Con Eats: Deli? BBQ? Great Food Choices Near CAPE!

Not sure where to grab a quick lunch or great BBQ while you’re in Southbridge for the Cosplay and Photography Expo? Not interested in the sandwiches, snacks and drinks the Southbridge Hotel will have available to buy? Nerd Caliber is here to help. Editor in Chief Rodney Brown and I tried two places, one within a quick walk and the other short drive from the conference center.

Margaux’s Deli

www.margauxsdeli.com
33 Crystal Street, Southbridge
Open 10am – 3pm Saturday; closed Sunday

Located directly across the town common from the conference center, Margaux’s Deli is a perfect option for a quick sit-down or take-out lunch. The menu includes a wide variety of sandwiches, wraps and salads, as well as daily specials (including Crab Bisque and Taco Salad the day we went).

The #1 was a solid deli sandwich, piled high with pastrami, roast beef, bacon and Swiss. Everything was fresh, and the marble rye maintained structural integrity well. Like all the sandwiches, it came with an excellent half-sour pickle wedge.

The BBQ Roast Beef & Bacon was a sizeable hot sandwich, chock full of fresh, flavorful roast beef. The BBQ sauce was slightly spicy without being overwhelming. The bacon was lost in the sandwich and could be left out.

There are several vegetarian options and salads as well. We thoroughly enjoyed the California Style wrap. Melted Swiss and cheddar with sautéed mushrooms, fresh tomatoes and cucumbers made for a hearty wrap with a lot of umami. The creamy dill dressing was good, though they will gladly substitute other condiments.

Get your order to go and sit across the street at park tables in the beautiful, shady town common. If you opt to eat in, there are several tables and a window bench, though it got fairly crowded at lunchtime. The back wall of the deli is covered in photos of cats, so most CAPE attendees will feel right at home.

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B.T.’s Smokehouse

www.btsmokehouse.com
392 Main St., Sturbridge
Open 11am – 9pm Saturday; 12pm – 8pm on Sunday

For a more substantial meal, B.T.’s Smokehouse is worth the 15 minute drive to Sturbridge. Their award-winning BBQ is smoky, hearty and decadent. The portions are generous and fairly priced, and the service is quick and friendly. The décor in typical BBQ roadhouse: diagrams of beef and pork cuts on the wall, lots of sauces and napkins, and happy customers. The B.T.’s team clearly takes pride in their food and restaurant.

We each got a Two Meat Platter so we could sample several dishes. The pulled pork was a standout; served in large chunks, it was moist, flavorful, and slightly spicy, with incredible bark. We both agreed it didn’t need any of the various BBQ sauces they provide on the side. The smoked brisket was excellent, and my favorite dish. It was amazingly moist and tender, with an excellent balance between the flavors of the dry rub and the smoke. It also had an amazing bark; we could have had an entire meal of just that. Next we tried the pulled chicken. It was another stand-out; smoky, moist and delicious, and reminiscent of jerk chicken. Lastly, we tried the ribs. While they were good, they were not the best thing we ate. One rib was very tender with good bark, but two of them were very chewy and one was quite salty. Ribs differ tremendously from one rack to another, so your mileage may vary, but I would order other things before the ribs.

The side dishes were also quite good. The tomato salad was excellent; made with four different tomatoes, fresh corn, and minimal seasoning, it was a nice, slightly acidic compliment to the rich meats. The cucumber salad was also good, with fresh cukes and red onions. For starchier sides, we got the dirty rice. It was spicy, fluffy, and perfectly cooked. We also tried the beans, which were black beans cooked like Mexican frijoles rather than traditional BBQ baked beans. Platters also come with a small loaf of cornbread. It was moist and not overly sweet, making it a good compliment to the strong flavors of the main dishes.

Whether you’re looking for a great sandwich or salad for lunch or some of the best BBQ in the northeast, the Southbridge area has you covered.