A local favorite with two locations, Deep Run Roadhouse was originally opened in 2013 by a former owner / pit master of Alamo BBQ. They seek to offer “more than just pulled pork and baked beans”, serving up Tex-Mex and comfort dishes in addition to the classics.

I decided to visit their original location in the West End rather than their VCU hub. I’d already been to both before and was looking forward to stopping in again to get a fresh take for this review.

Reputation – 4.6/5

People like this place a lot. Their reviews are consistently strong across all the usual platforms. Quality food, quick service, and apparently their catering game is strong as well. Both locations have a 4.5 on Yelp which I think is pretty impressive, given the very different landscapes in which they reside.

Experience – 4/5

I dropped in on a rainy Wednesday in the early evening. It was quiet… too quiet. I didn’t see a single other person, staff or diner. They did have a bell to ring on the counter but I wanted to take a minute to check out the menu anyway. I was then greeted by a stoned-looking kitchen employee who took my order and rang me up.

A combo with a sandwich, side, and drink was $11.25. I enjoyed being alone in the place as I was able to take pictures of whatever I wanted without looking like a weirdo. Their decor is southern and fun, and includes movie posters of the eponymous Patrick Swayze film. I snapped some pics of the food and enjoyed my meal peacefully.

Presentation – 4/5

Metal tray lined with brown paper is always a good choice in my book. I got a side of hush puppies which came with a lovely golden honey butter. The sandwich came open-faced with the pork on the bottom bun and the coleslaw on the top bun. I’m not a huge fan of that approach as the top bun got rather soggy and cold (though I did take a while to get my photos).

They have three signature sauces which are all awesome. My favorite was the “sweet with a lil’ heat” Roadhouse Sauce, but the spicy Carolina Swayze Sauce and the Cherry Bourbon were uniquely delicious as well.

Quality and Taste – 7.4/10

I thought the portion size was a bit small compared to most of the places I’ve visited, but the pork was good and flavorful as always. The pork-to-slaw ratio skewed a bit too far in the slaw direction but that is easily remedied of course. The bun looked nice but didn’t quite live up to the billing of “freshly baked and toasted” as it was a bit cold in the middle.

The hush puppies and honey butter were the stars of the show for me. They were crispy and soft in all the right places with bits of corn mixed in, and the honey butter complemented the flavors beautifully.

Final Score – 80

I had no major complaints, but felt a little bit underwhelmed with this visit. It’s still definitely a place I’d recommend – especially in the VCU area. I would like to try some of their other, more ambitious menu options on my next visit. Perhaps the fried catfish or their signature Train Wreck – your choice of meat served over Mac and cheese, beans, and cornbread and topped with sauce, onions, and jalapeños.