BBQ near Lord & Taylor in Eastchester?

[roxlet]

I was driving near there the other day, and I saw a sign on a place I had never noticed before. In the center it said "Sam's Mart" with a star between the two words like a riff on Wal Mart. On one side of this it said Deli and on the other it said BBQ! This is on the other side of the street from L&T and just down from Trader Joe's. Has anyone seen/tried this place?

[audreylynne]

I wish they had a good restaurant on that Rt 22 in Scarsdale/Eastchester. I am sure there is no BBQ place there. There are so many families in this area that would truly appreciate a good place to eat..a family restaurant.. and does anyone know why there are no fast food restaurants on rt 22 ??? .

[LetLug]

I believe there is a no franchise law in Eastchester. Would you want even more traffic in your town? Be careful what you wish for.

[roxlet]

I agree with LetLug -- who wants fast food on Rt. 22? First of all, the food is bad and bad for you, and second of all, they create an incredible amount of mess and trash. Thank heaven for small favors!

[vvvindaloo]

It can't be quite as simple as a franchise law (though I would jump right on board if it were possible). Eastchester is home to Dunkin Donuts, Carvel, Friendly's and Starbucks (not sure if they actually franchise).

[addictedtolunch]

Not sure there is such a thing as an "anti-franchise" law. Sounds illegal in itself. The just don't let the chains in. Part of the charm of the area, but leaves it lacking for convenient eats sometimes.

[roxlet]

Actually, I think that there is some sort of "anti-franchise" law or something that restricts fast food restaurants because I remember the hoo-ha out in Mattituck when McDonald's wanted to open. They started digging in the middle of the night because of a law that had just been passed against them, and if they started the foundation, they would be grandfathered. Although there is a 7/11 on the north fork of LI, there are no other fast food restaurants because of the ordinance they passed. They also stipulated no drive-thru, but despite this, I remember how much McD trash started appearing on the roads. If you're desperate for fast food, drive a couple of miles to Central Avenue, and you can have your pick!

[LetLug]

I think places like Starbucks and Carvel are more storefronts and do not allow for a lot of seating, which is why they are allowed to exist. A larger place like a McDonalds would never be allowed in Eastchester/Scarsdale. I can't imagine a big Burger King showing up in the village of Bronxville for the same reason. These are towns, not cities and it is something that might sound illegal, but it is surely not a coincidence that they are found in Yonkers, New Rochelle and White Plains and not in Tuckahoe, Eastchester, Scarsdale or Bronxville.

[vvvindaloo]

"... a big big Burger King showing up in the the village of Bronxville..." that's a good one, LetLug. Even the Gap got chased out of B'ville :)
I think it is more an immediate commercial zone regulation that allows areas to keep fast food outlets away. For instance, while it is true that the centers of the Villages of Scarsdale and Larchmont do not have any fast food restuarants, those same municipalities do have them on major roads (Central Ave., Boston Post Rd.) within their borders.

[vvvindaloo]

I found the minutes from a 2007 hearing on passing a local law (Village of Mamaroneck) enacting a moratorium on further leasing or expansion of fast food restaurants in the Village proper. It seems to me that any local gov't. in good financial shape might choose not to seek the obvious financial benefits of fast food restaurants in favor of balance in local planning, concerns regarding health, sanitation and aesthetics... the resons noted were interesting, if predictable.
http://www.village.mamaroneck.ny.us/P...

[addictedtolunch]

Agree, looks more like typical zoning restrict. rather than "anti-franchising" which would seem to aim impermissibly at a legal corporate structure.

[MisterBill2]

> storefronts and do not allow for a lot of seating, which is
> why they are allowed to exist

So how do you explain Friendly's (Food Emporium Shopping Center, last time I looked)?

[LetLug]

Omigod! Did Valbella's go out of business? I am soooo suprised that Eastchester/Scarsdale would allow a BBQ on that corner. Their steak was so great too....Too bad. I liked that place also because it is the only real place to eat other than the Birdcage at Lord and Taylor. Is that place still open? A cup of soup and half of a sandwich for under $10. Those were the days.

[roxlet]

No, Valbellas is still there. This is not a restaurant -- it's like a deli with a big BBQ sign. It's not on a corner, and it is on the opposite side of the street than Valbellas...

[LetLug]

Thank Goodness. What a relief. I was all set thinking I was going to have to go get some ribs there. Speaking of ribs, where can I get some good ribs? (Please don't suggest Ribs on the Run.)

[jhopp217]

No love for ribs on the run? I have to admit, I am not a BBQ fanatic, but that's because I rarely think the slop aound here they (see Dinosaur bbq) call BBQ is very good. I like succulent meat (see ribs on the run) that doesn't need to be drenched in sauce. Hands down the best ribs, although not technically bbq, I've ever had were at Smith & Wollensky's, and ironically that was a surprise because I don't think their steaks were any better than say, Outback.

I have heard Q's is good, but lack ambience, and I don't know how they have recovered from the fire. Yvonne's supposedly has some good BBQ, but I've heard mixed reviews lately. I hate the food, but evryone swears by Sherwood's. So maybe it's me.

[dolores]

>>So maybe it's me.

Nah, it ain't you. Westchester (and nearby) doesn't do BBQ.

I didn't like Q at all and would never go back. Ribs on the Run was okay, but it didn't make my mouth sing. Hudson Fish and Rib's ribs were raw. Twice.

BBQ at a gas station? I don't think so.

[jhopp217]

I will say this about ribs on the run. I've gotten food there 3 times in the past two months, and the ribs have been different every time. Each time I got baby backs and the first time very good, second, eh, third time, wow!

Their marinade for their chicken is very good, and I recently had their buffalo wings which were above average.

[corky]

dolores...if you are going as far north as fishkill (hudson fish and rib) why not go up rte.22 in eastern dutchess county to wingdale (about the same latitude as fishkill) to bigwbbq...its worth every last drop of $4 a gallon gas

[dolores]

Yes, corky, Big W is on my 'must try' list, especially since they've put down roots.

[laylag]

jhopp and everyone - I think, for clarity sake, it would be helpful if BBQ/barbecue (Big W, Q, Bailey Smokehouse, the place in Mahopac, place in Valhalla), were discussed completely separately from baked and grilled ribs places such as Ribs on the Run.

Low temperature very slowly smoked meats are BBQ. The other stuff is not. They can't be compared.

[jhopp217]

Technically they are both bbq. One is grilled bbq, and the other is smoked. Actually there is more debate on if pork or beef is true bbq, than there is the method of cooking. Wet and dry marinades are also a more common one of contention.

And I don't claim to know exactly how ribs on the run make their ribs, but I've seen them in there preparing early in the morning for the rest of the day.

Another thing that a lot of people don't seem to realize is that if you overcook almost any meat on the bone it will fall off and get flaky with a fork. That doesn't necessarily consitute good bbq.

Personally, I don't care how it is cooked, as long as the skin is crispy, and the meat is tender and juicy. If it takes an hour or 14 hours, it's all good to me.

[laylag]

Yes jhopp - that is correct technically and I'm well aware of the Texas vs. most everyone else beef vs. pork degate. However, what I am speaking of when I refer to bbq is slow smoked meats usually cooked in a pit or some other specially designed pit-like contraption. You are correct that low and slow without the smoking can also be called barbecue but when I, and others, are seeking "real bbq" almost always it's meat, whether beef, pork or chicken slowly smoked. You know it from it's smoky taste and by the distinctive pink smoke ring.

[jhopp217]

Laylag, I'm no expert on BBQ, but I have noticed that some bbq joints get that distinctive pink smoke ring from overcooking. I guess what I'm saying is that so many times bbq looks better than it tastes.

I agree with you about the pit or pit like contraption. I haven't yet experienced it, but I have watched tv shows where the food is basically buried and covered with leaves or moistened burlap sacs. I would love to try this, as this is as "authentic" as you can get, in my opinion.

[roxlet]

jhopp -- the red ring is absolutely NOT a result of overcooking. It is a result of low and slow time in the BBQ. If the BBQ you've had looks better than it tastes, then you haven't had BBQ, which is not particularly beautiful!
We have our own pit which came up from Texas on the back of a flat-bottomed truck. Essentially, it is a piece of oil field pipe sawed in half and hinged. There is a firebox for wood on one end and a smokestack on the other. There is no burlap sacks or moist leaves. It's just meat, wood and smoke.

[laylag]

That's what I'm talking about roxlet! Yum, I'm salivating just thinking about what you are creating with your pit. Do you do take-out? : )

[roxlet]

No, but the pit is so big that we "put out the barbecue flag" when we light the thing. We call all the neighbors and friends in the area and invite them to bring over their food to be smoked. Pulled pork takes so long, that it's more of an occasional thing, but my husband routinely does hot smoked salmon, turkeys, chickens, ribs, etc. What ever the neighbors bring over, we cook. We're like the village baker, except with protein!

[jhopp217]

my point/question was-is, what maks your method authentic and not someone elses? I've seen people make Q's out of everything, and to some it tastes great, to some it tastes awful.

and as for the ring. I've seen, smelled, and tasted the ring on good and bad bbq.

I honestly think people get caught up more in the look and smell of bbq than of the taste

[roxlet]

Well, that's your opinion, but I live with a man to whom barbecue is not only a fact of life, but a part of his life. I am Italian from NYC, and my husband is from Georgia, and I'm here to tell you that it absolutely tastes great. I never had BBQ, I can assure you, until my husband introduced it to me. It is absolutely delicious. I'm not sure what else to say to a doubting Thomas...

[gnocchi]

There has been a discussion going on in Cookware about electric smokers.

http://www.chowhound.com/topics/51828...

Apparently there is some agreement (as much as you can have when talking about BBQ) that presence of a smoke ring has no signifcance as relates to taste and is no longer used as a judging criteria in KCBS competitions.

[corky]

has jhopp met big W?

[jhopp217]

Nope, we haven't met

[laylag]

You should.

[roxlet]

OK, I'll bite: who's big W? I'm hoping it's not someone who currently lives in Washington...

[jhopp217]

I'm hoping it's a someplace and not a someone

[roxlet]

I don't know -- does one "meet" a someplace?

[laylag]

Big W is a place but I guess it is a person too and that would be Warren who is the the owner of Big W's Bar-be-cue in Wingdale, NY. It's a bit of a hike from Southern Westchester but we were up in the area picking fruit last summer and had read about BigW here on chowhound and tried it and it was very, very good. I hope you go sometime roxlet. I'd love to hear your take on it. Then again with that giant smoker at home and your very home hubby pitmaster is it ever really necessary to go out for cue?

http://www.bigwsbbq.com/

[vvvindaloo]

laylag, i'm considering a mini-roadtrip to bigW. can you tell me where i can pick fruit nearby? that just might tip the scales. thanks!

[corky]

barton's orchards...about 10 minutes west of pawling

[roxlet]

We occasionally have barbecue when we visit Atlanta, or other BBQ hubs, but anything else locally would be more in the nature of market research! The new (even more enormous) smoker arrives next week...

[addictedtolunch]

It's half of the old Getty station opposite Lord and Taylor, corner of Wilmot and Rte 22. There's a sign that says "barbecue". Looks tres' sketchy, kinda like the barbecue they were selling in Texas Chainsaw Massacre. I'll give it a try, but if it "tastes like chicken...".

[roxlet]

Well, let us know if you do try it. Since my husband is a barbecuer par excellence, I never eat anything but his pulled pork & ribs. He made ribs this weekend -- cooked 4 hours over hickory. Can't get anything better than that anywhere.

[VFresser]

These days when spouse and I find ourselves longing for bbq we had over the bridge to Bailey's Smokehouse in Blauvelt. Consistently good.

[streamwise]

The best BBQ tends to be sketchy! So has anyone tried this???

[roxlet]

That's what I was asking!

[jhopp217]

Is this where that coffee place Java Joe's was?

[roxlet]

I don't think so. I think it was some sort of little deli before, but I'm not sure. It's kind of inconspicuous since it it slightly set back with parking right in front. I can't say that it ever popped on my radar before...

[jhopp217]

Oh you mean the place that used to be a gas station. Didn't know that was anything but a convenience store

[roxlet]

I think it must be under new management...