Let’s talk about BBQ. There are many choices in the greater Baton Rouge area for BBQ. But not all of them are worth the trip. While it’s true that most of your small “hole in the wall” places usually have the best food, BBQ does not always follow suit. This is proven by a little place called Hannah Q. Hannah Q (the sister restaurant to Jasmine’s on the Bayou) has three locations. We visited the Mid City location on Government Street and it did not disappoint.
THE FOOD:
Now I’m not saying that we are BBQ experts. Those folks in Texas and Memphis can claim that title. But we do know what we like. When I think of BBQ, I think smokey, tender, juicy, deep flavors of meats, effortlessly falling from the bone. I think of how several vastly different meats can all live on the same smokey plate, harmoniously. Point being… I, like most people, have a certain expectations when it comes to BBQ. I can honestly say that Hannah Q meets and exceeds these expectations. The meats are outstanding. The more interesting items (such as the brisket grilled cheese sandwich) are definitely worth a try. Surprisingly, the sides show just as much care and flare as the main dishes. Needless to say, we really liked this place. The food at Hannah Q gets a score of 10/10.
THE SERVICE:
The service is pretty good. You place your order at the counter and they bring your food to your table. Drinks are self-service but they still come to check on you now and then. The food comes out pretty quickly. Pretty cut and dry. Not very personable but not much to go wrong either. Service gets a 9/10.
THE PLACE:
When you walk in, you are immediately overwhelmed (in a good way) by the smells of smoke and fire… that pit smell we all know and love. The dining area is simplistically decorated in dark colors of wood and metal. The tables are basic and to the point (like a real outside BBQ). My only real issue with the dining room is the scattering of TVs, loudly projecting random programming. I’m not big on TVs in a restaurant, but I know some people do enjoy it. If anything, at least turn the sound off and use the caption setting. Nothing worse that talking over a loud TV. The ambiance gets a score of 8/10.
THE VALUE:
And finally, the value. While it’s not the cheapest place to grab lunch, it certainly isn’t the most expensive either. For what you pay for the main courses, you actually get a lot of food… really good food. The sides, on the other hand, are really good. But they are kind of pricey. One could argue that the sides themselves could be a meal… and they would be correct. But in the grand scheme of things, they do add a certain costs to the meal. For value, we give Hannah a solid 9/10.
Hannah Q has become my favorite BBQ place in BR. While we can only speak for the Mid City location, I feel the other two have just as much to offer. And we will check them out in due time. But for now, Hannah Q gets a rating of 4.5 (stars, table legs, whatever). Remember… we do this for fun. So don’t take us too seriously. Comment on our FB post and tell us about your experience at Hannah Q.
