Hungry? Moe’s hopes so, for the sake of BBQ and bowling.
It’s happened only once before, so when raspy-voiced singer, beer enthusiast and Carolina barbecue expert Marty Jones raves about a new joint, you pay attention.
“A mind-blowing pulled-pork sandwich (I’ve been enjoying them Alabama-style, with white sauce and easy on the red) and primo, knockout ribs, too. The sides are dynamite, as well, made from scratch, delish. And Dale’s Pale Ale cans behind the bar. Add in the bowling lanes and live music and you have a genuine piece of heaven on Earth,” he says. (Full disclosure: Jones, whose new band is Marty Jones and the Great Unknowns, does marketing for Dale’s Pale, but he doesn’t spin on pork.)
The last time Jones sent me on a barbecue journey, it led to Breckenridge Brewery, 471 Kalamath St., and chef Stuart Close’s eastern Carolina-style pulled-pork sandwich. The Moe’s Original Bar B Que odyssey started in Birmingham, Ala., when three college friends bonded over smoked meat, the blues, whisky… and snow.
The ‘bama boys made their way to Vail and started serving barbecue to skiers and Southerners about seven years ago. They now have three restaurants in Colorado and four back in Alabama, all in the style of their ‘cue-linary mentor, Moses Day.
The south Broadway Moe’s opened in October 2008, and once again brought together the owners’ various passions. “We were huge fans of bowling, and we’re fans of live music,” says co-owner Justin Medlin. So when Gothic Theater owner Steve Schalk asked them to take over the restaurant space, they were ready to smoke up the neighborhood.
“This is Alabama-style barbecue — it’s kind of a throwback. Everything is slow-cooked and made from scratch,” says Medlin, a Tupelo, Miss., native as he gleefully describes his side dish menu. “Every day we do three special sides — collards, broccoli casserole, blackeyed peas, skillet corn, sweet potato casserole, fried green tomatoes, squash casserole, jambalaya — we have about 30 we alternate.” And that’s in addition to the daily beans, potato salad, slaw and banana pudding.
The indoor smoker runs 24 hours a day, loaded with ribs, chicken, turkey and pork. “We cook our butts right here overnight for 12 hours,” says Medlin. Time to get yours in there.
– MOE’S ORIGINAL BAR B QUE –
Southern. 11 a.m.-11 p.m. daily. Open til 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday. 3295 S. Broadway, Englewood, 303-781-0414; moesdenver.com
– Kristen Browing-Blas
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I’ve been to Moes several times recently. It’s always dirty there – floors and tables. Every time I’ve been there it looks like they’d had a huge party the night before and not cleaned up. Kinda makes you wonder about how clean the kitchen is. They do have good pinball games though.
Comment by Matt — March 11, 2009 @ 11:29 am
I’ve gotta say, I was NOT a fan the one time I went either. The staff was kind of friendly but out of it, the setting was gross, the food was sub-par (or outright nasty) and the space smelled like feet.
Maybe it’s different on a busy night or something. A consistent experience is as important though…
Comment by Sandra K. — March 11, 2009 @ 4:30 pm
i think these coments come from people with a lack of understanding of what southern bbq is all about. if you only expierience to bbq is the freakin McRib, you just are not goin to understand.
moes bbq is world class, if you enjoy bbq you will love moes
Comment by Casey Efting — March 13, 2009 @ 8:13 am
BBQ is pretty subjective, but I wouldn’t say Moe’s is world class. I don’t hate it like the people above seem to, but it doesn’t hold a candle to Brothers. Just because someone doesn’t love Moe’s doesn’t mean they like the McRib…
Comment by Mark E. — March 13, 2009 @ 12:56 pm
eating at brothers is like shopping at k-mart
Comment by Casey Efting — March 19, 2009 @ 11:39 pm
Moe’s is much better than Brothers that is for sure. I agree with Casey when he compares it to K-Mart. I am from the South and Moe’s is about the only place that has that same great meat time after time. I am glad they have a place in Denver because only could eat on Sat’s in Vail but able feed my BBQ fix anytime now. Keep up the good work guys.
Comment by Chris — March 30, 2009 @ 11:31 am
I wonder how many Moe’s employees are commenting on this thread? Moe’s is not good. Unless they’ve changed drastically over the past few months…
Comment by Jenn C. — March 31, 2009 @ 1:09 am
Use your taste buds guys! The food is great. They do southern food right. The guys that own brothers bbq are from ENGLAND! If you like english bbq your off your rocker. Thats like saying ub40 is better reggae than bob marley.
Comment by fred — May 6, 2009 @ 11:15 pm
Are you kidding? Moe’s is the best BBQ…Then add live music and bowling to the mix….Smart move.
Comment by mld365 — May 8, 2009 @ 1:40 am
Eh… Moe’s is like mall food: cheapness you can taste. I still go there for shows, but I liked it better when it was the Falcon.
Comment by Suzanne — May 8, 2009 @ 2:55 am