Brad Olson
TVWBB Diamond Member
On a recent trip to Ohio I stopped at Parky's Smokehouse in Lebanon, Indiana, which is northwest of Indianapolis at the intersection of state highways 32 and 39. It looks more like a sports bar than a barbecue joint.
The main dining area is on the other side of the booths at right.
I ordered the 2-meat combo and chose brisket and pork. I would've preferred the brisket to be sliced and offered as point or flat but here in the Midwest it's been my experience that it's more often shredded, perhaps to yield a more homogenous final product.
Both meats were nice and moist but I would've like a little more smoke in the beef. The pork had a stronger smoke flavor; more than I often get in restaurants here at home.
For my 2 sides I chose beans and barbecue potato chips. The beans had a definite tomato flavor and plenty of meat mixed in, and I had no problem finishing them. The chips were a little more inconsistent with a couple being overly salty, but they were warm and crisp.
The menu has all kinds of non-barbecue options as well so it should appeal to a wide variety of customers. There's always the danger of quantity over quality but Parky's has been in business for a long time, so apparently they do many things well. And that includes the customer service, which was very good. I can't remember her name but my server was friendly and efficient, and definitely seemed like she was happy to be there.
The main dining area is on the other side of the booths at right.
I ordered the 2-meat combo and chose brisket and pork. I would've preferred the brisket to be sliced and offered as point or flat but here in the Midwest it's been my experience that it's more often shredded, perhaps to yield a more homogenous final product.
Both meats were nice and moist but I would've like a little more smoke in the beef. The pork had a stronger smoke flavor; more than I often get in restaurants here at home.
For my 2 sides I chose beans and barbecue potato chips. The beans had a definite tomato flavor and plenty of meat mixed in, and I had no problem finishing them. The chips were a little more inconsistent with a couple being overly salty, but they were warm and crisp.
The menu has all kinds of non-barbecue options as well so it should appeal to a wide variety of customers. There's always the danger of quantity over quality but Parky's has been in business for a long time, so apparently they do many things well. And that includes the customer service, which was very good. I can't remember her name but my server was friendly and efficient, and definitely seemed like she was happy to be there.