Now that Syllabus Week is over, everyone has to start actually doing homework and studying. (Or not, I’m not your dad so I can’t tell you how to live your life.) As some of you continue work on your beach bodies, I am continuing my quest to build the perfect dad body. So I can tell you how to live your life. Regardless, you can sample this restaurant on your next cheat day.
Everybody claims that they know the best possible barbecue place on the face of the Earth. Be it in Memphis, Kansas City or (as someone who had no idea what they are talking about once told me) in St. Louis, it is next to impossible to get quality barbecue when you are away at school…or so it may appear. Cue Shotgun Pete’s BBQ Shack, which claims to be voted the “Best BBQ Restaurant in Mid-Missouri,” a well-deserved title.
Once a little shack off Business Loop 70, Shotgun Pete’s opened its doors in 2012 across the street from The Blue Note, at 28 N. Ninth St. in downtown Columbia. The area would seem to see a lot of foot traffic, but you wouldn’t guess such from the size of the restaurant. With only a few tables and a short bar to eat at, Shotgun Pete’s offers a close knit and personal relationship with its clientele. The decorations are pig themed (big surprise for a barbecue joint), and only vie for attention with early 20th century movie posters. All of this, along with the paper towel rolls secured to the wall above each table, give the diner a feel of a walk-in lunch shack.
It’s not that the restaurant is trying to rush you in and out, but you definitely don’t get the vibe to stay for a few hours. The food encourages you to hurry and finish it, because it is so good. To cater to everybody, the shop has six sauces that are all made in-house: Hellfire, Southern Mustard, Texas Pit, Sweet ‘N’ Smokey, Carolina Pig Juice, and KC Style. My personal favorite is the Hellfire. When you try the sauce, it is extremely sweet and then simmers, giving you the full heat of the ghost peppers that go into the mix.
Although the shack serves beer, I ordered root beer that comes served in its own frosty mug. I paired that with the critically-acclaimed sandwich Shotgun Pete’s is known for: the pulled pork sandwich topped with a rather large dollop of coleslaw. Putting the Sweet ‘N’ Smokey sauce on this was a revelation. Served with a side of southern red potato salad, this dish is a savory masterpiece.
The portion sizes are something to be admired. The menu has a barbecue meat-covered nacho dish, and offers sizes for one and for two. Personally, I believe that the “for one” size is more properly eaten by two, and the “for two” should go to a family of four. If you can eat the BBQ Nachos for one by yourself in one sitting, I would like you to let me know.
Luckily, when I went to eat, I had friends with me so I could mooch as much food as possible. The ribs were covered in an immaculate dry rub, sealing in the moisture of the meat below. These ribs could be eaten in their smoky flavor prime, or drizzled in the delicious Texas Pit sauce. The sultry brisket was so smooth that the sweet sauce was almost overpowering on the meat. One of my friends ordered the BBQ Sundae: layers of beans, any meat on the menu, sauce, topped with potato salad or with coleslaw, all served in a Mason jar. $10 and totally worth it.
The restaurant offers both dine-in and take-out orders. I wasn’t able to find out if the restaurant is already full for orders for Super Bowl Sunday, but any party would be lacking without their ribs. If my Yelp research offers anything, everybody loves the meat and the sides, but craves more. I think it is good to note that anytime a restaurant reviewer leaves with their notepad covered in sauce, the food is worth a try.