OT- New BBQ place in AA
Satchel's BBQ just opened up today at 11 and I just got back. It isn't the best BBQ in the world but it is the best BBQ in the area. Ive been to the BBQ place in Pinkney and Fenton and this is much better. Its next to the Whole Foods on Washtenaw
edit- so the roommate just got back from work and he stopped there on his way and said that it was dry and only ok. I was there 7 miutes after they opened so that might be the reason, its no excuse though, if you want to be considered good BBQ you have to provide quality food throughout the day. Still, it was really tender and juicy in the morning
February 14th, 2011 at 12:16 PM ^
How does it compare to Blue Tractor? Blue Tractor is the best BBQ place I know of around town, but haven't tried Satchel's yet.
February 14th, 2011 at 12:43 PM ^
Blue Tractor is pretty solid and I consider it the best in Ann Arbor.
February 14th, 2011 at 12:49 PM ^
Even Blue Tractor seems to be going downhill a bit. They used to have great pulled pork sandwiches, but the last time I went it was just average.
I do like their sauces though. They're all pretty damn good.
February 14th, 2011 at 1:27 PM ^
they don't have a hot sauce!
how can you call yourself a bbq place without having a knock-your-socks-off-and-hit-you-with-them-hot-sauce?
smokehouse blues on the 'ypsi'-side east of us-23, near cottage inn buffet is the best in the aa area in my opinion
February 14th, 2011 at 1:46 PM ^
I'm sorry but Ive had a lot of good bbq down south and in texas and missouri, blue tractor is just average food all around, nothing special, and smokehouse blues just plain sucks, that shit is so dry and tough, they must slice their brisket all at once and then serve it as needed, this place is much better than both
February 14th, 2011 at 2:55 PM ^
Union Woodshop in Clarkston is better than Slows. Only downside is that it was just named Freep's restaurant of the year. Owned by same guys as Clarskston Union.
February 14th, 2011 at 3:04 PM ^
nice, i will deff have to try it then, i love good bbq
February 14th, 2011 at 5:02 PM ^
Thirding (maybe fourthing) the Blue Tractor vote. It's started to slide a little, but the pulled pork sandwich is excellent and they have a black and blue burger that is pretty damn good, I thought.
February 14th, 2011 at 12:18 PM ^
DeLong's BBQ Pit. If its anywhere close to that it will be good. Soul on a Roll!
February 14th, 2011 at 12:30 PM ^
I've lived in Ann Arbor since the mid-80s, and, back then, I lived near both DeLong's (at Detroit and Fifth) and Mr. Rib (North Main and Depot). DeLong's was very good, but I believe it was Mr. Rib, not DeLong's, that served Soul on a Roll (pulled pork and cole slaw on a hamburger bun).
The demise of Mr. Rib is one of Ann Arbor's greatest culinary losses.
February 14th, 2011 at 12:33 PM ^
Very Old. You are correct!
February 14th, 2011 at 12:42 PM ^
Mr. Rib was awesome. Many childhood memories of eating great BBQ there.
It was also great that Mr. Rib had a stand at Michigan Stadium. Way better than any of the other food they had there at the time.
February 14th, 2011 at 12:43 PM ^
Tried to follow him around...over to Packard, and then his little BBQ carts. Me. Rib was TRULY great. Everything was delicious there. Couldn't go a week without a fix of Mr. Rib. Restaurant that's closed in AA that I would most want to bring back.
February 14th, 2011 at 12:51 PM ^
Jesse was much more of a BBQ connisseur than he was a solid businessman.
February 14th, 2011 at 1:19 PM ^
February 14th, 2011 at 2:55 PM ^
...will you come down to Detroit and do the taxes for my web development company? Better yet, I'll bring the BBQ and the receipts to you!
February 14th, 2011 at 5:05 PM ^
I'll take it under consideration.
February 14th, 2011 at 5:05 PM ^
Well, I am at least qualified to be an accountant (though I don't practice it, I do keep myself current), and I would do his taxes if it meant more BBQ options in Ann Arbor.
February 14th, 2011 at 12:57 PM ^
yellow with red letters
it was the best place ever!
the slice of aunt millies bread to soak up the sauce was aweseome
although true bbq guys will be upset they served frech fries
February 14th, 2011 at 1:48 PM ^
yeah im sure there are better places in detroit, slows is better, but it better than anything north or west
February 14th, 2011 at 12:21 PM ^
I'm sure we'll see Brady Hoke and all our O-Linemen there all the time.
February 14th, 2011 at 12:22 PM ^
How is their sauce made?
February 14th, 2011 at 12:41 PM ^
Catsup based BBQ sauce? You mean molasses? I've always described a sauce as vinegar-based (NC/Memfrica) or molasses-based (KC).
Bit partial to vinegar based myself, while KC does it the best (Arthur Bryant's is the only major place in KC doing vinegar-based stuff - and naturally it's delicious).
February 14th, 2011 at 12:52 PM ^
I am a vinegar guy too, but I am partial to mustard based sauces too. My wife and I have to get her parents to bring us BBQ sauces from charleston whenever they come up to a2. We have a stock of mustard based sauces from piggly wiggly in our pantry.
February 14th, 2011 at 12:52 PM ^
It's more a middle ground, more saucey, and probably what he's talking about. (And the best).
<br>
<br>As opposed to the fourth great BBQ, Texas style, which usually passes up on sauce entirely.
February 14th, 2011 at 12:55 PM ^
But around here, I really like Famous Daves (Novi), I don't care if it is a chain. It's damn good and I love their sauces.
February 14th, 2011 at 1:00 PM ^
As chain's go, that's probably as good as you're going to do around here. Not connoisseur level, but good eats.
February 14th, 2011 at 1:04 PM ^
I think the one in Westland is slightly closer than the one in Novi (to Ann Arbor, at least).
February 14th, 2011 at 2:12 PM ^
I was in Toledo on Saturday night and ate at the Famous Dave's there. Loved it. Yes, a bit formulaic being a chain and all, but it was still damn tasty. We went on the late-ish side, about 8:30, and there was still a 30 minute wait for a table. The bar had seats so we sat there instead. I'd only eaten at Famous Dave's once before... years ago in Flint, so I made a point of seeking out ones closer to A2 in hopes of going there again.
February 14th, 2011 at 3:02 PM ^
If youre in the area, Shorty's is the way to go. Less than a mile down the road from FD's and damn good.
February 14th, 2011 at 1:21 PM ^
To be completely accurate, not all NC sauce is vinegar or mustard base. There are 2 distinct styles of sauce, Eastern and Western. The line is drawn around Burlington/Greensboro. Western style is tomato based. Eastern style is mustard/vinegar and many restaurants take pride in using no tomato at all. I'm from the middle ground and get the best of both worlds, but there is a fierce divide in the state.
February 14th, 2011 at 1:37 PM ^
I was making a veiled reference to the NC BBQ battleground in my "vinegar vs. ketchup" question above. Should have said "tomato" rather than "ketchup" though. My bad.
February 14th, 2011 at 3:04 PM ^
It was obvious you knew what you were talking about, but I wanted to make sure that the MGOmasses knew the difference. That would be like a UNC or Duke basketball fan coming up here and getting Bo and Woody confused.
February 14th, 2011 at 2:21 PM ^
Ever been to Bullock's BBQ in Durham? That's a fave for sure. And if you find yourself in either Greenville or Wilson, Parker's BBQ can't be beat.
I grew up on the Eastern side of that "fierce divide" you speak of... which is fierce indeed! We would have none of that tomato-based stuff! Blasphemy!
February 14th, 2011 at 2:49 PM ^
If you're an Eastern guy and find yourself in Charlotte, you've gotta hit up Bubba's BBQ. Best in town. Plus, with a name like "Bubba's" can you really go wrong?
February 14th, 2011 at 2:51 PM ^
I have been to Bullock's. Also, check this out: http://www.ncbbqsociety.com/trail_map.html I did the eastern half last summer and I'm doing the western half this year. Growing up in the middle, I have an appreciation for both, but my uncle ran a Lexington style place for 3 years, so I have always had that as a preference. Especially a nice coarse-chop with hushpuppies.
February 14th, 2011 at 3:08 PM ^
Awesome, that map. I should've mentioned B's in Greenville, too. (I went to ECU for undergrad.) Parker's there was our regular roost, but B's is also great.
February 14th, 2011 at 3:20 PM ^
B's is great. Both of those have an excellent waitress pool of ECU coeds.
February 14th, 2011 at 5:09 PM ^
Mainly in Memphis. Though sauces in Memphis and KC are different than NC, and each other.
February 14th, 2011 at 1:51 PM ^
their vinegar sauce is amazing, the catsup based sauces are kind of disappointing but i like dry rubs, not a big fan of sauces so it doesnt really affect me. I'm sure they will work out the kinks in time
February 14th, 2011 at 12:27 PM ^
But must be under new ownership, because it's gone downhill quite a bit.
February 14th, 2011 at 12:31 PM ^
However it is not a super recent change
February 14th, 2011 at 12:39 PM ^
For awhile now. But when it started, it wasn't Southern good, but quite good for the area.
February 14th, 2011 at 2:23 PM ^
Agreed. I used to love going to that place, but last time I went (probably a couple years ago) it was absolutely terrible. Haven't been back since.
February 14th, 2011 at 12:28 PM ^
Is it better than Bone Yard?
February 14th, 2011 at 12:31 PM ^
I know that it is not a traditional BBQ joint, but I always loved Mongolian BBQ when I was in AA. Still go there whenever I am back in town for a game. (My other "must get to" placed during my annual trip - Mr. Spots, Cottage Inn and Angelo's.)
February 14th, 2011 at 12:36 PM ^
There is also a place in Midland, Michigan called Bone Daddy's that has won some national awards. I will be off to Satchel's this afternoon as I have been eagerly awaiting their opening.
February 14th, 2011 at 1:33 PM ^
Is Slow's the one right by Comerica? If so, their ribs suck. I had to knaw them off the bone. The rest of their meat was good, but how do you have a BBQ place and not have good ribs?
February 14th, 2011 at 1:53 PM ^
yeah, it says in their menu that they make them tough on purpose, which seems stupid to me
February 15th, 2011 at 2:58 PM ^
I had just done a fair amount of drinking, so I wasn't really reading the menu as much as I was asking the waitress what was good.