The last time I reviewed a barbeque joint—the Godforsaken Maples in the Plaza District—I received plenty of hate mail, a handful of death threats, and a whole lot of racist indignation from upstanding Oklahoma City folk that didn’t appreciate me dripping sauce on their lily-white shoes.
So I guess I was admittedly a bit gun-shy about dining at another barbeque restaurant, but, regardless, I have to say that George’s Happy Hog Bar-B-Q, 712 Culbertson Drive, reaffirms my charred passion with their damn good smoked meats and assorted sides; if you’re at all serious about good barbeque—serious enough to threaten to kill me, at least—make a pit-stop here.
While situated in a bit of a hard-to-find area off Lincoln, the atmosphere was festive as a birthday party was going on when we walked in and it was hard not to want to be immediately involved in the festivities. My pal Jodie and I made our way to the counter to order as a man in the kitchen was cutting and slicing various meats at a breakneck pace to keep up with the orders.
As I ordered my meal—the Hog Wild Rib-End Dinner ($10.79) with two sides, as well as a slice of Sweet Potato Pie ($2.25)—it was hard not to become absolutely intoxicated with every inhale of the pecan-smoked meats that were being carried out from the back for delicious dismemberment on the cutting board. Tray of eats in hand, I headed to a nearby window seat.