Lunch with Lena: This Dillsburg restaurant is serving up some of the "best BBQ in Pa"
DILLSBURG ― You won't find a microwave in Road Hawg Barbecue's kitchen. In fact, you might show up to find the dish you had your heart set on is out of stock.
According to restaurant owner Keith Walters, that's the way it should be if you're doing barbecue right.
"If you're busier than you thought you were going to be, you run out of certain items ― that's how a barbecue place is supposed to be."
But why is that? The answer is simple: quality. For Walters, there are no top-secret spice rubs or shortcuts to making good barbecue: It's about making food, with love and serving it fresh that day.
Their philosophy and commitment to quality is what has kept them in business for over a decade, earning a ranking in the 20 BBQ Restaurants in the U.S. and voted Central PA's Best BBQ.
More: Lunch with Lena: Pecan Tree Cafe brings Philly favorites and classic soul dishes to York
A 'hobby gone wrong'
Before opening Road Hawg Barbecue, Walters was making smoked pulled pork sandwiches and fresh cut French fries at family yard sales and events in Carlisle.
He built his own smoker out of an old 55-gallon oil drum in his garage in the early 2000s, when barbecue was "in its infancy" in the central Pennsylvania area. It was more of a southern thing back then, and the cuisine had not grown in popularity as it has today.
But for Walters, it came to a point where some eventgoers came back year after year just for his food. He called it a "hobby gone wrong," never expecting to build a following and eventually open a restaurant.
On a quest to learn more about authentic southern-style barbecue, Walters and his wife, Alicia, took a barbecue tour of the South. Starting in Savannah, Georgia, they made their way up through the Carolinas, into Tennessee and then in Virginia.
In 2011, Road Hawg Barbecue opened for business in Duncannon before moving to its current brick-and-mortar location in Dillsburg in 2016.
More: Lunch with Lena: Nama Sushi in Central Market brings sushi, ramen, katsu to downtown York
Road Hawg Barbecue
As soon as you step foot in the place, you'll smell the smoke, and by the time you leave, you, too, will be smelling like a campfire. But who doesn't love that?
"You walk into a barbecue place and don't smell smoke, something's wrong," Walters said.
The interior is fresh and fun, with checkerboard tiles, and yellow walls adorned with quirky barbecue art, historical photos and Steelers memorabilia.
Around 8 the night before they open, the kitchen team loads the smoker with slabs of meat, including pork butt, and brisket, which smoke overnight over hickory logs.
The next morning, ribs, which require less time in the smoker, are thrown in. Four and a half hours later, the juicy smoked meats are ready to be served to hungry patrons.
The menu at Road Hawg Barbecue, which isn't longer than a single page, is a simple selection consisting of four smoked meats, a few side dishes and occasional specials.
"It's no more complicated than that. The secret is keeping everything fresh." Walters said "our support locally has been fantastic."
What to order at Road Hawg Barbecue:
BBQ Sampler: If you're new to the joint and want to try a little bit of everything, the BBQ Sampler is a no-brainer. The platter comes with one-third rack of smoked St. Louis ribs, four jumbo smoked chicken wings, a half-pound of the juiciest pulled pork you'll ever try and a half-pound of beef brisket ― the star of the show ― all smoked to perfection. You have the option of two sides of your choice, or in this case allow me to choose for you: the baked mac & cheese and smokey baked beans are the way to go. Be sure to request a few sides of their homemade sweet, mild or hot sauces.
Price: $31.25
Creamy cole slaw: Made in house every week, this refreshing and creamy veggie slaw is perfect on its own, and it pairs perfectly with any of the smoked meats.
Price: $2.60 small, $3.35 large, $5.95 pound
Perogi: An Eastern European specialty, Road Hawg serves these cheese-filled dumplings with their house-smoked sausage, onions and smoked jalapenos.
Price: $9.25
Road Hawg Barbecue is located at 43 S. Baltimore St., Dillsburg, and is open Thursday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 7 p.m.
This article originally appeared on York Daily Record: Road Hawg Barbecue has been serving up southern-style bbq for 20 years
