Wednesday, February 13, 2013

Chuck Wagon BBQ

Smalls and I just experienced our first visit to Chuck Wagon BBQ in Madison. It was Beardy's birthday, and he'd been wanting us to meet him there for lunch for a while. But you can't just show up to the Chuck Wagon. One does not simply walk into the Chuck Wagon. He had a plan--we'd snag a table right at 11 when they open, while he stood in line. At one point I texted him to let him know I wanted the coleslaw instead of potato salad. This plan was necessary, because there are only about nine tables inside (there are more in a covered patio area, but it was cold Monday), and the line is long. People start getting in line before they open for lunch. We were early enough to get a booth, (the style of which reminded me of the booths they used to have at the skating rink when I was little. Smalls did enough squirming during this meal. Thank God she wasn't on skates, too.)

I love that green cow... steer? Bull? Cow.
When the tables do fill up, it's hard to move around, especially with a toddler or a baby, and you wouldn't want to stand in line while corralling a kid. So, do what we did and snag a table and have someone in line. Or get your lunch or dinner to go and enjoy it at home.

First time I've seen jeans-butt seat covers. Also plastic covered. The fact that the chairs had pockets is still amusing Smalls.
The food is great, though. It's BBQ meats (brisket, chicken, ribs, sausage) and sides (corn on the cob, coleslaw, potato salad, beans). I had brisket and mild sausage, beans, and coleslaw (vinegar-based, not mayo). I brought a lunch from home for Smalls (which kept her busy at the table while Beardy was in line), but thought she'd like to try the sausage, which is why Beardy got me the mild one. She ended up eating about half of my sausage, bread, and some beans. The spicy sausage is good, too, and I don't even like baked beans, but I liked these. Beardy says the person serving the food (it's sort of cafeteria-style) scrapes the brisket ends into the beans all day as he serves the brisket (yeah, so the beans are NOT vegetarian). 

Bathroom report: The women's is a single (meaning toilet and sink are all in there together--no stalls). There's no changing table.

More jeans decor on the bathroom doors.

Toddler friendliness ratings


Atmosphere: 2 out of 5 booster seats (too crowded to accommodate younger kids).

Food: 3.5 out of 5 booster seats. Personally I think the BBQ is great, but the menu is limited to meats and a few sides.


Chuck Wagon BBQ
8982 Madison Boulevard
Madison, AL 35758
(256) 772-5179
Hours: 11:00 AM-2:30 PM, 5:00 PM-8:00 PM (but check their Facebook site for updates to the hours. I think they're on "winter" hours right now.)

Chuck Wagon on Urbanspoon