Lunch Ladies: Bam Bams BBQ
The Lunch Ladies went to Bam Bams BBQ in Orem for a hearty meal and some authentic barbecue flavors.
Gabby tried something completely new to her, the Beef BBQ Swachos; not your average nachos. CREDIT: Gabrielle Harris
Jennette went with the Turkey Sandwich Combo and was impressed with the fresh, non-processed turkey and roll. CREDIT: Jennette Esplin
Sylvia ordered tender brisket by the pound with a side of beans. CREDIT: Sylvia Abbott
Phil put Bam Bams' pulled pork to the test, which did not disappoint. CREDIT: Phil Bulsiewicz
So I don’t usually succumb to buying into any sort of stereotype. I don’t see the point in giving way to a common societal interpretation of collective behavior. However, on a rare occasion, I just roll with it. This was one of those times.
Being the first time we had an honorary “Lunch Lad” with us, opposed to just “Lunch Ladies,” I kind of felt like we should spend our lunch hour somewhere that catered to the stereotypical male; heavy on the meat, low on the side salad. So we asked our good friend and guest reviewer, Phil, to pick somewhere he wanted to go with that in mind. He chose Bam Bams BBQ in Orem.
We then anxiously awaited the lunch hour and the needed break from the busy day. When we entered Bam Bams we immediately noticed a few things. First, the delicious scent wafting through the moment you open the doors; no chance that our hair and clothes wouldn’t soak that up by the end of the lunch hour. Second, the picnic table-style seating was a fun twist. Third, the distinct décor cascading the walls from floor to ceiling. And lastly, we were the only ladies in the joint at present, minus some of the workers behind the counter. I felt slightly vindicated in my stereotype.
Proud of its meat, meat, and more meat options, Bam Bams offers a simplified menu with meat by the pound. And loving meat ourselves, we in no way shied away from the chalkboard menu, and rapidly made our selections.
Here is what we went with:
Jennette: Turkey Sandwich Combo — $8.99
When I walked into Bam Bams I was greeted with the best aroma I have ever smelled. My mouth was watering. After perusing the hand-drawn menu board, I decided on the Turkey Sandwich Combo with a side of potato salad. I don’t usually choose turkey because it is often the processed sandwich meat that doesn’t have any taste, but today I’m glad I chose the turkey. The sandwich was loaded with delicious turkey and the roll was soft and chewy. I added some Thick-n-Sticky BBQ sauce; perfection! The potato salad was country style (a little heavy on the mustard side) and was quite good. No Coke products, but I won’t hold that against them — this time.
Phil Bulsiewicz: Pulled Pork Sandwich Combo — $8.25
The moment I saw the menu at Bam Bams I knew I was going to order a Pulled Pork Sandwich. I lived in North Carolina for about eight years and it’s hard to live there for that long and not love pulled pork. Ever since leaving Carolina I have used pulled pork sandwiches as a litmus test for BBQ joints. Bam Bams didn’t disappoint. The sandwich combo comes with a drink and a choice of one of three sides: coleslaw, baked beans, or potato salad. I went with the coleslaw, an essential part of the Carolina pulled pork sandwich. Bam Bams has several varieties of sauces, but I chose the tangy sauce, which is a vinegar based sauce. The sauce is the closest to a Carolina BBQ sauce that I have had in Utah County and the tangy, subtle heat of the sauce paired perfectly with the smoked pork. It brought back memories of spring pig pickin’s. The bun was soft, well-proportioned with the meat, and did a good job of holding everything together. I was slightly disappointed with the coleslaw as it was lacking in flavor. However, it was definitely fresh and it provided a nice texture when added to the sandwich. For $8.25 it’s hard to beat this meal when it comes to flavor, amount of food, and for me, nostalgia.
Gabby: Beef BBQ Swachos + Drink — $9.99
If you read the Lunch Ladies column even semi-regularly, you probably know I am notorious for getting nachos at practically every establishment that offers them. So when I saw Swachos, I immediately thought, “Boom, done deal!” Well, let me let you in on a little secret; it actually helps to read the menu. So in my brilliance I didn’t even glance at what these Swacho Nachos were made up of. One of the first ingredients, plain and clear … nacho cheese. The second I saw the heaping ladle I wanted to shout, “NOOO!” Sadly, I am not a fan in the slightest of nacho cheese (polite understatement). So my bad ordering was completely my fault. So let’s review what components of my meal I did like. The beef was delicious! Tender, flavorful, accented by BBQ sauce, and a great pairing with baked beans, that had a little kick to them. Tasty! I also liked the piled high bed of chips. So a generous portion, a definitely filling meal, and I washed it all down with my all-time favorite Apple Beer. So if nacho cheese is your friend, I think you’ll love ’em; if not … then these are Na’ Cho’ Swachos.
Sylvia: Brisket 1/2 lb. — $9.75 and Beans — $1.99
Leave your fear of high cholesterol and desire for leafy greens at the door when you walk into Bam Bams. This place is all about its world-class barbecue meat. When cutting your meat, you are asked if you would like the side with a little fat or not. I chose to have my slabs of brisket just a little fatty, just like I like it. I kind of wish I had ordered a sandwich, though, I think I would have liked the roll with the meat and to dunk in my beans. But the brisket was very tender and delicious!
We experienced a fun lunch hour, with some amazing meat, and a little comic relief. And hopefully we have helped you be more informed about this local eatery, because if you’ll recall, when we first started the Lunch Ladies column, we said we’d do the experimenting at restaurants, so you would already be in the know for when you go.
– Bam Bams BBQ. 1708 S. State St., Orem. Open Monday to Thursday 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Saturday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Closed Sundays.