Bark recently took the number-two spot on the Washington Post ten best regional barbecue restaurants list. It is a 45-minute drive from Washington and Baltimore and a two-hour drive from Philly. If you are new to the area or just visiting and driving from either Baltimore or Washington, you are in for a treat. You will cross the William Preston Lane Jr. Memorial Bridge, locally known as the Bay Bridge. It spans 5.5 miles across the Chesapeake Bay, America's largest estuary. Note, however, that Friday travel could take hours longer during beach season.
The food is pretty legit, and the restaurant has big plans. However, now, they are serving breakfast and lunch for the business park in which they are located. Hours are 7 am to 3 pm, no weekends. As word gets around, I am sure their hours will be extended. They are also building a large patio for the service of more tables.
My wife and I ordered the Pitmaster Platter and a pork belly sandwich to share. The platter allowed us to sample the ribs, brisket, and chicken, along with the rice, slaw, pickles, and collards. The meats were prepared well, tender, moist, and flavorful with a good bit of oak smoke. Many regional BBQs here use oak because it is plentiful. The ribs, a Korean-style sticky rib cooked in a blasphemy method, aren't on the main menu. They were listed as special. Ginger, garlic, black pepper, and gojuchang are used as a rub, and a braise. The brisket seemed traditionally smoked. The chicken breast was on another level, marinated and smoked to perfection, tender and flavorful. It is a family recipe, so they didn't disclose much of their method. The collards and pickles were also good. In my opinion, the rice and slaw needed a bit of spice to punch them up.
The pork belly sandwich was out of this world. The pairing of pork, peach hosin bbq sauce, pickled carrots & cucumbers, fresh herbs, jalapeños, crispy shallots exploded on my taste buds. I will go back again just to have another one of these.
All in all, this was a very flavorful experience. I will say that I was left craving more meat in the end. The sides had ample portions, but the pitmaster platter, which is marketed for two, in my opinion, needed a bit more protein. I know times are really tough for restaurants and that may play into the portion size.
If you make it here, right around the bend is Terripan Park which offers trails to a large sandy beach on the shores of the Chesapeake Bay. It's a great place to walk off some calories.
Would I go back? Plans are in the making...
The food is pretty legit, and the restaurant has big plans. However, now, they are serving breakfast and lunch for the business park in which they are located. Hours are 7 am to 3 pm, no weekends. As word gets around, I am sure their hours will be extended. They are also building a large patio for the service of more tables.
My wife and I ordered the Pitmaster Platter and a pork belly sandwich to share. The platter allowed us to sample the ribs, brisket, and chicken, along with the rice, slaw, pickles, and collards. The meats were prepared well, tender, moist, and flavorful with a good bit of oak smoke. Many regional BBQs here use oak because it is plentiful. The ribs, a Korean-style sticky rib cooked in a blasphemy method, aren't on the main menu. They were listed as special. Ginger, garlic, black pepper, and gojuchang are used as a rub, and a braise. The brisket seemed traditionally smoked. The chicken breast was on another level, marinated and smoked to perfection, tender and flavorful. It is a family recipe, so they didn't disclose much of their method. The collards and pickles were also good. In my opinion, the rice and slaw needed a bit of spice to punch them up.
The pork belly sandwich was out of this world. The pairing of pork, peach hosin bbq sauce, pickled carrots & cucumbers, fresh herbs, jalapeños, crispy shallots exploded on my taste buds. I will go back again just to have another one of these.
All in all, this was a very flavorful experience. I will say that I was left craving more meat in the end. The sides had ample portions, but the pitmaster platter, which is marketed for two, in my opinion, needed a bit more protein. I know times are really tough for restaurants and that may play into the portion size.
If you make it here, right around the bend is Terripan Park which offers trails to a large sandy beach on the shores of the Chesapeake Bay. It's a great place to walk off some calories.
Would I go back? Plans are in the making...
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