Salt Creek Barbecue - Batavia and elsewhere

I had seen signs in the windows that the abandoned Fazoli's by the Menards on Randall Road was going to become the Salt Creek Barbecue but never looked like anything was happening. Drove by while running errands today and saw that they were open, opened yesterday, so I pulled around through Menards and gave it a try. The drive up menu board is just taped on paper right now so much of the menu is not on it, I am limited in my walking and could not go inside. I wound up odering a pulled pork sandwich and a side of mashed potatoes because I did not see that they had sweet potato fries. Brought the meal home to eat. The mashed potatoes tasted like instant/food service with thin gravy. The sandwich had a generous amount of meat, nicely pulled and tender but without a lot of taste more than the sauce which has a vinegary after taste. I'll probably try other things like the blue cheese burger or some of the apps (all fried). They list other locations in Glendale Heights and Elk Grove Village, anyone tried?

Salt Creek Barbecue
220 North Randall Road
Batavia, Il
630-406-5000

I've been to the location in Glendale Heights a few times. In my experiences everythings been fairly decent but nothing spectacular. Personally I've tried the rib tips, pulled pork, cajun sausage, and the brisket sandwich. Out of those my favorite were the rib tips.

Flip

I used to go to the Elk Grove Village location a few times back in 2004 because I had a client nearby.

A little variable, but not bad for the Southern Pride class of Q. Probably a step down from Uncle Bub's in Westmont, and Thomas BBQ on Montgomery in Aurora, but better than most of what is around out here, which is not really high praise. I liked the tips at Joe's in Hillside, but that may be too far for you to drive.

I just noticed a new place on Maple, near Route 53 in Lisle, did not catch the name, and there was a writeup in the Trib on Thursday about a place on route 30 in Plainfield that has apparently been there forever, and I either missed it entirely or dismissed it based on the look as mediocre white folk sit down Q. But I plan to stop by this spring on my way back from a soccer game and will report.

Anyway, Salt Creek seemed okay if you had a taste for Q and were there, but not really very exciting. Not terrible either. Some smoke but it varies, often a little too tender but not quite mush. Not bad sides, okay sauce.

I think if you search you will find a few other mentions and opinions, but they generally agree with the above.

I agree that Thomas BBQ in Aurora is much better but this place is 10 blocks from my house so worthy of a try. The pork was distinctly pulled and not mush as I did wind up having to eat some with a fork.

I've tried the one in Elk Grove once. It's about the same distance from my office as Sweet Baby Rays in Woodale. I much prefer SBR for the area. I haven't tried their new Elk Grove location yet. But from home I'll make the trip to Honey1 since it's better than both.