Anne Arundel Pit Beef Tour
Need some help. My wife thinks I'm crazy, but I've convinced her to go on a Pit Beef tour of our county. I want to try four different places in the county. My question is...should we buy the sandwiches and try them all at the same time, or should we taste each one at each place while its nice and warm? I am thinking buy a sandwich at each place ( splitting between four) med rare with just tiger sauce. Going to...
Expressway Pit Beef in Odenton (West county and our local place)
Arundel VFD in Davidsonville (Central)
Bayside BBQ in Edgewater (South)
and if time permits...
Beefalo Bobs in Pasadena (North)
I've had three of the four already, but I saw that the VFD was doing pit beef this Saturday and I thought about the Pit Beef Tour.
Any suggestions? (Besides adding Baltimore into the mix)
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Beefalo Bob's
107 Mountain Rd, Pasadena, MD 21122
Expressway Pit Beef
8388 Piney Orchard Pkwy, Odenton, MD 21113
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Stopped at Beefalo Bobs Friday evening for dinner. I always forget how great this place is between visits. Spectacular pit beef (large sandwich, Tiger, and onions), very good fries (double fried when ordered), and the wings I ordered for my wife were decent. The only drawback is the clientele. While I waited for my order another gentleman dropped his crack on the floor while digging in his pocket for change for the soda machine.
They apparently have a sit down location on Ft. Smallwood road. I'm going to have to find that. Eating in the parking lot at the take out location on Mt. Road is a little nerve racking as you try to enjoy your meal while keeping an eye on the shirtless, badly inked, loiterers milling about.
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re: laststandchili
baltoellen
Aug 1, 2012 01:23 PM
There's no doubt in my mind that Beefalo Bob's is the best. However, I understand that the Ft Smallwood Rd location uses a different smoker, so I assume the pit beef is a bit less spectacular. If you go, I'd be curious to hear how they compare.
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Stopped for lunch at Expressway last week and was very happy with the decision.
The pit beef sandwich was medium rare as requested, and although the requested onions and horseradish were a little skimpy it was a great sandwich. Very tender. Accompanying fries were fine, but nothing special.
Unfortunately my wifes pulled pork sandwich was a sad affair typical of local "BBQ." No discernable smoke flavor, just pulled meat in sauce that rendered the whole an unsettling pinkish orange.
They have a pretty extensive menu but I'd stick to the beef. The staff working the window were great. Very friendly and service was quick.
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re: laststandchili
Glad you liked their pit beef....and they are really nice people. Even when you get the teenage kids working there they are always nice. I agree that most of the other stuff is just ok, although my daughter loves their wings. I would suggest next time getting a half smoke along with your pit beef. They do a pretty good half smoke....green peppers and onions....
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Here is a suggestion. Take a cooler on your tour. Buy two sandwiches at each place. Eat one at each location right off the grill and review it. Pack the other one in the cooler (because cooler can keep things hot too) and return home and if possible eat all of them together. Review again. Perhaps you will notice difference. I know several people who go to the Arundel VFD Pit Beef on Saturdays and buy enough sandwiches for their entire weekend because they are so good. Hope this helps with your tour.
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I can say that Arundel VFD will be doing Pit Beef this Sat, Oct 22nd. However, I cannot say ABSOLUTELY. Unfortunately, due to rain events this year (even the threat of it) , pit beef has been cancelled numerous times. It's all out doors with only a few pop up tents for shelter... so if there is a good chance of rain (and yea, there have been beautiful Saturdays with no pit beef thanks to those weather guys) they call it off 24 hours ahead of time.
You can always get last minute info at http://www.arundelfire.com or call the station at 301-261-0060. They will know by 7am if pit beef is on or not.
And yes.. awesome pit beef! They also have pit turkey and ham for those who don't like beef. 11 am is about the very best time to get there for that wonderful and coveted medium rare sandwich. Soda and chips available as well. And bring the kids! The members are always happy to show them around the Fire Trucks. And it's a nice stop before Renn Faire if that is your destination! AVFD is about 1/4 mile past the 450/424 intersection on 424.
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GraydonCarter
Sep 14, 2011 07:17 AM
Bolen Bull Pen Pit Beef is way out by Eldersburg. Anybody tried it? Sounds like the ribs are their specialty.
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GraydonCarter
Sep 7, 2011 03:09 PM
At the bottom of the page CH has done a good job of automatically including discussions on Chap's and Pioneer. Then there's also Kirkwood Pit Beef.
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" (A) My wife thinks I'm crazy, but (B) I've convinced her to go on a Pit Beef tour"
The two are not mutually exclusive.
You must eat the sandwiches as fresh as possible. Warm juicy thin slices of beef don't stay that way for long, and reconstituting them will change rare or medium rare to something undesirable.
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Terrie H.
Sep 6, 2011 06:19 PM
I would vote for eating them on site when they are freshly made and at their best. Can't see much use in trying to make a contest of the sandwiches - enjoy them at their best for what they are. And please take me with you!
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re: Terrie H.
RobertM
Sep 7, 2011 02:18 AM
Well, you may want to have the same stuff on each sandwich too, as well as eat them in your car where you buy em. My go to spots are Express Pit, and Beefalow Bob's on Sunday's!
You may want to check out the A&W truck on 175 just across the BW Parkway. He makes a nice Pit too. Just tell him you want it Baltimore style: Raw Onion/Horseradish/Mayo. Salt & Pepper is up to you.
Oh, remember to ask for Medium, or well done [too dry for me]. That medium can be pretty broadly cooked, from just right to well done to still moo ing at some places.
Now where is the VFW place located?
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