Welcome to THEJNSREPORT’S WILDWOOD BBQ Food Travel Log 2013

After a semi stressful day at work I decided I wanted some BBQ and being near Union Square area I remembered there were two BBQ places nearby that I’d tried.  One is Brother Jimmy’s BBQ and the other is WildWood.  I’d remembered WildWood from early last year when I had gotten an order to go.  I unfortunately wasn’t able to review it at that time and so with out further ado.  Here we go.  WildWood is located on 20th St. and Park ave.

I arrived at WildWood a little after 10pm and was greeted before being seated.  The first table I was shown was a bit too boxed in for my taste so I requested and was granted seating towards the rear of the establishment.  I received the Menu and looked it over for a few minutes before completely settling in on what I wanted.  When I looked up my server was nowhere to be seen.

I sat patiently as minute after agonizing minute ticked away before I made eye contact with a floor manager who then got my server’s attention and she arrived to take my order.   I looked around the joint and it was pretty full throughout so I gave my server the benefit of the doubt that she was busy and got to me as soon as she could.  I decided to splurge a little and so this was what I ordered.  Appetizer, Main Course, 2 sides, and a glass of Seltzer.

The appetizer

If you guessed wings…you are partially correct.  But these wings are unique in that they have a spice rub on them that is something to experience trust me!!!

The wings were savored tender bites that had hints of sweet cinnamon in the rub used on them.  It was a shame that for $10.50 you only get six of these.  I mean it is chicken.  Cmon’ Man!!! LOL  Anyway, once the wings were learned then understood, I looked up for my server in anticipation of ladies and gentlemen…The Main Event!!! In a word…Yassum!!!!  It came to me with a quiet announcement from a server.  “Excuse me, ribs, mac n cheese, and mashed potato.”  I placed my sides above unaware that I had inadvertently made the meal look like a smiley face.

The Main Event

Is this the beginning of wisdom or what?  A full rack of Memphis style rubbed baby back ribs!!!!!  I don’t eat a lot of pork often but when it’s done right like this.  It’s a must.

Before deciding to order the full rack, I’d asked my server if she knew how many ribs were in a half rack.  To my dismay she didn’t know but used her hands to give an approximate size of what would be a half rack.  Unconvinced I decided better not chance it.  These amazingly presented ribs looked like my personal little meat xylophone.

I used my knife to separate a portion of ribs to sample my first bites of this rack of happiness.  The ribs were cooked reasonably well but weren’t as fall off the bone tender as Dinosaur BBQ.  Still I dove into another section of ribs before sampling first taste fork fulls of a wondrous creation of aged cheddar mac n cheese with breadcrumb topping.  I chased those bites of mac n cheese with buttery mashed potatoes that reminded of my days in day care where the food was cooked so well.  Like home cooked food with love.

After finishing the first half of the rack I decided to sample the carousel of sauces WildWood has on every table.  I tried the Voodoo sauce which was bla in my opinion.  It definitely didn’t knock my socks off.  I tried two more sauces before going in with what you see on the plate above.  Hotter Hot Sauce people!!!  Those few concentrated drops collected in that benign looking pool is nothing to be trifled with.  Initially, I liked the kick of flavor I experienced as it helped propel me through another section of ribs.  Then all of a sudden the realization of this sauce’s after burn after taste had me sipping extended sips of seltzer and sucking ice cubes to no avail to lessen the stinging and increasing burn from this sauce.  Do not underestimate this sauce.

I tried some more of the sweeter BBQ sauces to lessen the sting that remained lingering on my tongue.  It lessened after awhile but I wasn’t chancing any more burning.  I abstained from any more Hotter Hot Sauce after that.

What Mac N Cheese?!!!  This is by far the best Mac N Cheese I’ve had in a long time.  The only other one I think that comes close is one I had over thanksgiving at a relatives home several years back.  The taste was exceptional and the breadcrumbs just took it over the top.

I will definitely be coming back for more Wild Wood BBQ Aged Cheddar Mac N Cheese!!!!!   After a few sips of seltzer water to cleanse my palate I refocused my attention on the rack.  The following is what transpired.

I didn’t finish the mashed potatoes as the Wings, Ribs and Mac N Cheese had me completely satiated.  After sitting a while in order to let my stomach settle and begin to digest, I snapped a quick picture of the mood inside.  The lighting is purposely this dark inside WildWood.

There is a huge Bar in Wild Wood and HDTV’s all around showing all manner of sports events currently on.  As for the lighting I actually liked that it was this dark inside.  All in all my meal not including any real soda, or alcohol, or juice, came in at just over $54 not including tip.  I was certainly well pleased with my meal even if the start of my stay at WildWood wasn’t as seamless as I would have liked.  I thanked my server and was congratulated on finishing what I started notwithstanding the remainder of the mashed potatoes.  WildWood will definitely be on the repeat visits list for BBQ in the city.  Check this place out.

Till next time, this has been another Food Travel Log WildWood 2013 by THEJNSREPORT.