One of these days, my Unilocal adventuring is gonna get me a hearty a$$ whoopin’. But Hog Wild, despite all appearances as a legitimate chance to get roadhoused, proved the old don’t-judge-a-book… adage today. I’m still going to leave it to another Unilocaler to visit after dark, but I had a lunch experience that was pleasantly surprising enough to fuel my adventurous side and warrant a return trip. Hog Wild scoffs at finery, unless you count the lady in stockings painted on the saloon doors. Instead, Hog Wild appeals to testosterone with a heavier dose of testosterone. It’s housed in a metal prefab shed sitting on a gravel lot in the middle of a gritty stretch of Hwy 70. Inside, squinting through the dark, I followed the flicker of the TV past pool tables, boar heads, bikini-lady posters, and the largest US flag I’ve ever seen indoors. I wish I had checked the juke box, but I’d guess Toby Keith is well represented, with a guest appearance of «Flirting with Disaster.» There was one guy drinking beer at the bar when I entered, and he left shortly. In keeping with the joint’s name, the priority is definitely«brew before Q» here. I asked the lady behind the bar if she had any BBQ prepared. She affirmed, and I ordered a sandwich, hot with slaw. The beer guy asked the lady if they sold many BBQ’s, and she said several each week. Gulp. She brought my sandwich out after a few minutes of prep, along with a transparent squirt bottle of sauce labeled«Sharon’s Hot.» I killed that sandwich in about two minutes. After I finished, my mouth developed a growing tingle. Nice. I asked the lady about the unique slaw and was excitedly told that she made it. It was vinegar based but incorporated red peppers, onions, and a healthy dose of sugar. The sweet vs. sour component was undeniable, and I have to say, it stands out from the crowd in a good way. Honestly, if the meat had been microwaved straight out the freezer, I still would have liked it. The sauce was a fighter for attention as well. Between the slaw and the sauce, I don’t know which was most responsible for the flavors, but I was glad for it. Tasty stuff. I’ll be back to verify my taste buds and further sample the menu. And I’ll be in camo.
