Finishing Our Research With An Early Lunch at Wagon Train BBQ in Rotterdam, New York

Eric & I discovered

Wagon Train BBQ

in 2014.

We remembered liking our choices... Pulled Pork Sandwiches.  Our recent research at Pig Pit BBQ and The Memphis King BBQ requires another lunch out.

I like the Harvest
decorations.

Eric peruses the
Beer List on the
chalkboard.

The signature Wagon Train

is the focal point of

the restaurant.

This Gray Wolf is one of the

many stuffed animals here.

We admire the Six-

Shooter Salt &

Pepper Shakers.

Eric got a Coors Light to accompany his lunch.

Eric chooses the Brisket
Sandwich with Hush
Puppies.

I'm having Pulled Pork
with the Roll on the side.








Our meats come lightly tossed in their Traditional BBQ sauce.  Wagon Train BBQ puts 7.4 ounces of Brisket on their sandwiches.  The Hush Puppies were tasty.

And the verdict is.....  I prefer Wagon Train BBQ's Pulled Pork to Pig Pit BBQ, which was too finely pulled and was very saucy.

Comparisons with The Memphis King BBQ are hard because The Memphis King's Pulled Pork was ever so gently pulled, which is delightful.  I found the five sauces overwhelming, because I am pretty lazy about food choices.  Their House BBQ sauce worked best for me.  Wagon Train BBQ makes sauce choices easy by serving their meats with a whisper of their Traditional BBQ sauce.

Eric LOVED his Brisket Sandwich, with its generous amount of slow cooked meat.  He likes saucier dining experience and of the two sauces served here, Traditional and Sweet, he preferred the Traditional BBQ Sauce.  At The Memphis King BBQ, Eric also preferred their House BBQ sauce.

Currently, prices are better at The Memphis King BBQ, but prices are subject to change...

So.... If you're anywhere near Schenectady County, go to Wagon Train BBQ and The Memphis King BBQ to feast on awesome slow cooked, smoked meats.  You will not be disappointed.

Eric's Birthday Lunch at The Wagon Train in Rotterdam, New York

Eric, Jerry & I went to The

Wagon Train in Rotterdam

for Eric's birthday lunch.

Eric & Jerry admire

the covered wagon.

Eric and I came here last year and we liked the barbecue and pulled pork.  Have things changed?  Is the food still awesome?

The entrance looks like

a covered wagon.

Jerry & The Duke

The restaurant's model

wagon train

This is a comfortable

place to eat.

The snarling wolf

is menacing.

The miniature cannon,
cannon balls & fox
make a wonderful
display.

Eric's Pulled Pork Sandwich

with Beans & Corn Bread

Jerry's Branded Burger
with French Fries &
a Pickle.

I got Pulled Pork with Corn

Bread & French Fries.

I prefer to eat my

 roll separately.

Our lunches were wonderful.  Jerry's burger was cooked just the way she likes.  Eric raved about the beans.  The pulled pork was lightly smokey with lots of chunks of meat.  The corn bread was light and sweet.  Eric brought home a slice of birthday Banana Cream Pie. 

The Wagon Train makes the best pulled pork in the Capital Region.  Keep up the great work!

Wagon Train BBQ in Rotterdam, New York

Eric and I wanted to try some New York style barbecue.  Not far from where we are staying is Wagon Train BBQ.










This place has lots of ambiance...

The outdoor displays are amazing!

The wagon train is heading
toward the smoker.

"Buffalo" graze nearby.

This cowboy is taking a
few well deserved moments
to himself.

The Chuck Wagon BBQ

has a mobile smoker too.

Inside, they have
all the sides for BBQ.

John Wayne oversees

the chef & the staff.

Come warm yourself
by the fireplace.

There's always room

for a cookie after pulled

pork & a rack of ribs.

I'm embarrassed to say that there's no pictures of the great food we ate here.  We tucked into it immediately, and empty dishes aren't photo worthy.  Stop in for good eats, or take some home..... You can't go wrong!

Lunch at Dinosaur Bar-B-Que in Troy, New York

Previously, we've lunched at Wagon Train BBQ in Rotterdam and Giffy's Bar-B-Q in Clifton Park. Today, Eric and I drove to Troy to sample the specialties at Dinosaur Bar-B-Que.

Uncle Sam stands watch
outside of Dinosaur
Bar-B-Que.






Troy, New York is proud to be Uncle Sam's hometown.

Great artwork!

Eric holds the
door for me.

"Evel K-Dinosaur" jumps

the Hudson River on

his motorcycle.

Dinosaur-Bar-Que
has food to go.

The bar

There's a series of rooms
with tables...

... & booths. 

We have a riverfront
view.

We have our choice of Sensuous

 Slathering Bar-B-Que Sauce,

 Garlic Chipotle Sauce Pepper

 Sauce & Wango Tango Habanero

Hot Bar-B-Que Sauce to

add to our lunches.

Eric chose the St. Louis Ribs
& Pulled Pork with Beans
& Sweet Potatoes.

I decided on Original Pulled

Pork Bar-B-Que topped

with pickles & hand cut

 French Fries.

Eric raved about his ribs... The sauce is sweet and spicy.    The meat falls off the bone, just the way he likes it.  We like the Pulled Pork very much.  It is very chunky.  Served with a small dollop of Sensuous Slathering Bar-B-Que Sauce, we can appreciate the smoky flavor
of the pork.  

Eric is a big fan of beans and always orders it as a side.  He was very pleased with the pureed Sweet Potatoes topped with Brown Sugar and Walnuts.   My hand cut French Fries are cooked perfectly.

We discussed Dinosaur versus Wagon Train Bar-B-Que and agree that they both serve GREAT barbecue.  Great barbecue to the east.... Great barbecue to the west...   The Capital District is a fortunate to have lots of good eats, especially BARBECUE.

A Late Lunch at Giffy's Bar-B-Q in Clifton Park, New York

Eric wanted to try
Giffy's Bar-B-Q
for a second time.






He went here for lunch with a friend several years ago.  Since then, we've eaten barbecue in Knoxville, Tennessee, McKinney, Texas and more recently, at The Wagon Train BBQ in Rotterdam. We decided that we prefer dry barbecue.  Eric wants to refresh his memory about Giffy's Bar-B-Q and I want to taste Giffy's signature Pulled Pork.

The bar

I like the casual

atmosphere.

It's 2:00 pm and Eric and I chose the buffet.

There are a lot of sides

to choose from.

Eric & I made Pulled
Pork Sandwiches to
eat with our sides.






Giffy's Bar-B-Q makes a wet Pulled Pork.  This is not our favorite style of barbecue.  I'm glad we went to Giffy's because I now know their barbecue style.

Eric and I agree that our favorite barbecue in the Capital District is Wagon Wheel BBQ.

An Early Lunch at The Memphis King BBQ in Schenectady, New York

Eric and I learned our lesson at Pig Pit BBQ.  Go early in the day for the freshest and most plentiful barbecue foods.

The Memphis King is located

on Van Vranken Avenue

in Schenectady.

Brandon and Robert Canton have been serving Memphis Style BBQ here since 2013.

Photos of the famous
Americans line the
walls.

Mohammed Ali,
Bruce Lee,
Harriet Tubman,
Amelia Earhart
& many others...

Eric & I love Bacon Bad.

The artwork reminds us

of our travels around

Albuquerque, taking

photos ofr Breaking Bad

film locations.

Bring home a jar of
Memphis King's
barbecue sauce.

Eric points to the

Pig Salt & Pepper

Shaker Holder.

It's the same one we just saw at Pig Pit BBQ in Cohoes. 

This is The King:
The Pulled Pork,
Brisket & Ribs
are served dry.

Our sides are
Potato Salad,
Macaroni &
Cheese & a
Corn Muffin.



YUM!  The Pork is "pulled to order.  The Brisket is so flavorful.  I'm not a Rib fan, so Eric got both.  We tried the BBQ sauces.  Regular and Hot were our favorites.  The Potato Salad and Macaroni and Cheese are excellent.

Based on the Pulled Pork I tried at both restaurants, I prefer The Memphis King BBQ to Pig Pit BBQ.  Eric and I need a return visit to Wagon Train BBQ in Rotterdam to complete our research....