If you love BBQ, hold onto your hat.
There’s a whole lot to love about BBQ restaurants: smoked meats, tasty sauces, fabulous sides.
Now, there’s a new BBQ spot in Lewis Center that is making my mouth water just thinking about it: family-owned, wood-smoked Martiny’s BBQ!
I joined the BBQ enthusiasts’ party fairly late in life. I grew up on Long Island where BBQ just wasn’t a thing. Sure, we would cook out on a barbecue in the summer, but it was mostly burgers and dogs. I’m not even sure if I tasted barbecue sauce in my childhood or young adult years!
I didn’t get bitten by the BBQ bug until my early 30s when my hubby (then-fiance) took me to Gatlinburg, TN for the first time. We went out to eat at a BBQ restaurant and my mind was utterly blown. I had no idea there was an entire category of American food I’d never eaten! I insisted that we eat BBQ for pretty much all our meals during that weekend getaway.
Ever since that trip, we’ve been regulars at the popular local BBQ place off Polaris. It is even kid-friendly and Zoe-approved, so it’s been in our family’s restaurant rotation for more than a decade. But now, we have a new favorite BBQ place that is even closer to home!
When you first visit Martiny’s, you notice the cute and unique building it’s in: a tiny, log cabin structure in Lewis Center right on 23 just north of Kroger and Shale Hollow Park.
The second thing you notice as you walk up to the door is the wonderful, unmistakable aroma of smoked wood and meat. Michael Martiny had his massive smoker custom made in Texas and he lovingly feeds it with wood around the clock when he’s smoking meats. That welcoming aroma pulls you right in!
Upon entering Martiny’s, you again notice how cozy the place is. There are three picnic-style tables for casual in-house dining, or you can take your food to go. There’s even a drive-up window for those inclined to order ahead.
A chalkboard menu on the wall gives you the options. Standouts here are the ribs (hubby said they were the most tender and flavorful he’s ever tasted), pulled pork and brisket. For sides, we loved the cole slaw, mac n cheese, BBQ baked beans and my favorite was the authentic, warm German potato salad. Yum!
If you’re in Lewis Center or Delaware and love BBQ, you owe it to yourself to give Martiny’s a visit. You’ll forget all about your old favorite BBQ joint once you’ve tried this food! Pro tip: go early in the day as Michael does sell out and it takes him hours to smoke more.
I love having a new family-owned small business to support here in town. We will definitely be regulars at Martiny’s!
Disclaimer: we were generously provided with a sampler platter to get us in the door to try Martiny’s BBQ. That said, all opinions are my own and our whole family gives Martiny’s two thumbs up! We can’t wait to go back.
