Goodwood Barbecue Company

He said:

As another patron held the door open for us, we walked into the Goodwood Barbecue Company and met the fragrant aroma of barbecue. A low din of diners mingled with the sounds of 80s’ music to create a merry atmosphere. As we followed a hostess to our table, I took in the décor. Wood-plank walls held various Western and old-timey relics, including a mounted longhorn steer head. Working gas lanterns added to the ambiance. The silverware wrapped in black cloth napkins added a touch of elegance, but the roll of paper towels at each table reminded us that this was still a barbecue joint.

It took a while to review the menus, as they had quite an extensive offering. The waiter saw that as a good thing, but it made my choice more difficult. Still, it was a good thing. The menu offered a wide range of fare at a variety of price points. It included a selection of barbecue platters for lunch, but I decided instead to order the Pit Boss burger.

This half-pound burger included a smoked sausage link on top, with melted cheddar cheese and barbecue sauce. The sauce was sweet and tangy, and fortunately didn’t drown the burger. Corn meal dusted the soft toasted bun. Altogether, it was a large, hearty meal. I opted to cut it into quarters to eat it without making a mess.

My meal wasn’t the only large serving I noticed. When Kathy’s plate arrived, I almost laughed out loud. Her triple-decker sandwich had been cut into quarters and stacked sideways on her extra-wide plate. That meant there were twelve slices of bread across her plate, with all the other ingredients stuffed in between. An impressive array, for sure.

As I didn’t finish my entire burger, I took a pass on the desserts. That didn’t stop me from perusing the options, however. Kathy asked me what the “GW” meant in the “GW Carrot Cake.” I confess it took me an embarrassingly long time to figure it out. That was a tempting option, as I’ve always liked carrot cake. I remember once asking my mom to make a carrot cake for my birthday, my sixth birthday, I think. She obliged with carrot-cake cupcakes, though instead of baking them in paper cupcake wrappers, she baked them inside of ice cream cones. That was fun.

She said:

Spacious. Clean. Casual. Relaxing. Those are the words that popped in my mind immediately upon entering the Goodwood restaurant. I truly appreciated all of the warm tones of the maple-colored trim around the windows, the slatted chair rails, tables and chairs, and blinds. A little coolness was introduced in the gray upholstery and the gray stone columns on the back wall. There were pops of warm, rich colors in the abstract wall art interspersed throughout the dining room: reds, ambers, emeralds, and chestnuts. Live green plants added a homey touch to the décor. Of course, there was a nod to the culture of BBQ places in the animal trophy mounted on one of the walls. I’m not sure, but I think it was a longhorn steer’s head. Those lifeless eyes looking down at me sort of creeped me out, but that’s my problem. 😉

Anyway, I was impressed by the fact that the booths and tables were set up in such a way that diners weren’t all smooshed together. CCR, The Eagles, Queen, .38 Special, and other classic bands played in the background. All of these elements combined together in a way that felt very relaxing to me. A comfortable dining experience was exactly what I needed on this specific day, and Goodwood answered that call.

For lunch, I ordered the club sandwich, and it didn’t disappoint. Smoked turkey slices, crisp bacon, cheddar, lettuce, and tomato were layered between multigrain bread and topped with a slightly tangy mayo. On the side, I’d ordered the potato salad. It was delicious because it was made with mayo, mustard, celery, scallions, and tender, cubed potato chunks. I also detected something lightly acidic in it and concluded that it must be a touch of vinegar from diced dill pickle pieces.

The servings were generous, and I left feeling completely satiated.

Conclusion:

With a wide selection of options across several price points, you should have no problem finding something to enjoy here.