Spry’s claims to be the “best BBQ in town.” I’m inclined to agree, but I should qualify that by saying that I still have not eaten at Jinx’s. It occupies what was once the Northern Exposure on West Main Street, between the end of the Corner and Midtown (there, I said it). On my walk home from work on Wednesday, some kids were handing out menus, and upon glancing at the sides (which included collard greens and hushpuppies), I decided that this place was probably for real, and decided to quench my lust for Carolina barbecue–which had been unsatiated since my move from southeastern Virginia–by eating dinner there later that evening.
Spry’s vinegar-based sauce was spectacular, but fell short of being purely orgasmic; that honor belongs to a tiny little place in Waverly, Virginia. The hushpuppies were quite tasteful and obviously freshly fried, and the cole slaw was served on the barbecue sandwich, like in any civilized barbecue joint. On a more serious note, the wait for my food was rather long, probably in excess of 30 minutes, which is much longer than it takes to fry up the hushpuppies (and the place was relatively quiet). However, the wait staff was pleasant and refilled my sweet tea as soon as I finished it. Northern Exposure’s New York motif had not yet been removed, as various pictures of NYC were still clinging to the wall. If you want to go someplace fancy for your barbecue, this is probably not the place. Food was served in plastic baskets with plastic silverware. As a sit-down type of restaurant, I would expect at least real silverware, but I understand it is their first week of business, and food often trumps presentation, in my opinion. Nonetheless, despite its shortcomings, the friendly staff warranted a second visit; I took a coworker there for lunch on Thursday.
Spry’s was quite packed for the Thursday lunch hour, mostly with health center employees. The wait for the food was even longer this time–nearly 40 minutes, but they seem to be understaffed. Hopefully the wait will decrease as the kinks get ironed out, but the staff was friendly and quick to refill my tea. Additionally, customers were given coupons for half off their next meal. For those of you that prefer beer with your ‘cue, they offer several common domestics along with Guinness, Blue Moon, and one of the Starr Hill beers. The blues emanates from a stereo system at the bar.
Pricing–this is probably what needs to be refined most. On both visits, I ordered the BBQ platter for $9.95. Platters come with hushpuppies and a choice of two sides (which are normally $2.95 individually). It’s very filling and a great deal for dinner, although perhaps a bit pricey for a lunch. The more lunch-like option is the BBQ basket. Baskets are $7.95, and come with fries and a pickle. It doesn’t require very much explanation to see why this isn’t such a great deal. If instead of fries, they gave you a choice of one side (fries are still an option) and lowered the price to $6.50, I would feel more inclined to eat there for lunch at least once or twice a week. They offer a Jr. Que, which comes with fries and a drink for $4.95, but I’m not sure how much food you get for this. I’ll have to order it and report.
Despite its early flaws in interior decorating and the wait for food, the people are friendly and the food is delicious, and I certainly plan on going back. Even though Spry’s is literally 50 feet from the Mellow Mushroom, I don’t expect many of the student-types to make their way past the invisible forcefield surrounding the Corner, which is probably bad for business. They promise happy hour with live music in the near future. I recommend Spry’s for those who love Carolina barbecue and are not in a rush to eat.
Popularity: 4% [?]
Tagged as: Bars, Happy Hours, Local Business, Music, Restaurants, Restaurants/Bars, Reviews
Gotta try it gotta try it gotta try it…
This is a great review, Ethan! Thanks!
Mmmm, barbeque! I was just wondering about this place today. Thanks for the very timely review!
Spry might be the best BBQ, but Jinx serves BARBECUE. There is a huge difference, and if you want barbecue, then eat at Jinx’s Pit Stop. If you want BBQ, then eat at Spry’s or Big Jim’s, etc…
I forgot to say if you want to know what the difference between Barbecue and BBQ is, then go to Jinx’s and ask. If he has the time, he will explain it. Or you can just read the sign he has that breaks it down.
I hit up Spry’s today and it was pretty delightful. The barbecue exceeded my expectations of what most Carolina-style places serve. I actually thought it was cute that they still have the MTA map and other nyc stuff on the wall. I was initially worried that they would try to dress up the barbecue after seeing Blue Moon on tap, but it’s straight up Carolina barbecue (although mine didn’t come with slaw on the bun… weird). The down to earth nature of the place was confirmed when one of the staff asked the bartender whether you fill a wineglass to the top or just halfway. The bartender said halfway because “those people like to swish it around”. In retrospect I may have also seen a white zinfandel and a merlot get pulled out of the same cooler, but I’m probably mythologizing the folkiness of the place at this point. But really - who the fuck drinks wine with barbecue?
Anyway, back to the food (which only took around 10 minutes to come out), while the barbecue was good the french fries were an afterthought, and my side of hushpuppies were unimpressive, but this could largely be because I’m not sure I’ve ever been impressed by hushpuppies.
The pricing was pretty wack - I think my basket with a side was over $10. Also, I’m pretty sure the Jr. Que menu is their kids menu, so that might not be the solution. What’s up with the platters being dailies? After looking at the menu again it looks like you can get the Carolina BBQ platter everyday, but they should really make the platters available everyday. Saturdays and Sundays are listed as “Pit Master Choice”, and I should have asked what that means, but I also should have been told what it was for today.
Also, I have no idea what the difference is between BBQ and barbecue so hopefully that doesn’t completely corrupt my critical perspective.
Got take out from them on Friday evening - 1 lb. of bbq, a half rack of ribs, a side of slaw and a side of hush puppies for just over $30. It was early (about 5:30ish), so it’s possible they were still getting ready, but it did take almost a half hour to get my food (although they were very sweet about it). That being said, the ribs were fantastic! They were perfectly tender falling off the bone but not falling apart (so basically perfect), with a nice fresh smoky flavor and a tasty sauce. The bbq was fine, but as I got it to go, they either didn’t sauce it or forgot to include the sauce in my bag so be sure to ask for it if you are ordering by the pound, as I was left craving that vinegar goodness. The slaw was ordinary and the hushpuppies were average, but I will defintely go back for the ribs and am curious to try the bbq in house to see how they dress it.
Hey, there’s nothing wrong with wine with barbecue. Get a rose or a spicy red and you’re in business.
I’ll still usually opt for a beer to go with mine, especially in a backyard or at a picnic, but wine makes a fine marriage, as well.
I don’t know; having a glass of wine with your barbecue is a severe social taboo in the South. Even if you could find a red wine that doesn’t completely clash Carolina barbecue, cole slaw, deep-friend cornmeal, beets, or baked beans, if you go to a real barbecue joint and ask for wine, the staff will laugh at you.
“…if you go to a real barbecue joint and ask for wine, the staff will laugh at you.”
Depends on how rude the staff is, in my opinion…
Dave’s right, it’s not unusual to see roses especially paired with BBQ right now. Beer will always be the go-to, though.
Dont get me wrong, I’m not going to some smokey pit BBQ joint and asking to see their wine list. But if I’m rocking some take-out or whatnot, it could be a whole different story.
Wine with BBQ sounds like a great idea - it’ll piss off the BBQ snobs AND the wine snobs. Win-win.
-gary
Well, I’m both, so I’m doubly offended. Or maybe my offense should be canceled out? I don’t know.
But a rose wine? Even that makes baby Jesus cry.
Rose is very hip for summer, as Petit Pois fans and Napa winos alike know. Here, it’s paired with fatty ribs in a WP blog. You’re right that pink hasn’t enjoyed popularity for some time. White zinfandel is a thing of the past
Oh no no no, Ethan. You’re likely thinking of the sickly sweet blushes and white zins that soccer moms everywhere unwind with, but there’s a whole world of delicious and highly respectable DRY roses out there that will make you a believer in the pink stuff. Go to Market St and pick up a bottle for $8 or so and give it a shot, just make sure it’s dry.
They match perfectly with a wide range of food, and are just so damn good.
Yeah Dave!
I’m sure there are good roses out there, and I’m sure they go with a wide variety of foods, but Lilith sums it up perfectly–they’re hip. I’m just not a very hip guy! There are certain foods that you just don’t eat with wine. Fried chicken, chili, and barbecue to name a few. It’s just not socially acceptable–immoral even! I don’t lie, steal, murder, wear bow ties to football games, and I sure don’t drink wine with my barbecue. It’s just a code I live by.
’sides, who would want wine with their food when beer can compliment food ever so much better?
the place in Waverly you referred to wouldn’t happen to be called Cowling’s, would it? if so, i completely concur w/ your sentiment.
Rose is not hip - okay, if you live in Brooklyn and never drank rose before this summer, then yes it may be hip for you. That being said, Casis and Bandol (let alone Colliuore) make some mind-blowing stuff and always have. I’m particularly a fan of anything heavy on granache, but you can find many great sourthern french roses out there. Even Veritas made a palatable one in 2003 from cab franc. So go out there and drink some pink (even though you should really be opening up burgundy in celebration of autumn, but this week’s unseasonable temps permit a bit more warm weather indulgences). Of course, I’m still drinking a beer with my bbq, but that’s probably just because I don’t care for the aesthetics of a wine glass covered with greasey saucy finger prints.
Yes, I was referring to Cowlings. My sister lives in Waverly and keeps me stocked with their sauce, which is the nectar of the gods.
only in charlottesville would anyone debate the wine selection in a carolina barbeque joint.
The food was GREAT and I enjoyed the original art work on the wall from Louisa native Darius Quarles who now resides in NC. I had to ask some questions to find all that out but it brings a different feel to an up and coming BBQ joint. Art and good food is a good combination for me.
ART and GREAT food was the attraction for me. I never mind waiting for food if there’s interesting artwork. I found that the current artist in Spry’s is from Louisa (Darius Quarles) and now lives in NC as a fulltime artist. I can handle the slow service for now being that it’s new. In time the issues that present themselves now won’t be here as the BBQ joint matures.
they do let you have a choice of side with the bbq basket. all you have to do is ask! i had hushpuppies, & they were FABULOUS. my friend had onion rings, which were also good. the vinegar sauce is very vinegary, but it grows on you. everyone who works there is so nice, & the roof deck is so peaceful. i’ll definitely return.
I think this bbq is great, they also have a sweeter sauce you can ask for to put on your que if you don’t like the vinegar. They now have a lunch buffett which is great, cuts down the wait for food during lunch… The ribs are great!!! I could eat those everyday. I think they are still changing as they go, which most new places do and I think they will do just fine. It is good to se the owners working in there along with the others… Great new place in charlottesville.
[…] finally made it to Spry’s after Ethan’s review a while back. My verdict? Between the excessively long wait and the cold plate of food (-10), I am […]
Will be hitting Spry’s this weekend. No food for a day or so in advance. I used to buy from these guys when they were over in the Carlton Road. I think these are the same guys. They were G & K then I think but will get to the bottom of this. Regardless I can’t wait. I just hope those hush puppies aren’t sweet like some places serve. Based on my upbringing the true cue places did not serve alcohol. It was ice tea. Ice tea with enough sugar to kick start the diabetes.
SPRY’S BBQ IS THE BEST.. MY BROTHER CAN COOK AND HE MAKES SOME GOOD FOOD!!
Spry’s is utterly destroyed by Belmont BBQ, IMHO. Right near Crush and La Taza for anyone interested…
You guys are CUTE! I can’t wait to share your comments with my Buddies on the BBQ Competition trail. I appreciate your love for BBQ or Barbecue! Sprys, Belmont , Jinx’s and Cowlins are all good. Oh by the way if any of you want to spend 12 to 16 hours so someone can pay $4.00 or less for a real BBQ sammich let me know. I could use some good cheap labor . lol . Alway your humble Pit Master of the Pigs on the Run Championship BBQ Team
[…] has seen the former Northern Exposure building that had a brief occupancy by now the deceased Spry’s Barbecue, you would know that something’s going down. The building looks like crap right now, having […]