No place has more hype than the Joint. I've been holding off doing a review on this "Joint" for a long while because of it. Let me start by telling you what I love about the Joint. I love the fact that it is less than a mile from my house. I love that they smoke their BBQ using Pecan Wood. I love the people that work there. I love that they serve awesome tea. I love the bright yellow colors everywhere. I love the pictures of musicians on the wall. I love that they serve their BBQ at most festivals in the city. I love that they are one of few places in New Orleans that serve brisket.
I've been eating at the joint bi/tri-annually for the last five years. I have seen a progress in their BBQ, every year it gets a little bit better. I've always thought that they were over-hyped due to the fact that they are a staple in the most over-hyped neighborhood, The Bywater. A lot of the overhype is also due to their feature on Guy Fieri's Diners, Drive-ins and Dives. They've always been "pretty OK" and by New Orleanian standards that means "pretty awesome." I obviously choose to not give BBQ places the "New Orleans handicap." So one night I decide to head down there to do an official review and order myself an "everything type of plate". Let me say it was damn good. Out of the 20 plus times or so that I've been there, I wasn't expecting them to bring it like that on this particular night of all nights.
The night reminded me of 1999's St. Louis Cardinals' Jose Jimenez. Jimenez was a mediocre pitcher who threw a no-hitter on a special night and continued his career as a mediocre pitcher. The Joint can also be compared to Pittsburgh Pirates Bill Mazeroski. Mazeroski was a great defensive player but mediocre at the plate. In the 1960 World Series, Mazeroski won the title for Pittsburgh in Game 7 with a game-winning home run off New York Yankees pitcher Ralph Terry in the bottom of the ninth inning. The Yankees had rallied with two runs to tie the game, 9-9, in the top of the inning, setting up Mazeroski's heroics. Game 7 bottom of the ninth was my "night to review", Bill Mazeroski was the Joint, the loser "NY Yankees" (who will always be losers in my book) will be this blog post.So now I have a moral dilemma...do I pull a Pat Sajak and rig the Wheel of Fortune with a foot pedal? Or should I let the wheel spin and land on what it deserved at that moment?
The Joint will be receiving (begrudgingly) a 4 out of 5 stars.
P.S. True Story. One day (4 months ago)I decided on a whim that I'd like to work at a BBQ place for a few hours a week, maybe one day a week, just for fun. I gave The Joint my BBQ resume explaining how I know shit. Never got a call back and I knew they were looking for people. I guess I was "over qualified". Oh well, perfection is not for everyone.
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