I had to be in Woodland today and do some business at the Recorder’s office. While my lovely wife and I were there, I suggested we stop by Ludy’s, right next to the hisoric Woodland Opera House.
It was a mistake.
I consider myself a connoisseur of barbecue. I can make better barbecue than most restaurants can bring to the table. I am confident in that proclamation. I think the best barbecue in town is JR’s Texas Barbeque… most of the time. There’s been a few misses when it gets late in the day, and some dry slabs of brisket might show up on the plate, but by and large JR’s barbecue is moist, flavorful and smokey.
Did I mention smokey?
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Smoke is the essence of good barbecue. It’s what makes barbecue barbecue. Over at House of Chicken and Ribs I always order the sweet tea because it’s cold and sweet and good… and it picks up some of the smoke from the cooking and it’s not unpleasant at all. When I barbecue Tri-tip or pork shoulder, It can’t be smokey enough. Ludy’s… no smoke. None at all.
Everything at Ludy’s is served a la carte, so I had the brisket sandwich, and an order of fries. My wife had the pulled pork.
The brisket sandwich arrived on a huge plate with fries, and served hot on a freshly baked bun. The bun was great, light and tasty and nom nom nom. The fries… were some of the best I’ve ever had. Even better than In-and-Out or Five Guys. They were hot, crispy outside and fluffy inside, skins left on, and dusted with some of Ludy’s rub. I was very pleased with the fries.
The brisket sandwich was a big, fat failure. The brisket was chopped and drowned in sauce. At Jr’s, the brisket comes in slabs with sauce on the side. When I order brisket, I want to be able to taste it, and sink my teeth into it, and know that it’s beef. What Ludy’s served was devoid of form, flavor, and no smoke whatsoever. A major disappointment.
The pulled pork wasn’t much different. My wife enjoyed it, but there was just no pork or smoke flavor… just Ludy’s sweet, tomatoey, slightly spiced sauce.
It was a nice lunch with my wife, and it didn’t taste -bad-. It just didn’t taste like the Texas barbecue I know and love… and I really, really missed the smoke.
Two sandwiches, two sides, two drinks for lunch, $27.00.
My rating? 3 out of 5 stars… It just didn’t live up to the hype, and the fries are the only thing that pulled this meal out of the 2 star range.
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Visit them at http://www.ludys.com/
Ludy’s Main St. BBQ
667 Main Street
Woodland, CA 95695
Phone: 530-666-4400[/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]
