Jake: Always on the lookout for good, authentic BBQ, I happened upon Thrill of the Grill, located in downtown Tacoma. You can't miss this little hole in the wall . . . just follow the smell of the smoke, because all the meat is slow smoked right in the parking lot.

In true BBQ fashion, before I could even close the door behind me, I was greeted with a "How ya doin', what can I get for ya today?" The attentiveness of the staff continued throughout the meal, and I felt genuinely welcomed to the Thrill of the Grill.  I was even thanked for my patronage by both the owner as I left the building and the man working the smoker in the parking lot as I jumped in my car to leave.

Jason: Talk about friendly. The owner made me feel like a son.  He asked me about my day, went over the menu, made sure I was comfortable ... they're good people.

            Jake: Everyone outside of Texas knows that BBQ means pig, and so I tried both the pulled pork sandwich and the ribs. The ribs were smoky, flavorful and practically fell right off the bone; they clearly had been in the smoker and not the microwave.  They can be ordered either naked or sauced . . . mine were sauced (one pound for $15).  The pulled pork sandwich ($6.75) was equally flavorful, juicy and just plain delicious! 

Jason: I enjoyed the smoked chicken piled high on a bun with lettuce and tomato.  The flavors were smokey and rich. 

            Jake: Thrill of the Grill also offers all the sides one would expect with BBQ, including fries, potato salad, slaw, beans, corn, okra and fried cornbread. The house-made slaw and beans were an excellent pairing to my meal.  The slaw was crisp and sweet while the baked beans were smoky, sweet and cooked just right.

Jason: I loved the slaw.  The cabbage was firm and fresh while the dressing was tangy and quite sweet.  Reminded me a bit of the Colonel's recipe, but with a heartier slicing of slaw.

                        Jake: In addition to pig, other offerings include brisket, chicken, and a Texas sausage sandwich that I will be back to try.  It also offers some holdouts from last year when it was a burger joint, offering burgers and hand blended shakes as well. As you know, I'm a big fan of dessert, and was looking forward to the slice of peach pie that I ordered with my meal. However, the pie seemed to be the only thing not made in house and after a few bites, I really didn't want anything to do with it.  Come for the BBQ . . . skip the dessert.

Jason: The peach pie depends on where you sit with crust.  The Thrill's crust is chewy rather than flaky, so if you are good with that, you'll be extra happy to discover the peaches have a nice cinnamon and fresh appeal.  I'd say Jake you are a flake...y fan of pie.

(Thrill of the Grill; 1402 Tacoma Ave S; 253.627.8292)