By Brian Griffin
This town is a snow globe. Every disgruntled teenager who spends any amount of time growing up here has vowed to one day leave and never return. But most do return, with their shame packed in to the back of a trailer with all of their other belongings. But it is so cozy here. It has everything that you could ever need, and even some things that you might want. It is so devoid of culture that the vanilla, white bread, unpretentious veneer has in a sense become our culture. It is our charm.
In 2009, Forbes magazine named us the number two city in the country for job growth. We are near the top of the list for number of PhDs per capita in the United States. But we are slipping. Our Red Robin has recently slipped into the number two spot of highest grossing locations in the chain. We cannot stand for this. We are known nationally (probably not) for our undiscriminating diners of chains. As more and more move in to the area, we are called to up our game, step up to the plate and eat.
Most recently, a Texas staple has come to our area to give us a little bit of brisket and to pull our pork. Dickey’s Barbecue pit has migrated north and settled in to our quaint little town, hoping to mesh well with our sensibilities.
Now, I was born in the south. I spent a large part of my youth in Texas eating barbecue that you could find on any corner (but usually Applebee’s) of any street. I came to Dickey’s expecting very little to remind me of 1994. But as soon as I walked in the door, smelled the smoke and looked up to the televisions, I was greeted by Cowboys highlights and Fox News, complete with Hillary Clinton’s comforting smile.
This was opening day and this is Kennewick. We waited in line mostly patiently for what felt like hours, but I had visions of brisket dancing in my head to carry me through. We inched closer to the counter being serenaded into serenity by The O’Reilly Factor, my neck growing redder by the moment. But then, from the cash register that I could nearly see now, came the most crushing sentence I have heard uttered in my twenty seven years.
No. More. Brisket.
Understandable I suppose. Dickey’s smokes their meats daily for hours. When they are out, they are out. Be that as it may, any visit to any restaurant that leads off with a line that long (I swear I needed to shave by the time we reached the end) and follows with a disappointment like that doesn’t stand much of a chance. But I had come so far. This was my life now. All hail Master Dickey. We had arrived at the counter.
We ordered their special for the day, which was a two meat plate with two sides, accompanied by a shockingly delicious roll and slices of onion and pickle. We ordered the spicy cheddar sausage and pulled pork, which they cut weigh in front of you to remind you that you are devouring that which was once alive, with a side of macaroni and cheese and their baked potato casserole. We filled up three plastic ramekins with the three varieties of barbecue sauce from their sauce spigots, grabbed two plastic forks that are pretending to be metal forks and sat down.
Mother of God, the food is fantastic. Divine. It is Famous Dave’s in a pinch with authenticity oozing from every orifice. They give you free ice cream. They have the little crushed ice balls and Coke Zero and a cup to take home. The bathrooms are single toilets with locking doors for the privacy we southerners enjoy. If someone trespasses while the toilet is occupied, I am fairly sure you can legally defend your property with a shotgun. Kids eat free on Sundays. I am planning to have a child, bring a bag of celery for them to eat while I enjoy two meals for the price of one. Thank you Dickey’s. You are corporate, but you are culture that we are starved for. Dickey’s is life.
Dickey’s BBQ Pit is located at 122 South Ely Street in Kennewick, WA. Kids eat free on Sunday’s & you receive free ice-cream every day. They offer Family pack meals, sandwiches, everything you can imagine bbq & sides to die for. Click here to view their menu Follow Dickey’s Kennewick on facebook click-a-roonie right here!