Out of the entire Rockbridge County, there are countless options of where to go to get some barbecue. In particular, four places stand out when looking for pulled pork specifically: Cookout, Beameup BBQ, JJ’s Meat Shack, and Foothill Mama’s BBQ. 

For a personal rating of these spots by taste and quality, I went to each place and taste-tested their dish and complementary pieces. The deciding factors of their qualities were moistness, sauces, and sides. 

To start off with, Cookout has its signature sandwich wrapped in aluminum foil with the option of either coleslaw or Texas Pete hot sauce. Both bun and barbecue are moist. The slaw and hot sauce add even more flavor to combine. 

Even though it is a franchise, the taste is immaculate. Sadly enough, it does not meet an overall best as it is not focused on heavily as a main dish, however, pairing it up with a milkshake is satisfactory.

Next, Beameup BBQ ironically has a theme centered around pigs and smokes all their barbecue right outside their property. The joint is located near Lime Kiln and has faithful customers.

They serve a plethora of barbecue, but the pulled pork reigns supreme in popularity aside from ribs. To pair with the moist, smoky tasting barbecue, there are several homemade sides. A few that are popular are macaroni and cheese, banana pudding, and green beans. 

What uniquely separates this eatery from every other is the strict homemade element, and the classic barbecue sauces for each specific taste bud; consumers can meet their spicy, sweet, and tangy needs. 

Likewise, JJ’s BBQ is one of the more inviting restaurants around the area with warm and friendly workers, comfortable atmosphere, and heated building. As I entered into their establishment, I was greeted by Cindy Moore and generously given a platter to try out. It had consisted of pork, slaw, hush puppies or slider. 

To my surprise, it was free of cost and exceeded my expectations above and beyond. This pulled pork was a  moist, low and slow cooked perfection. On top of that, the fresh mixed slaw and ketchup or vinegar based sauces gave a good balance of flavors. 

Moore handed out the sassy, boss, swine, and mountain mustard sauces to me, and man, were they great. Depending on which sauce, I found myself getting a sweet ketchup taste to a horse radish kick to a straight vinegar.

Above all, the honey butter with the hush puppies on the side were compatible. Even then, it does not cover all the sides you can mix and match. There are collard greens, baked beans, crisp pickles, homemade mac n cheese, and soft rolls. 

May it be that this barbecue heaven is beaten off the track for those who do not live in Buena Vista, as it is met between Sycamore and Magnolia Street, but their pulled pork and sides give a hefty incentive to travel a ways out to it. 

Lastly, Foothill Mamas BBQ had supplied in abundance. This family-ran business along with an aesthetically pleasing, decorated building makes a mean pulled pork sandwich. While walking in, customers are met with assorted posters, artwork, and business merchandise. 

Just as JJ’s Meat Shack had been generous, Foothill did the same. Accordingly, the platter bestowed had a pulled pork sandwich on a well-toasted bun that fits perfectly with the meat, three types of sauce, coleslaw, kettle chips, and hearty green pepper baked beans. 

Compared to Cookout and JJ’s, this relied on sauce rather than moistness. As an avid barbecue enjoyer, I recognize a certain mood can bring out a different expectation, therefore half of your days you may want Foothill Mama’s over anything else. 

What is widely different about this venue is their kettle chips and sauces. Their homemade, crispy and tasty potato chips match extremely well with the sauce-dependence barbecue. These sauces are either mustard/vinegar based that is spicy, extra vinegar-y sweet and sour, or similar to Sweet Baby Ray’s traditional sauce. 

Despite the lack of moistness, the sauce gives flavor and the sides are complimentary. As previously stated, I would say this type of barbecue and how it is cooked, is most certainly a mood-based meal. 

What is not a mood-based meal but a staple food in their restaurant is JJ’s pulled pork sandwich. However, it greatly battles Beameup and gives it a run for its money. Those two are directed towards customers who love the moistness and homemade attribute, although Cookout and Foothill Mama’s BBQ is focused around the sauce and uniqueness of pairing sides. 

P.S. Hogback Mountain BBQ will soon be reviewed too. And, if possible, I will upload pictures of Beameup BBQ and Cookout.