Sunday, August 13
Hickory Hollow: Crotchety Servers Overshadow Food
We had been hankering for some good barbecue so Friday night we decided to try out Hickory Hollow, a barbecue joint best-known for its east-Carolina style barbecue. Hickory Hollow is located in Ellenton, a small town north of Sarasota that's best known for its outlet mall. A few months ago, Hickory Hollow made USA Today's list of the Top 10 barbecue joints in the U.S.
Now, I don't know how USA Today compiled their list and maybe we just caught Hickory Hollow at the wrong time, but after our visit last Friday this certainly isn't a place I would put on any Top 10 list. While the 'cue was tasty and the vast selection of 25-plus side items was a neat surprise, the service was poor and the atmosphere (what is the deal with butterfly decorations all over the walls in a barbecue place?) was just average. Overall, I didn't dislike Hickory Hollow, but I wouldn't drive out of my way for it. It's okay if you're already in the area.
I ordered the east-Carolina style pork with cheese squash and creamed spinach as my two sides, while my fiancee Traci went with smoke turkey, roasted corn and steak fries. Both meals came with delicious corn fritters. I was happy with the pork and the squash, but the creamed spinach was missing something. Traci's turkey was very good. While the food was above average, it was overshadowed by the poor service from the moment we walked in the door. We've eaten at lots of barbecue joints and these aren't the kind of places where you expect to find award-winning service, but that doesn't mean we should feel like we're bothering the waitstaff for eating there.
The level of service was night and day between Hickory Hollow and our visit to Newberry's Backyard Bar-B-Q a few weeks ago. I am still looking for an excuse to go back up to Gainesville to eat there again. While Hickory Hollow didn't knock my socks off, I still have high hopes for reader-suggested Big John's Barbecue in Tampa and First Choice in Brandon. Both are on my list. I still think Jimbo's on Kennedy is a good choice for 'cue in a pinch.
Bottom-line: Good food was overshadowed by poor service with the net-result being I can't see myself eating there again unless I already happen to be shopping in Ellenton and am in need of a major barbecue fix. Maybe if you're with USA Today you get treated a lot better.
Inspection Scorecard: Last Inspection: April 2006 violations- Critical (4), Non-Critical (1).
Now, I don't know how USA Today compiled their list and maybe we just caught Hickory Hollow at the wrong time, but after our visit last Friday this certainly isn't a place I would put on any Top 10 list. While the 'cue was tasty and the vast selection of 25-plus side items was a neat surprise, the service was poor and the atmosphere (what is the deal with butterfly decorations all over the walls in a barbecue place?) was just average. Overall, I didn't dislike Hickory Hollow, but I wouldn't drive out of my way for it. It's okay if you're already in the area.
I ordered the east-Carolina style pork with cheese squash and creamed spinach as my two sides, while my fiancee Traci went with smoke turkey, roasted corn and steak fries. Both meals came with delicious corn fritters. I was happy with the pork and the squash, but the creamed spinach was missing something. Traci's turkey was very good. While the food was above average, it was overshadowed by the poor service from the moment we walked in the door. We've eaten at lots of barbecue joints and these aren't the kind of places where you expect to find award-winning service, but that doesn't mean we should feel like we're bothering the waitstaff for eating there.
The level of service was night and day between Hickory Hollow and our visit to Newberry's Backyard Bar-B-Q a few weeks ago. I am still looking for an excuse to go back up to Gainesville to eat there again. While Hickory Hollow didn't knock my socks off, I still have high hopes for reader-suggested Big John's Barbecue in Tampa and First Choice in Brandon. Both are on my list. I still think Jimbo's on Kennedy is a good choice for 'cue in a pinch.
Bottom-line: Good food was overshadowed by poor service with the net-result being I can't see myself eating there again unless I already happen to be shopping in Ellenton and am in need of a major barbecue fix. Maybe if you're with USA Today you get treated a lot better.
Inspection Scorecard: Last Inspection: April 2006 violations- Critical (4), Non-Critical (1).
Comments:
Links to this post:
<< Home
Copyright 2006 Matthew Ragas. All Rights Reserved.
Your poor fiancee!!! You drag her to all these great restaurants, don't you realize she has a very expensive dress to fit into?? :-)
In all seriousness, I love your posts, and I'd planned to do the same with the bars and taverns of Hillsborough County, until I moved to Pinellas and decided I didn't really like the ones here enough. I might still give it a shot.
In all seriousness, I love your posts, and I'd planned to do the same with the bars and taverns of Hillsborough County, until I moved to Pinellas and decided I didn't really like the ones here enough. I might still give it a shot.
Tim-
re: expensive dress to fit into- that's why I only let her eat on the weekends! (just kidding).
Give your bar and pub blog a shot!
matt
re: expensive dress to fit into- that's why I only let her eat on the weekends! (just kidding).
Give your bar and pub blog a shot!
matt
Matt,
One of the ideas I had for mine would also work very well for yours... and it's one I got from Kyle Whelliston of Mid Majority.
Nab a google API and put up a map showing the different locations you've reviewed. It looks pretty cool when you do it and it's pretty easy -- though I don't know how embedding JS works in blogspot.
One of the ideas I had for mine would also work very well for yours... and it's one I got from Kyle Whelliston of Mid Majority.
Nab a google API and put up a map showing the different locations you've reviewed. It looks pretty cool when you do it and it's pretty easy -- though I don't know how embedding JS works in blogspot.
A map would be a neat feature. I don't know if you found me there, but I contribute my reviews each week to http://StickofFire.com - a slightly larger blog than this one ;) and we've talked about adding a map there.
Have a good week-
matt
Have a good week-
matt
Well, the collard greens and the beans are fantastic sides.
I usually just get the chopped pork.
The hot bbq sauce is pretty hot (for me) so I usually stick with the mild.
Post a Comment
I usually just get the chopped pork.
The hot bbq sauce is pretty hot (for me) so I usually stick with the mild.
# posted by 
: 8/22/2006 08:15:00 AM
: 8/22/2006 08:15:00 AM Links to this post:
<< Home
