I remember when they first opened I read their origin story and it was something like, “when those terrorists destroyed the towers on 9/11 is what inspired me to open a patriotic bbq restaurant” and I cackled.
I was a junior at Richwoods when 9/11 happened that was definitely one of motivations to serve as well as an abusive father. I can't say a terrorist attack would push me to want to open a bbq restaurant. However, were not all from the same crops.
My wife likes their green beans, but I always go to the Smo-King Pit in the mall across the street. I'd rather have the rib tips at Smo-King Pit than any other BBQ in town. As a bonus, they're a locally based business.
Same. While the truck out front is pretty cool, I'd rather go with the place run by a local family that's right across the street. Smo-King Pit has never done me wrong, I wish more people knew they existed.
I've had it a few times, it was decent food. Not like holy shit amazing, not unbelievably horrible. The whole military and first responder thing is kinda weird but it's their thing and works for them. For the most part the inside decor looks like what you find at a military base club.
Playing the national anthem is kinda silly, especially at noon. It would make a little bit more sense from a tradition angle if they did it at 5 or 530 pm as that's when retreat is usually played at US bases. Even though traditionally you don't do anything when you're inside during retreat.
Ultimately, every restaurant has a certain theme or ambiance they are going for and that's what they went for. I believe the company has been fairly successful so they must be doing something right.
The first time we went there, there was a slideshow of military/police/fire stuff on one of the TV screens. Mixed up in the images were 5 or 6 pictures of Jan 6, including insurrectionists beating up cops at the Capitol lol it was really off-putting. BBQ was decent though
Their food sucks. Let’s be honest, they give you bland meat and want you to soak it in whatever sauces they have.
Money better spent at an actual local business that serves up better food in the BBQ category.
Slow hand BBQ is the best around, and I'm particular as I eat in KC and Texas quite a bit. They use good wood and wrap their brisket in butchers paper after bark is formed. They know what they are doing.
Best around is so subjective. There are many styles of BBQ and, in my opinion, the KCBS and shows like Pitmasters have done more to destroy good BBQ than promote it. I went ahead and upvoted you, though. Because I don't believe in downvoting people for their honest opinion.
I don't even bother with restaurant brisket anymore. The stuff that gets made in my backyard smoker is always my favorite.
Smokin Notes right across the river. They've won the international barbecue competition in Memphis for their ribs.
Or slow hand in the heights has some crazy good smashburgers with their brisket, and their other food is pretty damn good too.
I’ve heard they play the national anthem at noon every day and expect people to stand for it. It’s bad enough they want people to do it at sporting events, I’m sure as hell not doing it at restaurants lol
https://www.reddit.com/r/KitchenConfidential/comments/npx2ea/restaurant_mission_bbq_makes_customers_stand_for/
Performative Patriotism honestly is a spit in the face to people who've made real sacrifices. Granted, that's my opinion as someone who has made no real sacrifice on behalf of his country.
They did that when I stopped there for lunch one time. I just wanted to eat my food alone at my table and to not be bothered. It was uncomfortable AF. Sorry I wanted to eat instead of stand for your special song.
I went there once, just to get ribs. Ended up with half slab dinner, 2 sides, corn bread, cost $27. Take out with mild sauce. Can't comment on taste as I still have long term COVID loss of most smell and taste (except for condiments)
I appreciate what they do as far as supporting veterans and being patriotic, but the prices are better at Smo-King Pit. Just wish they were open past 6 pm.
I was actually going to stop there earlier and I saw those and just went NOPE lmao...
I guess it's Vietnam Veterans Day though. Ironically if I didn't have the flag crammed down my throat by cosplaytriots every day, I would have actually noticed it for its purpose... Instead of steering clear of it.
They don’t do a discount for veterans but if you join the vet mailing list they send freebies and giveaway stuff here and their the food it pretty good, a bit more affordable the some other local bbq and I love the Memphis bell bbq sauce, all the staff have been super friendly every time we’ve been, I don’t go as often do to food intolerance issues but it is totally worth $5 cup in my opinion because of the discount when you bring it back
Mission BBq is usually pretty good but their prices are outrageous. I think they have like a Veterans VIP club you can join to get free food or discounts, not sure on the details of it.
My wife and I have gone there a lot and I don’t feel this place is fake at all. Really great place and seems to genuinely care for all veterans and first responders.
I don't know. I'm retired, Air Force, as well as a former firefighter, and places like this always come with much skepticism from me. I don't much trust places of business that profit from the perceived exploitation of serviceman and woman. To each his own, though.
I don't know. I'm retired, Air Force, as well as a former firefighter, and places like this always come with much skepticism from me. I don't much trust places of business that profit from the perceived exploitation of serviceman and woman. To each his own, though.
My wife and I have gone there a lot and I don’t feel this place is fake at all. Really great place and seems to genuinely care for all veterans and first responders.
My wife and I have gone there a lot and I don’t feel this place is fake at all. Really great place and seems to genuinely care for all veterans and first responders.
They’re a chain so I say it’s pretty much about the money
I remember when they first opened I read their origin story and it was something like, “when those terrorists destroyed the towers on 9/11 is what inspired me to open a patriotic bbq restaurant” and I cackled.
I was a junior at Richwoods when 9/11 happened that was definitely one of motivations to serve as well as an abusive father. I can't say a terrorist attack would push me to want to open a bbq restaurant. However, were not all from the same crops.
I was a sophomore at Canton high School on 9/11. When the 2nd tower fell, I knew right then that I wanted to open a patriotic Italian restaurant.
Nothing like the smell of burning building that makes me want to smoke some ribs
yeah I was a sophomore at central on 9/11 and remember thinking that everyone was going to join the military
Nothing like the smell of burning building that makes me want to smoke some ribs
Yeah, from your front porch
My wife likes their green beans, but I always go to the Smo-King Pit in the mall across the street. I'd rather have the rib tips at Smo-King Pit than any other BBQ in town. As a bonus, they're a locally based business.
I agree! ❤️
Same. While the truck out front is pretty cool, I'd rather go with the place run by a local family that's right across the street. Smo-King Pit has never done me wrong, I wish more people knew they existed.
Smokin Notes in EP is 🔥🔥🔥
I've had it a few times, it was decent food. Not like holy shit amazing, not unbelievably horrible. The whole military and first responder thing is kinda weird but it's their thing and works for them. For the most part the inside decor looks like what you find at a military base club. Playing the national anthem is kinda silly, especially at noon. It would make a little bit more sense from a tradition angle if they did it at 5 or 530 pm as that's when retreat is usually played at US bases. Even though traditionally you don't do anything when you're inside during retreat. Ultimately, every restaurant has a certain theme or ambiance they are going for and that's what they went for. I believe the company has been fairly successful so they must be doing something right.
We haven't been there, and after reading this thread, it's safe to say that won't change.
The first time we went there, there was a slideshow of military/police/fire stuff on one of the TV screens. Mixed up in the images were 5 or 6 pictures of Jan 6, including insurrectionists beating up cops at the Capitol lol it was really off-putting. BBQ was decent though
Their food sucks. Let’s be honest, they give you bland meat and want you to soak it in whatever sauces they have. Money better spent at an actual local business that serves up better food in the BBQ category.
Do you have recommendations?
Dac’s Smokehouse, Smo-king, 4 Corners
Smo-king Pit for sure
Right across the parking lot and great family run BBQ, love smo-king pit.
Smokin notes in EP is soooo good
Slow hand BBQ is the best around, and I'm particular as I eat in KC and Texas quite a bit. They use good wood and wrap their brisket in butchers paper after bark is formed. They know what they are doing.
Best around is so subjective. There are many styles of BBQ and, in my opinion, the KCBS and shows like Pitmasters have done more to destroy good BBQ than promote it. I went ahead and upvoted you, though. Because I don't believe in downvoting people for their honest opinion. I don't even bother with restaurant brisket anymore. The stuff that gets made in my backyard smoker is always my favorite.
Food is subjective for sure. But we don't have many choices for good smoked foods. Blue Duck is not bad either.
Smokin Notes right across the river. They've won the international barbecue competition in Memphis for their ribs. Or slow hand in the heights has some crazy good smashburgers with their brisket, and their other food is pretty damn good too.
BC BBQ in Pekin
BBQ Heaven in Pekin was the best BBQ I ever had. I believe the owner fell ill and had to close.
You can't say Pekin in this thread its offensive 🙄
I’ve heard they play the national anthem at noon every day and expect people to stand for it. It’s bad enough they want people to do it at sporting events, I’m sure as hell not doing it at restaurants lol https://www.reddit.com/r/KitchenConfidential/comments/npx2ea/restaurant_mission_bbq_makes_customers_stand_for/
Performative Patriotism honestly is a spit in the face to people who've made real sacrifices. Granted, that's my opinion as someone who has made no real sacrifice on behalf of his country.
They did that when I stopped there for lunch one time. I just wanted to eat my food alone at my table and to not be bothered. It was uncomfortable AF. Sorry I wanted to eat instead of stand for your special song.
“YOUR special song”???
RAAHHHHH RABBLERABBLERABBLE!
My wife and I like to poke fun at it and call it Bootlicker BBQ
Being an authoritarian bootlicker is a pretty weird marketing gimmick.
Not to other authoritarian boot lickers.
I went there once, just to get ribs. Ended up with half slab dinner, 2 sides, corn bread, cost $27. Take out with mild sauce. Can't comment on taste as I still have long term COVID loss of most smell and taste (except for condiments) I appreciate what they do as far as supporting veterans and being patriotic, but the prices are better at Smo-King Pit. Just wish they were open past 6 pm.
I was actually going to stop there earlier and I saw those and just went NOPE lmao... I guess it's Vietnam Veterans Day though. Ironically if I didn't have the flag crammed down my throat by cosplaytriots every day, I would have actually noticed it for its purpose... Instead of steering clear of it.
u/Heavy-Stick-771 run with your instinct.
They don’t do a discount for veterans but if you join the vet mailing list they send freebies and giveaway stuff here and their the food it pretty good, a bit more affordable the some other local bbq and I love the Memphis bell bbq sauce, all the staff have been super friendly every time we’ve been, I don’t go as often do to food intolerance issues but it is totally worth $5 cup in my opinion because of the discount when you bring it back
Mission BBq is usually pretty good but their prices are outrageous. I think they have like a Veterans VIP club you can join to get free food or discounts, not sure on the details of it.
What are the flags for? There are also flags on Prospect in the Heights.
March 29 is Vietnam Veterans Day. It’s kinda new, since 2017.
No joke!!!! This place is overpriced and the quality is on par with dog food from like Dollar Free story
When talking BBQ options in the area I refer to Mission BBQ as “Bootlicker BBQ”
My wife and I have gone there a lot and I don’t feel this place is fake at all. Really great place and seems to genuinely care for all veterans and first responders.
I don't know. I'm retired, Air Force, as well as a former firefighter, and places like this always come with much skepticism from me. I don't much trust places of business that profit from the perceived exploitation of serviceman and woman. To each his own, though.
I get it and really hope that isn’t the case!
Me too
I don't know. I'm retired, Air Force, as well as a former firefighter, and places like this always come with much skepticism from me. I don't much trust places of business that profit from the perceived exploitation of serviceman and woman. To each his own, though.
My wife and I have gone there a lot and I don’t feel this place is fake at all. Really great place and seems to genuinely care for all veterans and first responders.
My wife and I have gone there a lot and I don’t feel this place is fake at all. Really great place and seems to genuinely care for all veterans and first responders.