Tucked away next door to Tuck Shop is the Astor House. Originally focused on breakfast, lunch, light evening nibbles, and some great coffee but recently went through a metamorphosis and have re-launched as a BBQ house. Owner DJ Fernandes which also owns Vovomeena as well as Tuck Shop calls his version of BBQ, Coronado ‘Cue due to it’s location in the historic Coronado neighborhood and has come up with 4 different sauces for the 4 different types of meat. Instead of just copying one of the great BBQ styles he endeavors to create a style all his own. This past weekend WSWE was lucky to have gotten a sneak peak on this new venture. So let’s get to it.
The house itself keeps it’s mid-century look and feel it originally had and it’s outdoor patio. The patio is perfect for BBQ when the weather gets just a bit cooler. Speaking of the backyard, you have to check out the 1960’s Dr. Pepper vending machine which has been altered to dispense more adult friendly beer! It is a nice touch and adds a little whimsy while keeping with the vintage feel of the house. I can imagine fall days with a plate of your favorite meat, sauce, side and a nice cold Dixie beer sitting on a picnic table in the backyard making the most out of what beautiful weather we have here in the valley.
During the preview a selection of the menu was served to give invitees a taste of what will be available and to get feedback. While the brisket was not available for us during out visit we did get to try out a few other meats and all the sauces. Our favorites; on the meat side of things was by far the turkey and out of the sauces it was the mustard sauce. Normally, I am not a fan of mustard base sauces but this one was sweet with only a faint mustard after taste. The turkey was moist and a bit salty, in a very good way. They suggest pairing it with a white cider base sauce but I suggest eating it plain. It had so much flavor on it’s own no sauce was needed. One more thing worthy of note, the ribs. Fall off the bone and not over sauced but they worked well with the spicy and tomato based BBQ sauce. We sampled the chimichurri potato salad along with the coleslaw as our sides but there were far more interesting ones on the menu including sweet chile beans con carne that we will be back to try. Of the two we did try, it was the mayo based coleslaw we enjoyed most. It was light on mayo, a perfect mixture that provided a very mild but tasty slaw.
So with all this meat you have to get something to wash it down with, right? Having spent many years in the south I was excited to see a great selection of what I would call down home southern beers, including a few Abita and Dixie. But if beer isn’t your calling there is a small wine selection and might I suggest a mixed drink using their own house made John’s Tonics. My favorite is the Ginger Ale tonic and my choice spirit is vodka but I’m sure any preference will work, whiskey perhaps? And if you are just not feeling like an alcoholic drink how about some simple lemonade or sweet tea? You definitely are covered from a drink perspective at Astor House.
Not part of the preview menu but impossible for us not to ask for was the gooey butter cake and chocolate pecan bar. Get them both. I’d suggest you share them, but get them both and enjoy the pure decadence.
With the fall weather coming and a great back yard, Astor House is sure to become a regular on your BBQ rotation. You can get more information and our signature ‘ingredients’ about Astor House by clicking HERE.