There’s been a lot of hype about Belfast’s newest pop-up restaurant. Opening on the former site of the successful “Home” right in the heart of Belfast and put together by the guys behind “always a queue outside” Boojum , suffice to say expectations were high. The blurb tells us “American BBQ joint Bubbacue offers long, slow smoked pork, ribs, brisket and sausage coupled with hearty American sides and desserts.” My wife and I toured along the southern states in America for 4 weeks a few years back and they certainly know all there is to know about meat, BBQ and smoking. So suffice to say I was a little excited that this place was opening but also a little nervous as to if they could get it right.
I ended up going with my brothers last Friday before The Belfast Beer and Cider Festival. We queued for about 10 mins before we got a table, not too long at all. The staff were really pleasant and courteous, they really couldn’t do enough. The place isn’t massive, it could maybe seat about 50 people, but it’s been done up really nicely. Corrugated iron on the wall, exposed bricks and a giant stencil of a winking pig. Don’t know why he looks so happy, we’re about to eat him! So we ordered at the counter from the menu and then sat down at our red leather backed booth with red and white criss cross table and enjoyed this little slice of deep south Americana. We got some drinks, Home made Ice Tea and lemonade. Both deliciously fresh, I prefer my ice tea with lemon flavour but this was sweetened just right so surprised me how much I enjoyed it.
Next our meals came. Presented in white enamel tin style plates with light grease proof paper I had a beef brisket sandwich, crisps, pickle and corn bread. And I shared a bucket of wings with my bro who had the same meal. The beef brisket was wonderfully tender with a great BBQ taste and not too much of a smokey flavour. I tore one small piece of fat that was too chewy off, but the rest was melt in the mouth. On the table there are 4 BBQ sauces to choose from: sweet Memphis style, Tangy Kansas City and Extra Smokey BBQ sauces or Carolina style mustard. I tried them all but opted for Sweet Memphis style for the majority. I scoffed the wings in-between bites, they were nice and small, the perfect size to accompany the meal. My other brother had the pulled pork and I tasted this too, it was tangy and succulent. He also got a basket of fries which came in a wee plastic basket and paper in the bottom. They were small skinny and had skin still on. I would heartily recommend these too. The corn bread they do is nice as something sweet to go with your meal. Like a light slightly sweet cake.
My two criticisms were thus, they need a better system to differentiate between people waiting for a table and those waiting for food. My second one has already been addressed as they now give you the platter with fries instead of crisps. This is much better to make it a full meal.
On the way out we were asked had we enjoyed our meal and would we come back, our answer to both was a massive yes. they’ve regularly had to close early since they’ve opened because they run out of meat and because the meat take 14 hours to slow cook they can’t just rustle some more up, this is a good sign! They’ve promised to get a second smoker to help out. Bubbacue is only scheduled to be there for the next 3 months, but I hope it continues a lot longer. Belfast needs more eateries like this.
