Good barbecue smells good and tastes even better. That was the litmus test I deployed on my trip to Vision BBQ, and they passed with flying colors. I dined at Vision BBQ for Charlottesville Restaurant Week, where I received an appetizer, an entrée and a dessert for just $25. This was real, good southern barbecue, with beautifully rich and balanced flavors, all at an attractive price. But fair warning — your food might take longer than you anticipate to arrive at your table.
The average Wednesday is normally pretty simple for me — just a class or two, a workout and a “Wing Wednesday” dinner with my friend at Newcomb Dining Hall. Last week, I diverged from my routine and signed up to write a food review. But I couldn’t leave my dear friend behind, especially alone in Newcomb. So together, we made the 25-minute walk from Central Grounds to Ridge McIntire Road, just on the outskirts of the Downtown Mall. After a long day of classes, we were ready for barbecue bliss — and that is exactly what we got.
When we arrived at the restaurant, we were promptly seated and began to plan out what to order. The menu had lots of appealing options, from appetizers to specialty sandwiches, as well as classic barbecue plates, piled high with saucy meat and two side dishes.
We began our Restaurant Week sampler with the Buffalo Chicken Dip, which was a decent six-out-of-10. The tortilla chips were fresh, crispy and delicious with a sprinkle of seasoning — indicating that the chips were likely made in-house — but to our dismay, there was a measly portion of the dip itself.
Also in the appetizer course, we decided to also order the Jumbo Smoked Chicken Wings with Sweet & Sassy sauce and a side of ranch — after all, we needed a bit more substance than just tortilla chips. The wings were reasonably sized, though not as large as the word “jumbo” might imply. The skin of the wings was crisp and juicy, carrying a subtle spice and nice tangy flavor provided by the Sweet & Sassy sauce.
The entrée course arrived next. For the Two Meat Plate, we chose the Sliced Brisket and the Pulled Pork with mac and cheese and Baked Beans. The Sliced Brisket, smoked on-site, was of expert quality — it was nice and easy to cut with a fork and knife, and it was a beautiful reddish-pink color. The mac and cheese was baked and carried a richer flavor than every college student’s go-to, store-bought Kraft mac and cheese. As for the Baked Beans — they were drenched in a traditional red barbecue sauce, but they were not soggy by any means.
On top of our Restaurant Week meal, we also ordered some Brisket Burnt Ends, which were stellar. They were sweet and tender, served with a brown-sugar barbecue sauce on top. This dish was undoubtedly the best of the evening, and I have no notes. The Brisket Burnt Ends were easy to cut with just a fork, and practically melted in my mouth. Truly incredible.
However, it is also important to note one small indictment — the operation was frustratingly slow. It took over an hour and a half from when we ordered to when we received the final dessert course. That was disappointing, considering that the wait staff was only tending to six other tables.
My friend had rehearsal that evening, and we both assumed that we would be done with dinner at a reasonable time. That was not the case. We wondered why it was taking so long — the dessert was just a cookie with some vanilla ice cream.
By the time the dessert finally arrived, my friend had left. I ate the chocolate chip cookie and vanilla ice cream by my lonesome, with a somber frown. After all, what is a sweet treat without someone to share it with?
Despite the lingering frustration, the dessert was a nice finale of the meal — although I am torn about whether it was worth the wait. Vision’s cookies are loaded with chocolate chips, and they are baked in a shape that resembles a muffin rather than a traditionally-flatter cookie. It was a unique vessel for the ice cream, which was set on top and drizzled with a touch of chocolate sauce. The ice cream was average, but it was satisfyingly cold and worked with the cookie well.
The incredible savory courses made up for the fact that the meal took north of two hours, and I give this establishment a respectable A-. Vision BBQ was a lovely rendition of our weekly dinner, and I would definitely like to go back again sometime soon. It is a solid choice for a filling lunch, an evening with friends, a date or many other occasions, and it’s sure to leave you and your company saying “mmm.”
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