Eatery offers succulent smoked meats, tasty sides

The restaurant opened in August, replacing a former Quizno’s sandwich shop, and is the 15th franchise for the Tulsa-based company. The menu includes more than meat dinners and sandwiches, featuring salads, chili and potatoes. The approach is very no-nonsense, with ordering done cafeteria-style and seating is seatyourself independence.

With crimson painted walls and memorabilia detailing the many athletic feats of Oklahoma Sooner and Heisman Trophy-winning football running back Billy Sims, the eatery makes meals as you order them.

Customers line up like going through an ice-cream shop to select meats and sides (and even desserts), as the staff slices up meats directly in front of their clientele. After watching a handful of customers make their selections, the Midwest City Chamber of Commerce’s 2010 Ambassador of the Year, Marie Sheldon, and I had a chance to see many of the meats sliced before making our selections.

OPTIONAL CHOICES

On this day, Sheldon and I each opted for sandwiches. I chose the smoked chicken, which was so succulent, as the server sliced the breast, it almost disintegrated onto the cutting board.

Other meat selections included chopped or sliced brisket, pulled pork, bologna, hot link, polish sausage and ribs. For my side dish, I chose the Slaw-ter coleslaw. Sheldon selected the smoked turkey and potato salad. Billy Beans (baked beans), chips, Mini- Huskers (smoked corn on the cob) and green beans are other options, along with Super Side Options that include a small baked potato, garden salad or a small chili for an up-charge.

We both marveled at the moist meat and the light bun. Since my lunchmate chose the hot barbecue sauce, I squeezed out the mild sauce on my sandwich. Both sauces were smoky and sweet, and the hot sauce had a little after-kick to it. The coleslaw had just enough sauce to keep the chopped vegetables from being too soupy. Sheldon’s potato salad was mustardbased and seemingly very tasty.

A pickle spear, onion and pepper accompany the sandwiches.

The sandwich and side cost $6.46, including tax.

The eatery features a kid’s menu which includes bologna sandwich, grilled cheese, smoked chicken, Frito pie, a two-rib meal or a peanut butter and jelly sandwich for $3.99. Billy Sims Barbecue also offers carryout and a catering service.

Armando Rivera is the eatery’s “head coach,” and engages customers as they dine. He said the recent storms did not shut down the business, but the foot traffic was lighter. After trying the chicken, I likely would have walked a mile in the snow to eat it again.

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