Hi foodies! Ryan Laspina back again to talk about our experience at the Mountaineer Meat Smokers’ event, Cajun Crawl 7 on Sunday, April 28th. The foodies team, including our little ones, ventured out to sample some Cajun cooking at the popular BBQ spot.
Location
Mountaineer Meat Smokers is located at 45 Monroe Street, just north of downtown Martinsburg. There is plenty of parking and outdoor and indoor seating.
Cuisine Type
Mountaineer Meat Smokers focuses on, well, smoked meat. There was plenty of succulent BBQ to go around, but we were also treated to a couple of special cajun dishes. They also offer traditional BBQ sides. They also have an impressive bar with “the largest selection of choices in bourbon around here,” according to their Facebook profile!
Ambience and Decor
This place isn’t just about serving good food, but also about providing the customer with a good time. The decor is wild, and as someone who has grown up loving the state of West Virginia, I can appreciate the love this place has for its home state.
The Mountaineer folks are all about crafting a good experience for the customer. They have a small stage inside for singing acts, but they also had a stage set outside in the parking lot for the Cajun Crawl. The mixture of live music, colorful clientele, West Virginia pride, and meat smoking in the parking lot create a fun atmosphere that everyone was loving.
Service
The service was incredible. Travis and his staff were so welcoming to us and made sure that our visit was special. They provided us with some staples of their menu, hot and fresh to the table. They also made a couple special Cajun dishes for the event. We brought a six-year-old and one-year-old with us, and no one batted an eye. In fact, our server got down on my daughter’s level and figured out a drink that she would like. With having a very picky eater, this was much appreciated and solidified that the culture here is family-friendly and caring.
Menu and Specialities
Let’s get down to the food! The menu has a ton of smoked meats, from brisket to chicken to pork. In addition, they offer burgers, sandwiches, wings, and TexMex dishes such as tacos and nachos. They also have traditional BBQ sides, such as collard greens, cornbread, mac and cheese, and potato salad. They have a kid’s menu, as well as fresh, homemade dessert that varies. They do have a breakfast menu as well, plus plenty of options for catering or take-out.
Food Quality and Taste
Americans love BBQ and smoked meats, so you can find this type of cuisine everywhere. In this area, Mountaineer offers some of the best smoked meat that you can tell is prepared expertly. The meat is seasoned well, but the smoking method is what sets it apart. It is not easy to keep smoked meat from drying out, but Mountaineer does a phenomenal job making sure every dish is juicy and delicious. Below is a list of items we tried during the Cajun Crawl. First, the appetizers.
Collard Greens
Incredible taste. Greens can be too bitter if not cooked with the right flavors, but these greens had the right snap while also staying very savory. I am someone who likes their greens as mushy as possible, and these had a little bit of firmness to them. I am probably in the minority here, but I like them cooked a little bit longer. Overall, still an incredible taste.
Mac and Cheese
I do not say this lightly, but this was the best mac and cheese I have ever eaten. I can’t believe I had never ordered their smoked mac and cheese before. Extremely creamy with the perfect smoky flavor. I could have eaten an entire gallon!
Cornbread with Cinnamon Butter
The cornbread was solid, but the cinnamon butter was a really nice touch. The cornbread was light while also having a bit of an external crust. The butter really brought it to the next level though.
Now let’s take a look at the entrees we tried.
Brisket
Best brisket in the game, hands down. All of us went crazy for how juicy and tender their brisket is. Perfectly cooked with a beautiful smoke ring. Easily the most savory brisket I have ever had.
Chopped Chicken
This was the dish I was most surprised about. I rarely go after chicken because it can be such a dry and frankly flavorless meat option. However, this chopped chicken was succulent and juicy, which is no easy task when smoking that protein. Also, I’m a huge fan of chopping the chicken instead of pulling it. Gave it a better texture and kept those juices intact.
Smoked Alligator
The star of the show! We were blown away with how much alligator tastes like chicken. It was smoked beautifully and stayed juicy but also had some crispiness on pieces with some skin. My extremely picky little one even enjoyed it, which is the ultimate test. I am now a huge fan of gator and hope that they continue to smoke the prehistoric creatures!
Low Country Boil
This dish felt like it was made specifically for me. I love seafood, but I love spice more. I even commented that I could feel the spice on my lips the entire ride home, which is a good thing. The crawfish were incredible, spicy, juicy, and tender. The shrimp were huge and were also soaked in that delicious spicy sauce. They also provided potatoes, corn on the cob, and some veggies. Overall, a fantastic dish.
Smoked Wings
Last but not least, let’s highlight the current best wings in the game. Mountaineer’s wings are smoked, which might make you think they are dry. That couldn’t be further from the truth. Yes, these wings were extremely crispy on the outside, as is customary with smoked wings. However, they were incredibly tender and juicy on the inside. I am not sure what type of magical voodoo they are doing, but all of these dishes came out so tender and juicy.
Portion Size and Pricing
The portions were more than enough to satisfy even the hungriest patrons. The pricing for the quality of meat is incredible value. The burgers and sandwiches range from $10 to $17 depending on the type of meat. The sides are a generous size, and average only $4 or $5. Lastly, the platters are very inclusive, with less expensive dishes like the Almost Heaven Sliders and Country Boy Tacos only $14 to $15, while the bigger platters with more meat options can range from $20 to $40 depending on your choices. No matter what you order, you are getting quality and good value.
Overall Experience and Recommendation
Mountaineer Meat Smokers is one of the best BBQ spots I have ever been to, and I have had BBQ in Texas, Nashville, Atlanta, North Carolina, etc. This place is fun and doesn’t take themselves too seriously, so expect a rowdy time, especially if it is during an event like Cajun Crawl 7. I would highly recommend you not only come to Mountaineer, but come to their next event and see what speciality dishes they come up with. Overall, this experience was an 8.9 out of 10.