Bib's Downtown

Located at 675 West 5^th Street in downtown Winston-Salem, Bib’s Downtown offers barbeque for lunch and dinner. Beer and wine are available, as is outdoor seating. For events, Bib’s both caters and offers private dining in The Hickory Room. There are wing specials on Wednesdays, and pizza specials change monthly.

With its myriad styles and regional variations, barbeque, like pizza, welcomes debate. But no matter what your specific preference (dry or wet, vinegar or tomato, etc.), there are certain universal expectations. Meats should be moist and flavorful, sauces should enhance (but not overwhelm) the dish, and sides should be a worthwhile complement. By these standards, Bib’s nails certain targets while falling decidedly short of others.

First, the good: Bib’s is rather accommodating. There is plenty of seating indoors and out, and all of the staff are friendly and personable. The ladies and gentlemen behind the registers had plenty of patience, and overall-clad pitmaster Mark Little can often be found checking in on patrons. Food also arrived from the kitchen relatively promptly, a definite plus given the tempting smells in the air.

Speaking of food, Bib’s delivers on variety and value. While there are apps and salads here, the meats – be they in platter or sandwich form – take center stage. With everything from pork (pulled or tenderloin) and chicken to brisket and ribs, there is a nice assortment to choose from, and the indecisive can always opt for a two or three meat combo. Single meat platters run in the $8 to $10 range and include slaw, hush puppies, and a choice of side. Come hungry, and you will get your money’s worth.

In terms of flavor, however, Bib’s is decidedly more uneven. During our first visit, my fiancée and I split a sausage and brisket combo with red (BBQ) slaw and mac and cheese. The meats were juicy, and the sausage had a nice smoky flavor. The brisket could have done with more seasoning, and the watery sauces (of which there were only two) did little to remedy that. Among the sides, the red slaw balanced sweet and vinegary while the hush puppies (an odd ball-shaped variant with delicious black pepper notes) were well above average. The mac and cheese, on the other hand, was creamy but quite bland.

If there is one other drawback to dining at Bib’s, it’s the acoustics. We visited when the restaurant was less than half full, but the sound indicated a far busier establishment. Come when it’s crowded and you may have to yell to be heard.

All told, Bib’s won’t settle any great BBQ debates, but it does have great service, variety, and enough tasty food to make it worth a return.

7.75/10