Giurmail Singh does not fit the profile of a barbeque chef. “I get that all the time,” he says. The owner of downtown Auburn’s Smokey Pit Barbeque Texas Style clearly has ethnic roots traced from India. “People can’t believe I own a barbeque place. Then they taste my food and they keep coming back for more.”
It’s no wonder that they do. Everything is fresh made on site from scratch. The meats are prepared in the smoker out in front of the shop. They are slow cooked as appropriate; five hours on the ribs, four hours on the chicken. This process produces fall-off-the-bone tenderness in the ribs and succulent juiciness in the chicken. The beef brisket, though tender and flavorful, did have to be monitored for fat (as seems to be a matter of course with brisket). The coleslaw was fresh and crisp. The macaroni and potato salads were like mom used to make ‘em.
Sauce is key to great barbeque. This sauce is first rate. Using multiple ingredients and spices, the process of creating the sauce takes five and one half hours. Most barbeque sauces seem overly sweet, but Singh’s sauce is deliciously savory with just the right hint of sweetness. Smooth and pleasantly complex, it serves to accompany the flavor of the meat without overpowering it.
Though most of its business is take out, Smokey Pit
Barbeque is set up for dine in eating as well. Prices are reasonable, especially for lunch. $6.95 buys a generous pulled pork, beef brisket, chicken or hot link sandwich with two home made sides ($5.95 for the brisket sandwich alone). Better still, get the chicken/rib combo with two sides for $7.95 (add a link for $8.50). This reviewer was able to fill up on the rib and sides and save the generous chicken portion for dinner. Large pack family specials are also available, starting at $22.95 for chicken, rolls and two pints of sides
Smokey Pit Barbeque Texas Style is located at 160 Harrison Ave in Auburn. Phone (530) 889-9080. Just look for the big black smoker in the parking lot with the unassuming Indian gentleman manning it.
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