Lehi’s R&R BBQ proves winner when spinning meal of fortune
Clockwise from left, a half order of Buffalo Wings, Brisket Tacos and a special order Cheeseburger at R&R BBQ in Lehi.
The Brisket Tacos -- featuring brisket, feta cheese, BBQ sauce and coleslaw -- at R&R BBQ in Lehi.
The Chicken Nachos at R&R BBQ in Lehi.
A half order of naked Buffalo Wings at R&R BBQ in Lehi.
A special order Cheeseburger and fries at R&R BBQ in Lehi.
Clockwise from left, Chicken Nachos, a half order of Buffalo Wings and Brisket Tacos at R&R BBQ in Lehi.
Peach Cobbler with a scoop of vanilla ice cream at R&R BBQ in Lehi.
A Kid's Meal featuring brisket, french fries and a roll at R&R BBQ in Lehi.
Perhaps the the best description of our recent visit to R&R BBQ in Lehi is this: letter perfect.
Being first-time visitors to the restaurant, which opened in the Traverse Mountain retail area in June, one could say that we definitely needed to buy a vowel as we stood semi-clueless looking up at the menu on the wall behind the front counter. So many choices, so little time.
The main server asked if it was our first visit to R&R and when we confirmed that it was, he seemed legitimately excited at the prospect.
“Close your eyes and pick the first thing you see,” he said, motioning to the menu behind him. “I guarantee it will be great!”
OK, so we didn’t actually select our order that way, but he continued by pointing out some of his very favorite things on the menu. He really talked up the award-winning Brisket Tacos, and even offered us a sample of the sweet meat that goes in them. That certainly sealed the deal on that choice. As some of our younger kids were trying to decide what to order, he offered up some samples of those items as well. Very effective marketing right there.
There were still some tough choices to make — even though a few showcase items such as the Smoked Sausage and St. Louis Spare Ribs were sold out — because most everything sounded quite tantalizing.
As an added bonus, as we made our way through the line, one worker randomly handed me a little cup of brisket as he was slicing some up. Another nice touch.
In fact, one of the things that made our visit so enjoyable was the utter upbeat attitude of all staff and employees we came in contact with. One server came by our table multiple times during our meal to see what we thought, and if there was anything else he could bring us. He even stopped by at the end as we cleaning things up, and helped carry our leftover garbage to a nearby trash can. The added customer service and overall lively atmosphere are definite caveats to the R&R dining experience — which also included a handful of flat-screen TVs showing various sporting events.
Speaking of bonuses, we can imagine that the views at R&R can at times be quite spectacular. There are huge garage-door type bay windows on the south side that overlook a wide swath of North Utah County, including Lehi, Saratoga Springs and out to Utah Lake. We visited at night, but can imagine good times in the afternoon to early evening with the garage door open and plenty of fresh air and scenery to accompany.
The dining room is well-sized, and there’s even a patio with many additional tables outside. The whole shebang looks to seat around 140 patrons.
On to the food. Kudos go to the young man at the counter, because my favorite item on this night turned out to be the Brisket Tacos. A combination of sweet, tender brisket, feta cheese, coleslaw, cilantro and a house sauce, on a pair of doubled-up corn tortillas — the tacos were indeed fantastic.
One other signature item our young server had talked up was The Caveman hamburger. I really wanted to try one, seeing as it contained smoked sausage, pulled pork, jack cheese, fried jalapeños, and the sweet house BBQ sauce. I knew I wouldn’t be able to eat one on my own, with all the other items I was sampling, and my teenage daughter wanted a regular Cheeseburger instead. I did sample a portion of her burger, and it was delicious. But at some point I am determined to return and fire up The Caveman.
I couldn’t resist trying a half order of Buffalo Wings. They were ordered naked so that we could compare the two accompanying sauces: Buffalo and BBQ. Both were good, but our personal preference was definitely to the BBQ dip. Incidentally, each table includes four squeeze bottles of varying sauce flavors — Original, Carolina, Sweet and Less Sweet, More Heat.
We also ordered a plate of Chicken Nachos, which were definitely a meal unto themselves. The chips came topped with black beans, cheese (Monterey Jack?), pico de gallo, jalapeños, sour cream, guacamole and smoked chicken. Most excellent.
One of our young boys ordered a kids meal featuring brisket, french fries and a roll. The brisket was great and so were the fries.
We topped everything off by sharing some Peach Cobbler with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for dessert. The mixture of warm cobbler and cool ice cream was melt-in-your-mouth heaven and a perfect close to the evening.
For drinks, there are the typical sodas, in addition to domestic beers and microbrews.
The Lehi location is R&R’s third, with two previous establishments in Salt Lake City and South Jordan. New franchises in Pleasant Grove and Spanish Fork are touted as “coming soon.”
Looking at the menu in retrospect, we left ourselves plenty of delectable offerings to try on a return visit. We’re looking at you, ribs, smoked sausage, pulled pork, various sides and The Caveman. Until we meat again.
R&R BBQ
Where: 1628 W. Traverse Parkway, Lehi
Hours: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday to Thursday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday
Prices: Sides $2.75-$3.75, main dishes $6.25-$26
Info: (385) 345-4001, https://randrbbq.com/