While in Helena for BluesFest 2016, Blair and I decided to try out the James Beard Award winning Barbecue joint known by by its long family lineage: Jones Bar-B-Q in Marianna, AR. Here's the schtick: Mr. Jones only makes a limited supply of succulent pulled pork each day, and serves it on white bread with your choice of slaw on top or none on top. That's it. That's the choice to be made (apart from a canned beverage).
Food: ★★★★★
Fantastic at what it does, a barbecue sandwich.
Atmosphere: ★★★☆☆
This is the quintessential dive. Two old tables with thick, floral, vinyl cloths. You'll most likely eat in your car anyway.
Service: ★★★★☆
Let's face it: if you're a restaurant that only does one thing, you have to do it well. The Jones family has been doing it well for 50 years.
So the question becomes: is it worth the trip over? I'd say if you're traveling a hundred miles, probably not. Don't get me wrong-- it's delicious, but such trips are only going to please the most die- hard foodie. Is it worth the trip if you're headed toward Memphis or in the area? Absolutely.
The sandwich is perfect in its simplicity: just the right ratio of meat and sauce and bread. I highly recommend the slaw (and I'm firmly in the no slaw camp)--it's a crunchy, vinegar based (no mayo) contrast to the sweet, spicy pork.
Menu:
Sort of impossible to evaluate a place with no menu. Food: ★★★★★
Fantastic at what it does, a barbecue sandwich.
Atmosphere: ★★★☆☆
This is the quintessential dive. Two old tables with thick, floral, vinyl cloths. You'll most likely eat in your car anyway.
Service: ★★★★☆
Mr. Jones is a soft spoken and friendly man with a warm smile. He'll ask you where you're from as he folds your sandwiches together. They run out of food around 11am every day and don't make more. They can be difficult to get ahold of-- all things that can be frustrating for the first-timer. If you're coming in from far away-- call early and ask him to set you aside a couple sandwiches. You won't be disappointed.