Bagman BBQ - make a mental note
The word around town was not very favorable when I asked acquaintances about Bagman's BBQ. I attributed the unkind words to the new restaurant's growing pains, but even after several months the opinions seemed to remain unchanged. The online definitions that are available for "bagman" are initially not very flattering either: traveling salesman is probably the nicest of all. Yet the restaurant does not appear to be a place for traveling salesmen, much less for a tramp or a racketeer. So why the name? I make a mental note to ask next time I'm in. For now, I admire the nicely decorated interior where wooden picnic benches and dinner tables gather around a beautiful, centrally located, stone fireplace. In one corner is a children's play area, and further down the corridor a game room with pool, darts and video games. I make another mental note to investigate that area next time as well.

In the meantime, it's my turn to make a choice from the menu. The menu is extensive, covering sandwiches (pork, chicken, beef, french dip or polish sausage), side items (homemade baked beans, broccoli salad, potato salad, coleslaw or mac&cheese), dinner (half rack baby back ribs, st louis ribs, bbq chicken and pork or beef cubes) and large portions (above items but full racks instead of halves). After much pondering, partly because I do not have much of an appetite, I order a shredded bbq pork sandwich, a 1/2 rack St. Louis ribs and a side order of potato salad and baked beans. The apple dumplings on the counter look inviting and briefly I entertain the idea of skipping lunch and just going for dessert, but I end up making another mental note: Try the apple dumpling next time I'm in.

My mental notes are made on the assumption that I am going to be back, and yet I have not tried a single bite. So when my order arrives several minutes after I place it, I admire the hot, crunchy roll that holds the shredded BBQ pork, the half rack of ribs covered in sauce in its cardboard container and the two small cups with potato salad and baked beans. The feast can begin! I first bite into the crunchy roll and savor the barbeque pork: not too spicy, not too sweet, just right! The meat is succulent and tender, and I'm starting to think my food-savvy acquaintances judged too soon. But when I take a quick bite of the potato salad, it reminds me of a popular potato salad product from the store, and I'm wondering how much of it is homemade. My next disappointment comes with the baked beans: they have added bacon and onions, but taste rather bland. Hopeful, I set the beans aside and reach for the ribs, expecting the meat to come off the bone without effort. But when I twist the outside rib, greyish meat reveals itself on the inside, and there is no way I get the meat off the bone unless I chew it off. The meat is dry, chewy and stringy, and I detect very little barbeque flavor once the taste of the sauce has worn off. Defeated I return to my sandwich and polish it off in four big bites, yummmm!!!

My last mental note: stick with the sandwiches, and give the baby back ribs a try instead. And I *must* have that apple dumpling next time!    [22 Apr 2006 22:50:59]

Food:    Service:    Ambiance:    Overall: 
Recommended Dishes: Shredded BBQ Pork

     ­Paul B, Ontario, OR   restaurantreviewer at hotmail dot com

I love this place
Bagman BBQ is the best, they know how to treat their customers, with big portions and great service!!! The ribs along with some potato salad will hit the spot...the family that opened that company gets five stars from me, I was treated like a king and will be a return customer for life!!!!!!!    [28 Jun 2006 20:04:42]

Food:    Service:    Ambiance:    Overall: 
Recommended Dishes: A

     ­Anonymous, kent wa   davidriv at hotmail dot com