The autumn leaves were exquisitely vibrant and full of beautifully contrasting colors as I drove toward my next referral. The skyline looked like a chalk picture that was so perfect that I dare not touch it for fear of smudging the view. This was my first sign that I was in for a homegrown treat… that I was about to experience a place that would summon memories of my childhood and of my grandpa, who I miss on a profound level.
WENDEL’S BBQ @ ST. JOE STORE in Fort Recovery earned a spot on the POSITIVELY DELICIOUS food blog journey as soon as I realized it is the Cheers of Mercer County– “Where everybody knows your name. And they’re always glad you came,” as the Cheers theme song articulates so poetically.
Sitting in this newly discovered Cheers, I opened my menu and saw four words: LET’S START OUT NAKED! These capped, fiery-red letters made me laugh out loud. All by myself at a booth, I sat there chuckling and smiling as I read one line and then another. “For Additional 50 cents, Reece Will Tell You Bad Jokes While You Eat It! Subject To His Availability!” is another line that deserves an honorable mention.
As I read the menu and let the restaurant’s homey-feel cocoon me, I felt the restaurant’s value. You’re probably not going to propose to someone at Wendel’s BBQ, but let me share what you will do there. You’ll go there with your friends because you’ve had your driver’s license for a month, and mom won’t let you “go too far.” You’ll visit with your buddies to break up a long day of work. You and your friends will meet to talk about how much you miss your children and how your grandchildren are the best gift. You’ll return from the adventures that take you away from home and meet up with all your high school friends and reminisce and catch-up.
Wendel’s BBQ is a place of memories, both old and new. Worn cowboy boots, sweaty running gear, children about to make a mess, gatherings, solo visits, and vehicles with mud on the tires are welcome. Wendel’s BBQ isn’t a place that makes you feel like you’re someplace else; it’s a place that proudly brings you home.
So far, I’ve only talked about the mood Wendel’s BBQ casts and although it’s a good one, let’s talk about food worthy of hard-earned money.
As I waited, I noticed one person after another whose face lit up as they read the menu aloud. It was as if people were reliving their favorite culinary memories right in front of me. Customers gave their server their order like they were delivering poetry at open mic night. So when my server visited my booth, I wasn’t surprised when she beamed, sharing her favorite menu item and Wendel’s BBQ’s “number one seller” when it comes to pizza. Memorized by how she described that pizza, the SMOKED BRISKET PIZZA, I ordered it, along with her favorite, CATHY’S SMOTHERED CHICKEN. Both lived up to their hype, but I need to discuss the pizza.
When my server sat the Smoked Brisket Pizza on my table, shock overtook me. Here I was in the middle of nowhere, or so it felt, and before me sat a pizza so beautiful that it looked like someone with immense skill, attention to detail, and an eye for presentation worked in the kitchen. The pizza smelled mouth-watering, ushering me closer with scents of spices and a sauce that looked too good to be true. As soon as I took a bite, I knew that to visit Wendel’s BBQ for the first time and not order a pizza would be a rookie mistake.
But if pizza isn’t the bee’s knees for you, then consider their SMOKED BRISKET TACO, SMOKED BRISKET TURKEY TACO, AWESOME TERRY, KENDRICK’S STEAK-N-CHEEZ, FISH, BBQ PORK NACHOS, GRILLED CHICKEN SALAD, and their generous list of sides. Although my review includes pictures of the menu, my server informed me that their new menu goes live any day and that on that menu, there are fewer desserts, if any, and additions, such as SHRIMP TACOS.
Of all the places I’ve visited, Wendel’s BBQ seems most known for its specials and SANDWICH OF THE WEEK, which they share on their Facebook page, and you won’t typically find on the menu. As if that’s not reason enough to pay attention to their Facebook, they also post non-menu specials like Sunday, October 11th’s pop-up brunch with PUMPKIN SPICE FRENCH TOAST and APPLE CIDER BEERMOSA.
Make no mistake about it; Wendel’s BBQ knows their way around BBQ sauce and rub. They earned 1st place in turkey and 3rd place in ribs at The American Royal World Series of Barbecue. And if you’re interested in that award-winning BBQ sauce and rub, click here to learn how you can order it. For a restaurant positioned between church steeples and cornfields, they sure do know how to make their presence known.
So the next time you’re driving around and need a destination that’s as smalltown-charming as a restaurant your Grandpa would’ve taken you to, with award-winning BBQ and backroad kitchen ninjas who continually craft creative culinary surprises, pay Wendel’s BBQ @ St. Joe Store a visit. The odds are that you won’t be disappointed.
The following photos are courtesy of Wendel’s BBQ’s Facebook page:
