We’re going to wrap up our mountain trip this year with a visit to Countryside Barbeque in Marion, NC. Countryside is located on Rutherford Rd. not far off of I-40. We’ve actually been coming here for years but I’ve never written about them. I have wanted to get a review written about them for a long time now. Highway 221 is also a good route to get here. There have been times when riding on the Blue Ridge Parkway that we have been as far away as Boone and jumped on Hwy. 221 to go back to Marion. So let’s get along with this and see how it goes.
The Restaurant and Staff:
Countryside Barbeque is a very nice restaurant with a large menu to choose from. The dining room is large and well kept. The staff keeps everything fresh and clean. Tables are cleaned off as soon as customers leave. Everyone there seems to really hustle to take care of people. They’ve been very friendly every time that we’ve been there. We actually started going when the previous owner was still in business, probably some 20 years ago. This is another area where we do a lot of family research.
So about 13 years ago the previous owner decided to retire. We panicked when we heard that but were assured by locals that he took his time to find the right person to sell to. He wanted Countryside Barbeque to continue the way he had built it. Rob and his sister now run the business. Their dad bought the business and they have stayed true to its roots. Rob said his dad still helps out at times.
This visit we had Whitney for a waitress. She was awesome. She was very friendly and had a great sense of humor. Whitney also knows the menu and can offer you plenty of suggestions from it. She’s been working there about 10 years. Now that’s loyalty.
Our Choices at Countryside Barbeque:
Ribs with Potato Salad and Baked Beans.
Tammy and I actually thought a review had been written about Countryside Barbeque so she veered off the BBQ Trail and ordered Country Fried Steak with Mashed Potatoes, Corn and Green Beans. They also gave her a little Slaw. Even though it wasn’t bbq I tried her country fried steak. It melted in my mouth. It was so good. Well that’s just a little extra for you.
Not thinking about writing a review I just ordered a 1/2 Rack of Ribs with Potato Salad and Baked Beans. After ordering I checked my site and there’s no review for them. So when Whitney came back I ordered a Pulled Pork Sandwich without the bun. I chose Red Slaw with it. The baked beans were good. It had a similar flavor as their House made BBQ Sauce. The potato salad was very good. I thought it would have too much mayo for me but it didn’t. I enjoyed both of my sides. The red slaw came with a little vinegar bite and just a touch of heat from somewhere. It was fine chopped. I loved it.
Pulled Pork with Red Slaw.
The ribs were killer. They had a great smoke and seasoning flavor. They held to the bone just a little like they should. These ribs were also nice and tender. Just awesome. The pork had a great smoke flavor as well as a nice smoke ring. It also has some really good bark mixed in with it. You can tell it’s freshly cooked every day. The pork has a great flavor. I actually think it has improved over the years.
Final Thoughts:
Yes we love this place. Tammy and I used to go to Marion, NC a lot to research my Granddaddy’s side of the family. We spent many weekends hunting for off the beaten path cemeteries. Wish I had my Jeep back then. But we would always eat at Countryside Barbeque several times while in the area. That made the large menu even better. They also used to have an awesome breakfast buffet on Saturday morning. I don’t know if they still have that or not. So if you’re traveling I-40 East of Black Mountain you need to pay them a visit. Plus with their menu you can please everyone in your group. I do believe you’ll be glad you stopped in for a meal. And if you’re lucky you may even have room for dessert. We didn’t this time but have had many times in the past.
Now For Your Thoughts:
Well what do you think about Countryside Barbeque? Have you been here? How did it go? Go down a little and drop some comments off. I’ll get them posted as soon as possible.
How about the regulars? I know the place is always full of local folks. Tell us about your restaurant. There’s a lot on the menu that I didn’t discuss. Tell us about your favorites. I know Marion has built up some over the years and you have more restaurant choices so what keeps you coming back? Scroll down and leave some comments. I’d love to post some with this review to let others know how you feel.
I look forward to hearing from you.
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You can check out their website at: http://countrysidebbq.net/
You can also find them on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/countrysidebbq/
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