Cole Longcor
cwl002@marietta.edu
I was quite sad to see The Cozy Kitchen close, leaving both a vacant space on Putnam St. and me without an easy and delicious lunch spot. I, like many in the community, where happy to hear of J’s BBQ and Grill taking over the location on the street and in our hearts.
J’s BBQ and Grill is a preestablished locals favorite in Parkersburg worth the trip across the river, though that’s unnecessary now. The menu has something for everyone from made to order burgers, an extensive list of appetizers, and of course plenty of BBQ options. On opening day, November 7th, the new restaurant was bustling as customers excitedly dug into their dishes and take-out orders for the office crowd were pouring in.
I sampled an array of their offerings out of curiosity and cravings. The star of the meal by far was their house-made BBQ sauce. The epitome of spice, acid, and sweetness that amplifies the food without overpowering it. The ribs and wings were quite tasty, though the brisket and pulled pork sandwiches I saw others order looked delectable. The coleslaw is rough chopped and has a vibrant vinegar base, cleansing the palate of the richness of the fried and smoked accoutrements and adding a playful crunch. As a connoisseur of fried pickles, and a very opinionated one at that, I can say without a doubt that their fried pickles are some of the best that I have had in a long time. While tempting to dip them in ranch, you are truly missing an opportunity to add depths of flavor by using the pickle chips to salvage any remaining BBQ sauce that you haven’t already decimated.
A central location in the heart of downtown Marietta, and more importantly close to the college campus, I look forward to returning to J’s BBQ and Grill to drown the loss of Cozy Kitchen’s sweet potato fries in smoke and BBQ sauce.
