Bitterroot

Bitterroot BBQ

Recommended by: Our neighbor recommended Bitterroot for a more upscale setting for BBQ when our out of town guests requested American BBQ and our favorite BBQ joint shut down their restaurant.

Description on the Bitterroot’s website: Serving Northwest BBQ in the heart of Ballard. We pair our smoked meats with American craft beer and a bourbon selection that makes any enthusiast swoon.

Neighborhood/Type:  Ballard 

Address:5239 Ballard Ave NW, Seattle, WA 98107

What we ate/drank: Cowboy Killer- 1/2 chicken, brisket, baby back ribs, pulled pork, 3 sides(Fries, Cole Slaw, Baked Beans, Mac & Cheese w/bacon and pulled pork. IPA from Lucky Envelope Brewing, Cherry Cider from Anthem.

We had relatives visiting from outside the country. When we asked what they wanted to eat, they said, “American BBQ”. We just found out BBQ Smith decided to quit their brick and mortar location and go strictly to catering only.  Because they were from out of town we wanted to take them to a more upscale barbeque joint. Our neighbor suggested Bitterroot.

We knew of Bitterroot’s existence, but had never been. We’d been invited to a birthday gathering there once, but weren’t able to attend. Now was our chance.

Fair or not, when we think barbeque, we tend to think the more “hole-in-the-wall” qualities the location has, the better the barbeque will be. So when we saw that Bitterroot was smack dab in the middle of “fancy” heavy hitters like Stoneburner, Brambling Cross, Percy & Co, and Bastille right on Ballard Ave, we were a bit leery. Would the bbq be that good or would we be paying for the hot location?

First things first, Bitterroot does not take reservations and seating is done on a first come, first serve basis.   We arrived on a Friday evening at 7:30 and expected there to be a wait.  The place is relatively small. We wanted to dine in the main dining area, so we put in our names and hung out  in the back bar area.  You have your choice of eating back there too if you want.  Our group of 4 ended up waiting about 15 minutes before a table opened.

The interior reminds us of an upscale Seattle Biscuit Company with an old shack feel using reclaimed wood, chain link fencing, exposed brick. It has that same easygoing shack feel. This casualness is carried through on your dishware, which are metal baking sheet trays lined with parchment paper.

Our guests from out of the country had a lot of questions regarding the options, not being familiar with American bbq. Our server was patient and provided detailed answers. A member of our party asked about the available bottled sauces on the table prior to ordering and he explained each one-sweet, honey mustard, spicy and vinegar and how each would taste with a variety of different meal choices.

To give our guests the full spectrum of what Bitterroot had to offer, we ordered the Cowboy Killer, which pretty much gives you one of everything- 1/2 chicken, beef brisket, baby back ribs, pulled pork and a choice of 3 sides. For our sides we got the  fries, cole slaw and baked beans.  We were afraid that the Cowboy Killer would not be enough for 4 adults(boy, were we wrong) so we also ordered a mac & cheese w/bacon and pulled pork. Our drinks were an IPA from Lucky Envelope Brewing, Cherry Cider from Anthem, coke and a cocktail(can’t remember which one).

Truthfully we could have done without the mac & cheese, although it was very good. I never had pulled pock in mac & cheese before, but the Cowboy Killer, could have easily fed 6 adults.

When we could not take another bite and the platter was still over half uneaten, our server said the dish is intended to have left over for take home. It took us two more meals at home to finish off the leftovers from the Cowboy Killer and leftover mac and cheese.

The barbeque was moist and seasoned perfectly. The ribs fell off the bone and the brisket just melts in your mouth.  The sides were nothing to write home about, but our guests really enjoyed their first taste of American barbeque, so what more can you ask for?  That’s all that counts, right?

The Scores:

• 1/2 chicken (Score: 4.0 / 5.0)
• beef brisket (4.75 / 5.0)
• baby back ribs (4.5 / 5.0)
• pulled pork (4.75/ 5.0)
• Sides- Fries, cole slaw and baked beans. (3.75 / 5.0)
• Mac & Cheese w/bacon and pulled pork (4.5 / 5.0)

Bitterroot was the perfect combination of upscale barbeque, which seems like an oxymoron, but it’s just what our guests were hoping for.   We also learned that the owners of Bitterroot also own one of our favorite sandwich places, Mammoth, that we mentioned in our favorite 2018 dishes.

Ratings:

Atmosphere: 4.25

Service: 5.00

Food/Drinks: 4.50

Bang for the Buck: 4.00

Overall: 4.35

Locals Only Factor: “Locals Only” grading-We’ll assign a grading as to how “local” a place is.

• • Well known or Touristy. Most locals don’t go there unless they have business dinners or visitors in town.
  • Most locals know about it
  • Locals “in the know” know about it
  • Only those who live close by know about it.
  • You’re in on the secret. Don’t tell anybody!

Servers recommendations to visit in the future:   

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