Little more than a shack, but a shack that serves up pretty decent BBQ.
Smokin' Joe's doesn't look like much from the outside. But inside, well, it doesn't look like much either. It's a tiny little building, built of concrete blocks. Inside are three tables and an ordering counter. That's it.
But the BBQ is good. The ribs are good and meaty. Now, if you like BBQ, you know that some ribs are so tender they fall off the bone. And some ribs have more substance. They shouldn't be tough. Tough would be bad. Not tough, but with some body into which you can bite. Both kinds of ribs are good.
Joe's ribs have substance to them. Meaty substance. They aren't slathered with sauce. Nor are they purely dry-rub. Instead, they have a good charcoal sear on them. Good stuff!
One reason eschew take-out and actually eat at one of the three tables is to partake of the 6 different sauces available. Four are tomato-based (Original, smokin' hot, smokey, and sweet and mild.) The fifth is called "Sweet Cajun." It's mustard-based, with a nice cajun flavor. The last one is called a Carolina sauce, but it doesn't really have much of a vinegar kick. However, bottles of vinegar are also on each table, letting the real Carolinans pucker up the sauces to their liking.
Oh, and there's ketchup. Leave it alone.
Other meats are available, in bulk or in sandwich form.
Address:
7891 Richmond Road
Toano, VA 23168
Located at the intersection of Richmond Road and Church Lane, half a block south of the Toano Fire Station. Look for the hand-painted sign.
| Legend: | Attractions | Restaurants | Shopping | Transportation |
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| 3 | Williamsburg Pottery | 3.89 miles | SE |
| 4 | Pierce's Pitt Bar-B-Que | 5.52 miles | SE |
| 5 | Giuseppe's Italian Cafe | 5.87 miles | SE |
| 6 | Sno-to-Go | 6.99 miles | SE |
| 7 | Casa Maya | 7.47 miles | SE |
| 8 | Thai Pot | 7.81 miles | S |
| 9 | New Town Cinemas 12 | 7.87 miles | S |
| 10 | Comic Cubicle | 7.87 miles | S |
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