We visited Brandon’s on a lovely Sunday afternoon as we were leaving the Appalachian South Folklife Center.

We have just spent the weekend camping and we were pretty dirty, tired and of course, very hungry.

We were greeted by pleasant staff who made us feel welcome. I apologized for being disheveled and we were asked if we would feel more comfortable out on the covered deck. I was relieved for the option and was happy to find a comfortable, quasi-outdoor seating area available.

The menus are nicely presented with a focus (not surprisingly) on BBQ, which they make themselves in a huge, outdoor slow cooker.

RB quickly decided that he was most interested in the ‘Kid’s Grilled Cheese’ dinner, but he was concerned that the Grilled Cheese would be tiny. He also ordered the ‘chili fries’ as his side (add $1 for chili). I thought that was a reasonable choice for him and the server was patient with his questions. Since I was also famished, I ordered the pulled pork BBQ sandwich (with slaw), a ‘loaded’ baked potato ($1 extra for the toppings) AND a bowl of the gumbo they were offering that day.

In the meantime, we were given our drinks (lemonaide for RB, sweet iced tea for myself). Our drinks were served cold and refilled promptly, as needed – important since we were thirsty after a camping weekend!

The wait, while not noticeably short, was within a reasonable time frame and we both ‘oohed’ and ‘ahhed’ when our food was brought out. The portions were ‘generous’ (and I’m not a ‘light eater’). RB’s Grilled Cheese was made with Texas Toast, so it was plenty big. The fries were fresh and crisp. The chili, while a bit spicy for the tastebuds of a youngster, was good enough that he ate it anyway.

The Pulled Pork was served on a soft, generic bun but the meat was loaded with smoky flavor. Extra BBQ sauce is provided on the tables, in squeeze bottles, for anyone who wants more. The meat was cooked to perfection with no gristle or fat noticeable. The slaw was typical southern-style slaw, but a tasty compliment to the tangy meat.

The loaded baked potato was perfectly cooked, delicious and filling.

The gumbo was truly something to write home about. That really could have been a meal in itself with a rich, flavorful sauce and chunks of meat and vegetables. It gave the impression that it was made from scratch from the roux to the tidbits of rice. I felt it could have had more ‘heat’, but otherwise it was delicious.

 

In summary, I would give Brandon’s 5 Stars
RB’s Child Review is a ‘Thumbs Up’.

We look forward to opportunity to eat there again.

Brandon’s BBQ & Grille is located in Pipestem, WV
Date of Experience: 9/11/2016