Local barbecue fans, rejoice.
Bushwood BBQ Sandwiches, a new restaurant on Perkins Road, opened about two weeks ago and has already had an overwhelming response from the community, according to owner Justin Page.
Page said his goal is to keep the restaurant simple. Patrons won’t find chicken wings or baby back ribs on the menu — Bushwood only serves sandwiches.
Being a huge fan of barbecue, I decided to give Bushwood a visit. I won’t lie — I was expecting to a find a fledgling eatery facing the typical woes of a new restaurant, but Bushwood surprised me.
FOOD
The sandwich-only menu allows the restaurant to focus almost exclusively on cooking the meat, the obvious cornerstone of any great barbecue restaurant.
Bushwood has three types of meat – chicken, pulled pork and brisket. I ordered the sampler, which consisted of three small sandwiches, each with a different meat.
The chicken was a near-perfect consistency, but the lack of seasoning annoyed me. If I hadn’t loaded the sandwich with one of the restaurant’s homemade sauces, it would have been bland.
The brisket was probably the best of the three. It had the perfect mix of texture and taste, without needing anything extra to complement it.
The pulled pork was – like the chicken – perfectly tender, but a little under-seasoned. But this was easily fixed with a splash of barbecue sauce.
Speaking of the sauces, Bushwood’s stand out as the best in the city. Barbecue differs from region to region, and Bushwood’s sauces, from its Vinegar Pepper sauce to the habanero pepper-based Robot Devil, perfectly represent almost all styles of barbecue.
The signature side, the Q Bowl, was included with my meal. It was a delicious, hearty mix of pork, chicken, lima beans and corn that would be perfect on a cold day. Bushwood also wins bonus points for originality on this one, as I haven’t seen anything like this dish at any other barbecue restaurant in the city.
I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the buns the sandwiches were served on. An aspect of a restaurant that’s usually overlooked, Bushwood’s bread tasted fresh from the oven. It was a perfect complement to the sandwiches.
ATMOSPHERE AND
SERVICE
I went to Bushwood at 4 p.m. on a Monday afternoon, hardly peak hours for any restaurant. The place seemed relaxed, but it’s easy to see it becoming a hot spot on a Friday or Saturday night.
The service was outstanding. The staff was friendly, welcoming and eager to serve. My food was delivered hardly a minute after ordering. This may have had something to do with the fact that I went during non-rush hours, but I can’t imagine a typical wait being longer than a few minutes.
LOCATION AND
APPEARANCE
Bushwood is easy to find. It’s at 4347 Perkins Road, in the same shopping complex as The Bulldog. The complex has always been a popular spot for restaurants, so Bushwood should succeed there.
The restaurant has a nice, modern design, doing away with the old picnic-style table settings. Instead, it feels more like a sports bar or a fun place to hang out with friends.
OVERALL EXPERIENCE
For me, a return visit to Bushwood is guaranteed. The restaurant’s prices are relatively low, making it student-friendly. My meal cost a total of $10, complete with a side and drink.
The food was great and outstanding service was the icing on the cake. Page said he eventually wants to have thousands of Bushwoods all across the country. If he continues with what he’s built, there’s no reason that won’t happen.
 
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Contact Joey Groner at [email protected]