Wood City Grill

A few weeks ago Wood City Grill opened up where PitStop BBQ used to be at on 5th St near Chestnut St, next to WHAS11. Allen Simms invited me over for a tasting so I took him up on it on a late afternoon. I am not a BBQ connoisseur so I can not completely give an adequate review but I know what I like! They have six different types of meat (All smoked: hand pulled pork, spare ribs, half chicken, beef brisket, New Zealand lamb and farm raised goat) and four different sauces (original, spicy, Hawaiian and Szechuan). Their sandwiches are on focaccia bread and all entrees are served with hot water corn bread. There are seven sides cooked southern home style and four desserts.

While I was there I tried the goat and lamb with each of their sauces. Each sauce had their own uniqueness.
1. Original - tangy
2. Spicy – tangy with a moderate bite
3. Hawaiian – hint of pineapple
4. Szechuan – hotter with a hint of sesame seed?

The meats were served in 1/8th” by 1” strips and very lean.
As I said, I am not a BBQ expert so if someone that know BBQ please expand on this review.

I did take a few pictures of WCG but they do not really show its actual size and charm. I also have their menu post here: http://jpdurbin.net/Pictures/wcg/default.asp

They also have wireless internet.

[Robin Garr]

A few weeks ago Wood City Grill opened up where PitStop BBQ used to be at on 5th St near Chestnut St, next to WHAS11. Allen Simms invited me over for a tasting so I took him up on it on a late afternoon. I am not a BBQ connoisseur so I can not completely give an adequate review but I know what I like! They have six different types of meat (All smoked: hand pulled pork, spare ribs, half chicken, beef brisket, New Zealand lamb and farm raised goat) and four different sauces (original, spicy, Hawaiian and Szechuan). Their sandwiches are on focaccia bread and all entrees are served with hot water corn bread. There are seven sides cooked southern home style and four desserts.

While I was there I tried the goat and lamb with each of their sauces. Each sauce had their own uniqueness.
1. Original - tangy
2. Spicy – tangy with a moderate bite
3. Hawaiian – hint of pineapple
4. Szechuan – hotter with a hint of sesame seed?

The meats were served in 1/8th” by 1” strips and very lean.
As I said, I am not a BBQ expert so if someone that know BBQ please expand on this review.

I did take a few pictures of WCG but they do not really show its actual size and charm. I also have their menu post here: http://jpdurbin.net/Pictures/wcg/default.asp

They also have wireless internet.

Great report, JP. It sounds a little "non-traditional" but good. Must check it out.

Pit Stop, by the way, has re-surfaced in the far East End, in an industrial park just off the Geneway on Old Henry Road.

Thanks for putting a shot of the menu online.
I added a link on MenusOfLouisville.com

The half chicken is a half chicken thoroughly smoked. Esse (from Pestos) and Morie offered up a bit of their lunch as I stopped in. I only had a few bites and I can still taste a hint of the smoke hours later… AS for the portion, you could easily feed three off of it. It is a leg, wing and breast cooked well but not dry by any means. It is moist throughout. AS stated before, I am not A BBQ connoisseur but know what I like and the WCG definitely goes there…

bbq goat is excellent!

BBQ Goat downtown? I must try this before they quit serving it! This can't last for long...I don't see a big demand for goat from the Courier folks, or the Federal Bldg. people either...Just my two cents

I work in the Fed Bldg as do others who likes da goat!

Love the goat, although I usually get it in the form of the curried goat on the buffet at Shalimar ... great stuff.

I went to Wood City Grill for the first time yesterday and had a superb lunch.

I had intended to order the goat, never having had a barbecued version, but was told they had sold out the day before. So I chose the lamb. It was sliced thin, in a "Szechuan" sauce that was warmly spicy and studded with peppercorns. The meat itself was lean and tender, with a pleasing but not overwhelmingly "lamby" taste, and very flavorful in itself.

I had two sides. The baked beans were rich, with a nice "popping" texture, not overcooked. There were slices of smoky sausage that permeated the sauce.

I have a very high bar for potato salad. Having been raised on my German-born mother's version, I am disappointed by most American styles, which I find bland. But this one had a depth of flavor and vinegary tangyness that was very satisfying. I would go back for this salad alone.

To top it off, I had a slice of chess pie, fresh from the oven. Tender, flaky crust, with an airy filling that tasted of suspended caramel.

Although I bought my lunch to-go, the dining area was very pleasant; nicely decorated and immaculate.

Fifth and Chestnut is pretty vacant on weekends; I was the only customer at that hour. I hope this great little place will attract enough people during the work week to stick around.

Being down here we do a lot of goat. I have had it weird that the more you chewed it the bigger it got(done wrong).

I think from the sounds of it, this place will do a great lunch and maybe some take home for dinner.