I don't know a lot about Hamlin, West Virginia. I know that Chuck Yeager grew up not far from there, and I know there's a Tudor's there from my state biscuit tour.
But I've recently learned about Carnivore BBQ, a popular Hamlin restaurant that folks from Charleston are traveling to check out. So once I saw this popping up all over the place with scrumptious-looking meals, I needed to go check it out.
Carnivore BBQ started off as a competition-style BBQ team that has turned into a brick-and-mortar destination restaurant. My friend Dawn and I arrived 5 minutes before the restaurant opened on a Sunday, and there were folks already waiting to get in.
The interior is a mixture of red paint, corrugated steel, wooden planks and the sweet, sweet smells of BBQ.
Let's talk about the menu. I struggled to narrow down the options - from fried appetizers and pizza to BBQ and over-the-top burgers. I even enlisted our waiter for help - asking what is the most unique or over-the-top or tastiest. He was incredibly patient and helpful.
First, though, as first-time customers, we were treated to samples of pork, brisket and chicken. This gave me the perfect opportunity to also try their regular BBQ, kicker, vinegar and gold. Mmmm.
My favorites were the regular and the gold - both of which were homemade!
OK - now, for the first bite. We went with a shared appetizer of Jurassic Fries. This was a heaping portion of fries topped with melted cheese, pulled pork, pickled jalapenos, bacon and ranch on the side. I covered it in the regular bbq sauce for an indulgent, tangy, crispy delight.
For my entree, I had to go with the Caveman Kenny burger, based primarily on curb appeal. LOOK AT THIS THING. That is an entire fried disc of cheese combined with short rib patty, sauteed mushrooms and onions, lettuce, tomato and BBQ aioli. If you're a cheese-lover like me, go get it - now.
And, if that's not enough cheese, opt for some mac & cheese as a side, like me. Very saucy with some fresh grated cheese on top.
Dessert. They have a revolving slate of desserts, but the one that caught my eye was the s'mores lava cake. Typically, lava cake is not my jam. It seems kinda generic, and chocolate cake isn't my favorite anyway. BUT, s'mores makes everything more appealing.
The cake was not as harsh as chocolate, but was a bit dry. The marshmallow was like a toasted meringue, and it was unreal. So, so good. Overall, quite a nice meal that was a bit different and provided a lovely little scenic drive, too.
Grade: A
