Well, we stayed longer than planned. Just couldn't leave. Such a beautiful area!
We went to see CO. but surprisingly, we spent most of our time in UT. Visited the Mesa Verde Cliff Dwellings, Visited the Arches National Park.
AND THEN spent visiting the several areas of the Canyon Lands. My favorite of all. So Awesome! A mini Grand Canyon, with lots of red rock with white interspersed, and even some black rock cliffs.
We say a TON of ancient Petroglyphs!
Gave us chills to be seeing and trying to interpret, what ancient man chipped into stone faces thousand years ago. That is why we spent an extra week. We just couldn't tear our selves away.
We did enjoy CO, and drove the Rocky Mountain National Park and Estes Park. Sweating when leaving Ft. Collins, CO, and had snow pellets at the top of drive. 90* to 35* in just an hour or so. Wow! And those narrow road switchbacks close to cliffs! No guard rails. YIKES!
6" from road to empty air!
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Now on to reviews of two BBQ joints.
Moe's was a very big disappointment. Extremely so!
Sorry Rob. I'm guessing it has gone downhill since you lived there.
We were there a couple of hours before closing. They were out of Ribs & Briskets, and didn't have burnt ends. We ordered 1/2 BBQ chicken each, and then was told by the cook, that they only had 1 & 1/2 of chicken left too. That doesn't leave much BBQ at a BBQ joint does it? LOL But there were 3 small ribs left that he would put on plate to make up. We were hungry so accepted the reduced offerings.
Chicken was not cooked through. Standing blood near joints. Not just pink. Standing blood. Could not pull joint apart.
Had to cut, and even then, tough. Even though it was underdone, the meat was still dry. (we tried some of the outer, non-bloody edges).
Chicken was very pale in and out, skin included, and had very little smoke flavor. You had to hunt for it. Very bad overall.
Wife had some pulled pork as well, and it was so dry neither of could swallow it.
The 3 ribs? Smoke ring on only one side. Huh? No flavor, other than what you would expect from bare naked roast pork.
Corn bread very under cooked. Tasty, but mushy doughy inside. My side of Black Eyed Peas, amounted to about 1 ounce from a can.
We took both our unfinished meals up to counter to show them why we couldn't eat them. First the green spiked haired girl at counter, argued that it was fine, then the cook came out and he argued the same thing. Neither one apologized or offered our money back, or even a discount.
We left, and went to another restaurant to eat, which wasn't BBQ. LOL
Oh yes, Another thing... there were only about 4 other customers in the place oldschoolbbq. HA!
Not faulting you for recommending Moe's Rob. It just isn't the same, as when you lived out there I guess. I know that has to make you sad.
They seemed to have franchised, as they are everywhere out there now, and the quality, and attention to service, has gone way down. I am often sad to see one of my favorite spots go downhill or close.
Now that we are back in Michigan, Ted, the owner, did email us 3 days after my wife posted a comment on our experience, on their web page, and offered our money back, or a coupon for another dinner. However, her post has never appeared on their website reviews.
Smokey D's by far, is the best BBQ I've ever had!
Now this is one fine BBQ place! If you ever get the chance, stop in. You won't be disappointed!
We stopped on our way out and ate. Awesome stuff!
Brisket just a tad dry, but not bad. Flavor and smoke ring great. Ring on all sides which tells me the do their flats separate from the points they use for burnt ends. That would also explain the little dryness. But they had GREAT flavor, and was tender! Ribs were awesome! (Again, ring on all sides, just like at home). A little bit heavy on rub, but not too much.
Burnt ends were out of this world! My wife's favorite there! Only had chicken wings, so couldn't compare to Moe's on that.
Ribs were perfect! We stopped there on the way out and 3 weeks later, on our way back home.
Quality stayed the same, and service was excellent!
I'm not one to demand a completion bite, but these had it both times! Flavor was great too! They could stand to add a little more kick to their hottest sauce though. (Didn't even sweat up my bald head.) <grin>
Their sides were made on site, better than homemade, and not small portioned either.
If they opened near me, I would sell my smoker!
Yeah, that good!
Completion Trophy's and plaques all over the place at D's.
I bet they win more money in completion per year than Mose's does at the restaurant in a year. LOL
The consistently in foods, 2 weeks apart visits, impressed me. Exactly the same quality!
As a side note, we also hit Smokey D's about an hour or so before closing on our way back home. They were out of nothing, and everything was great.
A truly, well run restaurant with an owner who is hands on checking on things. We actually saw the owner when he took his Manger (I presume) into his office to talk. Recognized him from the website pic,
Yes, he is that big. LOL
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We never made to the one in Denver. It was always either very early in morning or very late at night when we were though there.
Thanks again for your help. We appreciate it very much.
