Monday, August 13, 2007

47 restaurants in 47 days: #26, Armadillo Willy's

Armadillo Willy's
1031 N. San Antonio Rd, Los Altos

A local acquaintance who is serious about what he grills has recommended Armadillo Willy's more than once, so I thought I'd better check it out.

Fragrant wood smoke is your first impression of the place, as soon as you step out of your car. Willy's Web site states that its meats are grilled over an oak wood fire, and it sure smells like the real thing.

The menu reads like a carnivore's dream. Willy's BBQs chicken, "18-hour" beef brisket, "Memphis style" pork roast, smoked turkey breast, and a "sausage of the day" in addition to three kinds of pork ribs.

I ordered baby back ribs, which is what I usually prefer, but these were not as meaty as some. The Texas BBQ ribs had more meat, although both had plenty of smoky flavor.

The house BBQ sauce has a vinegary kick, even more so if you get the spicy jalopeno version.

The potato salad and Texas toast were fine. Barbecued beans were a nice change from the usual, ketchupy-sweet kind; they were a mix of different beans in a savory chili-gravy.

A motherly woman came around the dining room as we were finishing our meal with a tray full of chocolate chip cookies, which she offered to each table. They were nicely chewy, didn't taste quite like homemade, but it was a friendly thing to do.

Armadillo Willy's BBQ in Los Altos

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