Holy Hog Barbecue - Armenia
| Address: | 3501 N Armenia Ave, Tampa, FL 33607, USA |
| Phone: | +1 813-879-4647 |
| Site: | holyhogbbq.com |
| Rating: | 4.2 |
| Working: | 11AM–3PM 11AM–3PM 11AM–3PM 11AM–3PM 11AM–3PM Closed Closed |
Location
Photos 83
Reviews 8
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Alec Villanew
My Mexicaness lasted less this time, but I regret it. Tossed and turned last night as my heartburn played at giving me a heart attack. Was my last meal a Holy Hog Barbecue pulled pork sandwich with a side of Mac n Cheese? After all these fancy restaurants I have eaten at, was I to die tasting smoky flavors that are not even my favorite? I prayed to Bacchus as I tried to sleep reclining against all the decorating pillows I could gather. A much older version of “The Princess and the Pea.” I had it coming when I agreed to buy carry-out at nine o’clock at night. But when that young man smiles at me and has finished his Geometry homework, I am undone. He just loves ribs. He does not even have to have a side order. He is a picky eater anyway. Unlike me, he limits his food choices to incredibly few. Holy Hog was almost closed when I got there. Ordered a pulled pork sandwich (for me exclusively), Angus Beef Ribs and St. Louis Ribs. The dinner plates come with two side orders and a Texas Toast. Mac n Cheese comforts me like few things (besides cocktails and red wine.) So I ordered some along with French fries for the starving young man in my life. I am pretty sure that I did not pick the best hour to buy the food and that such timing had an effect in the Mac n Cheese and the Texas Toast. Though cheesy it was congealed rather than smooth and melted. It is a nice dish, but certainly nothing to call Anthony Bourdain about. The toasts were not crispy, not soft, but hard and chewy… a tad stale. Did not risk reheating them and making them even tougher. My sandwich consisted of bread and smoky pulled pork. Plenty of barbecue sauces came in plastic containers. I taste them. Liked them, but my inner voice warmed me of the possibility of a night like I ended up having anyway. Sauce or not. The pork was certainly smoky. Anyone who enjoys smoky flavors would definitely enjoy it. The portion was generous. I ate it even when I don’t particularly enjoy smokiness. Do you know how particular foods remind you of people, or of places? Smokiness ricochets me into childhood. The taste reminds me of a very long night sitting on a bar stool at my mother’s kitchen. My sister and I gagging and refusing to eat the smoked pork chop my mother had placed in front of us as part of dinner. I remember its unreal pinkness. Unlike any other pork chop I had seen in my short life. Time passed by like a narcoleptic snail. My sister ate it in small pieces she kept cutting the size of rice grains. Tears slithered down our chins. Even the saltiness of them tasted like ham. By eleven o’clock my mother gave up and finally allowed me to go to bed. This was a good sandwich that, for another, might be wonderful. The Angus Beef ribs were beyond delicious. Moist and savory. Black crust of sweetness over deep pink tasty. A joy to be messy over. A appetizing reason to return. The St. Louis Pork ribs were quite nice, but overshadowed by the Angus, they vanish from my culinary memories. I wish my childhood memories were as forgiving. I keep trying smoky flavored cheese, meats, ice cream… perhaps because I believe somewhere out there there is a fire burning that pork chop night and smoking the charred emotions. Smokiness I would find in the food and recognize as my own.
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A Private User
Was my food even smoked? I own my own smoker and love to grill as well as smoke and I also love to taste the local BBQ places in town. There are a few good ones in Tampa but this one is definitely not one of them. My food had zero smoke or even grill taste. I ordered the smoked? brisket. While the dry rub that was on it was decent and the sauce wasnt bad it doesnt make up for the brisket that tasted like it was boiled in water. Even the side dishes had little to no flavor. The mac and cheese was gross and the mashed potatoes needed salt and butter. This place is a disgrace to southern cooking and it should be ashamed to be called a BBQ restaurant. Everything was so bland I have never in my life had such horrible quality in food let alone BBQ. And for $37 for 3 plates of food is pretty damn pricey, I wouldnt mind paying that much if it tastes good (like a yummy Datz burger), but $37 for 3 plates of nasty crap is ridiculous.
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Ellei Law
I ate too much cue! We found this place while looking for barbeque in Tampa. Based on the reviews, I expected the food to be good and i was not disappointed. We ordered a full slab of ribs, the brisket sandwich, green beans, and jalapeno mac n cheese. The sides were seasoned well, the ribs were so tender they didnt need barbeque sauce, and the brisket was meh. This was my first time trying brisket and although it was cooked well, I guess I just dont like that part of the cow. They have three sauces, a north Carolina mustard based sauce, a sweet thicker sauce and a thinner spicy sauce. I love spicy food but i felt the spicy sauce lacked a kick. The service was fast and friendly. The bathrooms were very clean. I would definitely recommend and revisit Holy Hog barbeque.
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Di Dempsey
There BBQ is good. However for those in TAMPA the BEST is Snooties which is available Nov thru May. 14316 Lake Magdalene Blvd. THIS GETS 10 STARS!! Always fresh, best coleslaw, applesauce, BBQ Beans, Potato Salad, bbq sauce is OUTSTANDING. The owners Janet & Joe make everyone feel like family. Best once you have eaten or ordered to go, The Orange Grove Vegetable Market. YUM YUM!!! Holy Hog we go to a couple times during the months June thru Oct. SNOOTIES BBQ.
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Nicky Lanus
I visited the new location in Downtown Tampa. I tried the Burnt Ends (BBQ Candy) dinner. It came with 2 sides and I decided to get the corn fritters (yummy) and the Jalapeno Mac n Cheese (yummy)! Im from Louisiana and this is the best food Ive had downtown closest to "soul food". Everything on the bar (different meats & sides) looked delicious. I will be going back often as it is walking distance from my job. =)
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A Private User
Their ribs were delicious. Firm until you sink your teeth in and then they fall off the bone perfectly. Not slathered in sauce and smoked to perfection! The service could not have been better and the establishment was incredibly clean (which I loved!). Also, the baked beans and mac & cheese were to die for! Ill be going back in the next week or so to get another BBQ fix! Great portions for great prices! loved it!
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Manny Lontok
i found the sausage meat and sauces to be excellent. Although the bread was not fresh. it was crusty, it could have happened in the way they process the food through their cafeteria style distribution. i may have just got a stale bun. I will come back though because the quality of the spicy macaroni was delicious. I also want to check out the FISH FRY FRIDAY! 6/13/2012...loving the fish and hush puppies!
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JJ Murphy
I used to love this place. However, I went to the Armenia location last week and had the turkey... After only an hour I began feeling ill. I ended up going to the doctor for food poisoning as a result of eating here. If they have to get your food from the "back," steer clear of it. If you still want to eat here, I certainly wouldnt recommend the turkey (not even to an enemy.)
