Monday Munchies: FlavorSmith's Craft Barbecue
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The brisket (bottom) and ribs. Photo: Worth Sparkman/Axios
I've made it clear: Barbecue is big league in my book.
- I try to approach new places with a friend whose opinion I value to keep my expectations in check.
The setup: A buddy and I ended up at FlavorSmith's Craft Barbecue in Fayetteville. It's in the tiny building that housed the Beer Keg for fiftyish years on Township Street.
The vibe: There aren't many places to sit — though more than I'd thought — so if the parking lot is full, you might consider carryout.
Dig in: It claims to be a mix of Texas and Kansas City barbecue. I tried the two-meat combo with ribs and brisket ($20). It came with two sides, so I opted for the potato salad (mustard style) and the mac and cheese.
- My colleague tried the regular and jalapeño-cheddar sausage.
The verdict: The ribs were fall-off-the-bone tender, moist and had a good "crust" from the rub, and I'll return to sample them again.
- I'm a blatantly biased brisket boy, so while FlavorSmith's version was fine, it didn't thrill me.
The jalapeño-cheddar sausage "was juicy with just a hint of smoke and the perfect amount of bite. The beans were fine, but that mac and cheese was the star side item," my lunchmate said.
- "I briefly thought about licking the bowl."
Best bites: We both normally pass on poultry at barbecue joints, but samples of turkey were dolled out before we ordered. Smoky, moist and delicious, this turkey breast turns heads.
- We both agreed we'd go back just to try a white-meat meal.
Check it out: 50 E. Township St. in Fayetteville; open 10:30am-7pm Wednesday-Saturday.