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Last Update: Sep 17th, 2019
Hickory Sticks BBQ

Hickory Sticks BBQ

899 E Cypress Creek Rd
Fort Lauderdale FL, 33334
(954) 616-8567
Overall Rating
2.4
Food
Service
Ambiance
Last Review
12/22/2017

Details

Attire: Casual
Parking: Private Lot
CC: Yes
Alcohol: No
Prices: Inexpensive
Outside Dining: No
Reservations: No
Delivery: No

Pros

Cool Decor and large eat in area
Prices aren't Outrageious

Cons

Inadequate Take Out Waiting Area
Bland Food
Many Low Price Options Removed From Menu

Critic's Review

Hickory Sticks has a new look and it under new ownership. A new paint job, new signed. Marketeers from Jersey are in the house.

Hickory Sticks Side

The place is similar inside; it big enough to eat in but they haven't allocated enough room for takeout; there's a narrow area which was uncomfortable with just 3 people waiting. Luckily it was after lunch hour so I was able to go into the dining room to wait. There's a very nervous looking beancounter behind the register who is likely an owner; managers never look like this.

Hickory Sticks Interior

The kitchen is open so you can watch then do their thing. Ribs come right out of holding; Mac and Cheese requires some work as they re-heat them in a frying pan before boxing them.

Hickory Sticks Counter

They had some specials but 3 "bones" didn't seem like enough. I wanted to try the brisket but there was no cheap option to try it and I didn't want to just get the brisket because history suggests that thre's a 90% chance it will suck. So I just orders a Rib Combo which came to $13.73 with tax.

I don't live that close so it was a good 20 minutes before I got home and opened the bag.

Hickory Sticks Takeout

5 1/2 bones, a good portion of Mac and Cheese and beans in a separate container to avoid getting all over the place. So far so good.

Hickory Sticks Ribs

Unfortunately, everything was ice cold. Too cold to eat. I tasted the beans; no smoke at all; could have been right out of a can. The Mac and cheese has no taste at all. Its like they use low-salt cheese or something. Cold Mac and Cheese is normally fine. This was just a clump of calories.

The ribs were cooked perfectly, however then HAD NO FLAVOR. At this point I started to question my taste buds. How could everything be so bland? Maybe there's something wrong with my taste buds. I tasted some stuff in the refrigerator and it wasn't me; it was the food. The cornbread is such a joke it doesn't even deserve a mention.

I fired up my smoker and put in the ribs and beans for about 10 minutes at 160 degrees to warm them up;

Hickory Sticks Takeout Re-heated

I got both the house and sweet sauce and both were fine. Too bad the ribs had no taste.

Conclusion

The previous owners started out badly but really had some good tasting BBQ and was one of the few places that had excellent sides as well. They shot themselves in the foot by betting greedy and trying to open up a big 2nd location, which I suspect caused them to have to sell both businesses.

The new ownership seems to have gone the low-spice route, which is a clear mistake.

They've raised the prices 20-30%, which makes it no longer worth the trip to come to this out of the way area. Ribs went form $9.95 to $12.95. They replaced the 1/2 and 1/4 chicken options with only a whole chicken. They've eliminated the wings altogether (which makes their Game Pack a loser); the sausage platter inexplicably went from $8.95 to $13.95, a whopping 55% price increase.

New beancounter ownership: Higher prices and food that doesn't taste nearly as good.

Review 9/17/12

Hickory Sticks Fort Lauderdale

When Hickory sticks first opened, I checked it out and I thought the baby back ribs were terrible. The were overbrined; just way too salty for consumption. The sides were good, and the cornbread was inedible. I usually don't go back to a place so fast; not because I don't want to, but because there are just too many other places to try out. But I was lunching at Hooters down the road, so I figured I'd pick up some BBQ and have it for dinner.

Inside, the place is very rustic; with weathered woods to make it look like it's been around for as long as some of the other BBQs in town. Inside is well decorated; it reminds me more of an old time bar more than a restaurant, with a lot of space in the center of the room. I think they overdid the weathering.

Hickory Sticks Interior

Their prices are fair; $10.95 for a half rack of babybacks and $9.95 for spare ribs. I thought I'd try the spare ribs this time. If was ready quickly enough, and it was a pretty heavy bag. When I got home, I opened it, and the ribs looked different; the babybacks and the sauce I'd gotten before had a reddish color. These looked better. The cornbread however, was a soggy mess, just like before.

Hickory Sticks Spare Ribs, Spicy Slaw and Mac and Cheese

I got the spicy cole slaw this time, and the Mac and Cheese. I didn't really detect anything spicy in the cole slaw, but again, it's top notch stuff. These guys know how to make cole slaw. The mac and cheese, interestingly, had a bit of a jalapeno taste. It was a different flavor, not great, but I found myself eating more of it than I planned. The ribs were great; slightly smokey, just the right tenderness, and a good amount of meat. This is good stuff.

It's rare that I see this much change in just a few months, but they've clearly gotten their recipes down. Most places with good ribs have at least one bad side. Now if they could just give up on the cornbread and give some garlic bread instead; it might just be perfect.

Hickory Sticks Baby Back Ribs, Beans and Cole Slaw

Comment Policy Add Comment
Jen
Reply
Fat Boyz is moving their Deerfield Beach location here.
Administrator
Reply
I'm surprised they're not bleeding cash from the Fort Lauderdale location.
Jeremy
Reply
I tried it last week and agree on the cornbread that it was soggy and not good. The beans were not sweet at all like they normally are at BBQ places, but had a little spice to them and were OK for me. I did not try the ribs but I had the brisket, pulled pork. and collard greens and all 3 were very good, so maybe try something different next time? It is hard to find decent Que in Fort Lauderdale so I am not going to write this place off just yet...
BBQ Lover
Reply
It's A Corn Cake Dummy It's Supposed to be moist......

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