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Placerville, California meets New Braunfels, Texas at Hog Wild Bar-B-Que, where the motto is, "Bringing you a little taste of Texas." As with all of reviews that I publish, I have no affiliation with the restaurant reviewed, and there is no monetary gain on my part, as I am simply a person who likes to eat, and I love to write-up, and publish my dining experiences.
Photo: It's a little past 3 in the afternoon, Sunday, November 17, 2024. I'm getting ready to enjoy amazing Texas-style barbecue and an amazing 5-star dining experience in El Dorado County. Now I see what everyone has been talking about!
Photo: The gate was open, so I took a peek behind the scenes to check out the wood, and one of the two pits the restaurant uses to barbecue. Oak wood grows everywhere in El Dorado County, but Hog Wild Bar-B-Que uses mesquite wood for barbecue, which makes the food Texas authentic in taste.
Photo: As you enter the restaurant, you'll be meeted and greeted by a friendly staff member, who will take your order, and make you feel at home. Note the many vintage Texas license plates which decorate the order counter. The restaurant operates on what I label as the "taqueria format," in that the menu is posted above the counter, and you choose your selection from the overhead menu. You make your selection, pay for it, and in return, you'll receive a "name" or a "number..." and then you seat yourself at any open table, or a seat at the counter. When your order is ready, it will be brought to you with a smile by one of the friendly staff members. Like a taqueria, there's a tip jar on the counter. Be sure to tip, as the staff is both efficient and friendly.
Photo: After you place your order, you choose a table and enjoy the atmosphere of a Texas barbecue restaurant, located many miles west in Placerville.
Photo: MaryFrances, one of my friendly hosts, works the counter and takes orders. There are bins with packaged knives, spoons, forks and napkins... you simply grab and serve yourself. Just like in Texas, there are rolls of paper towels to help you enjoy your meal...
Photo: The State Flag of Texas, along with Texas beer signs, with a video monitor or two are on the wall. Yes, you're in Placerville, but Hog Wild Bar-B-Que is just a little part of Texas, just a couple thousand miles west of Austin.
Photo: Weekday happy hour specials are posted at the counter.
Photo: The complete menu, including meat and sides, is posted above the ordering counter. Is this Texas or Mexico? Alright... I'm in Placerville.
Photo: Stephanie pours a 16-oz Shiner Bock beer from the tap. This amazing dark lager beer is brewed in Shiner, Texas, and is on tap in Placerville.
Photo: My amazing friendly hostess/bartender, Stephanie, presents me with a pint of Shiner Bock beer, with a smile.
Photo: You can enhance your meal from the three varieties of barbecue sauce the restaurant offers, all are made in-house. You can start with the "Original" sauce, which is where it all starts. Or... jump start your day by adding "Spicy," which adds a bit of "kick" to your barbecue sauce. I settled on the "Chipotle," which was the basic sauce with the smoky taste of chipotle pepper, with added spice and a bit of heat. Delicious!
Photo: Meet Stephanie, my friendly hostess who delivered my meal to me with a smile. She provided great service along with lots of friendly conversation.
Photo: I'm a happy diner, as I toast Hog Wild Bar-B-Que, my hostess Stephanie, and the State of Texas with a pint of Shiner Bock beer! Life is simply amazing on this mid-November afternoon in Placerville, CA.
Photo: From the "3 Meat Plate" page of the menu, I went with brisket, chicken and sausage for my protein. My sides were potato salad and mashed potatoes and gravy, which worked out to be an amazing Sunday lunch. "Tender Beef Brisket," as listed on the menu was exactly as described by the menu: Tender. I'm talking about fork tender, juicy and simply amazingly delicious. Brisket is usually served chopped, but the beef brisket I enjoyed today was sliced, and it was so tender that a knife wasn't needed. It's been a long time west of Waco since I've enjoyed such an amazing side of brisket! Ditto for the chicken breast, as it was juicy, fork tender and simply delicious. Think of this... dipping small pieces of chicken breast into the mashed potatoes and gravy. How does your Sunday get any better? The sausage was a large - quarter pound - beef sausage stuffed with Cheddar cheese and jalapeņo pepper slices, which made for an amazing, Texas style sausage. Close your eyes, and imagine you're in New Braunfels, in the Texas hill country... wake up and realize you're in Placerville. Sausage, along with barbecue doesn't get any better than at Hog Wile Bar-B-Que! Delicious barbecue always works better with a side dish or two, and my "3 Meat Plate" included three sides from the menu. After pondering the menu, I went with "Mashed Potatoes and Gravy," along with "Potato Salad." You guessed it... I LOVE potatoes! The potato salad was served cold, like it's supposed to be, and creamy, Texas style, with just enough spice to get you interested, but delicious and smooth on the tongue. The mashed potatoes were tender, mashed and what mashed potatoes are supposed to be. Surprise! ... the gravy was whipped into the potatoes, which made every bite a delicious adventure in gold country dining. Like in Texas, the meat was served without being cooked in barbecue sauce, and the sauce was served on the side. Choices included three in-house-made sauces: Original, Spicy and Chipotle. I tried them all, but my favorite, hands down was the "Chipotle" version, as it was tangy, sweet, but had just a touch of heat, and lots of smoky flavor from the chipolte peppers. Such a sweet, smoky and tangy taste adventure "down Texas way..." Just like in Austin, or anywhere in Texas, the barbecue sauce was served on the side, and made a perfect dip for the meat, along with the delicious sides. Rounding off the meal was a freshly-baked bun, along with a pat of butter. Yowza!!! Texas comes to Placerville... yes it does at Hog Wild Bar-B-Que, as my delicious lunch simply reminded me back to the wide-open, miles and miles of Texas. The meats were simply... can I say... Texas? ... and the sides were amazing and added to the meal. After leaving the restaurant, I was in awe and basically dumfounded at the amazing meal I enjoyed. Was I in New Braunfels or Placerville? I checked the map and indeed I was in Placerville, CA, located in El Dorado County, California. By taste... I was in the Texas hill country.
Photo: If you like meat, the "3 Meat Plate" is your choice, along with two sides of your choice. In my case, I chose beef brisket, chicken breast and a jalapeņo/cheese stuffed sausage.
Photo: Monday, November 18th... Leftovers work for a great dinner! With my to-go box, I managed to bring home a generous portion of the "Chipotle" barbecue sauce, as that was some of the best barbecue sauce I've enjoyed during my northern California barbecue dining adventures. This delicious Texas barbecue was as delicious the day after as it was at the restaurant. You simply can go wrong with enjoying your meal at the restaurant, or in the to-go style. Great Texas barbecue in Placerville! Texas barbecue meets gold country dining at Hog Wild Bar-B-Que, located in Placerville, CA. Authentic Texas barbecue in El Dorado County, served by friendly staff... does it get any better? Hot Wild Bar-B-Que Copyright(c) 2024 eRench Productions. All rights reserved. We've been on the web since December 22, 2002.
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