The good news is that H1 is likely to have a lot more regular traffic and will have fresher and more consistent results.

What a huge bummer. The consistency and excellence of Uncle John's was worth the drive. Honey 1, I'm not so sure. I've had too many uneven visits there to justify the trip, though to be honest, thinking out loud, driving from Oak Park to Bronzeville may take around the same time that it currently takes to get to the location on Western. Eh, maybe I'll just chalk it up as a reason to zip down south more often.

Coming from the Loop after work by car and heading SW afterward on 55, it's probably a wash or a small net positive for me. A lot will depend on the parking situation in Bronzeville, going to the Western location with snow on the ground has always been an interesting parking experience.

Well I made, what is likely, my last visit to Honey 1 last night. I'm going to have to explore some local options to see if I can find my tip fix.

One thing I've noticed the last two times I was there, I think the hot links are a little different than they used to be. They seem a little hotter. Now, I'm not averse to heat, matter of fact, I like it. And they surely aren't too hot. But I think the heat kills the taste buds enough to take away from the smokiness of the tips. The whole package just seemed more balanced in the past. I could be wrong an it could just be normal variations in the product. But if I do get one more chance to get there in the future I'll probably just opt for the tips.

Adams family, I wish you well in your new digs. You'll be missed.

midas wrote:I'm going to have to explore some local options to see if I can find my tip fix.

What is "local" for you, geographically speaking?

kenji wrote:

midas wrote:I'm going to have to explore some local options to see if I can find my tip fix.

What is "local" for you, geographically speaking?

I'm in Montgomery, so Aurora, Oswego and Naperville are in my range.

I know Lisle isn't next-door but ever have this:

http://johnsribhouse.com

John's Rib House
1221 Maple Ave
Lisle, IL 60532-2131

Phone: (630) 241-4150

Email: john@johnsribhouse.com

midas wrote:
I'm in Montgomery, so Aurora, Oswego and Naperville are in my range.

Thomas BBQ is still kicking out some pretty consistent link/tip combos, similar if not the same to when they were on Montgomery Road.

Thomas BBQ
2711 East New York St.
Aurora, IL 60504

Phone (630) 820-2227
Fax (630) 566-1551
info@thomasbbq.com

Hours
Sunday 11:30am-5pm
Monday - Closed
Tues-Sat. 11:30am-9pm

Willkat98 wrote:Thomas BBQ

Wow. http://www.thomasbbq.com/menu.htm

rack of ribs 17 bucks and their own smoked bacon for 5 bucks a pound. Those are good prices in 2015.

kenji wrote:I know Lisle isn't next-door but ever have this:

http://johnsribhouse.com

Not a terrible drive, right around 30 minutes. I've added to my list to try.

Willkat98 wrote:

midas wrote:
I'm in Montgomery, so Aurora, Oswego and Naperville are in my range.

Thomas BBQ is still kicking out some pretty consistent link/tip combos, similar if not the same to when they were on Montgomery Road.

This is already on my list to try. When I first moved out here I did some research and it seemed this place went to catering only. But I guess that changed.

From the Reader story (and I'm reading in between the lines here), the move seems to be absolutely about the local residents.

ie, non-black people never supported the Bucktown location enough for it to be successful, and Bronzeville (obviously) will? He sounds bitter and it's rather sad, especially when H1 was there for 9 years.

TonyC wrote:He sounds bitter and it's rather sad, especially when H1 was there for 9 years.

Why is Smoque packed with customers and H1 isn't?

TonyC wrote:From the Reader story (and I'm reading in between the lines here), the move seems to be absolutely about the local residents.

ie, non-black people never supported the Bucktown location enough for it to be successful, and Bronzeville (obviously) will? He sounds bitter and it's rather sad, especially when H1 was there for 9 years.

The Reader Article wrote:and as that group launched LTHForum.com, they made Honey 1 something of a pet project, which encouraged the Adamses to give the south-side style a try in the predominantly white north side closer to the lake. "But it never took off like it should have," Robert Sr. says, and you can still read the early befuddlement of some LTHers who didn't understand the style—meat served under white bread on top of French fries, no credit cards taken—or what was special about it.

"About the local residents" sauced with a tangy application of unwanted forum-dweller guilt, that is.

link to Reader article:

http://www.chicagoreader.com/Bleader/ar ... ge-with-it

kenji wrote:

TonyC wrote:He sounds bitter and it's rather sad, especially when H1 was there for 9 years.

Why is Smoque packed with customers and H1 isn't?

Smoque serves a much more approachable style of barbecue and also got a visit from a certain bleach-blonde kitchen troll that undoubtedly boosted their business. And this is not to disparage Smoque, which I absolutely love.

It really bums me out that I will now have to walk a minimum of a mile to get decent barbecue (Now that I read that written out, I don't lead such a terrible life).

Also sad to hear about Honey 1 changing locations; I actually just moved within walking distance of the current location. Will have to make it in before they move; heard so many great things from others but as of yet I am a Honey 1 virgin.

I thought he moved from the Austin location at least in part because the residents weren't buying enough slabs to be both consistent and profitable. It can't always be about the residents, at some point focusing inward and reviewing the operation is important.

I can imagine, for example, that the eat-in part never really took off. If that's the case, he's better off with less square footage, and more foot traffic (I'm not sure how close the new location is to a CTA stop, for example). Or if there's not a consistent demand for product X, then make it be weekly or rotating. (Chuck's does a pretty good job of that with their set weekly specials and their monthly calendar). I live about 30 miles from H1, work in the loop, and I still managed to get there 3x/year. But my net is wide, and even my BBQ net is wide - Smoque, H1, the occasional pulled pork at Chuck's as it is only 5 minutes from my house, at least one trip a year to Barn & Company with friends, etc...

I will try their new location as long as there's sufficient parking. If there's no drop off in either the food or the accessibility, I'll continue to patronize them until more competition comes along.

I'm happy about the move. Frankly, it sounded like some of their neighbors never appreciated them anyway. Maybe that neighborhood deserves the Irish Bar or whatever they get in H1's place.

I'm more than happy to take my business to a neighborhood that is overlooked by some outsiders. And there's some good shopping and dining on 47th anyway.

Habibi wrote:I'm more than happy to take my business to a neighborhood that is overlooked by some outsiders. And there's some good shopping and dining on 47th anyway.

If you haven't done so, it would be great if you documented what you like there. It certainly will encourage others to check it out.

Thanks!

Regards,

I've been to H1 5 times, and finally on my last visit I understood the love for their food. 1st 4 times, I was served re-heated tips (pit was cold/not in use) and links. It was acceptable food, if I didn't look too critically, but the service was so poor I wrote the place off as being "ignored" or "tired".

From what I understand, in the early days, guys from LTH would hang out and chat with Robert Sr. - one of the reasons, undoubtedly, that they fell in love with the place and its/his authentic BBQ passion. A large part of your dining out experience has to do with things other than the actual food (like it or not, admit it or not - this is the case for EVERYONE) - the decor, the service, the music, the environment, etc. I was never charmed by my experiences at Honey 1, and twice was so annoyed by the poor service (or lack thereof), my evaluation was knocked down a grade (or two) before I even got my styrofoam box of (delicious) smokey proteins.

When I visited Uncle John's - a take out only joint - that atmosphere played into my experience. Mack and team always (busy) working a Hot, Fiery Pit. Some of the staff always seemed anxious due to the crowd, some of them were always easy going, happy & smiling - but there was absolute soul to the business that you could feel. Honey 1 never gave off that ultra-authentic S. Side divey BBQ vibe (partly because of its location in a very gentrified neighborhood), nor did it play into the yuppie vibe of the customers that lived in the neighborhood..it was kind of lost in the middle.

I hope they do well, I love to see generational BBQ businesses make it - I definitely think they will fit into Bronzeville more than they ever did in Bucktown - another visit from the LTH Matriarchs and Mr. Dolinksy wouldn't hurt, boost the S. Side Pride in the new location.

I'll certainly pay them a visit in their new spot, I may even stop in their old spot 1 more time to bid adieu..

Why is Smoque packed with customers and H1 isn't?

..to answer the comparison upthread of why is Smoque busier - yes, they were on DDD - but they also have top-notch service, are always cooking fresh BBQ, and you feel the soul of their business every time you visit..

As much as I love Honey 1, I have to say that their failure in Bucktown is of their own doing. They didn't want to give the customer what they wanted. They tried to shoehorn into Bucktown the same type of restaurant they had in Austin. They were very late in finally offering brisket on their menu. And to this day they refuse to offer baby backs. And their offerings of side items has been anemic at best. That's what the people in Bucktown expect.

I'm also pleased about the move, because it's one short bus ride to lunchtime deliciousness. Hooray!

midas wrote: And to this day they refuse to offer baby backs.

Boy, I wish I had seen this post earlier today. I hadn't been to H1 in at least 6 years and recall it being a great experience. This evening I was in their neighborhood and knowing they were moving to an area I'm never in, I thought I would go one last time. I picked up a rack of ribs and took them out.

When I ate them 30 minutes later, I thought I had never encountered a tougher rack of ribs in my life! It felt like they had forgotten to take the skin off of the pig, it was so dense and chewy. Maybe this is "old school authentic", but it sure isn't going to appeal to the masses of today, at least in Bucktown.

I'm not following this argument that Honey 1 failed because the restaurant didn't cater to what some folks here think plays in Bucktown. Honey 1 survived in Bucktown for more than 9 years. It's pretty clear they were/are doing something right.

That said, while I'm a big fan of Honey 1, as is the case with most BBQ places, I've stopped going there in the opening hours to avoid the risk of getting the previous day's leftovers.

Just a story that this thread has reminded me about:

Catered a totally informal engagement party a few years ago. The happy couple were mixed, one white, one black. (Stop being weird, it just is what it is, no need to think about reading this in a hushed voice.) Anyway, among the foods requested were smoked tips - it was a backyard bbq kinda thing. Let me tell you, watching 40 young, twenty-something, caucasian Chicagoans attempt to eat a rib tip would have gone viral in about an hour if I posted it on youtube. It was like watching a dog with a grape.

I'm guessing that the demise of the joint over on Dorcester kinda makes the move south a good bet.

Last time I was at H1, I took a buddy there before a sCrUBS game. He was born and raised in Chicago. He ordered the spares, I ordered the tips. He immediately compared the products to Smoque, noting that H1's spares were too fatty, and the tips were just a bunch of cartilage. Me trying to explain that there are different styles of BBQ was pointless. I lost all my cred until I took him to Las Asadas a few weeks later. And by my estimation, Honey 1's stuff was fantastic that day.

John Danza wrote:

midas wrote: And to this day they refuse to offer baby backs.

Boy, I wish I had seen this post earlier today. I hadn't been to H1 in at least 6 years and recall it being a great experience. This evening I was in their neighborhood and knowing they were moving to an area I'm never in, I thought I would go one last time. I picked up a rack of ribs and took them out.

When I ate them 30 minutes later, I thought I had never encountered a tougher rack of ribs in my life! It felt like they had forgotten to take the skin off of the pig, it was so dense and chewy. Maybe this is "old school authentic", but it sure isn't going to appeal to the masses of today, at least in Bucktown.

Not doubting that your ribs were tough -- it happens occasionally at even the best of places. But it had absolutely nothing to do with them being spares.

seebee wrote:The happy couple were mixed . . .

Ha! I thought you were going to say one man, one woman.

=R=

MarlaCollins'Husband wrote:I'm not following this argument that Honey 1 failed because the restaurant didn't cater to what some folks here think plays in Bucktown. Honey 1 survived in Bucktown for more than 9 years. It's pretty clear they were/are doing something right.

Unfortunately, I think survived is exactly the right word. They surely didn't thrive. Look at Smoque in comparison.

Yeah but Smoque sucks. So...

scottsol wrote:The good news is that H1 is likely to have a lot more regular traffic and will have fresher and more consistent results.

That's what I'm hoping for as well. It also helps that it's closer to me at the Bronzeville location. I had kind of given up on Honey 1 about three years ago because the results were so variable for me (even taking into account the somewhat unpredictable nature of barbecue), and just defaulted to Lem's and Uncle John's (when it was around) whenever I had a hankering for Chicago-style barbecue. I'm happy to see the new location, and hope it gets more traffic and a more consistent product. Can't wait to check it out again.