Despite our bucolic, rural environs, Oldham County offers a rather thin selection of BBQ restaurants. "Juicy's" has been around for several years (though I've always preferred their sandwiches to their ribs), "Backwoods BBQ" (now closed) offered tasty ribs, with a killer spicy BBQ sauce and "Champion's BBQ" was known more the quality of their sauces than their ribs and pulled meat.
"Big R's BBQ" is tucked away at the corner of Walnut and Jefferson streets in LaGrange in a bright yellow house that's hard to miss (former location of "Uncle Joe's Italian" -- great tortellini), and I had a chance to dine there for the first time this weekend.
The exterior of the restaurant is adorned with vintage advertisng signs, and features some limited outdoor dining on the front porch. The interior is bright and inviting with somewhat limited seating (maybe 30 or so), and their four-top tables are rather small, better suited for two diners -- three or four at one of those tables would be tight, to say the least. Beyond that small flaw, we had an enjoyable dining experience.
The menu doesn't offer much beyond standard BBQ fare (ribs, pulled meat sandwiches and BBQ chicken) along with drinks, sides and dessert. I ordered a half-slab of baby-back ribs with two sides (cole slaw and baked beans), while the wife had a pulled pork sandwich, mac & cheese and green beans. The baby-backs were quite meaty and with a minimum of fat; the baked beans were about what you would encounter in most BBQ restaurants, but the cole slaw was quite tasty -- just about the right balance between sweet and a hint of tartness and almost equal in quality to what I regard as the standard -- KFC (yes, I said KFC....when prepared right, their slaw is excellent).
Like most BBQ places, Big R's offers extra BBQ sauce on the table...theirs is tasty, though rather mild...I would like to see them add a spicier BBQ sauce for those (like me) who enjoy an extra "kick" to their 'cue.
Service was friendly and prompt, and overall a good dining experience -- we'll definitely go back (I'm anxious to try one of their sandwiches, along with some other sides -- including their sweet potato cassarole).
Big R's accepts cash, AMEX/MC/Visa/Discover and is closed Sundays and Mondays.