On our trip up to Lake George, we made a pit stop (hehe) to Bar-B-QSA, a punny little restaurant in Saratoga Springs, NY.
Here come the puns!
Once you are on Route 9, Bar-B-QSA comes up very quickly. We almost completely drove past the restaurant. If you do happen to miss it, make sure you turn around because this restaurant is well worth the visit (as if the “United Tastes of America” wasn’t enough incentive).
The restaurant looks like a casual BBQ joint, with brick walls and neon bar lights.
In the warmer months, there is an outdoor picnic seating area. It was a chilly day, so we decided to explore the inside of the restaurant, which has its own unique décor and charm.
A view of the front door, equipped with a stoplight and neon “BBQ” sign. The ice cream light threw me off a little bit though because I did not see any ice cream indoors. Maybe that’s why it wasn’t lit?
BAR-B-QSA pays tribute to the more famous BBQ locations in the United States. Let’s see if they can serve up some good ol’ authentic BBQ…
The wooden countertop, the chalkboard-esque menus, the open kitchen…this place definitely has some familiar BBQ charm.
Decisions, decisions. BAR-B-QSA has meats ranging from familiar pulled pork and ribs to less familiar sides such as fried okra and Brunswick stew. What are you in the mood for? Between three of us, we opted for the “5 Region Tour” with “NY ‘State Fair’ Chicken,” “PJ’s Original Ribs,” “Texas Brisket,” “Virginia Sausage,” and “North Carolina Pulled Pork.” The names of the meats imply the influence of various BBQ flavors from across the “QSA,” which PJ carefully incorporates into his style of barbequing.
After we ordered our meal, we were taunted by the huge, rotating smoker before we reached the seating area. The smell of seasoning and smoky meats is making me even hungrier!
Attached to the sides of the counter are descriptions of the restaurant’s barbeque methodology. PJ, the owner, wants you to know how much passion and detail he puts into his cooking.
A different method for different meats; how’s that for meticulousness?
Obviously, this man has done his fair share of travel to the BBQ capitals of the United States! Spoiler alert: it sure does pay off in the taste of his food!
But first, before we grab our food, I must explain the “Original Loganberry” soda. The cashier explained it to me as tasting somewhat like a blackberry, so being the adventurous foodie that I am, I bought a can for 75 cents. As I was drinking my uniquely sweet carbonated beverage, the owner came behind me and asked if the face on the can looked familiar. Turns out, PJ is the mastermind behind the Loganberry soda. He sincerely asked how I liked his creation, and I explained how the grape-meets-blueberry flavor was nothing I’d ever had.
Ding, ding! Looks like our food is ready.
The indoor seating area perfectly captures the essence of the restaurant: a unique combination of United States BBQ destinations rolled up and placed in upstate New York. The restaurant highlights certain locations, without making the “posters” and theme seem tacky.
A close-up of the artwork.
Before we eat, we must first choose our ideal barbeque sauces. Would you pick “Tennessee Whiskey,” “Kansas City Sweet,” “Original,” “Texas Hot,” or “Carolina Mustard?” To no one’s surprise, we needed to try all of them.
Finally ready to eat! Above is our “5 Region Tour” with chicken, brisket, sausage, pulled pork, ribs, cornbread, hush puppies, and curly fries. I don’t think I can imagine a more perfect combination of BBQ meal combinations. Let’s dig in!
Kevin and his friend Pete aren’t wasting any time.
Our friends Kelly and Alex ordered pulled pork and pulled chicken sandwiches with two sides: macaroni and cheese and cheese grits (not pictured because I ate them all).
Now let’s get done to the nitty-gritty: PJ knows his barbeque. It is obvious that he has traveled far and wide to become familiar with different BBQ flavors and seasonings and learned to incorporate all of America’s famous flavors into one small roadside restaurant. What Kevin and I do for amusement parks, PJ and his family do for barbeque. I call that passion.
The meats are not served smothered in BBQ sauce, which further shows the naked flavors of the meats. Your job is to decide which BBQ you want to pair your meal with, if any at all! The ribs were full of smoky flavor and pulled apart from the bone. The chicken was far from dry and was evenly cooked and crispy. The sausage had a charred skin and was incredibly juicy. The pulled pork paired perfectly with the Kansas City Sweet BBQ Sauce, and the brisket was definitely Kevin’s favorite. I don’t think I even got a bite! And they say chivalry isn’t dead…
If you’re not already drooling and need some more description of flavor and texture, the cornbread was crumbly, the hushpuppies were a perfect combination of crunchy on the outside yet chewy on the inside, the mac and cheese was rich and gooey, and the cheese grits (my personal favorite) were incredibly cheesy and delicious! Need I say more?
Do yourself a favor and stop into BAR-B-QSA in Saratoga Springs, NY for an affordable, smoky, flavorful combination of meats and authentic sides that will leave you thinking you’re in the Midwest, not upstate NY.
Just when you thought this place couldn’t get any better, they can. They are available for catering, so you can enjoy “A Taste Tour of American Barbeque” at your next party! For more information, please visit the BAR-B-QSA website here.
Hey, I'm Lexie! I'm Kevin's partner-in-crime during our roller coaster trips. I have currently ridden 232 different coasters and have visited 54 amusement parks. I can't wait to keep adding to my count and sharing our experiences with you.