Owensboro BBQ

There was a recent post about Old Hickory Pit, and Robin wrote a nice review. We're going to try it.

Where else should we try? I know Moonlite is the big Daddy of them all. I've heard George's was once the best but has gone downhill...though I'd be happy to be told this is wrong. Also, I tried Shady Rest a couple of years ago, and I enjoyed it. We ordered our mutton to go right in front of the smoker; it was great. Unfortunately, I've heard the same downhill story.

Soooo...which one is the best. And if I've left one off, tell me how wrong I am.

Bring me back some Mutton from Old Hickory. I believe it's better than Moonlight.

[Robin Garr]

There was a recent post about Old Hickory Pit, and Robin wrote a nice review. We're going to try it.

Eliza, just to be very clear, you did catch that the Ole Hickory Pit I reviewed was the one in Louisville (on Old Shepherdsville Road), didn't you? Their father had a place in Paducah to which they trace their heritage. I've heard that there's also an Ole Hickory Pit in Owensboro, but I'm afraid I haven't been down that way for years and can't testify. I did a Moonlight review for the old Louisville Times back in the '80s, but I don't think that will help much now. (Even then, it struck me as a bit of a "tourist attraction," drawing crowds in buses for the all-you-can-eat buffay.)

There is an Old Hickory in Owensboro and is definitely better than Moonlight BBQ.

The Old Hickory that you reviewed is not far from me and is excellent. I don't believe they are related in any way.

Hey, thanks for the tips. I did misread the article and thought that the review was of the place in Owensboro; it makes sense that it would be of someplace closer to home.

We've settled on the Old Hickory Pit - seems to be where the locals go - and George's. Have to see if it's good. I love barbecue in an unreasonable way...one of the things where the South, Midwest, and West have New York beat hands down.

Old Hickory Pit was excellent. We smelled the smoke before we saw the restaurant. When we walked in, there was a large takeout section with all the meats on display. We had mutton and mutton ribs, both very good, but the edge to the mutton. The burgoo tasted like pork - we stuck to mutton otherwise since it was Owensboro - but good we well. Dwfinetely not on the tourist circuit.