Latest visit: Dec 2024 (Powers)
First visit: Dec 2018 (Austin Bluffs @ Centennial)
They have a third location in Fountain.
You won't get too far in a discussion about barbecue in Colorado Springs without Bird Dog jumping into the conversation. They generally win the Best Of awards in various magazines and newspapers. It has been precisely six years (to the day) that I first tried Bird Dog, and I wasn't overly impressed. Let's see how the second visit goes, this time at their eastern location.
Walk in and you'll see the line to the counter. On this Saturday for lunch, only old farts like me were in the place, but nonetheless their barbecue was hot and ready. I went with the Saturday special which was a brisket sandwich (or I could have gotten pork), which comes with a side and a fountain drink. I chose mac n' cheese as the side. My lunch was quickly assembled, I paid up, and grabbed a bottle of the X-tra hot since it doesn't reside on the table. Poured a Diet Coke and it's time to eat.
Hmm... not convinced this is great barbecue. Their foundation is what is known as Oklahoma BBQ, similar to RJG fave Billy Sims BBQ that is no longer in the Springs. The premise is the meat should taste like meat, not the wood. OK, I'm good with that. But it shouldn't be as tough as the wood either. OK, it wasn't that tough, but it could have been more tender. The flavor was good but not exceptional. Bread was average out-of-the-bag. The serving portion was also on the median side, could have gone for more. The three sauces were a cut above: Basic, Smoked, and X-tra hot. And they were much needed. The Mac n' Cheese is of the cheesy variety, sort of reminded me of the Noodle Co's variation. Very good. They gave me extra of that which was appreciated. It could have also been a bit hotter, but it certainly wasn't just warm. I'll tell you what really looked great was the chicken. I feel like a return visit is needed just to try it. One red flag, though, is they don't have a set price. Sort of a "market price" kind of deal. Given the fact that their "lunch special" was hardly a bargain ($12.50), it gives me pause.
Definitely not a rotation place, and the jury is out on a repeat visit to try the chicken.
12/7/18; 12/7/24 (new entry)
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