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August 6th, 2010
Del City restaurant offers refreshing barbecue
On a very hot, triple-digit day, I knew I was walking into a tasty lunch spot with some refreshing food when I saw my friend Phil from Norman munching on some fresh-cut fries.
JT's Bar-B-Que and Catering, 505 S. Sunnylane Road in Del City, is a cozy-looking eatery. It's usually a good sign when you pull into the parking lot and it is packed with vehicles - I say vehicles because there was barely a sedan in sight - and this particularly hot day was no exception. The restaurant is about halfway between SE 15th St. and Reno, tucked into a somewhat residential neighborhood.
Walking in, the staff is very friendly, and the restaurant's layout is very accommodating. It reminded me of the barbecue restaurants I used to visit with grandparents when I was child; the kind where you walk in, place your order and find your own seat. It has been operating in Midwest City since 1985.
The menu takes quite a while to peruse with so many choices; including dinners, baskets, combinations and sandwiches. These entrees range from full or half ribs, two-meat combo, sliced or pulled pork, sliced or chopped beef, half chicken, Polish sausage or hot link.
The write-on wipe-off board boasted the day's specials, including my choice: sandwich, side and drink for $6.95.
DECISIONS, DECISIONS
Just making the choice for the special did not end my decision-making process. There were many sandwiches from which to choose, including sliced or pulled pork, sliced or chopped beef, Polish sausage or hot link. I opted for the chopped beef, one of my favorite types of meat. Because it was such a hot day, I chose coleslaw instead of some of the other side choices, which included fresh-cut French fries, potato salad, baked beans, okra, green beans, corn "cobbets" or a bowl of chili. I was very tempted to try sweet tea or lemonade, but went the most refreshing route and ordered an ice water.
While I waited for my to go order, I chatted with Phil and his co-worker, who were eating a pulled-pork sandwich and fries, and ribs with fries. Both men were delighted with their lunch selections, as were the full tables of diners.
As I left, which was before noon, more diners were waiting for customers to finish their meals so they could occupy the tables.
Once I dug into my lunch, I polished off the coleslaw quickly. It was just the right blend of cabbages and carrots to hit the spot. I used my fork to eat about half of the chopped beef off my sandwich to prevent spillage, and it was tender and tasty.
The sauce - I opted for mild - was not even really needed as the meat's flavor was succulent.
However, I did go ahead and pour some sauce on the meat once I decided I could eat it sandwich-style without making a mess. Great choice. The roll was light and chewy without being gummy or crumbly. It was a terrific lunch that put me in a great mood once I consumed it. That's not an easy trick!
In addition to the barbecue choices, the restaurant serves beans and cornbread, chili and chili pie. The children's menu offers a corn dog on a stick with a side item, beef on a plate with one side item, a rib basket with one rib and one side and two chicken strips with a side item.
The dessert menu offers a brownie or cobbler - I saw the brownies and they looked like they were worth an hour on the treadmill - served with a scoop of ice cream.
JT's offers seven-day-a-week catering in addition to being open for lunch 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Thursday. The restaurant is open for lunch and dinner from 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
The catering menu offers a full-service buffet or pickup options. One takeout special is the family pack, which includes a slab of ribs, either a pound of chopped beef or a whole chicken, and a quart each of potato salad and baked beans, along with eight slices of Texas Toast, for $35.95.
The eatery may be reached at 670-3350.
JT's Bar-B-Que and Catering, 505 S. Sunnylane Road in Del City, is a cozy-looking eatery. It's usually a good sign when you pull into the parking lot and it is packed with vehicles - I say vehicles because there was barely a sedan in sight - and this particularly hot day was no exception. The restaurant is about halfway between SE 15th St. and Reno, tucked into a somewhat residential neighborhood.
Walking in, the staff is very friendly, and the restaurant's layout is very accommodating. It reminded me of the barbecue restaurants I used to visit with grandparents when I was child; the kind where you walk in, place your order and find your own seat. It has been operating in Midwest City since 1985.
The menu takes quite a while to peruse with so many choices; including dinners, baskets, combinations and sandwiches. These entrees range from full or half ribs, two-meat combo, sliced or pulled pork, sliced or chopped beef, half chicken, Polish sausage or hot link.
The write-on wipe-off board boasted the day's specials, including my choice: sandwich, side and drink for $6.95.
DECISIONS, DECISIONS
Just making the choice for the special did not end my decision-making process. There were many sandwiches from which to choose, including sliced or pulled pork, sliced or chopped beef, Polish sausage or hot link. I opted for the chopped beef, one of my favorite types of meat. Because it was such a hot day, I chose coleslaw instead of some of the other side choices, which included fresh-cut French fries, potato salad, baked beans, okra, green beans, corn "cobbets" or a bowl of chili. I was very tempted to try sweet tea or lemonade, but went the most refreshing route and ordered an ice water.
While I waited for my to go order, I chatted with Phil and his co-worker, who were eating a pulled-pork sandwich and fries, and ribs with fries. Both men were delighted with their lunch selections, as were the full tables of diners.
As I left, which was before noon, more diners were waiting for customers to finish their meals so they could occupy the tables.
Once I dug into my lunch, I polished off the coleslaw quickly. It was just the right blend of cabbages and carrots to hit the spot. I used my fork to eat about half of the chopped beef off my sandwich to prevent spillage, and it was tender and tasty.
The sauce - I opted for mild - was not even really needed as the meat's flavor was succulent.
However, I did go ahead and pour some sauce on the meat once I decided I could eat it sandwich-style without making a mess. Great choice. The roll was light and chewy without being gummy or crumbly. It was a terrific lunch that put me in a great mood once I consumed it. That's not an easy trick!
In addition to the barbecue choices, the restaurant serves beans and cornbread, chili and chili pie. The children's menu offers a corn dog on a stick with a side item, beef on a plate with one side item, a rib basket with one rib and one side and two chicken strips with a side item.
The dessert menu offers a brownie or cobbler - I saw the brownies and they looked like they were worth an hour on the treadmill - served with a scoop of ice cream.
JT's offers seven-day-a-week catering in addition to being open for lunch 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Thursday. The restaurant is open for lunch and dinner from 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
The catering menu offers a full-service buffet or pickup options. One takeout special is the family pack, which includes a slab of ribs, either a pound of chopped beef or a whole chicken, and a quart each of potato salad and baked beans, along with eight slices of Texas Toast, for $35.95.
The eatery may be reached at 670-3350.
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