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O'Charley's - Bristol
3173 Linden Drive, Bristol, Tennessee, 24202
Phone: 276-642-0113
Cuisines: • American • Steak
Features: • Bar / Lounge • Beer • Birthday Specials • Catering Services • Full Bar • Handicap Accessible • Happy Hour • Kid Friendly • Local Favorite • Non-Smoking Area • Open Late • Patio / Outdoor Dining • Sunday Brunch • Take Out • Wine
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Crazy Tomato - Johnson City
203 Princeton Road, Johnson City, Tennessee 37601
Phone: 423.283.0211
Cuisines: • Calzones • Italian • Pizza • Subs • Vegetarian • Wineries
Features: • Banquet / Private Rooms • Beer • Birthday Specials • Catering Services • Food Delivery • Handicap Accessible • Kid Friendly • Local Favorite • Lunch Specials • Non-Smoking Restaurant • Patio / Outdoor Dining • Take Out • WiFi Hot Spot • Wine
A casual place where you come in you are family. Great food, good portions, great prices. Cold beer, great wine, a patio to enjoy the nature and a food that makes anyone have a better day and never leave hungry. Full Details ...
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O'Charley's - Kingsport
1920 North Eastman Road, Kingsport, Tennessee 37664
Phone: 423-246-8868
Cuisines: • American • Steak
Features: • Bar / Lounge • Beer • Birthday Specials • Catering Services • Full Bar • Handicap Accessible • Happy Hour • Kid Friendly • Local Favorite • Non-Smoking Area • Open Late • Patio / Outdoor Dining • Sunday Brunch • Take Out • Wine
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Phil’s BBQ offers friendly service, good smoked flavor
Reach the Mystery Diner at diner@johnsoncitypress.com.
At a glance: Phil’s Dream Pit, 534 Eastern Star Road, Kingsport; 349-6437; Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-7 p.m., Friday, 11 a.m.-9 p.m., Saturday, 3-7 p.m.; credit cards accepted.
It may have been on “Oprah” or his NBC reality series or some other talk show, but I remember hearing Donald Trump once giving 1-0-1 tips on the keys to a successful business. Advice number one: “Location, location, location.”
Not necessarily novel, but definitely noteworthy, particularly with restaurants. Or is it?
With more than three years of dining reviews under my belt, I’ve seen the geography factor, such as being near a college campus or as a tenant along North Roan Street, leverage great success for countless restaurants, even if the food bordered on mediocre.
Yet, there are a number of restaurants far from “downtown” that are booming, once again proving that curvy back country roads and high gas prices don’t deter flocks of customers if the cooking is done right. The poster child of that theory is barbecue.
Some would argue whether Phil’s Dream Pit is prime property in terms of location. For residents, businesses, and churches in the Eastern Star Road community in Kingsport, the answer to that question would be in the affirmative. But for barbecue lovers farther into Kingsport or back in Johnson City, it remains to be seen.
Personally, I’d go back for no other reason than to visit with the friendly staff. I suspect Phil’s is a family-run business. The down-home service and genuine kindness are a dead giveaway.
For first-timers, Phil’s Dream Pit is located just off the Eastern Star Road exit (turn right if coming from Johnson City) on the left. Greeting me in the parking lot was the smell of the pit smoker near the back side of the restaurant.
Oh, yeah ... this was going to be good.
About the barbecue: Because it is smoked, the meat may be drier than you expect, but that is how smoked pork is, and you can adjust that as needed by the amount of sauce you add. Each bite maintains that rich smoked flavor. As far as the sauce, it has modest base of sweetness that didn’t seem to be too bold.
The lunch special was a real bargain: a small pork sandwich, one side and a drink for around $6. No sooner had I placed my to-go order was the sandwich brown-bagged and ready to go. Your side options include beans, potato salad, chips and slaw, which had somewhat of a stronger taste than I was expecting but it went fine with the barbecue.
I also recommend the ribs. There was a respectable amount of meat on those bones and I was able finish them with only a trace of one spill drop on my tan T-shirt.
The meat also retained that smoked flavor. The ribs and pork, along with the chicken, beef brisket and chicken salad sandwich, come as meals with beans, slaw or potato salad and a drink for only $7.99.
There are also “dream packs” to go consisting of pork and chicken that can feed as many as four or six for only $19.95-$21.95.
Mom might enjoy that for a pre- or post-Mother’s Day surprise.
Mystery Diner Published in the Johnson City Press on May 9, 2008
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