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Hidden away in Shed 2 of the Dallas Farmers Market is a place called Pecan Lodge. It does not shell out pecans and it is not a lodge, but what it does have is some good barbecue and fried chicken.
On my first visit I ordered a Hot Mess $9.00. This is a baked sweet potato, topped with chopped beef, green onions, bacon and a chipotle cream sauce. It lives up to its name. It is very messy but in a good way. While the baked sweet potato was way overcooked to the point of being blackened and falling apart with no flavor, it did, however, have texture and that was an interesting combination with the chopped beef. The nice surprise was the chipotle cream sauce (used instead of sour cream), which added a certain spice kick that balanced well with the green onions.
On my second visit I decided to try the chopped barbecue beef sandwich and the two-piece fried chicken dinner.
Chopped Beef Sandwich $8.00: The chopped beef sandwich was good. You must ask for extra BBQ sauce. You will need it and want it. The beef is well seasoned and served on a toasted bun. I found it bizarre that the top outer side of the bun was toasted but not the inner side. It is served with pickles and onions. You won’t need them. The beef is packed with flavor and the sandwich is worth the $8.00 price even cold (see below).
Two-piece Chicken Dinner with a Side $9.00: I inquired which pieces I could order and was told, I could order, white meat, dark meat or a combination of them both.
I ordered a breast and a leg and received two thighs. When I pointed out the mistake, I was told by the man who took my order the he thought I said “dark meat.” I am perplexed on how a request for a “breast and a leg” equated to “dark meat.”
My order went back and while I waited my chopped beef sandwich got cold.
Finally, the chicken order was delivered. I received not what I ordered but, a thigh and a leg, also known as “dark meat.” Apparently, either they didn’t have white meat and couldn’t bring themselves to tell me or someone in the kitchen really doesn’t know the difference between a breast and a thigh. All this happened at noon, which was strange since they had only been open for an hour.
It took a while and I had to give a physical description of what a breast and leg looked like to the front counter order taker, but finally I received a breast and a leg. The chicken that I tasted was hot, fresh and crispy. The roll that comes with it was buttery, soft and moist.
You have a choice of side items with the chicken and I opted for the macaroni and cheese without the bacon instead of fried okra because I didn’t want two fried dishes. The side of macaroni and cheese was reminiscent of boxed mac and cheese with soggy jalapenos added to it. This was very bland, undesirable and I threw it away.
Most of the kitchen staff was friendly and seemed proud to deliver your order with a smile.
The long line that forms around the counter is unnecessary. The food is good but not worth standing in a long line for. The long line is due to inefficient counter service and lack of communication within the kitchen.
Would I eat there again? Yes, but I’ll grab a table while someone else stands in line to place the order.
Pecan Lodge earned 2 out of 5 stars. It is very casual dining with walk up counter service.
Pecan Lodge opens at 11:00 a.m. and closes at 3:00 p.m. or when they run out of food. So basically, it is a place for an early lunch.
The menu is short and simple and the food is good but they really need to work on their front counter service and kitchen efficiency.
After lunch, a walk through the Farmers Market would be a healthful move.
Pecan Lodge is located at the Dallas Farmers Market, Shed 2, 1010 S. Pearl Expy., Dallas, Texas 75201 214-748-8900
Copyright © 2013 Robin D. Everson. All rights reserved.
Robin is also the Examiner for Dallas Art Events and Dallas Places and Faces. Please feel free to leave a comment or share the article via your favorite social media site.
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