In my defense, I did post on two non-chicago barbecue restaurants just last week!

And, I've been to Honey 1 half a dozen times in the last six months and have nothing new to report. It's still as great as ever.

Mike G wrote:And six months after reporting on a very promising new barbecue operation in this thread and the Reader, I remain the only person here who has ever even tried it, apparently.

If this place is so promising why would you bury it in this thread? I would think more attention would be paid and more discussion generated by a new thread.

In case nobody knows what Mike G is referring to:

BBQ Soul Food
3734 W. Division
773-276-7756

gleam wrote:And, I've been to Honey 1 half a dozen times in the last six months and have nothing new to report. It's still as great as ever.

You did report on Honey 1 just last week, but it was in the Kuma's thread.

Hey, so I'm super awesome!

And I really do keep meaning to go to BBQ Soul Food.. maybe once I get over this holiday season cold..

It's actually P&P BBQ Soul Food, at that address.

And I didn't bury it in this thread; it was the feature story in the Reader's food section that week.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jp_jEryyND8

Mike G wrote:I've been studiously avoiding this train-wreck-into-a-burning-orphanage-full-of-escaped-zoo-animals, but I would like to point out one thing: it may be 812 to 1 against Nsxtasy opinionwise, but he's the first person to comment substantively on a recent actual visit to Honey 1 since July 8th.

Well I went there today, and now I think I'm going to die. But I'll die a happy man!

I usually order the small combo, but I was feeling a little extra hungry at lunch today. So I ordered a large instead. Worst case, I have a little left over for a snack later on. OK, I don't know who I was kidding with that thought. Ate the whole damn thing. I couldn't stop, it was just perfect. Finished about 1pm and almost immediately had to lay down and take a nap. Just got up about an hour ago and I still feel like I'm going to explode.

Not much you can really say about it. For me the combo has always been a very consistent product. Always very barky exterior, but never dried out. The links never dried out either. Can't comment on how smokey they really were because I was basking in the smoke smell all the way home in the car. I think they changed the fries again. I swear that the last time I was there (it's been a while) they had changed to a krinkle cut. But after spending the 40 minute drive home they were just a means to ingest the pork drippings.

midas wrote:

Mike G wrote:I've been studiously avoiding this train-wreck-into-a-burning-orphanage-full-of-escaped-zoo-animals, but I would like to point out one thing: it may be 812 to 1 against Nsxtasy opinionwise, but he's the first person to comment substantively on a recent actual visit to Honey 1 since July 8th.

Well I went there today, and now I think I'm going to die. But I'll die a happy man!

I usually order the small combo, but I was feeling a little extra hungry at lunch today. So I ordered a large instead. Worst case, I have a little left over for a snack later on. OK, I don't know who I was kidding with that thought. Ate the whole damn thing. I couldn't stop, it was just perfect. Finished about 1pm and almost immediately had to lay down and take a nap. Just got up about an hour ago and I still feel like I'm going to explode.

Not much you can really say about it. For me the combo has always been a very consistent product. Always very barky exterior, but never dried out. The links never dried out either. Can't comment on how smokey they really were because I was basking in the smoke smell all the way home in the car. I think they changed the fries again. I swear that the last time I was there (it's been a while) they had changed to a krinkle cut. But after spending the 40 minute drive home they were just a means to ingest the pork drippings.

The small combo is an appetizer. I've learned to get the X-large combo because even though my wife will tell me she wants a slab I know from experience she will still pick at my combo, so Large isn't enough. I agree about the fries - they become the Chicago aquarium smoker-based version of poutine - soaked in pork drippings and bbq sauce (I get sauce on the side for most things except for tip/link combos). In between bites of tips and links I lick my fingers clean enough to grab a fork and spear those pork-sauce fries. Accompanied by a cold malt beverage it's one of the perfect foods for football-watching. Or watching nothing at all.

Midas wrote:

It's funny too, I remember back when Carson's opened up on Ridge. Not only would I go there often, but it was really a special event when I went. Now that I've been exposed to others I have no desire to ever go there again.

Shouldn't be hard to avoid, as it's been closed for several years.

I was in town for the New Year and was originally going to hit Barbara Ann's but the traffic back into the city as we headed down 90/94 made it clear that we'd be smelling delicious barbecue for way longer than we'd have liked. (And the freezing temperatures made the notion of eating on the lid of the trunk unappealing.)

We wound up at Honey 1 for the reliable old standby of rib tips. Both of the Roberts were as pleasant and friendly as ever and I truly think the fries were some of the best I've ever had from them. The rib tips were everything I'd dreamt of since leaving town. (And I have to say, if there's decent barbecue in Madison I've yet to discover it.)

I was pretty glad to have wound up there, even if I still can't finish a large order of tips.

sundevilpeg wrote:Shouldn't be hard to avoid, as it's been closed for several years.

Wasn't hard to avoid before they closed either.

We live far too close to Honey 1. It'd be easy to make it a weekly event, but so far we're succeeding in only going once in awhile.

Kman wrote:The small combo is an appetizer. I've learned to get the X-large combo because even though my wife will tell me she wants a slab I know from experience she will still pick at my combo, so Large isn't enough. I agree about the fries - they become the Chicago aquarium smoker-based version of poutine - soaked in pork drippings and bbq sauce (I get sauce on the side for most things except for tip/link combos).

The X-large combo is our standard order. It feeds two of us pretty well if we're not starving, and we're both pretty good eaters. We made the mistake of getting the sauce on the side once, and I agree that the fries are vastly improved by spending the short car ride home sitting under the saucy tips.

The combo is definitely one of my favorite meals in Chicago. In fact, it sounds like a good dinner option for tonight . . .

Ronna

i was at honey one in december with about 30 bbq guys and girls
we thought it was good bbq and we all had fun
to me thats what bbq is and is what bbq is about
not how good it is
but that it is an enjoyable experience

it was a good time..Robert Adams and son were great hosts as well

My New year's resolution is to read LTH restaurant posts all the way through before I go to the restaurant. For carryout I ordered, tips, wings, full slab. What I got was a soggy mess. Everything just full of sauce, I could barely taste anything for all the sauce. I even tried to wipe everything down with the white bread, but it was all sauced up. The best thing I had were the tips. I'm going to have to do the whole excercise again, and get absolutely nothing sauced. All sauce ,including the wings, on the side. Really, the fries, were just ridiculous. I was a bit disappointed with the minimal side choices. No mac and cheese or greeens.

nicinchic wrote:Everything just full of sauce, I could barely taste anything for all the sauce.

Always order "sauce on the side" at any BBQ location. This is a policy that doesn't only apply to Honey 1. I believe G Wiv refers to it as "standard operating procedure".

nicinchic wrote: I was a bit disappointed with the minimal side choices. No mac and cheese or greeens.

This is pretty typical for Chicago barbecue. For whatever reason, the local tradition (at least south and west side) doesn't include sides like greens or beans or mac & cheese. My guess as to why is because most of these barbecue joints are take-out places and the food is meant to be easily eaten without the help of utensils. But this is just a guess, and doesn't quite explain the presence of coleslaw. Anybody have other ideas? Or does anyone know of an aquarium smoker barbecue place that does have the traditional Southern run-down of side dishes? I can't think of one off the top of my head.

eatchicago wrote:

nicinchic wrote:Everything just full of sauce, I could barely taste anything for all the sauce.

Always order "sauce on the side" at any BBQ location. This is a policy that doesn't only apply to Honey 1. I believe G Wiv refers to it as "standard operating procedure".

I make one exception at Honey 1. I like the sauce on a tips or combo order. I think the mediocre french fries are much improved by sitting in sauce during the drive home. And, I haven't found the tips or links to be too saucy.

Ronna

Binko wrote:

nicinchic wrote: I was a bit disappointed with the minimal side choices. No mac and cheese or greeens.

This is pretty typical for Chicago barbecue. For whatever reason, the local tradition (at least south and west side) doesn't include sides like greens or beans or mac & cheese. My guess as to why is because most of these barbecue joints are take-out places and the food is meant to be easily eaten without the help of utensils. But this is just a guess, and doesn't quite explain the presence of coleslaw. Anybody have other ideas? Or does anyone know of an aquarium smoker barbecue place that does have the traditional Southern run-down of side dishes? I can't think of one off the top of my head.

I was at Smokin M's in Forest Park on Saturday, and they have some greens and fried mac & cheese available now while they experiment with them. I was told the fried mac had some provolone and mozzarella added to it, which was interesting.

eatchicago wrote:

nicinchic wrote:Everything just full of sauce, I could barely taste anything for all the sauce.

Always order "sauce on the side" at any BBQ location. This is a policy that doesn't only apply to Honey 1. I believe G Wiv refers to it as "standard operating procedure".

I finally made it out to Smokin T's in Long Grove on Sat..i was very pleased to see that they do not serve with sauce and instaed have 4 sauces (all 4 very good sauces) on the table in squeeze bottles.
I was very impressed with the food and staff there BTW

I know it was my fault, but really, the restaurant is the expert, not me. When I order crab rangoon from Butterfly, the corner is always cut of the box so they stay crispy. Shouldn't all BBQ places just serve sauce on the side for carryout? Shouldn't it be the other way around? They always ask that question at Harold's. Do you want it sauced or on the side? Oh well, another trip to Honey 1 certainly isn't a sacrifice. The tips I did get that weren't all sauced up seemed as if they had a wonderful bark on them, and chewy like I like them. I'm just going to have to remember the "SOP" it's important.

eatchicago wrote:Always order "sauce on the side" at any BBQ location. This is a policy that doesn't only apply to Honey 1. I believe G Wiv refers to it as "standard operating procedure".

Amen! Amen! Amen!
You gotta sometimes take it a step further, and CHECK before you leave the joint if you don't or can't watch them make it. I'd say about 25% of the time, even if you clearly state "Sauce on the side" for some reason it still gets slathered. I'm not talking about Honey 1, just Chicago Q in general.

nicinchic wrote:The tips I did get that weren't all sauced up seemed as if they had a wonderful bark on them, and chewy like I like them.

If you like your tips chewy and barky, Honey1 is the place to go. I'm totally addicted.

always sauce on the side @ Honey 1 or any BBQ spot...

For me.. no sauce is needed on ibs, however I need some sauce to dip the hot links & fries in.

Funny, I got takeout from there for the first time a couple of weeks ago. The man at the counter (I believe it was Robert Adams Jr.) asked if I wanted sauce on the side. I asked him what he recommended, and he said "First time? We'll put it on the side." Ribs and tips were delicious - we loved the chew and bark. Hot links were fine. I quite liked the sauce, but will still order it on the side in the future, so as to fully enjoy the smoke and bark on the meat with an occasional dunk in the sauce.

nicinchic wrote:I know it was my fault, but really, the restaurant is the expert, not me. When I order crab rangoon from Butterfly, the corner is always cut of the box so they stay crispy. Shouldn't all BBQ places just serve sauce on the side for carryout? Shouldn't it be the other way around? They always ask that question at Harold's. Do you want it sauced or on the side? Oh well, another trip to Honey 1 certainly isn't a sacrifice. The tips I did get that weren't all sauced up seemed as if they had a wonderful bark on them, and chewy like I like them. I'm just going to have to remember the "SOP" it's important.

My guess -- and it's only a guess - is that enough Honey 1 regulars like it sauced, that they don't always ask about the sauce. Ultimately, it's just a matter of preference.

=R=

They almost always ask about the sauce. Not asking was an oversight.

nicinchic wrote:I know it was my fault, but really, the restaurant is the expert, not me. When I order crab rangoon from Butterfly, the corner is always cut of the box so they stay crispy. Shouldn't all BBQ places just serve sauce on the side for carryout? Shouldn't it be the other way around? They always ask that question at Harold's. Do you want it sauced or on the side? Oh well, another trip to Honey 1 certainly isn't a sacrifice. The tips I did get that weren't all sauced up seemed as if they had a wonderful bark on them, and chewy like I like them. I'm just going to have to remember the "SOP" it's important.

Btw, what kind of bizarro-world Harold's are you going to? I can't possibly count the number of times I went to the Harold's on 53rd in Hyde Park, and I don't believe I was ever once asked if I wanted the sauce on the side.

scottsol wrote:They almost always ask about the sauce. Not asking was an oversight.

I agree it seems unusual but maybe they thought nicinchic looked like a regular.

=R=