My ongoing search for new culinary delights in Seekonk has led me to a new barbecue place on Commerce Way in Seekonk. It's located where a Quiznos used to be across the street from and . It's been a little while since I've been really impressed with a new place, and I'm happy to report that Dickey's Barbecue Pit served up some of the best BBQ food in the area with the highest level of service. Amy and I are big fans of BBQ, and we can certainly list a whole bunch of places locally that we've been to. With all factors considered, Dickey's Barbecue Pit ranks at the top.
Upon walking in, we were immediately greeted with a "hello" from a guy behind the counter. As we made our way to the back of the counter where you order, and started looking at the menu, you could tell that the gentleman's enthusiasm for the restaurant and service was genuine. We were quickly identified as first timers, and they walked us through some of the options from the menu. They had a list of about seven different BBQ meats and a list of about ten or more sides to choose from. You mix between one and three meats with a couple sides, and you've got your combo plate. The meats came out of wrapped packages in a warming cabinet. I was a little suspect of the methods at first. Usually I prefer to see my BBQ items coming from a grill, but my concerns were quickly put to rest when we sat down to eat. It seems they cook in small batches and package the cooked meat warm so that there isn't a large batch that overcooks and dries out.
Our choices fell into place pretty quickly. There were a couple types of brisket, ribs, chicken, pulled pork, and a cheddar sausage. Amy went with pulled pork. Her two sides were a house specialty that was similar to a twice baked potato and mac and cheese. I went with a combination of brisket and cheddar stuffed sausage. I was a little unsure of my meat choices and the guy slicing up the meats offered a taste of the cheddar sausage before committing. It was delicious, and I went with that instantly. My sides were cole slaw and jalapeno baked beans. As we moved toward the register, I asked the gentleman who greeted us if he was the owner. He stated he was (not named Dickey) and you could tell he was proud of his restaurant and eager to serve and please new customers. We were upsold on a beer and twisted tea for drinks, and the owner pointed us through the various sauces and accompaniments for the food. He was happy to mention the free soft serve ice cream that comes with the meal! The owner was also thrilled to hand us their frequent diner cards that earn you bonuses as you rack up some meals.
As we tasted and tried each others meat and side dishes we were pleasantly surprised by the taste and quality of all the item. Amy's pulled pork was probably the most standard tasting item. It may have come across as a little dry, but the selection of two house BBQ sauces and several various bottles offering additional heat moistened it right up. My brisket was moist, flavorful, and seasoned perfectly. The cheddar sausage was fantastic. It had just a little spice, bold flavored sausage, and sharp cheddar cheese. Amy's twice baked mashed potatoes were really good. They had scallions for a little texture, and the potatoes had a comforting home made taste. They certainly weren't instant, and they didn't have the generic taste that large batch mashed potatoes can come with. Her mac and cheese shared some characteristics with some chain restaurants, but in a good way. It was cheesy, and the noodles were soft, but not too soft. I really enjoyed my sides. The cole slaw had just a slight similarity to KFC. I mark that up as a positive, because I love the KFC cole slaw. The jalapeno baked beans were fantastic as far as baked beans go. The jalapeno added just enough flavor without any real heat for those shy on spice. Additional heat is certainly close at hand from an array of hot sauces from the hot sauce bar. I added some extra spice after Amy sampled, and it only made them better. An interesting addition to the hot sauce bar was pickles. Not just scrawny pickle spears, nice fat whole pickles. I love pickles, but Amy does not. For one person, the whole pickle was a little big and the owner may be able to cut some cost or waste by halving them.
Until now I have not mentioned anything about the value at Dickey's. I think it is some of the cheapest BBQ around, and when you factor value and taste, it was definitely a winning combination. Our two plates of food with a side of bread and two alcoholic beverages came to $26, with free desert. From the moment we walked in to the moment we walked out I could tell that the management cared about our experience and valued our business. I would love to see this restaurant flourish. Give Dickey's a try and I promise you won't be disappointed.
