Red Crown offers unique atmosphere, good food

Mike Hamilton '22, Staff Writer

When I first walked into the locally sourced BBQ joint known as Red Crown I was greeted by a friendly staff and was quickly seated. The staff was very knowledgeable about the menu and the history of the former gas station turned restaurant.

The decor inside is simplistic and rustic showing classic gas machines from the original gas station. The main dining area appears to be in the former garage of the gas station and is well-lit. The atmosphere was very family friendly with the bar being completely separated from the dining area.

When it came to ordering, the staff was very helpful. I started by ordering the soft pretzel pimento cheddar jar for an appetizer. It was the perfect size to split between two people and cost seven dollars.

For my main meal I ordered a half slab of the slow smoked saint louis style ribs which runs at a price of 18 dollars. The food came out pretty quickly. I chose to top the ribs with their house BBQ sauce which had strong hints of cinnamon and had just a touch of heat. The ribs themselves were a little dry for my liking but overall were flavorful. The ribs came with two sides and cornbread included and I chose to try their brussel sprouts and their truffle fries.

The fries came with a side of garlic aioli which complemented the truffle well. The fries themselves were crispy on the outside and tender in the middle. The cornbread was dry but flavorful and had pieces of full corn in it which was a nice surprise. The brussel sprouts had to have been my favorite part of the meal.

They were served in a small little pot and came with marcona almonds and thick cut bacon. I was skeptical about the brussel sprouts as they didn’t come with a sauce on them. But as soon as I took a bite any skepticism faded away. The flavors melded together perfectly and created a taste that was mellow and robust flavor that I haven’t ever experienced before. Honestly if they sold jars of that stuff I’d buy that off the shelves.

For dessert, the menu was limited, but I ordered a vanilla milkshake which is priced at seven dollars. It was cool and creamy and the perfect way to end the meal.

Overall, I would have to give Red Crown a 4.5 out of 5 because of its excellent service and unique atmosphere. The food was good but not great, but the thing that saved the rating was the brussel sprouts. I would definitely recommend for everyone to try out this restaurant. No matter if you are with your family or friends.