You see, Mustang Smoked BBQ and Fried Chicken was listed on Urban Spoon (which, as I have mentioned, I am using as my guide) as...well...nothing. It isn't there. Which leads me to another question/favor: If you can think of any BBQ places, please suggest them to me. I want to try it all.
Before I start, can I plead for something for a quick minute? There is a large part of me that believes that BBQ is best enjoyed outside and eating such yummy food, and for this visit some of the food was able to move me to a state of almost religious like ecstasy, so why doesn't every place offer outdoor seating? It doesn't have to be great...just a picnic table on the sidewalk, even in an urban environment would be nice.
Anyway...on to the meal.
The BBQ Joint: Mustang Smoked BBQ and Fried Chicken, 478 5th Ave, Troy, NY
In North Troy, this location is interesting. There are three large televisions, and a mixture of tables and high tops, with a "fast food like" ordering counter. When I walked in, around the lunch hour, there were four other customers, including three kids around 12 years of age. It was not inspiring.
The Food:
Pulled Pork Sandwich
Brisket Sandwich
Cole Slaw
Mac & Cheese
I am going to get the things that I did not like out of the way quickly, which is to say, things that I did not think worked.
The portions are huge for the sandwiches, and while I am often a proponent of the "more is better school" with the subsequent aphorism of "quantity has a quality all it's own", this ws a lot of food. I would love to see a slider option of the brisket, pulled pork and the fried chicken sandwich.
The Black Jack Beef Brisket sandwich was tasty, and as was mentioned, huge. It was a pulled sandwich, as opposed the the sliced, and I think that was a detriment. The sauce was good but it did not have a good feeling in the mouth. It was a little stringy and not in an expected way. It would have been very good by itself, however, in comparison to some of the other offerings, it did not fair as well. This may be a matter of perception for me as I do prefer the brisket sliced and much more...meat like, or closer to the natural state.
Likewise, the Mac & Cheese was a little generic. It was saucy, with a good flavor, and it could have used a little more seasoning. It was not quite home-style while not being industrial. It was good, and filling, and I ate all of it, but it was not a priority. Again, this may seem picayune, but I do believe that mac & cheese is a foundation BBQ side.
Let me tell you about this pulled pork sandwich...
Here is what my notes say about it: "What I have been looking for". The pork on this sandwich was tender and moist, well sauced (even a little over sauced, which was great), and the sauce was perfect. A note about the sauce...I like making my own sauce and I have very particular ideas about what it should be like. This was as close to my perfect sauce as I can imagine, tangy and spicy but working well together without any element being overpowering.
And then we came to the cole slaw...
In this unassuming plastic container, we have cole slaw gold. It was outstanding. It was cold, crisp, and made with obviously fresh ingredients. There was a spicy bite to it, I am thinking a bit of cayenne, but the man behind the counter refused to tell me. (He also asked if I was going to eat all of my meal, and when I replied in the affirmative, he gave me a "God Bless You, man.") This is what cole slaw wants to be when it grows up. It is the alpha and omega of sides. I cannot speak more effusively about this cole slaw, and I am not going to try because it would border on (from your perspective) hyperbole. Let it be known that when I put together my perfect BBQ meal, this is going to be the slaw.
Just one more nice touch...that has nothing to do with the food.
Paper towels on the table. It is a simple thing to do and more people should do it.
Cost: $18.42
Score: 8
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