Matt and Ethan are using the summer to eat all over LA; rustic or modern, cheap or expensive, fast or slow, it doesn't matter... we just want quality.

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Lowkey BBQ

NPR sends out a featured restaurant every week via text message. Smoke City Market in Van Nuys was that restaurant a few weeks ago. It was also a coincidence we were car shopping, so Smoke City was right in the center of all the dealerships on Van Nuys. It's a small place, and I wouldn't have found it if it weren't for NPR (and Google Maps on my iPhone).

You walk in, and it seems like a place you'd find in the South. A quiet, dimly lit room, long bench-tables with beer buckets on top holding supplies, and people munching over wax paper brings an mysterious, yet enticing sensation. There seem to be only two people working as it's not crowded today. A pretty cashier and a big husky guy behind her at the carving station. Yes, they cut the meat to order by hand: impressive. You look over the menu high above the counter, and you don't know what "Texas Caviar" is. But not to worry, she explains what it is, and of course, you get it. It's black eyed peas with diced roasted peppers and herbs in a sharp, vinegar-y dressing. Get the Pastrami, just do it, and he'll start to slice your meat right as the words come out of your mouth.














Interestingly, they serve the meat plain with just some slices of white bread. They tell you to eat with your hands and add only their homemade barbecue sauce if you want something else on the meat. Of course you can have their slides, but don't go making a fancy sandwich with the meats. Savor the quality by eating it plain.



I'll definitely return to enjoy the cool serenity of, if you think about it, a pretty minimalist establishment. However, I can tell you now that I'll be back before my 4 year lease is up.

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