. Like Dunn's in Franklin, I haven't been able to find much information online. But I did find out they're open Wed-Sat, and today is Wednesday, and it's close enough to fit into a weekday lunch break. So I'm off for some BBQ...

All the leaves are down [All the leaves are brown]...
And the sky is grey [And the sky is grey]...

There were plenty of bikers out enjoying our best December day.

Hey, that looks like a perfectly good helmet!
I have to admit, I like the red and that sure does look comfortable...

Speaking of red, I've never ever seen this light turn green.

Scottsville, KY.

Here we are...

Wood.

KTM Super Duke R. I love her.

The view from Table #1. If you visit during the lunch hour, expect to wait in line.

Menu.

Table #2.

Dipped Pork Shoulder.

Sprinkled Ribs (minus the big one I already ate) & Vinegar Slaw.

VERDICT:  I smelled the BBQ when I was half a mile away. Love it. 

They have two tables and a total of five chairs, so this is a place where you come to pick up your food -- it's not a place where you bring the family for a sit-down meal! There's nothing wrong with that, and if you don't call ahead you can expect to wait in line when you get here. While I occupied one of those tables for lunch there was a constant stream of carry-out customers and I was never alone in there.

When people talk about The Smoke Shack, they talk about the sauce. It's a spicy vinegar deal... real spicy. When you order any of the smoked meats, you can get them dipped in the sauce or just sprinkled with the sauce. There is a considerable difference!

The Dipped Shoulder was excellent. The only place I've had anything similar is the famous Smokey Pig in BG. It doesn't seem so spicy at first, but it'll get ya. The Vinegar Slaw is surprisingly sweet and very welcome while you're trying to cool off. The Ribs are big Spare Ribs like they sell at Split Tree or Old Hickory, but unlike those places a sweet Tomato-based BBQ sauce is applied after they are smoked. And you can still get them dipped or sprinkled, of course. While I prefer Baby Backs with a wet sauce like the ones at Wildfire, I gotta say these Sprinkled Ribs were really good -- mostly because I loved the way they were cooked, leaving a slightly crunchy bark at the tips and a nice smoke ring all around.

Now that I know how close this place is, I'll be back soon...

Earl G Dumplin's -- home of the Baby Bakers.

I wasn't exactly lost, but I definitely went a few miles in the wrong direction after lunch.

Huh.

Horsepower.

Fishing.

Thanks!

Straight [Amish?] Gangsta ****.

Headin' home... running just a little late.

Route.

UPDATE (12/16/11):  OK, so I'm back even sooner than I expected. I told a friend who was cruising through Scottsville today that he should stop by The Smoke Shack and try the Dipped Shoulder. He later sent me a picture of the sandwich and told me it was the best advice I ever gave him. Considering that I've known him for over twenty years, I'm not sure how to take that. Of course, this meant I had to go back for some more of my own...

I think these pictures speak for themselves. But I have to point out that the Pork Chop Plate contained three Pork Chops and two Sides for $6. It's definitely a meal for two, and it's such a great value that I wonder if they accidentally threw in an extra Pork Chop?!

48 hours later and proper December weather is back -- rain, sleet, and snow flurries.

Dipped Pork Chops, Potato Salad, & Vinegar Slaw (to go).

Sprinkled Chicken Breast, Mayo Slaw, & Baked Beans (to go).

Smoke Shack Sauce (one pint).
I'm gonna dip everything I eat for the next week...