Laurie
and I like BBQ, but we really appreciate great BBQ and most of what we’ve found
so far here in East Tennessee is just OK or average. So, when a new BBQ outlet opened in the area
we just had to give it a try… How does the saying go? …Hope springs eternal!
This is
the relatively new Dickey’s Barbecue Pit which is located in Knoxville’s Turkey
Creek Shopping area. The color of the
awning does catch your eye as you drive past the plethora of stores and
restaurants in Turkey Creek.
Dickey's
Barbecue Restaurants, Inc. was founded in 1941.
The company is based in Dallas Texas.
As of 2015, Dickey’s had 530 locations across the USA and the company
reported revenues of $520,000,000.
Franchises are available…
These
photos show the interior of our local Dickey’s Barbeque Pit. The wood walls and checkered table coverings
evoke visions of downhome BBQ…in an urban environment.
In
addition to dining in, Dickey’s offers catering, online ordering, holiday
meals, a number of retail items…and in some markets, outside delivery is
available.
There
are printed menus available but most people order from this menu board hanging
near the beginning of Dickey’s ‘production line’. This is a ‘fast casual’ restaurant where you
go to the counter and place your order…and then follow it along until it’s
ready to hand to you at the register.
The
person taking the order then processes the meat portion of your meal…and that
seemed to cause a little stack up of customers in line as they waited for the
order ahead of them to be passed on down the line for other meal add-ons and
finishing touches.
Laurie
ordered the Pit Boss Deal…a luncheon special.
For $13.50 she got a roll, potato chips, asiago cheese creamed spinach, a large 'take with you Dickie's logo cup' with lemomade and 5 BBQ ribs. She really liked the
creamed spinach and she thought that the ribs were pretty good too.
I wasn’t
as impressed with the ribs as she was.
The flavor was OK and they were relatively ‘meaty’, but they weren’t
anything special. It probably didn’t
help my opinion when I watched the ‘meat server’ pull some ribs wrapped in
Saran Wrap from a warmer, unwrap them and then cut them up into her serving… It
wasn’t an appetizing experience.
I
ordered the Original Westerner for my lunch. ($7.50) This sandwich consists of
sliced brisket and Polish kielbasa sausage, topped with cheddar on a toasted
hoagie bun. The kielbasa was just fine
but the brisket was much too dry and as a result, it was fairly bland. The toasted roll was a plus and the BBQ sauce
was fairly decent… I’d buy it for use with my own BBQ at home.
One happy plus for meals at Dickey’s is the small cone of soft-serve ice cream
that comes free for the taking with your meal.
I opted out but Laurie really enjoyed this little post-lunch treat.
My
search for good barbeque here in East Tennessee continues. Dickey’s is OK for quick meal but I wouldn’t
seek it out… Given the company’s growth they must be doing something right, but
it isn’t great BBQ.
Dickey’s
Barbeque Pit in the Turkey Creek is located at 11483 Parkside Drive in
Knoxville Tennessee. Phone:
865-675-8227. The company’s website can
be found at www.dickeys.com.
Just
click on any of the photos to enlarge them.
Thanks
for stopping by for lunch…
Take
Care, Big Daddy Dave
Dave, I don't think I would have been impressed with the ribs, either, from your description. The ambiance is very nice with the wood and the Gingham tabletops, but the lighting seems a little too bright for me. Thank you so much for sharing this experience at the new diner.
ReplyDeleteDickey's is all over Omaha. Onion straws are the best, but not your thing I know. Overall we think the place is decent and also like the ribs, but I totally agree about the un-appetizing pre-wrapped approach to serving them!
ReplyDelete